Halloween Horror Nights 34 (UOR) - Speculation & Rumors

[Legacy]

Doing a concert stage in New York, with a band and projection mapping on the walls, roaming hordes across San Fran, London Waterfront, and Springfield, ambiance in Central Park, and an EXTENDED zone through Hollywood (Brown Derby all the way to Mel’s) would suffice in hitting all the things. If you want another zone, bring it back to Avenue of the Stars, and add roamers outside the park.

 

[Brian G.]

I would just remind everyone that we tried roaming hordes with more of a focus on general ambiance in 2012 when the parade debuted and severely limited scare zone decor. It was not well received.

Designating an entire park wasn't the best decision, although I understand why it was necessary that year. However, a mixed approach that includes both elements could introduce a fresh twist to the zones - especially when you need to fill in dead zones throughout the night.

Perhaps they could make the roamers adaptable enough to blend and interact with the set zones, creating a "must-see moment" that happens occasionally.

 

[Lucky Planet]

The event needs more life in more areas, and as much as the park isn't built to support them effectively, I think removing zones will only lead to a greater feeling of emptiness and underutilization.

I think Legacy brought up a number of years ago how USF infrastructure is built in really obtuse ways that really limit the amount that can actually be built, despite having a reasonable amount of raw space to work with. I wish areas like Central Park, San Fran, the old Klowns zone location by Transformers could be expanded to allow for better use during seasonal events, but it's probably a non-issue to the broader company and we'll probably never see it happen.

Like others have said, I would rather scrap a scarezone or two and just have the houses better staffed. It can be frustrating to wait a long time in stay and scream and then finally get to your first house of the night and its only half staffed. But that's just me.

so it sounds or feels like the park is not really suited for regular zones with big sets and decorations anymore, it's just too complicated ,
not enough room or the budget for big zones,

but at the same time is not staffed properly to have roaming hordes everywhere since I keep hearing the problems with staffing the houses,
not enough actors,

so not only is a possible solution to this zone problem to remove two zones from an already empty - feeling park,
but it wouldn't really be possible to have actors roam around the park either, ( and 2012 wasnt well received)
difficult situation, I really can't see a good solution. feels like some kind of catch - 22 situation.

this is gonna sound so dumb but maybe instead of of full sets and props then universal could use inflatables for some areas of the park or use different kinds of decorations that would be big and colorful but easy to remove and not as expensive. projections on the walls aren't enough,
( or maybe not inflatables but something similar that wouldn't be affected by hurricanes) because the hurricanes are another problem.

and if universal removes 2 zones, then can more shows replace them? or more performances or a music performance on wheels or a mini parade or something out of the box.

how do other parks do it? I know parks have scarezones like universal, but universal is gonna have to evolve

I enjoyed that film, but I do not think it would be a good fit for the event. The subject of the movie would be far too heavy for HHN, and it's very much a psychological horror movie that lacks action scenes that could be used to fill a house.

that's how I feel about most modern movies. I remember before that someone said that the movie MA could be part of a blumhouse compilation house, but I'm like.... not really.... or if someone was going to mention something like the substance, but not really.
the movies might be good, but I don't see the translation to work.

 

[Clive]

I enjoyed that film, but I do not think it would be a good fit for the event. The subject of the movie would be far too heavy for HHN, and it's very much a psychological horror movie that lacks action scenes that could be used to fill a house.

Just got back from a screening and heartily enjoyed it. Devilish little movie. Absolutely not for Horror Nights. Nowhere near enough characters to populate a full house, and that's before you get near any of the thorny material modern Horror Nights would never touch.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Yeah, I'd prefer to see a bigger focus on spooky ambience throughout the park and sprinkle in roaming hordes rather than continue to focus on "traditional" scare zones with props and the like.

I’m wildly skeptical of “roaming hordes.” As was mentioned, they played a big part in arguably the worst HHN of the last twenty years. Props, music, sounds, dedicated lighting - those are absolutely essential to the scarezones, which are essential to the event. Look at how the half-hearted zones hurt this year. Additionally, I suspect hordes would actually require more staffing to fill a current-scarezone size area adequately, since set zones can use props and sound effects and other tricks to seem more populated then they actually are.

That said, the zones do need a rethink. Cutting CP and SF is reasonable for a lot of reasons. Just as changes in the park and event necessitate the removal of some zones, they also open up spaces for new ones. Kidzone courtyard could absolutely host a strong, full-fledged zone given the HHN 33 set up - it’s done so before. Minion Land also needs another look, although modern crowds might make ambiance and lighting the way to go there.

