Halloween Horror Nights (Hollywood)

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Halloween Horror Nights is one of the largest Halloween events in the U.S. The Hollywood event has been presented at Universal Studios Hollywood since 1997, with a hiatus between 2001 and 2005. It is an offshoot of the Orlando event which has been presented annually since 1991.

Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando & Hollywood (jointly) was named as the best amusement park Halloween event in the U.S. by HauntWorld.com.

At Fangoria's Weekend Of Horrors event Universal Studios Hollywood have confirmed that the deal with New Line will continue into the 2008 event.

Contents

[edit] 1997

This was the debut year for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood (although a Halloween event also took place at the park in 1992).[1]

Mazes

  • Monsterquarium (WaterWorld theater) - Weird animatronics and actors in water.
  • Classic Monster Maze - Short but fun maze of classic Universal monsters.
  • Cryptkeeper Film Vault - Modern film monsters.
  • Area 51 - Aliens in cold storage and running amok.

Shows

  • Beetlejuice's Rockin' Graveyard Revue - Camp-laden musical show -- same as the daytime version.
  • Creepy Animals - A live animal show with cockroaches, snakes, spiders, etc.
  • Circus of Freaks
  • Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure - Current events satire and a fight with the Cyberspace Witch.

[edit] 1998

Mazes[2]

  • Clive Barker's FREAKZ maze - Human curiosities, unusual oddities, and freaks of nature.
  • Classic Creatures Features - Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, the Phantom of the Opera, and the Creature From the Black Lagoon.
  • The Cryptkeeper's Screaming Room - The monsters and slashers that have taunted you through the years from the big screen.
  • Alien Assault - You'll be abducted by the extraterrestrials and travel deep inside a spaceship to experience inhuman terror that would make Mulder and Scully weep!

Shows[2]

  • The Ultimate Tribute to KISS - Cover band Black Diamond.
  • Chucky's Wedding Chapel - Chucky and his bride Tiffany host nightly weddings and audience participation is mandatory.
  • SlaughterWorld - All the death defying stunts of WaterWorld plus all new visions of horror.
  • Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure II - SPOOF is the word. The boys from San Dimas are back in an all new action-packed laugh-filled adventure.
  • Carnival of Carnage - Sword swallowers, glass eaters, and human pincushions put their battered bodies through acts of brutality for your viewing pleasure.

[edit] 1999

Mazes

  • Clive Barker's Hell - Dare to enter the putrid put of infernal damnation from the Wizard of Wickedness.
  • The Thrilling Chilling World of Rob Zombie - Tunnel deep inside the most depraved realm of all -- Rob Zombie's brain -- where the living dead reign supreme!
  • The Mummy - Encounter the actual terrors that traumatized you in Universal Pictures' smash hit movie!
  • Creature Features - Step through the movie screen to rub elbows and other body parts with classic Universal Monsters like Frankenstein, Dracula, and Wolfman.
  • Cleaver's Meat Locker - Blood-thirsty butchers hack their way through various cuts of meat, including human flesh!

Shows

  • Chucky's Insult Emporium - Petrifying put-downs to offend everyone!
  • Animal House of Horrors - Wild, man-eating beasts unleashed to run amok!
  • Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure III - The boys are back trashing media celebs in a most excellent, all new adventure.
  • Carnival of Carnage - Freak out at the sight of this gory collection of sword swallowers, glass eaters, and human pincushions torturing themselves into a tizzy!

[edit] 2000

This was the last year of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood until its return in 2006. It is unclear what caused Universal to discontinue the event, although one Usenet poster at the time claimed it was because Halloween Horror Nights was not making them any money [1].

