A popular urban legend states that the series was canceled because of the death of a participant. This is fictional, as the show was canceled due to the high cost of producing each episode.
Most of the locations chosen for episodes were given fictitious names out of respect to the communities in which they were located and owners of the properties. The statements made on the MTV site from which the contestants read were most often embellished or completely fabricated as part of the atmosphere to increase their fear in an unfamiliar environment. It has also been stated that no one actually ever died in many of the actual locations chosen for filming and, before episodes were filmed, no supernatural occurrences were ever reported. Locations were chosen simply for their 'creepy look'.
The series aired the first two episodes in a pilot run, which received outstanding reviews and a full season was ordered. After eight more episodes, another season was ordered. The second season ended after 6 episodes aired. The series was not cancelled due to a lack of interest (the show was the second most popular on MTV at the time of its cancellation), but due to the high cost of producing each episode.
Was named #6 on Entertainment Weekly's 15 Taboo Breaking TV Moments.
The show brought several innovations to the reality show genre, including having contestants film their own experience as no video crew followed them into the 'haunted' locations, use of night vision cameras, and use of body mounted cameras to have contestants film their own close-ups.