The entrance “Scarezone” really doesn’t work, but you need an impressive mood-setter at the front of the park. The solution seems clear - bring back the elaborate, themed decorations at the arch to set the tone and establish the theme. No more rusty grates.

If the event really focused money and effort on Hollywood (expanded back to its original size), NY, and KZ Scarezones, added a few props and ambient lighting to CP, the tent walk behind MiB, and Minions, and brought back the themed entrance, you’d solve a lot of issues.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Every year we speculate on different A24 properties - but I wonder if that may be something we just never see.

It doesn't seem like HHN would be A24's thing, and I'm not sure many of their movies have the wide appeal that HHN would want to have.

(I wanted an X house)

 

[Legacy]

Every year we speculate on different A24 properties - but I wonder if that may be something we just never see.

It doesn't seem like HHN would be A24's thing, and I'm not sure many of their movies have the wide appeal that HHN would want to have.

(I wanted an X house)

I legitimately think that speculation comes from a misunderstanding of the type of properties Universal “looks” for as sources. They want/need properties with visually distinctive villains and stories paced with violence (or a clear threat of violence) across all three acts. A24 properties typically don’t even attempt that. Their whole bag is regular people acting subtly weird for two hours before a hyper-terrifying or bizarre climax.

Now, those last ten minutes would—more often than not—work really well as a house. But why would Universal buy the rights to a movie, and then have to worry about casting performers to match a likeness, to only focus entirely on 5% of the film? They can just create an original house inspired by the violence instead (see Midsommer/Blood Moon).

Now, there are other factors. Maybe A24 and its directors (as auteurs) don’t want to be associated with HHN. But, even A24’s more traditional horror (like X) would narratively give Universal pause due to its entwining with the porn industry.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I legitimately think that speculation comes from a misunderstanding of the type of properties Universal “looks” for as sources. They want/need properties with visually distinctive villains and stories paced with violence (or a clear threat of violence) across all three acts. A24 properties typically don’t even attempt that. Their whole bag is regular people acting subtly weird for two hours before a hyper-terrifying or bizarre climax.

Now, those last ten minutes would—more often than not—work really well as a house. But why would Universal buy the rights to a movie, and then have to worry about casting performers to match a likeness, to only focus entirely on 5% of the film? They can just create an original house inspired by the violence instead (see Midsommer/Blood Moon).

Now, there are other factors. Maybe A24 and its directors (as auteurs) don’t want to be associated with HHN. But, even A24’s more traditional horror (like X) would narratively give Universal pause due to its entwining with the porn industry.

Totally agree!

Like you said, I think X would translate pretty well to a house - but the themes of it would definitely hold it back. The only other one I could possibly think of could be Talk to Me, but again, I don't think it had any wide appeal.

I also think Green Room could actually be a good, high intensity house. But again, the themes of it would never be touched by Universal.

 

[Myah1220]

Throwing my "speculation" in the ring

1. M3GAN - either the first movie, a hybrid of the first movie and M3GAN 2.0 since the sequel comes out next year, or a Blumhouse double feature house of M3GAN and The Black Phone 2 since that will also be out next year.

2. Smile - either the first movie, hybrid of the first movie and the second one since the sequel just came out and would still be somewhat "fresh."

3. Terrifier - the popularity keeps rising and third movie would still be "fresh." Only reason I could see this not coming is to not have too many clowns to compete with Jack's popularity.

4. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - I was completely shocked we didn't get this this past HHN especially given Universal already having the rights to license his likeness in the parks year round plus the fact we've had a Beetlejuice house based off the first movie...felt wildly like a missed opportunity this year when the movie was released during the season...if not a house, there should have been a meet-and-greet at the very least. I hope they don't miss this opp again and bring Beetlejuice back in a house or even a show. He's so popular it seems like an absolute no-brainer...

5. Nosferatu - Universal is distributing this. It's set to likely be the best horror film of the end of the year. They were playing the trailers for it during HHN this year. Feels like an obvious one to do.

6. The Monkey - upcoming Oz Perkins film...this one seems promising with potential.

7. The Wolfman - Blumhouse...so that gives it potential...less potential given how poorly received the photo opp was that only lasted like a day and angering the director...but still possible if they can get it right.

Special mention:
8. Gremlins - no evidence to support this, I just am always manifesting it to finally show up one of these years.

