With the California sun relenting slightly with the help of a slight breeze, Creative Director John Murdy led us to the front of the new maze Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman that will feature at this years Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood. With the wild success of last years Universal Monsters maze, it was a no-brainer to return to the rich horror history that the studio is known for. Murdy was kind enough, once again, to take us through the maze for a preview of what we were in for.

The maze/house, still heavily under construction, was showing signs of coming together, with a few scenes nearly fully dressed. Murdy explained to us that in selecting the next Universal Monster story to tell, Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman was a very easy fit. The original film featured amazing set pieces that, when translated to a walkthrough experience, would easily work and captivate guests.

Unlike the Universal Monsters maze of 2018, Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman will abandon the modern references that eased guests into the world of classic monsters. Now acclimated to this universe, the maze begins we approach a gypsy camp under the light of a full moon. Music has drawn Frankenstein to the camp at the exact moment that the Wolfman has transformed and attacked. Inside the first scene, we see a beautiful set where the Werewolf will be seated during an ill-fated tarot card reading.

Here a lightning effect will reveal Frankenstein just behind the trees.

We wander into another tent where Murdy explains that a blacksmith will be fending off attacks from both the Wolfman and Frankenstein as we wander through.

Here Igor sits atop the Frankenstein family crypt playing music in hopes of luring The Monster into the tomb.

Of course, this is also the same cemetery where the Talbot crypt is located and, well, things go awry.

Within the tomb there will be plenty of family time.

We wander into Frankenstein’s lab and come face-to-face with the destruction that The Monster has created. The laboratory is in ruins. Dr. Frankenstein dead, electrocuted by his own equipment. In a nod to last years maze we will then see The Bride of Frankenstein in pieces, charred, and still reaching for victims.

An actress will be incorporated into this table as the remains of the Bride.

Murdy then points out that they developed a new character for the scenes as we go deeper into the castle Frankenstein. Beyond the lab are the discarded experiments that still cling to life despite their mortal coils falling apart. According to Murdy these new monsters will be animated corpses with electrodes sticking out of their brains. Still fully functioning and aware, their bodies are falling apart as Dr. Frankenstein was trying to get things right.

Slash will again return to compose the music for the maze that will feature his guitar-heavy score while paying homage to the classic setting. The prolific composer, who has been a collaborator with Halloween Horror Nights since 2014’s Sweet Licks: Clowns 3D maze, stretches here to include Gregorian chants for the catacomb scenes.

I won’t spoil the ending of the maze for you. However, it does follow the film faithfully according to Murdy with a rather chilly crescendo. We would again like to thank Universal and John Murdy for taking the time to share the progress of this new maze with us. If you missed it, we also had the chance to look inside Creepshow and Killer Klowns from Outer Space as well!

See you in the fog!