10. Jordan Peele's Us
I saw this movie in theaters and I liked it a lot honestly, and I think haunt wise, it had more potential than Get Out. Buttt, I just didn't see it "working" for reasons I've already stated. What makes Us more personal than just a slasher is that you're fighting a twisted version of you. That is lost in a Horror Nights setting, and no, I do not think they're gonna do some wacky face tech. Honestly, I'd prefer if they don't. I just see it looking way goofy. There is some fun characters and settings in here. I am legit excited to see The Tethered come after us (especially my favorite Tethered, drunken douche neighbor dad). Sets like the funhouse on the pier and the bunkers should be fun to see. But along with the other points, the lateness of this house (despite the time it had to come in) does need to be acknowledged. I just hope there's no chance it's unfinished by EP. But, with slight spoilers for my general at the end, this is still pretty good for a #10 house. Give me this as an idea over either HofBlumhouse concept or like Halloween 4 or even any 3D maze any day.
9. Stranger Things 2019
Good news, I've actually watched the whole show this time! Despite having not watched ten full minutes of the show last year, I...decently enjoyed the maze last year. It was near the bottom, but man 28 was a good year so compared to other years, that was still a compliment. So why is it still so low? Just not looking as forward to it, I think the originals and other IP's have more potential to surprise me with how things are re/created. I expect what we see here to be right out of the show as it just about was last year. Which should be fun for a few things specifically, most specifically the inevitable finale of the endgame from ST3. Sounds like they're doing it, and I expect it to be awesome. Ultimately though, I liked the show, maybe even loved it a bit, but I never felt the full on attachment some have for it. Hence, I will probably have the same feeling I had last year, where no matter how cool it is, it's still going to have an all time worst wait in HHN history nightly. You'd need the best house in the world for me not to take that into account.
8. Depths Of Fear
There's something about this maze that...just doesn't feel right. I don't know if it's one specific thing or the whole thing. I do love the concept of underwater horror, and the kinda tribute to the 80's films. There is the brief Knott's controversy that has to be acknowledged, and I am of the opinion that crossover is inevitable at times in regards to these things. Though I will say HHN didn't do itself any favors with the naming, which...is very generic for an underwater maze in my opinion. "Underwater Hype Word" of Fear. The whole "taken over humans instead of aliens" thing...yeah it's a little bothersome I'll admit, but knowing it in advance makes it an easier pill to swallow. But all those things together and this is just kinda screaming "Prepare for disappointment" for me.
7. Graveyard Games
This was originally my #9, right above Us, but the opinions being displayed by people in the know about their excitement...has made me up my expectations just a bit. I'm definitely not going haywire and putting it in my top 5 right away though. I'm being very careful with this one. To say my opinion flat, this concept...doesn't speak to me. Feels a bit flat, boring. Like I feel like I could definitely envision it anywhere else. The Facebook aspect is...unique I'll say that much, and it seems there could be quite a bit of lore to unpack. I'm definitely going to try and get in with a very open mind and cross my fingers that it is one of the scariest houses in HHN history, as I've already heard some people say. I don't know, I think some people are going off of way early word of mouth and I just think some people are gonna end up a little let down.
6. House Of 1000 Corpses
I don't love Rob Zombie, but I definitely don't hate him. I've wanted HOTC to come to Orlando for a while, since those Hollywood mazes did look very cool, and it always makes an interesting analysis to see how the coasts do things differently. If anything were to come from Rob Zombie, this would be what I want. I expect some great visuals here from the Museum to the titular House. Location is the big worry for me here because Tent 3 has already historically been associated with dump houses. LP3D, and I will include both Blumhouses, since let's be real, with all the calamity that went on, they probably didn't expect Blumhouse 1 to get the weird dark horsey reception it got from some (including yours truly). I just hope that doesn't speak to the priorities and they've made this a good show.
