Wooden carnival stage labeled "Five Girls, The Fanciful Feats of Ferocious Flame" with doors and a Union Jack flag on the right side. Decorated with vintage circus signs, a small pumpkin, and enough nightmare fuel to last until Halloween.

‘Nocturnal Circus’ is Not Your Grandma’s ‘Nightmare Fuel’ at Halloween Horror Nights 33

Shannen Ace

Enter your worst nightmares with this year’s Halloween Horror Nights stage show, “Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus.” This is the fourth version of the award-winning HHN show.

‘Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus’

Nightmare Fuel Nocturnal Circus" written in bold, Gothic-style text with dark, smokey, and fiery background elements, perfect for Halloween Horror Nights.

Step right up to a dark circus, a new nightmare that carries with it a sinister curse. It’s a thrilling spectacle of pyro and aerialists.

“Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus” is performed at 8 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 11 p.m., and 12:30 a.m. during Halloween Horror Nights.

Review of ‘Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus’

Outdoor stage set decorated with circus-themed elements and autumnal accents, featuring just enough nightmare fuel to keep things thrilling. Audience visible in the foreground, bathed in eerie lighting that suggests an evening performance.

No photography or video recording is allowed during the show but we could take pictures of the stage before it started. Predictably, it has circus-like theming. Two set pieces resemble circus wagons. Platforms to the sides of the stage feature triangle patterns and stars on top.

A rustic stage is set with a wooden carnival wagon labeled "Magic Macabre Maze," surrounded by stage lights and props. The scene feels like nightmare fuel under a partly covered outdoor area, with trees looming in the background.

This wagon advertises “Magic of the Macabre,” “Phantasms,” and “Astounding Animals.” Jack-o’-lanterns are between lights at the edge of the stage.

A stage with a dark whimsical design—bordering on nightmare fuel—features pumpkin decorations, diamond patterns, gears, and various signs. A marquee-like structure serves as the main focus, framed by theatrical lighting.

The center of the stage features a colorful but weathered circus marquee and banners.

Wooden carnival stage labeled "Five Girls, The Fanciful Feats of Ferocious Flame" with doors and a Union Jack flag on the right side. Decorated with vintage circus signs, a small pumpkin, and enough nightmare fuel to last until Halloween.

The second wagon advertises the Fuel Girls, the name of the real-life fire-wielding act that performs in “Nightmare Fuel.”

The show opens on a dark and stormy Halloween when the Nocturnal Circus came to town. The main character explains that he was cursed to relive the night over and over, seeing the love of his life die a hundred times, a hundred different ways. But this time, he vows to save her.

The show features pyrotechnics, stunts, aerial dancers, and rock music. In keeping with the circus theme, sometimes the performers are dressed like mimes and clowns. Sometimes they have flaming swords. The hero tries to save his love from being cut in half during a magic trick.

As always, the “Nightmare Fuel” cast is immensely talented. Their dedication to their craft is apparent. Their technical expertise is top-notch. Familiar faces do familiar stunts.

That said, “Nocturnal Circus” is not the “Nightmare Fuel” you’re used to. The last couple of years felt tired since they were re-hashes of the original show. But this is new and a refreshing change of pace.

The new storyline is engaging and easy to follow. You know from the start it’s a tragedy, but with a glimmer of hope. The story fits with the overarching theme of the houses this year. We leave the horror behind but it persists. The evil, the sorrow, the brutality. We survive but there’s nothing we can do to save anyone else.

The magic trick enthusiast in our group felt some of the tricks were a downgrade from last year. But they were still impressive.

“Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus” is worth your time. Though we usually only see “Nightmare Fuel” once per Halloween Horror Nights season, we will return to watch this one.

Rating out of 7: 7

Location of ‘Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus’

“Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus” is located at the Fear Factor Live stage, at P on the map below.

Official map of Universal Studios Florida's amusement park with labeled attractions, pathways, and water features marked by colored letters and numbers. Key areas include green dots for attractions and red bars for pathways, perfect for navigating during Halloween Horror Nights.

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