From mask-wearing serial killers to street-walking voodoo priestesses, Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights offers an abundance of fearful frights for all ages. This 24th year of terror is enough to strike fear into the heart of any horror enthusiast.
I’ll admit, after the less-than-spooky events of Halloween Horror Nights 22 and 23, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of sheer terror offered by both the scare houses and zones. Gone are the days of scarer-less street props and haggard haunted houses; this year’s masterpieces are not for the feint of heart.
The scare sets of the year include pop culture phenomenons, classic tales of terror and everything in between. The headlining houses are Jack Carpenter’s “Halloween” and AMC’s “The Walking Dead: End of the Line,” the largest scare house ever produced for a Halloween Horror Nights event. Other main attractions include “AVP: Alien Vs. Predator,” “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Dollhouse of the Damned,” “Roanoke – Cannibal Colony,” “Giggles & Gore Inc.,” and “Dracula Untold – Reign of Blood.”
This year’s street sets were full of fearful delights. Pop culture sensation “The Purge: Anarchy” had it’s own scare zone, complete with motorcycle-riding murderers and knife-wielding, mask-wearing killers. Guests are greeted just inside the gate by stilted MASKeraders, who make great fun of playing with knife-wicked candles.
As terrifying as this year’s attractions may be, it is quite possible that they are a mere preview of Halloween Horror Nights 25. 2010’s 20th anniversary celebration included a two-park flashback at twenty years of Halloween Horror Nights fear, with several scare zones and houses reflecting those of years past, as well as foreshadowing those of the future. A quarter century of terror is a horrifying thought, but HHN enthusiasts made very clear their hopes of an outstanding event come 2015.
Halloween Horror Nights offers events on select nights through Nov. 1. Upon entrance, keep a brave face, because as this year’s shirts read, fear will eat you alive.
