In just a few weeks, Halloween Horror Nights 2 will open at Universal Studios Singapore. I received several requests for a day-time photo entry, like last year’s Before Nightfall entry. If you’d like to know more about the event’s ticketing information, please refer to this entry.
I’m glad to present Before Dark, a short series of entries showcasing thematic elements of Halloween Horror Nights during the day.
◂ House of Dolls ▸
The center entrance arch has been completely decorated with the façade to the Puppetmaster’s lair.
I feel that the clock dial looks a little strange. Leave a comment if you think you know why!
Bit surprised to see this particular typeface here, which Sentosa Spooktacular has been using for a while.
View from inside, showing the big doors leading into the House of Dolls.
A few of these giant-sized drawings hang from the ceiling of Hollywood Boulevard.
On the street, there are two sets for scare actors. Let’s take a closer look.
Some seemingly normal sketches, which become more grim as you gaze…
A bookshelf (which yes, looks 2D now, but the trompe l’oeil effect should work well at night) has a lot of useful books for any Puppet master.
For the curious readers, the titles (apart from unnamed or numbered titles) are:
Anatomy, Twisted Toys, Dolls, 101 Hand Puppets, Stitch and Craft, Dolls from the Archipelago, Toys Through the Years, The Rise of The Toy Age, The Toys of China, Technicalities of Puppetry, Cross Stitching Doll Dresses, Ribbons Buttons & Threads, The History of Russian Dolls, The Toys of China, DIY Dolls, Fabrics, Learning the Art of Puppetry, Sewing, The Doll House, The Doll Project, Toy Room Decor, Shadow Puppets, Tapestry and Toyland. The titles don’t really mean anything apart from setting the tone for the House of Dolls scare zone.
There is a stage at the end of Hollywood Boulevard (right before the fountain).
It does not look complete, but this should be the Meet-and-Greet area for The Puppetmaster.
◂ Total Lockdown ▸
Unlike last year, it’ll be harder to scatter props around New York zone because of the Sesame Street street shows. There is however, a large tent right at New York Library area.
Amusingly, there’s a smaller tent for Sesame Street characters to run out from.
In other news, here’s an exclusive scoop: The new Elmo prop at the entrance to the new Sesame Street ride. Luke spotted it just a few days before, but it was covered. He also discovered that the Sesame Street ride exit (which is a shop), will also have another exit that goes into Loui’s NY Pizza Parlor. This means that the shop and restaurant are connected, and the same can be seen at Hollywood’s Celebrity Cafe & Bakery and Dreamworks Character Store.
Okay, time to get back to the Before Dark content.
Water Street has been sealed up. This section is the exit for an enclosed scare zone (also referred as a haunted house by the park) and used last year to stow large props in the day.
◂ Death Alley/”Chinatown” ▸
While this scare zone/maze is located at New York, but guests enter from Sci-Fi City. Can you see it?
It appears that Death Alley (aka Sting Alley) will have a Chinese theme this year.
The large sign at the gate reads “唐人街”, which means Chinatown. The two blocks of text at the side of the gateway reads “黄泉路上不相逢” and “魑魅魍魉来索仇”. Assuming that the right column is meant to be read first, this could translate to something like “Demons and monsters will claim revenge, but will not meet on the road to Death (or the Land of the Dead)”. Well, this just gives them license to appear in the realm of the living, at a theme park… I guess?
Two stone lions guard the entrance to this deranged Chinatown.
The one on the left (which is the lioness, as it has a cub at its feet) has that Chesire cat grin.
Random props
Tables… and stalls.
Random dirty bowls scattered around.
Compared to 2011’s The Pestilence, this scare zone appears to be more spacious, or perhaps they have not placed all the bigger props yet. (But there were just too many crates last year)
After what appears to be a street food bazaar area of Chinatown, there’s then this martial arts set. Of course, the weapons on the rack were all blunted for safety.
Access to Water Street is blocked off due to construction work and props lying around.
From here however, you could see some red curtains.
Hmm. Appears to be some decorative divider.
I’ve no idea what are these plastic cans are for. And this “brick” wall is easily movable.
So it could be possibly shifted over here to seal the opening on the right, to create a single path.
Crates are also used to store plastic cans and metal drums.
Lots of netting all over.
For those who have been to The Pestilence last year, the general path for this scare zone/maze is about the same.
The queue should also be similar to last year, starting from a side door – which leads to the queue area of Lights, Camera, Action! and comes out of the “No Parking” doors here – before leading into the gates of Death Alley itself.
◂ Bizarre Bazaar ▸
It looks like Ancient Egypt is ready to get serious for Halloween Horror Nights.
So much better than last year’s “banner”!
