Universal is out for blood(lines)
Universal is out for blood(lines)
Halloween Horror Nights lineup to feature monstrous women
The legendary Universal monsters will once again be joining forces at Halloween Horror Nights, only this time it’s going to be girls’ night out. Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines, one of the headlining haunted houses at both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood, will showcase some of the scary gals that have starred in the creature features, including Dracula’s Daughter, She-Wolf of London, and the always electrifying Bride of Frankenstein.
The multiverse gathering of monsters will pit Saskia Van Helsing, daughter of Count Dracula’s killer, Abraham Van Helsing, against Countess Marya, the vampire’s daughter, who seeks to avenge her father’s murder. The creative team behind HHN developed the Sasika character to help establish a new generation of monster hunters and monsters that can carry the torch for their famous dads. She-Wolf and The Mummy’s main squeeze, Anck-Su-Namun, join Team Dracula, while The Bride of Frankenstein aligns with Van Helsing. I don’t know which bloodline will prevail, but I suspect a fair amount of blood will be shed along the way.
I’m a huge fan of the classic monsters, and appreciate the love they get at HHN. They are almost always one of the highlights at Universal’s fall events. The film fiends are an important part of the studio’s legacy, and it’s heartening that they continue to play important roles both on the screen and in the parks. As for legacy, get a load of this: The Eternal Bloodlines house will be presented on Sound Stage 12 on the Hollywood’s studio’s back lot where movies such as 1935’s “The Bride of Frankenstein” and 1931’s “Dracula” were originally shot. The West Coast HHN house will exclusively feature a soundtrack composed by Slash, who has lent his writing and fretwork to past events.
Eternal Bloodlines will provide a preview of sorts for Dark Universe, the classic monsters-themed land coming to Epic Universe, the hugely anticipated theme park scheduled to open in 2025 at Universal Orlando. Its centerpiece attraction, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, will incorporate a gaggle of ghouls such as Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Mummy.
The other houses based on big-name properties at the two stateside HHNs will include Insidious The Further, where The Red-Faced Demon and KeyFace will lurk; Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, which, in the spirit of the movie franchise, will likely be this year’s comic relief maze; and, capitalizing on the recently released sequel, A Quiet Place, which will test guests’ abilities to suppress their screams. The Hollywood park will also present The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Legacy of Leatherface haunted house. I’ve already shared info about the six original content houses on tap for the Orlando HHN (and indicated that the homegrown scarefests often steal the show). The Hollywood park will be releasing details about its three remaining houses shortly.
Among the scare zones in Florida will be Swamp of the Undead, where zombies will be on the hunt for victims to feed to the bog; the twisted renaissance faire-themed Torture Faire (if you ask me, everyday renaissance faires inflict plenty of torture); the (apparently) all-female Demon Queens; and Duality of Fear, at which guests can either follow a sinister or surreal path. It seems there will be narrative threads linking some or all of the zones together.
In addition to the scare zones in Hollywood, which will include the pro wrestling-themed Luchadores Monstruosos, the California park will again present the Terror Tram. It repurposes the tour trams and deposits guests onto backlot sets filled with scareactors.
The 2024 edition of HHN at Universal Studios Hollywood is scheduled for select nights from September 5 to November 3. In Florida, the event will take place on select evenings from August 30 to November 3. On Thursday, August 29, the Orlando park will offer Halloween Horror Nights Premium Scream Night. The limited capacity event, priced at $350 per person, will grant access to all houses with shorter wait times and staggered entry (for more intimate and potentially scarier experiences) and include other perks such as all-you-can-eat food and drink.
Will you be heading to HHN on either coast? What house most appeals to you?
While a trip down is probably not in the cards for me this year (we have to save up for an Epic Universe visit, after all), I still greatly enjoy and appreciate the previews and reviews of all the haunts.
I absolutely love the female-centric take on the Universal Monsters lore. As the father of a daughter, I am 100% on board with anything showcasing strong female heroes and not just damsels in distress. I really enjoyed the Bride of Frankenstein house HHN did a few years ago, so I can't wait to see how they keep ramping up the Universal Monster haunts.
The Halloween spirit has hit me even earlier than usual this year. Even if I'm not able to hit HHN, I may have to sneak in a BGW Howl-O-Scream visit to get my fix.
The plan for my family is to do a big Universal Orlando only trip next fall and attend our first HHN and Epic Universe for the first time. We were last at Universal Orlando (and Disney World) 3 years ago and got our first rides on Velocicoaster and Hagrid's. We are leaving for a big Disney trip soon and are excited for our first Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party next Friday!