It’s time for the latest info from Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. Yes, it is already shaping up to be one of the best years ever at the annual Halloween Event. We have mazes based on classic horror films like The Exorcist and Halloween 2, we have the collection of slashers like Michael Myers, Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface, and we have the chilly holiday cheer of the Krampus. Yes, they brought back The Purge… Again. But this one actually has promise in that it is stretched throughout the park and backlot. As usual we offer the most up to date pics from the maze construction sites along with commentary from Creative Director, Halloween Horror Nights, John Murdy’s @HorrorNights Twitter account. Let’s get started.

The Exorcist, Michael Myers, Freddy, Jason, Leatherface, Krampus, The Walking Dead, The Purge…how do you like them apples?

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

Yes. Yes, Mr. Murdy, those apples are sufficient. Now, what is the final maze? Have you missed an update? We have all of the trackers listed below for your horrific convenience.

The Exorcist

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The exterior facade of The Exorcist is also shaping up nicely (though you can’t see it from inside the park). Looks like the movie poster!

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 11, 2016

There wasn’t too much visible in regards to changes. As Murdy mentioned above, there isn’t much you can see from inside the park, the Starway escalators to be exact. Regardless we have pulled the original theatrical poster for reference. Expect to be walking along the backside of the Revenge of the Mummy show building when you suddenly make a right hand turn into the scene on the poster. A two story Washington D.C. townhouse that is marked by a bright beam of etherial light pouring from an upstairs window.

After 12 years, Murdy and his brilliant partner in crime, Chris Williams, are sure to create something that has been percolating in their fertile imaginations that will shock, terrify, and make us know what it is like to be possessed. Sign us up.

Halloween: Hell Comes to Haddonfield

The progress on the Halloween: Hell Comes to Haddonfield maze has suddenly moved very quickly. The exterior is painted now to look exactly like the Doyle home at the beginning of the film. Here, Dr. Loomis will be shouting that he had just shot Michael Myers 6 times and he still got away. We will then wander out of the home, through the alley, and onto the Haddonfield Hospital where the 80’s look will be impeccably replicated by art director Williams.

On our recent visit we saw scenic and props stacked on pallets just outside of the maze. You can see the heavy influence of late 70’s/early 80’s tones and decor.

That orange chair is everything.

Krampus

Just before last weekends ScareLA, Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights announced another maze in the already epic line up. Building on the huge success of the Dark Christmas scare zone and the popular Michael Doughrety film, Krampus is coming to Universal Hollwyood and Orlando Halloween Horror Nights. Murdy said from his Twitter feed…

Props started loading in to Krampus today! Spraying foam for all the snow mounds (and there’s a lot of them) this week. Looking good!

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 11, 2016

Did a quick spin through all the mazes today. Krampus is the farthest along in the scenic, next major step is all the foam work for snow

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

There is something darkly soothing about a sinister Christmas. It’s a theme that should be full of happiness and holiday cheer. Instead it is one of deceptively playful gingerbread men and killer presents. For a Halloween fan this sounds like a Christmas made in heaven.

Freddy Vs. Jason

It was announced two weeks ago that Freddy Vs. Jason would be coming to Universal Hollywood HHN after a very successful run at Universal Orlando. While a totally original creation, the property will be familiar to any horror afficianado. It was revealed during Midsummer Scream, that the maze would feature multiple endings to represent either outcome, either Jason or Freddy winning

In the @HorrorNights Twitter feed, Murdy took a question regarding the maze.

@HorrorNights How often will the ending for FVJ change? Is it a frequent rotation?

— Evan Schweitzer (@evan_schweitzer) August 6, 2016

Answer: There’s two different casts for the ending of FVJ, different winner each time. They rotate every 45 minutes or so

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 6, 2016

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Blood Brothers

As was mentioned in the panel at Midsummer Scream, this iteration of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre maze will serve as a sequel of sorts that takes place between the first film and the second. A kind of TCM 1.5. The maze is located in the queue for Waterworld and, taking place 5 years after the original Tobe Hooper classic, we will see that the family has developed a highly successful catering business. The atmosphere is festive at the Sawyer home as ChopTop, a character that made his first appearance in Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, is coming home from Vietnam. His room in particular will be an insane mishmash of human remains and psychedelic 60’s imagery.

BACKLOT FINAL MAZE

There is only one maze left to announce and Murdy continues to proclaim that this will be a doozie!

…still to be announced…the final maze, Terror Tram theme and what the show content will be…stay tuned

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

If you haven’t figured it out yet, this year we decided to do all the properties fans most often request…all in one year!

