You CAN Make This Stuff Up
You CAN Make This Stuff Up
It takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work to bring Halloween Horror Nights to life (or to death, if you will). Before the hordes of zombies, chainsaw-toting brutes, ghouls, and other characters can inhabit the haunted houses and streets of Universal Studios Florida, an army of makeup artists needs to transform the "scareactors."
Save money and time and get discounted (up to 30% savings) Halloween Horror Night 2012 tickets in advance.
Buy direct from Best of Orlando.
Next: No Way Out- The street characters are everywhere.
No Way Out
Instead of separate "scare zones," which have been a tradition at Halloween Horror Nights, the 2012 version has one big scare zone. Universal says that the entire park is fair game, including the streets, sidewalks, alleys, shops, and restaurants.
Next: Excuse Me- A street character in action.
Excuse Me
One of the "scareactors" sneaks up on a guest. While Universal billed the 2012 event as one giant scare zone teeming with characters, there didn't seem to be appreciably more than in past years, at least the night I visited. Still, it can be harrowing to be confronted by a guy who looks like this.
Next: Night Nurse- Blood bag, anyone?
Night Nurse
It never fails to amaze me how much alcohol is sold and consumed at Halloween Horror Nights. Every few feet, there are vendors hawking all kinds of hooch such as this nurse selling "blood bags" filled with jello shots. Yum!
Next: Nursing Home- My mini review of the Silent Hill maze.
Silent Hill Haunted House Mini Review
About.com rating (out of 5)
Theme: 5
Scares: 4.5
Overall: 4.5
One of the featured haunted houses is Silent Hill. The creepy video game and horror film series (which is spawning a movie sequel, Silent Hill: Revelation 3D, that will debut in late October 2012) inspires an especially creepy maze at the event. It is a story that was just begging to be turned into a haunted maze.
Set in a Virginia town that has been somehow turned on its axis into a netherworld and is perpetually engulfed in flames, guests are overwhelmed by the smell of fire and are pelted by pieces of ash as soon as they enter.
In the first scene, a bizarre creature does a slow-zombie march towards guests, but is stopped in its tracks by the gunfire of police officers. It only gets stranger from there.
One of the staples of the series are the faceless nurses who seem more intent on inflicting pain rather than easing it. It's difficult to tell which nurses inside the maze (and there are plenty of them) are static figures and which are inhabited by actors -- until they lunge at you. The disturbing scenes, loads of "scareactors," and freaky vibe make for a frightening and effective maze.
Next: Bathroom horrors- Another Silent Hill scene.
Oh Crap!
I don't know exactly what the "double dare" is regarding this toilet, and frankly, I'm not sure that I want to know. But the Silent Hill maze is so freaky, some guests may feel an, um, bathroom emergency coming on and may be reduced to taking on the dare. Bathrooms, as you will see, figure prominently in the maze.
Next: Filthy bathroom- Another scene from the Silent Hill house.
Get Some Lysol and a Sponge
The conditions are considerably less than sanitary in this bathroom within the Silent Hill house. The filthy room, with its chains and wires, reminded me of another horror franchise, Saw. The scene, which includes props, effective lighting, and other details, demonstrates the lavish attention that Universal gives to its Halloween event.
Next: Creepy girl- Inside the Silent Hill house.
Stares on the Stairs
There are many disturbing scenes in the Silent Hill maze at Halloween Horror Nights. Some invoke traditional haunt gotchas, while others are more subtle. This especially creepy scene, of a spectral young girl shrouded in fog at the top of a set of stairs, is the kind of image that can linger and cause nightmares long after the gotchas have subsided.
Next: I want my mummy- Another haunting scene from the Silent Hill maze.
Mummy Mia
Disturbing scenes abound in the Silent Hill house, including this bloody mummy in a wheelchair. The scene raises questions, such as: Why does the blood appear fresh when the mummy appears to have been hanging around for awhile? I suppose the blood wouldn't necessarily have to be the mummy's, right? Hmm. That's even more disturbing.
Next: Robbie the Rabbit- Another character from the Silent Hill house.
