It’s the scream that motivates Phil Perry.

For nearly a decade he’s been ushering people through his haunted house – a living collage of his twisted visions and depraved dreams – and loving every time somebody lets out a blood-curdling yell when one of his actors jumps from a corner or leans out from the darkness.

It’s the fun of the holiday, he says.

And tonight – at his home at 1576 Sage Sparrow Ave. in Manteca from 7 to 10 p.m. – he’s once again sharing it with the community.

“I had so much fun as a kid and such fond memories of the holiday,” Perry said. “If I can give one kid a memory like the one that I had, it’s completely worth it to me.”

Every year Perry pours more than $2,000 into “Scary Perry’s Haunted House” to make sure that each of the 10 rooms is perfectly placed and adorned with just the right amount of gory details. Whether it’s the chop shop or the morgue or the pirate room, Perry is meticulous without being overbearing – refining something that he has spent 15 years of his life growing and expanding each and every year.

The attraction is free, although a donation bucket is available for those to drop in a few dollars to help keep the event open the following year.

And if its young children that want to make their way through, Perry pulls back the actors – made up to Sierra High students in make-up that get community service credit for participating – and lets them go through at their own pace without the additional chills.

He holds nothing back for the adults, however.

It is, after all, what drives him.

“When you see that person screaming out along that back fence and the look on the face of that person in line – you see the laugh that I get,” he said. “That’s it for me right there. I have so much fun doing this and I want to share it with the community.”

Scary Perry’s Haunted House is located at 1576 Sage Sparrow Avenue, and is open tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. To get there take Airport Way to Atherton Way east and turn left. Make the first right and go up half-a-block. The house is on the left.



Mad scientist lab

Rick Feuerstein’s mad scientist lab - a creation in his garage that is a nod to Frankenstein - can be found in his garage at 1373 Pajaro Avenue of on Northgate Drive in Manteca from 6 to 10 p.m. tonight. Admission is free.

While there aren’t people that jump out and scare those who walk through like other Halloween attractions, Feuerstein recommends that only children five and older visit the lab – the scene is somewhat graphic and there are parts that could scare younger children.

Ripon haunted house

• A haunted house sponsored by Dean Uecker of Farmers Insurance Group is tonight from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 555 Robert Ave., in Ripon.