The spooky season has returned, and with it a host of new Halloween haunts and blood-curdling brands. Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is, as always, providing the scream de la scream of horror events in the theme park industry. New attractions in 2022 include a collaboration with The Weeknd, a crossover experience of Jordan Peele’s latest films, and a Blumhouse-inspired haunted house.
Horror flicks such as Saw and It have been transformed into location-based entertainment (LBE) experiences. Hersheypark has introduced a new scare attraction called ‘Dark Nights’. And then there’s Shaqtoberfest. Read on for our selection of the most creative and creepy new Halloween haunts.
The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare
Halloween Horror Nights has returned to Universal’s US parks this year, and with it a slew of new and unique haunted houses. One of these is a collaboration with The Weeknd for ‘After Hours Nightmare’, a new Halloween haunt inspired by the artist’s record-breaking ‘After Hours’ album.
Spooky sounds from the record are reimagined as a horror movie soundtrack for an “outrageously haunting experience” in which visitors “spiral into the twisted mind of this mysterious artist”.
“I always wanted my own Halloween Horror Nights haunted house as Halloween has always been significant to my music, so this is a total dream come to life,” said Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye. “I feel like my music videos have served as a launching pad for a collaboration like this, and I cannot wait for people to experience this madness!”
The Weeknd’s new Halloween haunt
After Hours Nightmare is a “surreal living nightmare filled with grotesque characters and themes inspired by The Weeknd’s music and short films”. “Slashers, bandaged maniacs, gruesome toad-like creatures and other unfathomable horrors” will stalk guests, said Universal Studios.
Saw: The Experience
In London, the Path Entertainment Group, Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures are launching a Saw immersive experience. This will open in time for Halloween on 27 October.
Saw: The Experience is a narrative-driven theatrical attraction. It brings to life the Jigsaw killer, and it wants to play a game. Oren Koules and Mark Burg, Saw producers and founders of Twisted Pictures, said visitors “can be a part of the story and uncover what Jigsaw’s twisted games have in store for them”.
Lionsgate horror attraction
Jenefer Brown is Lionsgate’s EVP and head of global LBE. She said the company is “always working to offer fans exciting and authentic ways to engage with their favourite IP”. Brown added the attraction is a “perfect fit, giving fans a role at the centre of the story and combining theatrical elements with Jigsaw’s iconic traps to create the ultimate Saw escape”.
The Saw franchise’s global box office passed $1 billion last year. Lionsgate also collaborated with Egan Escape Productions on an escape experience in Las Vegas based on the Blair Witch franchise.
Nope and Us crossover experience
Universal Studios Hollywood’s ‘Terror Tram’ attraction for Halloween Horror Nights is hosting a crossover experience featuring Jordan Peele‘s blockbuster movies, Nope and Us. The new Halloween haunt is the grand finale of the popular Terror Tram, with ‘The Tethered’ from Us invading the new Jupiter’s Claim set from Nope.
Jupiter’s Claim is a fictional theme park from Peele’s sci-fi horror film. It is inspired by the California Gold Rush and owned and operated by former child star Ricky ‘Jupe’ Park. Ricky is played by Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead). Nope also stars Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out) and Keke Palmer (Scream Queens).
As visitors make their way through a “choreographed massacre” at the set, they encounter the “vengeful doppelgangers” from Us. The Jupiter’s Claim set was created by production designer Ruth DeJong. It was then disassembled post-production and transported to Universal Studios Hollywood. The reconstructed set at the theme park includes original props and details from Nope.
Jordan Peele’s new Halloween haunt
“I remember visiting Universal Studios when I was 12 years old and being mesmerized,” said Peele. “That experience reinforced my passion and drive to someday join in on the meta-magic of ‘backlot life’.”
“Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to direct three movies for Universal,” he added. “It is a privilege to honor these collaborations with my studio partners, crew members and cast, and to be able to share Jupiter’s Claim with fans.”
“Jordan’s creativity and ingenuity have produced unique, thought-provoking movies. We couldn’t be more excited to showcase his original Jupiter’s Claim set as a permanent centrepiece attraction on the Studio Tour, giving our guests a front row seat to authentic movie-making magic,” said Scott Strobl, executive VP and general manager at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Escape It
Coming this fall to Las Vegas is an It-themed escape room. Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment and Egan Escape Productions are bringing the alarming attraction to life. Based on the highest-grossing horror movie of all time and its sequel, It Chapter Two, Escape It offers two multi-room adventures.
Fans of the franchise will find themselves in Derry. Interactive rooms take inspiration from the iconic locations seen in Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of Stephen King’s original novel. These include the Losers’ Clubhouse, the haunted Neibolt House, and the town’s sewers.
