UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Sept. 18, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Universal Studios Hollywood launched the Halloween season with its annual “Halloween Horror Nights.”
The theme park opened seven new scary attractions, including frightening mazes based on the films and TV series “Krampus,” “American Horror Story,” “The Walking Dead” and “The Exorcist.”
Attendees at the sold-out event waited up to 2 1/2 hours to get into some of the attractions, which were officially opened at 7 p.m. The evening began as celebrities walked a red carpet into the park.
Among the stars attending were “Exorcist” star Linda Blair, who was representing her nonprofit organization, the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation. The foundation takes in and rehabilitates rescue animals.
The 57-year-old actress told me, “Universal asked Warner Brothers what can we do to work this out? And I said what can we do for the animals and The Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation? So we came up with a merchandising deal that would benefit The Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation.’”
Along with Linda Blair, celebrity guests included “American Horror Story” cast members Evan Peters, Denis O’Hare, Finn Wittrock and Naomi Grossman; producer-actor Eli Roth; director Michael Dougherty; and Seth Green..
Other celebrities attending were the cast of “Ouija: Origin of Evil,” including Elizabeth Reaser, Annalise Basso, Lulu Wilson, Kate Siegel and director Mike Flanagan; musician Slash; director James Wan (“Insidious” and “MacGyver”); Leigh Whannell (“Insidious” and “Saw” franchises); Guillermo Diaz (“Scandal”); Mark Ballas (“Dancing with the Stars”); Diego Boneta (“Scream Queens”); Olivia Holt (“I Didn’t Do It”); and ‘Jabbawockeez.’
“Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in a living, breathing, three-dimensional world of terror. The popular event features a new slate of unrivaled film and television production-quality mazes, frightful scare zones and a fully re-imagined “Terror Tram” experience — all uniquely themed to today’s most definitive horror properties.
This year’s slate of mazes includes:
“American Horror Story,” inspired by Ryan Murphy’s critically acclaimed Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning television anthology series on the FX network.
“The Exorcist: The Possession of Regan MacNeil,” based on the iconic supernatural horror film; “Freddy vs. Jason: Dream Battle,” inspired by New Line Cinema’s 2003 film that brought together the biggest horror icons in history, demented killer Freddy Krueger and notorious hockey-mask killer Jason Voorhees.
“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Blood Brothers,” which pits guests against the unsavory wrath of manic killer Leatherface and his mentally unhinged brother, Chop Top.
“Halloween: Hell Comes to Haddonfield,” an all-new maze inspired by the second film in the classic “Halloween” horror franchise; “Krampus: The Christmas Devil,” based on Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures’ Christmas-themed horror film that brings to life the fabled anthropomorphic “half-goat, half-demon” horned creature who terrorizes those devoid of holiday spirit.
“The Walking Dead,” an authentic living representation of AMC’s hit television series that takes the realism of the show to an entirely new level with the permanent attraction, as well as “Eli Roth Presents Terror Tram,” marking the first time ever that the signature attraction comes to life through the twisted mind of the filmmaker.
Adding to the event’s intrigue, Universal’s most popular rides and attractions also will be open to guests, including “Transformers: The Ride-3D,” “Jurassic Park–In the Dark,” “The Simpsons Ride” and “Revenge of the Mummy–The Ride.”
Tickets to this year’s event are available for purchase at www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Hollywood, including the Frequent Fear Pass, which allows guests to visit multiple times throughout the event.
Guests purchasing the new After 2 p.m. Day/Night Combo ticket can enjoy the park’s popular daytime attractions, such as “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and “Fast and Furious — Supercharged” on the world-famous Studio Tour by day, then step into the mazes and attractions located throughout the park to experience the terror of “Halloween Horror Nights” for one admission price.
I go every year and love it! The only element that is a waste of time is when the tram drops you off and you walk the backlot where all they have is speakers and fog……such a waste and so unnecessary.