Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood in LA

So when I mentioned the East Coast rendition of this saw-bladed shindig, located at Universal Studios Orlando, I gave their event names high marks. I especially embraced Lights, Camera, Hacktion and my favorite, Leave it to Cleaver. I’ve got to say, over on the West Coast, the folks at Halloween Horror Nights – Universal Studios Hollywood may have just been shown up.

Look at these names: Halloween: The Life and Crimes of Michael Myers, My Bloody Valentine: Be Mine 4 Ever, Freakz. Really, guys, you’re happy with a “z”-swap for the “s” on “freaks”? That really tells the whole story for you?

Fortunately, Halloween Horror Nights is better at putting together a good scare than thinking up clever names. Like the sister event in Orlando, this hi-tech haunted attraction in Los Angeles uses the full arsenal of Universal Studios to great effect. Haunted houses, shows and scare zones are all based on popular (and not-so-popular) film and TV properties.

As always, the haunted mazes are the stars of the show. Saw: Game Over, based on the now notoriously prolific horror franchise, sets guests on a tense and twisted trip through the fiendish traps of Jigsaw.*

Head next to My Bloody Valentine: Be Mine 4 Ever, a red-stained tribute to one of the best slasher movies to hit the big screen in years. Do your best to avoid coal miner gone mad, Harry Warden. And though I never loved the series, Chucky’s Funhouse promises to be both frightening and fun thanks to the utterly demented carnival funhouse setting.

In a bit of inspired reinvention, they’ve turned the famous Universal Studios backlot tour into the Terror Tram: Live or Die. Sort of a hi-tech, interactive version of the classic haunted hayride. Definitely something different.

Even if you’re not at a dedicated attraction, there’s almost always something horrible to see. The grounds have been scattered with scare zones, themed areas crawling with gruesome ghoulies and the shambling dead. Don’t let your guard down.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood is a special ticketed nighttime event. Regular daytime tickets do not include admission, though combo tickets are available. Dates run from October 2 – October 31 with several off-days in between. Events can sell out, so purchasing advanced tickets is recommended. No costumes. Learn more.

Need a hotel? We like the Holiday Inn Express Century City Hotel for fresh and surprisingly affordable accommodations in LA’s exciting studio district. It’s a few miles out from Universal Studios, but it’s a great location for visiting several top LA attractions, and at that price, the quality of stay will really surprise you.

*Okay, so the first Saw movie was great, and the second managed to at least keep the momentum by being different. But seriously, you can’t make six movies in six years and expect to keep any standard of quality. Give it a rest already and come back in 2012 with a real script.

View more of our bloody disgusting picks at the Top Haunted Attractions in America guide. Or, find the best of the best at our 2009 Top 13 Haunted Houses.

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