What a time to be alive for an ’80s kid. The world’s premier Halloween event, Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights, is resurrecting beloved pop culture favorites of the past across its impressive line-up. Cult classic Killer Klowns From Outer Space makes its triumphant return alongside a powerful tribute to the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, and for the first time ever, spine-tingling Hellraiser and the creepy Cenobites are in on the action.
I’m a lifelong horror fan, 80s kid and longtime attendee of the event—and I’m shivering with anticipation.
Recently, Universal Studios Hollywood invited me on an exclusive backstage look at this year’s event led by its mastermind, creative director John Murdy, a Southern California native who grew up on horror, especially Universal Classic Monsters. (No, for real, he dished that he saw Frankenstein when he was four years old and that was it. He even built his first haunted house in his parents’ house. Talk about a pedigree.)
Here’s what to expect at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights and a first look at Killer Klowns From Outer Space.
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Killer Klowns From Outer Space
The 1980s cult classic is no stranger to Halloween Horror Nights, having been reimagined several times throughout the years. While the film didn’t achieve commercial success initially, it unwaveringly continues to resonate with fans, in turn creating demand for its return.
“When you think about Halloween Horror Nights every year, for the most part, you’re going to see something and then you may never see it again,” Murdy shared. “It’s kind of the sad part of Halloween Horror Nights and part of it that I actually kind of like about it. It comes to life during the haunted season, the fall, and then when it goes, it’s gone. You may never see it again. But in the last several years, we’ve been trying to bring back every year one house that’s like a blast from the past, and bring back a fan favorite house, and that certainly was Killer Klowns From Outer Space. It was always a big favorite with our fans.”
And few could argue with its lasting powering—even if it was a risk at first.
“Killer Klowns was not a big box office film. It was really made by the video store era, people discovering it on video tape, and cable TV,” he continues. “We stay closely in touch with our fan base and many times completely unsolicited by our fan base. They’re just very passionate and vocal about the event. So, they’ll always come and say ‘Hey, why don’t you do this’ or ‘have you ever thought about doing that?’ Each case is unique, but I think with Killer Klowns, when we originally did it, we felt like this movie has grown from being this cult film that only a select number of people knew about to a much wider appeal. So, that’s when we decided to take a chance on it.”
Killer Klowns From Outer Space debuted at the event in 2019 in haunted house form—and the rest is history. “I was shocked at the demand,” Murdy admits. “It was equal to the most popular things we were doing at the event. And I just didn’t realize that the little film I saw in a movie theater back in the ’80s was going to become so big.”
Today, Murdy often discovers what films attendees are yearning for in an unsuspecting way: He walks around the park to see what t-shirts guests are wearing. Case in point: that’s how they realized the power of Art the Clown from Terrifier, now a fixture of the event.
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First Look at Killer Klowns From Outer Space
Carly Caramanna
The sci-fi favorite is back in haunted house form, paying homage to the fan favorite film. And spoiler: expect those pesky cotton-candy cocoons. Attendees will feel as if they’ve been transported in time, directly to the fictional Crescent Cove, as they attempt to flee a group of murderous alien circus clowns.
“We’re basically trying to recreate the sets from the film,” shared Murdy. And they nailed it. On a first look walk through, it felt as if we had stepped directly onto the movie set of yesteryear. You’ll first spot that ominous circus tent spaceship and Farmer Gene looking for his lost dog Pooh Bear. Once inside, my eyes grew wider, as we traversed iconic moments and places from the movie, like the police station (If only the cruel Curtis Mooney didn’t dismiss initial concerns his fate might have played out better).
All senses will be engaged, including smell, of which Universal uses a specialized scent-dispensing company to create these realistic odors. Murdy shared that at times these can be something awful (anyone remember the vomit from The Exorcist?), but here, it’s cotton candy and popcorn.
As a lifelong fan of the film, it’s a fitting tribute which will please fans new and old alike. And it might be Universal’s best iteration of it yet.
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Hellraiser
After years of pleas from fans, Hellraiser will be a part of the event for the first time ever. The Cenobites from Clive Barker’s horror franchise, including the absolutely terrifying Pinhead, will wreak mystifying havoc in their very own house based on the original film and following two installments. Legendary actor Doug Bradley, who portrayed Pinhead, is back to lend his voice to the haunted house, reprising his iconic role. Guests will come face to face with iconic scenes, including the family’s chilling attic and the Channard Institute, the psychiatric hospital where the young Kirsty is institutionalized.
Related: How To Watch Hellraiser Movies in Order
Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness
The music of legendary heavy metal musician Ozzy Osbourne will be celebrated in a brand-new, all-original house, Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness. Murdy shared that on a personal level, this is the one he’s most excited about. “It’s kind of crazy to think that in less than a year’s time, we went from ‘we have an idea’ to ‘we’re doing it.’ All of us, our mantra about this was: ‘it has to happen. This needs to be done.’”
Osbourne was first featured in the event as part of a 2013 house themed to Black Sabbath. “We just thought for his legion of fans that it would be great to be able to create something that would really celebrate his legacy and do it at Horror Nights. The family was great and really wanted to help us make that a reality,” Murdy adds.
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Each scene draws inspiration from the pioneering musician and his prolific solo career, including albums Ordinary Man and Bark at The Moon. Authentic in every way, the creative team collaborated directly with Osbourne’s family. The house opens in Birmingham, England, the musician’s home. And from there, guests will travel the “Crazy Train” of time through his early childhood through the decades of stardom and his unique personalities, including Madman Ozzy, Werewolf Ozzy and of course, the Prince of Darkness. The house is dark, at times surreal and above all, a fitting tribute to the cultural phenomenon.
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What Else To Expect
Each year, Halloween Horror Nights brings to life the world’s most iconic television shows, scary movies and pop culture moments at a production level only tinsel town could pull off. Horror lovers of all types won’t want to miss this year’s event, which includes houses inspired by the fifth and final installment of Netflix’s Stranger Things, Sinners based on Warner Bros’ Pictures Academy Award-winning film and Evil Dead Burn. Art The Clown, the sadist slasher from indie darling Terrifier, will also be terrorizing fans at the event aboard the infamous Terror Tram, a unique attraction that takes park goers on foot through Universal’s historic backlot.
New this year, Obsession’s Nikki will make nightly “freaky” appearances. Also announced, “Dead, Deader, Deadest” will be an all-new, original house set inside a disturbing abandoned funeral home. And fiery stunt show, “The Purge: Dangerous Water,” returns, honoring Universal’s legacy in the movie special effects and stunt industry.
How To Visit
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood returns Sept. 3 running select nights through Nov. 1. Tickets are available now with several options available, including general admission and an early access ticket. For the ultimate experience, a guided R.I.P. Tour is available that allows for expedited access to all houses.
And for the first time ever, Universal Studios Hollywood will debut an “Unmasking the Horror Tour Add-On” granting a behind-the-scenes look at the craftsmanship that goes into curating this event.
Related: Ozzy Osbourne and ’80s Horror Get the Metal Merch Treatment at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights
