Consisting of 5 scare zones and two live shows Halloween Horror Nights 2021 was already shaping up to be a classic and that’s without the 10 mazes! We dive into the scary (and not so scary) with our Halloween Horror Nights 2021 maze reviews.
This list is in no particular order and all opinion is our own.
When it comes to Universal Halloween Horror Nights you can rest assure that theming and the quality of the maze design will be of the highest quality.
I’ll be judging the mazes based on their immersion within the story, costume design, frights and more.
In no particular order, let’s dive in, shall we?
The Haunting of Hill House
Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House took the world by storm and Universal Orlando Resort really bring the show to life within their scare maze.
Awakening the imposing and mysterious Hill House as it beckons guests to embark on the dark journey experienced by the Crain family.
Iconic scenes from the Netflix series will be featured throughout the maze, including the omni-powerful Red Room – the heart of Hill House – and the infamous Hall of Statues, where deceptive powers overtake everyone who enters.
Testing even the bravest guests, they’ll attempt to escape the entanglement of the estate’s eternal stranglehold or succumb to the powerful forces of Hill House – leaving them to wander the endless halls forever…alone.
It stands like a brooding creature, waiting for its victims. Enter the decaying remains of an ageing mansion that lives – even if all who dwell there are long dead. Step right into Netflix’s supernatural masterpiece, The Haunting of Hill House.
The exterior house design was absolutely incredible as to be expected at Halloween Horror Nights but a certain ‘hanging’ projector effect put the fear of God into me.
As you navigate the maze you’ll come face to face with Tall Man, The Bent-Neck Lady, The Ghost in the Basement and more.
Once the initial projector effect hits home the first time around there are more digital effects scattered around as you navigate the maze that start to feel a little copy and paste.
Overall the maze has some nice pacing throughout and some great character costumes and masks.
Beetlejuice
Say it once. Say it twice. Say it three times. It’s time to turn up the juice and see what shakes loose as the original film comes to life, more twisted and terrifying than ever. Beetlejuice will haunt, taunt and send you screaming out of the haunted house.
The first Beetlejuice maze at HHN and did not disappoint and is already becoming a fast HHN favourite (but not for the scare factor) and it’s only been open a few days!
We dive into a little stage show introduction before heading into the maze as you walk through the checkerboard hallways and become completely immersed in the world of Beetlejuice.
From the model graveyard to Dante’s Inferno and not to mention the infamous dinner party scene and wedding it really is a crazed experience.
Instantly heading through a trommel tunnel the maze introduction is set to make anyone’s head wobble.
Straight after this mind-boggling illusion, the maze seems to drift off in its pacing.
There’s no jump scares of note but actors are just placed within scenes.
The layout of each room opens out considerably meaning the scares (if you can call them that) are too far away to have any impact.
Huge animatronic set pieces and set decor make Beetlejuice more of a walkthrough set tour than a live scare maze but the graveyard scene certainly steals the show.
A great mix of lighting and smoke effects coupled with the scenic pieces make one hell of a spectacle it’s just a shame that this spectacle was not a particularly scary one.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
You’ve seen the 1974 horror classic. Now It’s your turn to experience it for yourself. Enter the dilapidated Sawyer house and meet Leatherface and his demented family of merciless butchers. Will you make it out in one piece? Or in pieces?
Step inside the story and explore the familiar set of the Sawyer home.
Dodge carving knives, cleavers, meat hooks and more as the sounds of freshly oiled chainsaws fill the Florida air.
Before you even enter the Sawyer house the infamous photography sound effect plays and that noise alone is equal parts annoying and chilling.
A great sliding door effect introduces Leatherface to the guests the second you walk through the door and the introductions don’t stop there.
Certainly a more claustrophobic maze with draped flesh and rags hanging from the ceiling not to mention the tight corridors to navigate this was much more an in-your-face and personal experience.
Whether it’s watching a guy being sawed to pieces in front of your very eyes or just the eerie baby steps you take around the Sawyer dining table it’s a solid maze experience.
I love how the maze opens out into a gas station addition and a graveyard expansion and it brings the story full circle.
Universal Halloween Horror Nights usually make the mistake of distancing the scares from the guests but it’s safe to say they wanted you close enough to see a mans face being peeled off mere inches from your eyes and I loved it!
Universal Monsters The Bride of Frankenstein Lives
This time, the Bride of Frankenstein is stepping out of the shadows and taking her fate into her own bloody hands. The mate will have her monster. And the monster his mate.
This maze was certainly a fan favourite it seemed as everyone couldn’t stop talking about it.
Enter the tower ruins where Frankenstein’s monster pulled the level to bring down the walls to destroy himself and his bride and come face to face with the Brides of Dracula along your path.
What I didn’t like was that instantly the tower ruins are in front of you and are at eye level and look stunning but gaze upwards and you see sound-stage.
I thought they’d have at least blocked this off or added some sort of roof or cover to hide certain parts but that immediately made quite a few sections within the maze less immersive.
Thankfully that detached feeling was short-lived as you dive into the tower itself.