Mazes[3][4][5]

  • The Undertaker: No Mercy - A raw, in-your-face, horror experience based on the WWE Superstar The Undertaker.
  • Buffy & Angel: Hellmouth Haunt - An attraction created by the creators of the WB Network's series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel".
  • Rob Zombie's The House of 1000 Corpses Maze - Based on Zombie's upcoming debut as a director and screenwriter.
  • Clive Barker's Harvest - You'll walk through a hole in the wall of a mausoleum leading into the ground where something is reclaiming the dead to incubate its young.
  • Theatre of Blood - A vault of Universal's classic horror films, where you'll find yourself prey to the most merciless celluloid slashers and fiends.

Shows[4][5]

  • Chucky's Insult Emporium - The infamous doll from hell's insults feast on the feeble, the ill-at-ease, and the socially inept.
  • Carnival of Carnage - Medieval torture... sword swallowers, fire and glass eaters, and human pincushions toast their unusual talents with stomach churning chasers of cockroaches, worms, and maggots.
  • Animal House of Horrors - Featuring pythons, cockroaches, bats, and rats.

[edit] 2006

Halloween Horror Nights returned to Universal Studios Hollywood for the first time since 2000. The event began on Friday, October 13 and continued for select days through Halloween. Because it was not the 16th year of the event in Hollywood, the theme was different from the "Sweet 16" one used in Orlando. The Director (a character originated at Orlando's HHN XIII as Paolo Ravinski, later Paulo Ravinski, and renamed here to Pavel Pranevsky, with some alterations in backstory) was said to have taken over the studio and to be directing his next film. For the first time in the history of the park, guests were able to walk through the studio's backlot area, and some of the scariest sets in Universal Studios history. Special makeup effects were provided by Boneyard Effects, a Hollywood makeup studio.

Backstory

To promote the event, Universal Studios developed an elaborate back-story for their central icon, the Director:

Due to the increasing success of the Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood decided that after several years of suspension they would have to do something elaborate to bring the event back to their park. Short on professional (and creative) event planners, who were busy at the Orlando Park, the Studio Executives decided to create an original horror film to both promote and inspire attractions for the event. Due to recent success with movies like Saw and Hostel, and the unavailability of directors Clive Barker and Rob Zombie, Production decided to hire small time Eastern European director Pavel Pranevsky, who had had made a name for himself in Slovakia for his realistically graphic snuff short films, such as the controversial "The Widow's Eye", which showed an uncensored scene of a woman's eye being sliced open with a razor blade, inspired by a scene from Un Chien Andalou. Assuming that Pranevsky was using unusually graphic makeup effects, and despite sinister rumors of his unethical filming techniques, they contacted him with an offer to make a movie on which to base the event, and later to coordinate the event itself. Pranevsky immediately accepted, thrilled to be allowed to use the classic sets in the Studio that invented the horror genre. Shooting began on June 6, 2006, and a publicity crew was sent to interview him, but they disappeared immediately afterward. In the interview, Pavel stressed how real fear and pain from his actors was the key to his success. A week after the interview the studio executives were sent the first several daily’s of Pranevsky's "progress" on the film. The executives were horrified to find that the uncut raw footage showed Pranevsky torturing the missing interviewers to death. The Studio shelved the Director's project, terminated his contract, locked away the footage in the vault and tried to apprehend Pranevsky, but he simply vanished, and it was assumed that he returned home to his native Slovakia. The Studio decided to continue with the event without the horror film to draw on, hiring several outside Hollywood makeup and special effects artists to replace Pranevsky. Employees, however, soon reported seeing a strange-looking man apparently living on the lot. There were also videos and pictures flooding the internet from guests on back lot tours of the studio, of a shady figure in the woods, who would sometimes film them, or could be seen dragging what looked like bodies into unused sets. In late June, the Head of Production received an 8mm film narrated by Pravanski, claiming that he wouldn't allow his vision to die, that he didn't need Universal's funding or personnel, and that he would finish it himself. The film containing "scouting shots", footage of tourists riding the Studio Back lot Tour trams who, according to Pranevsky's narration, would "help" him complete his masterpiece by providing the "realism" he needed. By the time Studio Security determined the location of the film, Pranevsky was gone, and because of the sheer size of the studio lot, security simply did not have the manpower to find him. Pranevsky was usually one step ahead, and the most security found were signs of recent habitation, trash, and bloodstains. There were literally hundreds of places a person could hide. The Studio issued a general issue advisory to all visitors to the park to keep an eye out for the deranged Director, and to not wander off alone. Despite the problems involving Pranevsky, Universal Studios decided to go ahead with their Halloween Horror Nights event, and whether the "Director" would interfere remained to be seen.