Dead End Haunted House Mini Review
One of Silent Hill's recurring characters, Robbie the Rabbit, lurks in the maze at Halloween Horror Nights. The bright pink bunny provides a stark visual contrast to the maze's mostly washed out and dimly lit scenes. Don't let Robbie's eye-popping colors and toothy smile fool you, however. His blood-stained mouth indicates that the rabbit has a darker side.
Next: Dead End- Mini review of the Halloween Horror Nights house.
Peek-a-Boo (with an Emphasis on the Boo)
About.com rating (out of 5)
Theme: 2.5
Scares: 4
Overall: 3.5
Perhaps the most traditional haunted house of the seven that Universal Orlando is presenting in 2012, Dead End uses the usual tricks of the trade to terrorize guests. Classic misdirection, claustrophobic passageways, hidden monsters: They are all here. There is even a disorienting spinning barrel "vortex" to walk through.
Universal says that the house is set in Carey, Ohio.
The Midwestern burgh, which is the hometown of one of the producers of Halloween Horror Nights, has played a recurring role at the event through the years. The HHN folks also describe the maze's setting as a Victorian mansion, but it looks more like a ramshackle backwoods cabin from the outside.
There are some great effects, one of which combines wind, sound, lighting, and a live actor to deliver a unique and potent scare. Some of the scenes, especially toward the end of the maze, include some ear-splitting sound effects. Universal capitalizes on every sense to bring the chills.
Next: Peek-a-Boo- Another scene from Dead End.
I've Grown Accustomed to Your Face
You never know where monsters might be lurking in the Dead End maze. This lovely chap slides out from under one of the pieces of furniture to deliver quite a scare.
Next: Face It- Inside the Dead End house.
Must...Have...Camera
In the Dead End maze, this monster's face seems to have vanished -- along with her fingers. Nice dress though.
Next: No photos please- A peek inside the Dead End maze continues.
Parlor Trick in Dead End
When you visit the library inside the Dead End maze at Halloween Horror Nights, you could check out the books. Or you could just check out. This visitor seems to be thinking about trading his camera for his...life?
Next: Will the real monster please stand up.- Our tour through the Dead End maze continues.
Alice Cooper Welcome to My Nightmare Haunted House Mini Review
One of these girls, um, ghouls, is not like the other. Trust me, when the lights are low (as opposed to this camera flash-lit scene) in the Dead End maze, you'd never know that the gal on the left is alive -- and waiting to scare the daylights out of you.
Next: Welcome to his nightmare- A mini review of the Alice Cooper house.
Universal's House of Horrors Haunted House Mini Review
About.com rating (out of 5)
Theme: 4
Scares: 3.5
Overall: 3.5
Alice Copper, the rock icon who has weaved horror into his songs and shows for decades, is a natural for Halloween Horror Nights. His Welcome to My Nightmare is based on his 1975 record of the same name (and its sequel) and transports guests into the sick world of the concept albums' main character, Steven.
As an Alice admirer, I was looking forward to Universal's interpretation of his peculiar art form.
However, I found the maze to be a disjointed, jumbled mess. It was hard to follow any narrative with the stream of consciousness flow of the scenes and the cacophonous soundtrack blaring "No More Mr. Nice Guy" and other Cooper gems.
But maybe that's the point. Steven is one messed-up dude, and this peek into his mind is perhaps supposed to show his psychotic state. And nightmares, after all, are often a disjointed series of scenes that make no sense. But nightmares are also supposed to be ultra-scary. While it had its moments, the house could have used some amped-up scares.
Alice's nightmare-come-to-life does have some noteworthy moments, including the juxtaposition of a doting suburban mom in a 1970s kitchen against the backdrop of the maze's general madness and a fairly convincing Alice look-alike, in his top-hatted showman regalia, showing what a no-more-Mr.-nice-guy he can be.
Next: The classic monsters- A mini review of the House of Horrors house.
Gothic Haunted House Mini Review
About.com rating (out of 5)
Theme: 4
Scares: 4
Overall: 3
Based on Universal's hype, I was expecting more from its House of Horrors maze, which pays homage to the classic monsters that are a vital part of the movie studio's legacy. According to show director Patrick Braillard, designers developed a new "lightning flash" technology that bring icons such as Frankenstein's Monster and Dracula to life in their original black and white glory.
