Terror Tram

On previous posts, I have talked about Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) and all of the different things that the event holds. For a general overview check out this one. For a specific on Scare Zones, check out this one here. To continue this trend, I'd like to specifically talk about Universal's Terror Tram.

IF you have ever been to Universal, then you know about their famous back-lot tour, or you have at least seen its sets on film. You ride around on the tram and see all of these sets, and famous locations from your favorite movies. It's entertaining, funny, and a great experience for any movie lover. However, when the sun goes down in October, it is transformed into something completely different. Instead of riding on this tram, you get off, walk through the sets, and are chased by scare actors, many wielding chainsaws, along the way.

Each set is decked out with lights, fog, other props, such as ambulances. And small building like structures are even set up along the trail. Around each corner, scare actors walk side by side you, trying their best to terrify you. There are limited lights, and the area is wooded. You cant go back, and the only way to escape it, is by going through all of it.
Here are a few examples, just to set the scene for you.

Now putting aside this amazing scenery, you are actually setting foot on the property which many famous films were created. That in itself is worth the experience. You get to see sets such as...

The house from the famous black and white film, Psycho:

The War of The Worlds plane wreck:

Normal Day Time View

View during HHN

This attraction and opportunity is enough reason alone for many fans to come to the event. Nothing is better than going on a hike out in the wooded back-lot and being chased the entire way by individuals who are trained to terrify you to your core. 

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Vampires

Many years ago, vampires were seen as a dark and intense creature who lurked in the night. With monsters such as Dracula, portrayed in Bram Stoker's novel, or in the classic Universal film, or even earlier, Nosferatu. Through out the years the were many recreations om these tales. Thing such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or even Disney's, Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire.

As years went by, these creatures were slowly transformed into something different. Now, a days, if you look up vampires, you're bound to see at least a few sparkly Twilight, or Vampire Diaries characters.

Every Halloween, a Vampire is still among the most popular costumes. You can't go out on Halloween night without seeing one. While, you still have your young kids, or enthusiastic adults, who wear the costume, a black cape, white face paint with eyeliner, fangs, and a little fake blood, many do not go to this extreme. Some simply wear some cheap fangs, or some dark clothes. If you want to go this route, here's a few really simple ways to do it right.

Go to any Halloween shop, Hot Topic or their website here, and pick up some ScareCrow fangs. They run for about $20, depending on where you go. These work great. Instead of those cheap fangs, they hurt your gums, and look like crap, these are high quality and they actually look like your teeth.

All you do, is take out the two teeth pieces, and set them aside, take out the packet of beads. You boil these beads, and they become a type of gummy mold. Put a small amount into the tooth piece, and stick the still warm mold, into your tooth. Hold it there until it cools, and you'll have a perfect fit. These pieces pop right onto your tooth, come right off, look just like your normal teeth,  and are comfortable. There will be some extra dry mold sticking off the sides, but that can easily be cleared off. The other good thing, is that if for some reason the mold would come loose from the tooth, or you do it wrong, it can easily be reboiled, and used again.

This is my favorite element of any vampire, and it's cheap and easy to pull off. Next up, make it original. There is nothing that can not be added to a set of fangs. A mask, or a suit even.

Vampires can go many ways. Take inspiration from one of the originals if that is what you prefer, or be creative and produce a completely new character.

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Face Off

Have you ever put on makeup for Halloween? Or even for recreational fun? That is exactly what the television show does. However, they take it to a new extreme. Face Off is a show where makeup/ special FX artists show case their skills by creating full body makeups, based off of challenges that they receive. While, they cover a wide variety of of genres, and often many new and unique ideas, horror is a common idea.

Throughout all of the seasons, you can be sure to expect a horror challenge. In movies, horror is the genre that uses makeup to its full extent. How else can you create amazing monsters to star in films?

Here are some examples of horror makeups created in this show.

The last image has even been showcased in a haunt. 2 years ago, Face Off teamed up with Universal Studio's Halloween Horror Nights, in order to produce a horror challenge. The contestants had to create 2 corresponding characters, that could be placed inside one of H.H.N's mazes. Universal Monster Remix. This is the first time this was ever done. And I got the chance to see them in person, when I attended the event that year.

Face Off often brings famous horror makeup producers onto the show, in order for them to give the contestants a little advice about the said challenge. This is great not only for them, but for any fan at home who is interested in the subject.

Many people aspire to be makeup artists for horror, or any other type of movies. Or even just something that you do in your free time. Either way, watching this show can be a great inspiration. To see their talents, and all the amazing things that can be done with some clay, molds, prognostics, makeup, and pure skill, is mind blowing.

Face Off is a show that can directly connect many people to a special interest of theirs. If you are one of these people? Check out the new season, airing in July on SYFY. You can check out more show information here at their website.

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Nightmare on Elm Street

Nightmare on Elm Street is an extremely popular slasher film. This is a film that needs no description. Rather you like horror movies or not, there is a very high chance that you have heard of it.

It mixes a common fear, dark horror and a unique character, to produce a memorable movie.

This franchise is not one of my favorites, but it has its good qualities. There is of course the unique main character, but also, great environments, story lines, and plot twists.

My most credible form of evidence in support of this film, is that it was transformed into a full size detailed, maze. This shows just how great the environments are.

