Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
On the heels of the tremendous success Universal Studios has had with their seasonal Halloween Horror Nights events in both Hollywood and Orlando, Universal Destinations & Experiences has created an all-new, first-ever, year-round horror experience called Universal Horror Unleashed, which opened last August at AREA15 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Guests will have an opportunity to experience three themed haunted houses based on popular movies including Universal Monsters, ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre‘ and Blumhouse’s ‘The Exorcist: Believer‘, as well as the original themed house, Scarecrow: The Reaping.
Release Date: Dec 22, 1932
Run Time: 1 hr 13 min
Budget: $196,000
Universal Horror Unleashed also offers terrifying immersive horror experiences like Jack’s Alley, which is a live acrobatic performance hosted by Jack the Clown and his assistant Chance. And if you are thirsty, you can get a specialty cocktail at Jack’s Alley Bar, or enjoy food at Premiere House, which is a Blumhouse themed tapas bar.
The event also offers opportunities for guests to interact with frightening characters and experience other themed areas like ‘Dead Storage’ and ‘The Boiler’.
Food at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
Moviefone recently had the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas, Nevada to experience Universal Horror Unleashed and speak with Show Director Nate Stevenson, Assistant Director Del Wynegar, and General Manager Kim Scott about the scary new event.
Related Article: Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Opening Night
Interactive Experiences and Performances
Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
Upon entering the abandoned warehouse at AREA15 in Las Vegas, Nevada, guests are introduced to interactive characters they can meet and greet including the Vampire Queen, a psycho surgeon, and Jack the Clown.
Del Wynegar, Assistant Director of Entertainment at Universal Horror Unleashed, discussed the event’s interactive characters.
“The moment you walk in, you’re greeted by our Vampire Queen, and her second in command. So, you’re getting hit right off the bat, and right above your heads, we have our flying vampires that are flying through the space. So, it sets the tone for the experience. What’s nice, and what’s different than Halloween Horror Nights, is that you have the time to interact with these characters. You have the time to understand their backstories. The best thing, though, is that they’re more interested in you, so they’re the ones that are finding out why you’re here. They want to understand why you’re here and play in that, which is fun.”
Jack’s Alley
Jack’s Alley acrobatic performance at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
Set on a stage next to Jack’s Alley bar, where you can get specialty cocktails, is Jack’s Ally, a twisted dark performance, featuring acrobatics and more in a circus-like show hosted by the terrifying Jack the Clown and his evil sidekick Chance reign.
Premiere House
Premiere House tapas bar at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
The Premiere House is Universal Horror Unleashed’s Blumhouse themed tapas bar which features signature shareable bites surrounded by props and posters from Blumhouse movies like movies like ‘The Black Phone’.
‘Black Phone’ exhibit at Premiere House at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
“Never talk to strangers.”
Release Date: Jun 24, 2022
Run Time: 1 hr 43 min
Budget: $16,000,000
Haunted Houses
Universal Monsters immersive horror experience at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
Universal Horror Unleashed General Manager Kim Scott discussed how they decided which houses to feature at the event.
“Our creative team looked at what the guests were asking for. So, leaning into our Universal films, our original monsters, that was a huge win for us. We see so many guests that identify with the Hunchback or the Bride of Frankenstein. When you look at our incredible partnerships with Blumhouse for ‘The Exorcist: Believer’, or ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’, those are huge fan favorites as you move through the history of film, starting with the original monsters, into the slashers, the paranormal, and then ending with our own internal IP Scarecrow: The Reaping. We’ve taken it to another level here in our residency here at Universal Horror Unleashed.”
Universal Monsters
Universal Monsters immersive horror experience at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
Based on Universal’s classic monster characters, this attraction takes guests from the crumbling mausoleum of monster hunter Van Helsing, to the halls of Castle Dracula, the tombs guarded by The Mummy and the lab where Frankenstein and The Bride reside.
“More fearful than the monster himself!”
Release Date: Apr 20, 1935
Run Time: 1 hr 15 min
Budget: $393,750
Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer
Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer immersive horror experience at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer is based on the latest installment of the iconic film franchise. The terror builds room by room as the girls’ disturbing transformation unfolds, taking guests from the hospital to the girls’ homes, to witnessing the actual exorcism surrounding everyone by supernatural chaos.
Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer immersive horror experience at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
Release Date: Oct 6, 2023
Run Time: 1 hr 51 min
Budget: $30,000,000
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre immersive horror experience at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
Based on the 1974 horror masterpiece, this haunted house brings to life the original film in a linear sequence, placing guests face-to-face with Leatherface and every member of his deranged family and their victims. Guests will follow the footsteps of the victims as they face horrifying iconic scenes and characters, from the fateful stop at the Texan cemetery, to an encounter with the Old Man at the dusty gas station featured in the chilling barbecue scene and entering the infamous dilapidated home.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre immersive horror experience at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
“Who will survive and what will be left of them?”
Release Date: Oct 11, 1974
Run Time: 1 hr 23 min
Budget: $140,000
Scarecrow: The Reaping
Scarecrow: The Reaping immersive horror experience at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
Scarecrow: The Reaping is an original story inspired by the historic Dust Bowl era of the 1930s. Guests will enter a farm taken over by horrifying creatures rising from the ground including demonic scarecrows out for revenge. This attraction is a fan favorite house in Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Scarecrow: The Reaping immersive horror experience at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
Finally, Show Director of Entertainment Creative Development at Universal Orlando Resort, Nate Stevenson, talked about why Las Vegas was the perfect spot for this installation and their partnership with AREA15.
“Vegas was the perfect spot, because it’s such a melting pot of everyone, and so many different types of people come in and out of here. Everybody loves horror in their own ways. So, what a great spot here at AREA15 and it’s a great partnership. So, this was the spot.”
Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. Photo: Jami Philbrick.
Movies that inspired Universal Horror Unleashed:
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