Former Shudder general manager Craig Engler has launched The Great Halloween Puzzle & Podcast, the first-ever jigsaw puzzle with an integrated podcast.
Engler, who co-created Syfy’s “Z Nation” and greenlit Shudder favorites like “Creepshow” and “The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs,” was inspired to turn his passion for horror into a family-friendly puzzle because of his 10-year-old daughter.
The idea was sparked while the two were working on a puzzle together and wondered about the story behind it. Realizing they could create their own, they combined their love of Halloween with Engler’s storytelling background to design a puzzle that comes to life through an accompanying podcast.
“People often listen to something while doing a puzzle,” Engler said. “We wanted to create something that wasn’t just background noise—something that was part of the experience itself. And we knew it had to be about our favorite holiday, Halloween.”
Comic book artist Ryan Dunlavey (Action Philosophers, M.O.D.O.K) and colorist Adam Guzowski (Nailbiter, TMNT) created the puzzle’s artwork, which depicts a small-town Halloween parade that transforms as it’s built.
“For instance, in the image on the box, there’s a Victorian mansion on the hill with a party going on,” Engler explained. “But when you assemble that section, it becomes a haunted house filled with ghosts and monsters. The podcast tells the story of haunted houses while giving you clue to what you’re building.”
The companion podcast deepens the experience with historical insights and clues that correspond to sections of the 1,000-piece puzzle.
A double-sided poster, a custom Halloween playlist, a watchlist of both scary and not-so-scary movies, and a recipe for a Halloween treat called a soul cake are included.
The Great Halloween Puzzle & Podcast is live on Kickstarter through Halloween. The puzzle costs $35, and other rewards include a podcast shout-out and being drawn into the puzzle artwork.
