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Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood – This Year’s Food Treats Include “Chucky” and “Stranger Things” Menus

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Halloween Horror Nights is now open select nights at both Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, and both parks are serving up spooky treats this year.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood invites guests to indulge in tempting horror-inspired cuisine inspired by the event with specialty items based on “Stranger Things 4,” “Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count,” “The Last of Us” and Dia de los Muertos

Fans of “Stranger Things” can frequent several venues inspired by the hit series, including the Surfer Boy Pizza shop to enjoy such pizzas as the Try Before You Deny, plus Pineapple Buffalo Wings and a decadent Hellfire Pop dessert.

Scoops Ahoy ice cream parlor serves refreshingly sweet treats, including Eleven’s Waffle Sundae and the Upside Down World Milkshake.

The “Stranger Things 4” theming continues at the new ‘80’s themed Stellar Bar, located adjacent to “Jurassic World—The Ride,” where guests are invited to step back in time and imbibe on totally awesome cocktails such as Surfer Boy, The Upside Down and Mind Flayer, and nosh on delicious bites, including Demogorgon Pizza, Hellfire Club Pretzel and Pizza Fries, to the tune of classic ‘80’s hits.

“Chucky” takes a stab at killer treats with such eclectic “Killer BBQ” menus items as Chucky’s A Clucking Nightmare sandwich, Friends to the Burnt End sandwich, Chucky’s Mac-Assacre and Cheese, Always Comeback Corndog, Like to be Hugged Salad, Child’s Play Funnel Cake and a Knife Cooke emblazoned with Wanna Play?, along with a cotton candy lemonade called The Good Guy and the Wanna Play? cocktail.

“The Last of Us” fans can click their way through such treats as the Cordyceps Corndog, served up at Mummy Eats, adjacent to “Revenge of The Mummy—The Ride.”

The celebration of Los Angeles’ diverse culture also comes to life during Halloween Horror Nights with a festive Dia de los Muertos food and beverage display staged within Universal Plaza. Guests can toast the living and celebrate the dead with multiple bar options, including the signature Dia de Los Muertos Bar, the Little Cocina bar and the Margarita bar, offering such Latin folklore inspired craft cocktails as Tlahuelpuchi Margarita, El Silbón Mule, La Lechuza and La Muerte served in colorful souvenir cups. Premium margaritas include Spicy Strawberry Vodka Margarita and Smokey Cauldron Margarita.

Themed Dia de los Muertos menu items include Carne Asada Nachos, Beef Birria Tacos with Red Sauce, Horchata Churro Bites, Pineapple Spears with Chamoy, Corn in a Cup and a sweet Chocolate Skull Cake.

The new themed Peacock Halloween Horror Bar takes over Laemmle Courtyard near the entrance to the theme park, serving up such tempting cocktails as Purge Punch, Peacocktail and Charles Lee Ray, in honor of “Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count.”

The Halloween Horror Nights event menu includes vegetarian items. Guests must be 21 years or older and have a valid photo ID to purchase or drink alcoholic beverages.

Over at Universal CityWalk Hollywood, The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen joins in on the terrifying festivities with a specially themed Halloween Horror Nights Patio Bar. A seasonal Foundry milkshake, the Grave Awakening Milkshake, served in a Halloween Horror Nights souvenir jar is available both at the Foundry milkshake bar and in the dining room. Voodoo Doughnut features seasonal favorites such as Frankenstein, Mummy, Jack-O-Lantern, the Halloween Sprinkle Cake and annual signature HHN 2023 doughnut. Antojitos Cocina Mexicana serves up ghoulish drinks, including Pumpkin Horror-Chata, Midnight Margarita and Spicy Tamarind Bloody Mary. NBC Sports Grill & Brew raises the scare-factor with Rum Reaper Shot and The Haunted Huddle. Jimmy Buffett’s® Margaritaville® savors the scary with a curated Late Nite Bites menu, Burrito Bowl, Tropical Inferno Burger, Melon Monster-ita and Tropical Boo-ze. VIVO Italian Kitchen dishes up Frutti de Mare Pasta and Brain Bender Shot.

