Midsummer Scream 2022 was an epic and eerie 3-day event filled with ghoulish-goodies, macabre mini-mazes, and gorey-good presentations & performances.
Sneak peek panels and presentations gave fans special surprises that were to die for! Here are some scary-good haunt highlights from Midsummer Scream…
Halloween Horror Nights Presentation
On Saturday, Midsummer Scream’s Halloween Horror Nights presentation with John Murdy was filled with lots of tricks and a larger-than-life TREAT! Creative Director of Universal Studios Hollywood, John Murdy gave fans a special sneak peek of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) houses including a look at the newest houses:
Scarecrow: The Reaping is an all-new, original haunted housebased on the Dust Bowl phenomenon of the 1930’s which Murdy described as an “ecological horror story about a climatic disaster.” The Dust Bowl was a terrifying period of dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and devoured agriculture. The land was left bare as farmers abandoned their homes and farms, leaving only crows and scarecrows behind. Scarecrow: The Reaping will come to life with scarecrows and crows that reclaim the land and seek revenge on those who remain. Two special effect areas that will have guests gasping will be the “outhouse” which will have water spritz and the “rookery” which take place in a barn where the crows gather and wait to hail you with droppings!
Murdy also alluded to another exciting new maze based on a 1920’s Hollywood tale of an oil heiress named Lilian Von Drake who married Maxie Deville, an unscrupulous fella who used Lilian’s fortune to build a luxury hotel. This Hollywood hotel holds the terrifying tales of mysterious accidents, a double suicide, and even the shocking death of Lilian herself. Maxie Deville is labeled as the suspect who is convicted and sentenced, and ultimately lies within the haunted walls of this Hollywood haunt!
John Murdy also surprised fans with a devilishly-delicious treat. He introduces Gun N’ Roses guitarist Slash who comes out to a roaring crowd. The musician, songwriter and record producer has brought the terrifying tunes to Halloween Horror Nights’ classic monsters mazes of years passed. And this year, Slash brings an epic harmony to the all-new Universal Monsters: Legends Collide house, with a macabre yet melodious tune that will make you move your skeleton!
13th Floor Entertainment Presentation
On Sunday, the macabre masterminds behind 13th Floor Entertainment gave a preview of the haunts they have in store for SoCal’s biggest attractions including Delusion, LA Haunted Hayride, and the all-new Shaqtober Fest.
Delusion returns to Pomona with an eerie 1974 Cult era experience filled with mind games and the real life horror of cults. Creator John Braver explains, the audience will be “de-programmers who are the people who pull other people out of cults” to escape out of the clutches of this sadistic group.
LA’s Haunted Hayride brings back Midnight Falls with an even bigger, better, and blood-stained town where it’s always Halloween. And this time around, everyone’s favorite undead Monty Revolta, will be Mayor of this terror-filled town that’s both creepy and comedic. Guests will also enjoy the return of the 1985-inpsired trick o’ treat neighborhood that brings the scares and surprises from door to door.
The 13th Floor’s newest attraction is Shaqtober Fest which is a Halloween festival with an “all ages approach.” It’s set to be a fun time for the entire family, Shaq wants everyone to partake from “little kids to grandparents.” In the daytime there will be trick o’ treat trails for the entire family, including a pumpkin patch and treats for all ages. At night, the witching hour begins and the trick or treat trails of day become terror trail/mini mazes at night. Shaqtober Fest will open in the surrounding areas at the Queen Mary of Long Beach.
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