What a difference a month makes. Yes, it’s been about three and a half weeks since we delivered a Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights Tracker and we are terribly sorry for the oversight. Yes, there has been breaking news with the announcement of American Horror Story maze, the JABBAWOKEEZ returning and, of course, Eli Roth’s Terror Tram featuring Koodles the Clown. We have covered it in the individual announcements, but we have been remiss. We are back, fresh off of the three day weekend that is Labor Day, looking ahead to the wonderful promise that Halloween offers. Ladies and gentlemen, this is our time. Welcome to the countdown. Let’s dive into the latest progress at Universal, shall we?
You gotta love the local color at Universal Studios Hollywood. Does anyone even know what Woody Woodpecker is anymore? That dude was hysterical.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Blood Brothers
The unofficial sequel to the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Blood Brothers intends to fill in the gap between the first film and TCM2. Here we arrive at the Texas BBQ joint as they are celebrating ChopTop’s arrival home from the Vietnam war. Nestled in the queue of Waterworld, this maze was moved into this area after the Scare Zones became one long experience and the space in the French Courtyard was needed. Add to that the possible long lines for The Walking Dead on HHN nights and, well, there was no way that a maze would work in the old spot. Soooooo it got moved here.
The Exorcist
Moving down to the lower lot, we see the progress on The Exorcist. For this writer, personally, I am eager to see what Creative Director John Murdy has in his head after years of pursuing the property. Assuming that Murdy had been coming up with sketches, designs, ideas, over the 11 years he had wanted to do the attraction, we asked him how much of his musings made it into the maze that will finally come to fruition. “Honestly, I had nothing!” Murdy laughed. “We finally got the property this year and I suddenly realized that, oh my god, how do we do this?” Noting that the film really took place in the home and then the bedroom, it broke many of the rules Murdy often used in choosing a property to adapt.
“When I met with Chris (Williams), I pulled up the Banned Exorcist Trailer on YouTube.” Murdy said, “It starts off all normal, with the car pulling up to the Georgetown house, then it starts flashing Pzuzu’s face, Regan’s face, all crazy. It really captures the feel I wanted for the maze.”
Below is the trailer.
Exorcist is also going to feature a lot of silicone looks, using some of the learnings from all the R&D we did for Walking Dead this year
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 13, 2016
Today I also spent a considerable amount of time at The Exorcist maze, prepping for all the special effects that are going to go on in there
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 18, 2016
…test of Regan’s head spinning around for The Exorcist and the amazing sculpt for the look of Stage 1 Regan…(there’s 2 stages)…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 24, 2016
I’m looking at the Pazuzu sculpts from Exorcist right now…very, very scary. Makes me want to do something subliminal with him! Hmm…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 24, 2016
Wrapping up Exorcist make up…Regan Stage 2 sculpt just came in and it looks AMAZING!!! I’m scared just to look at it! Creepy as Hell!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 29, 2016
Saw a demo of the levitation scene for The Exorcist…looks like the effect is gonna work. That’s good…I didn’t have a back up plan!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 30, 2016
Going to be filming some behind the scenes videos today in Krampus with writer/director Michael Dougherty.
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 30, 2016
Halloween: Hell Comes to Haddonfield
Halloween: Hell Comes to Haddonfield is a literal adaptation of the film Halloween 2 which picks up moments after the first film ends. We arrive at the Doyle home as Dr. Loomis has shot Micheal Myers in the heart “6 times!”. The front of the maze is the two story home and we enter the crime scene. Exiting the home we wander the alley behind the house and make out way to the hospital where Laurie Strode is recovering from the attack.
Of course, if you know the film, you know that the kills in this movie are far more outlandish. Needles in eyes, water scaldings, hammers cleaved into skulls, this will be a bloodier maze than last year.
Murdy said on twitter…
Just finished filming my cameo for the Halloween 2 maze, 70s news reporter Robert Mundy pic.twitter.com/Q7BOCC1UX6
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 20, 2016
Checking out some HHN special fx. I just watched the hydrotherapy pool bubble from Halloween 2 and Regan levitate from The Exorcist.
