What began with me agreeing to be a test subject for a research group has gone disastrously wrong. I turn a corner to see another subject whose head appears to have sprouted tendrils of…something…across the entire wall behind him. I look closer to be sure that the person isn’t still breathing and another person steps out of the smoke-filled lab. This second person no longer even looks human as he steps toward me. I turn to run, wondering if there is any escape from this lab or if I’m going to be the next creation. prism 2019

Photo: Thea Rivera

Prism is the twisted, wonderful creation of a couple in Mission Viejo. David Fefferman and his wife, Sasha Jhaveri-Fefferman, first created a home haunt in 2018. This year’s maze is three times larger, offering roughly 10 minutes of terror as audiences live through a narrative that places them as human guinea pigs for a mad scientist who wants to combine DNA in dangerously unstable ways.

One of the great things about this haunt is the narrative that can be experienced before even entering the maze. An entire website has been built for the “Prism Research Group,” the official name of the mad scientist’s company. Exploring the website offers an impressive backstory to the maze as the company promises to unlock the potential of DNA and create better, more perfect humans.

Photo: Thea Rivera

Once participants enter the maze itself, however, the truth becomes clear. A video from the lead scientist plays and makes it clear that those who have entered the lab will be experimented on regardless of their wishes. The rest of the experience then becomes a nightmare as previous test subjects appear from doorways or breaking through walls to chase those who are still human through the lab and eventually out onto the street once more.

Prism has some great aspects to it. The use of technology throughout the maze is fantastic, from the video at the beginning to cleverly hidden places where monsters can break through to grab at audiences. The scare-actors themselves are also quite committed to their roles and definitely scare participants well.

Photo: Thea Rivera

The maze does not, however, continue the same depth of narrative that the pre-show created. Beyond the opening video, the rest of the maze has little story as audience members simply move from scare to scare. While there are some great visual moments and some nice costumes, the maze itself feels more generic than the impressive website. In fact, those who don’t see the website may not even understand what is happening within the maze beyond the scares. That may be all that is necessary, even, but if the maze could manage to keep the narrative equally as strong throughout the entire experience, it would become one of the better home haunts in Southern California. Hopefully, Prism Research Group will continue from year to year and the mazes will grow to match the site.

Photo: Thea Rivera

Prism offers a tantalizing glimpse of how strong home haunts are becoming in Southern California. With an engaging opening story, this haunt reaches for something more than just scaring audiences. Prism wants to tell an actual scary story for those who step inside its evil laboratory, and it largely succeeds. With its mad methods and dangerous lead scientist, Prism should definitely be where those who want to be scared sign up for an experiment they’ll never forget.

Photo: Thea Rivera

Prism has concluded its run, but you can find more information on their website and Facebook page. Check out our Event Guide for more Halloween and immersive entertainment throughout the year.

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