It’s always a treat to visit Universal Studios Hollywood’s Creative Director, John Murdy in the days before the opening of the frightfully fun event to get a preview of things to come. This year Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood will feature two shows, three scare zones, the Terror Tram, and 8 haunted houses. We were invited to take a look at the all-new Universal Monsters: Unmasked as it was under construction and it promises to deliver the thrills and chills that HHN has become known for.

Based on the classic Universal Monsters, this is the fifth foray into the classics. This time, however, the action has been moved to the catacombs of France where an underground world of the misunderstood has created a new and murky world in which to dwell.

Narrated by a former resident of the catacombs, we venture past the ticket booth, through a newspaper façade, and into the monster world.

First up is The Phantom of the Opera. We glide past walls of skulls, through dangling corpses, and arrive at The Phantom’s lair.

Murdy explains that we have reached The Phantom’s lair. Here an actor will be portraying the Phantom and sporting complex prosthetic makeup. This becomes a pattern as we take our tour, with Murdy highlighting the intense makeup effects featured in the haunted house.

Murdy in the place where the actor portraying The Phantom will be stationed.

We next encounter The Hunchback of Notre Dam. He has just discovered Judge Frollo has hung Esmerelda and he wants revenge. We enter a grimy torture chamber set and Murdy explains one of the more gruesome gags.

Here, an actor populates the top half of this stretcher table…

Then his legs get, well, extended.

In one of the effects that we most anticipate, we see Quasimodo above us as we pass under. He is pouring molten lead (a smoke effect) down on us as we escape.

Next up is Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde. Here more extensive makeup effects are used with an actor station behind a table of glowing beakers.

The attack commences when guests venture into darkness where Mr. Hyde awaits.

Lastly, we visit the underground nightclub where the monsters go to relax. Here the Invisible Man will work the coat room and a macabre cabaret will be taking place in a gloriously gothic theatre.

Once again, legendary guitarist Slash will be composing an entirely new, original score for this haunted house. Murdy quipped that Slash is the person that he has collaborated the most with and went on to explain the two of them chat almost daily while Slash is on tour with Guns n’ Roses. Slash will be missing opening night, but does plan to pop in to see the finished products at some point.

We can’t wait to see this haunted house fully populated and in full swing. See you opening night on September 7th!

Haunted Houses and More

The full lineup of fear continues with eight haunted houses plus the Terror Tram experience:

• “The Last of Us” is based on Naughty Dog and Playstation’s award-winning post-pandemic video game.
• “Stranger Things 4” transports guests to Hawkins, Indiana where they will face off against the evil Vecna in the fourth season of Netflix’s original series.
• “The Exorcist: Believer” features a terrifying new chapter as Chris MacNeil fights a nefarious demonic force which has possessed two girls.
• “Universal Monsters: Unmasked” expands on the Universal Monsters legacy with horror icons The Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Phantom of the Opera and The Hunchback of Notre Dame coming together for the first time ever in a chilling new story.
• “Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count” features the infamous slasher doll and his best kills throughout the series and films.
• “Evil Dead Rise” brings guests to a new twisted tale in the Evil Dead franchise, based on the 2023 box office hit.
• “Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America” includes Latin American folklore’s most terrifying ghosts and creatures.
• “Holidayz in Hell” takes visitors on a petrifying trip through a series of psychotic seasonal celebrations.
• “Terror Tram…The Exterminatorz” puts guests on the world-famous Universal backlot and in the middle of an insect uprising led by the devious Larry Larva whose goal is to exterminate humans from the Earth. Horror fans will also walk along the Jupiter’s Claim set from Nope where they will encounter The Tethered from Us in an epic crossover from two of director Jordan Peele’s epic blockbusters.

Scare Zones

• “El Terror de las Momias” is a Latin-themed scare zone and an extension of the “Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America” haunted house that takes guests on a desperate attempt to escape an ancient army of unearthed mummies.
• Located on New York Street, the “Toyz” scare zone dares guests to play in the toy box of terror where a wicked toymaker used dark magic to bring his evil toys to life.
• A welcome wagon of “Ghostz,” featuring a horde of blood-soaked, chainsaw-wielding ghosts, gather at the entrance to Halloween Horror Nights to rattle nerves.

Universal Studios Hollywood offers a variety of Halloween Horror Night ticket options, including General Admission, Universal Express, After 2 P.M. Day/Night, and the premium R.I.P. Tour, as well as the Early Access Ticket, which provides access to select haunted houses prior to the scheduled event opening (starting at 5:30 p.m., subject to change), and the popular Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass. Click here for more information about each ticket type, Terms and Conditions and to purchase tickets.

 Halloween Horror Nights runs select nights from Thursday, September 7 through Tuesday, October 31 at Universal Studios Hollywood and Friday, September 1 through Saturday, November 4 at Universal Orlando Resort. Due to popular demand, event nights are expected to sell out and tickets should be purchased in advance.