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Top 25 Horror Nights Mazes - Hollywood

  • Thread starter Thread starter HHNManics
  • Start date Start date May 16, 2021
HHNManics

HHNManics

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  • May 16, 2021
  • #1
Decided since there's a thread for the top 25 for Orlando houses there should be one for Hollywood as well.

Discuss.
 
HORRORable Commenter

HORRORable Commenter

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  • May 16, 2021
  • #2
Instant entries: House of 1000 corpses v.2, alien vs predator year one, welcome to my nightmare, universal monsters, and killer Klowns from outer space. Many others, just a few that came to mind
 
Freak

Freak

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  • May 16, 2021
  • #3
As someone who's been going since 2009, here's what I've narrowed it down to:

1. Universal Monsters
2. La Llorona (2011)
3. AVP
4. Halloween: Life and Crimes of Michael Myers (2009)
5. Freddy Vs. Jason
6. Us
7. Insidious: Return to the Further (2015)
8. Halloween: Hell Comes to Hattonfield (2016)
9. Killer Klowns from Outer Space
10. Hostel
11. House of 1000 Corpses 3D (2010)
12. An American Werewolf in London
13. Creepshow
14. Crimson Peak
15. Holidayz In Hell
16. The Thing: Assimilation
17. Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare
18. Friday the 13th: Kill Jason Kill! (2010)
19: Saw: Game Over (2009)
20: The Walking Dead (2013)
21: Poltergeist
22: Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Blood Bros (2016)
23: Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman
24: Alice Cooper Goes to Hell 3D
25: El Cucuy
 
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HHNManics

HHNManics

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  • May 16, 2021
  • #4
Ultimately have only been going since 2015 so here it is from 2015 - 2019.

1. Halloween Hell Comes to Haddonfield (2016)
2. Krampus (2016)
3. Freddy Vs Jason (2016)
4. Crimson Peak Maze of Madness (2015)
5. Insidious Return to the Further (2015)
6. Alien Vs Predator (2015)
7. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Blood Brothers (2016)
8. Us (2019)
9. The Walking Dead Wolves Not Far (2015)
10. Killer Klowns From Outer Space (2019)
11. Creepshow (2019)
12. American Horror Story Roanoke (2017)
13. American Horror Story (2016)

Important to note that 1-13 are all mazes I enjoyed now I have to rank the other 12 on my list which range from okay to horrible. 14 - 20 are C tier. 21 through 24 is D tier. With 25 and anything not on the list being F tier.

14. Holidayz in Hell (2019)
15. Titans of Terror (2017)
16. Poltergeist (2018)
17. Universal Monsters Music By Slash (2018)
18. Stranger Things (2018)
19. Halloween Michael Myers Comes Home (2015)
20. The Exorcist (2016)
21. House of 1000 Corpses (2019)
22. The Shining (2017)
23. This Is The End 3D (2015)
24. Ghostbusters (2019)
25. The Curse of Pandora's Box (2019)

Now if we're talking about including mazes I haven't been through...

1. La Llorona (2011)
2. Alice Cooper Welcome to My Nightmare (2011)
3. Friday the 13th Kill Jason Kill (2010)
4. Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses (2010)
5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Back in Business (2007)
6. The Thing Assimilation (2011)

7. Halloween Hell Comes to Haddonfield (2016)
8. Krampus (2016)
9. Freddy Vs Jason (2016)
10. Crimson Peak Maze of Madness (2015)
11. Insidious Return to the Further (2015)
12. AVP (2015)
13. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Blood Brothers (2016)
14. Us (2019)
15. El Cucuy The Boogeyman (2013)
16. Eli Roth's Hostel (2011)

17. The Walking Dead Wolves Not Far (2015)
18. Killer Klowns From Outer Space (2019)
19. Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (2019)
20. Alice Cooper Goes to Hell (2012)
21. A Nightmare on Elm Street Never Sleep Again (2010)
22. From Dusk Till Dawn (2014)
23. Friday the 13th Camp Blood (2007)
24. The Walking Dead No Safe Haven (2013)
25. The Walking Dead Dead Inside (2012)
 
Last edited: May 16, 2021
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Viator

Viator

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  • May 16, 2021
  • #5
For context, I have been to the event 3 times. 2010, 2012, and my last being that of 2019. So I have a good amount of mazes. I will keep it relegated to Top 10, and explain the main 5.

1/2.) La Llorona (2012) & Us (2019)
3.) Alice Cooper Goes to Hell (2012)
4.) Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2012)
5.) The Curse of Pandora's Box (2019)
6.) Creepshow (2019)
7.) House of 1,000 Corpses (2010)
8.) The Walking Dead (2012)
9.) Holidayz in Hell (2019)
10.) Friday the 13th - Kill Jason Kill

It's a varied list, and small for the reason that I haven't been to the event as much as I would want (And while I want to include houses recorded in video, I feel that discounts my take on the matter. So, it's by in-person experiences. And for the most part, the Top 5 are incredibly interchangable at any given point, especially the top two.

