Here we are. Halloween Horror Nights XXIV is almost upon us. The speculation has ended and all has been revealed. First and foremost, I would like to say that I really like the lineup for this year's event. While some fanboys may bitch about the IP's, I really like the choice of IP's they made. A few are favorites asked by fans from the dark recesses of their minds, others are popular, and some are risky unknowns. There's a lot of variety in the choices of IP's; perhaps not necessarily in the content, but variety in terms of the properties. Somebody is bound to like at least one of the properties.
    Some of you that have followed me in the past, know that I used to do video vlogs. I don't do those anymore, so you get good old fashioned writing instead. We will do this the same way; from least anticipated, to most anticipated. I will also list the Scare Zones as well, but keep in mind that there may also be an "unofficial" Scare Zone that isn't listed in the grand scheme of things.
    Overall though, I think this is shaping up to be a strong year. It can go very good, or very bad. Time will tell.

    While I think this has some great potential, I at this moment, don't see how this can translate into a House very well. I do love the Dracula character, he is one of my favorites. However, I still don't see anything real creepy, or scary in the trailers to the film. Perhaps, they are just holding back the horror elements in the trailers to take advantage of the current Fantasy/Game of Thrones craze. Still, I just don't see it. One thing I do like, is not knowing that much about the House, or film. It's almost like going into an Original concept House. We just don't know, which I think is cool.

    Let's make something perfectly clear: I hate this show. I am a former watcher who gave up two seasons ago. I hate the characters, I hate the story lines, I hate the pacing, I just hate everything about this thing. I am NOT one of these Walking Dead HHN fanboys, who cries bloody murder because it is at the event. I honestly don't mind it at the event. I actually quite liked the House last year, and I thought they did a good job of erasing the memory of the HORRIBLE House from HHN XXII. I'm also one of the few people who didn't mind the streets either. I'm interested to see how they do what should be, The Walking Dead's swan song. It's the largest and longest House ever constructed at Halloween Horror Nights. It has the largest cast ever assembled in a House. It has some mighty big promises to fulfill, and I'm looking forward to see how it's executed.

    I was never a fan of the original From Dusk Till Dawn film. I recently went back and re-watched it because I hadn't seen it in a long time. I just recently finished watching the show on Netflix and I have to say after watching the series, it raised my interest on the House a bit. Again, I think this House has a lot of potential, but I think content will hold it back a little bit. There's some racy stuff happening in the original film, and while the show isn't as bad, it still has some very adult content. I foresee some issues. The content was ONE of the reasons why this House was on and off during the planning stages. One such issue, involved the main setting and a certain part of the female anatomy. We already know the bar has dropped that certain part of the female anatomy in its name. Things will probably be really watered down, which is a shame. However, I'm still really interested to see how they pull this one off.

    I love paranormal stuff. I loved Unexplained stuff. I love myths and legends. One of the stories that fascinated me as kid, was the "lost colony of Roanoke". When the rumors started popping up about this one, I was curious as to how, and what they would do. When I received confirmation about the House, I started to get drips and drabs of information about what they plan to do in here. I was greatly excited about what I heard. This is the most interesting House for me. I genuinely don't know what to expect with the execution here. Throw in the rumored Wendigo, and you have a recipe for awesomeness.

    Initially, I was super excited about this one. The description of what is transpiring in this House, is delightfully horrible and twisted. Kidnapped people are being transformed into evil clowns- in the most horrific of ways. Sounds awesome. When I started to hear about how short this House will be (the shortest in HHN history), my excitement diminished. Last year, Havoc: Derailed was the shortest, but I quite liked Derailed. It was short and sweet. Perhaps, HHN can pull something off that is amazing despite the length, but you never know. Still, I love the promise of some of the horrific visuals that may await us in this House. And the name is awesome. 

    Some dolls are creepy. One of the themes running throughout the original Houses this year, is creepy. Every concept is just creepy. The description of this House is just insane. There's a part of me that believes they can't live up to what they're building this thing up as. I hope they can. I'm also interested to see if they can continue the trend, of really elaborate Houses in the Sprung Tents. Early facade pics I have seen, indicate something really cool. I've also heard some people complaining about the name. I love the name. Dollhouse of the Damned has a great ring to it. It's eerie, and has an old fashioned cheese at the same time.

    Finally. Michael Myers gets his own House. Literally. They saved the announcement for last, even though the secret was out very early on. People got glimpses of the Myers House facade on the opening day of Diagon Alley, someone leaked the information on the official Halloween movies social media pages, and Publix put out their HHN display. Kind of sucks when you consider that for all intents and purposes, this was supposed to be a biggie. If not THE biggie. Halloween has been asked to come to the event in its own House for A LONG TIME. Yes, we've had glimpses of that white William Shatner mask in the past, but they were just glimpses. Halloween is quite simply, a classic and deserves its time to shine at HHN Orlando. I can not wait to see what they do in here. Even if I just hear the music, I'll be happy. 

    Alien is a House I've wanted myself for a long time. After last year's An American Werewolf in London, the idea of having Alien being brought to life with the same puppetry that was showcased in that House, makes me giddy. The possibilities of this House, are tremendous. There's so much awesomeness in the potential here, but I will admit, also so much potential to fail. When I first heard this would be Alien VS Predator, I kind of didn't care. I just wanted an Alien House; combine that with just how shitty the AVP films are, and I was even less excited. However, it's nice to know that HHN will be doing their own spin on the AVP franchise. It seems like they are taking elements from a few different pieces of media. I love both characters a lot, and I simply can not wait to come face-to-face with these baddies in person. Please don't let me down!

