Cowards and Disney magic fans beware: these Halloween offerings are on Universal Studios’ level of theme park haunts, and they’re not for the faint of heart. Welcome to Halloween Horror Nights 2023! Here are some chilling first looks into a few of Universal Orlando’s Haunted House themes this year.
Are you ready?
The Exorcist: Believer
Credit: Universal Studios, Ashley Carter/ X
You better believe evil has been reawakened in this haunted house, considering it’s based on the Blumhouse film that doesn’t even hit theaters until mid-October! If you want to live the film before you even see it, this nightmare fuel is definitely for you.
Here’s Universal Studios’ description,
Angela. Katherine. Two missing girls have been found with no memory of what happened to them. But wherever they went, the ultimate evil has returned with them. Witness a chilling chain of events as you enter the most terrifying scenes from the new Blumhouse film.
The Last of Us
Universal Orlando has outdone itself with this house idea! Based on a video game series of the same name, the concept hit mainstream popularity after HBO serialized it starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. Look at that detailed makeup and those prosthetics! I mean, yuck…!
Here’s Universal Studios’ description,
You and your squad will encounter the haunting and overgrown world of Naughty Dog’s video game in a brand-new, terrifying way, as you make your way through an abandoned Pittsburgh. Join Joel and Ellie, and don’t make a sound if you want to survive Clickers, Hunters and more. No matter what, keep finding something to fight for.
Stranger Things
Based on season 4 of the hit Netflix series starring Millie Bobby Brown and Sadie Sink, this horror-filled house is straight out of your television screen. Vecna is so real-looking I might bring a pair of headphones blasting Whitney Houston, just in case…
Here’s Universal Studios’ description,
You must band together with your squad if you want to resist Vecna’s gruesome curse. Take on the scariest season of Stranger Things yet. Like Eleven, now’s your chance to stop him once and for all as you have the ultimate showdown in Vecna’s blood-red mindscape. Every ending has a beginning.
Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count
Chucky, the demonic Child’s Play doll that gained popularity in the 80s and 90s, is here – so expect some carnage. Don’t let the bright, happy yellow boxes fool you…this toy is NOT to be played with.
Here’s Universal Studios’ description,
Chucky, the serial killer doll, is back for a new gorefest! He’s hijacked his own haunted house with all kinds of bloody hijinks. You and your friends must try to survive his ultimate kill count.
Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate
This house is a welcome throwback to the former Universal Dueling Dragons roller coaster that eventually transformed into part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! This is your chance to choose between fire and ice. Which path will you take?
Here’s Universal Studios’ description,
No Matter Who You Choose, You Lose…Two warlocks of great power were turned into dragons after trying to take Merlyn’s spell book. Now, you and your friends are caught in their epic battle. You must choose a path and a victor.
Those are only five of the ten houses at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights 32. You can also visit Universal Monsters: Unmasked, Dr. Oddfellow’s Twisted Origins, YETI: Campground Kills, The Darkest Deal, and Bloodmoon: Dark Offerings!
You scared yet?