First look: All 10 houses from Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights
Halloween Horror Nights has cranked up at Universal Studios with 10 haunted houses and five scare zones that again present walk-through living nightmares.
Along with the event’s trademark bloody scenes and lurching creatures, we noted other trends during our opening-night journey, including decapitation, smoldering coals (with and without bodies), bell ringers, frights from above, collection of souls, up-close scares (so pre-COVID), an advance in projection effects and a fair amount of sorcery. And were some of the hallways done up in pastels? Unnerving.
Here are our not-so-spoiler first impressions of the mazes, achieved in one night through the R.I.P.-style tour provided through the media preview on opening night, which had its share of long lines despite the early evening downpour that greeted HHN fans.
The Exorcist: Believer
What it is: A house based on a movie that opens Oct. 6.
What we saw: Old-school “Exorcist” elements such as possession, possible levitation and blood-splattered walls, plus children in peril and a three-eyed doll gone wild.
Why we might never sleep again: That scare actor standing in front of a wall where MOTHER is spelled out in blood.
Universal Monsters: Unmasked
What it is: Montages featuring Invisible Man, Phantom of the Opera, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jekyll and Hyde.
What we saw: As usual, the monsters get a nice set, and this year it has unusually close-up scares and tight conditions even up in the opera box, where face carving is underway. There’s also a dark/black light room with the effective “who’s alive/who’s not” set of figures.
Why we might never sleep again: The Hunchback seems distant but doesn’t stay that way.
Yeti: Campground Kills
What it is: Outraged Yeti on the loose in the 1950s. They have their reasons.
What we saw: A flurry of yeti and there may have been a skunk ape, too. So many big creatures we got distracted thinking about how many people of a certain size had to be cast for this house.
Why we might never sleep again: For such massive beasts, their scares were out of nowhere and constant. And if you wanted to be a yeti for Halloween, we suspect Universal has all the costumes already.
Bloodmoon: Dark Offerings
What it is: Members of a 1600s cult turn on the non-believers of their village.
What we saw: Lovely entrance with red moon leads to rooms of mayhem, pitchfork violence, distraught children (“They killed momma and poppa,” she cried) and human sacrifice. And yet, the views of the bell tower were striking.
Why we might never sleep again: A theme highlighting man’s inhumanity to man might be too on the nose these days.
The Darkest Deal
What it is: It’s a musical journey to Hell.
What we saw: Bluesy artist Pinestraw Spruce, selling soul, set to music. (Watch for signature effect early on.) He reaps the benefits on stage, but of course he pays the price, and things get heated, so to speak. (Note to all: Read the fine print.)
Why we might never sleep again: The favorite off-key startle of the night, but we won’t to spoil it.
Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate
What it is: An homage to the former Islands of Adventure roller coaster (1999-2010).
What we saw: The wizard-driven backstory of the ride in a creatively lit setting, pitting Fire side against Ice and its cool costuming. DD fans probably will be happy to see parts of the castle, the embedded skulls, that creaky door that was in the queue and the opportunity to choose their fate again.
Why we might never sleep again: Actually, this was more pretty than pretty scary.
Dr. Oddfellow: Twisted Origins
What it is: Iconic sideshow setting and an interaction with (checks notes) Jack the Clown?
What we saw: Elaborate costuming and detailed set with a slew of clowns, burlesque moments, assorted freaks (goat man alert). Note that Jack isn’t sporting the look once seen on billboards. Four-word hot tip: Jack in the box.
Why we might never sleep again: One of the best on-the-move illusions of the event. We lost our heads.
Stranger Things
What it is: A recap of the fourth season of the Netflix series, which debuted last year.
What we saw: Eddie and his trailer are spot-on, Eleven does her thing and Vecna is omnipresent.
Why we might never sleep again: The finale is striking.
The Last of Us
What it is: Popular video game goes three-dimensional with scenes from Pittsburgh.
What we saw: Joel and Ellie protect us as we stroll through bits and pieces of the game, complete with familiar sound effects. Moldy-looking characters match the moldy-looking walls at points.
Why we might never sleep again: The bloater costume, which we awarded best of show.
Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count
What it is: Based on the SyFy show with a killer doll.
What we saw: Lots and lots of Chucky in various forms and sizes, continuously creepy. Officials say 250 Chucky dolls were purchased for this house.
Why we might never sleep again: Chucky fans are out in force with their striped shirts.
Halloween Horror Nights is an after-hours extra-ticket event. It continues on select nights through Nov. 4.
dbevil@orlandosentinel.com and pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com
