'I Was Thrilled Being Chased by Chainsaw-Wielding Psychos' - OK! Magazine

Picture the scene. Casually walking along, pumpkin spice latte in hand, when suddenly you find yourself confronted by manic circus freaks, a sinister demon clown and larger-than-life walking skeletons. There’s fog in the air, rock music playing and screams around every corner.

Perhaps not quite the cosy seasonal vibe you were after on your autumnal stroll, but that’s what you get if you head to this year’s Halloween Horror Nights event at Universal Studios Hollywood and guess what? I loved every second.

This year the Los Angeles park celebrated its 19th consecutive year (although they did start back in 1997 before taking a five years break from 2001) of bringing horror of all genres to the masses of fans and whether you’re a theme park fanatic, a lover of spooky theming or a true horror obsessive, you’ll find your niche here.

Running until November 2 both in Hollywood and its sister park in Orlando, the first thing that’s apparent with this event is that even if haunted houses aren’t your favourite pastime, there’s so much more to enjoy here, making the standard entry ticket of £62 worth every dollar.

The theming

Pay attention to the incredible decor - lets not forget that Universal Studios Hollywood is a working studio with live sets in areas, and they're the best in the creative business. The park allows you to move away from just watching the movies, and start living them right inside the arches of the Southern Californian park, and for this horror event, that’s no different. Enjoy spooky adventures at your pace inside the merchandise stores, which are so immersive and packed with fun ghoulish goodies and terrifying treats.

Rides

Take advantage of low wait times at this ticketed event and ride the movies too. Classics like Jurassic Park - The Ride, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers: The Ride, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and The Secret Life of Pets: Off The Leash are all still available to enter and give visitors some much-needed rest from the scares.

Food and drink

Each year, fans wait with baited breath for the release of the themed food and drink options and this year was no exception. From the viral Five Nights at Freddy’s cupcake, and the Jason S’mores to Art the clown’s lemon biscuit sunflower glasses, this is a foodie’s dream. My favourite cocktail? The La Siguanaba Gin Mule features gin, blue curaçao, dessert pear, blood orange, and ginger beer, served with a black sugar rim and black licorice laces that resemble snakes.

Spinetingling shows

In the daytime, park guests can enjoy Waterworld - a stunt show on water - but at HHN this show becomes The Purge: Dangerous Waters. It’s a fiery stunt spectacular and provides a welcomed pitstop while you sip on your spooky cocktail.

Sinister scare zones

These are areas around the park that are set to a certain scary theme. You’ll find realistic scare actors here who will run at you, tease you and generally give you a good jump scare but just like inside the houses, the scare actors are not allowed to touch you. So fear not, it’s a scare - at a distance. This year, Hollywood brings Noche de Brujas where you’ll come across evil, cackling Latin American witches, Chainsaw Clownz which is exactly what you can imagine, Carnival of Carnage featuring heinous seedy sideshow characters, and Murder of Crowz which brings some of the tallest scare actors I’ve ever seen.

If you find yourself in the horror super fan genre though and love a good scare then this year’s haunted house selection will be right up your street.

They’re not for the faint-hearted - some more than others (I’m looking at you Terrifier) - but regardless of scare and gore levels, there’s something much bigger to be appreciated.

The creativity and artistry that goes into these houses takes months of preparation with planning and building taking place at the beginning of the year before. So while you’re tidying away your Christmas decorations, the Universal Creative team are squirreling away on the following year’s horror happenings working on original ideas and intellectual properties (known to fans as ‘IP houses’) that they’d like to partner up with.

If you’re excited for a 2026 visit then take a look at popular horror themes, movies and TV series' now because they might become next year’s focus.

While out in Hollywood, we caught up with Universal Studio Hollywood’s Executive Creative Director and horror king, John Murdy, to discuss this year’s event and in particular 2025’s main star of the show, the Terrifier.

“By the time the third movie came out it blew Joker: Folie à Deux out of the water. It was then that I knew this had gone mainstream,' John enthused.

“We started talking to Damian Leone a year and a half ago. He hadn’t been to horror nights which made it a whole new adventure for him. What I loved about working with Damian is that he said something that we always hope people we work with will say - ‘You guys are the experts.’'

And so John and his team headed off to do what they do best: create horror magic.