This year’s Halloween Horror Nights lineup includes:

  • “The Last of Us” lets guests step into the world of Naughty Dog and PlayStation’s award-winning post-pandemic video game, as they venture alongside characters Joel and Ellie through an overgrown Pittsburgh and survive against Clickers, Hunters and more.
  • “Stranger Things 4” brings season 4 of Netflix’s original series to life, transporting guests to Hawkins, Indiana, where they will encounter the newest villain, Vecna, hell-bent on obliterating the volatile barrier between the Upside Down and the real world in an attempt to reign supreme.
  • Face an evil reawakened in “The Exorcist: Believer,” inspired by Universal Pictures’ terrifying new horror film from Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Entertainment.
  • “Universal Monsters: Unmasked” expands on the Universal Monsters legacy with horror icons The Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Phantom of the Opera and The Hunchback of Notre Dame coming together for the first time in a chilling new story. The haunted house features an original score from GRAMMY® Award-winning musician, SLASH.
  • “Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count,” inspired by the hit USA & SYFY series and cult classic films, features the infamous slasher doll and his best kills throughout the series and films.
  • “Evil Dead Rise” brings guests to a new twisted tale in the Evil Dead franchise, based on New Line Cinema’s 2023 box office hit.
  • “Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America” includes Latin American folklore’s most terrifying ghosts and creatures.
  • “Holidayz in Hell” takes visitors on a petrifying trip through a series of psychotic seasonal celebrations.
  • “Terror Tram…The Exterminatorz” puts guests on the world-renowned Universal backlot and in the middle of an insect uprising led by the devious Larry Larva whose goal is to exterminate humans from planet Earth. Horror fans will also walk along the Jupiter’s Claim set from Nope where they will encounter The Tethered from Us in an epic crossover from two of director Jordan Peele’s epic blockbusters.
  • “Blumhouse: Behind the Screams” is an original concept that showcases a selection of Blumhouse horror films, including the highly anticipated films Five Nights at Freddy’s and The Exorcist: Believer, as well as fan-loving hits like M3GAN and The Black Phone. This unique experience breaks the fourth wall and invites guests to explore these films with an up-close look at authentic film props, costume displays and terrifying character encounters.
  • For the first time, “The Purge: Dangerous Waters” takes the blockbuster film franchise into an entirely new environment…open waters, in an all-new live show. Located within the WaterWorld venue and featuring adrenaline-filled action sequences, stunts, spectacular lighting and laser effects, high fall fire burns and massive explosions, “The Purge: Dangerous Waters” celebrates an evening of anarchy without thought of punishment or fear of retribution.

Halloween Horror Nights runs select nights from now through Tuesday, October 31 at Universal Studios Hollywood and through Saturday, November 4 at Universal Orlando Resort.

Writer in the horror community since 2008. Editor in Chief of Bloody Disgusting. Owns Eli Roth's prop corpse from Piranha 3D. Has four awesome cats. Still plays with toys.

The Further

Salem Horror Fest 2024 Kicks Off With Scream Queen Linnea Quigley and ‘The People’s Joker’ [Event Report]

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From venue changes and the pandemic to political backlash and the threat of litigation, Salem Horror Fest founder and director Kay Lynch has never been one to back down. The festival’s seventh annual event, which kicked off last night at Salem’s Peabody Essex Museum, was further proof of her resilience.

After its original headliner, Hocus Pocus star Kathy Najimy, canceled with less than 48 hours notice, the festival’s entire opening night ceremony was restructured. Tickets, which had sold for $50, were refunded and the program was made free (with the option to make a donation), costing the festival an untold amount of money.

But the show must go on and it did so in spectacular fashion with horror icon Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead, Night of the Demons) sitting down for a live interview, while the Hocus Pocus screening was replaced by The People’s Joker, previously scheduled to be the festival’s closing film.

Kay Lynch

Following a Joker-inspired drag performance from local favorite Miz. Diamond Wigfall that put smiles on the audience’s faces, Lynch took the stage to make her opening remarks. The festival’s resilient leader was quick to address the elephant in the room. “It’s been hard, but when I look around at everything and everyone here, I think, ‘This is way fucking cooler than it would have been,'” she chuckled as the crowd erupted in cheers.