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

And…we’re not done yet

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

Still to come…another maze that you’ll freak out over. One fans have been wanting to see for a while…

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

Driving past the maze site last night on the tram tour we are seeing that the maze has a ton of trees just outside of it. Are these trees merely for the adjacent Camp Crystal Lake sets in the Freddy Vs Jason Maze ore are they heading into this one?

Scare Zone The Purge Election Year

…I’m think we’re gonna drop an announcement at the end of the panel. Not a maze but something cool you can experience at HHN 2016…

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 5, 2016

At ScareLA Universal talked quite a bit about their recent announcements then, as they barreled through their hour long panel, they dropped the overall theme for Scare Zones throughout the park.

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Alert: The commencement of The Purge begins September 16 as a scare zone at #UniversalHHN! pic.twitter.com/XvdFUCXqbl

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 7, 2016

To change things up, we’re creating a new scarezone gauntlet that takes you through Universal Plaza, Parisian Courtyard and French Street

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

So basically this is a really long, one way scare zone (enter at Universal Plaza, exit at end of French Street). But with more sets, etc

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

And more sets/scenic pieces means our rather large cast of Scareactors in this zone have more places to hide! A more intense experience

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

Purge will also set the tone from entrance through NY street, we’re using characters from all 3 films and creating a bunch of new ones…

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

The Purge continues on your way to Metro sets and on the backlot! Basically… The Purge is on all over the park and backlot.

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

Been doing scarezones the same way for a decade, wanted to try something new, one overall theme. And the timing is perfect.

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

Soooooo, how do you all feel about this?

Terror Tram

Frankly we are just excited that the new Terror Tram will feature an original concept. The fact that rudy is delving into his past for help is icing on the cake.

…the theme for Terror Tram…an ORIGINAL idea that I partnered up with a blast from my past on…

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

…and we have yet to reveal what the show content will be…

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

Q & A Speed Round

Next up we look at the listing of Question and Answers that Murdy held on Twitter this week.

Thanks for the links. That’s why I love HHN fans! Tell ya what. I’ve got a few minutes while the kiddies are napping. Speed round of HHN Q&A

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 6, 2016

Tweet me your questions and I’ll pick some to answer, will follow the ones I pick. The question box is open for the next 20 minutes! Go!

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 6, 2016

There’s still about another week left of scenic on that maze before the props load in. Mostly foam work for all the snow…there’s A LOT!

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 6, 2016

@HorrorNights will scare zones be announced all at once?

— Sally Hatake? (@SallyXIII) August 6, 2016

Answer: Yes. They will be announced all at once. Soon…

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 6, 2016

@HorrorNights Do you think Excorsist will take the spot as #1 maze in HHN history.

— Cisco Perez (@Ciskop13) August 6, 2016

Answer: that record is currently held by last year’s Halloween maze which will be hard to beat. The Exorcist is very FX heavy…we’ll see

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 6, 2016

@HorrorNights will there be any more maze announcements or is that it?

— Rigoberto Ruiz (@rigby_94) August 6, 2016

Answer: There is still a maze to be announced…and the fans are gonna freak out. The final icing on a deliciously terrifying horror cake!

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 6, 2016

@HorrorNights What made you choose Krampus as a maze?

— chrisbrady12 (@chrisbruin52) August 6, 2016

Answer: I really like the aesthetic of the movie, so different from all the other horror movies that came out recently.

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 6, 2016

@HorrorNights are we getting a mirror ending in h2 maze or different ending?

— Gable Schoenfelder (@gablesch) August 6, 2016

Final Question: no it’s an original ending for H2. Not a repeat of last year’s ending

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 6, 2016

@HorrorNights people have been guessing krampus for a long time were you disappointed it wasnt as big as a suprise

— SuperDisneyPokePhan (@janely_barajas) August 6, 2016

Answer: I was down at Krampus yesterday and the facade is really far along with icicles, etc. So I guess it wasn’t too hard to guess.

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 6, 2016

Tickets

Covering the question of tickets we see these postings.

Let’s try this again. Tickets for HHN in HOLLYWOOD will go on sale THE MIDDLE of AUGUST. Still to be announced, last maze, show, Terror Tram

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 11, 2016

And since you asked, HHN opens Sept 16, tickets will go on sale around the middle of this month including the fan fav multi-night ticket.

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 8, 2016

Had to share. Got this at Scare LA. Paint job by my 3 year old daughter during “zombie arts and crafts night.” : ) pic.twitter.com/SHQNskuo4Y

— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 10, 2016

Man o Man. That about wraps things up for the 9th HHN tracker. When will we get our final maze? What’s more, when will we get a tour? Of course, we will keep you in the loop with the latest info.