5. Nightingales - Blood Pit
As a more recent attendee, I am pumped to get a full Nightingales house again. And as a major fan of history, I love the idea of the Ancient Rome setting and the little details they've put out already are helping a lot. Everything about this maze screams "Dead Exposure - PZ" to me and that to me, was the scariest HHN house I've been in, so...my expectations...are up there. Someone already complained that the Ancient Rome feels wasted in a tent and I nearly said the same thing, but then I happened to recall I literally made the exact same remark about Paris last year. And then looked like a clown after my first go through so I'm keeping my lips zipped this time.
4. YETI - Terror Of The Yukon
I had a big long debate about this or Nightingales winning out the best original spot, and I gave this the edge in the end. The Swamp Yeti was absolutely terrifying last year, got a jump out of me each time. If it's that but longer and with snow, it's going to be good already. But I think there is some cool set potential here with busted open camps and it sounds like they're going to do blood and gore...and red on white is my aesthetic. What worries me here? The YETI design. That...will make or break this house. Because it sounds like they're doing this serious...but boy I am very worried about them making the Yeti look goofy, accidentally or intentionally. Don't let me down.
3. Killer Klowns From Outer Space
Basically insert my Trick R Treat analysis from last year here. If I liked the scarezone...why wouldn't I liked an extended, way more thought out version of it? The Klowns scarezone was obviously way more flawed due to small location and lack of props, so this needed a maze wayyy more. They're also (by key art and video) playing this...shockingly serious it seems. The big issue here once again comes in location. Shrek Theater is like...the smallest location if I'm right? And the Klowns have big costumes. That...feels like an error in logistics. If that ends up being fine, then the house itself should work out. Just that if to consider.
2. Ghostbusters
I did not think I would be so pumped for this, but the second the announcement came out I knew this was in my Top 3. The potential here may very well be limitless. I'm very interested to see how everything is executed. I don't have one specific scene I want to see, I just want to see everything. Just lay it all on us. The passion here is going to be top notch. This is one of those "must not fail" mazes to A&D probably. And the track record there is very nice for me...with the Shining exception, but Poltergeist being the year after that is making me call a fluke on that one.
1. Universal Monsters
I lovvvee me some Classic Monsters. I was very jealous we didn't get that Monsters maze last year, and I was a little sad because I was sure we were gonna have to wait until 30. But thankfully it's coming this year and with the admittedly cool redesigns so I'm one hundred percent down with this. This is going to be in my Top 5 no matter how it pops out until they somehow completely miss the mark, which would be madness to me. There's no way in my mind they can't at least get a decent run out of their monsters. Not too pumped for the line, but I'll over come it.
Most Likely To Rise
The obvious answer is Graveyard Games. Just due to all the hype already coming to it, but I want to be unique, so I'm actually going to say that Depths Of Fear will end up shocking me. The previous claustrophobic tent houses are both ranked very high for me. I felt Seeds didn't really commit to the concept.
Most Likely To Fall
Probably the YETI. It's gonna come down to the design, so I'm really crossing my fingers and hoping for the best. It's the only SoundStage original this year so it's got a lot to live up to.
Overall
No question about it, this is the BEST IP lineup at a Horror Nights event since 23. The worst IP is very much divisive and even then there's quite a few people who themselves have it high. You wouldn't see anyone putting Blumhouse 2 in their Top 3, or Halloween 4. That speaks to how well they've created this portion of the lineup. There is an IP for everyone here.
Originals...are not as impressive to me as 28's on the base looks. All of 28's originals had a sense of fun to them and generally stood out more to me. It's not the least impressive original lineup, but I don't see the ceilings as high this year.
But overall, I think this is a better lineup than 28. There is something here in general for everyone, and for all the complaints about stuff like Ghostbusters, the lines are still going to be as bad if not worse than last year. ST, Ghostbusters, Us, and the Klowns people will recognize from last year all in front? Looks like I'll be heading to the back first again. I think, intentionally or not, it is notable that the back is seemingly going to have the grittier mazes, whilst the front is going to (mainly) have the more digestible mazes.