Nightmarish frights and thrills are abundant in Los Angeles during the Halloween season, yet among a sea of horror experiences to choose from, immersive horror theater productions strive to stand out from the spine-chilling crowd.

While Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights, Knott’s Scary Farm and other popular horror attractions capture the attention and money of thousands of guests every year, live theater experiences from productions like “Delusion: Harrowing of Hell” and “The Willows” attempt to attract audiences by offering a more intimate, story-driven approach to the traditional haunted house.

This year, “The Willows” was produced inside the Beckett Mansion near Jefferson Park and “Delusion” inside the Variety Arts Theater in downtown L.A.

“[‘Delusion’] is really like you’re stepping inside of a psychological thriller [or] horror movie,” said Jon Braver, the creator of “Delusion.” “It’s all very visceral and in your face and very cinematic.”

Now in its 11th season, Braver said the production features an original score, professional actors and practical “creature” effects. He said longtime “Delusion” fans keep coming back to experience new productions every year for the unique, theatrical live experience.

“They want to see an experience more than just the jump scare,” Braver said. “They want something that’s sustainable and in their minds, and … haunting and unforgettable.”

Braver said when creating a story for each season, he never aims to outdo his production of the previous season. Instead, the self-proclaimed “scaredy-cat” said he crafts the story largely based on which venue the production will be in for each year, figuring out the flow to keep guests engaged while ensuring the experience is always story-driven.

“Everything has to be purposeful,” Braver said. “It can’t just be a spectacle for the point of being a spectacle; it has to be part of the story and help further the story. As long as people feel engaged, they feel like this is true immersion.”

“Delusion: Harrowing of Hell” takes guests through the different rings of hell after they join a cult named Pagan’s Path. Braver said most of the actors in the production have backgrounds working in theater and film because the production casts actors who want to apply themselves more to the production.

“[They’re] a character within a larger story, not just a scare actor,” Braver said. “They’re very committed to their craft, and they see ‘Delusion’ as a wonderful challenge because they also get a lot of practice in front of an audience.”

Some of the actors learn multiple roles for the production, like Ian Heath, who has been an actor for “Delusion” since 2018. He said he trained to play nearly every role in the production.

“It’s an incredibly fulfilling thing,” Heath said. “You have your creature-y roles and maybe characters who are there to help add a scare, help move the audience along, but you also have these characters with very deep motivations and characteristics.”

Heath said acting for “Delusion” is rewarding because each actor is allowed to put their own mark on their role. He said “Delusion,” being an immersive show, makes the audience an actor’s scene partner, unlike a traditional play, allowing actors more room to interpret characters.

“Whatever is written in the script, that can change, because the audience will do things or say things completely different than what we could imagine,” Heath said. “Bringing that character to life opposite them in a way that brings them in and makes them feel invested is so rewarding.”

Unlike scare mazes found at Halloween Horror Nights or Knott’s Scary Farm, Heath said immersive horror productions like “Delusion” gave guests a chance to be the protagonists of a horror flick, with video effects, audio effects, wire stunts and more, immersing the audience into a unique experience.

“I can’t think of a better way to spend your Halloween season than immersing yourself in a scary movie,” Heath said. “You get this incredible show, this incredible personal experience.”

While “Delusion” produces up to 60 shows per night, “The Willows” from Just Fix It Productions only has two shows a night. Justin Fix, director of “The Willows” and founder of Just Fix It Productions, said the production is unique because each show is two hours long and in an intimate setting.

Fix said the production is like a modernized murder mystery, combining horror, thriller and murder mystery elements to create an engaging show that forces the audience to interact with the story. With over seven different narrative story lines, Fix said each show feels individualized.

“This is not like you can sit back and spectate,” Fix said. “You have to participate, and I would say that that makes it fun. I think it’s like we were saying, ‘no one’s too cool for school.’ … You have to show up and play.”

He also said the production offers guests a chance to connect with the other audience members as they experience the show.

“You sit next to a bunch of other strangers, and you’re leaving as friends at the end of the day,” Fix said. “A core principle of ours is to foster human connection through intimate storytelling, and I think we do that in a very fun, strange, wild way.”

Fix said with so many options for people to satisfy their spooky cravings in Los Angeles, “The Willows” and immersive theater offer guests a narrative-based approach to a thrilling and suspenseful experience without the intensity or gore of a traditional haunted house.

“We’ve been compared to sort of being like Disney for adults,” Fix said. “Instead of just stepping on a ride for five minutes, [we are] putting you in a world for two hours.”