Halloween Horror Nights 34 (UOR) - Speculation & Rumors

[Casper Gutman]

It really feels like they took three lessons from 2024:

1) The streets matter.
2) Guests think horror is serious business - humor doesn’t sell.
3) IPs are king, and the event needs the biggest, hottest ones regardless of all other considerations.

I think they’re right about one of those.

 

[Brian G.]

It really feels like they took three lessons from 2024:

1) The streets matter.
2) Guests think horror is serious business - humor doesn’t sell.
3) IPs are king, and the event needs the biggest, hottest ones regardless of all other considerations.

I think they’re right about one of those.

I think you're off base on #2. What it needs is a proper balance. If you're going to have something like GB, you better counter with an IP with the opposite vibe (like 1000 Corpses in 2019). This year seems VERY balanced in comparison. There was plenty of gore last year, with some seriously messed-up moments in some houses (Triplets, Monstruos). The problem is that it was featured in the originals instead of the hook of the IPs.

You can't say humor doesn't sell when Fallout, FNAF, Terrifier have some humor ingrained in their DNA, and Cat Lady and Hatchet & Chains take inspiration from campy B-movie horror stuff.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I think you're off base on #2. What it needs is a proper balance. If you're going to have something like GB, you better counter with an IP with the opposite vibe (like 1000 Corpses in 2019). This year seems VERY balanced in comparison. There was plenty of gore last year, with some seriously messed-up moments in some houses (Triplets, Monstruos). The problem is that it was featured in the originals instead of the hook of the IPs.

You can't say humor doesn't sell when Fallout, FNAF, Terrifier have some humor ingrained in their DNA, and Cat Lady and Hatchet & Chains take inspiration from campy B-movie horror stuff.

I’d argue A Quiet Place is a much more “serious” franchise then Corpses, which has some of the same “humor” as Terrifier.

I’m not sure about the need to create humor balance specifically in the IP houses - I’d be fine with all serious IPs if they were balanced by sillier originals. It’s the humorous originals that are overwhelmingly my favorites and it’s what this year feels like it may lack. Hatchet and Dolls both have potential, but they also seem to be more likely to be played as traditionally serious houses with a few comedic touches. We’ll have to see. If nothing else, it seems fair to say the PR material for the houses has really downplayed humor, and that is a big part of what’s giving me the impression of a change in philosophy.

As for the IPs, I think it’s very fair to say Fallout has a lot of humor - hopefully that gets reflected in the house. The FNAF film, which seems to be what they’re following, is played shockingly straight for such a ridiculous premise - it’s pretty humorless. Terrifier is… complex, as we’ve seen.

Yes, the streets seem to promise a lot of humor, and I’m very happy about that.

 

[Killer Klown]

It really feels like they took three lessons from 2024:

1) The streets matter.
2) Guests think horror is serious business - humor doesn’t sell.
3) IPs are king, and the event needs the biggest, hottest ones regardless of all other considerations.

I think they’re right about one of those.

Agreed on 1 and 3 but Frozen Empire and SS2 were some of the best received houses last year so I think 2 is a bit off the mark.

 

[Brian G.]

I’d argue A Quiet Place is a much more “serious” franchise then Corpses, which has some of the same “humor” as Terrifier.

I’m not sure about the need to create humor balance specifically in the IP houses - I’d be fine with all serious IPs if they were balanced by sillier originals. It’s the humorous originals that are overwhelmingly my favorites and it’s what this year feels like it may lack. Hatchet and Dolls both have potential, but they also seem to be more likely to be played as traditionally serious houses with a few comedic touches. We’ll have to see. If nothing else, it seems fair to say the PR material for the houses has really downplayed humor, and that is a big part of what’s giving me the impression of a change in philosophy.

As for the IPs, I think it’s very fair to say Fallout has a lot of humor - hopefully that gets reflected in the house. The FNAF film, which seems to be what they’re following, is played shockingly straight for such a ridiculous premise - it’s pretty humorless. Terrifier is… complex, as we’ve seen.

Yes, the streets seem to promise a lot of humor, and I’m very happy about that.

Ghostbusters was clean, polished, and campy. Corpses were gross, gritty, and gruesome.

None of the IPs offered that counter last year.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Ghostbusters was clean, polished, and campy. Corpses were gross, gritty, and gruesome.

None of the IPs offered that counter last year.

I’d argue Corpses is campier then Ghostbusters!

If the argument boils down to the need for one nasty, gruesome IP, I’ve got no real problem with that. I just won’t visit very much. I’m much more concerned with the 10 house balance and, at this early date, the tone of the PR material.

 

[Brian G.]

I’d argue Corpses is campier then Ghostbusters!

If the argument boils down to the need for one nasty, gruesome IP, I’ve got no real problem with that. I just won’t visit very much. I’m much more concerned with the 10 house balance and, at this early date, the tone of the PR material.

Right - which goes back to the whole point. It’s not a “humor” problem. You’ll get that in some form. It’s a balance. Last year didn’t really offer that (among other things). This year, they seemingly are.

 

[Blysthon]

Does this mean we are getting Warner Bros properties back at Halloween Horror Nights? It’s been years

 

[Clive]

Does this mean we are getting Warner Bros properties back at Halloween Horror Nights? It’s been years

The Discovery merger didn't really have a big impact on whether the company's IPs were available (or not) for Horror Nights. That remains true with this split.

 

[OhHaiInternet95]

The Discovery merger didn't really have a big impact on whether the company's IPs were available (or not) for Horror Nights. That remains true with this split.

They never did another Horror Made Here, correct?

 

[HHN Maddux]

That's definitely the HHN trailer. Tonight on Raw?

 

[krazyhorrorkid]

They never did another Horror Made Here, correct?

There were rumblings but Covid really killed it.

 

[RGMick77]

That's definitely the HHN trailer. Tonight on Raw?

“The message will spread”

For those wondering what the code means

 

[v0latilebear]

I think this has a lot more to do with the reaction to 2024 than people think.

2023 was a GREAT year, with a very consistent theme that spread through the whole event. Oddfellow's presence was felt everywhere, and he had a commanding presence in general.

Jump to 2024 - and they just didn't lean into the theme as much as they did in 2023. It certainly wasn't the first year that didn't have a theme-vein running through the whole event.

If you look at the houses individually, I don't think there were really any houses in 2024 that most people here would call "bad." They just didn't hit for whatever reason.

The marketing got me excited for 2024, was really hoping they would have done more with Otis and theming the entry arches to it.

 

[Tereglith]

With only a month to go I put together my to-watch list, one movie trying to match the vibe of each each house and zone. Some of the IPs where I've already seen or have no interest in the source material I added related substitutions. Some titles (like Black Friday) are real stretches, which just means Universal is being very creative with their choices!

Here's a link to the list if you want to see my justifications in the notes.