Universal Theme Parks Ready To Scare You

It’s October and that means only one thing–Fox preempting your favorite shows for baseball playoffs.

Oh yeah–and Halloween.

If you’re looking for a spooky, creepy or downright scary experience, you may want to make plans to visit one of the Universal Pictures family of theme parks. For October, the parks are going haunted and will offer visitors the chance to be scared by members of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the Saw franchise and the classic Universal monsters.

The Halloween Horror Nights transforms the Hollywood and Orlando theme parks into a series of haunted attractions throughout October.

The event was a huge success for the theme parks last year where it counts most–in the pocketbooks. Universal saw a rise in attendance to its parks for the month of October.

Last year “was our most successful year, hands down,” said John Murdy, Universal Studios’ creative director. “People are attracted to either comedy or horror in times of uncertainty. They need escape and love to be scared.”

“Everything is different this year,” Murdy said. “There isn’t one thing we’re repeating from the past,” with mazes built around “Saw,” “Halloween,” “My Bloody Valentine,” and “Child’s Play,” while a 30-minute tribute show for “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is being imported from the Orlando park. Focus Features’ “Shaun of the Dead” will also be featured.

Last year, Lionsgate paired up with professional haunted house designer Jeff Schleffelbein to produce an elaborate haunted house inside a former movie theater in Brea, Calif.

The result was a haunted house built around the successful “Saw” franchise. This year, Schleelbein has been contracted again and this time he’s creating an attraction around the “Silent Hill” movies.

However, despite his success, the designer does feel pressure from studio executive and fans to deliver the thrills and chills.

“When you’re working the studios, not only do you have to impress teenagers, you now have to impress the executives that come see it,” he said. “It’s intense.”