Terrifier

It goes without saying that this has been one of the most anticipated houses for 2025. Art the clown is simply… terrifying. A classic gorefest that horror fans can’t get enough of - his movie trilogy is nothing short of grotesque - but I loved it. This house is set mainly throughout movie two in Art’s Funhouse but will also creep a little into movie three… hello Santa Art.

The park is also selling ponchos for this house which screams you’ll get wet. Spoiler alert, I did a little but nothing that required covering up and surely exiting the house covered in ‘bleach’ and ‘blood’ is part of the fun, isn’t it?

Jason Un1v3rse

It’s hard to believe after last year’s Red Door terror at the hands of the Red-Faced Demon from Insidious but this house promised to be 10x scarier and it delivered. A classic horror movie fest for fans spanning across all 12 Friday the 13th movies, expect to see Jason around every corner - literally.

Fallout

The vaults couldn't save me anymore so it was time to head for the wasteland. If you're familiar with the Netflix series then expect to see the Gulper, Radroaches and a seriously bloody wedding. One for the gamers and the series obsesses, this house is jam-packed with Easter eggs fans will love.

Five Nights at Freddy’s

This should be cute but don’t be fooled by a teddy animatronic, it’s eerily creepy. The animatronics inside have been created by none other than Jim Henson's Creature Shop - famed for The Muppets - and it shows. Horror artistry at its finest, this house is packed with jump scares and dark corridors inside Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza Place to fill you with fear.

The Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks

Without being a true WWE wrestling fan, I wasn’t sure how this one would work but I was left wide-mouthed. It pays emotional homage, like a beautiful love note, to Bray Wyatt, a WWE wrestler who sadly passed away at the age of 36. Enter the maniacal minds of his family left behind with eerie wrestling arena rooms and tons of wrestling Easter eggs for fans including belts and references to other well-known wrestlers. The empty rocking chair is a poignant moment to witness and Huskus the Pig was a particularly terrifying moment for me.

Poltergeist

Back again after appearing at the event in 2018, this house brings together all your worst paranormal fears. Follow Carol Ann’s journey to the other side from start to finish - it’s truly haunting and watch out for the moving steak in the kitchen. The finale was terrifying with open caskets… lots of which are filled with live scare actors…

Scarecrow: Music by Slash

Ever fancied being chased by scarecrows, giant crows and monsters that resemble corn? If randomly your answer is yes, then this is the house for you. Battle overgrown cornfields surrounding an abandoned Depression-era farm to the coolest soundtrack by rock band, Slash. This house had my favourite facade.

Monstrous 3: The Ghosts of Latin America

This is already a fan favourite original concept at HHN so it’s little wonder this year’s final offering was stunning. The best bit for me? Finding myself outside by a swamp of ‘the dead’ and a giant La Muerte ‘devouring’ an actor.

Terror Tram: Enter the Blumhouse

The terror tram is a unique HHN element at Universal Studios Hollywood only and what better time to experience this year's theme than on Blumhouse’s 15 year anniversary?

Enter the backlot studio tour area on a tram before facing the main characters from some of the scariest Blumhouse movies such as The Grabber from Black Phone, M3GAN the psychotic robotic doll, demons from Insidious and personally, my most terrifying - 'killers' from The Purge.

The exciting part of the Terror Tram is the fact that you head off on foot and there’s no escape as you follow the route around. Sidenote, you can also meet Norman Bates by the Psycho house (yes, the actual Psycho house from the movie) for an impromptu photo opportunity.

My advice from a mum who has visited this horror event with her trio of children - fight your fears and go in with an open mindset. Separate reality from fiction, grab a spooky cocktail and run wild - it really is true horror fun... with a fair few psychos at your tail.

For more information on Los Angeles, visit discoverlosangeles.com .

Get a one day Universal Studios Hollywood ticket and receive a second day free with AttractionTickets.com. Prices start at £82 per adult and £78 per child for autumn / winter 2025 arrivals. The second day is valid for use within a week of the first.

Grab tickets to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood starting at £62 per person. These tickets allow for one night admission and are valid for specific dates. Make your booking at AttractionTickets.com

Take a flight from London Gatwick to Los Angeles with Norse for £328 in September 2025, or £372 in October 2025. Visit FlyNorse.com