13: Fear Is Real is an American horror reality competition series which aired on The CW from January 7 to February 20, 2009. It follows a group of 13 contestants as they are trying to survive in a setting inspired by horror movies. On May 27, 2009, The CW canceled the series after one season.
About the show 13: Fear Is Real was produced by Magic Molehill Productions, Inc. and Warner Horizon Television Inc. in association with Jay Bienstock Productions and Ghost House Pictures with executive producers Jay Bienstock (Survivor, The Apprentice), Sam Raimi (the Spider-Man films, the Evil Dead films) and Robert Tapert (the Evil Dead films, The Grudge films).13: Fear Is Real – About , The CW Television Network.
The show involved 13 people competing against each other to avoid elimination in situations utilising their "deepest fears". The 13 will face shocking surprises, psychological scares and many "beware of the dark" moments, all designed by a "mastermind" of terror. In addition to frightening them, he will also entice individuals to work in concert with him and against the others, creating a situation in which the 13 will not only look over their shoulders but will also never be certain who is real before them. Each week, one or two unlucky victims will be "killed off" via frightening challenges and game-playing until only one person is left to win the grand prize of—fittingly—$66,666.
Challenges Each round of the game consisted of two challenges: a "ritual" and an "execution ceremony."
Rituals "Rituals" were challenges designed to prey on players' deepest fears. They were played either as two-player teams or as individuals. In team rituals, if there is an odd number of players, one sits out and is granted immunity for that round.
The ritual was set up so that either one team or two individual players would fail the challenge. The two players that failed the challenge were "condemned" to the "execution ceremony."
Execution Ceremonies The "execution ceremony" was an elimination challenge normally played between the two players that failed the "ritual." If the current "killer" was successfully accused, they would also participate in the execution ceremony, as would any player who falsely accused another player of being the "killer."
Normally, the execution ceremony would consist of the players racing to escape a death trap of some sort. If a player successfully escaped, they would return to the game. The last player still in the death trap will be "killed" and eliminated from the game.
Prior to the execution ceremony, players would record "last words" on video as a farewell to the group in case they lost. The player who was "killed off" would have their video viewed by the rest of the group.
The Death Box
The death box was introduced the day after the contestants arrived. It was able to kill off a total of three players. Whoever had the death box became the "killer" and could kill off any other player at any time other than during a challenge. Any player who was killed off by the death box was eliminated from the game immediately, without any chance to give any last words. A bloody glove would be left on the bed of any player who was killed off by the death box.
Possessing the death box posed a risk to the killer. If another player believed that a particular player held it, they could accuse that player of being the killer. In that situation, all of the remaining players had to decide whether they agreed with the accusation. If so, the accusation would stand, and if correct, the killer would have to surrender the death box and would be sent to the execution ceremony.
Accusing another player of being the killer itself carried a risk. If the accusation was false, the accuser would then be sent to the execution ceremony.
If a player was killed off while in possession of the death box and it still had one or more uses remaining, it would be re-introduced to the game prior to the next ritual.
Contestants +Elimination Chart NameAgeOccupationHometown12345678 Ted Kirner 30 Carpenter Philadelphia, PA Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe SafeRiskWINNER Nasser Goins 20 Concierge Philadelphia, PA SafeRisk Safe Safe Safe Safe SafeDead Erica Johnson 21 PR Consultant Waycross, GA SafeImmuneRiskRisk Safe Safe SafeDead Melyssa Nocar 24 Trainer Columbus, OH Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe SafeDead Adam Wood 25 Musician Seattle, WA SafeRisk Safe Safe SafeRiskDead Leah Lucas 21 Bartender Philadelphia, PA Safe Safe Safe SafeRiskDead Cody Minshew 22 Ghosthunter Austin, TXImmune Safe Safe Safe SafeDead Rodney Craft 26 Salesman Los Angeles, CA Safe Safe Safe SafeDead Kelly Marquardt 23 Event Planner San Diego, CARisk Safe SafeDead Ryan Norys 24 Sports Executive Yorba Linda, CA Safe SafeDead 29 Assistant Safe SafeDead Laura Paul 27 Nursing Student Medford, OR SafeDead Lauren Harris 21 Model Cherry Hill, NJDead
: In episode 1, Rodney found the death box and became the killer. : In episode 2, Nasser falsely accused Laura of possessing the death box, and was forced into the execution ceremony and did not take part in the ritual. As there was an odd number for the ritual, Erica sat out and got immunity. : In episode 6, Erica found the death box and became the killer. : In episode 8, Nasser found the death box and became the killer.
The contestant won 13: Fear is Real, and claimed The $66,666 prize from The Mastermind. The contestant was "condemned" into the execution ceremony and was at risk of being “killed off”, but won the task thus saving themselves from being executed. The contestant lost the execution ceremony and was eliminated and "killed off". The contestant was "killed off" by the contestant who is in possession of the death box. The contestant was immune from the execution ceremony.
Episodes
Execution Ceremonies
EpisodeContestant(s)ChallengeEliminatedCause of Death1Kellyvs.LaurenThe first contestant to escape their coffin that's buried underneath the ground and climb up out back onto the surface is saved from being executed.LaurenSuffocated from being buried alive2Adam vs. Laura vs. NasserThe first two contestants to escape steel chains and a mask containing rats are saved from being executed.LauraFace eaten alive by rats3Ryanvs.EricaThe first contestant to break free of ropes while tied to a tree and being distracted by dogs, falling trees, and explosions is saved from being executed.RyanCrushed by a falling tree taken down by a chainsaw4Kellyvs.EricaThe first contestant to unlock the word lock (password: fried) and free themselves is saved from being executed.KellyChained and burned alive at the stake5Leahvs.RodneyThe first contestant to untie themselves before the swinging pendulum chops them in half is saved from death.RodneySliced in half by a pendulum6Leahvs.AdamThe first contestant to unlock the handcuffs and solve the clues before the bathroom is fully flooded is saved from being executed.LeahDrowned and attacked by snakes in a locked bathroom filling with water7Tedvs.MelissaThe first contestant to escape from the trunk of their car and get out of the car compactor is saved from being executed.MelyssaCrushed to death in the trunk of a carFinale8 (1)Ted vs. Erica Vs. NasserContestants had to locate one of three single-use death boxes hidden in the woods. The challenge did not end until one contestant found a death box and used it to kill off another player. EricaKilled by Nasser using the death box.8 (2)Nasservs.TedThe first contestant to find bolt cutters in an animal grave, find a barrel, cut it open, and get the key covered in body organs inside is saved from execution.NasserAmbushed and killed by a minion wielding an axe8 (3)TedThe final remaining contestant has to unlock a hut in which there is a bag containing the prize money. The hut is booby trapped with a trip wire connected to a time bomb set to detonate after 60 seconds. The contestant has to take the money, get out of the cabin, and row out of the blast radius before the bomb explodes.None: Ted was successfully able to extract the $66,666 cash prize and escape the cabin before the bomb's detonation, becoming the sole survivor and "winner" of the Mastermind's twisted game.
Rituals and Death Box Eliminations