REVIEW: Holidayz in Hell House Returns with Festive Scares for Halloween Horror Nights 2023 at Universal Studios Hollywood

Shannen Ace

REVIEW: Holidayz in Hell House Returns with Festive Scares for Halloween Horror Nights 2023 at Universal Studios Hollywood

Holidayz in Hell has returned for another year of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. The Holidayz in Hell scare zone debuted at Halloween Horror Nights 2018 before becoming a full house in 2019 and returning this year.

Holidayz in Hell

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From New Year’s Eve to Thanksgiving, your favorite holidays to celebrate with your friends are going to hell. ‘Tis the season to scream in this holiday nightmare. The scarier, the merrier.

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Guests journey through the holidays starting on New Year’s Eve, with a countdown on the entrance façade. You then go through the year one holiday at a time.

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The scares start outside with Father Time, a tall horned figure carrying a scythe with a clock on the end.

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In addition to taking you through the holidays, the house takes you through the decades. A skeletal 1920s partygoer is at the entrance.

Holidayz in Hell Halloween Horror Nights 2023 Universal Studios Hollywood 7
Holidayz in Hell Halloween Horror Nights 2023 Universal Studios Hollywood 9
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The featured holidays include Valentine’s Day, with Cupid cutting out a woman’s heart. Guests also “celebrate” St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas — each with its own grisly, monstrous version of a mascot, ending with Satan Claus.

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Review

Holidayz in Hell is a great original house. It’s not too scary, but has some good fun scares. You’ll be distracted by one thing and then something else gets you.

The St. Patrick’s Day leprechauns are terrifying if you catch them at the right time. Easter was just an okay section, while the 4th of July portion was intense. A guy who blew his legs off with fireworks tries to grab you.

The Halloween room got us both times we went through, even though we knew what was coming. Then you’re assaulted by the smell of turkey as a family is assaulted by a turkey.

It wasn’t our favorite house, but it was fun and interesting. We appreciate how much they use live Scareactors here instead of just props. We thought the man with his legs blown off was a mannequin – until he scared us. We also would expect Cupid to be ripping the heart out of a mannequin, not a live woman begging for your help. They made the experience more immersive and scary.

Walkthrough Video

Location

HHN 2023 USH Map

Holidayz in Hell is on the lower lot, near TRANSFORMERS: The Ride 3D.

Halloween Horror Nights 2023 runs on select nights through October 31.

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