Halloween Horror Nights Debuting Haunted Attractions Inspired by The Weeknd’s After Hours Album

The visuals on display in Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights attractions are a key component of the terror, but the music of the houses are what really take the unsettling experiences to new levels. To celebrate both of these components, Halloween Horror Nights announced that they have collaborated with The Weeknd for a new haunted house experience that is inspired by his After Hours album, making for an all-new kind of immersive and unsettling adventure. The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare will kick off on September 2nd at Universal Orlando Resort and on September 8th at Universal Studios Hollywood and run select nights through Monday, October 31st.

Per press release, “Global phenomenon, The Weeknd, is renowned for his groundbreaking music that blends daring, provocative lyrics with innovative sounds and ominous undertones. After Hours is The Weeknd’s fourth consecutive number one album and has spawned multiple chart-topping hits, including ‘Too Late,’ ‘Heartless,’ ‘In Your Eyes’ and the wildly popular single ‘Blinding Lights’ — which is ranked as the #1 Greatest Hot 100 Hit of All Time by Billboard. This fall, select tracks from the riveting album are being reimagined as a horror movie soundtrack for the outrageously haunting experience at Halloween Horror Nights.

“The dark undercurrent behind The Weeknd’s enigmatic persona will permeate the all-new Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses on both coasts. With the eerie sounds of After Hours reverberating throughout the experience, guests will step into a surreal living nightmare filled with grotesque characters and themes inspired by The Weeknd’s music and short films. As they’re stalked by slashers, bandaged maniacs, gruesome toad-like creatures, and other unfathomable horrors from the mind of the artist, guests will be challenged to survive the night while trapped within the terrifying, unexpected world of The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare — a place that only exists in The Weeknd’s vivid imagination and from which one may never escape.”

“I always wanted my own Halloween Horror Nights haunted house as Halloween has always been significant to my music, so this is a total dream come to life. I feel like my music videos have served as a launching pad for a collaboration like this, and I cannot wait for people to experience this madness!” said Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye in a statement.

“We are thrilled to take guests inside of the mind of The Weeknd, who is a Halloween Horror Nights fan himself,” John Murdy, Executive Producer of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, shared. 

Charles Gray, Senior Show Director for Entertainment Creative Development at Universal Orlando Resort, added, “This is an unprecedented haunted house that is going to shatter the expectations of our guests and immerse them in an unforgettable experience that is equally unexpected and terrifying.”

All tickets are on sale now for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort, which begins Friday, September 2nd — including online savings on single-night tickets and a variety of Frequent Fear Pass options that allow guests to experience the horror on multiple nights. Guests can also stay close to the screams with vacation packages that include hotel accommodations, one-night admission to the event, tickets to all three Universal Orlando theme parks, and benefits exclusive to Universal Orlando hotel guests, such as Early Park Admission to the theme parks during the day and access to a dedicated Halloween Horror Nights entry gate at night.Plus, guests can take their visit to the next level with upgrades such as the guided R.I.P. Tour, Express Pass, the daytime, lights-on Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour, and Scareactor Dining — where guests can fuel up for the fear with a themed dinner buffet and special photo ops with scareactors on select nights. Annual passholder discounts on select products are also now available, and Florida residents can save on vacation packages when they stay two nights or longer. 

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood begins on Thursday, September 8th, and all tickets to the terrifying event are now on sale. Tickets purchased online or at the Universal Studios Hollywood front gate provide guests with Early Event Admission to select houses, beginning at 6 p.m. each night of Halloween Horror Nights (subject to change). Universal Studios Hollywood offers a variety of Halloween Horror Nights ticket options, including General Admission, Universal Express, After 2 p.m. Day/Night, the premium R.I.P. Tour and popular passes, Frequent Fear and Ultimate Fear, which allow guests to experience the scares again and again. 

Both events will run select nights through Monday, October 31st, and more details and haunted houses will be revealed soon. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

Are you looking forward to this year’s event? Let us know in the comments or contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter to talk all things Star Wars and horror!