The region’s ultimate Halloween event is back! Discover Halloween Horror Nights 9‘s haunted houses, scare zones and shows in this review!
The Halloween Horror Nights 9 Mega Review
This year’s line-up has exceeded my expectations, with each haunted house strongly evoking a certain fear for maximum frights. Outside of houses, the two scare zones lie on opposite ends – one is visually and (audibly) excessive, the other is unsettling with its ritualistic silence. The event tops off with two amazing shows that will amuse and enthrall. So get ready, there’s 9 different things to experience this year!
Note: This is a developing story. Better photos and more content may be added when available.
Shortcuts
Haunted Houses | Scare Zones | Shows
HHN9 Haunted Houses review
Haunted Houses are walkthrough attractions with special effects and performers.
Curse of The Naga
The flagship house for 2019 is definitely the Curse of the Naga. Developed in collaboration with Thai horror film directors Parkpoom Wongpoom and Paween Purijitpany, this house will transport you to Thailand, where you will fall under effects of the curse, and feel the wrath of The Naga.
Curse of the Naga’s incredible scenic design makes it feel like you are in an exotic, supernatural adventure. And it begins at a night market in Thailand.
After drinking snake blood from a dubious drink stall, you pass out and wake up in a strange jungle. Your journey to escape from the curse brings you to a village ravaged by the Naga’s wrath.
The Naga is believed to be a guardian spirit, but humans have taken and consumed too much that she is taking revenge. Along the way, you will meet victims and servants of the Naga.
Victims are drained and skinned – just to name a few.
The path to redemption (or condemnation) leads you to Naga’s Temple, where you will face the giant serpent herself, with her guards and assistants in attendance.
House entrance location: between Hollywood and New York
Presentation: ★★★★★★★
Horror Level: ★★★★★
Hell Block 9
Under the control of the ruthless Executioner, life at Hell Block 9 has been tumultuous for its prisoners.
Even before you enter the prison, you might be assaulted – by some harsh words from the prison warden.
Inside the cells, you will meet many tough guys who may drive you to your end. Don’t expect a warm welcome, or any welcome. Most of them just want you to get out.
You will also get to experience first hand, the dark and squalid state of the prison complex.
This haunted house is filled with scenes depicting graphic violence. Supposedly, every 45 minutes a certain “riot” happens at the prison. Be warned.
There’s only one definite way out of this Hellish prison.
House entrance location: New York, beside Death Fest stage
Presentation: ★★★★★
Horror Level: ★★★★★★
Spirit Dolls
Feel your heart pound as you step inside this disturbing house filled with dolls – of all sizes and creepiness.
Inspired by the real-life (supposedly not that haunted) village of Nagoro in Japan, the famous ‘Valley of the Dolls’ is given a Horror Nights twist.
Walk inside this house with absolute caution. Don’t blink or look away from the dolls. They might… move.
One particular doll is behind all the horrors. This real Yumi doll can be found in her room, surrounded by toys. Legend has it that her parents, grief-stricken by her death, resorted to using black magic to keep her spirit within her favourite doll – that looks just like her.
Unfortunately the ritual backfired. Yumi returned as a vengeful spirit and went on a killing rampage around the village.
HHN fans may recognise some familiar sights from last year’s Japanese house, but Spirit Dolls offer much more immersive and expansive scenes. The misty bridge being one of the highlights.
Would you be able to uncover the truth behind the Spirit Dolls?
NEW! See more photos of this house in the feature article on Spirit Dolls →
House entrance location: between Ancient Egypt and Sci-Fi City
Presentation: ★★★★★
Horror Level: ★★★★★
The Chalet Hauntings
Most Singaporeans have had the chance to stay in, or at least been to, some sort of crummy, spooky chalet. This year’s locally themed haunted house will let you relive paranormal experiences from your younger days.
The rooms look very real with a lot of attention paid to furniture and props. Yes, all the ugly furniture and horrible fittings.
After stepping through a portal, the unseen horrors haunting the chalet comes to light.
Starring ghosts from the Southeast Asian region, the hauntings intensify with increasing manifestations of scary demons and spirits.
The second half is much more mysterious, with numerous effects that trigger many senses. Even the walking around feels uneasy with an unseen force pulling you back in every step.
Reality seems to break apart at journey’s end. Hopefully you can return in one piece.
NEW! See more photos in the new haunted house feature article on The Chalet Hauntings →
House entrance location: between Jurassic Park and Ancient Egypt
Presentation: ★★★★★
Horror Level: ★★★★★★
Twisted Clown University
If you have the fear of clowns, schools, and failure – then this is the right place for you. Twisted Clown University combines all that, and more.
This abandoned carnival is now a school for killer clowns – and most of the students seem unwilling enrolled.
What I enjoyed the most here is how the spaces are full of colour and effects. Like past houses built at the Waterworld queue, more unusual scenes and spacious sets are built.
There are also surprises in every room, and throughout your walk around the University, you get to step “outside” of the carnival tents before finding another way in.
So will you pass, or fail your studies?
House entrance location: Waterworld
Presentation: ★★★★★★
Horror Level: ★★★★★
HHN9 Scare Zones review
Scare zones are open, dynamic walkthrough areas where performers and guests may roam freely.
Death Fest
Death metal has landed at Universal Studios Singapore, with the Death Trap band performing at Halloween Horror Nights for the first time. New York is transformed into a grisly music festival site.
Since this is a huge event, the festival has drawn in throngs of fans dying to meet Savage and the other members of the band.
Watch out as you explore the smaller stages along the street. Especially if you’re not into surprising bouts of rock music.
With its bright lights, excessive effects and ardent festival attendees, Death Fest looks to be an effective scare zone that’ll be popular for Instagram. However, the entire zone becomes something quite different during Death Fest LIVE (more on that below).
Location: New York zone
Presentation: ★★★★★
Horror Level: ★★★★☆
Dead End
Jurassic Park’s creepy jungle now leads into the Dead End, a place between the realms of the living and the dead.
Dark and mysterious, the Dead End is filled with very unsettling props.
Strange people and creatures are slowly roaming around in the shadows.
Many funeral rites are being practiced here – from mummification to burials. Often with a sinister twist.
If you have been paying attention, you’d realise that the hooded people have lost something, which explains why they are prowling the Dead End.
Raven-like creatures hide in one section of Dead End – ready to hunt for their next victim.
Location: Jurassic Park zone
Presentation: ★★★★☆
Horror Level: ★★★★★
HHN9 Shows review
Death Fest LIVE
To celebrating his release from Hell Block 9, Savage – the lead singer of Death Trap, will go on a park-wide procession.
This show starts and ends at New York, with the entourage departing towards Sci-Fi City.
Savage returns to an overwhelming welcome by his die-hard fanatics and maniacs. Be at Death Fest early to get into the mosh pit!
Charged with dazzling stage effects, loud music, a high-flying aerial act, and lots of pyrotechnics, this show is not to be missed!
Location: Starts at New York, towards Sci-Fi City
Presentation: ★★★★★
Horror Level: ★★☆☆☆
Skin & Bones
Catch the comedy duo from the Underworld, Skin and Bones, in this all-new show at Pantages Hollywood Theater.
Unafraid to poke fun at itself (and Halloween Horror Nights), the show is a racket. Notably, the pacing and writing are excellent – it doesn’t try too hard to impress, unlike the past years’ shows: Laboratorium and Dead Talks. It’s just about two (dead) guys trying to put on a good show together, and the tiny struggles along the way.
The show has a mix of 80s sitcoms’ light-heartedness, off-beat humour, and some dark twists. Throw in a couple of quick dance segments, and even cheesy commercials along the way.
There are elements that HHN fans (especially those from US parks) may find familiar, but these are quite new to the local audience.
The final act of Skin & Bones stars ‘The Devil’, who brings to the show a few death-defying tricks.
Location: Pantages Hollywood Theater
Presentation: ★★★★★
Horror Level: ★★☆☆☆
Opening Scaremony
This year’s Opening Scaremony is taking place in the New York zone for the first time.
A solemn service takes a grave turn when the Undertaker drops in, declaring that “there is no better place” after death.
With his supernatural powers, the Undertaker summons Yumi, who breaks out of the coffin. The other innocent folks are transformed into this year’s icons of horror.
Declaring the event open, the icons quickly depart and the zone shifts into Death Fest, the deadliest death metal music festival of all time.
Given the location of this year’s stage, it can be quite hard to get a good view of the show. Those further behind will have to watch from the screen at the edge of the Death Fest zone.
While I’m not a fan of lengthy, draggy opening acts, I felt that this year’s show was a bit too abrupt, especially after the icons appear. The inherent drama of the icons’ entrance (and the event’s classic welcome liner, plus Power Glove) is lost, as the other characters from Death Fest also appear almost at the same time. I guess there is a need to quickly transit the zone into Death Fest mode, for crowd control and creative reasons.
NEW! See more photos of the show in the 2019 Opening Scaremony article →
Location: New York zone
Presentation: ★★★★☆
Horror Level: ★★☆☆☆
Halloween Horror Nights 9: Select Nights 27 Sep – 31 Oct
Prepare for the event: Get all the info here
You can get all essential info you need at my Halloween Horror Nights 9 Event Guide.
Get more HHN9 updates
More photos from the haunted houses will be published on my Instagram (@dejiki) and on this website as special features. Follow me on Facebook for updates.
Note: This is a developing story and more photos may be added. The review is based on the preview nights. Your experience at the park may vary, depending on dynamic park crowd conditions and creative adjustments.
Additional Photography by Giselle.
