HHN Hollywood General Discussion - 2017

[chris.g]

I would do anything to experience HOTC. It looked soooo good... Was telling HHNManics I'd like to see an Indie Horror themed year one year, hopefully HOTC is on that list, even if it's just a return.

 

[HHNManics]

I would've much rather have a Original Idea that has to do with This Is The End to replace The Conjuring than Leatherface...

*drops mic and leaves

 

[Freak]

Not to mention one of those (IMO) was TWD. Its best year there, and definitely the scariest.

I do feel this year will have sleeper hits (Saw, Evil Dead, possibly Blumhouse) but this is the weakest lineup ever.

Really? I feel like 2010 and 15 and worse line-ups at a surface level. When I experienced them, they were't great, but better than expected. 2013 sounded like it would have a great line-up but the content was horrible. IDK, I don't think this year sounds as bad as those.

To be quite honest, I'd say 2010 is higher than this year.

There are only two houses that I'm more curious of. Those two being Shining, and Evil Dead.

2010? The only favorite I had was House of 1000 Corpses.

2010 was one of the two worst years ever. 2013 being the worst, IMO.

I'm hoping this year will end up being another 2015 where the content is better than expected, but with this line up, it sounds…..meh.

-Walking Dead
-Texas Chainsaw 5.0
-Blumhouse of Horrors
-Insidious 3.0
-Shining
-American Horror Story: Roanoke
-Saw 3.0
-Ash Vs. Evil Dead
-Titans of Terror Tram

Oh wow. That line-up sounds worse on paper. Yeah, I'm goin' to Orlando.

 

[ush.hacker]

An opinion I actually agree with

 

[Freak]

I would much rather have a Original Idea that has to do with This Is The End to replace The Conjuring than Leatherface...

*drops mic and leaves

Eeehhhhhh…..I don't know if I'd go that far.

I have to question Murdy's creative judgement often times. He thinks TiTE would be better than an original concept, he'll won't even flinch to do TCM for a FIFTH TIME but will fight against any thought of doing an original house. I'd take a cheap Orlando-style 3D house any day over freakin' Leatherface for a fifth time.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that Murdy said this was his second favorite line-up ever. Does he really care about what the true fans want? I guess going off of that, the Shining will suck. Murdy is the George Lucas of HHN now. Disappointing fans left and right.

 

[Ridesandstuff]

I'll say this, out of one thing that I'd guess.

It could be, that every time he tried an original maze; it had only mediocre to sub-par GSAT scores. And that it could've been more of an effect of him working under the Kurtzweil year's, as there were reportedly, major cuts to Horror Nights in the past.

I feel like you could kinda attribute that to most of them never being truly original. Theyre always bringing in types like Slash, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper majority of which their audience dont really care about anymore. They keep attaching "big names" that...aren't big

 

[Freak]

I feel like our HHN is like Linkin Park. We demand quality, but disguise mediocrity by saying "But ItZ wuT dA FaNz WaNt!" "We Do ThInGz oUr WaaaaaYy MaN!"

IS IT REALLY THAT DIFFICULT TO DO AN ORIGINAL MAZE INSTEAD OF A REPEAT!? Sweet Mother Mary....

 

[AlexanderMBush]

I feel like you could kinda attribute that to most of them never being truly original. Theyre always bringing in types like Slash, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper majority of which their audience dont really care about anymore. They keep attaching "big names" that...aren't big

To be fair, the last true original was La Llorona, and before that; it was a scarezone/tram first.

I have no beef with John Murdy, but that I do believe that his time has come (Rimshot) and that while I appreciate him as an artist, artists will eventually degrade in quality in some way.

I'd argue Chris too, but I'd imagine that he has tried passing things around but Murdy shoots down the possibilities before it could happen.

He may just be used to the mindset, as Murdy was; as said in the time of the period of Larry Kurtzweil.

 

[Ridesandstuff]

To be fair, the last true original was La Llorona, and before that; it was a scarezone/tram first.

I have no beef with John Murdy, but that I do believe that his time has come (Rimshot) and that while I appreciate him as an artist, artists will eventually degrade in quality in some way.

I'd argue Chris too, but I'd imagine that he has tried passing things around but Murdy shoots down the possibilities before it could happen.

He may just be used to the mindset, as Murdy was; as said in the time of the period of Larry Kurtzweil.

And La Llorona was the only original that weve had that was actually on par with the IP houses. I completely agree that new blood is needed.