Mazes

  • The Asylum (Shrek 4-D queue area) - Travel through a maze of dark corridors in a high-security hospital for the criminally insane.
  • Universal's House of Horrors (Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula) - Take a journey into Universal Studios' horror filled past. Come face-to-face with some of the most terrifying characters ever created at this ultimate slaughter house party. This attraction is now year-round.
  • Terror Tram: The Director's Cut (Psycho and War of the Worlds sets on back lot) - For the first time step foot onto the famous backlot. But beware: the Director will be lurking nearby to cast for fresh talent. Reminiscent of a haunted hayride, Guests would board the GlamorTrams, which would take them onto the Backlot. During the ride, the tour guide would bring guests up to speed on the Director's backstory via special mockumentary shown on the LCD monitors overhead. The tram would then come to a halt just short of the first scarezones and the guests would be ordered to get out and fend for themselves. A return Tram would pick up guests near the end of the War of the Worlds set to return them to the Front Lot, but not before one last surprise from the Director, who was ready to make his final "cut".

Scarezones

  • Dawn of the Dead (New York Street) - New York Street is a scene of chaos and carnage where the dead have been feasting on the living.
  • Old London (London Street) - Fog filled streets of Old London populated by a host of frightening characters from horror films past and present.
  • Black Death (Parisian Courtyard) - Smoldering medieval town of Black Death crawling with plague infected villagers.
  • Deadwood (Western Street) - Ghost town where skeletal inhabitants of the town's most notorious still roam the smoldering streets.
  • Studio Center (the lower lot) - A bizarre assortment of Universal ScareActors including Mummies, The Flasher, Zombie Scarface, and more.

Shows

  • SlaughterWorld (WaterWorld theater) - A spectacular tidal wave of death-defying stunts, awesome explosions, and an ocean of thrills.A naughtier version than the day show.
  • Carnival of Carnage (Flintstones area) - Feed your morbid curiosity with freaks of nature and human oddities when you are exposed to a variety of bizarre and sickening acts of self torture.
  • The Mutaytor (Back to the Future Plaza) - Dance till you drop dead as The Mutaytor perform 5 shows nightly.
  • Chucky's Insult Emporium - Be insulted by everyone's favorite possessed psychotic doll.
  • Fear Factor Live: Dead Celebrity Edition (Castle Theatre) - Cringe and squirm as pop-culture celebrities compete in a live "Death Match".

Other

  • Chainsaw Brigade (all over the whole park)
  • Zombie Go-Go Dancers
  • Jurassic Park: In the Dark
  • Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride

[edit] 2007

Scarezones

  • Zombie Invasion (New York Streets)- Toxic infected zombies have invaded New York, The Military are trying to contain it, but the crisis is spreading!
  • Deadwood (Western Streets)- Enter the ghost town of Deadwood, where the skeletal inhabitants of the town's most notorious Villians still roam.
  • Haunted London (London Streets)- Step into the foggy streets of Old London, where Jack the Ripper and a host of other infamous characters are waiting for you!
  • The Black Death (Parisian Courtyard)- Venture back into a medieval town during the Black Death, where the streets are crawling with plague infected villagers.
  • HellBilly Hoedown (Lower Lot)- A family of inbred freaks are camping out in the lower lot, So far no one had the courage to evict them.