“It is one of our most iconic horror film franchises and we cannot wait for fans to be able to come face-to-face with the infamous Pennywise and the town of Derry in a way they’ve never experienced before,” said Peter van Roden, senior VP of Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment.
New haunting offering for Halloween
“We’re thrilled to work with Egan Escape Productions as they are experts in the space – bringing complexity and attention to every detail to help bring our immersive horror experiences to the next level.”
The eerie experience will include “more than 20 interactive rooms, state-of-the-art special effects, lighting, animatronics, and live actors”, according to a press release. There will also be an It-themed retail store, with photo opportunities and exclusive merchandise.
“Having the opportunity to work with one of the most iconic and terrifying characters of all time has been a phenomenal venture,” said Jason Egan, owner of Egan Escape Productions. “It’s an honor to have Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment trust us with their brand and to bring this beloved franchise to life here in the amazing city.”
Universal Monsters: Legends Collide
Universal Pictures’ most infamous horror icons have joined forces for the first time ever for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights in Florida and California. In the ‘Universal Monsters: Legends Collide’ haunted house, Dracula, The Wolf Man and The Mummy are horrifying guests all together.
In the new Halloween haunt, guests head back to the 19th century. Here, the monsters are looking for the ‘Amulet of Ra’. The Wolf Man thinks the ancient relic contains the power to lift his curse, while Dracula and The Mummy plan to use it against humans.
“With the full moon on the rise and a race against time, guests find themselves entangled in a bloodthirsty battle between the terrifying titans – and only one will survive,” said Universal.
Brick or Treat
LEGOLAND Windsor will transform into a petrifying pumpkin-filled destination for October. This family-friendly Halloween haunt is home to several new offerings, including a 4D movie called The Great Monster Chase. In the fearsome film, the LEGO monsters are hosting an after-show party on the theme park’s grounds – but only monsters are permitted entry.
The LEGOLAND theme park is also putting on a new Halloween harbour show, Monster Jam. The attraction features the monster rock band from The Great Monster Chase, with music, dance routines and “fang-tastic effects”.
The LEGO monsters will also be at the Monster Street walk-through attraction. Stars of The Great Monster Chase will greet guests across the park, including Monster Rocker, Wolf Guy, Tiger Woman, Zombie Cheerleader, and Square Foot. There will also be new photo opportunities and LEGO decorations. For instance, oversized LEGO pumpkin and skeleton heads, LEGO-inspired bats, mini pumpkins and spiders.
The Great Monster Chase
“Halloween is a chance to enjoy some ghoulishly good fun as a family, which is why we’re really excited to be kicking off our first-ever month-long Brick or Treat celebrations,” said Helen Bull, divisional director at LEGOLAND Windsor.
“We can’t wait to conjure up one of our biggest and best Halloween transformations at the resort yet and welcome families and their little monsters for a terrifically terrifying half term.”
The Horrors of Blumhouse
Blumhouse’s bloodthirsty brands are terrorising visitors for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood. ‘The Horrors of Blumhouse’ is a new haunted house based on Blumhouse’s Freaky and The Black Phone.
Founded by Jason Blum, Blumhouse is a film and TV production company. It is the company behind horror movies such as Creep, Paranormal Activity, The Invisible Man and Get Out.
During Universal’s The Black Phone experience, guests meet ‘The Grabber’. Horror lovers find themselves trapped in his ‘funhouse’ where “the sound of ghostly voices whisper hints on how to escape”. Guests must outwit and outrun The Grabber.
In the Freaky attraction, guests need to escape a serial killer called ‘The Butcher’ who has switched bodies with a high school girl. “Guests will learn firsthand that looks can be deceiving as they encounter the sweet-looking teen who is actually The Butcher – and she is determined to hunt for their next victims,” said Universal.
Hersheypark’s Dark Nights
Hersheypark has introduced the new ‘Dark Nights’ haunt experience as part of this year’s Halloween event. The attraction offers three spine-chilling scare zones and four horrifying haunted houses. Dark Nights at Hersheypark Halloween is the park’s largest investment in a seasonal event to date.
The haunted houses ‘Creature Chaos’, ‘Twisted Darkness’, and ‘Haunted Coal Mine’ were conceived and designed by Zeitgeist Design and Production. And “The Descent” was conceived and designed by Epic Entertainment Group.
The scare zones are ‘Darkstone’s Hollow’, ‘Valley of Fear’ and ‘Midway of Misery’. Darkstone’s Hollow features an array of mythical creatures, and guests are watched by “dreadful beings” in Valley of Fear. Visitors are “summoned through a sinister gateway” during Midway of Misery.
