I Love Them Now - A Countdown 24-20

Growing up I couldn't watch a horror movie at all...even the trailers on TV freaked me out. I still remember my very first horror movie - Halloween II. I don't remember who I saw it with but I know, with an R rating, I was not old enough to see it. 

It affected me for a very long time and I thought "horror movies are not for me."

Fast forward multiple decades and now horror movies are probably my favorite. I am so happy I have a son who is as into them as I am. 

Our movie nights in August and September are devoted to horror as we gear up for Halloween and HHN.

So now I am ranking all the horror movies that we have watched on Friday evenings over the past couple years. 

24). Child's Play II (49%)

I don't remember much about this movie so that says a lot right there.  I had to look online for a recap. Two years after the original Child's Play, a company decides to re-create the doll bringing back the soul of serial killer Charles Lee Ray. After a few kills, Chucky finds his way back to Andy who is now living in foster care. 

It's a typical 80's (although released in 1990) slasher movie with a shallow plot and lots of kills.  

23). Nightmare on Elm Street 4 - The Dream Master (43% Rotten Tomatoes)

This was another typical 80's slasher film as Freddy comes back to invade the dreams of teenage kids. Pretty unforgettable for me. 

22). Friday the 13th (63% Rotten Tomatoes)

Many years after a murder takes place at Camp Crystal Lake, counselors are attempting to fix it up and reopen the doors. Mrs. Voorhees has other plans. Yet another 80's slasher film with a plot that is weakly developed and one kill after another. 

I found out after the fact that the snake used in the movie (which really served no purpose to the plot) was actually killed in the filming. I'm not a fan of snakes, but I think that is a terrible thing to do.

21). Freddy vs. Jason (50% Rotten Tomatoes)

This movie had a rather comical plot. After many years, Freddy has lost most of his power as the citizens of his town are no longer afraid of him. He enlists the help of Jason Voorhees and manipulates him into killing so the people of his town will become afraid and he will regain his power. And while his plan worked, Freddy soon discover that Jason cannot control himself and is killing all of Freddy's intended victims himself. 

What ensues is a battle between the two evil murderers. In the end, who won was uncertain. Jason emerges from the water with Freddy's severed head so you first think he won. However, Freddy winks and you can hear laughter in the background. 

The plot was strong and humorous enough to make the film work. 

20). Evil Dead II (89% Rotten Tomatoes)

Ash and his girlfriend take a vacation to a remote cabin in the woods. They find and play a recording of an incantation that unleashes an evil force. His girlfriend is possessed almost immediately and Ash has to kill her so the rest of the movie is pretty much Ash alone trying to survive. 

However, just because it's low on the list doesn't mean I didn't like it.  There are crazy special effects in this movie that, as my son put it, "feels like a 90-minute acid trip."  That in combination with the wild slapstick humor made it overall an enjoyable watch. 

Last 2022 HHN POST

 The last evening, I walked around for about a half hour just taking pictures...I love how the actors are always willing to jump into character and pose for a picture. 

The Final Three From HHN

 Wrapping up HHN House Countdown..the top three!

Let's jump right in...

3).Halloween

Honestly, right up until Thursday I had this house as number 2, but after discussing it with my son, I actually realized that I needed to switch my number 2 and 3. 

Halloween is probably my favorite horror movie - regardless of the terrible acting by the two teenage girls who were Laurie's friends. I am always down for a good Halloween themed house. The music and combination of a masked actor portraying Michael Myers makes for all the great feels. 

The house featured a full Myers House façade complete with Michael spying on you from the upper bedroom window. You can't go wrong with a Halloween House.

Stock Photo from google

Walkthrough video from Attractions 360*

2). Universal Monsters: Legends Collide

Dracula, the werewolf, and the mummy come together to seek the Amulet of Ra. One thing I found fascinating about this house is that it had three different endings depending on which night you walked through it. 

- Dracula is seen with a stake through his heart and then the Mummy would  jump out holding on to Wolfman's head. 

- The body of Mummy is seen and then Dracula would jump out holding Wolfman's head.

- The body of Mummy is seen and then the Wolfman jumps out holding Dracula's head. 

The set design is fantastic and it has an all immersive experience to it. The sounds in this house are incredible and add to the heart-pounding feel you have while walking through. 

Walkthrough video by Attractions 360*

1). Dead Man's Pier: Winter's Wake

In a New England Fishing village, undead fisherman emerge from the water and seek their revenge. The phantom sea captain summons the fisherman to wreak havoc on the town during a winter storm. 

The set in this house is amazing!!  The scare factor in this house was not great.............you don't get spine tingling thrills, but the visual appeal together with the background sounds made for an enjoyable low-key walk through. 

It was favorite house from the very first night. In fact, in may be in my top 5 of all time. 

Walkthrough video by Theme Park Insider

Overall, this year's HHN, although only lasting three weeks for me, was an incredible experience creating lasting memories.

The only thing that could have made it better would have been a Bill and Ted show - still miss that. 

More From HHN

Continuing my house countdown...