 

[saint.piss]

Not to be that person, but the HHN account just posted a tweet at :34-minute mark... I wonder if they're going to keep doing that for next years announcements since it'll be HHN 34 like they did this year with most of the announcements/teasers being at the :33 minute for HHN 33.

 

[FaceBagman]

Not that I believe Smile 2 has a high probability of a house treatment, but I'm sure that people who claim it would be just "regular people smiling" were not watching the same film I was. There were multiple unique characters whose appearances were accompanied by such visceral acts that their faces would almost certainly require some form of masks/prosthetics/makeup to recreate in a house.

 

[Itsprettycurz3d]

Not to be that person, but the HHN account just posted a tweet at :34-minute mark... I wonder if they're going to keep doing that for next years announcements since it'll be HHN 34 like they did this year with most of the announcements/teasers being at the :33 minute for HHN 33.

I hope they do that again. It made it easier to be like "they posted this at this specific time so something must be happening"

 

[EAS]

Just got back from a screening and heartily enjoyed it. Devilish little movie. Absolutely not for Horror Nights. Nowhere near enough characters to populate a full house, and that's before you get near any of the thorny material modern Horror Nights would never touch.

There is also the problem that Hugh Grant, great as he is, would not be a particularly intimidating scareactor.

 

[Crypt Keeper]

There is also the problem that Hugh Grant, great as he is, would not be a particularly intimidating scareactor.

Idk.... Redditor-types are pretty scary....

 

[Brian G.]

There is also the problem that Hugh Grant, great as he is, would not be a particularly intimidating scareactor.

 

[Lucky Planet]

I’m wildly skeptical of “roaming hordes.” As was mentioned, they played a big part in arguably the worst HHN of the last twenty years. Props, music, sounds, dedicated lighting - those are absolutely essential to the scarezones, which are essential to the event. Look at how the half-hearted zones hurt this year. Additionally, I suspect hordes would actually require more staffing to fill a current-scarezone size area adequately, since set zones can use props and sound effects and other tricks to seem more populated then they actually are.

That said, the zones do need a rethink. Cutting CP and SF is reasonable for a lot of reasons. Just as changes in the park and event necessitate the removal of some zones, they also open up spaces for new ones. Kidzone courtyard could absolutely host a strong, full-fledged zone given the HHN 33 set up - it’s done so before. Minion Land also needs another look, although modern crowds might make ambiance and lighting the way to go there.

The entrance “Scarezone” really doesn’t work, but you need an impressive mood-setter at the front of the park. The solution seems clear - bring back the elaborate, themed decorations at the arch to set the tone and establish the theme. No more rusty grates.

If the event really focused money and effort on Hollywood (expanded back to its original size), NY, and KZ Scarezones, added a few props and ambient lighting to CP, the tent walk behind MiB, and Minions, and brought back the themed entrance, you’d solve a lot of issues.

that's why I was mentioning giant scary inflatables or some kind of big decorations for the zones that would be easy to set up and easy to remove. something that looks big from far away.
bring back those giant pumpkin jack o lanterns too.

 

[saint.piss]

Not to be that person, but the HHN account just posted a tweet at :34-minute mark... I wonder if they're going to keep doing that for next years announcements since it'll be HHN 34 like they did this year with most of the announcements/teasers being at the :33 minute for HHN 33.

:34-minute mark again....

 

[trinitron7]

that's why I was mentioning giant scary inflatables or some kind of big decorations for the zones that would be easy to set up and easy to remove. something that looks big from far away.
bring back those giant pumpkin jack o lanterns too.

I don't think you're far off the mark with inflatables, it's something Great Adventure's Fright Fest does for their annual clown scarezone in the Gotham City area of the park. At the same time, I wonder if this inherently deters HHN from similar strategies - the budget/polish is what sets them apart, and maybe they don't want to be lumped in with the "cheaper" seasonal haunts.

 

[Lucky Planet]

I don't think you're far off the mark with inflatables, it's something Great Adventure's Fright Fest does for their annual clown scarezone in the Gotham City area of the park. At the same time, I wonder if this inherently deters HHN from similar strategies - the budget/polish is what sets them apart, and maybe they don't want to be lumped in with the "cheaper" seasonal haunts.

are these some of them?
they could look really awesome. very big, attention seeking, colorful but scary, easy to put up ( compared to other sets)
I can understand if they seem cheap, but it's better than nothing.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

If I ever walk into a zone at HHN and see an inflatable I will be beyond disappointed