In its 27th year, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights mixes the classic and the guignol, with houses based on The Shinning, Saw and American Horror Story
SHADE-O-METER RATING
4 OUTTA 5 WERKS: “SHE GAVE GOOD FACE – SHE SERVED IT”
What is Halloween Horror Nights (HHN)? It’s the Halloween event at Universal Orlando. This year’s event—the 27th year—had nine new (they don’t tend to repeat house) houses, five scare zones, and two shows. Some of the rides were open as well. The featured houses were The Shinning, Saw and American Horror Story ones. How much was the parking? $20. As a treat, there was some concierge parking for $30 as well. Does the venue serve liquor? Yes. Beer, wine and one (you read it correctly; only one) specialty drink. How was the drink? Very tried. It was some syrupy stuff that was served with a double straw. She was rather weak, expensive ($13), and came light up and blinking for all the world to see. Does the venue serve food? There were some food booths that served typical fair food (funnel cakes, pizza, etc.). We didn’t get any of it. However, most of the regular restaurants were open. How much were the tickets? Depending on the night, the prices (with a discount from a Coca-Cola or Burger King UPC code) range from $59.99 to $83.99. However, if you want to see all the houses, you’ll have to get the front-of-the-line “Express Pass” ticket. With some of the lines at an hour or more, there is no other way to do it. The Express Pass starts at $79.99.
INTRODUCING THE ECHO DOT
How was The Shinning house? Just from the advertising and the audio of “Midnight, The Stars and You” that was played at the park’s entrance, it was obvious that this was the event’s showpiece. HHN typically begins their mazes with the exterior of the film’s house, so it was a disappointment that it quizzically began with the hedge maze instead of the Overlook Hotel. I also expected to see the kitchen from the film, the famous bathroom, and some type of representation of the Rocky Mountains’ drive. None were present. In addition, the presentation was topical instead of linear. Despite all that, this house was the most stunning of them all. The standout imagery was Dick Halloran inquiring “you like ice cream, don’t you Doc?”, the twins standing in a hallway but reflected in a mirror, the old “hag” laughing at you, both the ballroom and the bar, a party patron commenting that it’s a “great party, isn’t it?”, and, of course, the elevator. It was not easy to tell how the elevator effect was done, but it appears to be effected using a combination of a moving room, a pixilated screen, and fluctuations of monochromatic and color lights.
How was the Saw: The Game of Jigsaw house? These movies are not really my cut of tea, but from what I know of them, all the famous torture “set pieces” appeared to of been represented, including one young male victim who was in his underwear and had a contraption on his head. The creepy “Billy” puppet on a bike greeted you at the beginning of the house. How was the American Horror Story: Volume 2 house? The house featured three seasons. The Roanoke season was prominently featured, with reenactments of gruesome murders, as well as the Kathy Bates character welcoming you with a meat cleaver. The Coven (I think) and the Asylum series were likewise represented on a smaller scale. How was the Dead Waters house? This was a bayou-drenched voodoo-themed house, resplendent with multiple representations of witch doctors and some voodoo queens (not those type of queens). The house was ok, but Busch Gardens recently had a similarly themed house, and their version was probably a little better.
How was the Scarecrow: The Reaping house? According to the event’s website, this is a “Depression-era” farm where you’re the victim. The scarecrow theming may be less common in the current horror panacea than, for example, zombies or vampires. The other people who were with me thought that this house was the scariest. How was the Horrors of Blumhouse house? This house featured scenes from Insidious, Sinister and The Purge films. Each series has multiple films, so there was not much that could be developed in five to ten minutes. Of all the Blumhouse characters, the “Lipstick-Face Demon” was featured most prominently. How was the Ash vs Evil Dead house? This house was excellent. Satirical and with large and authentic set pieces that effectively evoked the woodsy locale, and with multiple incantations of “Ash” (Bruce Campbell) offering up both wisecracks and warnings as you walked by.
How was The Fallen house? According to the event’s website, this house is about the “eternal war of light versus dark.” With Hellraiser-inspired “creatures,” of course the emphasis with on the “dark.” How was The Hive house? This house was a pleasant surprise. The name conjures up anthophilic imagery, but as one progressed in the house, the Nosferatu theme was revealed with a culmination of an eight-foot version of his “highness” running at you out of an obscured corridor. How were the scare zones? There were five zones, but the only one that was worth anything was The Purge zone. Complete with purge video and audio (the sirens) warnings, non-stop smoke, trucks driving down the street accompanied by purges yelling at you to get out of the way of it, periodic purging executions on an elevated platform, and potential “victims” pacing around, the entire zone was extremely overwhelming to the point where it was hard to decipher between the patrons and the Universal employees.
How were the shows? There were two shows. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure (the name alone is not enticing), and a Cirque du Soleil-inspired dance performance. We didn’t see either of them. What could have improved the event? Is five minutes too long for today’s internet-using audiences to pay attention? Similar to how contemporary DJs play a song for only a minute, some of the houses only represented a film for that long. The houses would likely be improved if they just explored the themes of one film—for better or for worse—for the entire five minutes. What was surprising about the event? One of the demons from the Ash vs. Evil Dead house taunted you with a “you pussies” comment (which is presumably a line from the TV series) as you passed by.
Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights is located at 6000 Universal Blvd, in Orlando, Florida. The event is on select nights from Sept. 15 to Nov. 4.
