Halloween has arrived early and “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood is kicking it off with a bang! With opening weekend selling out on September 16 & 17 and having the best maze line up in “Halloween Horror Nights” history its seems to be the best year yet! “Halloween Horror Nights”  also runs on select Nights from September 16 – November 5, 2016. Here is our full review of the new mazes and what we honestly think of them this year.

“The Exorcist: The Possession of Regan MacNeil”
    For the first time ever “The Exorcist: The Possession of Regan MacNeil” is here at Halloween Horror Nights and they have recreated some of the film’s most haunting scenes. All famous senses from the film are here in the maze which include the iconic levitating, head-spinning, vomit-wrenching, skin-crawling moment from the film. As you approach the maze you will see the iconic house from the film and the minute you enter the maze you are thrown into the world of “The Exorcist”. Without giving out too many spoilers, if you are scared of the film then this maze is your worst nightmare. I’m personally terrified of the film so going in this maze I was very nervous to see what Halloween Horror Nights had came up with. The scares in this maze are laid out very thoughtfully. For example, you will enter a room with the exorcist and then you will enter a dark room and then you are back in a scene from the film. So if you are worried if this maze is going to be good or bad don't worry, this maze hits all its marks and the attention to detail to the rooms are amazing. I recommend going in this maze first since it will have the longest wait times but is really worth it.

“American Horror Story”
    “American Horror Story,” FX’s critically-acclaimed, Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning television series, has terrorized television viewers for five suspenseful installments, and for the first time ever, three chapters will come to life in a new frightening “Halloween Horror Nights” maze. The maze is based on season 1 Murder House, season 4 Freak Show and season 5 Hotel. This has to be one of the most anticipated mazes to come to Halloween Horror Nights and I was interested to see how they were going to pull it off as maze. As you enter the maze you first enter the murder house and it has such rooms like the man who lived in the house and burned his family alive. Also the black dahlia is there as well along with rubber man and pig man. These rooms are done really well and are given enough space in the maze to tell the story.

Then before you know you enter a forest scene and you see a sign with the words written the "Freak Show is here" and ahead is Twisty the killer clown. Then just like the show you see the freak show tent with a huge devil head and mouth wide opening leading you intoa freakshow entrance and then before you know it freakshow is over and you enter the next room of the next season of American Horror Story. I wish that they gave more rooms to freakshow but I still enjoyed it and the costumes are top notch.

The next rooms you enter are based on the Hotel season which has a long lobby full of hotel rooms and monsters hiding. The maze is done very well and if you love the show then you will definitely love the maze and the costumes for the characters are the best.

“Halloween: Hell Comes to Haddonfield”
Escaped mental patient Michael Myers makes a homecoming return in “Halloween: Hell Comes to Haddonfield,” an all-new maze inspired by the second film in the classic “Halloween” horror franchise. Echoing the infamous words uttered by the film’s Dr. Sam Loomis, “You can’t kill the Boogeyman,” Halloween is back after last year it being the highest rated maze at Halloween Horror Nights history. This maze does not disappoint and picks up where the last maze and movie left off with Michael Myers getting shot by Dr. Sam Loomis. Then you enter the hospital and see victims that Michael Myers had left behind. Then finally in this maze is just amazing the last two rooms are the best thing of the whole maze. If you loved the maze last year then you will not be disappointed by this maze.

“Freddy vs. Jason”
In “Freddy vs. Jason,” demented killer Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street) returns to the scene of the crime, this time accompanied by notorious hockey mask killer Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th) to inflict twice as much terror. Inspired by the 2003 film that brought together two of the biggest icons in horror history. The first thing you'll notice is the front facade paying a tribute to Wes Craven and having the boiler building in front. Also if you pay attention you will notice Jason Voorhees make a appearance on the left side of the maze. The maze puts you right in the middle of Freddy and Jason and they make use of small tight spaces to get face to face with them. This mazes uses many tricks to make it seem like you are in Freddy's nightmare dream sequence. This is definitely one of the more amazing mazes at Halloween Horror Nights and it's great to see Freddy and Jason back at Halloween Horror Nights. Also if you get a chance to go in the maze several times you will notice the ending change. You might see Freddy win one time and the next time you might see Jason win, it's a nice way to change it up.

“Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Blood Brothers”
The unspeakable terror embroiled within “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Blood Brothers” maze will pit guests against the unsavory wrath of demented killer Leatherface and his mentally unhinged brother ChopTop as they unite in misery to expand the family’s cannibalistic enterprise and slaughter a new generation of innocent victims. Before you enter this maze you will notice that you are about to enter a gas station. This maze is a slaughter house type of maze there is a lot of dead bodies, blood and bones everywhere. You enter rooms where you see how they process dead bodies and living rooms where they eat which has skulls and dead body parts. The attention to detail to this maze is really amazing if you look carefully you will notice skin faces being used as lamp shades. Make sure to visit this maze before you leave for the night.

“Krampus”
Tis the season for “Krampus” as the terrifying dark Christmas legend is manifested into a maze based on the Christmas-themed horror film. The dead of winter sets the stage for the terror that’s about to unfold one cold, dank and dreary Christmas Eve as the fabled anthropomorphic "half-goat, half-demon" horned creature emerges to terrorize those devoid of holiday spirit. This is definitely one of the most surprising mazes at Halloween Horror Nights. I was not to sure how the movie would translate into a maze but from the minute you see the house covered in snow and Krampus up on top overlooking the house you can tell this is going to be a great maze. Once entering the maze you meet Krampus, gingerbread men, snowmen and trolls and more all trying to scare you. This is definitely one of my top mazes at Halloween Horror Nights and if you haven't seen the movie make sure to watch the movie as well, it will help make sense out of things. This maze is also located on the backlot next to AHS and Freddy VS Jason.

“Eli Roth Presents the Terror Tram”
Eli Roth (“Hostel”) and his digital network Crypt TV take the helm of the infamous “Terror Tram,” marking the first time ever that the signature attraction comes to life through the twisted mind of the filmmaker. “Eli Roth Presents Terror Tram” will expose guests to the fabled legacy of serial killer clown “Hollywood Harry,” the story of a former jovial celebrity clown turn depraved murderer, and the minefield of carnage he left behind.” This new Terror Tram is a huge improvement to the last couple of years and its much needed. The clowns on Terror Tram are terrifying and if you are afraid of clowns then this is your worst nightmare. Guest get off the tram and get a chance to walk on sets like the Bates Motel and War of the Worlds. This new Terror Tram is definitely worth going on several times.

The Purge: Election Year” Scare Zone
A terrifying twist on this year’s scare zone, “Halloween Horror Nights” introduces a new themed experience, inspired by Universal Pictures’ disturbing blockbuster trilogy, “The Purge: Election Year,” that permeates all areas of the park. Iconic scenes from each of the frightening films will recreate the turmoil and pandemonium that exists when masked vigilantes hunt for victims during the government’s annually sanctioned killing spree. Also new for this year is the “The Purge: Gauntlet of Fear” that delivers unbridled fear as guests are funneled through an area of the park to try and escape the horrors of the mass slaughter that awaits them.

Advance purchase for all tickets is recommended as event nights will sell out.  
    “Halloween Horror Nights” dates are: September 16, 17, 23, 24, 29, 30, October 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and November 4 and 5, 2016.
For exciting updates and exclusive “Halloween Horror Nights” content, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Hollywood, like Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood on Facebook; follow @HorrorNights #UniversalHHN on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and Periscope; and watch the terror come to life on Halloween Horror Nights YouTube.