Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights continues to be considered a great experience and continues to outdo themselves each year. The theme park goes all out to transform its grounds into a spooky and immersive Halloween experience. They use detailed sets, props, and special effects to create a genuinely eerie atmosphere that transports visitors into the world of horror.

This year, the park offered eight new houses, including Evil Dead Rise, Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count, Holidayz In Hell, Universal Monsters Unmasked, The Exorcist: Believer, The Last of Us, Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America, and Stranger Things. The terror tram was also newly themed this year to The Exterminatorz, and I was pleased with the change. The Exterminatorz offered a fresh new take on the terror tram, no clowns and no zombies this year. Larry Larva is the host and using the bugs gimmick could be terrifying for guests who HATE bugs! Throughout the attraction an updated creepy version of the ‘Its Bitty Spider,” which I enjoyed. Be forewarned, the song will be stuck in your head.

Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count and Holidayz In Hell – Tied for #1

Immediately after attending the event, I was asked what was my favorite and least favorite and how this event compares to years past (I have been attending this event since 2007). I had a tie for my favorite: Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count and Holidayz In Hell this year. This is the first year ever that Chucky has had his own house. We’ve seen him on the tram, and he even had a show where he insulted guests; now he’ll be doing the killing! No live actor portrayed Chucky; he was completely animatronic and puppeteered. The house was based on the films that Universal produced along with the television series. Next up tied as my favorite was Holidayz in Hell. Starting from the New Year’s Countdown, each room is themed with a twist for a different holiday, including an Easter Bunny who is demented and a blood-thirsty Cupid; even though this is a repeat from 2019, it is still gratifying.

What made it into last place?

One of the most difficult questions. “Well, what didn’t you like?” The attention to detail and time spent on each one of these houses is incredible and if I had to pick a maze out of the bunch that was the most forgettable it would have been Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America. This wasn’t because it was a horrible house, it was the first one I experienced and on my way out of the park, I really thought I hadn’t gone through it and after doing a double take it was realized that I had indeed already gone through it. Overall I couldn’t rank something in last place because of the power and craftsmanship that is vested in each house.

Do you need an Express Pass? (front of the line).

Another big question. This all depends on what you want out of the event. If you don’t mind waiting in some long lines and aren’t too interested in any of the rides, then you should be able to get most of it done, on a weeknight without the Express Pass. If you’re hoping to get through everything and the rides, I highly recommend the Express Pass. Just as a note, Super Nintendo World was not opened during this event.

Final Thoughts

A powerful year for Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights and it was one heck of a good time! Over the years the park sure has ramped up the scares and has grown its brand. From the number of mazes, shows, and food, Halloween Horror Nights has something to offer everyone. If this is your jam, you won’t be disappointed. Some substantial houses were part of their lineup. Have we seen better? Sure. Have we seen worse? Yes. For me, this year settled right in the middle. However, everything was good on its own, and I’m sure everyone worked hard to bring this tradition to life. Universal continues to do what they have done for a hundred years now, entertaining people. The fact that people keep having fun and making a tradition out of this is ultimately why we all continue making the trip back. Horror Nights is no different than a motion picture, you just have the opportunity to LIVE IT! Until next year, Happy Halloween!

Halloween Horror Nights began on Thursday, September 7 at Universal Studios Hollywood with eight frightening haunted houses. It will run select nights through Tuesday, October 31. Pre-order your tickets as this event has a tendency to sell out most nights!