Americans love horror stories, especially around Halloween. But the increasingly flashy, over-the-top effects and kitschy plotlines that drench most 3-D movie theaters and amusement parks in fake blood have made it harder and harder to be really, truly, existentially terrified, assuming you want that. But if you are so insane — er, inclined — that's where the artists, designers and performers of ALONE: An Existential Haunting have something really special to offer. Their big idea is that, of all the scary things in the world, maybe the scariest is being alone in the dark. Armed only with a flashlight, audiences must make their way through a dark, closed, stinky, noisy, dirty underground labyrinth populated by actors with no boundaries, who benefit from the cloak of darkness to push, pull, drag and generally scare the bejeezus out of them — one at a time. It takes about half an hour to get through, though it's sure to feel longer. Organizers call it interactive theater, and with a team of artists on hand, the creativity of the staging is certain to impress — but the real action happens in the scariest place of all: your own head. It's a stroke of evil seasonal genius. If nothing else, you have to love a haunted house that requires attendees to be older than 18 and sign a waiver — especially one stating that each participant must “assume all risk and danger … including but not limited to injury … and extremely disturbing psychological experience. Please wear clothes that can get wet and dirty. We will not be responsible for your cleaning bills.” Former fraternal order temple near the 10 and 110 freeways, dwntwn. — address provided upon ticket purchase; Thursday, Oct. 24-Saturday, Nov. 2; hourly slots 6 p.m.-mid., schedule varies weekly; $40-$55. thealoneexperience.com.

Oct. 24-25, 7 p.m.; Oct. 26-27, 6 p.m.; Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 5 p.m., 2013

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