 

[HHNManics]

He could literally just do like... Alice Cooper is doing a New Album called Paranormal which I pointed out could be the Concept Album Murdy was talking about. Sure it wouldn't have enough to grow and people to learn about as if it was a Maze This year than in 2018 but it would have been cool.

Why not Cabin in the Woods? Sure we have Evil Dead this but it's a fun movie and would make a good maze. Orlando did it in 2013 and I heard it got pretty good reviews.

I heard Murdy wanted to redo AWIL someday so why not? Or why not do a Prequel/ Original Idea (Like TCM) and tell the story about the Werewolf that attacks David and Jack and tell how the person became a Werewolf.

Eli Roth's Terror Tram was fun so why not do a Maze on it? Easily the best terror tram in a long time and had a Great Character that could be done in a Maze.

Or just do The Titans of Terror like make a EXTREMELY Original Backstory for them so we can see them in a Maze it would be great!

New Blood is needed. HHN 2017 has one New Property and that's The Shining. 2015 had 2 New properties which were Crimson Peak and I shall not name...

But still take a risk and try something different and new.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

And La Llorona was the only original that weve had that was actually on par with the IP houses. I completely agree that new blood is needed.

And I do believe it'll happen, faster than we could expect.

They are now transitioning, as a whole, to eventually become more similar in tactics and planning of Orlando to Hollywood; and that has started with Karen Irwin.

But before she could do major changes to events like Horror Nights, that already begun development probably back in September of last year. She probably couldn't make changes there, atleast; for this year in the sense of creative direction.

I think a good example of this, is what has seemed to be a massive overhaul on the holiday offerings coming to Universal Hollywood this year.

We have seen, Hollywood and Orlando will be recieving holiday themed festivities based around The Wizarding World of Harry Potter; in more way's than one. And that they are seeming to be keeping Grinchmas, due to that trademarks are still online along with online events for the park featuring Grinchmas as it is.

I imagine, what's next is Horror Nights for major events as they haven't begun development on next year's event. And that, I think that'll be when we'll see more of that potential notice if Murdy and Chris are leaving by the end of the year.

 

[k_peek_2000]

I too am on "Team Murdy's time has come". Knott's recently did a big shift and brought in lots of new blood. I'd say the past 2 years I've enjoyed Scary Farm more than HHN overall.

 

[Freak]

Whoa, slow down on the posts. Give me a chance to write haha

He could literally just do like... Alice Cooper is doing a New Album called Paranormal which I pointed out could be the Concept Album Murdy was talking about. Sure it wouldn't have enough to grow and people to learn about as if it was a Maze This year than in 2018 but it would have been cool.

Why not Cabin in the Woods? Sure we have Evil Dead this but it's a fun movie and would make a good maze. Orlando did it in 2013 and I heard it got pretty good reviews.

I heard Murdy wanted to redo AWIL someday so why not? Or why not do a Prequel/ Original Idea (Like TCM) and tell the story about the Werewolf that attacks David and Jack and tell how the person became a Werewolf.

Eli Roth's Terror Tram was fun so why not do a Maze on it? Easily the best terror tram in a long time and had a Great Character that could be done in a Maze.

Or just do The Titans of Terror like make a EXTREMELY Original Backstory for them so we can see them in a Maze it would be great!

New Blood is needed. HHN 2017 has one New Property and that's The Shining. 2015 had 2 New properties which were Crimson Peak and I shall not name...

But still take a risk and try something different and new.

The problem is, Murdy has taken "risks" in the past; it's just that he's confused risks with really bad ideas. He considers Clowns 3D and TiTE as risks. Clowns are done to death and TiTE never would have made a good maze to begin with.

Cabin in the Woods was great, btw. I got to experience it.

And I do believe it'll happen, faster than we could expect.

They are now transitioning, as a whole, to eventually become more similar in tactics and planning of Orlando to Hollywood; and that has started with Karen Irwin.

But before she could do major changes to events like Horror Nights, that already begun development probably back in September of last year. She probably couldn't make changes there, atleast; for this year in the sense of creative direction.

I think a good example of this, is what has seemed to be a massive overhaul on the holiday offerings coming to Universal Hollywood this year.

We have seen, Hollywood and Orlando will be recieving holiday themed festivities based around The Wizarding World of Harry Potter; in more way's than one. And that they are seeming to be keeping Grinchmas, due to that trademarks are still online along with online events for the park featuring Grinchmas as it is.

I imagine, what's next is Horror Nights for major events as they haven't begun development on next year's event. And that, I think that'll be when we'll see more of that potential notice if Murdy and Chris are leaving by the end of the year.

