HHN Hollywood Speculation/News - 2014

[Jon Fu]

Also, most of the mazes don't really have recognizable scents this year, though Clowns was an exception. I will admit, though, I nearly threw up in my mouth smelling the vomit-scented room.

I recognized the Kong scent a few times. Don't recall which maze though.


...and that was vomit? I only smelled crap, which seems to be a favorite scent of Murdy.

 

[William]

I love the Kong scent. Not sure what it's supposed to smell like, but I love it.

Clowns 3D had several scents. The first hunk of the maze consists of sweet smells reminiscent of ice cream, until you come across vomit, burnt flesh, and some type of rancid sewage odor. I'm probably missing another scent or two from that one.

 

[Allen The Actor]

I'd visit HHN 100 times if they pumped the E.T. forest smell into any maze. Not even kidding.

 

[Jon Fu]

EDIT: also if I see Ben Salisbury, I'll yell at him to bring back Bill and Ted 

Haaaaaaa...

 

[William]

I'd visit HHN 100 times if they pumped the E.T. forest smell into any maze. Not even kidding.

That's what Grinchmas is for!

 

[Allen The Actor]

That's what Grinchmas is for!

Where do they pump that smell....? I've never smelled it at Grinchmas ever before, and I remember the ET smell very well.

 

[BruceTheShark]

My delayed thoughts on Halloween Horror Nights 2014. 

I attended opening night this year, as I always have since 2010. I've been going to the event since it returned to Hollywood. Last year I worked the event, which was pretty fun. This year marks the first year I did not enjoy this event and do not recommend it to anyone who asks me. In my opinion, the event has become a true money-grab. The least amount of effort is being put in to offer guests a good experience. Do guests still flock to the event and wait in lines for up to2 hours? Of course they do, and that's why Universal isn't doing a single thing to improve the experience year after year. When I worked there, a few people told me that the budget shrinks and the tickets are oversold. Making money is the goal of the event, but this year in particular, the experience was not worth the cost of admission.

Over the summer, the property announcements did nothing to really excite me. I was excited to see what they would do with AVP and AWIL, and those mazes were good. Not great, but good. When I went through AWIL, two of the werewolf's were down, and you could see the operators hands frantically trying to repair whatever was wrong with them. During the transformation scene, the actor had his employee badge hanging from the lanyard around his neck. The group of people behind us were actually laughing and shouting at him about it. I'm forgiving of this because it is opening night. I saw all of this first-hand last year. It still dampened the experience of the maze. AVP was very impressive, I just wish we could have explored more of the spaceship and that there were a few more scares. It felt more like a maze for looking and watching, versus getting scared. I can't blame them for this, because I know how technical the effects are. The real problem is, the other mazes that didn't rely on effects, totally fell flat for me. 

The Walking Dead used the same first few scenes from last year, and seemed to be really lacking scare actors when I went through. By the time things started to feel new and fresh, the maze was over. As many of you probably feel, The Walking Dead needs to leave this event. From Dusk Till Dawn was well themed, as all the mazes are, but was repetitive and dull. I don't remember much, since it wasn't very memorable, but I do remember a big room with a lot of empty space, and a bloody bathtub. That's all. Did I miss something? I remember having a few other experiences like that as I went through the event. Rooms with setups, and no payoffs. Dracula Untold was enjoyable, but there was quite a few areas of emptiness and dark hallways, the entire outdoor camp area didn't have one scare actor in it as we walked through it. Clowns was just Black Sabbath with clowns and different music, which I walked out of the maze not realizing was playing and forgetting was supposed to be an important aspect of the maze. Face Off was enjoyable because I got to go through House of Horrors again and see it in a slightly different form. 

Dark Christmas was a big surprise to me, it was very well executed and I give big credit to the creative team for that scare zone. Excellent soundtrack and characters. Mask-a-Raid was fun as well, it was nice to see some fresh new props decorating the area. The Purge was nothing special and was the same as it's been for the past few years, just with different characters. "Skullz" was not a scare zone. 

I didn't attend the Eyegore Awards this year, I have attended 3 of them which were always fun. From journalists that I follow who have gone to nearly every Eyegore Awards, they all said the event was lifeless and lost it's charm due to opening to the public. It's cool that the public got a chance to see the awards, but from what I hear, they didn't truly experience what the Eyegore Awards used to be like when it was an actual press event. 

