Long, long ago, there lived a drunk named Stingy Jack. Despite his proclivity for a drink, Stingy Jack was quite clever. When Satan decided he wanted the poor man’s soul, Jack made a deal to have a final drink with the devil. Jack, as clever as he was, left Satan with the bill—and one Satan could not pay because why would Devils have need for money. So, the Lord of Hell himself turned into a coin, and Jack quickly put that coin in his pocket, next to a cross, trapping him there. After some time, the two came to an agreement: Satan would not take Jack’s soul to hell if Jack would release him. Jack lived to a ripe old age—but when he finally passed, St. Peter refused him entrance into Heaven for his evil deeds, and Satan refused him entrance to Hell due to their deal. Jack was left to wander Earth alone—but his old friend Satan gave him an ember ablaze with hellfire to keep him safe. Now Jack roams the earth with only a carved turnip with a glowing face ablaze with hellfire to light his way. Mystic Terror 2023 returned with their Halloween Heritage Haunt.

The origins of the Jack of the Lantern served only as part of the inspiration for Mystic Terror’s 21^st year in Garden Grove, CA as a home haunt: Halloween Heritage. The true theme of this linear walkthrough haunted house is the evolution of Halloween from its inception to the modern day. Each room focuses on a different era, exploring a defining moment in the creation of the Autumnal holiday that we all love so dearly. Lasting three to five minutes, Halloween Heritage focuses on a combination of storytelling, jump scares, and classic nostalgia to educate, frighten, and delight all participants willing to step through the entrance of Mystic Terror 2023. This is a fantastic home haunt for anyone who loves Halloween.

Stingy Jack roams the front of Mystic Terror 2023 – Halloween Heritage, turnip in hand, ready to tell his tale to all those patiently waiting to enter Halloween Heritage. Yet, the pagan worship of deities and ritual slowly give rise the films it has inspired, until Norman Bates waits patiently brandishing a knife on a porch decorated in brilliant orange string lights. The inside is full of kids in masks, candy, and 80’s horror movies on the tv. Finally, the experience ends as all good haunted houses do: a chainsaw wielding maniac in a mask chasing you out. It’s a clever theme that showcases just how Halloween has changed over the years, meaning so many different things to different people—from folklore to belief to scary movies to haunted houses.

Creator Ryan Rusin, a 26-year old screenwriting graduate from Chapman University, plays Stingy Jack with such an otherworldly eeriness that he feels straight out of legend. Norman Bates waits in the shadows, only revealing the knife when guests come close—a subtle detail that adds dread and uncertainty to the experience. But all uncertain is dispelled in the next room, where a woman practically bends backwards, revving her chainsaw, giving participants a few lucky moments to start running before she gives chase. Each of these actors embody the fear that was prominent at that given time. Fear of the unknown, fear of thy neighbor, and fear of chainsaw wielding maniacs chasing you out of haunted houses.

Mystic Terror 2023 Halloween Heritage captured what makes Halloween special. Taking full advantage of the limited space of a home haunt, they expertly recreated the essence of horror over multiple time periods, capturing the prominent feeling of fear and distilling it for audiences. This created a perfect blend of intrigue, delight, and screams—and who could want more than that for Halloween? I guess I could, because I left wanting much, much more of Stingy Jack and the holiday born from his carved turnip lit by a hellish fire.

For more information on Mystic Terror, check out their Instagram and website. For information about similar events, check out our Event Calendar.

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