Whenever it comes to a red carpet at a premiere you never know who you’re going to run into. Then again you figure that you would run into Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights creative director John Murdy since his maze “The Thing: Assimilation” is based off the brand new prequel. ShockYa: You’ve been very familiar with “The Thing” remake for awhile now because you took the effects from the film and implemented it into “The Thing: Assimilation” at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. John Murdy: We actually worked with ADI which is the makeup company with award-winning makeup artists Tom (Woodruff) and Alec (Gillis). They let me take every big…

Whether we like to admit it or not, we love to be scared every once in awhile. There’s a fun, jolting thrill about walking down a haunted maze and not knowing what to expect when you turn the corner. Will you see gore that you could only imagine in the sickest corner of your mind? Will a weapon-wielding maniac run after you? Are you anywhere closer to finding the exit and getting out of this nightmare? It’s such a terrifying and exciting rush that keeps plenty of people flocking to theaters watch the latest horror movie or, in this case, attending Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights. For the past few…

Although we did our nice gallery report on Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights maze “Hostel: Hunting Season” doesn’t mean we aren’t curious to know about the other mazes that’ll be terrifying guests in a week’s time. After we were done touring through the Hostel maze, and after I was slightly scared by HHN Creative Director John Murdy at one point, we all made our way outside. I briefly got to converse with one of the main minds behind the horror about “The Thing: Assimilation” and the absolutely terrifying-looking “La Llorona: Villa De Almas Perdidas.” ShockYa: Earlier you were talking about how sometimes there’s certain ideas that don’t work. Did you…

The Universal Studios event “Halloween Horror Nights” has announced another scary experience participants can take part in. The experience, “Terror Tram: Scream 4 Your Life” is based on the latest installment of Wes Craven’s “Scream” series. In the experience, the “Ghostface Killer” of the fictional “Stab” movies within the “Scream” films will be unleashed on the world-famous backlot. Mirroring the “movie within a movie” aspect of the “Scream” movies, the experience will introduce guests to the “Stab” franchise and lead them toward the set of “Stab 8″, which is being “filmed” on the backlot. The element of fantasy clash with the reality of the moment when guests come face-to-face with…

Metal star Alice Cooper is going to be a part of the scary festivities at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights this year. Cooper, who was recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, will have his own themed maze called Alice Cooper: Welcome To My Nightmare. The maze, which is inspired by Cooper’s landmark concept album and its long-awaited sequel “Welcome 2 My Nightmare!”, will feature, according to the press release: [T]rademark elements from Alice Cooper’s celebrated shows, including guillotine decapitations, electric chairs, a sadistic insane asylum, predatory snake and giant Black Widow spiders that have helped make his imagery timeless and indelible. Music will be a powerful…

A few months ago, ShockYa reported on Universal Studios Hollywood’s “Halloween Horror Nights” short film competition. Now, we’re glad to report that the short film competition is now accepting entries! The competition has been open since June 27 and will be accepting entries through August 1. Hopeful filmmakers can submit short films from 90 seconds to three minutes in length on DVD–two copies of each film must be submitted in order to be considered. Films will be judged by horror filmmaker Eli Roth, “Halloween Horror Nights” Creative Director John Murdy and Daily Variety senior writer Marc Graser. The entries will be judged based on storytelling skill, originality and the all-important…

Are you into making scary short films? If so, here’s a contest you might want to take a look at. Universal Studios Hollywood has announced today their “Halloween Horror Nights” short film competition. Contest entries will be accepted from June 27 through August 1 and will be judged by the who’s who in the movie industry– horror filmmaker Eli Roth, Daily Variety senior writer Marc Graser and “Halloween Horror Nights” Creative Director John Murdy. The prizes for the winning short film include $1,000 cash money, a premiere showing on Chiller, a posting on Syfy.com, and a trip for two to “Halloween Horror Nights’” opening night “Eyegore Awards” at Universal Studios…

“90210″ star Shenae Grimes, “Mean Girls” alum Daniel Franzese, actress Amanda Bynes and fellow thespian Blake Lee believed there was strength in numbers as the foursome prepared to take on Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights. Following in the footsteps of other celebrities, such as Elizabeth Taylor and Alec Baldwin, the group became the latest on the list of celebrities to brave the theme park’s frightening annual event. This past weekend, “90210″ star Shenae Grimes, “Mean Girls” alum Daniel Franzese, actress Amanda Bynes and fellow thespian Blake Lee visited Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights. Stay tuned to Shockya.com for the latest from Halloween Horror Nights 2009. (Source: Universal Studios,…

Tonight Universal Halloween Horror Nights will take you “Behind-the-Screams,” now Creative Director & Halloween Horror Night’s “Mastermind” John Murdy will answer YOUR questions LIVE on Stickam this Thursday at 5:30pm PT! Log in and chat about the mazes, gore, freaks and more. What will you ask John? Click Here to participate and be sure to tell them Shockya.com sent ya! New “Halloween Horror Nights” mazes include “Saw: Game Over,” a “live” maze experience based on the “Saw” film franchise, per an agreement among Universal Studios Theme Parks, Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures. The interactive maze, “Halloween: The Life and Crimes of Michael Myers,” will be the first attraction based upon the…

Universal City, California – The “R.I.P. Experience,” a first-class ticket to terror, will offer exclusive tours of historic horror sets located on Universal’s world famous backlot, a private “Terror Tram” excursion and front-of-line entry at all mazes, “scare zones,” rides and attractions that will make “Halloween Horror Nights” for 2009 at Universal Studios Hollywood the most intense and impactful “live” horror event ever to be presented in a theme park environment. Halloween Horror Nights continues on selected dates through October 31. The “R.I.P. Experience” will take groups of up to 15 guests to remote areas of Universal historic backlot aboard a private trolley, where they will disembark the tram and…