Seeking a good old-fashioned Halloween scare? After a two-year hiatus, Universal Studios Hollywood Horror Nights is back! Plan your visit to complete a horrifying choice of themed mazes, entertainment and food. And jump on the Park’s amazing rides to boot!
I’m not the bravest of souls, so I grabbed a gal pal to conquer my first time at Horror Nights. We had an absolute blast. Prepare for a fright as soon as you walk through the Universal Studios gates!
Here are my tips for a ghoulishly good time.
There is a menu of eight mazes to experience for the energetic and brave of heart. Here’s a ranking of my favorites!
“Terror Tram: The Ultimate Purge” takes guests on a nightmarish journey into the world of The Purge as they try to survive the night along with the world-famous Universal backlot. I loved the suspense of not knowing where exactly this maze was. Guests walked through iconic scenes from the backlot, and even meet up with Pyscho’s Norman Bates. My favorite combination of maze, and backlot horror highlight perspective.
“Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives,” inspired by Universal Pictures’ cinematic monsters with an all-original story about one of the studio’s most infamous creatures. GRAMMY® Award-winning musician, SLASH collaborates with Universal Studios Hollywood to compose an original score for the maze and scare zone. I dedicated an entire post about my love for this maze. I saved this one for last, and it did not disappoint. The costumes, set design and makeup were superb! Long live the bride!
“The Exorcist” maze will possess guests as they live the tormented aberrations experienced by Regan and her determined mother. Now, the Exorcist is one of the scariest movies ever. Scenes from that film are forever etched into my brain. I knew what to expect BUT this was the scariest maze for me with the suspenseful, dark hallways. I never knew what was lurking around each corner!!
“The Curse of Pandora’s Box” is an original concept maze inspired by the most fearsome creatures in Greek mythology. The vibrant colors and artwork in this maze will truly wow you. Definitely one of the loudest as far as sound, as well.
“The Haunting of Hill House,” is based on Netflix’s critically-acclaimed supernatural thriller. This is one of my favorite Netflix thrillers, but the maze wasn’t as terrifying as the film. I think the actors focused on guests who scared the easiest, and left the rest of us in empty hallways waiting for a fun scare. Definitely a fun concept but I was expecting a little more!
“Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” a chilling maze featuring a demented Leatherface and his unrelenting chainsaw. This maze is what I expected! Lots of gore and guts!
“Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” based on the classic slasher film featuring Myers and his signature white mask. You’ll have the Halloween theme song stuck in your head after walking through this maze!
“The Walking Dead,” a fully immersive journey inspired by AMC’s popular television series. This was the only maze I did not attempt. I think I was all scared out at this point, but if you are a fan of The Walking Dead then plan to hit this one up!
Hit up the Rides!
We jumped on to the Harry Potter ride in record-breaking time! No wait times, and it was a cool break away from all the mazes. It also allowed me to build up my courage to hit up the rest of the mazes! Jurassic Park the Ride, Simpsons and others were also open for guests to enjoy!
Enjoy the Food
Fans can choose from a variety of horror-inspired foods from BBQ Pork Ribs at Leatherface’s Texas Family BBQ to festive foods to celebrate the dead at Little Cocina. Try the Grilled Elote Corn!
You’ll also find Halloween Horror Nights-themed cookies, and pretzel buns in Springfield, U.S.A.
Entertainment
Grab a seat at the Jabbawockeez performance The award-winning hip-hop dance crew returns with a high-energy show featuring their gravity-defying dance moves.
Shop!
There’s a ton of cool merchandise and souveniors to commemorate your visit to Horror Nights. Who doesn’t need these Chucky socks??!! He’s not that vicious, right??
The atmosphere is spooky but definitely festive as we welcome the Halloween season. It was a fun escape from real life, and I left exhausted from screaming and all the adrenaline rushes!
Masks are required inside mazes. Also, actors do pick up on your uneasiness so chin up and be fearless… or you may become a target as I became in the Exorcist maze!
The event happens through October 31st! Visit https://hollywood.halloweenhorrornights.com/ for ticket information and more!
