Laden’s first-ever documentary and genesis for the hit series, Destination Fear.
Before there was the Destination Fear TV series that fans know and love now, there was Trail to Terror. Dakota Laden filmed the documentary in 2015 but on Feb. 24, 2022, it debuted for the first time on any entertainment platform. It’s now streaming exclusively on discovery+.
Dakota described Trail to Terror as his most personal project.
“It’s my first-ever documentary and the seed that would eventually grow into Destination Fear. It ignited my passion for filmmaking and exploring the paranormal. None of us anticipated where this road trip would really take us, and I’m excited to finally share the experience and film with everyone.”
But is Trail to Terror any different than Destination Fear or about the same thing? Let’s explore the similarities and differences.
8 Trail to Terror and Destination Fear Similarities
Basically, the format fans are familiar with from the Destinaitin Fear TV series is the same in Terror to Trail.
1. Haunted Road Trip
Just like in the series, Dakota loads up an RV with his sister, Chelsea, and a couple of friends for a road trip to stay overnight in haunted places.
2. Familiar Faces*
Overall, Trail to Terror has the same familiar faces that we know from Destination Fear. Namely, as mentioned above, Dakota’s sister Chelsea Laden, as well as Tanner Wiseman. However, the “*” is to indicate that there’s also a noticeable difference in the cast too, which we’ll cover in the “Differences” section below.
3. Documentary
Part of the description for Trail to Terror reads: “What starts out as an experiment in fear turns into a real-life horror movie.” This left some people wondering if it was Dakota’s first horror movie.
No. Both Trail to Terror and Destination Fear fall into the documentary category, but the first is a documentary film and the second is a docuseries.
4. The Reveal
In Trail to Terror, Dakota also keeps Chelsea and Tanner in the dark about where they’re headed, only revealing it and the location’s haunted history once the investigation is about to get underway.
5. Drawing Sleeping Spots
Just like in Destination Fear the series, in Trail to Terror they also write down the four scariest spots in whatever haunted place they’re at, put them in a bucket (or whatever they have handy), and draw to see who sleeps where.
6. Sleeping Alone
Also just like they do in the TV show, when it was time to crawl into their sleeping bags, they separated and spent the rest of the night alone in the scariest spots in Trail to Terror too.
7. Dakota’s Duck
Something I asked Dakota about when I interviewed him about Destination Fear season 3 was the yellow rubber duck. On Twitter, people were going cuckoo crazy trying to find the ducks in the season 3 premiere.
He said there’s at least one duck in every Destination Fear episode. Trail to Terror is no different. There is a duck appearance and it’s so super obvious even I couldn’t miss it!
8. All the Feels
Dakota, Chelsea, and Tanner are so loveable, right? Their chemistry is what’s fun to watch because don’t we all aspire to have a tight-knit tribe like theirs?
They bust each other’s chops, chase their fears, and when it gets too overwhelming, they’ve got each other’s backs.
So, yeah. Just like Destination Fear, Trail to Terror also has all the feels, from funny and scary to heartwarming.
5 Trail to Terror and Destination Fear Differences
1. The People*
As noted above, Chelsea and Tanner are once again along for the ride, but not Alex Schroeder. There’s a different cameraman that fans have never seen before: Coalin Smith, another good friend of Dakota’s.
2. The RV Driver
A subject I noticed that came up a lot on Twitter during Destination Fear episodes was people would wonder, “Who drives the RV?”
That was something else I asked when I interviewed Dakota about season 3. Dakota said they had a union driver.
But in Trail to Terror. who was driving the RV driver was one of the differences astute fans noticed. Tanner’s behind the wheel!
3. Tanner’s Hair
Speaking of Tanner, another difference fans immediately noticed while watching Trail to Terror was Tanner’s thick, full head of hair.
4. Edgier
I know they drop F-bombs on Destination Fear too, but they’re definitely beeped out or in some cases maybe even edited out entirely when it airs on Travel Channel. (But correct me if I’m wrong about this.)
Not in Trail to Terror.
But it wasn’t just that. Their joking around was a bit rawer and raunchier than what I’ve seen during the episodes. Not that it was bad or offensive. In fact, it was funny and if anything, it made it feel more genuine.
5. The Trip Proves Too Scary for Someone
Hill View Manor (a.k.a Night 3) tested each of their faith, but Chelsea got so freaked out during the investigation she threatened to quit if they made her sleep alone.
They decided it might be in everybody’s best interest to pair up, so Dakota and Chelsea slept in the 2nd floor west hallway and Tanner and Coalin camped out in the 3rd floor main hallway.
But spending Night 4 in the bowling alley at St. Albans Sanatorium did Chelsea in. Tanner did his best to comfort her, and so did Dakota, but there was no changing her mind. She was done with Dakota’s fear experiment. Being the good brother he is, he made arrangements for her to get back home the next day.
For More Info
Visit discoveryplus.com.
Check-In
Have you seen Trail to Terror yet? What similarities/differences did you notice between it and a regular Destination Fear episode?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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I haven’t seen Trail to Terror, but if something is scary enough to send Chelsea home, it must be REALLY scary!
I don’t know how scary it really was, but it definitely scared her. I think her reaction might’ve been what it was because they were traveling, had little sleep, and then they’re going into all these scary places with no idea of what to expect…talk about heightened awareness and strained nerves. But, yes, it was the tipping point and she said, “That’s it. I’m out!” lol
Tanner only drove some of the time. The rest of the time they had a hired driver. He is clearly seen at several points throughout the show. Such as the 22 minute mark, the time lapse segment after day 1, all 4 are in the back, and there is someone driving them. You seem their arm as they steer. Better shot is at 23:23, driver is wearing white baseball cap, brown hair, tinted glasses. Clearly visible as the gang is filming right behind him.
Oh wow, Von! GREAT catches! You have an eagle eye…and I bet are one of those people with a talent for finding editing bloopers in movies! And maybe even Easter eggs too? Love you shared what you spotted. Thanks for taking the time to check-in like this!