Screams echo through the halls as “Friday the 13th” haunts those who dare to enter. With nowhere to go but through, the threat of Jason Voorhees and the sounds of his pleading victims follow attendees as they experience the classic 80s slasher firsthand.
House of Torment, presented by Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, opened three new attractions until Nov. 8. Guests immerse themselves in Jason Universe, survive Return of the Abominations, a nightmare wasteland overrun with creatures and monsters, and join Beyond the Veil, a journey through a secret cult and its evils.
Featuring constant interactions with scare actors, the house’s environmental horrors like ceilings falling, walls closing in and lifelike animatronics make the houses look and feel real, attendee Trisha Mallard said.
“I was constantly getting scared,” Mallard said. “It’s unnerving how good everything looks. It’s bloody, and when the strobe lights are on, or even when they’re off, and you’re seeing all of the props and all of the work put into it, it’s violent.”
Michael Faust, the Thirteenth Floor’s character and performance director, has worked with House of Torment since 2005, at its previous Highland Mall location. Passionate about teaching actors and staff to perfect their performances and costumes, Faust said he continuously trains the team to adapt each Halloween season.
“I always tell everyone, we really look for Swiss Army Knife employees,” said Faust. “People who are really adaptable and can be used in any form.”
Faust said multiple employees who studied at UT embodied the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ spirit. Seth Husband (mechanical engineering ‘21) worked with House of Torment after graduation, starting as a part-time production tech before quickly transitioning into a full-time position. Husband now works across different Thirteenth Floor locations, bringing his Austin expertise across the country to places like the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride.
“People ask, ‘Why do you do it? Why do you work the long hours? Why do you travel?’” said Husband. “As 10-year-old Seth, I would come to a place like House of Torment or LA Haunted Hayride, and that was a core memory. My favorite thing is just knowing that there are people coming to these events that I’m helping create core memories for and spreading that love for the season, love for the craft and the art of it because the details matter. It’s landing with people, and that’s what keeps me going.”
Attendee Ren McNew said the staff’s commitment to keeping the House of Torment atmosphere alive proved perceptible.
“I think most of the people who work at something like this go out of their way,” McNew said. “That always shows. Everyone is having fun. It takes a lot, but it’s so great.”
