Halloween Horror Nights 8 – Before Dark 2

By Dejiki on September 3, 2018 in Attractions, Halloween Horror Nights, Theme Parks

In this week’s BEFORE DARK: Halloween Horror Nights update: Cannibal scare zone, Stranger Things merchandise, Sesame Street Halloween show, and more!

Opening Scaremony show setup

The screen in the middle of Hollywood is back.

It’s looking grim as Eight Lake Psychiatric Hospital is starting to take shape here.

The show will use these large displays to conjure frightening images of (Infinite) Fear.

On both ends of the stage, there are large hanging structures for moving lights.

This section of the street around the left set of lights, leading to Madagascar, was blocked off. Mysterious.

Cannibal

Lots of new things have appeared at Ancient Egypt this week.

Cages, trees, stone pillars, and several covered items.

Just a few more things added to the Blood & Bones show stage.

The props extend all the way to the far end of Ancient Egypt, almost reaching Jurassic Park. I suppose these are “victims” of the Cannibal tribe. If you look carefully, you can see skeletons.

What are in the vats?

And these stacks?

Looks like these are piles of skeleton heads.

Zombie Laser Tag

Works have commenced for the entrance to the Zombie Laser Tag (ZLT) zone.

I found out recently that this year’s capacity for ZLT is managed differently. There will be multiple teams going through this attraction during each timeslot, which means that more park guests can experience this attraction as compared to last year where slots sell out so quickly.

Nothing major in the zone itself, apart from these covered props, which looks like pallets and crates.

HHN8 Stranger Things merchandise

Universal Orlando has recently announced some of the merchandise that will be available at their Horror Nights event. Some of the items will be sold worldwide, and they are the Halloween Horror Nights 2018 Stranger Things T-Shirt and the Stranger Things Lanyard.

Edit: The T-shirt is now on sale in Singapore for $30. As for the lanyard, it may be limited to bundles.

The Smartphone cover shown here may not be available in Singapore.

Mysteries of the Pagoda of Peril

Last week, Resorts World Sentosa released their newest HHN8 short film, Pagoda of Peril!

Unlike the first two cinematic shorts, the Pagoda of Peril is an animation. The character known as ‘Ai‘ narrates her tale, and is shown walking through her house, around the Pagoda of Peril, through Hellish Realms, before ending back outside her house again.

The Pagoda of Peril is a prison, most likely in Hell, where trapped souls are tormented for eternity. So we can interpret that in the film, Ai is “reliving” her guilt, and the actions that led to her death (and likely, her husband). Discovering her husband’s affair (with the daughter-in-law – shock!) made her decide to “leave the stove on”, and that burned the house down. She is forced to go through those horrible memories over again, in an endless cycle, because she is trapped in the Pagoda of Peril.

Or… what do you think is the story here?

My first reaction to this video? It looks like a tribute to the 返校 (Detention) video game developed by Red Candle Games. AMIEN, the creators of Pagoda of Peril! short, shared online that they were inspired by that video game. It seems like they did a bit more than adapt the art and storytelling. The plot of Detention fits in nicely with the concept of the Pagoda of Peril, too, because the main character is also trapped in a hellish cycle.

Bonus HHN8 Backstage: YIN DEMON

Since we’re talking about the Pagoda of Peril, have a behind-the-scenes look at how the Yin Demon icon is brought to life by makeup and costume specialists at Universal Studios Singapore.

It all begins with this full face mask for the Yin Demon’s skeletal visage.

Makeup is put on to blend the mask to the performer’s face.

The Yin Demon has one of the most elaborate costumes for a HHN character. The performer wears a textured bodysuit, with shredded fabric, to create a ghost-like look when he moves.

It’s not easy to put the armour on, with as many as three specialists helping each other out.

Then, final adjustments on the most outstanding feature: The Ring of Fire.

Trick or Treat with Sesame Street 2018

The Count is back, for Halloween season only! That’s right, Trick or Treat with Sesame Street has returned to Pantages Hollywood Theater, from now till 1 Nov 2018.

This year’s production has a different stage setup – the 3D scenes are replaced with simpler, flat sets. Large vertical displays are introduced this year. And oh, the stage has a portion in the middle that extends out into the audience. Maybe these changes were done because the theatre will be used for Dead Talks during Halloween Horror Nights 8.