5). Fiesta De Chupacabras

This house was a recreation of a Latin American village where the legend of a creature called chupacabras  is celebrated with a fiesta.

The set was pleasing overall although at one point I thought there was a dog hanging up by its hind legs.  Turns out, the dictionary definition of chupacabra is an animal said to exist in parts of Latin America, where it supposedly attacks animals, especially goats. So I guess it was a goat. 

Inside the house we see Rosalia the mask maker, villagers all wearing masks, and the chupacabra itself. 

Stock photo

Stock Photo

They may have reused this gem from my very first house ever - An American Werewolf in London. 

Stock Photo

Walk through video by Attractions 360*

4). Bugs - Eaten Alive

While touring a 1950's home of the future, we are introduced to Buzzcon's Exterminair of the future designed to heat and cool your house  while exterminating all the insects. However, something goes wrong and the bugs grow and mutate as you walk through the house. 

I loved the 50's vibe of this house.  From the first room to the last you get all the feels of the decade in this mid century modern house.

Again, walk through video by Attractions 360*

Next Up...my top 3 houses this year. 

 

Halloween Horror Nights Continued

 Continuing with the countdown...

8). The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare

For me, this house was too bizarre. I didn't really catch on to the overall premise for this house. Universal's HHN website describes...prepare to enter the macabre mind of The Weeknd in this haunted house as he stalks you through this surreal nightmare of his.

So apparently, he is having some kind of nightmare and we are 

inside his head living it with him. I'm sure the main draw to this house is his music, but since the only Weeknd song I know is Blinding Lights (love the song actually) it didn't go over well with me. 

Walkthrough video from Attractions 360*

7). The Horrors of Blumhouse (Freaky/Black Phone)

I had high expectations for this house as I loved both of these movies but it fell short of my expectations.  This was actually set up as two different houses separated by a short walk outside. 

https://wdwnt.com/  Photo credit

I enjoyed Black Phone more than Freaky. Both houses follow their movie plots pretty closely which meant there was very little creativity and the scares were obvious and somewhat flat.  

Walkthrough from ThrillGeek

6). Spirits of the Coven

A coven of beautiful flapper witches lure you into their 1920's speakeasy and then reveal their haggish true form. Universal HHN website.

Judging by the location of this house, Universal was probably expecting it to be a very popular house. This location in past years has been home to houses like American Werewolf in London, Stranger Things, and the Exorcist. 

I enjoy looking at the set in these houses as much as I love the scares and this house had a great set. There was plenty to look at and the idea behind the house was clever. Overall, a good house.

Walkthrough from For the Love of Theme Parks

Halloween Horror Nights 2022

10 terrifying houses 

+

5 foreboding scare zones

+

2 tremendous shows (which we didn't see) 😆

= 

 1 amazing HHN 

At first, making it to HHN this year didn't seem possible. I just couldn't work it into my current budget. However, I was eventually able to get a three week pass (instead of the entire 8 week event) WITH express and it was the best thing I could have done! 

The past few years I have been limited as to the houses I could go through because I didn't have express and the regular lines were too long. I basically went through the same three houses (at the back of the park) and then left because, with CJ having the express option, I also felt guilty knowing he could skip the lines if I wasn't there. So, at best, I probably walked through the same three or four houses and got through those about 15 - 20 times total. 

This year, while I only went 5 times, using the express option meant we could get through all 10 houses each time. Soooo worth the trade off of not being able to go in October. We went Friday the 9th, Friday the 16th, Sunday the 18th, Wednesday the 21st, and Friday the 23rd. We got there right at 6:00 and usually had all the houses done by 10:00-10:30. Again, well worth it!!! 

For the first time since my first HHN back in 2015 (the one year I had express), I feel like I've been through all the houses enough to rank them.  

From worst to favorite

#10 Hellblock Horror

A prison whose inmates are monstrous creatures. The monsters have broken free and are slaughtering anyone that stands between them and freedom.

There is nothing really great to talk about here. The walkthrough was dull and boring. The set was just an ordinary, common prison. The monsters and scares were average at best. 

We did this house every time we went but if there was one I would have not minded skipping, it would have been this one. 

Photo Credit: https://wdwnt.com/2022/09/review-hellblock-horror-house-at-universal-orlandos-halloween-horror-nights-31/

Photo Credit: https://wdwnt.com/2022/09/review-hellblock-horror-house-at-universal-orlandos-halloween-horror-nights-31/

Walkthrough Video courtesy of Attractions 360*

#9 Descendants of Destruction

Walk through the subway tunnels of  deserted New York where hungry mutants look to feast off human flesh.

The best thing about this house was the façade - and even that wasn't that great. 

Photo Credit: https://wdwnt.com/2022/09/descendents-of-destruction-hhn-31/

I understand this was a sequel of sorts to the Seeds of Extinction house a couple years ago. 

The best parts of this house was walking through the subway car and the funhouse tunnel. Not all that memorable for me. 

Walkthrough video courtesy of Attractions 360*

#8 The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare