AceShowbiz - As autumn leaves begin to fall and temperatures drop, many turn to classic horror films and seasonal specials to satisfy their craving for spooky entertainment. However, one unexpected hit has quietly risen to the top of the streaming charts on HBO Max this season: Scariest House in America. This chilling series, originally airing on HGTV, has captivated audiences with its unique blend of real haunted homes and engaging storytelling.

Scariest House in America is hosted by comedian and actress Retta, best known for her role on Parks and Recreation. Now in its second season, the show takes viewers on a nationwide journey to explore some of the creepiest, most haunted residences in the United States. Unlike typical Halloween haunted houses, these are genuine homes with histories steeped in eerie and supernatural occurrences.

Throughout each episode, Retta tours these chilling locations, meeting the homeowners who bravely live amidst the paranormal activity. She rates each property using the show’s signature Scare Meter, which evaluates homes based on their appearance, livability, and, most importantly, their fright factor. From these assessments, one house per episode advances to the finals, competing for the coveted title of the Scariest House in America.

The prize for winning the title is a substantial one: a $150,000 spooky-themed renovation by HGTV’s renowned designer Alison Victoria. Importantly, the makeover maintains the haunted character of the home, enhancing its eerie charm while improving comfort and livability. This balance ensures that the home remains a spooky spectacle but also a livable space for its owners.

Scariest House in America is a spin-off of HGTV’s hit series Ugliest House in America. Similar to its predecessor, the show features Retta traveling the country to uncover homes with unique, often unsettling qualities. While Ugliest House in America focuses on poor design and renovation potential, Scariest House in America zeroes in on supernatural hauntings and genuine fright.

The series is filled with Retta’s candid reactions, often offering humorous and heartfelt commentary that makes viewers feel as if they are right there alongside her, experiencing the chills firsthand. Although watching from a couch can never fully replicate the eerie sensation of visiting these haunted homes, the show satisfies a deep curiosity about how terrifying real life can be.

Importantly, the homes featured on Scariest House in America are not temporary Halloween attractions. Many are year-round residences, while others serve as getaway spots for thrill-seekers eager to spend time in genuinely haunted locations. Some properties also have historical significance tied to local legends and folklore, enhancing their mystique.

The first season crowned a winner known as the "Hansel and Gretel's Frightening Fixer Upper," located in Saunderstown, Rhode Island. This gingerbread-style house was filled with numerous unsettling elements, including a hazardous entryway with low beams and textured walls, a cramped kitchen with an uncomfortably low seven-foot ceiling, and several unusual features. Among these were a handmade elevator, a TV mounted on the ceiling above the bed, and a heart-shaped bathtub harboring mouse skeletons from rodents trapped inside.

Alison Victoria, star of Sin City Rehab, transformed this unsettling property into a radiant and cohesive home. Despite the renovation's improvements, the house retained its haunted character, removing the fear factor that initially made it unlivable.

Season two continues to terrify and intrigue viewers. So far, Retta has divided the country into regions to showcase distinct haunted homes from each area. In one episode, she visits a house that was once a mortuary and features a "corpse door" leading directly to the basement. The homeowners explain that this door was used to transport bodies into the mortuary, and parts of the concrete floor still bear stains where blood once drained during preparations.

Another episode explores a home in Marlboro, Maryland, steeped in local legend. The region is known for the Bowie Goatman, a half-man, half-goat creature wielding an axe and haunting the woods with eerie sounds. The legend is so entrenched that the White House reportedly issued a decree allowing residents to kill whatever was terrorizing the Maryland woods. The house itself contains a frightening infestation of sprickets—half spider, half cricket creatures that spring to attack unsuspecting visitors.

Scariest House in America is ideal for family viewing during the Halloween season or for anyone seeking a thrilling autumn binge. Retta serves as the perfect host, channeling the audience’s fears and curiosity with her sharp wit and genuine reactions. Her commentary balances humor and horror, making the show both entertaining and spine-tingling.

The series airs Fridays at 9:00 p.m. on HGTV, with all episodes available for streaming on HBO Max. As it climbs the ranks on streaming platforms, Scariest House in America is quickly becoming a must-watch new Halloween favorite, combining real haunted tales with expert design makeovers that keep viewers coming back for more.