Halloween Horror Nights is a Universal Studios Halloween event where the park is transformed into a horror experience filled with haunted houses, themed scare zones, live entertainment, and roaming scare actors. This year, the select nights ran from the end of August through the upcoming Halloween and will go into the beginning of November. The detailed sets are based on famous horror movies, TV shows, and original storylines. The event is designed to be intense, with jump scares, fog, strobe lights, and creepy characters throughout the park, making it especially popular with teens and adults who love horror. Guests can also enjoy the open select rides, along with themed food, drinks, and merchandise.
In my opinion, Halloween Horror Nights was one of the most exciting events that I looked forward to this October. It was so cool and interesting to see the storyline through the houses as I didn’t know what to expect since it was my first time going to an event like this. It’s incredible that the houses are made using different materials, sounds, designs, colors, and even include live people to convey the overall message. It almost felt like I stepped into a movie scene. “Fun, definitely would go again”, said junior Annabelle Grimaldi. “It was a really cool experience because at first you're scared but then it’s just jumpscares. I liked being there with a group of friends, overall I would go again.” The scare actors are intense, the fog and lighting make everything eerie, and I never got to fully relax because I knew someone could jump out at any second – and honestly, I love that feeling. Even though the lines can get long and the crowds could be a lot, I still think this is an experience worth having, because it is unmatched.
Halloween Horror Nights 2025 has an incredible lineup of haunted houses that really show off the creativity of the event. Out of the ten houses, I was able to do five of them, as well as two rides, and try different halloween foods the park featured. If you plan out your time wisely, it is definitely possible to hit more houses without having a fast pass.
Starting off, the first house I went to was the “Terrifier”. It is based on an intense horror film that features the art of clown films, with gore, shocking visuals, and even sensory effects like smells and water to make it feel terrifyingly real. “My favorite house was the Terrifier, it was fun and scary at the same time. I will definitely go again”, said junior Olivia Greco.
The next house I went to was “El Artista: A Spanish Haunting”. The house had horrifying paintings and sculptures in the house that came alive. The overall creativity of this house was worth the wait.
The third house I went to was “The Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks”. This house focused on the dark, horror-themed characters by the late WWE superstar Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas. The house uses dark, swampy, and unsettling elements of design to portray a feeling of not expecting what’s going to happen next.
The fourth house I went to was “Gálkn: Monsters of the North”. The concept of this house made you feel cold and chilly. The atmosphere was established by demons and creatures which led to an ultimate monster.
Lastly, the fifth house I went to was “Jason Universe”. The house brought guests through countless jumpscares to create an uncomfortable feeling and bring you through slasher’s legacy.
In conclusion, Halloween Horror Nights 2025 brought an unmatched and intensely immersive experience, successfully transforming Universal Studios into a fear-thrill seeking event. The event brilliantly shows the relevance of the storyline in the houses, and the food was definitely worth a try. Bring a friend, and visit Halloween Horror Nights 2025 before it’s too late!
