House of Torment: America's most high-tech haunted house, pictured, is spread over a huge 20,000 square foot building in a mall in Austin, Texas

Freaky: The House of Torment, pictured, is a top-of-the-line fright factory that uses some remarkably futuristic technology and follows visitors around to elicit optimal fear

Cutting Edge: In Dallas, Cutting Edge spookhouse, pictured, is the single largest walk-through haunted house experience in the country

Sounds scary: Cutting Edge, pictured, is rigged with one of the best sound systems there is, with scores of speakers hidden throughout the area plus they have heavily invested in animatronics and pyrotechnic displays

The Darkness: The Darkness, pictured, in St. Louis, Missouri is housed in a century-old warehouse, which alone would be enough to creep out some visitors

Ahhhhh: But throw in a life-size tyrannosaurous rex that gnashes its teeth Jurassic Park-style and a few other scary sights even the most hardened horror fan will be freaked at The Darkness, pictured

Not far away, in Dallas, Cutting Edge spookhouse is the single largest walk-through haunted house experience in the country.

It is rigged with one of the best sound systems there is, with scores of speakers hidden throughout the area plus they have heavily invested in animatronics and pyrotechnic displays. An explosive school bus is one of the highlights, though it does skirt the limits of safety, Tested reports.

The Darkness in St. Louis, Missouri is housed in a century-old warehouse, which alone would be enough to creep out some visitors. But throw in a life-size Tyrannosaurus Rex that gnashes its teeth Jurassic Park-style and even the most hardened horror fan will be freaked.

The 13th Gate: Hollywood-calibre special effects are in play all over at The 13th Gate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Freaky: Everything from the insane asylum to the rigged elevator that plummets thirteen stories to the ground is freaky at The 13th Gate, pictured

House of Shock: This New Orleans freak factory, pictured, was co-founded by Pantera lead singer Phil Anselmo, so it's bound to live up to its name

Wow: Top-of-the-line pyrotechnics are the main game at House of Shock, pictured, and the managers harness fire in ways that put Hollywood to shame as well as using sound and light systems built for stadium venues

The Nest: At the The Nest in Phoenix, Arizona, staff give visitors an RFID badge so they can be tracked throughout the house

Hollywood-caliber special effects are in play all over at The 13th Gate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from the rigged elevator that plummets thirteen stories to the ground to the claustrophobia tunnel that uses inflating airbags to close in on visitors.

House of Shock in New Orleans was co-founded by Pantera lead singer Phil Anselmo, so it's bound to live up to its name. Top-of-the-line pyrotechnics are the main game here, and the managers harness fire in ways that put Hollywood to shame as well as using sound and light systems built for stadium venues.

At the The Nest in Chandler, Arizona, staff give visitors an RFID badge so they can be tracked throughout the house. They also take their names and scroll their Facebook pages to tailor the scary experience to them.

Personalized: Staff at the Nest, pictured, like to take visitors' names and scroll their Facebook pages to tailor the scary experience to them

Erebus: At Erebus in Pontiac, Michigan, pictured, staff use animatronic creatures to get around the notorious 'no touching' rule, promising lots of suitably grabby frights for those who like that kind of thing

Bates Motel: The pyrotechnical skill at Bates Motel, pictured, in Philadelphia is insane, according to the Tested team, with shout outs going to the fire-breathing dragons and the exploding gas station

Eeeek: Shout outs at Bates Motel, pictured, go to the fire-breathing dragons and the exploding gas station as well as this skeleton

Netherworld: Atlanta's Netherworld, pictured, is one of the leaders in innovative use of robots

Erebus in Pontiac, Michigan, uses animatronic creatures to get around the notorious 'no touching' rule, promising lots of suitably grabby frights for those who like that kind of thing.

The pyrotechnical skill at Bates Motel in Philadelphia is insane, according to the Tested team, with shout outs going to the fire-breathing dragons and the exploding gas station.

Other notable high-tech hauntsvilles include Dent Schoolhouse in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Netherworld in Atlanta, Georgia.