Mazes

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street: Freddy's Nightmare (Shrek 4-D queue)- Freddy Kruger is coming home to where he was conceived (The Westin Hills Asylum) to raise a nightmare army of the insane as a final act of revenge against the town of Springwood.
  • Friday the 13th: Camp Blood (Hollywood Ticket Outlet)- After half a century of murder and mayhem, the eternal evil of Jason Voorhees still haunts the ruined remains of Camp Crystal Lake.
  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Back in Business (Lower Lot)- Leatherface and his family of cannibal crazies have taken over the condemned Blair Meats factory, bringing a new level of terror to the heart of Texas.
  • Universal's House of Horrors (Year Round Attraction)- Step inside the shadowy catacombs and encounter a series of ever changing horror inspired by a veritable "Who's Who" of Universal Horror Stars.

Terror Tram: Horror Comes Home

Get ready for the ride of your life, or death, on the Universal Terror Tram, where you will be transported to the twisted worlds of Jason, Freddy, Leatherface, and Jack the Clown.

Jack Schmidt; an escaped mental patient from Shady Brook Asylum with a Shadowy past, and a problem separating movies from real life has some how brought his twisted childhood heroes to the backlot for his sick and twisted carnival. Now, You must prepare for your closeup as you step off of the tram and onto the world famouse Universal Studios Back Lot where you'll walk through the dark through real movie sets. If you thought the shower scene was scary, wait until you see this blood bath.

  • Killer klowns from outer space (Grinch Set)
  • Bate's Motel
  • Crystal Lake (Hill)
  • Leatherface's Kitchen (Hill Top)
  • Psycho House
  • Elm Street Ruins (War Of The Worlds Set)
  • Jack's Carnival of Carnage (Tram Pick up)

Rides and Shows

  • Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure (Fear Factor Live Stage)- The boys from San Dimas return to The entertainment "Crapital" of "Smell A" with their most excellent time-traveling phone booth for a comedy satire of this year's pop culture and celebrity screw ups.
  • Dark Magic and Dirty Tricks (Animal Actors Stage)- Step into the Theater of Dark Arts where master illusionists are waiting to blow your mind.
  • Chucky's Insult Emporium (Patio across from Terminator 2: 3-D)- Be insulted by everyone's favorite possessed psychotic doll.
  • Slaughter World 2 (Water World Theater)- A spectacular tidal wave of death-defying stunts, awsome explosions and an ocean of thrills.
  • Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride- Face the rage of the world's first psychological thrill ride.
  • Jurassic Park in the Dark- The power is out at Jurassic Park and the only escape from blood thirsty Dinosaurs is an 84-foot raft plunge into absolute darkness.
  • Terminator 2: 3-D- Discover what it means to be thrust right into the heart of an all-out 3-D cyber adventure.

Other

  • The Chainsaw Brigade- The Chiansaw Wielding military force of Halloween Horror Nights. At the end of the event on some nights the Chainsaw Brigade would chase guests out the park gates in a "wall of death" formation.
  • Clown Go-Go Dancers- located at the main enterance.
  • Zombie Sliders- All over the park


[edit] 2008

In an interview with gamingshogun.com Universal have confrimed the return of Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface in brand new mazes plus 2 additional mazes a new Bill and Ted Show, Sluaghterworld, and Chucky's Insult Emporium, two additional shows and re-amped Terror Tram, plus an other Icon from orlando's past event.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood (1997). Retrieved on 2006-10-25.
  2. ^ a b Halloween Horror Nights II: Entertainment (1998). Retrieved on 2006-10-25.
  3. ^ WWE Entertainment & Universal Studios Create "The Undertaker: No Mercy" for Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights IV (2000). Retrieved on 2006-10-25.
  4. ^ a b Halloween News - Halloween Entertainment Update (2000). Retrieved on 2006-10-25.
  5. ^ a b (Daily Bruin Online article) (2000). Retrieved on 2006-10-25.

[edit] External links