It is clear that no show was a huge negative impact on the event this year. No show doesn't makeup for what I viewed as lackluster mazes, but it does account for the ridiculous lines and crowds that swarm the event. It really irks me that John Murdy enjoys pointing out all of the sold out nights on Twitter, at the expense of the paying guests wasting the majority of their nights away, waiting in lines. Universal appears to be overselling the event, plain and simple. Instead of coming up with SOMETHING to replace Bill and Ted, something to get people off the streets for a small amount of time, they did nothing, besides an extra maze. 

Here's the real kicker of my experience. My mother had double knee replacement surgery and attended the event last year in a wheelchair. She's gotten better and back to walking in that year but still has trouble being on her feet, so we were given a guest assistance pass. They have shuttles that take you from the upper lot to lower lot, and from the lower lot to the back lot. We stood around waiting for just under ONE HOUR with no line of people, to get to the back lot. Van after van would show up, but all went to the upper lot. Empty vans were leaving and just heading back up to the upper lot, rather than loading up those of us who wanted to go to the backlot. If people come from the upper lot in a wheelchair, they get priority on the next bus. So sure enough, when a bus did arrive, we were out of luck because it had already filled up. At that point my mom said she would just do the walk to the backlot. (Don't bother asking my opinion on getting rid of the transportation for everyone.) When we told the supervisor down there, his solution was to escort us through FOL at From Dusk Till Dawn. It was a nice gesture, but didn't do much when the line was down to 30 mins that late in the night. 

Murdy has said his tenure wouldn't reach the double digit mark. I personally think he saw this coming. The event would come more under the control of corporate vs creative. Budget would shrink to maximize profit. Sure he still gets to decorate the mazes and park, but the properties used are going to be corporates decision, as you can see this year by how many properties are shared between the two coasts. 

I'm actually really bummed at how low my opinion of this event has fallen. For those of you who have seen me on the forums for a while, you'd know I was always a supporter and champion of the event. Now I won't recommend it to anybody or return to it this year. Better values exist elsewhere. Am I just jaded after going to the event for so long? I had hoped I wouldn't get to that point. Or have I broken free of my fan-bias and noticed more of whats happening behind the scenes of the event? Most likely. 

 

[Bonkers]

Here is my incredibly late review (I went around 2 weeks ago, and I've been to lazy and busy to post it).

Mazes in order from the worst to the best. Possible Spoilers.

7. Clowns 3D: Music By Slash- 5.5/10- It wasn't awful, but like stated by other users, it was just Black Sabbath with Clowns and Slash, which isn't bad as I loved Black Sabbath, but I expected something new.

6. Face Off: In the Flesh- 5.5/10- It was meh, somewhat better than Monster Remix, but it was great to walk through House of Horrors one last time.

5. The Walking Dead: End of the Line- 6/10- Basically the same maze from last year with minor differences, IMO zombies just aren't scary anymore.

4. From Dusk Till Dawn- 7/10- This maze was a surprise. It had a great facade and great indoor theming. It wasn't that scary, but the sets made up for that.

3. Dracula Untold: Reign of Blood- 8/10- A truly underrated maze. Some great indoor sets, however there is at least 1 unthemed dark hallway. It should also be done at night for a better experience. The maze should have also been placed in House of Horrors. Overall, I got a decent amount of scares, but it's a fun maze and it could have definitely been better.

2. AvP: Alien Vs. Predator- 9/10- This maze had fantastic indoor theming, great Predator costumes, and some really great Alien puppets. I loved the Facehuggers, the skull trophy display with the dead Predator, the skinned bodies, and the Queen at the finale (ha take that Orlando). I received a good amount of scares from this maze, and it was just spectacular to go through a maze featuring two of the most iconic aliens of all time.

1. An American Werewolf in London- 9.5/10- This maze was horrifying (in a good way of course). The facade, the Puppets, and the interior theming were fantastic. Probably the only attraction at HHN where I was actually scared the whole way through.

Scarezones in order from the worst to the best.

5. Skullz- 2/10- Two people on stilts do not qualify for a scarezone, When will you understand Murdy? I thought you learned.

4. The Walking Dead: Welcome to Terminus- Once again, it's basically the same thing from last year.

3. Mask-A-Raid- 6.5/10-  This scarezone was decent, but I still enjoyed it. Mostly because I love history.

2. The Purge: Anarchy- 7.5/10- *sigh* They could have done so much with this franchise at HHN, but instead they just gave us the same thing from last year with some new characters. However I still enjoyed it. 

1. Dark Christmas- 8.5/10- This was a surprise for me. It sounded really stupid at first, I mean Christmas decor at HHN, but it was really good undoubtedly the best scarezone this year.

Terror Tram: Invaded by the Walking Dead- 5/10- Oh Terror Tram. Seriously it's been the same thing for the past 3 years. Either, 1.) Scrap it, or 2.) Give it a new theme and change some things up.

