2018 Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights Construction Tour
It’s that time of year! We are back with our annual look behind the scenes at Universal Studios Hollywood’s (USH) Halloween Horror Nights (HHN)! They’ve been working all year, behind-the-scenes, constructing a new year of spooky entertainment and they’re ready to give the public a little preview of what’s to come, when the event opens to the public on September 14th. This time, we are looking at two big intellectual properties, as creative director John Murdy walks us through build tours of the mazes for Stranger Things and Trick' r Treat. Honestly, these were the two properties we are most excited about seeing on opening night and the anticipation has only been amplified.
As in the past, we do not want to spoil these experiences, so hopefully we’ll give you just enough to enhance the experience when you visit HHN. It’s important to note that this year USH asked for no video to be shot and for photography to be limited to certain spots. As always, we comply and have tried to communicate the info as clearly as possible, on a few levels. First, we have this article you’re reading. As you go on, you’ll find spoilers at a minimum and pictures of specific spots intertwined. Once you finish here, we have a couple companion pieces as well. You can see all of our photos in slideshow format, https://youtu.be/jlMW-qdmehY, that presents them in the order taken on the tour. The slideshow offers, essentially, the same photos as this article, but we just wanted to include it for those that enjoy that format. Lastly, you may experience an audio version of the tour and hear everything directly from John Murdy by listening in on our HHN behind-the-scenes podcast http://parksandcons.com/podcast/episode-329-behind-the-scenes-of-stranger-things-trick-r-treat-at-ush-halloween-horror-nights-hhn-2018. Be warned, Murdy walked us through the entirety of both houses and speaks in detail about many of the scares. For those that want a less spoilery experience, save the podcast for after your visit. Now, to get to the tour...
As in the past, we do not want to spoil these experiences, so hopefully we’ll give you just enough to enhance the experience when you visit HHN. It’s important to note that this year USH asked for no video to be shot and for photography to be limited to certain spots. As always, we comply and have tried to communicate the info as clearly as possible, on a few levels. First, we have this article you’re reading. As you go on, you’ll find spoilers at a minimum and pictures of specific spots intertwined. Once you finish here, we have a couple companion pieces as well. You can see all of our photos in slideshow format, https://youtu.be/jlMW-qdmehY, that presents them in the order taken on the tour. The slideshow offers, essentially, the same photos as this article, but we just wanted to include it for those that enjoy that format. Lastly, you may experience an audio version of the tour and hear everything directly from John Murdy by listening in on our HHN behind-the-scenes podcast http://parksandcons.com/podcast/episode-329-behind-the-scenes-of-stranger-things-trick-r-treat-at-ush-halloween-horror-nights-hhn-2018. Be warned, Murdy walked us through the entirety of both houses and speaks in detail about many of the scares. For those that want a less spoilery experience, save the podcast for after your visit. Now, to get to the tour...
The 2018 HHN construction tour began, as we were escorted to Soundstage 29. Soundstage 29 will play home to the kids from Hawkins, this Halloween season, as Stranger Things inhabits the space. As Murdy began the tour, he immediately noted that the increased control of vertical space and sound in the soundstage was an added benefit he appreciated. This maze features some tall vertical landscapes that add to the ominous feel of the haunt. Particularly, the entrance into the Upside Down includes an entrance that is one of the largest we’ve ever seen featured anywhere. Be sure to take a moment to appreciate the Upside Down entrance when you get to that spot. In regards to the sound design, Murdy addressed one of our biggest questions of the tour, with "sound design" as the answer to the question, "how do you feature the Stranger Things kids with actors that must be at least 18 to work the annual HHN event?" While the experience promises to feature the iconic sound of the Stranger Things score, it will also use the walkie-talkies to personify the presence of the kids. Guests will hear the Hawkins crew, as they join in on the search for Will Byers...and try to avoid the demogorgons, throughout the march through the show’s first season.
As with all things HHN, you can expect the detail of this maze to be extremely specific. This will be true nowhere more so than in the actual demogorgon costumes. At one point during the tour, Murdy took out his phone to show us a few pictures of the mask. The detail, just in the teeth, was fantastic. Murdy went on to note that they teamed up with Spectral Motion Design to bring some of the features to life. Unlike the Netflix version that can rely on CGI to help breathe life into the creatures, HHN needs practical applications for their actors who will perform scare movements thousands of times each night. In short, the costumes and masks need to, not only, be believable and detailed, but they must also be practical in how they move and work with the actors. From what we saw, they’re some of the most impressive we’ve seen and should leave fans, of the show, quite impressed.
Although the details in the costuming and masks will be off the charts, it won’t be outdone by the detail found in the set designs, themselves. Of particular interest is the description of the process involved in bringing the HHN rendition of the Upside Down to life. Once again, where the production crew behind the Netflix series has the ability to bring such things to life with the help of CGI, the HHN team, led by art director Chris Williams, has to create the world in a practical format that allows guests to walk into the world. In order to accomplish this, the team is utilizing fiber-optic lights hanging down from the ceiling, with cotton wrapped around the tips. Add some very specific use of fans and projections and guests of the event will get their own opportunity to explore the dark and creepy of the Upside Down.