There isn’t much to see at the moment, but there are several of these big slabs of “stone”, each with a pole attached. These are lined along both sides of the main path at Ancient Egypt.
The poles have some sort of pulley/wheel system. Since it’s a bazaar, maybe it’ll be used to hold up a roof for the bazaar, or have some oddities dangle in the air. If the park intends to use heavy fog effects here, a roof will be necessary to keep the fog in.
There’s also something else being constructed at Ancient Egypt, but this should be a backstage area for scare actors.
◂ The Insanitarium ▸
A metal frame has been set up for the “Insanitarium” gateway decor.
Nothing much to report here, except that the construction walls at this section has been shifted inwards.
There’s just a bit more details at the structure here.
TO BE CONTINUED… in part two.
Read it now!
That’s all I have to offer for this issue of Halloween Horror Nights 2 – Before Dark. It’s obvious – the production values this year has been brought to a new level. If you only have the time and budget for one event to attend, I think it’s clear which one is the best. Refer here for more HHN2 event information or click here to have an overview of the events available in Singapore.
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
HHN12 RIP TOUR Review and Vlog (VIP Experience)
Special Features
Under The Castle by TEAM WANG design | Netflix's Sweet Home
Cursed Scrolls: Dynasty of Darkness
Singapore's Most Haunted: The Killings
Viper Lounge (Special Experience) | Vampire Alley
The Lost Kampung | Nether-Land + Ocu.lar's Rave | Dark Dreams
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
Universal Studios Japan (USJ) 2023
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)
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)
HHN7 EVENT GUIDE: Haunted Houses, Scare Zones and Ticket Prices
Behind The Scenes: HEX haunted house | HHN7 SNEAK PREVIEW
Halloween Horror Nights 7 REVIEW MEGAPOST Halloween Horror Nights 7 SURVIVAL GUIDE with Tips & Tricks
HHN7 RIP Tour REVIEW
Features on Haunted Houses, Scare Zones and Experiences
HHN7 Behind The Screams (BTS) Tour | Zombie Laser Tag (ZLT) Experience
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)
Before Dark 1 | Before Dark 2 | Before Dark 3 | Before Dark 4
Sneak Preview to Halloween Horror Nights 6
Halloween Horror Nights 6 REVIEW Megapost
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
Features on Haunted Houses and Scare Zones
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
Halloween Horror Nights 4
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
Halloween Horror Nights 3 (HHN3) Review
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
Hi Dejiki!
It is amazing that the parks has been adding props and sets everyday!
Can’t wait for the event.
And I guessed it right! It is Elmo!
Hi Luke,
It’s barely two weeks away. You sure you’re ready for it? Haha.
Yep, you got it right! I’ve also seen the Sesame Street ride vehicle. Seems like our early guesses were all correct too. 🙂
Well, if the ride features a soundtrack from the Sesame Street Show, I will be content! I am in love with those songs!!!!
I’m sure they will use memorable songs from Sesame Street Show. Have you watched all the street shows yet?
No I haven’t. I just randomly watch the YouTube clips of the songs…
Wow! chanced upon your blog! great and in depth update! Do you work in USS or own an annual pass?
Hi Kelly,
I am an annual passholder. I do not work for the park or RWS, but perhaps one day…
Hi Dejiki!
Thanks for the awesome update! Can’t wait til I get there on Oct 27! As for the clock, it was the first thing that caught my attention when I was scanning the photos. I’m not sure we’re bothered by the same reason though. I just thought it looked a bit… cheap. I dunno. I just wished they made it look more…well.. like a real clock. And not just some giant sticker.
But other than that, everything looks GREAT!!
I was able to attend the first Horror Nights event and we stayed at one of the restaurants (I forgot the name! But the theme is Asian I think.) while the park was being set up for the event! That way we didn’t have to go out and line up again. Do you reckon we could do the same in this HHN?
Hi again!
Glad to hear your comments on this entry 🙂
On the clock – I wasn’t referring to the construction quality. There is something about the design of the dial – most clocks (and watches) with roman numerals will have a certain number represented in a different way.
The restaurant you were referring to is the Hollywood China Bistro. As for staying in the restaurant during the “HHN conversion hours”, I’m not 100% sure about that. It’s up to the park operations team, and they may, or may not, change the rules this year. Best to check with the park crew on the 27th!
Hii Dejiki, I wanna ask, if I buy the tickets on the spot,,,is there any possible the ticket for HHN2 and theme park sold out?
Yes, it is possible for tickets to get sold out as this event is quite popular. Best to buy your tickets early if you can.
Will there be any rides available?
Yes there will be. Blockbuster rides such as Battlestar Galactica: HUMAN, Battlestar Galactica: CYLON, Transformers: The Ride, Revenge of the Mummy, Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure and a few other attractions will be available throughout the night.