4. Technical details

Fog EffectsThe technical elements enhance the spooky atmosphere.

Think back to Psycho for a moment. Would the Bates Motel have seemed so creepy if it was broad daylight? The rain and fog effects helped draw the viewer into the story. And what about that knife attack in the shower? Filming that scene took a full 7 days and more than 70 separate camera angles. The camera actually becomes the knife, with the effect dramatically enhanced by the music and sound effects. Did you know that only in 3 frames does the knife ever actually pierce the skin—and then it is only by about ¼ of an inch?

Again, A & D borrows from the horror legend in designing and implementing the show. Much of the ambience is provided by the technical elements that you do not pay much conscious attention to. Fog, creepy lighting, music and sound effects, and the judicious use of audio-animatronics all combine to create the perfect backdrop for the scareactors to work their magic.

5. Building expectations

Alice Cooper House FacadeI'm not sure what heightened my anticipation more--the blaring Alice Cooper music or entering through his oversized mouth!

The Halloween Horror Nights experience begins long before you ever set foot in the park. For HHN fans, late spring marks the beginning of the season, as A & D begins dropping cryptic hints on the official Halloween Horror Nights website. Throughout the summer, portions of that year’s experience are gradually revealed. Fans get together in person and on Internet forums to work out clues, share construction photos, and try to deduce what A & D has in mind.

By September, the website is complete. Commercials and billboards draw speculation from long-time fans and invite new horror seekers into the event. Anticipation reaches a fever pitch before the gates ever open on the first night.

Yet the pre-season build-up is only the beginning. From the opening show through the layout of each individual haunted house, all parts of the event are carefully crafted to build a multi-layered experience. Many people buy Frequent Fear passes, which allow them to return again and again all season, in order to truly examine all of the amazing details that work together to make HHN what it is.

6. Dynamic changes

Silent Night Psychotic NightAfter this sign was made, "Silent Night Psychotic Night" became "Psychoscareapy: Home for the Holidays."

Although it is more than 20 years old, Halloween Horror Nights is far from a static experience. Every year, the entire event is rebuilt from the ground up. In addition, HHN changes dynamically from night to night and sometimes even from hour to hour. Actors have a great deal of leeway to change up their performances. During the first weekends, legions of survey takers stand outside the houses, shows and scare zones to gain audience feedback. Stage managers and performance coaches walk through to find things that need tweaking, and they are open to actor suggestions.

All this adds up to a dynamic experience that does not allow the visitor to become complacent. No matter how many times you visit during a given year, you are always sure to find something new. This builds anticipation and excitement, keeps you slightly on edge, and prevents you from fully relaxing. Invariably, towards the end of the run, I eventually find myself perched on a park bench, chatting with friends about something completely unrelated to the event. The scareactors, who by this point recognize me, manage to sneak up while I’m paying no attention and give me an excellent scare!