It sounds mighty cool.
In practice, though, the effect was just OK. Actors dressed in monochromatic clothes and makeup, along with copious amounts of black-light-sensitive paint, do momentarily glow when the lights flicker on. But there are so many of them, the effect quickly loses its element of surprise and grows a bit stale. Had it been used more judiciously, perhaps it would have worked better.
Having said that, the combined sensory assault of the lunging actors, the lightning flashes, the Day-Glo paint, and the thunderclap booms made for a jumpy and fairly scary experience. And it's always good to see Franky and the gang in the spotlight. The cheesy, old-school movie soundtrack, featuring the stentorian voice of the great Boris Karloff is a nice touch. And some of the sets, such as the lobby of an old movie theater and a room filled with oversized strips of black-and-white celluloid film are inspired.
Next: Going goth- A mini review of the Gothic house.
AMC's The Walking Dead: Dead Inside Haunted House Mini Review
About.com rating (out of 5)
Theme: 4.5
Scares: 4.5
Overall: 4.5
If House of Horrors was a bit of a letdown, the under-hyped Gothic is the sleeper surprise and one of the standout haunted houses at this year's event. It has a killer premise: Guests enter an old cathedral that is being refurbished, and the building's gargoyles come to life to protect the church from the disruption. Standing still as statues until they pounce, it's hard to tell the actor-inhabited gargoyles from the prop gargoyles.
Now, that is scary.
In addition to the great concept, the Gothic house has some killer sets. There is a stunning hall of candles that is reminiscent of the loading station in the Forbidden Journey of Harry Potter ride at Islands of Adventure. Unlike most of the other ramshackle mazes, the European church has clean lines and lots of detail. Many of the statues are quite ornate as well.
There is a wild effect in which a "balcony" appears to overlook an eerie, empty sanctuary that is 30-odd feet beneath it. What makes this head-scrtatching (and delightful) is that guests enter the house's soundstage at ground level and never climb any higher. Unless the designers dug a 30-foot hole beneath the set, which is highly improbable, that is one convincing and wondrous piece of theme park magic.
Next: Keep on walking- A mini review of The Walking Dead house.
Keeping Abreast of a Nuclear Catastrophe
About.com rating (out of 5)
Theme: 5
Scares: 4
Overall: 4
Like Silent Hill, the popular AMC TV program, The Walking Dead was just, ahem, dying, to be transformed into a haunted maze. Of course, it is crawling with flesh-hungry zombies, or "walkers" as the show (and the comic book on which it is based) refers to them.
Mimicking the pilot episode of the series, the first set in the house depicts a hospital that has been overrun with walkers.
There is a gag-worthy scene in which two zombies gleefully munch on a freshly deceased corpse on a gurney. Yich! In addition to the hospital, with its blood-inscripted doors warning "Don't open. Dead inside," fans will recognize many other set pieces that are lifted directly from the show, including an RV and an Atlanta department store that both served as temporary holdouts for the protagonists.
In terms of scares, zombies are a tricky proposition. According to the laws set by George A. Romero, they move slowly. That's a problem when you have guests to terrorize. The maze solves this by having the actors momentarily break out of their halting gait and lunge as visitors pass them.
If you are fortunate enough to make it through the house without turning into one of the walkers, you're not home free. Hordes of zombies are waiting outside to chase you through the streets of the San Francisco area of Universal Studios Florida.
Next: The show must go on- The Penn & Teller New(kd) Las Vegas house.
Take a close look at this photo. Notice anything strange? Yep, that model of a showgirl has an extra breast. (I can't believe I just wrote that. One thing is for sure: I'd never be writing anything like that about Walt Disney World.) This is a display at a preview event about the Penn & Teller New(kd) Las Vegas maze at Halloween Horror Nights.
The showgirl is suffering the effects of nuclear radiation unleashed by the famous duo of magicians who, according to the premise of this maze, created an illusion that went horribly wrong.
All of Las Vegas is under quarantine, but lucky park visitors get to visit the remnants of the city to see the devastation up close.
Read my review of the Penn & Teller maze, which includes some funny commentary from the duo who accompanied me on a tour of their house.
It takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work to bring Halloween Horror Nights to life (or to death, if you will). Before the hordes of zombies, chainsaw-toting brutes, ghouls, and other characters can inhabit the haunted houses and streets of Universal Studios Florida, an army of makeup artists needs to transform the "scareactors."
Save money and time and get discounted (up to 30% savings) Halloween Horror Night 2012 tickets in advance.
Buy direct from Best of Orlando.
Next: No Way Out- The street characters are everywhere.
No Way Out
Instead of separate "scare zones," which have been a tradition at Halloween Horror Nights, the 2012 version has one big scare zone. Universal says that the entire park is fair game, including the streets, sidewalks, alleys, shops, and restaurants.
Next: Excuse Me- A street character in action.
Excuse Me
One of the "scareactors" sneaks up on a guest. While Universal billed the 2012 event as one giant scare zone teeming with characters, there didn't seem to be appreciably more than in past years, at least the night I visited. Still, it can be harrowing to be confronted by a guy who looks like this.
Next: Night Nurse- Blood bag, anyone?
Night Nurse
It never fails to amaze me how much alcohol is sold and consumed at Halloween Horror Nights. Every few feet, there are vendors hawking all kinds of hooch such as this nurse selling "blood bags" filled with jello shots. Yum!
Next: Nursing Home- My mini review of the Silent Hill maze.
Silent Hill Haunted House Mini Review
About.com rating (out of 5)
Theme: 5
Scares: 4.5
Overall: 4.5
One of the featured haunted houses is Silent Hill. The creepy video game and horror film series (which is spawning a movie sequel, Silent Hill: Revelation 3D, that will debut in late October 2012) inspires an especially creepy maze at the event. It is a story that was just begging to be turned into a haunted maze.
Set in a Virginia town that has been somehow turned on its axis into a netherworld and is perpetually engulfed in flames, guests are overwhelmed by the smell of fire and are pelted by pieces of ash as soon as they enter.
In the first scene, a bizarre creature does a slow-zombie march towards guests, but is stopped in its tracks by the gunfire of police officers. It only gets stranger from there.
One of the staples of the series are the faceless nurses who seem more intent on inflicting pain rather than easing it. It's difficult to tell which nurses inside the maze (and there are plenty of them) are static figures and which are inhabited by actors -- until they lunge at you. The disturbing scenes, loads of "scareactors," and freaky vibe make for a frightening and effective maze.
Next: Bathroom horrors- Another Silent Hill scene.
Oh Crap!
I don't know exactly what the "double dare" is regarding this toilet, and frankly, I'm not sure that I want to know. But the Silent Hill maze is so freaky, some guests may feel an, um, bathroom emergency coming on and may be reduced to taking on the dare. Bathrooms, as you will see, figure prominently in the maze.
Next: Filthy bathroom- Another scene from the Silent Hill house.
Get Some Lysol and a Sponge
The conditions are considerably less than sanitary in this bathroom within the Silent Hill house. The filthy room, with its chains and wires, reminded me of another horror franchise, Saw. The scene, which includes props, effective lighting, and other details, demonstrates the lavish attention that Universal gives to its Halloween event.
Next: Creepy girl- Inside the Silent Hill house.
Stares on the Stairs
There are many disturbing scenes in the Silent Hill maze at Halloween Horror Nights. Some invoke traditional haunt gotchas, while others are more subtle. This especially creepy scene, of a spectral young girl shrouded in fog at the top of a set of stairs, is the kind of image that can linger and cause nightmares long after the gotchas have subsided.
Next: I want my mummy- Another haunting scene from the Silent Hill maze.
Mummy Mia
Disturbing scenes abound in the Silent Hill house, including this bloody mummy in a wheelchair. The scene raises questions, such as: Why does the blood appear fresh when the mummy appears to have been hanging around for awhile? I suppose the blood wouldn't necessarily have to be the mummy's, right? Hmm. That's even more disturbing.
Next: Robbie the Rabbit- Another character from the Silent Hill house.
