Witness the Rebirth of The Matriarch in one of the scariest haunted houses at Universal Studios Singapore’s Halloween Horror Nights 11.
WARNING
Photos of a haunted house attraction at Halloween Horror Nights 11 are featured in this article as a special showcase. This article contains spoilers.
Copyright Note: All content on this website, including Halloween Horror Nights photos and writeups cannot be reuploaded onto other websites without my permission.
Overview and Thoughts
For the first time ever, Universal Studios Singapore has created a sequel to an original haunted house: 2011’s Vengeance of the Matriarch, which is also the first haunted house at the Singapore park. In the original, the Matriarch was described as power-hungry – one who seduced the village butcher to murder her sister, possibly so that she could become the head of the house. This follows some popular depictions of Peranakan culture, where the men (babas) are breadwinners, while affairs at home are managed by the women (nyonyas), led by a matriarchal head. Anyway, the 2011 house was about the Matriarch’s Vengeance, and it did not dwell much on the family business, which is now revealed to be rather macabre: funeral services. It’s HHN after all.
The sequel takes place some years later after events of Vengeance. After the Matriarch passed away, her first-born son decided to continue the family business, converting the storied family mansion into a funeral parlour. As you explore the haunted house in its entirely, you’ll discover the wonders of this business model: it becomes a place where souls and bodies are in regular supply. Allowing the family to harvest the unwilling, while preparing for a ritual to bring the Matriarch back.
With intricacies in its storytelling and scenic design, and a plethora of authentic Peranakan curios, the Matriarch returns offering a very immersive haunted house experience. One that often has the longest wait, and said by many to be the scariest of them all this year – upholding the Matriarch’s legacy as one of the greatest of all time at Universal Studios Singapore.
Rebirth of The Matriarch – Haunted House Photo Tour
Known as a Funeral Home (譚殯儀館, Tan binyiguan) today, the heritage abode of an esteemed Peranakan family is hosting a funeral reception. You tread silently through the foyer, hoping not to disturb the prayers in session.
Mourners gathered at the courtyard, now converted into a space for the living to pay respects to the departed. Several family and solo portraits still hang on the walls – as if they are also observing the proceedings.
A mourner suddenly lunges at you, and you bolt through one of the curtains, leading you into the Collector’s Room.
This is where the family kept all their prized possessions.
But some of the possessions are actually possessed.
The ghost of the Matriarch appears, eager to claim you as her next victim.
She leads you out to the Pantry, where her old partner-in-crime, the Butcher, is busy chopping up bodies.
You run out to the kitchen to find gruesome meals are still being prepared.
Avoiding the bloodstained corridors, you find yourself in a room filled with caskets and more victims.
The silent housemaid (or Amah) leads you deeper into the house.
You discover The Altar Room, where offerings were set for the Matriarch in an elaborate manner. Lanterns with the family name lead the way forward.
As you walk past the historic altar table, you notice the Matriarch’s portrait appear to move… or is it the trick of the light?
Another hidden passage lies beyond the ceremonial tapestries. Ancestral tablets are strewn all over with candles.
You uncover another secret of the house: While funerals are being held at the courtyard, dark rituals are being conducted at the back.
You walk over the dark magic circle on the floor, disturbing the ritual. A hooded cultist breaks from his trance and starts screaming at you.
Running away, you discover another cultist torturing and harvesting from victims.
Beyond the torture chamber, the corridor starts to crumble, bringing you into a distorted space resembling photo frames.
Portraits of the family cloud your vision – as some of them come alive, revealing more dark secrets.
You find yourself back in the Courtyard, but it is barely recognisable.
Countless swarms of black witch moths have gathered all over.
Nearly everything has upended as dark magic seeps through, causing everything to quickly decay.
The Matriarch bursts through the darkness, resurrected in her new form. She grabs you with her long, claw-like arms… as you witness her Rebirth, and your end.
Halloween Horror Nights 11: Select Nights 29 Sep – 4 Nov
Halloween Horror Nights 11 MEGA Review by DEJIKI
Read my full review and see photos from this year’s haunted houses, scare zones, the Opening Scaremony show, and DIE-ning in Hell special experience.
Halloween Horror Nights 11 EVENT GUIDE
Stay prepared. Get essential info in my Halloween Horror Nights 11 Event Guide, including event calendar, tickets and add-ons prices, plus Tips & Tricks.
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More photos from this year’s HHN attractions will be published on my Instagram (@dejiki), Tiktok and on this website as special features. Follow me on Facebook for updates.
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