Overall Event thoughts:

The event really didn't feel like it was worth the money, I'm going to Knott's next week and since it's cheaper and I've been hearing good reviews about this year's event, I have a feeling it will be a lot better than HHN. Hopefully, they learn from this year's mistakes, and make next year superior.

Overall score 7/10.

Suggestions for next year.

1. Have a show (maybe two). This event needs a people eater. Bring back Bill and Ted and Rocky Horror.

2. Fix or replace Terror Tram. I'd rather have Skull Island Express.

3. No more music mazes, but knowing Murdy's love for music, it's going to happen anyways 

4. A 3rd Purge film is in the works. If Murdy is interested in the Purge for next year, then just have a Purge Backlot Experience like we should of had this year. (Terror Tram, Maze, Scarezone).

5. No more Walking Dead. 3 years is enough.

6. An 8th maze?

7. No more stilt only scarezones. Either get rid of them or add some other scareactors if possible.

 

[William]

Where do they pump that smell....? I've never smelled it at Grinchmas ever before, and I remember the ET smell very well.

I smelled it a lot in the ornament decorating area last year in Universal Plaza. I seemed creepy walking circles around children trying to color in pieces of paper, when in reality, I was trying to absorb the smell of the pine. Oh, well.

Well this is a major super duper big bummer.

 

[Jon Fu]

3. Dracula Untold: Reign of Blood- 8/10- A truly underrated maze. Some great indoor sets, however there is at least 1 unthemed dark hallway. It should also be done at night for a better experience. The maze should have also been placed in House of Horrors. Overall, I got a decent amount of scares, but it's a fun maze and it could have definitely been better.

Glad you liked this one. I'm surprised at the amount of hate I see tossed towards this maze on Twitter. I'm not sure about everyone else, but I thought it was pretty good. Definitely underrated.


...and who doesn't like the black hallway of fun?

That's bullshit.

 

[William]

That's bullshit.

As in you're thoroughly upset, or you don't believe it?

Murdy has implied that he will be, once again, taking the reins as Creative Director of HHN for next year's event. In that case, I'm predicting seven mazes and no shows.

 

[Jon Fu]

As in you're thoroughly upset, or you don't believe it?

I'm not upset, but I am disappointed.


Murdy doesn't care for shows, and that's fine, but to publicly dismiss it like that is really something. If you're perceived as the face of the event, at least try not to throw people under the bus.


Regardless, I won't be going if that's the case. I'm not a maze person, and I'm definitely not a fan of paying top dollar to wait in lines all day.

 

[William]

I completely understand that point of view. Though I'll be going next year with or without a show, they need to do something about this year's horrendous crowd control. Reduce the number of tickets being sold per night or something, because I need breathing room.

 

[Jon Fu]

I completely understand that point of view. Though I'll be going next year with or without a show, they need to do something about this year's horrendous crowd control. Reduce the number of tickets being sold per night or something, because I need breathing room.

I'm hearing they oversell the event now regularly, so don't count on that changing anytime soon.


Like Bruce, I'm becoming really apathetic towards the event. Oh well. I'm just one person.

 

[William]

I'm one of the crazy brainwashed people, but at least I'm aware of it. I'll go even if they're guaranteeing your beheading.

 

[Allen The Actor]

I completely understand that point of view. Though I'll be going next year with or without a show, they need to do something about this year's horrendous crowd control. Reduce the number of tickets being sold per night or something, because I need breathing room.

I just don't get it. Having a show is only positive. Helps with absorbing huge crowds, pleases guests and gives satisfaction points, and makes it a well rounded event. Universal is overselling their Halloween event just like Disney is.

 

[William]

All I can think of is that it costs less to keep a maze sitting there rather than having several shows each night of the event. That, and some obsession with nothing but screams and thrills.

 

[Jon Fu]

But let's look at Knott's. Surely they don't have the budget that Universal has, yet they make it work with two shows and plenty of up-charge side attractions.


I don't think Universal has a good excuse. This is obviously a creative direction they've decided to pursue.

 

[William]

In that case, I guess they have their direction set on thrills. Whatever reason was behind pursuing a seventh maze rather than a show, they sure are proud of it; I swear, if I had a dollar for every time I heard the tagline "More Dead Than Ever"...

 

[Ryan]

Where the hell is maze seven going to be next year without HoH?

Universal thinks that the public just wants the mazes... and they aren't wrong. The public doesn't want the horrible crowds and Bill and Ted always maxed out every show, every night so it helps. I just don't understand why they don't offer any sort of replacement. It's mind boggling.