I hope you're right man. I think this may end up happening.

 

[HHNManics]

I too am on "Team Murdy's time has come". Knott's recently did a big shift and brought in lots of new blood. I'd say the past 2 years I've enjoyed Scary Farm more than HHN overall.

Did anyone experience Shadowlands last year or Paranormal Inc?

Shadowlands might just be my favorite maze of all time. Incredible stuff. Knotts takes a lot of risks and sometimes they mess up and make a Bad Maze but I have definitely enjoyed Knotts a lot since I started going in 2013. JUST MAKE JON COOKE THE DESIGNER OF HHN AND HEAVEN!

 

[Nland316]

The problem is, Murdy has taken "risks" in the past; it's just that he's confused risks with really bad ideas. He considers Clowns 3D and TiTE as risks. Clowns are done to death and TiTE never would have made a good maze to begin with.

I actually think that TiTE had major maze potential. Murdy just went in the wrong direction, especially with making it a 3D maze.

 

[Rideguy70]

I have to also join the camp that as of the last few years, I've overall enjoyed Knott's Haunt more than HHN's. There's so many more mazes and shows, more original ideas, and the lines are generally more manageable. Really, why anyone would stand in line for 2-3 hours for a single maze when the entire event only 7 hours long at best is insane.

I still go to HHN a lot because it's very local to me, and with the Frequent Fear pass, I can get my money's worth. I'll get there first thing at 6pm, get to do 2 or 3 mazes before the crowds hit, and then leave by 8 or 9pm. Repeat the next day with other mazes. But I'd have to admit, if I didn't live so nearby where I could get away with that, I don't know if I'd be going much.

On a side note, why is everyone so wanting a Conjuring maze? I will admit I haven't seen the movie, but it doesn't look all that great to me to warrant the demand people here seem to have for it. Seems like a pretty generic film to me, why all the passion for it? And did it even do that well at the box office?

 

[AlexanderMBush]

I have to also join the camp that as of the last few years, I've overall enjoyed Knott's Haunt more than HHN's. There's so many more mazes and shows, more original ideas, and the lines are generally more manageable. Really, why anyone would stand in line for 2-3 hours for a single maze when the entire event only 7 hours long at best is insane.

I still go to HHN a lot because it's very local to me, and with the Frequent Fear pass, I can get my money's worth. I'll get there first thing at 6pm, get to do 2 or 3 mazes before the crowds hit, and then leave by 8 or 9pm. Repeat the next day with other mazes. But I'd have to admit, if I didn't live so nearby where I could get away with that, I don't know if I'd be going much.

On a side note, why is everyone so wanting a Conjuring maze? I will admit I haven't seen the movie, but it doesn't look all that great to me to warrant the demand people here seem to have for it. Seems like a pretty generic film to me, why all the passion for it? And did it even do that well at the box office?

On the terms of The Conjuring--

The films have content, and by content; i mean Content that can be immediately pulled postively for Haloween Horror Nights. The sequel to the first film, The Conjuring 2 while to me; isn't scary, it has a lot of material. And that it's also based off of the real works of Ed and Lorrane Warren, who were apart of the Amityville case.

As for Box Offie, it's made about over 800 million worldwide for the series in general.

 

[Tobias]

And did it even do that well at the box office?

Box office wise, both films have made over $300 million, with the 2nd film being the 2nd highest grossing horror film of all time. (Just behind the Exorcist.) They've easily smashed records on horror openings, R-rated openings etc. So yes, it's done quite well at the box office.

 

[foodstampsFTW]

Wow, I missed alot. To start, HOTC is the one house I would encourage to come back. Paranormal Inc was that house that completely lived up to the hype it got. Knotts will never be as good as HHN, be realistic. And rideguy, why would you say that you don't know why people want the Conjuring when you admit you haven't seen the movie, that should answer your question

 

[chris.g]

The first Conjuring is one of the best horror movies I've ever seen, in terms of story telling and scares. I would KILL for it to be at HHN.

Count me out of the KSF camp. Horrible experiences the last 3 years, and not worth my money. No scares, and overall crappy atmosphere, I'm in the VERY minority here when I say I've had a much better time at Fright Fest than I have at KSF. ONLY KSF house I absolutely adore are Paranormal Inc and Shadowlands which, while good, was a bit overhyped to me.

I'm still an HHN guy, I'll support it no matter what, but it's time the event starts heading in a new direction.