Copyright Variety
An interactive ghost-hunting movie filmed at the the famed Malvern Manor using CtrlMovie tech will debut next April, allowing viewers to partake in the paranormal investigation themselves in a gameified viewing experience. Created by Andrew Zeiderman (“KPopped,” “Kisstory,” “Southern Charm”) and Scott C. Silver (“The Pyramid,” “Wheelman,” “BornStars”), the film is titled “Control Your Fear” and is described as merging “the authenticity of a real paranormal investigation with the dynamic participation of a live interactive game—creating something entirely new: a hybrid of reality, technology, and audience-driven storytelling.” Production wrapped on “Control Your Fear” this week at Malvern Manor in Iowa, which is among the list of top reportedly haunted locations in the United States. Here’s Kino’s synopsis for “Control Your Fear”: The experience follows three real-life personalities—each chosen for their unique backgrounds and belief systems in the paranormal. Jake Bruce, an online ghost hunter and social-media influencer, brings an investigator’s eye; Bri Luna, co-founder of The Hoodwitch and a leading modern mystic, offers a deeply spiritual perspective; and Alexandra Deaver, a ghost-hunting enthusiast and direct descendant of a Salem witch-trial victim, connects the past to the present through her lineage. Together, they step into the dark—but only the audience will decide how deep they go. During production at Malvern Manor, every encounter was captured live using a blend of modern and time-honored ghost-hunting methods—alongside various divination techniques. The result is an unfiltered and often chilling investigation that expands the boundaries of the paranormal genre. While others have explored similar concepts, “Control Your Fear” achieves it with unprecedented authenticity and the added power of real-time audience interactivity. The investigation successfully documented numerous terrifying moments that caused both the cast and crew to question the reality of their beliefs surrounding paranormal activity. The film was made using Kino Industries’ proprietary CtrlMovie technology, which will let viewers “access the experience on a range of compatible devices—including major gaming systems, tablets, and mobile phones—each enabling real-time choice and collective decision-making that directly shapes how events unfold.” The CtrlMovie system allows for both single- and multi-player decision-making that allows for different endings based on participants’ choices. “This is ghost hunting like you’ve never experienced before,” co-creator Silver said. “It takes the familiar genre and turns the dial all the way up, making the audience an active force inside the investigation. This isn’t a game or a show; it’s a completely new kind of experience that blurs the line between spectator and participant.” Zeiderman, who also directed the project, added: “For decades, fans have watched investigators probe the unknown. Now, for the first time, they’re not just watching the hunt—they’re inside it. ‘Control Your Fear’ breaks the mold of how paranormal stories are told and invites audiences to face the fear for themselves. Malvern Manor is the first haunted location to be encountered in our series of paranormal experiences.”
