Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights Review
Entering Universal Studio Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights, I stepped into the fog and already heard the screams of other park-goers chased by mutated creatures wielding chainsaws.
I laughed as I watched three teenagers with linked arms hurriedly walk past scare actors as they frantically chanted, “It’s not real, it’s not real!” But I flinched as the same masked man following them suddenly paused, turned around, and ran right up to me.
The scare actors are spread throughout the park. They can’t touch you, but they can chase you. They will get right in your face — breathe on you, smell you — one of them even touched the camera lens I was looking through. The entire park is a horror lover’s dream, with classics like the chilling “Halloween” (1978) piano theme on repeat throughout the night.
This year’s event features 6 mazes inspired by the classic slasher “Halloween,” “The Walking Dead,” the “Insidious” saga, the “Alien vs. Predator” franchise, “This Is the End,” and Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming gothic horror “Crimson Peak.”
Each of the mazes is carefully constructed, so if you’re not too busy bracing for the jump scares, be sure to take a good look around. There is a large amount of artistic detail in each scene — all of the wallpaper, the photographs, the costumes, the soundtrack, the blood, and even the pungent stench of the dead that permeates throughout all of the mazes.
Though the “Alien vs. Predator” maze was a repeat from last year, the rest of the mazes were new to event-goers. The “Halloween” maze was eerie and filled with creepy masked Michael Meyers, with iconic scenes from the original movie. Guillermo del Toro’s “Crimson Peak” maze was created in collaboration with the dark fantasy director himself, with crafted details from the unreleased movie apparent in every turn.
The event builds tension by capitalizing on your imagined fears. Unsettling melodies play as you wait in line. Inside the mazes, you walk through dark, tight spaces — wondering at every moment when someone will pop out. Each segment of the maze is separated by streamers, so even if you hear the screams of the group ahead, you don’t know what’s coming for you until you take the plunge through.
The terror tram’s theme for this year’s event is “The Purge.” As you watch the “Purge feed” broadcast on the studio tour tram’s screens, you are taken to the backlot where you disembark, and walk a hilly, dark path full of masked scare actors with baseball bats, knives, and creepy smiles.
As a horror fan, I was thrilled by Halloween Horror Nights. It built anxiety by playing with ambience — combining beautiful sets, haunting music, and just the right amount of scare actors. Whether you’re a horror film addict, excited for Halloween, or just in the mood for a good scare, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is well worth a visit.
“Halloween Horror Nights” is open every Thursday-Sunday from 7 PM to 2 AM through November 1st. For tickets and more information, visit http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/hollywood/2015/.
Reach Contributor Morgan Chen here.