Scare zones and haunted houses
The park describes the Haunted Coal Mine as a “daring trek through the abandoned mine”. Meanwhile, The Descent takes place in the dark underground tunnels beneath Hersheypark. Guests take on Pennsylvania’s “most fearful and deadly creatures” in Creature Chaos, and in Twisted Darkness, they are “forced into a never-ending carnival of nightmares”.
Guests can also purchase exclusive branded merchandise at Dark Nights Emporium, Halloween BOOtique and Hersheypark Supply Co. RWS Entertainment Group provided casting and production services for the event.
The Lakeside Cemetery
Alton Towers is celebrating 15 years of its award-winning Scarefest with the new ‘Lakeside Cemetery’ scare attraction. For this year’s Halloween event, the resort has brought back three menacing mazes, as well as the family-friendly Trick O Treat Town.
The new Halloween haunt, ‘The Lakeside Cemetery’, invites visitors to take part in a “grave experience that will live with you for eternity”. The graveyard’s “friendly funeral director is dying to assist you as you descend into the burial chamber, where you can choose your final resting place”, said Alton Towers. “Some caskets have already been filled, but there are others, still empty, waiting for you.”
New Halloween haunt at Alton Towers
“We are thrilled to be celebrating 15 years of Scarefest, as well as seeing the return of our hugely popular Oktoberfest event and our mind-blowingly awesome fireworks show,” said Chris Carter, Alton Towers’ events and entertainments director. “Our events are bigger and better than ever – we’re bringing a great mix of roller coasters, live entertainment and fabulous food and drink, plus so much more!”
Shaqtoberfest
Former professional basketball player Shaquille O’Neal has launched a frightening festival dubbed Shaqtoberfest this year. The new Halloween haunt takes place at the Queen Mary in Long Beach. The former cruise ship is now a hotel. Many believe it to be one of the most haunted places in the US.
The hair-raising event is a collaboration between ABG Entertainment and Thirteenth Floor Entertainment. Highlights include family-friendly trick-or-treating, ghoulish games and terrifying treats, as well as haunted trails and live entertainment. Shaqtoberfest has six spooky-themed areas.
“Halloween can’t come soon enough,” said O’Neal. “Thirteenth Floor Entertainment and I have some tricks up our sleeves to make this the most spook-tacular Halloween event ever!”
Shaquille O’Neal‘s new Halloween haunt
“We are beyond thrilled to be partnering with Shaq and ABG Entertainment for a truly unique Halloween experience coming this fall,” said Chris Strafford, CEO and founding partner of Thirteenth Floor Entertainment.
“Shaqtoberfest will be unlike any other Halloween attraction that we have ever produced, and we couldn’t be more excited to be launching it at one of the area’s most well-known locations and show our fans what we’ve created for them. Not to mention, we’re really excited to be able to produce an event in Long Beach, which has a long-running history of hosting amazing Halloween celebrations.”
Michael Myers in London
The Halloween Ends Experience was a spine-chilling horror attraction in London’s Piccadilly Circus. This had a limited run on 1 and 2 October. It was created to celebrate the upcoming theatrical release of Halloween Ends on 14 October. Halloween Ends is the final film in David Gordon Green’s trilogy that started with 2018’s Halloween.
Fans of the franchise stepped into the shoes of Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and met evil incarnate, Michael Myers. Located in a replica of Laurie’s house in Haddonfield, Illinois, the official event was a collaboration with Universal Pictures. A news release promised that guests would enjoy “the most nail-biting twenty minutes of their lives”.
New Halloween Ends haunt
“Chance would have it that Laurie Strode’s house has come onto the market, and prospective buyers will be given a private viewing of the hottest property in town by an overly enthusiastic realtor from Strode Real Estate,” reads a description.
“In an experience designed to trick and treat, the realtor will try to sell you a classic Illinois home boasting a spacious living room, a cosy double bedroom and closet space to die for. Everything else remains a secret but the creators are promising an unrivalled scare experience.”
Chessington’s new Halloween haunts
Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey, UK is bringing its Howl’o’ween event back on 15 October. There will be familiar frights such as the Witches of Adventure Point. Plus, there are new additions including the ‘Trick or Treat Live’ show. In this attraction, guests join Emily and Evie as they hunt for an evil witch to undo her spell.
Also returning is Wilf the Werewolf. Violet the Vampire Bat has joined his pack for a scary show called ‘The Misadventures of Wilf & Violet’. The award-winning scare maze, Creepy Caves, is back for its final year. Guests can also brave the ‘Vile Villagers of Wild Woods’.
In addition, visitors can experience Chessington’s new Shipwreck Coast land, described as a “disaster-ridden harbour town”. Guests will need to watch out, as a “shoal of sea monsters known as Broady’s Band of Brigands are lurking”.
