Scare Tactics

Scare Tactics turns the classic hidden camera prank into a horror-themed game, where producers stage elaborate fright scenarios to trick ordinary people and capture their reactions on film. Each episode sets up a frightening premise, like a haunted house or a monster in plain sight, with actors and practical effects creating believable terror. Hosts change over the run, with Shannen Doherty fronting season one, Stephen Baldwin stepping in midseason two, and Tracy Morgan hosting from season three onward. The show ran in the early 2000s, took a multi-year break, then returned with new episodes and continued to air internationally, all while avoiding spoilers about any particular stunt outcomes.

Created and produced by Scott Hallock and Kevin Healey, the series premiered in April 2003. Its first two seasons aired through 2004, then production resumed with a third season in 2008 and a fourth in 2009. The show was distributed to multiple international networks, including several MTV channels and regional broadcasters.

The series did not collect major industry awards, and it wasn’t a frequent presence in Emmy or similar nominations. It built a steady audience rather than earning high-profile accolades, and any recognition tended to be niche, tied to reality and prank programming circles rather than mainstream prize bodies.

Scare Tactics left a mark on the prank and reality genres by blending horror movie techniques with hidden camera setups. Its combination of makeup, practical effects, and scripted actors influenced later prank formats that leaned into elaborate scenarios. The rotating lineup of celebrity hosts also helped keep the show visible overseas, where it aired on networks from Australia to Russia.

Critical response was mixed, reflected in middling viewer scores and reviews that praised the creativity of the scares while questioning the ethics of intense pranking. Common themes include the nature of fear, how people react under stress, and the balance between entertainment and emotional impact. Fans often enjoyed the adrenaline and surprise, while some critics flagged moments that felt mean spirited or too contrived.