This Friday, Universal Studios will be launching their annual Halloween Horror Nights, and it looks to be one of their best to date. With a number of mazes and attractions sure to scare even the most fearless of patrons, Halloween Horror Nights promises to be an adrenaline fueled good time, and we have a sneak peak at what’s in store from the creative director of the event himself, John Murdy.
“If there is something you want to do, you have to be persistent, and you have to keep trying,” Murdy said.
From creating haunted houses in his parent’s garage to doing his first professional Halloween maze at the age of 14, Murdy has made a name for himself in his craft, and his passion shows in his work. Rather than developing mazes simply to scare, Murdy aims to create a surreal experience that transports guests into a fictional world of dread.
The Graphic was able to get a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the new mazes debuting this year, titled “Welcome to Silent Hill.” Based on the popular film and video game franchise of the same name, the maze transports audiences to the fictional universe of the series through an intricate meshing of sight, sound and emotion. Murdy’s goal was to create an authentic recreation of the Silent Hill mythos and was able to collaborate with the developers of the upcoming video game and movie to create a fluid transition into this world.
From foggy corridors to rusted walls, the maze emulates many of the environments in the franchise and transports visitors to various locations central to Silent Hill. The sewers are dank, the bathroom smells, the hospital is dark and dirty and the cryptic writings on the wall all point to scenes familiar and critical to the franchise. Also critical to the franchise is the use of flashlights, which serve to direct movement and lend focus to certain areas or objects while keeping out of sight things hidden in the darkness. A dynamic lighting system in the Silent Hill maze offers a similar feel to visitors, and is sure to keep them on their toes.
Where the environments and set effects are able to create a suspenseful atmosphere, the twisted characters are able to deliver the scares, and Murdy has no shortage of iconic creatures from Silent Hill. The freakishly giant Pyramid Head chases guests with his giant blade, the tortured soul of Alessa appears through walls and the mutilated body of the Armless Man shocks visitors around every corner in new and exciting ways. Even the seemingly harmless mascot Robbie the Rabbit makes an appearance.
Using these characters isn’t enough though, according to Murdy. The actors portraying each creature need to go through extensive training in order to emulate the characteristics of each monster, as well as being able to perfect the timing involved with managing the movement of guests.
“No matter how cool the sets are, no matter how cool the audio, lighting, makeup, costumes … it all comes down to how good they are. If they’re not good at doing their job … then it’s not going to be successful ” Murdy said.
To further immerse guests in the Silent Hill lore, Murdy took to Twitter to incorporate fans into the development of the maze, and the immense feedback was key to many of the design choices that Murdy incorporated. Everything from what music to play to which characters and locations to include were influenced by fan feedback and it helped Murdy create an authentic experience that die hard fans and newcomers can both enjoy. The massive support Murdy received through his Twitter followers also led to the development of games and contests in which Twitter users can engage before and during the opening night event. To follow John Murdy, check out his Twitter @HorrorNights.
The Silent Hill maze isn’t the only attraction that Murdy has in store for guests. “The Walking Dead” maze, based on the popular series on AMC, will have guests fighting for survival as they attempt to escape from a horde of zombies. The “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Saw is the Law” is a returning maze that will have visitors reliving the dreadful rampage of the chainsaw wielding Leatherface. Also returning are “La Llorona: The Child Hunter” and the “Alice Cooper” maze.
La Llorona is based on a Mexican legend and features a weeping ghost who snatches up wandering children at night, while Alice Cooper is a 3D maze based upon the eponymous rocker’s music. Other attractions, such as a zombie-infested transformation of the back lot tour, walkway performers, shows and rides, ensure that here will be plenty of scares to keep patrons entertained.
The attention to detail, years of experience and passion that Murdy has for his mazes really helps to distinguish his work and make his attractions unique. Murdy promises that Halloween Horror Nights will invoke real fear and an adrenaline rush for all visitors, while still providing an enjoyable environment in which to escape the real and immerse yourself in the fantasy of your favorite horror genres. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood premieres on Sept. 21, and is open every weekend through the end of October. Start off Halloween early this year and check it out!
