Upon entering the park, guests are greeted by dancing women in scantily clad outfits and a demented clown host, who pokes fun at those who dare to enter. Fog surrounds the venue, and guests cling onto each other, hoping for protection from the chainsaw-bearing monsters.
Combining both frightening and comical aspects, “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios is always a go-to destination for thrills and chills.
This year, the Halloween-based event brings six terrifying mazes, as well as five scare zones and other exciting attractions throughout the park.
“The Thing: Assimilation” is one of the newest mazes in the park. Based on the upcoming film, “The Thing,” the maze brings attendees into an abandoned lab, where all five senses are tested. Not only are the visuals frightening, but the smells throughout the maze can easily make a person gag. The sight of dog corpses and the sounds of whimpering can also make one terrified of “The Thing.”
Eli Roth’s “Hostel” maze lures guests in the same manner as the 2005 gore/thriller. Beautiful foreign women ask guests to come inside for a night of entertainment. They would be right if entertainment meant running for your life from crazed human hunters. The maze takes attendees through several torture chambers and death traps. Guests watch the scare actors get tortured, and literally feel their pain as blood can gush off of one person’s severed body part and spray anyone in the room.
Rock legend Alice Cooper’s “Welcome to My Nightmare” maze is also one of the newest in the park. Musically accompanied by some of Cooper’s greatest hits, the maze brings attendees into his twisted mind. Guillotine decapitations, electric chairs, an insane asylum and other terrifying features are all included in this attraction.
Rob Zombie’s “House of 1,000 Corpses” is a one-of-a-kind 3D experience. Upon entering the maze, guests are donned with 3D glasses that allow them access to see messages scrawled on the walls, as well as other images. At times, the 3D can seem over-the-top and unnecessary, but in the end, it adds to the experience. The carnival-style maze brings guests into the 2003 film of the same name. Filled with demented characters and situations, the maze is a unique entrance into the manic mind of Rob Zombie.
“La Llorona: Villa De Almas Perdidas” (The Weeping Woman: Village of Lost Soul) brings guests directly into the Mexican folklore tale. Extending from runs from previous years, this year, the “La Llorona” maze was crafted with the help of Mexico-based film star Diego Luna. Through elaborate sets and costumes, this maze tells the tale of the weeping woman, whose cries of “My children! Where are my children?” can be heard throughout the attraction.
As guests enter “The Wolfman: The Curse of Talbot Hall,” they make their way through a forest, covered by the dead and living bodies of mutilated villagers. As they enter the Talbot mansion, each room represents a different form of transformation, until they become disturbed by the Wolfman himself.
One of the most thrilling attractions every year is the “Terror Tram.” This year, guests are chased by the Ghostface Killer from Wes Craven’s “Scream” series. Titled “Scream 4 Your Life,” this attraction brings guests through the famous Universal Studios backlots, where they are then dropped off by famous attractions, such as the Bates Motel from “Psycho,” while getting chased by Ghostface and hundreds of demented clowns.
As a nice break from the gore and horror, “Halloween Horror Nights” also provides comic relief with “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure.” In this satire-based show, no pop culture icons are safe. From “Harry Potter” to Adele, movies and musicians are playfully ridiculed in this performance. With musical hits of 2011, as well as a cast of exquisite dancers and actors, this show is a nearly perfect way to escape the terrors that lurk the rest of the theme park.
Tickets to “Halloween Horror Nights” can be purchased at UniversalStudiosHollywood.com/hhn. Prices vary depending on dates. Event dates are: September 23, 24, 30; October 1, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. The event will begin nightly at 7 p.m.; closing hours vary by night throughout the event.
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