Sneak Peek Tour: Halloween Horror Nights’ Clowns 3D & The Walking Dead

It’s that time of year again when Shock Till You Drop gets to visit Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights for a sneak peek at what they have in store. This year, as with previous, we got to tour two of the mazes in detail. We have a look at the latest The Walking Dead maze as well as an all new, original maze entitled Clowns 3D with music by Slash.

Our first stop took us to a twisted clown with rolling eyes and a mouth as a doorway. This was the entrance for “Clowns 3D”. Halloween Horror Night mastermind John Murdy met up with us there and showed us a hint of what we would be in for. The story is twisted. There was this ice cream emporium that had a funhouse, but as time went on, people stopped coming, they don’t like clowns anymore. So the owners have fallen on hard times and need to find a way to drive up business once again.

So they have a sign that says: “Free ice cream!” This is basically a tourist trap for a family of clowns led by Sweet Licks the clown. The goal? To lure people in, kill them, and turn them into ice cream. Yep. Not only does this maze have a creepy set up, but a great score too, courtesy of legendary guitarist Slash. When asked how he came on board, Murdy had this to say…

“One night I was in the park and I got a call from our VIP folks who said Slash is here. He’d like to meet you,” explained Murdy. “So I hooked up with Slash and took him through the park. When I got to Black Sabbath, he said ‘This is the coolest thing he’d ever seen. How do we work together?’ So right after we settled on this (clowns), I got a call from Slash saying “I really want to do something.”

“Our slate was locked. We had already settled on this and written this whole treatment,” Murdy continued. “I told him I have an idea: ‘Why don’t you score the maze? We’ve never really done that before where we’ve had a famous rock icon score a maze like you’d score a movie.’ I sent him the treatment and he responded right away. “Oh my God, I love this, I’m in. In fact, I’m in the studio right now and I already have an idea. I’m gonna start writing it.” That’s the way it’s been the whole time. Slash is just so passionate.”

Moving right along, we headed to the Universal backlot and the latest chapter in their The Walking Dead series. The Walking Dead: The End of the Line. As with the previous Walking Dead mazes, this year’s maze is based on the previous season’s story arc. This year will take you though the battle-torn prison following the Governor’s Assault, the following sickness, the Big Spot store, the funeral home, and finally, the road to Terminus.  I like to think of it as a walk through recap of the season in anticipation of the new season starting up. Everything is recreated from the show including some of the standout zombies like Moss Walker and the infected zombies. And speaking of the zombie recreations, John Murdy touched on FX legend and Walking Dead producer Greg Nicotero’s involvement with HHN most popular property.

“Greg looks at every single make-up we do. He gives us notes, there is nothing we do make-up wise that Greg does touch in some way, shape, or form. He’s very, very involved.”

His involvement shows in the detail that surrounds you as you walk these mazes. It is literally like walking through the sets and that is what makes Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights so cool. It’s unlike anything else out there. You’ll have a chance to explore these mazes and so many more when the gates open for this year’s event, beginning September 19th.