July 16, 2013 – To coincide with the film’s home-video release, Universal has teamed up with Sony Pictures to bring Evil Dead to life at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. We’ve included the press release (with video) below, as well as some analysis from our Halloween Horror Nights contributor Bruce Babcock.
Orlando, FL., Universal City, CA. (July 16, 2013) — “Once you unleash evil, it will consume you…”
This fall, Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights will conjure unrelenting evil in elaborately themed haunted mazes based on this year’s box office hit, “Evil Dead.” Universal is joining forces with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to deliver an authentic experience that will immerse horror fans in the blockbuster remake of the cult classic.
Producers Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell– creators of the original “Evil Dead” film – reunited to present this year’s terrifying new vision of the classic horror film. The film follows five 20-something friends who turn a remote cabin in the woods into a blood-soaked chamber of horrors after awakening an ancient demon. Directed by Fede Alvarez, “Evil Dead” opened No. 1 at the U.S. Box Office, and top 10 for all-time horror remakes. The movie is available July 16 on Blu-ray and DVD with UltraViolet from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment – and now horror fans will get to live it at Halloween Horror Nights.
In haunted mazes so terrifying, they could only be found at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, guests will be transported into the film and face off against a demonic evil that will stop at nothing to consume them. It begins when a mysterious passage from an ancient book is read, releasing an unearthly force of darkness. A pack of violently possessed victims, including the film’s starring character “Mia,” wreaks brutal carnage throughout the mazes – and guests must make their best attempt to escape.
“I’m thrilled with how popular ‘Evil Dead’ has become with horror fans, and it’s exciting that it’s coming to life at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights,” said Fede Alvarez, director of this year’s “Evil Dead” film. “Just like the film, this haunted maze is going to be over-the-top, in-your-face and completely outrageous – and I can’t wait to see it.”
“The Evil Dead series is iconic, and this latest film has set the scare factor to 11,” said Michael Aiello from Universal Orlando’s Entertainment team. “These haunted mazes will be just as intense and unapologetically terrifying, and I can’t wait for my fellow horror fans to venture inside and live the unyielding horror they’ve seen in the film.”
“Watching ‘Evil Dead’s unrelenting horror unfold in movie theatres was undoubtedly an unnerving experience, but with Halloween Horror Nights, we’re taking it one step further,” said John Murdy, Creative Director for Universal Studios Hollywood. “Fans of ‘Evil Dead’ will feel like they’ve left the safety of the theatre and stepped through the screen into a living horror movie where the film’s demonic characters are coming for them. Our incredibly immersive and highly disturbing maze experience will come to life with the same attention to detail and production value of the film and will be the ultimate thrill for horror movie fans.”
Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights has a more than 20-year history of creating an incredibly entertaining, horrifying Halloween experience that is consistently rated the nation’s best. The event features highly-themed, disturbingly-real haunted houses that are based on everything from hit films to worst nightmares — and streets filled with hundreds of specially-trained “scareactors.”
This is one of the last major horror franchises that has yet to come to life at the event.
Personally, I feel this movie/series was made to be experienced as a maze. The set pieces are iconic and fairly easily to duplicate within the realm of quality expected at Halloween Horror Nights. I can see the cabin exterior making the perfect maze entrance, while the cabins interior – the cellar, kitchen and tool shed – will most likely feature walk-through scenes. I also anticipate Universal will do something very creative with the tree branches and vines that come to life that come to interact with the victims of the film.
Speaking of special effects, the “deadites” in the Evil Dead feature a striking look – often possessing very large mouths and bulging eyes. These possessed beings will be the key elements of fear for the maze.
Perhaps the most iconic aspect of Evil Dead is the character of Ash, played by iconic character actor Bruce Campbell. Should the maze be based purely on the 2013 Evil Dead remake (which seems to be the case), Ash will most likely not play a pivotal role in the film’s recreation. Any mention of Ash will most likely be in the form of a special, surprise appearance.
Text by Bruce Babcock and Jon Fu.
