Brookdale Haunted Theater - "Lab Rat"
LOCATION: Lincroft, New Jersey, USA
Photo above is property of Haunted Bank NYC
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
📝 ETR DECODER
🎭 EXPERIENCE: "Lab Rat"
📅 DATE VISITED: October 10, 2026
🎬 GENRE: Horror, Immersive
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl): N/A
👥 TOTAL # OF PEOPLE: 4-8 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: Approx. 11-30 Mins. of an all-indoor walking tour
💰 PRICE: $20.00/ pp
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Public
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: N/A
🎭 THE EXPERIENCE
For 2026, Brookdale Performing Arts Center's Haunted Theater returns with "Lab Rat", an immersive haunted attraction that transforms the venue into a terrifying maze of nightmares. This indoor, self-guided experience winds through interconnected themed environments filled with special effects, pitch-black passages, and unexpected scares.
Designed, built, and operated by more than 100 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community volunteers, "Lab Rat" offers a fully indoor haunt experience, complete with an indoor queue line, rain or shine. Tickets must be purchased online in advance, and food trucks and concessions will be available on-site.
Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
📖 THE STORY
Deep within the walls of the research facility, a catastrophic event has unfolded.
For years, scientists engaged in clandestine experiments, driven by the pursuit of groundbreaking discoveries that were never intended to be unveiled. However, their latest tests yielded unforeseen results—subjects have undergone mutations, experiments have escaped containment, and the scientists have lost control. Now, the facility is under lockdown.
Regrettably, you’ve already been brought inside. As you delve deeper into the laboratory, you’ll encounter the remnants of experiments that have spiraled into chaos—and the creatures that have emerged from them. The scientists persist in their work, but their methods have become increasingly desperate. Somewhere within the facility, they are on a desperate search for their next test subject... You.
There is no safe haven. No controlled environment. No assurance that you’ll emerge from this ordeal in the same state as you entered. Welcome to the experiment... Welcome to Lab Rat.
🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE
Storyline: Every year, Brookdale Haunted Theater reinvents itself with a completely new experience, and this year's "Lab Rat" was quite an entertaining production. We loved the premise and the immersive backstory, which cast guests as willing volunteers in a mysterious experiment. From the moment we entered, it felt like we had stepped into the role of test subjects in a bizarre and increasingly unsettling research program.
Set design: Since the attraction is staged inside a college theater, we weren't expecting a high-budget production. To our surprise, the set design was remarkably impressive and brought the "Lab Rat" storyline to life in creative ways. The transformation chamber even featured moving hydraulics, making the "experiment" feel surprisingly believable. Once we were "turned into rats," the environment shifted perspective, with oversized props and scenery creating a fun "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" effect that made us feel tiny within the world around us.
Actors: Although the cast's experience levels understandably varied, their dedication to character performance remained consistent. Even when scares didn't always land, the actors' commitment to their roles helped maintain the immersion and reinforced the attraction's storyline.
🧩 MISSED THE MARK
Grand Finale: Throughout the experience, we encountered other volunteer victims wandering the lab appearing lost, desperate, and trapped. Their presence added to the atmosphere, but they felt underutilized and could have played a larger role in building toward a stronger, more climactic finale. Unfortunately, the final scene did not deliver the payoff the story seemed to be building toward. The area was brightly lit and overwhelmingly loud, making it difficult to hear the final character's dialogue. As a result, the ending felt abrupt, open-ended, and ultimately lacked the impact needed to leave a lasting final scare.
Atmosphere: I would have liked to see a greater emphasis on psychological horror. While the jump scares were effective initially, they became somewhat repetitive as the experience progressed, diminishing their overall impact and leaving fewer lasting impressions than the atmosphere itself.
🏹 TAKE A SHOT?
We were pleasantly surprised by Lab Rat, a refreshingly innovative haunted attraction that offers a unique take on the traditional haunted house experience. Adding to the experience are on-site food trucks and merchandise, including event t-shirts. Impressively, the students and staff completely redesign and rebuild the attraction from the ground up each year. While waiting for your group to begin, guests are seated in the auditorium and entertained with trivia on the big screen. Brookdale Haunted Theater continues to raise the bar, and we highly recommend checking it out and picking up a t-shirt before you leave.
ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO
Location of the venue is a bit difficult to find. Go to Lot 1 (should be the first right turn you can make as soon as you enter the campus parking lot).
There are food trucks and merchandise available for purchase.
No touching: Do not touch the actors or props.
No cameras, video/audio recording, outside food or drink, smoking, weapons, masks, or hoods are allowed inside.
Special effects warning: The 20-minute labyrinth features strobe lights, smoke, fog, and intense scents.
Restrooms are available.
Photos above are property of Brookdale Haunted Theater
Note: This is a limited run. The last day to book is October 30, 2025
(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)
Disclosure: We thank Brookdale Haunted Theater for comping our tickets for this experience. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.
Comments