Dead End Haunted House Mini Review
One of Silent Hill's recurring characters, Robbie the Rabbit, lurks in the maze at Halloween Horror Nights. The bright pink bunny provides a stark visual contrast to the maze's mostly washed out and dimly lit scenes. Don't let Robbie's eye-popping colors and toothy smile fool you, however. His blood-stained mouth indicates that the rabbit has a darker side.
Next: Dead End- Mini review of the Halloween Horror Nights house.
Peek-a-Boo (with an Emphasis on the Boo)
About.com rating (out of 5)
Theme: 2.5
Scares: 4
Overall: 3.5
Perhaps the most traditional haunted house of the seven that Universal Orlando is presenting in 2012, Dead End uses the usual tricks of the trade to terrorize guests. Classic misdirection, claustrophobic passageways, hidden monsters: They are all here. There is even a disorienting spinning barrel "vortex" to walk through.
Universal says that the house is set in Carey, Ohio.
The Midwestern burgh, which is the hometown of one of the producers of Halloween Horror Nights, has played a recurring role at the event through the years. The HHN folks also describe the maze's setting as a Victorian mansion, but it looks more like a ramshackle backwoods cabin from the outside.
There are some great effects, one of which combines wind, sound, lighting, and a live actor to deliver a unique and potent scare. Some of the scenes, especially toward the end of the maze, include some ear-splitting sound effects. Universal capitalizes on every sense to bring the chills.
Next: Peek-a-Boo- Another scene from Dead End.
I've Grown Accustomed to Your Face
You never know where monsters might be lurking in the Dead End maze. This lovely chap slides out from under one of the pieces of furniture to deliver quite a scare.
Next: Face It- Inside the Dead End house.
Must...Have...Camera
In the Dead End maze, this monster's face seems to have vanished -- along with her fingers. Nice dress though.
Next: No photos please- A peek inside the Dead End maze continues.
Parlor Trick in Dead End
When you visit the library inside the Dead End maze at Halloween Horror Nights, you could check out the books. Or you could just check out. This visitor seems to be thinking about trading his camera for his...life?
Next: Will the real monster please stand up.- Our tour through the Dead End maze continues.
Alice Cooper Welcome to My Nightmare Haunted House Mini Review
One of these girls, um, ghouls, is not like the other. Trust me, when the lights are low (as opposed to this camera flash-lit scene) in the Dead End maze, you'd never know that the gal on the left is alive -- and waiting to scare the daylights out of you.
Next: Welcome to his nightmare- A mini review of the Alice Cooper house.
Universal's House of Horrors Haunted House Mini Review
About.com rating (out of 5)
Theme: 4
Scares: 3.5
Overall: 3.5
Alice Copper, the rock icon who has weaved horror into his songs and shows for decades, is a natural for Halloween Horror Nights. His Welcome to My Nightmare is based on his 1975 record of the same name (and its sequel) and transports guests into the sick world of the concept albums' main character, Steven.
As an Alice admirer, I was looking forward to Universal's interpretation of his peculiar art form.
However, I found the maze to be a disjointed, jumbled mess. It was hard to follow any narrative with the stream of consciousness flow of the scenes and the cacophonous soundtrack blaring "No More Mr. Nice Guy" and other Cooper gems.
But maybe that's the point. Steven is one messed-up dude, and this peek into his mind is perhaps supposed to show his psychotic state. And nightmares, after all, are often a disjointed series of scenes that make no sense. But nightmares are also supposed to be ultra-scary. While it had its moments, the house could have used some amped-up scares.
Alice's nightmare-come-to-life does have some noteworthy moments, including the juxtaposition of a doting suburban mom in a 1970s kitchen against the backdrop of the maze's general madness and a fairly convincing Alice look-alike, in his top-hatted showman regalia, showing what a no-more-Mr.-nice-guy he can be.
Next: The classic monsters- A mini review of the House of Horrors house.
Gothic Haunted House Mini Review
About.com rating (out of 5)
Theme: 4
Scares: 4
Overall: 3
Based on Universal's hype, I was expecting more from its House of Horrors maze, which pays homage to the classic monsters that are a vital part of the movie studio's legacy. According to show director Patrick Braillard, designers developed a new "lightning flash" technology that bring icons such as Frankenstein's Monster and Dracula to life in their original black and white glory.
