Let ’s get into it — clickers , M3GAN , Vecna , and Chucky execute the way for a killer time at Universal StudiosHalloween Horror NightsHollywood in another year of not - to - be - lose panic .
Yes , it ’s only September but spooky season is here , as confirmed by a sold - out first weekend for Universal Studios ’ annual panic attack - fest . The cinematic horror outcome is now candid select dark until October 31 , and have haunted house based on mega franchises like The Last of Us and Stranger Things , and inspired original like Monstruos : The Monsters of Latin America . And that ’s not all ; this yr ’s HHN backlot tour overlay takes on an original sodding - out thought with the nightmare infestation of Terror Tram … The Exterminatorz , with a Jordan Peele horror universe pit stop at Jupiter ’s call from Nope .
Gather up your panic attack squad and get a design of attack in monastic order to face clickers or Vecna in the most popular house — you’ll need one , because the course this class for Stranger Things ’ proceeds to HHN and The Last of Us ’ debut are no joke . Unless you ’re prefer for Express ticket or the R.I.P. spell , you may have to prioritise your favorite and opt for lesser - known gems this class . io9 recently checked out the event — so read on for everything you ask to know before you go .

Photo: Universal Studios Hollywood HHN
Horror Nights Horror Movie TV Houses and Experiences
Sorry , that Stranger Things theater image should have come with a trigger warning . The promising side is Eddie Munson Hellfire Club fans get to reunite with their king before he ’s take in away too quickly by those damn Demobats ( though some of us hold out Bob Hope for the lineament ’s Resurrection of Christ in time of year five ) . After attempting to do its own interactive experience tours , Netflix ’s Stranger Things is back to headline HHN 2023 with a house inspired by some of time of year four ’s greatest hits . Just conk out to say this upfront : it needed the Metallica guitar solo Upside Down mo ( which HHN East was impudent to let in ; sorry Westies ) , but overall this maze hits most of the other iconic scenes , like Eleven and Vecna ’s Rainbow Room origin .
However , as remark above : if you ’re both a buff of the Hawkins saga and The Last of Us , you ’re going to have to choose carefully which maze you ’re run to tackle first . Odds are not entirely in your favor to do both on the same nighttime with a general admission tag . The queue line that reigned supreme all dark was by all odds The Last of Us , urge on by Neil Druckmann ’s original video secret plan and featuring the original voice cast return as Ellie and Joel .
Again , we must emphasize : do n’t go in believe you may do both with child - ticket mazes , unless they ’re the only one you plan to do all dark . It ’s not impossibl , e but there ’s a number of ways you could do it out of doors of opting for Express decent off the bat . My pro - tip is strike either Stranger Things or The Last of Us as your first household , then pick two or three other houses including Chucky ( gory , hilarious , and tool - filled ) or Evil Dead Rise ( gory as hell ) . Then , take time to consume and drink and mayhap hit an experience like Blumhouse : Behind the Screams — which features a M3GAN saltation horde — to kill time until 11 p.m. , when the Express pass is half off . Then , you could power sprint to the other enfranchisement fave , and perhaps gain more if there ’s clip left over .

Photo: Universal Studios Hollywood HHN
Original Houses and Scarezones
As one of your other selection outdoors of the big IP house of the night , you have to do the hands - down best original maze , and that is Monstruos : The Monsters of Latin America . Featuring some right terrific folklore animal like La Lechuza , this labyrinth is occupy with some of the most creative creature innovation and scares we ’ve seen in a farsighted time . If you ’re not familiar with the cryptids inside you ’re in for a treat . I ’d even say if this one has a long communication channel all night and you ’re not too into Stranger Things or The Last of Us , make this a must ! You will not regret it , and a lot of buff support will show Universal Studios Hollywood that it ’s just as capable as Orlando at bringing in crowds with original theme .
Then , there ’s the Universal Monsters : Unmasked house — which stars my favorite monster , the Phantom of the Opera . Technically , yes , this is an OG franchise , but every twelvemonth the HHN team kill it at make original concept houses barrack by the monsters . This twelvemonth , it ’s a batshit mashup of four — er , five — monstrosity bros mashing it out in Paris with the Phantom , the Hunchback , the Invisible Man , and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde doing so much violence within the catacombs of the urban center .
Overall this twelvemonth packs a strong biff . If you ’re only capable to chew the fat for just one nighttime , you ’ll just have to schedule your metre efficiently if you ’re not opt for Express or the R.I.P. tour . If you ’re a Southern California local , I always suggest coming back with a Frequent Fear pass to live all the event has to propose throughout the season . It ’s a great after - body of work hang , where you could catch a show or attain whichever attraction has a shorter tune as you keep an eye out for a achievable wait for one of the big unity .

Photo: Universal Studios Hollywood HHN
Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood is now execute prize night through October 31 . For more info and ticketsvisit the prescribed HHN web site .
This event roundup , which includes energizing for major studio project , was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG - AFTRA strikes . Without the labor of writers and player presently on strike , the films and television covered here would n’t exist .
Want more io9 news ? Check out when to carry the latestMarvel , Star Wars , andStar Trekreleases , what ’s next for theDC Universe on cinema and TV , and everything you need to know about the next ofDoctor Who .

Daily Newsletter
Get the good tech , skill , and refinement news in your inbox day by day .
news program from the future , delivered to your present tense .
You May Also Like














![]()