By Cassidy Johnson
The Blue and White was invited by Universal Studios Orlando to participate in their Student Media Night Event during Halloween Horror Nights. This included a Q & A with one of the creators of the spooky spectacle and express passes to ensure student reporters had enough time to access all areas of the theme park. I along with other student reporters got a behind the scenes exclusive on the 27th year of Halloween Horror Nights, which runs most days between Sept. 15 and Nov. 4. The ghoulish gathering features an array of haunted houses, shows, and scare zones. Normal rides such as Hollywood’s Rip Ride Rocket and The Simpson’s remain open during Halloween Horror Nights.
Fully aware that I am an extreme scaredy cat, I took Horror Night veteran and senior, Emma Treadwell, with me to be my guide and rock. Emma and I were able to walk through 8 of the 9 houses this year, the scare zones, and pass by a show. Despite the initial rain, we had a blast.
Show director for the haunted houses Charles Gray was eager to discuss what it takes to bring Halloween Horror Nights to life. He revealed how Universal aims to have a mix of original sets as well as IPs, or intellectual properties. They usually have 3 to 4 original houses a year and the others will represent already produced concepts. Mr. Gray explained the overarching theme this year, The Festival of the Deadliest, saying, “Halloween is a big party right? Everybody’s having a good time. Festival of the Deadliest is the idea that from a distance it’s this really cool party, you’re going to have a lot of fun, but as you get closer you realize it’s gross and disgusting and nasty.” You could really tell that Gray cherished his job, particularly discussing the sanctity of intellectual property. Creators have the privilege not only to recreate certain movies but gain access to ones yet to be released. For The Horrors of Blumhouse, creators got an early look at Insidious 4 which comes out in January. The same went for the new Saw movie that is represented.
The group of student reporters was escorted to the haunted house Dead Waters by Universal Studios officials. An original concept expanded from a feature a few years ago, it features a swamp voodoo queen who raises marsh creatures to attack you. While not as terrifying as some of the other houses, it bears an attention to detail that is seen through the event. The Fallen really stands your hair on end with grotesque hellish creatures performing jump scares and flying above you. With impaled victim after impaled victim, this one is terrifying from the start. This house comes from The Festival of the Deadliest. One house pays homage to a production company known for making horror flicks. Blumhouse is divided into 3 sections: the Purge, the Sinister, and Insidious–the last of which had by far the greatest effect on me with the strobe lights and inhuman creatures. Scarecrow: The Reaping brought out my fear of corn mazes and is ranked highest on my personal Scare-o-Meter. The external decorations have you freaked out even before the grain goblins are coming at you from all sides of the barn. At one point I could not keep my composure when an actual human-sized scarecrow flew–yes flew–at me through a clearing, screeching. Second only to Scarecrow is Hive which is basically a horde of not-your-average-Twilight-vampires jumping out at you in an abandoned structure. Random pig heads were a surprise. The Saw house scared me so much that at one point I untangled my arm from Emma and ran ahead through a hallway. More homage is paid with one house that recreates iconic horror movie, “The Shining.” The Shining features both hotel and hedge maze settings, and of course those twins and the little boy on the bike. It’s not scary so much as impressive with the design detailing. The American Horror Story house taking after the TV show includes 3 seasons not represented in earlier years: Coven, Asylum, and Roanoke. The sets and characters were very accurate to the show, with more psychotic pig heads, and distorted storylines. The one house that I and my trusty partner did not visit was Ash Evil Dead, which differs from the others in that it’s meant to be humorous as well frightening. Coming from the Evil Dead movies and a show on the channel Starz, it’s the lighter house of the bunch.
A total of 5 Scare Zones are laid out in the streets of Universal Studios. For Festival of the Deadliest imagine a grand Hollywood party . . . of demons. All in their best attire . . . but the dress code is leather, maces, and skulls. My favorite was The Purge. Combining all 3 movies people are chasing you around with chainsaws, auctioning off citizens, and a shift change with motorcycles and a truck rolling down an avenue. Trick ‘R Treat was almost a child’s activity gone wrong. Aliens did their best to capture humans for experiments in Invasion! I hadn’t even realized that Emma and I had stumbled onto Atlas of Horrors until I was confused by the combined presence of a pig head, The Shining twins, and people with chainsaws. This Scare Zone is a conglomeration of the fearsome talents from each haunted house.
Academy of Villains: Afterlife is one of two shows put on at Halloween Horror Nights. Returning again this year with a bigger stage, the show has dance routines performed by a talented troupe. This is the last year the annual event will have Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure. Running 26 years, the comedic parody has had its share of controversy with reports of racism and copyright infringement, although there is no word if this contributed to the finale.