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) September 2, 2016
Krampus
We recently got to take a look inside the Krampus maze with Murdy and a few other guests. We really thing that this maze is going to be a hell of a lot of fun. There is something about the look of the film, along with the dichotomy of holiday cheer and horror that is absolutely perfect. We will bring you a full story tomorrow on a look inside the Krapmus maze. But for now, we offer Murdy’s tweets over the past three weeks.
Blowing foam in Krampus right now…of course it has to be windy today! It’s a blizzardy mess down there! Let it snow, let it snow…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 16, 2016
I’ll be doing our traditional Twitter Password Game every night of the event. This year its tied to the Krampus maze. More details to come
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 18, 2016
So on the behind the scenes front, took writer/director Michael Dougherty through Krampus today…maze is almost done with scenic.
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 18, 2016
Its great to finally be working with Michael, been talking about doing something since Trick R Treat came out. Krampus looks amazing!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 18, 2016
Saw the sculpt for our giant, people eating jack in the box clown for Krampus…and…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 24, 2016
The Krampus snowmen are looking awesome! Just saw a demo for them! Good luck getting by them in the maze! Mwaa HA HA HA!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 29, 2016
Freddy Vs. Jason
Arriving at Freddy Vs. Jason we see the beautiful façade of the abandoned boiler maker factory. Clearly visible from the Tram Tour, the building is emblazoned with a not-so-subtle tribute to Freddy Krueger creator, Wes Craven, who recently passed away. Below are Murdy’s Tweets.
We’re working on the new sculpt for Freddy right now, always did him with foam latex in the past but this year were doing a silicone mask…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 13, 2016
And if you happen to be riding the tram these days, you can see the burned boiler factory facade for Freddy VS Jason getting painted and…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 24, 2016
..If you’re riding the tram past FVJ you can see my less than subtle Easter Egg/tribute to Wes Craven…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 24, 2016
Guess where I am right now? pic.twitter.com/mT8aX1ZjqH
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) September 2, 2016
American Horror Story
Yesterday we ran our tour through the amazing new American Horror Story maze. Of course, three weeks ago we had no real idea what was coming. Murdy tweeted the following in anticipation of the announcement.
“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes…”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 16, 2016
Then it came. They announced America Horror Story on both coasts.
MURDER HOUSE. FREAK SHOW. HOTEL. They’re all coming in our all-new American Horror Story maze at #UniversalHHN! https://t.co/4NresTBp6C
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 16, 2016
I think its fair to say American Horror Story has been one of the most requested mazes in HHN history…and now its finally coming to HHN
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 16, 2016
This maze is located in Metro sets behind the giant wall where From Dusk Till Dawn was a couple years ago…bigger than a typical HHN maze
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 16, 2016
Walked into American Horror Story to gawk at the FREAK SHOW facade…an amazing set piece sculpted by robots (not kidding)…evil robots
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 24, 2016
A bus we made just arrived on site…I wonder who that’s for? What evil horror character lives in a bus?
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 24, 2016
Just got back from touring the mazes and things are looking good out there. The Freak Show banners are going up in AHS along with the facade
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
Final day in the studio working on maze audio design. Doing the alternate endings for FVJ right now.
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) September 2, 2016
Scare Zone The Purge Election Year
The park made it past Labor Day and with that, the beginning of installation of the sprawling scare zone that is The Purge.
As signs in the park warn visitors of impending scary decor, the props wait patiently in the backlot, for the right moment to be installed.
Terror Tram
On August 25th, Halloween Horror Nights made their final annoucnemtn by revealing the original concept for the Terror Tram. Of course. Murdy had fun with fans on twitter along the way.
That leaves the theme to TERROR TRAM…hmm….what could it be???? Will I ever tell you?? Probably not. Its more fun to drag it out….