La Llorona/Us = There's a very, very, very thin line in the sand between these two. So much so that these mazes jump from being the best constantly to me. For a complete experience, that is terrifying and jaw dropping, Us and La Llorona are at the top, because of just how much of a complete experience these two mazes *feel* IMO. Keep in mind, I was 13 when I went in La Llorona, but it was the maze that I wanted to go back into.

TCM 2012 = This was terrifying as hell. The venue for this maze was perfect for Leatherface, and the content and how they accurately depicted TCM 1973 scared the bejessus out of me. It's a nostalgia and bias choice, but I have to put it here.

Alice Cooper Goes to Hell = I love House of 1,000 Corpses. But Goes to Hell is a extremely better 3D maze, that's scale and tones match incredibly well. I really wish we got a continuation of Cooper's partnership, because I would've loved to see what else that could've done with his iconography. The way they translated the music and the scares is outstanding and I cannot get enough of it.

The Curse of Pandora's Box = Simplicity sometimes to me, equals quality. Pandora's Box, while reusing assets I've seen from videos, feels really good, when experienced in full. The Preshow element of Pandora's Box is an absolute highlight to me, as is how they scared the living hell out of me. Years after TCM, I think this maze shines as something that I wish Horror Nights strikes with (while using the quality from Us to consideration) of how they use a scare.
 
Last edited: May 16, 2021
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DTH

DTH

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  • Sep 9, 2024
  • #6
With this year's latest event, thought I'd update my all time rankings. I already ranked everything from '07 to current day, so will be posting way more than the top 25 (sorry not sorry lol).

My guidelines:
- If a maze was a direct repeat the following year in the same place, I ranked it as the same maze.
- If a maze was a direct repeat the following year in the same place, but with 25% or more new scenes, I ranked it as a different maze.
- If a maze was a repeat from years before, and was put in a different place, but with the same layout, I ranked it as the same maze.
- If a maze was a repeat from years before, and was put in a different place, but with a new layout, I ranked it as a different maze.
- At the time each was reviewed, I rated them in the context of that year's event. I can't hold everything to the same standard as the stuff in my PERFECT category. There's somewhat of a grading curve depending on circumstances.
- Some stuff has grown on me or worsened over time. This is a living ranking and I've moved stuff over the years.

PERFECT
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Back in Business (07-08)
Halloween: The Life and Crimes of Michael Myers (09)
AVP: Alien vs Predator (14-15)
The Exorcist (16)
La Llorona: La Cazadora de Ninos (12)

BRILLIANT
Freddy vs. Jason (16)
Insidious: Return to the Further (15)
La Llorona: Villa de Almas Perdidas (11)
Friday the 13th: Kill, Jason, Kill (10)
SAW: Game Over & Saw: Game On (09-10)
Us (19)
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Never Sleep Again (10)
Halloween: Hell Comes to Haddonfield (16)
Insidious: Into the Further (13)
The Walking Dead: Dead Inside (12)
Trick ‘r Treat (18)
The Walking Dead: Wolves Not Far (15)
Friday the 13th: Camp Blood (07-08)
Krampus (16)
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (19)
Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count (23)
The Thing: Assimilation (11)

ABOVE AVERAGE
The Shining (17)
American Horror Story: Roanoke (17)
Universal Monsters: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (19)
The Walking Dead: No Safe Haven (13)
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Home Sweet Hell (08)
Titans of Terror (17)
El Cucuy: The Boogeyman (13)
The Horrors of Blumhouse: Chapter Two (18)
Holidayz in Hell (19)
Dracula Untold: Reign of Blood (14)
Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives (21)
Scarecrow: The Reaping (22)
American Horror Story (16)
Universal Horror Hotel (22)
Monstrous: The Monsters of Latin America (23)
Face Off: In the Flesh (14)
An American Werewolf in London (13)
Vampyre: Castle of the Undead (10)
The Haunting of Hill House (21)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Saw is the Law (12)
Universal Monsters: Legends Collide (22)
Insidious: The Further (24)
Creepshow (19)
Stranger Things: S2 (19)
Poltergeist (18)
Insidious: Beyond the Further (17)
The Walking Dead: End of the Line (14)

AVERAGE
From Dusk Till Dawn (14)
Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare (11)
Horrors of Blumhouse: Vol 3 (22)
The Last of Us (23)
Universal Monsters: Unmasked (23)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (21)
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (21)
Stranger Things: S1 (18)
Evil Dead Rise (23)
La Llorona: The Weeping Woman (22)
Hostel: Hunting Season (11)
House of 1000 Corpses: in 3D Zombievision (10-11)
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (18)
The Exorcist: Believer (23)
Universal Monsters: Music by Slash (18)
Halloween: Michael Myers Comes Home (15)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Blood Brothers (16)
Chucky’s Funhouse (09)
Holidayz in Hell (23)

