Halloween Horror Nights 5 – Before Dark

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - The Invaders scare zone

The Blood Moon has evoked Universal Studios Singapore‘s transformation into a realm haunted by terrors close to home. Witness the impending evil in the HHN5 Before Dark photo reports.


Dejiki.com’s Before Dark series is a day-time photography series documenting the elaborate creative production of Universal Studios Singapore’s blockbuster event in October, Halloween Horror Nights 5. Check out past years’ Before Dark features here.

◂ The Invaders ▸

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - The Invaders scare zone, circular gate

The Invaders is staged in New York zone, which has been the venue for ‘flagship’ scare zones in past editions of HHN. It’s not difficult to see why – the most elaborate effects are done here, along with large sets and props.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - The Invaders scare zone marquee

This year, we have a Portal as the gateway to the area. The entire structure has panels that glow, and appears to be switched on even in the day for testing.


Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - The Invaders scare zone, gate wire detail

Grating on many panels – perhaps the portal could emit theatrical fog.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - The Invaders scare zone, street fence and debris

The street only has a few movable sets for now – it’s a month away after all. A few of these street pieces, which we’ve seen before in past years.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - The Invaders scare zone, magnetic field warning

Magnetic Field.. Now, which movie is this referring to? 😉

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - The Invaders scare zone, dead crow warning

Another hint: Dead crows.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - The Invaders scare zone, mysterious military vehicle

And of course, there’s a military vehicle with a mystery weapon.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - The Invaders scare zone, mysterious military vehicle 2

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - The Invaders scare zone, mysterious military vehicle 3

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - The Invaders scare zone,  caution aliens

Caution. ALIENS! Would we see some of them return from The L.A.B haunted house from last year?

◂ ConTERMINATED ▸

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - ConTERMINATED scare zone, entrance

New York’s Sting Alley will host a scare zone again this year. From what I’ve seen, this will be a hybrid experience like Bogeyman (2014) which means it’s actually an outdoor Haunted House. Whoo! ‘Bonus’ Haunted House!!

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - ConTERMINATED scare zone, entrance 2

The sign.. could be nicer, though.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - ConTERMINATED scare zone, entering

Because of the messy layout of this scare zone, the area is closed off to guests. You’ll understand why when you see the alley later.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - ConTERMINATED scare zone, debris and trash

It’s organised chaos inside. See anything familiar..?

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - ConTERMINATED scare zone, keep away it's a quarantine

The entire area is quarantined for our maximum enjoyment in October.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - ConTERMINATED scare zone, bridge area

New for this year: A raised path forming a bridge of sorts.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - ConTERMINATED scare zone, bridge detail

The park has certainly gone through a lot of trouble to build this.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - ConTERMINATED scare zone, bridge area alternate

With the walkway narrowed, ConTERMINATED will indeed have the Haunted House style of encounter with scare actors. We’ll be trapped in the middle, and scare actors can get to us on both sides. And we’ll need to move in one direction. It won’t be as open as the other scare zones.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - ConTERMINATED scare zone, raised platform detail

You can see how high this ‘platform’ actually is. Other than hiding the cables running across the actual floor, what would be the unique scare element here?

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - ConTERMINATED scare zone, trash mountain

At the far end, there’s this gigantic mountain of trash. There’s a small door at the side for scare actors.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - ConTERMINATED scare zone, trash mountain 2

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - ConTERMINATED scare zone, trash mountain detail

◂ Hungry Ghosts ▸

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - Hungry Ghosts scare zone, overview of Jurassic Park

Last night’s the real Hungry Ghost Festival (15th day of the Seventh Month, lunar calendar), but for HHN5, you’ll get to experience Hungry Ghosts continuously, thanks to the Blood Moon. Yes, that night will keep repeating in USS. The nightmare won’t end until dawn the park closes at 12:30am (1:30am for select nights).

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - Hungry Ghosts scare zone, marquee

The Hell House, as an official partner to the village of Hungry Ghosts, is a one-stop shop for offerings, joss papers and papier-mâché craft kits. You can get your seventh month supplies there, but not all kinds of money are accepted. Certainly not your SG50 Commemorative Notes.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - Hungry Ghosts scare zone, this way to HELL HOUSE

Both Hungry Ghosts marquee signs state ‘this way to Hell House’, hinting that the entrance to Hell House might be inside Jurassic Park this time. For the past few years, the entrance is always at the empty area between Jurassic Park and Ancient Egypt, because the haunted house is really sandwiched between those two zones. USS would build a unique gate to lead guests into the house, which is done for Songs of Death (2013) and MATI CAMP (2014).

As there’s no mention of The MRT haunted house, it is likely that the park would have it completely separate from this scare zone. That means it’s HHN pre-2013 style, where the entrance and exit is at Waterworld. After all, the story of The MRT revolves around a Malay cemetery, while Hungry Ghosts takes place in a village (that could be a Chinese cemetery). So many cemeteries. If only Whittemore Graveyard is part of this year’s HHN5 – we’ll be getting all our scares from beyond the grave.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - Hungry Ghosts scare zone, movable walls

For now, there’s a lot of movable walls and large props covered.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - Hungry Ghosts scare zone, behind movable walls

But some things… can be quite obvious.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - Hungry Ghosts scare zone, Chinese tombstones

Oh dear, these are not those really creepy old-style Chinese tombstones… or are they?