The Bride of Frankenstein was visually stunning and that’s quite the compliment considering all of these mazes are quite spectacular but this one, I have to say, might just be the most detailed.
Certainly not a scary maze but an immersive one and I can absolutely see why fans were raving about it!
A debut maze at Halloween Horror Nights 2021 but a maze that will stay in the hearts and minds of HHN fans across the world.
Truly a visual spectacle that was phenomenal from start to finish.
Halloween Horror Nights Icons: Captured
Over the last 30 years Halloween Horror Nights has introduced a murderer’s row of original characters. Now they’ve joined forces – some newly risen to true Icon status – to form a monstrous Hell of Fame, taunting and terrifying you at every turn.
Come face to face with Jack the Clown, The Caretaker, The Storyteller and more all crammed into one house for the first time ever.
Great sets and lighting aside I thought Halloween Horror Nights Icons: Captured was a little overcrowded with characters for my liking.
I’ve had scarier nights up Hanley in a nightclub than in this particular maze.
It felt overstuffed with winks and nods to well-known faces of Halloween Horror Nights days gone by but they all sort of blended into one another.
Sadly there wasn’t a character among them who stood head and shoulders above the rest and they all faded away into mediocrity into one of this year’s weakest mazes.
Welcome to Scarey: Horror in the Heartlands
The town placed a sign at the entrance to Carey, Ohio, saying it’s a nice place to live. Unfortunately, nobody lives here very long. No one escapes from Carey, where bad things just happen, and new terrors rain down year after year.
From creatures to maniacs this maze has it all and it’s one of my favourites in terms of layout because of how close you are to the scares.
Feeling confined and sometimes claustrophobic (in the best sort of way) it’s a feast for the senses as you’re surrounded with jump scares aplenty.
Keep your eye out for the creepy clown doll…
That’s nightmare fuel right there.
If there is one drawback of this maze is that it’s too heavy on multiples rather than a particular focus or character story.
Case Files Unearthed: Legendary Truth
Step into the shoes of Boris Shuster, a hard-boiled private eye investigating the supernatural. Follow his search for clues into the darkness of a shadowy “film noir” world populated by ghouls, poltergeists and all manner of monstrous terrors.
I can only describe this maze as a blend of Sherlock Holmes and Universal Monsters with a twist.
With a vintage Jack the Ripper style I thought this maze was personally too bright and felt a little out of place compared to the others.
Certainly a refreshing maze to walk through but not one that fits in with this year’s line-up.
At one point even space creatures made an appearance, it was all a bit weird and incoherent in terms of the story.
If you’re a fan of costume design though however, you’ll have an absolute field day in here as it was certainly one of the most impressive for that.
Wicked Growth: Realm of the Pumpkin
Diving into the tradition of Halloween the pumpkin Lord is preparing for his yearly human harvest.
All of the classic walkthrough sets are featured within this particular maze including a haunted house, a graveyard and even a visit to the wicked witch’s cottage.
With such intense theming around mazes at HHN you become accustomed to certain levels of theming but even still there are some mazes that just take your breath away.
This is certainly one of those mazes as this overgrown world drags you in by its branches and doesn’t relent its grip from start to finish.
A little cheesy in places but great fun all the same!
Puppet Theatre: Captive Audience
Take centre stage inside the puppet theatre as guests walk through the abandoned Grandeur Theatre in San Francisco circa 1900s.
Dodge the life-sized marionettes and step into this weird and wonderful world.
Many scares at this year’s event are behind plexiglass and similar and in many of the mazes listed above it works but in Puppet Theatre it really, really works!
Confining the creatures into their boxes much like a puppet in its packaging I thought the plexiglass scares were used to great effect in here.
A mix of live actors and dancing lifeless puppets come together to make a quite creepy if albeit not scary walkthrough experience.
Revenge of the Tooth Fairy
Last but certainly not least we have Revenge of the Tooth Fairy.
Guests indulge in the more sinister ritual of the childhood tradition as goblin-esque tooth fairies road free within the maze.
With sharp teeth and gallons of blood to extract these tooth fairies are on the hunt for more than just that one tooth comfortably hiding under your pillow.
Beautifully reconstructed bedrooms with a sinister twist this maze will certainly make you feel uneasy when you lay your head down to sleep that night.
I personally felt the story was more sinister and scary than the maze itself as it was too open planned for my liking but still well worth a visit, if only the once at Halloween Horror Nights 2021.
Despite its open-plan the story was told beautifully as the pages of the storybook instantly reminded me of The Babadook mixed with the Gruffalo River Ride at Chessington World of Adventures but with a sick twist.
Regardless of what your favourite maze is above it just goes to show that the UK is ridiculously far behind in terms of maze quality and detail.
Theme parks up and down the country need to invest their money more wisely and put the UK scare mazes on the map where they truly deserve to be.
I can’t think of one UK maze I’ve experienced that even comes close to the worst maze at Halloween Horror Nights 2021 and it’s a real, real shame.
Book your tickets to Halloween Horror Nights 2021 HERE
