13: Fear is Real

From LoveToKnow Reality-TV

13: Fear is Real is a reality TV show that forces its contestants to face their fears.

13: Fear is Real Overview

Done in the style of cheesy horror movies, the show is both campy and different from other reality fare. It is filmed in the Louisiana Bayou and uses camera techniques taken straight from The Blair Witch Project to give parts of the show an almost amateur, home movie feeling.

As you might guess, the show features thirteen contestants who are playing for the horror movie-inspired grand prize of $66,666. Each week, one or more contestants are "killed off" or "executed" until the final player left standing is the winner.

In each episode, all contestants compete in a challenge or ritual. Included in the overall game is the Death Box, which is a hidden component that can be used to "kill off" other players. The Death Box can only be used if it is found and hidden, and not discovered by any other contestant. Also, if a contestant accuses someone of having the Death Box and they do indeed have it, that person could be "executed." If an accusation is made and the accused does not have the Death Box, the one who pointed the finger faces the possibility of "execution."

At the end of each show, two or three contestants face the Execution Ceremony. The number of players in this final challenge depends on whether or not the Death Box was found and used, if there were accusations, and finally, the results of the first challenge.

Winners of the Execution Ceremony stick around to play another day, while the losers are eliminated from the game.

The Mastermind

Behind all of the scary stuff going on is The Mastermind, who is never really shown outside of shadowy figures and never formally introduced. The Mastermind is there for the creepy effect of course, but he also convinces some contestants to work with him. This creates an extra layer of distrust between all the players.

The Contestants

The 13 contestants who played in the first season, in order of "execution," are:

Lauren Harris, a 24 year old model, from Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Laura Paul, a 27 year old nursing student, from Medford, Oregon
Steffinie Phrommany, a 29 year old assistant, from North Hollywood, California
Ryan Norys, a 24 year old sports exec, from Yorba Linda, California
Kelly Marquardt, a 23 year old event planner, from San Diego, California
Rodney Craft, a 26 year old salesman, from Los Angeles, California
Cody Minshew, a 22 year old ghost hunter, from Austin, Texas
Leah Lucas, a 21 year old bartender, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Adam Wood, a 25 year old musician, from Seattle, Washington
Melyssa Nocar, a 24 year old trainer, from Columbus, Ohio
Erica Johnson, a 26 year old PR consultant, from Los Angeles, California
Nasser Goins, a 26 year old concierge employee, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ted Kerner, a 24 year old carpenter, from Bucks County, Pennsylvania

In the season finale, Erica was eliminated by the Death Box, and Ted ended up winning the game and the prize money.

Challenges, Rituals, and Execution Ceremonies

Some of the 13: Fear is Real tasks were very creepy, while others seemed simple to accomplish. Here are some examples of the challenges, rituals and execution ceremony tasks that the contestants faced on the show:

Buried Alive – Contestants had to climb into a coffin that was buried in the ground. The coffin was covered in dirt, and the first person out was the winner.

A Killer Amongst Us – Contestants competed in pairs for this one. One person had to search for pentagram pieces according to directions given by the other.

A Lesson in Terror – The group is taken to an abandoned school where they must search for class rings left behind by the presumably dead students.