Want a sneak preview of Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 21? Today’s your lucky day

Jim Hill

13 years ago

Monday night, a mysterious message popped up in my in-box.
It read:

You are part of a select group of media invited to learn details
about Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 21 BEFORE they are revealed
to the rest of the world.

You will hear the news from one of HHN 21's creators … and
you'll get to see who you'll really be facing at this year's event.

Watch for an email from us at 11:30 p.m. tomorrow with
further instructions.

Until then … just wait.

So last night, at the appointed hour, I was sitting in front
of my laptop when a second missive came in from those mysterious folks at
Universal Orlando. And this e-mail led
me to a video. Which I've since transcribed for JHM readers as well as done
some image capture on.

Patrick Braillard, show director
for Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights.
Copyright Universal Orlando. All rights reserved

This video opened with a close-up on a clearly uncomfortable gentleman. Who
seemed to be tied to an enormous wheel-of-fortune as he says:

I'm Patrick Braillard, show director for Universal Orlando's
Halloween Horror Nights. I'd like to … I have to give you all of the gruesome
details about this year's event.

You've been selected to get everything before the rest of
the world. And that's something that we've never done before. Alright. So let's
get to it.

We have eight brand-new mazes for you to experience this year.

In "Nevermore: The Madness of Poe," you're going to be trapped in the darkness
and insanity of Edgar Allen Poe's greatest works.

In "The Forsaken," you're going to be surrounded by the
vengeful souls of the fourth condemned ship that took part in Christopher
Columbus' infamous voyage.

Next, "H.R. Bloodengutz presents: Holidays of Horror." You're going to be
joining Creature Feature host H.R. Bloodengutz as he presents a scare-a-thon of
holiday-based horror films starring … you.

In "The Thing," you're going to be able to experience the terror of the
upcoming film before it hits theaters. You're going to come face-to-face with
an alien being that's able to replicate any living creature.

"Saws N' Steam: Into the Machine" is the first time we've ever taken a scare
zone and turned it into a house. In this mechanical nightmare, you're going to
have crushing pistons and spinning blades. Beware.

"The In-Between" is a 3D haunted house. You're going to go
through an ominous portal and end up with creatures from your nightmare.

In "Winter's Night: The Haunting of Hawthron Cemetery," vengeful
spirits will haunt your every move.

The last house is "Nightingales: Blood Prey," where terrifying banshees will prey
on the weak and the dying … and you.

We have six all-new scare zones that you're going to have to
see to believe.

Patrick then turns to an off-screen figure and says "Is that everything?"

A beautiful-if-somewhat-sinister woman now steps in the shot and says "Not quite."

This fiendish female then spins the wheel-of-fortune as
Braillard screams. The screen fades to black as a series of titles come up:

So you want to know who you'll face at Halloween Horror
Nights 21?

Be careful what you wish for … because your fate is in the hands of Lady Luck.

And in a series of quick cuts, we then get a brief glimpse of the horrifying
host of Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 21, Lady Luck. Before we
next get the catchphrase for this year's event.

Are you in?

UPDATE: And at of 10 a.m. ET today, Universal Orlando officials made this promo video available for all Halloween Horror Nights fans to see. Check it out below:

[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaQNxtCt4mM&feature=channel_video_title]

Halloween Horror Nights 21 will be
presented on select nights from September 23 – October 31^st. This
event may be too intense for some people and is not recommended for children
under the age of 13. No costumes or masks allowed.

Your thoughts?