BELOW AVERAGE
The Horrors of Blumhouse (17)
Welcome to Silent Hill (12)
Evil Dead: Book of the Dead (13)
Monstrous 2: The Nightmares of Latin America (24)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Legacy of Leatherface (24)
The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy (24)
Crimson Peak: Maze of Madness (15)
Alice Cooper Goes to Hell 3D (12)
Stranger Things 4 (23)
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Freddy’s Nightmare (07)
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (24)
Dead Exposure: Death Valley (24)

HORRIBLE
My Bloody Valentine: Be Mine 4 Ever (09)
House of 1000 Corpses (19)
Saw: The Games of Jigsaw (17)
Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines (24)
The Exorcist (21)
Halloween (22)
A Quiet Place (24)
Ash vs. Evil Dead (17)
Killer Klownz from Outer Space (22)
The First Purge (18)

PURE CRAP
The Wolfman: Curse of Talbot Hall (11)
The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare (22)
Black Sabbath: 13 3D (13)
The Curse of Pandora’s Box (19, 21)
Ghostbusters (19)
Universal Monsters Remix [& Resurrection] (13-14)
Clowns 3D: Music by Slash (14)
This is the End 3D (15)
 
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Viator

Viator

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  • Dec 4, 2024
  • #7
So I can finally update this list with my top 25!

Been to the event 5 times, 2010, 2012, 2019, 2022, and 2024. Excited to share where things are for me as I think on things further. Will keep it simple and rank the houses for 25 to 11. If I miss a house, it's because I don't know where they'd be in the top 10, and mainly focusing on the houses that made the most impact.

  • 25 - HOTC [2019]
  • 24 - Stranger Things [2019]
  • 23 - Universal Monsters Remix [2012] (BWAMMMMP BWAMP BWAMP, *insert Figure music*)
  • 22 - Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman [2019]
  • 21 - Saw: Game On [2010]
  • 20 - Killer Klowns from Outer Space [2022]
  • 19 - Vampyr: Castle of The Undead [2010]
  • 18 - Nightmare on Elm Street: Never Sleep Again [2010]
  • 17 - Welcome to Silent Hill [2012]
  • 16 - Universal Monsters: Legends Collide [2022]
  • 15 - Holidayz in Hell [2019]
  • 14 - Pandora's Box [2019]
  • 13 - Universal Horror Hotel [2022]
  • 12 - Ghostbusters [2019]
  • 11 - A Quiet Place [2024]
Now then, let's get to the meat and potatoes. And with 2024, the top 10 changed quite a bit! Before that though, we begin with the main list.

10 - Friday The 13th: Kill Jason Kill, HHN 2010​
I'd say this is the best of the "New Line Duo" in the terms of Freddy and Jason combined. It is intense, highlighting the best element of the 2009 remake with the more "active" and "Fit" Jason. He is ruthless, and the intensity of the actors were a highlight for my first HHN. There is one other house that is my favorite of 2010, but we'll get to it later.
​
9 - Alice Cooper Goes to Hell 3D, HHN 2012​
In the pocket of time that has come with 2012, it was filled with amazing houses. Alice Cooper Goes To Hell, was in this case; a theatrical showcase that highlighted the best of the T23D Venue with it's scale and scope being one of the biggest at the time. Loved the diversity of going through each circle of hell; and the scares were great in this too. Not my favorite of 2012, but it's one of my favorites.
​
8 - Creepshow, HHN 2019 ​
I think I talked to @Freak about it when we both saw eachother on the final night of 2019, but Creepshow is a hell of a package. Scariest of 2019 for sure, but riddled with so much love and care. This felt like a passion project that stemmed to Murdy's wanting to tackle something as diverse as Creepshow's anthology format. Really hope we get to see Scary Tales from Orlando brought over, using the Creepshow format.
​
7 - House of 1,000 Corpses in 3D Zombievision, HHN 2010
This is me giving my "I'm old card". HOTC 2010 is the best 3D house they have ever worked on, and it baffles me to see how badly they screwed up 2019. Scary, spooky, and fun; it felt extremely well rounded with a great use of how the Murder Ride was handled. Also love the Firefly house, especially as the color mixing reaches it's peak in the middle.

6 - The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare, HHN 2022
AHN not in my top 5?! What am I, a liar? So I think there is one issue that bogs AHN to not be in the top 5. And that is the lack of intensity that is present with no real scare opportunities. It's a shame too, because I think it is one of the strongest houses thematically; with the best sound design for audio mixing thanks to the Mike Dean remixes.​

So to preface as we go to the top 5, this is probably the section that will be resisting and will stay together unless a surprise comes. But before that, want to highlight quickly a few other houses.

