Back for it's 2nd Year, WB's Horror Made Here: Festival of Frights is significantly bigger than before! Guests arrive in a triage area with an opportunity for a red carpet photo next to a run-down carnival set. There are plenty of photo opportunities here. Guests enter the festival though the mouth of a mural of the Joker from the ARKHAM ASYLUM maze. You are greeted by killer clowns as you walk through the street and towards the main courtyard. Prior to reaching the courtyard, to the right of you is FANGTASIA; yes the bar from “True Blood” and may we say it is an ACTUAL Bar that serves True Blood! On the left is the Little Shop of Horrors, the Lost Boys Arcade, The Crave Inn Cafe, and a make up FX class. (CLICK FOR A FULL REVIEW of main attractions)
NIGHTMARE ON CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE is a fun walkthrough in the forest area of the backlot. Visitors must board the tram located at the end of the street where Fangtasia is. WB is the only studio around with it's own legitimate forest; so it is appropriately themed. The maze name suggests exactly what you think it does! Guests encounter victims and adolescents being pursued by Jason Voorhees. If you thought you escaped this nightmarish camp, you wake up in a Nightmare with Freddy Kruger invading your space. This is a great hybrid maze that combines two of the most iconic horror villains.
THE CONJURING UNIVERSE is an improvement lengthwise and content wise from the previous year. Visitors walkthrough the sets and house portrayed in the films and find themselves immersed between “The Conjuring” and “Annabelle” movies. Demonic activities that are present causes things in the house to move including impressive sets such as The Relic Room and Annabelle's Bedroom. Let's see if you can get through without being haunted by one of the villains from the universe.
ARKHAM ASYLUM is a dream come true for hardcore Batman fanatics. Though the caped crusader did not make an appearance, we were completely okay geeking out outside the maze where the Batmobile can be found for photo-ops. Once we entered the Asylum gates, we get our photo taken in a lineup just like any prisoner. Dr. Harleen Quinzel then takes you to meet the Joker who is dressed as a judge presides over your fate; classic Mr. J for him to assume another character. As you proceed down the elevator, you'll have to survive walking through the Asylum warding off the prisoners. A couple of them seem a bit familiar as one is “two-faced” and the other looked a lot like the good Dr. Harleen Quinzel whom we've met a moments ago.
IT KNOWS WHAT SCARES YOU is a more refined version of the “IT Experience” and the “IT” maze last year. Utlizing the same facade, the entrance is now through the back of the Neibolt House. The house, seemed to go on forever this year and you are met by Pennywise on the loose as well as Georgie and members of the Loser's Club trying to help you on your way. The sets are much bigger this year and it is muce spacious. We felt this was the best maze of the night.
THE
EXORCIST: FORBIDDEN SCREENING puts you in a church where you screen scenes from “The Exorcist” with certain sets that move according to the scenes from the movie. Things may shake and things may break, and Pazuzu may make an appearance at this holy church service screening. Good luck trying to make the next service.
THE OTHER ATTRACTIONS include a squabble between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford on the main stage vs the first year where they were in front of a theatre in the backlot. DJ Ricky Rocks spins music all night, also on the main stage in the courtyard. There is also a ride in the middle of the courtyard called DEVIL DROP, where rides are taken up in the air where they can see the roofs of building they get dropped down...to hell. Lastly, Stage 48 features a Tim Burton exhibit showcasing Sweeney Todd, The Corpse Bride, Mars Attacks! and for the first time ever, original props from the Halloween classic, Beetlejuice. Of course there are food vendors and snack vendors all around the courtyard and for a boost of energy; guests can enjoy beans from the Central Perk cafe from the “Friends” TV series. All in all, the mazes are shorter than the ones found at Universal or Knott's. However, the lines are shorter and tickets are not mass produced since the studio lot is not as big. This gives it a more intimate feeling and a chance to take in/explore and enjoy the attractions more. We were most impressed by the décor and sets used; if we didn't know better we would've thought we were in the actual movie.
(Click on Image for Photo-Journal) https://www.wbstudiotour.com/horror-made-here
(Click on Image for Photo-Journal) https://www.wbstudiotour.com/horror-made-here