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - Hungry Ghosts scare zone, everything's wrapped

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - Hungry Ghosts scare zone, mystery cylinder

◂ Haunted Houses ▸

It’s a month away but it looks like most of the scare zones are at least a third done. We can assume the same for the haunted houses too, as the park needs sets to produce promotional materials.

Reminder: For your own safety, please do not trespass and enter the park’s back of house areas.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - HELL HOUSE paper facade for haunted house

Wow! Hell House will indeed have a life-sized ‘paper house’ as part of its design. It looks so amazing from far away – I guess the HHN5 team is working towards Songs of Death (2013) level of realism. It’ll be a dream for me (and nightmare for some) to explore and document this haunted house in its entirety.

Universal Studios Singapore - Halloween Horror Nights 5 Before Dark Day Photo Report 1 - TUNNEL PEOPLE haunted house overview

Tunnel People looks far darker than before. Curtains were added to surround this house (it’s built below an open sheltered area. It’s going to be really dark. Please don’t wear your flashing headbands inside, okay?


More updates in the next issue of BEFORE DARK…

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The Blood Moon is coming. Are you brave enough?

Get all the event and ticketing information on Halloween Horror Nights 5 at the Halloween Horror Nights 5 REVEALED post.



Halloween Horror Nights 12 (2024)
HHN12 REVEALED: Ticket and Event Guide
HHN12 MEGA REVIEW: Photo Tour of all haunted houses, scare zones, shows and Special Experience

Special Features
Under The Castle by TEAM WANG design | Netflix's Sweet Home
Cursed Scrolls: Dynasty of Darkness

HHN12 BEFORE DARK: Day Tour of Halloween Horror Nights 12 setup

Universal Beijing Resort (UBR) 2024
Scares @ Universal 2024 Event Guide

Halloween Horror Nights – The Archives
Click to Expand and see all posts from past Halloween Horror Nights


Halloween Horror Nights 11 (2023)
HHN11 REVEALED: Ticket and Event Guide
Sneak Preview: DIYU: Descent Into Hell, Rebirth of the Matriarch, Icons and more
Halloween Horror Nights 11 MEGA Review: Photos of all Haunted Houses and Scare Zones
HHN11 RIP TOUR (VIP Tour) Review

Features on Haunted Houses, Scare Zones and Experiences
Grimm Encounters | The Weeknd: After Hours Til Dawn Nightmare
Judgement Day (Opening Scaremony) | Netflix's All of Us Are Dead
DIYU: Descent Into Hell | Rebirth of the Matriarch
Dead Man's Wharf | The Cursed Kiramam
The Hacker + The Hacker: GAME OVER

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Halloween Horror Nights 2023/ HAHAHA! Halloween Party! Event Guide

Halloween Horror Nights 10 (2022)
HHN10 REVEALED: Ticket and Event Guide
Halloween Horror Nights 10 MEGA Review: Photos of all Haunted Houses and Scare Zones
SPECIAL FEATURE: Behind the Scenes at HHN10 Haunted Houses
HHN10 RIP Tour (VIP Tour) Review

Features on Haunted Houses, Scare Zones and Experiences
The Silenced Auction (Opening Scaremony) | DIE-ning with The Dead | Monsters & Manifestations
Escape The Breakout | Killustrator: The Final Chapter | Hospitality of Horror
Operation: Dead Force | The Hunt for Pontianak | Dark Zodiac

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) 2022
USJ Halloween Horror Nights 2022 Review and Photo Tour

Trick or Thrills (2021)
Halloween Horror Nights Exhibition
2021 Day and Night Halloween: DIE-ning with the Dead, Universal Monsters Scream Alley | Zany Zombies and IT'S SHOWTIME! Premium Experience

Halloween Horror Nights 9 (2019)
HHN9 REVEALED: Ticket and Event Guide

Halloween Horror Nights 9 MEGA REVIEW
SURVIVAL GUIDE for Halloween Horror Nights 9
HHN9 RIP Experience (VIP Tour)

Features on Haunted Houses, Scare Zones and Experiences
The Chalet Hauntings Revisited | Spirit Dolls | Hell Block 9
Curse of The Naga Revisited | Twisted Clown University
Dead End | Death Fest + Death Fest LIVE
2019 Opening Scaremony (The Undertaker)

SNEAK PREVIEW: Curse of The Naga | The Chalet Hauntings | Behind The Scenes of HHN9
HHN9 Construction Updates (BEFORE DARK)
Part 1 | Part 2 (with Daytime Halloween event) | Part 3 (Horror Truck) | Part 4


Universal Studios Japan (USJ) 2019
Universal Surprise Halloween/ Halloween Horror Nights 2019 Event Guide

Halloween Horror Nights 8 (2018)


Universal Studios Japan (USJ) 2018
Universal Surprise Halloween/ Halloween Horror Nights 2018 Event Guide | 2018 HHN Japan Review

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Japan (2017)


Halloween Horror Nights 7 (2017)

Halloween Horror Nights 6 (2016)


Halloween Horror Nights 5 (2015)

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Halloween Horror Nights

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