The Fright Stuff has the right stuff at the New Jersey Film Festival!

by Jack Bolton

originally published: 09/06/2026

Haunted houses are fun. Don’t listen to what that one family member says, this is an objective fact. A good haunted house is, for many, the highlight of the Halloween season. But have you even wondered what it takes to make the magic happen? Well, you’re in luck! Mike Meyer’s documentary, The Fright Stuff, gives you a peek behind the curtain; from the history of the industry, to interviews of successful companies, and even the construction of a haunted house. This film will shock you, creep you out, and weirdly enough, pull at your heartstrings.

One of the first things that gripped me about this documentary was just how much personality it has. In his introduction, John LaFlamboy introduced himself as, “The founder and director of Zombie Army Productions? I know that shouldn’t be a question… but I’m a lot of things”. Even before that, in the opening scene, he recalls a dream that inspired him to do haunted houses for a living; a dream where a scarecrow said, “All of your dreams will come true”, before shooting him with a gun. In the three minutes in which we’ve known LaFlamboy, he’s established himself as a relatable and entertaining figure, creating a personal connection to the viewer.

It’s this connection that’s the main emotional pull of the documentary. We get to see his past, how his family helped out with his first haunted houses in high school. We see him make a zombie attraction on a barge, only to feel his pain as it sinks to the bottom of Navy Pier. We see him work and work to achieve his dream of Hellsgate, and cheer with him when he succeeds. There are many others who are interviewed, but LaFlamboy is the true heart of the film.

In addition, Meyer explores the world of haunted houses in extensive depth. With the help of some interviewees, he shares the history of the industry; from the steam powered Orton and Spooner Ghost House to a multi-million dollar market. Other business owners give their stories, albeit in far less detail than LaFlamboy. We’re even shown an entire trade show! There’s not a single part of the industry that Meyer doesn’t cover.

The production values were great as well. For example, when the film brings up the dangers of early DIY haunts, it’s mentioned that one of the recommendations was to electrocute the guests. During this, a black and white drawing of a kid appears, only for him to scream as his hair shoots up and the drawing gets all messed up. In addition, the costumes and set designs for the haunted houses were amazing. I don’t know if that counts as production design for the documentary, but it counts for the businesses, so I’m including it.

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If I had one criticism of the film, I would say that it dragged on for too long at the end. There are little snippets of interviews that are just restating what LaFlamboy was saying. These snippets weren’t bad, mind you; they just weren’t saying anything new. There was definitely more that Meyer could have cut.

For everyone who skipped to the end for a summary, The Fright Stuff gives the viewer a comprehensive look at the world of haunted houses. The film is incredibly well made, John LaFlamboy provides a personal connection to the industry, while Meyer sprinkles in details with the history lesson and interviews with other business owners. If this documentary doesn’t inspire you to make your own haunted house this Halloween, it will at least make you want to go to one.

The Fright Stuff screens along with the short film Help Me at the New Jersey Film Festival on Saturday, September 12, 2026 – – Online for 24 Hours on this date and In-Person at 7PM in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901!
Get more info and buy tickets here.

The 45th Bi-annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place between September 4-October 4, 2026. The Festival will be a hybrid as we will be presenting it online as well as doing select in-person screenings at Rutgers University. All the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VOD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person shows when both are offered. We will also be offering an Audio-Visual Concert featuring Hanging Coats and Lawns as well as two FREE Filmmaking Workshops! The in-person screenings, the filmmaking workshops and the AV Concert will be held in Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ beginning at 1PM, 5PM or 7PM on their show date. General Admission Ticket=$15 Per Program; Festival All Access Pass=$100; In-Person Only Student Ticket=$10 Per Program. The Filmmaking Workshops are FREE and open to the public but have limited seating and require advance registration. To register email us at [email protected]

For more info on the Film festival go here: https://newjerseyfilmfestivalfall2026.eventive.org/welcome