Haunted House in Los Angeles Combines Marijuana and Immersive Horror for Halloween
As October draws to a close, Americans are preparing for Halloween, a time when people dress up as monsters and haunted houses pop up everywhere. For many cannabis enthusiasts, the age-old question arises: “Should I smoke weed before visiting a haunted house?” A group of interactive quest organizers in Los Angeles believes the answer is a resounding “yes.” They are launching a special haunted attraction designed specifically for those who think cannabis enhances the holiday experience.
The company behind this project, Heretic House (also known as The Parallel), is one of the most exclusive interactive quest organizers in the country. This year, their new project, called SLEEP, coincides with the opening of California’s legal cannabis market. The event is tailored for cannabis lovers and thrill-seekers alike.
Heretic House is run by a married couple of actors who go by the pseudonyms Adrian Marcato and Jessica Murder. They emphasize that their events are not just standard “holiday scares.” As professionals, they meticulously craft unique and terrifying experiences for each project, which are best described as immersive horror performances where guests become part of the story.
Exclusive, Immersive Horror Experiences
Each year, Heretic House organizes only a handful of shows, attended by no more than a dozen groups. Every project is a unique horror story in which guests usually play the role of a defenseless victim facing a powerful evil. To participate, guests must undergo a personal interview and complete psychological and medical screenings to ensure their safety during the performance.
Most shows take place in Southern California, especially near Los Angeles, but Heretic House occasionally hosts events in other parts of the U.S. and even Europe. The stories are typically dark and intense, with guests being dragged, tied up, or locked in tight, dark spaces by actors dressed as maniacs and monsters. Sometimes, participants end up covered in fake blood and missing some of their clothes, torn off by a “creature” during the show. In short, guests can expect to become the main characters in a scary, interactive story with multiple possible endings, depending on their actions. As participants, not just spectators, they truly feel what it’s like to be a frightened, helpless victim of supernatural horror.
Firsthand Experience: HEX and Other Projects
The author describes attending a previous Heretic House show called HEX, which explored the theme of sleep paralysis. The experience began with a simulated insomnia test, followed by being taped to a bed. Soon, actors dressed as demons and devils appeared, whispering and causing chaos. By the end, the participant was wheeled through grotesque scenes while the “demons” screamed and urged them to “finally wake up.”
This intense experience left a lasting impression, prompting the author to follow Heretic House’s future projects. This year, the company also staged ISO & DREAD, focused on claustrophobia, where participants faced darkness and confined spaces.
The SLEEP Project: Marijuana Meets Psychological Horror
The new project, SLEEP, stands out for its unique twist: participants are encouraged to consume marijuana during the show. According to the company’s website, the theme is “the power of fear born from human imagination.” To heighten the psychological horror, guests will be offered cannabis to enhance their experience. Unlike previous shows that relied on physical scares and aggressive monsters, SLEEP will focus on psychological methods, with marijuana amplifying the effect.
Participants will spend several hours in a haunted house, moving through the building with scheduled smoke breaks. In some scenes, guests will be immobilized to demonstrate elements of psychological horror. Guests can consume the provided cannabis at their own pace, and if anyone experiences a panic attack, they can use a “safe word” to end the show and receive help from an on-site medic.
“While our guests will still encounter ghosts and monsters, the focus of SLEEP is on involuntary fear, paranoia, and the anticipation of something terrible,” says Marcato. “Legal cannabis can now be used to intensify these uncomfortable feelings. We plan to play on our guests’ paranoia, leaving them high in a dark, empty house with strange sounds and creepy visuals. For scenes where guests are tied to a chair, they won’t be able to turn around even if they hear something scary behind them. We want to evoke a deep, primal fear that makes participants forget it’s all just a game.”
Origins and Safety Measures
The idea for SLEEP came from Jessica Murder, inspired by the couple’s old dream of opening a cannabis shop. With legalization in California, they realized they could use cannabis to enhance the emotional impact of their shows. They partnered with local medical growers, who enthusiastically supported the concept.
SLEEP will run for just two days, October 30 and 31, and only adults who pass psychological and medical screenings can participate. Each guest must bring a sober friend or relative to drive them home if needed. Only trusted, vetted actors will participate, and they are strictly forbidden from using cannabis before the show. Alcohol is also banned, as Marcato explains that drunk guests can become unpredictable and damage the set or hurt the actors.
Beta Testing and Reactions
Early beta tests suggest the concept is a hit. Testers report that SLEEP delivers an unforgettable and intense range of sensations. Ann Newton, a former Heretic House employee and now owner of his own quest studio, says that despite his experience with horror, he has never felt such fear as when left alone in the empty house.
“I think the clarity of the sensations comes from cannabis’s dissociative effects,” Newton explains. “The main feature of the project is how cannabis stimulates feelings of threat and paranoia. You simply can’t replicate this effect without marijuana.”
Newton adds that cannabis made him focus on scary details like strange sounds, increasing his sense of discomfort and danger. Another tester described how her mind began to “wander,” imagining monsters and horrors that weren’t really there.
Looking Ahead
If SLEEP is successful, Marcato says Los Angeles residents can expect the attraction to return next Halloween, possibly with even more psychedelic decorations. He’s confident in the concept’s success, noting that people love the thrill of fear in a safe environment. After all, many readers probably enjoy watching horror movies like the recent hit “It” in the dark, with a joint in hand.
Article by: Juliet Bennett Ryla