We won’t spoil it here, but there’s a big finale to conclude your visit to Hawkins. If you want to hear the details, you can hear them from Murdy, himself, in the podcast, http://parksandcons.com/podcast/episode-329-behind-the-scenes-of-stranger-things-trick-r-treat-at-ush-halloween-horror-nights-hhn-2018.
Following Stranger Things, we were short on time and made a quick dash over to the land of Warren Valley, where the anthology classic, Trick 'r Treat resides, in the Mummy queue. While we only had about 10 minutes in this maze, they were impressive minutes, as so much of this maze was done and we were able to see lots of near-finished scenes.
First up, on the tour of Trick ‘r Treat, was the ghost-filled yard, in front of the Ohio home front. One of the details we’ve loved most at HHN is epitomized here: facades that replicate the feel of a suburban home. There’s just something about a maze that looks as if it takes place in an unassuming house...and the Trick ‘r Treat facade perfectly captures the essence of Dougherty’s cult classic, that Murdy confesses has been 10 years in the making.
As with all things HHN, you can expect the detail of this maze to be extremely specific. This will be true nowhere more so than in the actual demogorgon costumes. At one point during the tour, Murdy took out his phone to show us a few pictures of the mask. The detail, just in the teeth, was fantastic. Murdy went on to note that they teamed up with Spectral Motion Design to bring some of the features to life. Unlike the Netflix version that can rely on CGI to help breathe life into the creatures, HHN needs practical applications for their actors who will perform scare movements thousands of times each night. In short, the costumes and masks need to, not only, be believable and detailed, but they must also be practical in how they move and work with the actors. From what we saw, they’re some of the most impressive we’ve seen and should leave fans, of the show, quite impressed.
Although the details in the costuming and masks will be off the charts, it won’t be outdone by the detail found in the set designs, themselves. Of particular interest is the description of the process involved in bringing the HHN rendition of the Upside Down to life. Once again, where the production crew behind the Netflix series has the ability to bring such things to life with the help of CGI, the HHN team, led by art director Chris Williams, has to create the world in a practical format that allows guests to walk into the world. In order to accomplish this, the team is utilizing fiber-optic lights hanging down from the ceiling, with cotton wrapped around the tips. Add some very specific use of fans and projections and guests of the event will get their own opportunity to explore the dark and creepy of the Upside Down.
We won’t spoil it here, but there’s a big finale to conclude your visit to Hawkins. If you want to hear the details, you can hear them from Murdy, himself, in the podcast, http://parksandcons.com/podcast/episode-329-behind-the-scenes-of-stranger-things-trick-r-treat-at-ush-halloween-horror-nights-hhn-2018.
Following Stranger Things, we were short on time and made a quick dash over to the land of Warren Valley, where the anthology classic, Trick 'r Treat resides, in the Mummy queue. While we only had about 10 minutes in this maze, they were impressive minutes, as so much of this maze was done and we were able to see lots of near-finished scenes.
First up, on the tour of Trick ‘r Treat, was the ghost-filled yard, in front of the Ohio home front. One of the details we’ve loved most at HHN is epitomized here: facades that replicate the feel of a suburban home. There’s just something about a maze that looks as if it takes place in an unassuming house...and the Trick ‘r Treat facade perfectly captures the essence of Dougherty’s cult classic, that Murdy confesses has been 10 years in the making.
Upon entering the home, Murdy led us from one vignette to another. It’ll surprise no one that all of the hits of this non-linear narrative are presented in precise detail. From vomiting candy to werewolf slaughter to the school bus massacre and beyond, this maze hits all of the proper notes to celebrate Halloween in a manner that Sam would be proud of. In fact, Sam plays a large role throughout the maze as the impish fiend governs Halloween, and this maze, with a firm hand. By the way, it’s no surprise to veteran HHN fans, but keep your eyes peeled for some fun Easter eggs throughout.
Once again, we don’t want to spoil the finale, but HHN guests can count on a classic closing scene that will leave many screaming and scurrying out the door.
Alright, you’ve finished this read and are hyped for HHN. Make sure to get those tickets early, as many nights of the event sell out, each year. Once you’ve visited, listen in on Mr. Murdy himself, on our podcast, http://parksandcons.com/podcast/episode-329-behind-the-scenes-of-stranger-things-trick-r-treat-at-ush-halloween-horror-nights-hhn-2018...or listen in now if you can’t wait! Either way, obey the rules of Halloween and enjoy what promises to be a stellar year at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights!
Once again, we don’t want to spoil the finale, but HHN guests can count on a classic closing scene that will leave many screaming and scurrying out the door.
Alright, you’ve finished this read and are hyped for HHN. Make sure to get those tickets early, as many nights of the event sell out, each year. Once you’ve visited, listen in on Mr. Murdy himself, on our podcast, http://parksandcons.com/podcast/episode-329-behind-the-scenes-of-stranger-things-trick-r-treat-at-ush-halloween-horror-nights-hhn-2018...or listen in now if you can’t wait! Either way, obey the rules of Halloween and enjoy what promises to be a stellar year at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights!