It sounds mighty cool.
In practice, though, the effect was just OK. Actors dressed in monochromatic clothes and makeup, along with copious amounts of black-light-sensitive paint, do momentarily glow when the lights flicker on. But there are so many of them, the effect quickly loses its element of surprise and grows a bit stale. Had it been used more judiciously, perhaps it would have worked better.
Having said that, the combined sensory assault of the lunging actors, the lightning flashes, the Day-Glo paint, and the thunderclap booms made for a jumpy and fairly scary experience. And it's always good to see Franky and the gang in the spotlight. The cheesy, old-school movie soundtrack, featuring the stentorian voice of the great Boris Karloff is a nice touch. And some of the sets, such as the lobby of an old movie theater and a room filled with oversized strips of black-and-white celluloid film are inspired.
Next: Going goth- A mini review of the Gothic house.
AMC's The Walking Dead: Dead Inside Haunted House Mini Review
About.com rating (out of 5)
Theme: 4.5
Scares: 4.5
Overall: 4.5
If House of Horrors was a bit of a letdown, the under-hyped Gothic is the sleeper surprise and one of the standout haunted houses at this year's event. It has a killer premise: Guests enter an old cathedral that is being refurbished, and the building's gargoyles come to life to protect the church from the disruption. Standing still as statues until they pounce, it's hard to tell the actor-inhabited gargoyles from the prop gargoyles.
Now, that is scary.
In addition to the great concept, the Gothic house has some killer sets. There is a stunning hall of candles that is reminiscent of the loading station in the Forbidden Journey of Harry Potter ride at Islands of Adventure. Unlike most of the other ramshackle mazes, the European church has clean lines and lots of detail. Many of the statues are quite ornate as well.
There is a wild effect in which a "balcony" appears to overlook an eerie, empty sanctuary that is 30-odd feet beneath it. What makes this head-scrtatching (and delightful) is that guests enter the house's soundstage at ground level and never climb any higher. Unless the designers dug a 30-foot hole beneath the set, which is highly improbable, that is one convincing and wondrous piece of theme park magic.
Next: Keep on walking- A mini review of The Walking Dead house.
Keeping Abreast of a Nuclear Catastrophe
About.com rating (out of 5)
Theme: 5
Scares: 4
Overall: 4
Like Silent Hill, the popular AMC TV program, The Walking Dead was just, ahem, dying, to be transformed into a haunted maze. Of course, it is crawling with flesh-hungry zombies, or "walkers" as the show (and the comic book on which it is based) refers to them.
Mimicking the pilot episode of the series, the first set in the house depicts a hospital that has been overrun with walkers.
There is a gag-worthy scene in which two zombies gleefully munch on a freshly deceased corpse on a gurney. Yich! In addition to the hospital, with its blood-inscripted doors warning "Don't open. Dead inside," fans will recognize many other set pieces that are lifted directly from the show, including an RV and an Atlanta department store that both served as temporary holdouts for the protagonists.
In terms of scares, zombies are a tricky proposition. According to the laws set by George A. Romero, they move slowly. That's a problem when you have guests to terrorize. The maze solves this by having the actors momentarily break out of their halting gait and lunge as visitors pass them.
If you are fortunate enough to make it through the house without turning into one of the walkers, you're not home free. Hordes of zombies are waiting outside to chase you through the streets of the San Francisco area of Universal Studios Florida.
Next: The show must go on- The Penn & Teller New(kd) Las Vegas house.
Take a close look at this photo. Notice anything strange? Yep, that model of a showgirl has an extra breast. (I can't believe I just wrote that. One thing is for sure: I'd never be writing anything like that about Walt Disney World.) This is a display at a preview event about the Penn & Teller New(kd) Las Vegas maze at Halloween Horror Nights.
The showgirl is suffering the effects of nuclear radiation unleashed by the famous duo of magicians who, according to the premise of this maze, created an illusion that went horribly wrong.
All of Las Vegas is under quarantine, but lucky park visitors get to visit the remnants of the city to see the devastation up close.
Read my review of the Penn & Teller maze, which includes some funny commentary from the duo who accompanied me on a tour of their house.
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