We arrive at an abandoned warehouse in the middle of a dark, residential neighborhood, and we begin to question whether we accidentally plugged an actual asylum into Google Maps and not the highly-anticipated and infamous haunted house. However, as we get closer, we see more than a singular, chilling building. The supersize skeletons, Scooby Doo zombies and other chilling statues decorating the area are a tell-tale sign we’re in the right place.
The facility is well-organized, with a large security staff and many employees directing and checking in anxious guests. We notice two girls in line, who are also shaking out of fear and anticipation. The four of us quickly befriend each other and decide that we will brave this house of horrors together. Let’s be honest, nothing unites people like a perceived near-death experience.
Brighton Asylum, an attraction consistently ranked one of the best haunted houes in New Jersey, is located in Passaic, NJ about an hour away from Westfield depending on traffic. The actual Brighton Asylum shut down in 1952 due to staff and patient disappearances, and intolerable living conditions, according to brightonasylum.com. The costumes and sets encapsulated that desolate atmosphere perfectly.
The general admission ticket cost us $50.87, entailing three separate houses full of scares in about 45 minutes and we were ready to tackle them all.
We entered the first house and were greeted by terrifying music blaring through speakers and gory skeletons hanging from the walls. Nothing says “welcome” like a demonic clown sneering and screaming at you to move along quickly.
Adding an extra layer of chaos and unpredictability were the interactive rooms — slanted or moving as you walked through, we were forced to navigate them while actors jumped out at us. Dodging the monsters and traps should be considered an Olympic sport: We were running, jumping, falling over and, most of all, sweating in anticipation of the next scare. We may or may not have gone home with injuries.
We were ushered out in the same way we were welcomed in: chased out by whirring faux chainsaws, having to swerve away from the extremely realistic weapon.
Like soldiers marching into battle, we made our way rather reluctantly to the next two houses. Here, we met a new group of daring friends who took us under their wing and this time, we let them bear the brunt of being the firsts to experience the horror.
The actors played their roles well, interacting with us in a frightening, yet playful, manner. Actors even followed us through the houses, giving us constant apprehension as to what or who was behind us.
To some, especially teenagers, Halloween can seem outdated and too youthful. However, this experience reminded us that, at heart, we are all still kids wanting to be scared of monsters rather than everyday realities. Brighton Asylum may have given us nightmares, but it also gave us a night of adrenaline, entertainment and a revival of the thrill of Halloween.