KKFOS 2019 was a really fun and engaging time, filled with fun gags and fun surprises (really hope we get to see them in 2025); The Walking Dead 2012 is the best IP house of that year and it isn't close (with amazing set design and set pieces; and the best façade of the 2010's); Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines is easily my favorite UM house (and I think had it of been made as a soundstage house in mind, then we'd be aces) and Texas 2012 hits like a freight truck in intensity and scares, and was the scariest house of the 2010's with excellent flow and rhythm.

....The funny thing is, 5 is scarier to me; than Texas 2012.

Number 5 = Insidious: The Further, HHN 2024
I believe it's right to serve context and start with the obvious: Insidious is an IP I actively avoid. For whatever the reason, the films always turned me off; not out of disinterest...but because I have an innate fear with the Insidious series. Strange, isn't it; especially as I can handle The Conjuring without issue. I think the thing that makes me have Insidious above Texas 2012, is that I couldn't go back to Texas as we had to focus on other houses then.

Insidious, is a house I managed to get 3 runs in; and in those 3 runs I was able to see the energy and the buzz that perminated. In all of them, I had to pause and rest up energy wise; as it took a lot out of me with each run. None of the other houses have this issue for me, not even any of those above here. Insidious rocked me to a level I think I will carry with genuine respect; and I await to see what changes the position of 5.

Number 4 = The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Legacy of Leatherface, HHN 2024
LoL is a very unique house. My expectation of the house was to leave me an impact that I expected of 2012, but I think it goes and does something further.

Legacy of Leatherface is a unique house that to me, is an exploration of going to the limits of what HHN has been comfortable of doing with on gore. Showing the deconstruction of human life; showing the methodical care and deliberate creative choices to show the Sawyers at their worst; is insanely impressive alongside seeing the various step-by-step process's of how they butcher their meat. I hope this is what's coming to Horror Unleashed, as it feels like it was purpose-made to celebrate the best of what Texas Chainsaw Massacre has done.

Number 3 = A tribute to La Llorona, HHN 2010; 2012; and 2022
So this one is a bit more complicated because, I have seen 3 out of the 4 versions of La Llorona (Excluding the 2011 house). She's probably the scariest legend they have done for latin american culture; and the 2012 house is quite easily the second best original house they have ever done. So to me, 2022's take had a lot to live up in order to ensure it got the dub. And I think 2022 La Llorona flourishes, as a celebration of everything USH has done with the legend. Nearly everything from all past iterations are in that house.

It's easily the best Latin American house that they've done, and I am glad to see the legacy being persevered with what they managed to do. That being said, number 2 and number 1 exceed it albeit as I think they are more complicated to digest.

Number 2 = The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy, HHN 2024
....
This is the best IP house of all time. I am gonna get flayed for that, I understand that; but this is a special kind of house that I didn't expect us to get.

This is the perfected and finalized form of what After Hours Nightmare does. From the sound design, to the scare diversity, to the set choices made. This is probably the best house they have done, and is easily on a scale and standard that makes it a complete showstopper. I also think this is unironically, the most dense of a house that they've done in subject material.

The way I interpolated it was Murdy using the Dantes Inferno storyline to highlight the cycle of rebirth that The Weeknd has been going towards. How on that road to rebirth, there are those who would torment The Weeknd; try to expedite the rebirth; and in doing so, unleashing a display of horror that is caused by expediting and quickening something that has to come from within.

It might be a bit too rich, but I think it is a prime example of USH wanting to take a narrative concept to it's natural conclusion. I also acknowlege that people are gonna say I am biased for having Weeknd here because of my love for the IP; and to that I agree and understand your complaints! But I do find so much that I genuinely love with this house. Really hope they bring the best stuff from this to the event going forward.

Number 1 = Scarecrow: The Reaping, HHN 2022.
If there is a thing I can describe Scarecrow to be; the best thing I can say is that it is a complete art house. And yet, it is one of the simplest concepts to understand.

Scarecrow is my all time favorite HHN house because I think the thing that defines what this house did; is to examine and look through what defined the hardships and the horrors of the dust bowl era. It is a complete package, from the almost Pirates DLR like tone of the facade, to the various effects and scares that made me jump; alongside amazing setpieces like the bird poop scene and that of King Crow :crown:.

The best thing is also that as a house, it doesn't really have any form of dialogue. And yet, you can interpolate and sense what exactly happens as you experience and go through this farmland; because the method of storytelling is indirectly done. Not a lot of the houses have gone this quiet in telling it's story, but it works it into it's advantage to make you think of it constantly. As the second year to bat, this is the house that proved what H-Lot is truly capable of; and I am glad to see that sticking true for the past few years.​
 
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