There are boiler rooms:

Schools: 

and of course...

bedrooms:

Throughout the entire franchise, there are many great scenes. 

In another post, I talked about the film series Halloween, and how it is so popular that you can't walk into a Halloween store, or haunted house, without seeing the main character. When movies become so liked, they become forever engraved in the horror community. This franchise did just that. 

We all have nightmares every so often. And this is what this movie takes advantage of. We've all woke up, sweaty from our restless sleep, terrified of what your mind has just conjured up, terrified to go back to sleep. This film captures this essence, and adds an extra dose of fear. 

Nightmare on Elm Street is a film franchise that will forever live in infamy. 

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Stereotypical Horror

We've all had a time when we went to the theater, excited to see a new horror movie, and it is a complete disappointment. Not necessarily a bad film, but maybe you expected it to be a little more original. You feel like you've been shown the same old stuff.

We all know how these films go, a girl is alone in her home, she hears a noise, and for some profound reason, she decides to go towards it. The crowd sighs, and the villain appears. In her shock, the girl screams, and runs right past the front door, and instead, goes sprinting up the stairs, to a place where we know she'll never escape.

Now, while this often happens in horror films, it doesn't mean that it is always a bad thing. If pulled off correctly, or even by adding a small about of original content, this can be a great scene. 

There are many examples of scenarios like this. Say a girl is running through the woods, we all know whats going to happen, she'll trip and fall, somehow giving the walking villain time to catch up. It happens so often in fact, that I personally sometimes feel shocked if it doesn't occur. 

While this can sometimes be an issue for some people, it has becomes a notable signature of horror, for things like this to happen. In my opinion, it adds a bit of reality  to the movie. If you're being chased, you're going to make some dumb decisions. If you're running through the tree covered forest, you're going to trip.

Like every single genre of film, horror has its defining characteristics. Stereotypes are put into place for a reason.

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Remakes vs. Original Films

Recently there has been discussion that all horror movies are remakes, or rehashes of the same thing. This does happen a lot, but there are also plenty of new unique films released every year.

Every few years, a remake is created. Rather it be Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, or any other classic or well known film. On the other hand, every other month there is a completely new and
unique movie released! The two sides outweigh each other.

Here are the remakes that are expected to be released in the next two years.

• Poltergeist
• The Mummy
• Ghostbusters (If you count this as horror)
• Cabin Fever
• Friday The 13th

Now these are the only notable classic or well known properties that I could come up with. Now I may be missing a few so just to make it fair, i'll also include some sequels.

• Insidious Chapter 3
• Sinister 2
• Prometheus 2
• The Purge 3
• Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension
• The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist
• Amityville: The Awakening

Now I'll a brief and extremely incomplete list of NEW and UNIQUE movies will be released in the new 2 years.

• The Pyramid
• Extraterrestrials
• Let Us Prey
• Seventh Son
• The Lazarus Effect
• Crimson Peak
• Spectacle
• Rings
• The Last Witch Hunter
• Before I wake
• The Visit
• Regression
• Dark Was The Night
• Silent Retreat
• Asmodexia
• Unfriended
• The Gallows
• Krampus
• Maggi
• It Follows
• Dead Rising
• 31
• Abattoir
• Clown

As you can see, this list could continue for a while. By no means are either lists fully complete. However, you could even look for yourself, and see that there is a vast amount of new conceptual films coming out. While just a few remakes are being produced.

Now this begs a new question, while also addressing the other side of this discussion. Why are remakes perceived as a bad thing? I see absolutely no issue with them in the first place. If a movie is so popular, famous, unique, and solid that it can be made again, with fresh ideas, and new individuals, then more power to them.

When it comes to this battle, I think that both sides have equal footing and reason for their opinion. No matter the case, enjoy movies, no matter if they're brand new, or remade. Because in the end, it IS a brand new production, with new efforts and passions put into it.

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Texas Chainsaw Masacre

Texas Chainsaw Masacre is right up there with the top few classic slasher movies. It's also known as one of the most gory and "messed up" films. This movies is one of the few who really started this "new" style of horror. Apart from the classic movie monsters, slashers are what really pushed horror forward. This franchise deserves credit, in my opinion.

Starting with the original version, this movie terrified its viewers. Leatherface, the chainsaw wielding main character struck fear into everyone. As the franchise evolved into what it is today, so did the genre.

This has always been one of my favorites. And it is actually one of the few cases, where I like the new remake more than the original. To see how far the franchise has grown is astounding.  To the left is the original movie poster, and to the right is the brand new version made in 2013.










 This has started off as a small time, lower budget film, and turned into a headlining star of the horror genre. It has been featured at major horror attractions (HHN), and Leatherface costumes can be found at any costume store. It has by far exceeded expectations. And an amazing legacy has been created. There are few that have not seen the films, and even fewer who have never heard of the franchise.

Every installment of Texas Chainsaw brings a new element, and will always be my favorite of all horror. I'm not easy to startle, but Leatherface manages to encompass every aspect that is perfect for terrifying viewers.

There are of course specific aspects of the film, besides the main character that have always stuck with me, and one, is the sounds. The soundtrack to this film is eerie from start to finish. And even more specifically, there is shutter effect in the film that has always caused a chill to run down my spin ever since I was little. You can hear what I'm talking about here.

Texas Chainsaw is a must see for any horror enthusiast, simply because it is a classic.

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