The Faculty of Horror co-host Alexandra West delivered an impassioned keynote address. Perfectly encapsulating Salem Horror’s ethos, she prudently addressed the real-world horrors currently going on in the world while empowering those in attendance. “Those in power have labeled us weirdos, freaks, sluts, trash, perverts, and a whole lot of other words I refuse to use. What I want to impart to everyone in this room is: be a fucking weirdo.” Her rally cry was met with thunderous applause.

Lynch was joined by Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, George A. Romero’s widow and founder of the George A. Romero Foundation, to present the recipients of this year’s GARF Fellowship, which recognizes “up-and-coming filmmakers who embody that DIY, punk-rock spirit that George had” by connecting them with established filmmaker mentors.

Livescreamers director Michelle Iannantuono and Meltdown: A Nuclear Family’s Ascension into Madness director Colton Van Til will receive mentorship from Jenn Wexler (The Ranger, The Sacrifice Game) and Travis Stevens (Girl on the Third Floor, Jakob’s Wife). Lynch also announced the festival’s jury winners: Jasmine J. Johnson’s Inner Demons for Best Short and Rachel Kempf & Nick Toti’s It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This for Best Feature.

Suzanne Desrocher-Romero

Rue Morgue executive editor and Faculty of Horror co-host Andrea Subissati led a brisk, 20-minute conversation with Quigley, covering her journey as a woman in horror from watching Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers with her parents to working with Dan O’Bannon on Return of the Living Dead and beyond. The scream queen cites The Walking Dead as a turning point for the genre’s mainstream respect.

Via a video intro, The People’s Joker director/co-writer/star Vera Drew reminded viewers that the movie is protected by copyright law while poking fun at the situation. It’s no surprise that rights issues plagued the Batman parody’s festival run, but Altered Innocence has brazenly given it a theatrical release.

I expected the film to be outrageous it’s very funny, especially with an audience but I wasn’t prepared for how profound it is. Beyond the manic energy, self-aware absurdity, endearingly crude effects, and animated interludes is a heartfelt, coming-of-age tale exploring queerness. Its core message of being true to oneself is universal, but its representation is particularly important for the trans youth of today.

The Salem Horror Fest team deserves endless commendation for pivoting on such short notice, as does the community for rallying behind it.

The festival continues April 26-28 and May 3-5 at various venues in Salem.

Andrea Subissati & Linnea Quigley

In addition to the aforementioned award winners, programming highlights include George A. Romero’s Resident Evil, a documentary on the master of horror’s unmade adaptation; Carnage for Christmas, from prolific trans filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay; The Monkey, based on Stephen King’s Skeleton Crew short story; Ghost Game, director Jill Gevargizian’s follow-up to The Stylist; and Faceless After Dark, a meta horror tale starring Terrifier‘s Jenna Kanell.

Other features include Black Lake: Director’s Cut, Ghost Game, I Will Never Leave You Alone, It’s Not Paint, The Judgment, Liminal, My Mother’s Eyes, Purgatory Jack, Sigil, Sins of the Father, Sweet Relief, The Vizitant, Welcome Week: A College Horror Anthology, and Young Blondes, Stalked and Murdered.

Salem Horror has teamed with GARF and Coolidge After Midnite for screenings of Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and Land of the Deadat the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline. The former two are digital restorations, while the latter two will be shown on 35mm.

The festival will also host several repertory screenings followed by live podcast recordings: Cat People with Faculty of Horror, The Grudge with Horror Queers, Demon Knight with Girl, That’s Scary & Blerdy Massacre, plus a secret screening presented by Cinematic Void.

There will also be short films (including a selection of Stephen King’s Dollar Babies adaptations), author discussions (with the likes of Christopher Golden, Bracken MacLeod, Kayla Cottingham, Cat Scully, J.W. Ocker, and Alyssa Alessi), filmmaker Q&As, after parties, and more.

Get your tickets for Salem Horror Fest 2024 now.

Miz. Diamond Wigfall

Alexandra West

Kay Lynch & Suzanne Desrocher-Romero

Linnea Quigley

K/XI & Kay Lynch

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