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 16, 2016
Why is everyone asking me about Terror Tram? Did we forget to announce it or something?
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 24, 2016
Then Universal made their announcement here.
The all-new, original concept for the “Terror Tram” experience will tell the sordid tale of former Angeleno resident Harold Kappowitz whose alter ego “Koodles the Clown” went from cheerful circus performer, to the lovable star of his own children’s network television show…before he was overcome by his genuine “killer instincts.”
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Riding the regular Studio Tour we see new poles going up in the parking lot of the Bates Motel. While overall familiar, it seems that the route will be altered slightly according to the @HorrorNights feed.
Near the War of the Worlds set, we see the grinning mouth of a clown, set to devour guests who are dumb enough to enter.
We are officially excited for the Terror Tram. But DAMMIT! Clowns? Really?
Now…I can finally reveal the legend of Hollywood Harry…a strange tale that happened (and is happening) in the Hollywood Hills around Uni
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
“It started in 2016…the theme park had just launched the Nighttime Studio Tour…”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
“…the first time in the park’s 50 plus year history that guests were allowed to ride the studio tour trams through the backlot at night..”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
“That summer a series of viral videos surfaced on the internet, allegedly filmed by guests riding the Universal Studio Tour trams…”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
“The videos showed an old man in the blood-splattered remnants of a filthy clown costume, apparently living in the hills around Universal”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
“Soon after the videos surfaced, the internet gave him a name, “Hollywood Harry!”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
“It didn’t take long for people to figure out the identity of the person the media was already referring to as “The Phantom Clown.”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
“His name was Harold Kappowitz, better known to long-time Los Angelino residents as “Koodles the Clown.”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
OK. Time to dish out a little more info on Terror Tram. First off its great to be working again with my brother in horror @eliroth
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 26, 2016
The last time Eli and I worked together was for the HOSTEL maze in HHN 2011 and that was a freakin’ bloody mess of a good time!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 26, 2016
In fact, I still have blood on one of my favorite jackets from that maze…Eli’s blood because he performed in it one night! Fake I hope!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 26, 2016
So Eli and I decided to hook up on this original concept for Terror Tram, though “phantom clowns” have a loooong history…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 26, 2016
Look up the “Phantom Clown” sightings in and around Boston in the 1980’s. This also happened in England, No Cal and recently in Green Bay
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 26, 2016
Its like the great Lon Chaney once said (and I paraphrase) “There’s nothing funny about a clown in the moonlight”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 26, 2016
So lets talk about CLOWNS! I’ve always hated them. I think it was those creepy Red Skeleton paintings in the 1970’s! Creeped me out!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 26, 2016
Of course there is a real phobia called “Coulrophobia” that affects a very large percentage of people….fear of clowns!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 26, 2016
I’ve intentionally not done anything with Clowns since the 3D maze with Slash. We haven’t done clown scarezones in a while…so…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 26, 2016
…felt it was time to “send in the clowns” for HHN 2016! And of course the cast for Terror Tram is very large…over 120 people total…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 26, 2016
But not all the characters in Terror Tram are clowns…Hollywood Harry has lots of other friends…freak show performers, roustabouts, mimes
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 26, 2016
Yes…MIMES! I hate mimes more than I hate clowns! Been wanting to do an all mime scare zone for YEARS! At last EVIL MIMES! Mwa Ha ha HA!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 26, 2016
Also going to be tweaking the route (yes its still on the backlot by Psycho, etc.) and creating new elements for you to experience.
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 26, 2016
JABBAWOKEEZ
Universal also used the past three weeks to announce the return of the hit show from last year, Jabbawockeez. A tame, inoffensive dance show, Jabbawockeez entertained crowds enough to be asked to mount a new show, including the first female member of the celebrated dance ensemble.