     It's not that I don't care, I just don't dig on the show as much as some people. The concept here sounds interesting, but it also sounds a bit too throw away for my taste. Given some of the criticism HHN has received about their make-up in recent years, and given how intricate some of the make-up is in the show, I just don't know. Perhaps they will step up their game this year, but for now, I will reserve my excitement until I see it in person. 

    This Zone both intrigues me and scares me. I think the concept is extremely creepy (there's that word again). However, if it is anything like Blood Masquerade from a few years ago, then, well... That one wasn't very good. Let's hope they pull it off.

    I consider the first film in The Purge franchise, to be one of the worst films ever made. I did not see the second film on principle. Perhaps, I may have to check it out eventually, before the event, but just the concept alone is perfect for a Scare Zone. As of this writing, props are being put up in the New York streets. Not only will this truly encompass all of the New York section of the park, the props aren't too shabby either. I am genuine interested to see how they do this.

    This just sounds amazingly awesome. Voodoo Priestesses, human sacrifices, SNAKES... I'm there with bells on. 'Nuff said.

    There you have it. Not going to do the shows, as they are pretty self explanatory. Bill & Ted always comes before any other show, even if it really hasn't been very funny in years. Last year came close though.

    Just a few short weeks to go...

    Well, after a few leaks, the worst kept secret of HHN XXIV is official: John Carpenter's classic Halloween is making its way to HHN XXIV! Mike Aiello even made light of the recent Publix leak, by posing for the picture below a few days ago. It's happening! Officially!

    Busy night here at HHN Legacy. These are a few prop pics from The Purge: Anarchy. Enjoy!

   
    The powers that be at HHN XXIV, decided it best to reveal THREE Houses this morning, and they are all original properties.

DOLLHOUSE OF THE DAMNED

From the Universal blog:

    "The word to keep in mind here is ‘juxtaposition.’ When you walk into the house, you find yourself in this old-time morgue. But this little girl has set up shop and now it’s her playhouse. She’s torturing people in there. So you’re taking the sweetness of the dollhouse and childhood and combining it with something completely sinister. That theme remains throughout the maze. Another phrase we use is ‘forced integration.’ You’ll see characters with porcelain doll masks that have been smashed into their faces, and now they’re permanent. They’re victims of this twisted amalgamation. It’s really creepy."

GIGGLES & GORE INC.

From the Universal Blog:

    "So, we asked ourselves, where do evil clowns come from? And we discovered evil clowns are not born, they’re made. It’s an actual process. We all know that there are countless unsolved disappearances across the country. Where do these people end up? In the clown factory, being stretched, smashed and eviscerated.

Faces are peeled off and voice boxes are torn out. Victims are dropped into a wood chipper, and the gunk that comes out is shoved into other people to create these massive, nasty stuffed clowns.

Toward the end, you encounter the most evil of all evil clowns: The Discarded. These are the surviving clowns that have been cast down for being too dangerous to exist, even with other evil clowns."

ROANOKE: CANNIBAL COLONY

From the Uuiversal Blog:

    "The year was 1587. It was one of the first settlements of the colonial era. The people living here were expecting supplies from Europe, but there was a war going on so they couldn’t make the voyage. Three years later, when the supply ship finally arrived, everyone was gone…except the deranged cannibals who’d managed to survive by eating their fellow settlers. As a guest, you’re fighting you’re way through this chaotic gauntlet of flesh-hungry man-eaters. What’s cool about the set is that Karen, our décor guru, has traveled up to Virginia to some of these historic settlements and brought back photos for us to use as visual reference. So, the scenery you’re observing throughout the maze is all pulled straight from theses real-life settlements."

Also announced, are two all new Scare Zones: MASKerade: Unstitched and Bayou of Blood.

MASKERADE: UNSTITCHED

From the Universal Blog:

    "The whole concept is that these people are trapped in an old time period—their skin is falling off, they have stitched their skin back to their faces, but much of it is still peeling off. What I love about the concept is that it is like you’re entering this really surreal dance, but it is very terrifying at the same time. There is wax holding their skin on, some are sewing their skin back on but they are doing it very poorly, and there are some whose skin is still detached."

BAYOU OF BLOOD

From the Universal Blog:

    "Our high priestess is crazy-evil and in a trance, doing numerous spells and sacrifices to get the ultimate power in her. Because she has made these sacrifices, many other voodoo practitioners in the area have come and they are squatting outside of her shack. They feel if they make sacrifices to her, they will get some of that power when she makes the ultimate sacrifice."

    Even though Dracula Untold doesn't hit theaters until mid-October, HHN will present the property at HHN XXIV. The film will follow The Impaler, and sheds some light as to how, and why, he became the blood-sucking vampire that we all know. Mike Aiello said via Twitter that Dracula Untold will be constructed in one of the Soundstages. He also said: "Frankly, in a pop culture world inundated with glittering, soap opera vamps, seeing a version of Dracula wreaking some havoc is refreshing!"
    Aiello also likened bringing the property to the event, even though it doesn't open in theaters until October, to 2009's Wolfman House. He called Dracula Untold, a "living preview" of the film. Dracula Untold will also be coming to HHN Hollywood.