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Halloween Horror Nights 2023/ HAHAHA! Halloween Party! Event Guide
Halloween Horror Nights – The Archives
Click to Expand and see all posts from past Halloween Horror Nights
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
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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
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USJ Halloween Horror Nights 2022 Review and Photo Tour
Trick or Thrills (2021)
Halloween Horror Nights Exhibition
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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)
Meet the Killuminati / The Ceremonial Sacrifice (HHN8 press conference)
HHN8 Construction Updates (BEFORE DARK): Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
FIRST LOOK: Stranger Things haunted house with Behind the scenes tour
Halloween Horror Nights 8 COMPLETE REVIEW
SURVIVAL GUIDE: HHN8 Tips, Strategies and Secrets
HHN8 RIP (VIP) TOUR and Behind the Screams (BTS) Tour review
Features on Haunted Houses, Scare Zones and Experiences
INFINITE FEAR Opening Scaremony show | Zombie Laser Tag 2018
Pagoda of Peril | The Haunting of Oiwa | Stranger Things | Pontianak | Killuminati
Apocalypse: Earth | Cannibal
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)
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HHN7 MasterCard Priceless Experience (Overnight Survival Camp)
Inside The Mind | DEATH Mall | Make The Cut | TERROR-Cotta Empress | HEX
Happy Horror Days | Pilgrimage of Sin
Slit Face Girls - Slice of Life Tour | 2017 Opening Scaremony
Pre-Event Feature Stories
Before Dark ZERO: Scare actor auditions
Before Dark 1 | Before Dark 2 | Before Dark 3 | Before Dark 4 | Before Dark 5
Halloween Horror Nights 6 (2016)
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Sneak Preview to Halloween Horror Nights 6
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HHN6 SURVIVAL GUIDE 2016
HHN6 RIP Tour Review | HHN6 Behind The Screams (BTS) Tour
Features on Haunted Houses and Scare Zones
HHN6 Opening Scaremony Show
Hawker Centre Massacre | Salem Witch House
Bodies of Work | Old Changi Hospital | Hu Li's Inn
Jack's Recurring Nightmare Circus
Suicide Forest | March of the Dead | Death March (Night Parade)
Five Nights... at HHN6 (Final Cut)
Halloween Horror Nights 5 (2015)
Before Dark 1 | Before Dark 2 | Before Dark 3 | Before Dark 4 | Before Dark 5
Halloween Horror Nights 5 Sneak Preview
Halloween Horror Nights 5 REVIEW
Tips & Tricks: Halloween Horror Night 5 Survival Guide
HHN5 RIP Tour and BTS Tour Experience and Review
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The Blood Moon (HHN5 Opening Scaremony) and HHN5 Icons
Tunnel People (Dark House) | True Singapore Ghost Stories: The MRT
Hell House (Paper House) | Siloso Gateway Block 50 (Haunted HDB)
ConTERMINATED | Hungry Ghosts | The Invaders
Bonus Feature: Halloween Horror Nights 5 Final Cut
#1 - It's Not Over | #2 - Memento Mori | #3 - Last Fight
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Before Dark 1 | Before Dark 2 | Before Dark 3 | MATI CAMP Before Dark | Before Dark 4
The First Look (HHN4 Sneak Preview)
Halloween Horror Nights 4 Review | 2014 Survival Guide: HHN4 Tips and Tricks
Features on Haunted Houses and Scare Zones
The Minster of Evil (HHN4 Opening Scaremony) | Jack's Nightmare Circus
Bogeyman | DEMONCRACY | Canyon of the Cursed | Scary Tales
Jack's 3-Dementia | Jing's Revenge | MATI CAMP | The L.A.B
Halloween Horror Nights 3
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Survival Guide: Halloween Horror Nights 3 Tips and Tricks
Features on Haunted Houses and Scare Zones
Sisters of Evil | Forbidden Forest | Attack of the Vampires | Convention of Curses
Possessions | Songs of Death | Adrift
Halloween Horror Nights 2
HHN2 Trip Report, Review and Tips
Special Features
House of Dolls | Total Lockdown | Bizarre Bazaar | Final Night
Halloween Horror Nights
does not make for good lunchtime reading lol
still excited tho!!
How does this fare compared to HHN8 and HHN7 in your opinion? Keen to know as I’ve been in the RIP tour for HHN7 but totally missed out on HHN8 unfortunately.
Also wanted to heat what’s your favorite house among the list above too! 🙂
Did you optimize the photos for web browsing? It’s taking a long time to load this article and the photos.
On YouTube, certain youtuber actually hate spirit dolls, saying they repeat a lot.
I know everyone has their views but seem like he isn’t really keen on giving a good review.
Death fest seem to be missing something.. it doesn’t bring horror much.
USS should start adding more haunted house.
I see few areas which has potential of having house
Example is the mummy ride opposite.
The space isnt been use at all
They should reuse the sting alley too.
So empty and nothing much is being use
US has at least 10 houses.
5 is kinda small.
The mummy area feel empty without any thing there
The reason on why US has 10 houses (which only applies for Florida not Hollywood) is because of their bigger space than Universal Studios Singapore, which allows more room for expansion. USS is small and it has to reuse spaces. BTW, USS do not have enough indoor stage studios for haunted houses which is required for the making of other haunted houses.
The reason on why US has 10 houses (which only applies for Florida not Hollywood) is because of their bigger space than Universal Studios Singapore, which allows more room for expansion. USS is small and it has to reuse spaces. BTW, USS do not have enough indoor stage studios for haunted houses which is required for the making of other haunted houses.