Three years ago, writer, director Michael Dougherty was the horror “IT” boy enjoying long-delayed, well-deserved praise for his 2007 film Trick ‘r Treat. Joined by Creative Director of Universal Halloween Horror Nights, John Murdy, the two gentlemen strolled casually through what was a brand new scare zone for 2014, Dark Christmas. As the two entered the deranged, yuletide fear Murdy explained that the main monster for this new area was the Krampus. According to Murdy, Dougherty suddenly said, “Oh wow! I actually have a movie in development about the Krampus. We should do something with that.” Two years later we find ourselves standing in front of one of the new mazes for Halloween Horror Nights 2016, Krampus. How did such a perfect idea for a Halloween Horror Nights scare zone and a new annual horror viewing tradition evolve into a maze?

After Murdy and Dougherty met in 2014 the idea sat, percolating in their minds. The next year came and Krampus had just finished post production, slated for release on November 25th, 2015, then changed to December 4th 2015. Universal Studios Hollywood announced its expanded run of Halloween Horror Nights, reaching into mid-September for the first time ever. While close, the timing just didn’t match up to develop a Krampus maze for 2015 and Dark Christmas returned to Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights.

Well after HHN ended its 2015 run, Murdy had a chance to decompress from the Halloween season and  Krampus was finally released in theaters. Murdy explained, “Very shortly after the movie came out I saw it and quickly got with Mike and said, ‘Yeah this is something we need to do’.” An evolution of the sinister blending of horror and yuletide cheer, Krampus was a fresh take on both horror and the annual Christmas movie.

“What I loved about the movie was the look. You go to see a horror film and all the trailers look the same. Horror cyclical, you know, in the 50’s it was giant atomic insects, there was the found footage craze, then Saw and Hostel with the extreme gore, it (horror) has a way of doing that. Right now, we are kind of in between phases and it doesn’t know what to do. ” Explains Murdy, “What I loved about Krampus was that it looked so different from anything out there. It had a very definite 80’s feel to it too.”

Dougherty’s 2015 film, Krampus, tells the story of the Engell Family and their battle with the titular demon. During one particularly trying holiday get together, young Max is fed up with the dysfunctional family around him and inadvertently summons Krampus to punish them all for losing their Christmas spirit.

The maze picks up just as Krampus has arrived to torment the cynical family. Perched atop the facade, we will get a glimpse of Krampus before coming face to face with a frost-bitten delivery man.

It is here that this maze about honoring tradition features one of its own. Murdy has a delightful little easter egg for super fans and repeat visitors to enjoy. Pointing to the frozen van Murdy says, “There’s something that I have been doing since Hostel in 2011 which is the Twitter Password. Folks who follow @HorrorNights on Twitter get the password and are told which character to say it to and they get a little something.” In 2011 Eli Roth needed some business for the girls outside his Hostel maze to do. He decided that, if visitors gave a secret password to the girls, they would hand visitors the special business card for the Elite Hunting Club. This year at Krampus the delivery guy will be handing out Christmas cards to those who have the password including ones designed by Dougherty himself.”

The maze foregoes the expository setup and instead gets right into the action. We enter a typical suburban home in disarray. The Christmas tree is smoldering, burnt to a crisp. Howie Jr. is being pulled up the chimney, legs dangling and kicking above the smoldering embers, by the Krampus. The dark elves are on the prowl and waiting to attack.

Of course, aside from the initial glimpse of Krampus high above us on the roof top, we see very little of him at first. Something very important to Dougherty was that the monster be revealed slowly as we go through the maze. As we go further in, we see more and more of him as he gets ever closer to his prey.

Many of the key scenes from the film are lovingly recreated and even highlighted. As Krampus continues his destruction we wander into the kitchen which is overrun by malevolent gingerbread men. A far cry from the docile Shrek 4D version up the hill, these ones are vile creatures that attack, destroy, and chug wine. This scene will of course smell heavily of gingerbread Murdy assures us.

In another key scene, a horde of snowmen seem to surround the home. In development Murdy knew this was something he wanted to use. “In the movie you never really see them move.” Explains Murdy, “But I just couldn’t pass this up.” As we wandered through the maze we were introduced to the sinister snow man figures that resemble shrieking banshees with gnarled arms. ”

One scene that will be the highlight of the maze is the attic filled with evil toys. Front and center will be a gigantic Jack in the Box puppet. Sculpted and designed by the same team that was responsible for bringing the queen alien to life in the brilliant Aline Vs Predator maze, the Jack in the Box figure will threaten  and lunge at guests as an actor, playing the father is trying to shake off a vengeful teddy bear.

The maze also features several versions of the same location. We see three different versions of the same living room in varying stages of destruction. The trick is to offer the same visual queues to guests that give them a sense place while showing just enough of a change to keep the story going.

The penultimate scene features the hell mouth where Krampus holds Max precariously above a fiery bottomless pit. Much like the movie there is a nasty twist. Thrown into the pit we too follow and experience a light vortex similar to what was used in last years This is the End maze. While we can’t reveal what the final room will be we CAN say that it will include plenty of festive smells.

After three years, two creative minds on separate, parallel paths finally merge. Krampus will be terrifying both good and bad boys and girls as Universal Halloween Horror Nights kicks off the 2016 season on both coasts.

Tickets to this year’s event are available for purchase at www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Hollywood, including the Frequent Fear Pass which allows guests to visit multiple times throughout the event.

To learn more about the VIP events that HorrorBuzz has
in store for you, Click the buttons below!

Knott’s Scary Farm – Sept 24th

Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor