Never Go Alone…Secrets from this year’s HHN preview night

Arrived and ready for some spooky fun - massive thanks to the Universal team for having me there

Yes, we might be in the midst of a UK heatwave, and yes, applying sunscreen still… erm… applies, but if you peek beyond the sunhats and inflatables-by-the-pool aisles the next time you go shopping, you’ll start to see a glimmer of orange, a shimmer of black and a whole host of ghosts and ghouls. You'll find an odd mix of seasonal hybrids from ghosts-luxuriating-in-pool candles - yes, I'm looking at you TK Maxx - to bubblegum pink pumpkin cushions, slowly introducing spooky season. 'Summerween' is in full effect and what better time than now to head to a very special preview night, right?

So that’s exactly what I did this week, thanks to the incredible @universalorlando guys. In what felt like an Epic reunion with so many familiar, gorgeous journalist and content creator faces from my Epic Universe media preview and Grand Opening trips, I wined, dined and winced as all of this year’s devilish juicy details were revealed.

In the beautifully haunting Crimson Bar in The Soho Hotel in London, we sipped champagne and tried ghoulish grub surrounded by monster heads and creepy props galore before heading into the venue’s beautiful cinema room. This is where the magic happened… and where we were joined by a very special RIP ahem, VIP.

Whilst I can’t spill too many guts - I mean secrets - I can tempt you with some little teases to whet the appetite and I have zero doubt you’ll want to book a ticket as soon as you get a taste.

Here’s what you need to know thanks to Universal Creative and horror genius, Lora Sauls, who was on hand to explain more about this year’s masterpieces.

What we know?

As always, we’ll have 10 haunted houses - some IPs and some originals. Whilst at the time of writing we were still waiting on two more IP house announcements, here’s what we know already with some extra details I’ve picked up from the event.

Dolls: Let’s Play Dead

Find yourself shrunk to the size of a dolly - sidenote, expect to start by the side of a gigantic plug and socket to remind you that you’re miniscule - and make your way through a psychotic little girl’s playhouse. This toyboy of terror is where you’ll come across all manners of mutilated dolls. This one promises to get bloodier the further in you go…

Jason Un1v3rse

It’s hard to believe after last year’s Red Door terror at the hands of the Red-Faced Demon but Lora promised this house will be “10x scarier than Insidious!” So if you’re expecting big things here, you’re bang on the money! A classic horror movie fest for fans. 

Fallout

The vaults can’t save us now! We’re getting the wastelands, we’re getting the Gulper, we’re getting Radroaches and a mega bloody wedding… yep, this one will do it all for the gamers and the series obsesses, and I’m here for it. I loved this series and I think this house sounds like it’s jam-packed with fan favourites and Easter eggs galore.

Grave of Flesh

We all want to know what happens when we die, right? Well Universal knows.. “You’re eaten by vicious flesh eaters!” Of course we are! This house will also ‘cover’ you in soil, smell of mud and leave you feeling like you now know what being buried alive feels like! And there’s a 6ft Flesh Eater in there, too - you’ve been warned!

El Artista: A Spanish Haunting

This one is for the art lovers and is set to be the “beautiful house” this year. By the same creators as Dead Man’s Pier: Winter’s Wake of 2022, this will feature art and music that would romanticise and wow you… if you weren’t being hunted down by monstrous paintings come to life that is! Also, expect a trio of facades, too!

Terrifier

It goes without saying that this one is the most anticipated so far. Art the clown is simply… terrifying. A classic gorefest that horror fans can’t get enough of - his movie trilogy is nothing short of grotesque - but we love it! This house will be set mainly throughout movie two in Art’s Funhouse but will also creep a little into movie three… hello Santa Art… You might have heard about needing a poncho for inside this one and yes, you do, if you’re feeling brave. There’s a ‘wet exit’ and a ‘dry exit’ so do you guys, but just know, that dry way out doesn’t mean ‘easy way out’...

Hatchet and Chains: Demon Bounty Hunters

A fan favourite that performed so well at last year’s Slaughter Sinema 2, it has its own house now! Old West theming and red-hot lava demons… what could possibly go wrong?? I’m expecting a sensory work of art here - loud noises and hot, hot, hot!

Galkn Monsters of the North

And reversely I expect cold, cold, cold in here. Visit a remote northern village where you’ll encounter all manner of frosty demons and beasts. I’m expecting actual chills like 2024’s Ghostbusters house perhaps.

Still to come?

We’re pretty sure there’s going to be a house connected to WWE and we know Five Nights at Freddy's is coming to the event - “in a new way” - but for now we’re still technically two IPs away from having all the announcements complete. More secrets dropping on Universal’s social channels right throughout the month.

What else is new?

This year sees the return of more scare actors in the scare zones. That’s great news seen as they sound fabulous for 2025! The Origins of Horror (spooky conservatory vibes, gargoyles come alive…), The Cat Lady of Crooker Lane (where trick or treating children have been turned into monstrous felines), Masquerade: Dance with Death (hello bloodthirsty vampires) and just announced Mutations Toxic Twenties (that BuzzCon chaos is bad again - I'll never forget the Bugs: Eaten Alive house scares of '22 - and the radioactive gunk is spilling out into a 1920s neighbourhood...)

Here comes Art to meet/ terrify us!

What about the Tribute Store?

A tribute store ‘of sorts’ will be back. Of course this year with the Rip Ride Rocket construction by the original location, things could be a little different. Clue - which ride is the tribute store closely beside? I’ll leave that there and let me know in the comments if you can guess what this might mean for theming…

Universal resort hotel photo opportunities will return hooray - love this! It’s actually an evening we spend, touring the hotels for pics and of course sampling each bar for their signature spooky cocktail as we go.

The one thing we’re patiently waiting on is food and drink announcements but as we know menus are announced a lot closer to the event so watch this space. If last year’s Smurf Long Island Tea is back then I’m one happy gal.