If you go on the website, you’ll see that Jabbawockeez are returning to HHN. Show was a HUGE hit with the fans last year so they’re back
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 18, 2016
More specific info about the new show will be coming in the weeks ahead. Show will be in the Castle Theatre where Special Effects Stage is
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 18, 2016
How did such an amazing line up of properties come to be? Murdy explained via Twitter…
It was no hype Boils and Ghouls…I meant it when I said this year’s lineup is THE BEST LINEUP EVER!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 16, 2016
So now I can reveal that waaaay back in Nov of 2015 when my brother in Horror Mike at Universal Orlando started talking about 2016…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 16, 2016
…we noticed that we both had a lot of the same movies/TV shows on our list of properties. Wasn’t planned. Just worked out that way
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 16, 2016
…that list included a lot of properties that fans have been requesting for years so this year is for the fans of HHN! Everything at once!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 16, 2016
It’s wild to think that they had things dialed in way back in November of 2015 for the 2016 year. But that is how it works. As Murdy says, “It never stops.” HHN is a year round effort that ends up yielding huge results.
It is at this stage in the game that the Universal team works through the final stages of production….
HHN 2016 maze audio design is done! Yay! Now back to hours and hours of lighting walks tonight for American Horror Story and The Exorcist
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) September 2, 2016
Maze rehearsals start tonight. First up is Halloween: Hell Comes to Haddonfield and The Exorcist…gonna be a loooong night!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) September 6, 2016
Trained the casts of two mazes and did 3 maze lighting walls tonight! #HorrorNeverSleeps
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) September 7, 2016
Gearing up for another long night of maze rehearsals. Tonight it’s Krampus and Freddy Vs Jason.
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) September 8, 2016
Tickets
Below are a few revelations about tickets and dates. There will be the Early Arrival feature happening on select nights this year. So the advice is to get there early whenever you go.
Yes, we will do Early Arrival for HHN again this year where you can enter the park early and get a jump start on the event…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 18, 2016
We usually do it every night of the event, I try to tweet details and tips when we get closer to opening (specific mazes, when they open)
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 18, 2016
Halloween doesn’t end on October 31! We’re extending HHN into the first weekend of November (and eventually taking over Xmas!) Mwaa Ha ha!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 18, 2016
Q and A
Of course Murdy spent some time over the past few weeks handling an epic Q&A session with the fans.
Strange things are afoot…and I have a little time to KILL before my next HHN task…going to open up the question box for Q&A…go!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
@HorrorNights Which maze will take the longest to walk through this year?
— Jeff Puchalski (@TheBigPuchalski) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: I think American Horror Story…its bigger because its covering 3 seasons of the show.
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
So HHN fan @niaIIsfakeleg asks. “could u give me some motivation to do my act prep and ap lit summer work please and thanks”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
Answer: Well that’s a little off topic but I am ready to provide him with motivation for doing his summer school work…here goes…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
If you don’t do your homework…I’m gonna send Twisty the Clown from American Horror Story to your house! Is that motivation enough?
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
@HorrorNights @niaIIsfakeleg don’t you want your son to success you in creating horror nights? Lol
— Kevin (@kevin_b15) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: I have 2 girls and they rock! I’d rather have a girl be my successor!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
@HorrorNights will you ever do a trick or treat maze?
— christina (@ChrisMAtilano) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: I have a bus now thanks to AHS! I hope Michael does the TRT sequel! I would love to do it.
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: There must be some conspiracy right? I mean what else could have happened? Hint – I told you to pay attention this week…Hint Hint
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
QUESTION: Monica asks, “Will the AHS maze touch on the theory that the seasons are connected?”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: Well…for me…I connected them through the Halloween episodes. That was a good thru line for me…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: There’s lots of references for the fans of AHS…details and characters that they will geek out over…more to come on that
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
QUESTION: Riley wants to know, “Will we see the countess in the maze?”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: Yes…and you might see her baby too!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
QUESTION: AlDemErsN asks, “be honest, the real reason u haven’t done the AHS maze till now I’d because u needed time to watch the show?”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: Hey man…there’s a lot of episodes to AHS…and I have 2 little girls! Hard to fit that in with constant My Little Pony episodes!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
QUESTION: Krashh asks, “how many Live Actors will be playing Regan in the exorcist?”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: Not as many as you’d think as they are A LOT of special FX versions of her (unless you can find me an actress who’s head spins)
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
QUESTION: Dixie cupZ asks, “why u always mess with us?”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: #carny
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
QUESTION: HHNDawg asks, “What movie besides The Exorcist also scared me as a kid?”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: The TV movie of Salem’s Lot scared me as a kid…its a good story…you want to hear it?
