Corresponding for Dread Central, actress Sarah Nicklin hit the opening of Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Halloween Horror Nights” this past Thursday night, 9/9/2021, and brought back an exclusive look. So, what can you expect? Check out the video below, as well as a brief rundown of what’s new for 2021.
Canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hollywood’s “Halloween Horror Nights” is thankfully back with a scary vengeance. This year, it’s delivering seven exciting mazes in total for those of us who’ve been starved of seasonal entertainment:
And the following scare zones:
As well as the return of the Terror Tram, which dives this year into the territory of The Purge film series.
So, what’s in store for attendees this year? Here’s our rundown.
While sold out on opening night (“Halloween Horror Nights” will run on select nights through October 31), the park has apparently capped the nightly number of visitors for 2021. This allows for visibly shorter wait times for the mazes and attractions. It also gives some breathing room to attendees – which combines to make for a much more enjoyable experience than in year’s past.
Guests are required to wear face coverings when inside mazes and structures at “Halloween Horror Nights” (and this, combined with the previously mentioned reduced guest numbers, did much to help mitigate our anxiety over potential coronavirus transmission).
Hands down, we felt it was Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives, as well as the adjacent scare zone Universal Monsters: Silver Scream Queenz. HHN creative director John Murdy and company have delivered an energetic and creative update to both the Frankenstein Monster and his Bride, both in narrative and in visual design. Ut’s a welcome love letter to the Universal classics. Art direction, design, and performances are all top-notch, and we loved every second of it.
Don’t miss it!
For more information about “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood, visit https://hollywood.halloweenhorrornights.com/. Join the “Halloween Horror Nights” conversation using #UniversalHHN on Facebook at HalloweenHorrorNights, and on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat @HorrorNights, and watch the terror come to life on the “Halloween Horror Nights” Youtube page here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX894EiI3iOKez6ULmZFlOg
Our thanks to publicist Linsday Kwek for arranging our visit.