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
There’s this part in Salem’s lot where this vampire kid floats up to this other kids window. Right at that part I heard something go BAM!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
Something hit my bedroom window and let out a high pitched scream! Freaked me out! Finally got the courage to look out the window…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
It was my cat..it was on top the patio awning…saw my window and thought it was open so it hit the glass and screeched! Scary as hell!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
QUESTION: MS4 wants to know, “will Doctor Loomis be allowed at this years event? Saw him recklessly shooting at Myers last year!”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: Yes…Halloween 2 starts with Dr. Loomis shooting Michael…and then of course Laurie does later in the film
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
QUESTION: Mandy wants to know, “Are the scareactors in Exorcist wearing contacts?”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: No, the eyes are built into their look. They all have glass eyes.
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
One more question…make it a good one.
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
QUESTION: Justyn wants to know, “Who is “Hollywood Harry?”
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
ANSWER: As you probably know…I’m the unofficial historian for this studio…I know all the stories, even the ones the public doesn’t…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
That being said, there are things that I can’t really talk about and Hollywood Harry is one of those things…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
but…I’m sure you can find out info about him if you know where to look…#HollywoodHarry
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 25, 2016
A Trip to the Boneyard
We also recently got a preview of what is tom come as Murdy posted pictures from his recent trip to Boneyard FX.
At Boneyard FX this morning to check make up progress for HHN 2016. Might share a few pics…if you’re good little Boils and Ghouls.
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 31, 2016
Here’s a sneak peak at some of the make up/masks being created for HHN. These are evil mimes for Terror Tram pic.twitter.com/civql2wQcZ
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 31, 2016
This is Dog Boy, one of the Freak characters in Terror Tram pic.twitter.com/zhzGuVOyD8
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 31, 2016
Lizard Man, another one of the Freak characters for Terror Tram pic.twitter.com/Vzzo7Fxm80
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 31, 2016
Bling nose clown for Terror Tram… pic.twitter.com/wIrnHRo8Ma
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 31, 2016
And now for some fire fighter clowns…badly, badly burned ones! pic.twitter.com/7C4xDo1diz
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 31, 2016
Three faces are better than one… pic.twitter.com/NkpeACJ5HK
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 31, 2016
Ouch! pic.twitter.com/sIDR8ZlHrY
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 31, 2016
Party Girl pic.twitter.com/U2P795pVKF
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 31, 2016
Join HorrorBuzz for a set of VIP experiences that will take you even closer to the edge of fright! Introducing the Season of Screams!
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE FUN!
Tickets to this year’s event are available for purchase at www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Hollywood, including the Frequent Fear Pass which allows guests to visit multiple times throughout the event.
And thus we close out this edition of the HHNTracker. All mazes have been announced, the show, the Terror Tram, and we are now getting peeks inside the mazes. Check back tomorrow for our further interview with Murdy and a look inside the Krampus maze.
- Universal Hollywood HHN 2016 Tracker 1
- Universal Hollywood HHN 2016 Tracker 2
- Universal Hollywood HHN 2016 Tracker 3
- Universal Hollywood HHN 2016 Tracker 4
- Universal Hollywood HHN 2016 Tracker 5
- Universal Hollywood HHN 2016 Tracker 6
- Universal Hollywood HHN 2016 Tracker 7
- Universal Hollywood HHN 2016 Tracker 8
- Universal Hollywood HHN 2016 Tracker 9
See you in the fog!
