A compilation of five images showcasing various Halloween scenes and costumes, including a woman dressed as a doll, spooky decor in a scarezone, eerie characters in creepy costumes, and a distraught woman in a gruesome outfit reminiscent of Halloween Horror Nights 33.

Ranking All the Scare Zones at Halloween Horror Nights 33

Katie Francis

Alongside the ten haunted houses and one stage show, Halloween Horror Nights 33 features five scare zones. These scare zones are areas of the park with a specific theme and decor, plus Scareactors who roam the area to spook guests.

Halloween Horror Nights 33 Scare Zone Ranking

We’ve ranked this year’s scare zones here from our least favorite to our favorite, with photos, a full zone walkthrough video, backstory, and more.

Duality of Fear

An abstract artwork for the "Duality of Fear" scarezone featuring a split face; one side is vibrant and the other side is cracked and muted against a colorful, textured background.

As soon as you enter the gates of Halloween Horror Nights, you must choose a path: follow SINIST3R, the manifestation of visceral horror. Or follow SURR3AL,the incarnation of unearthly terror.

Backstory

The Duality of Fear scare zone is our introduction to this year’s icons, Sinist3r and Surr3al. The two sisters were brought into our world from a rift between universes caused by HHN guests.

Two individuals in detailed, fantasy-themed costumes stand under purple lighting near an illuminated store at night. Other people, some holding light-up accessories, are visible in the background. The scene captures the eerie ambiance of Halloween Horror Nights 33's scarezone.

Over the last 33 years, the fear and screams of guests have fed an “overgrowth” until said overgrowth ripped a hole in the fabric between their world and ours.

People in zombie costumes with chainsaws participate in a street event, turning it into a scarezone reminiscent of Halloween Horror Nights 33. Other individuals walk along the street, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Now, they’re here to expand their realms of physical pain (Sinist3r) and psychological horror (Surr3al) at Halloween Horror Nights.

Review

This “scare zone” is a joke. It’s not a zone. Not really. When you think of a Halloween Horror Nights scare zone, you expect decorations, theming, and Scareactors. Ever since they had to move this zone to the very front of the park (the “front lot”) instead of the former Plaza of the Stars (now Illumination Avenue and home to Minion Land), this scare zone has suffered.

People in elaborate costumes with glowing lights on a dimly lit street at night create the perfect scarezone. Red fog and vibrant street decorations add to the festive, mysterious atmosphere, making Halloween Horror Nights 33 an unforgettable experience.

But at least last year, for Dr. Oddfellow, they had props, actors, and a mini-show. This year, there are Sinist3r and Surr3al (sometimes!) and about six people in lieu of a chainsaw drill team (which is another complaint. Chainsaw Team used to mean something! Not to be all Old Man Yells at Cloud, but it’s been a part of the event from the very early days, and now we’re down to six chainsaw-wielders).

The chainsaw team is spread out most of the time, with a couple creeping toward Illumination Avenue, and a few wandering around Rodeo Drive.

A person dressed in a purple and black outfit, wearing a mask and holding a chainsaw, stands on a sidewalk near a café with outdoor seating, creating an eerie atmosphere reminiscent of Halloween Horror Nights 33's scarezone.

Scareactors, this is not on you. We see you out there doing your best with what you have. It’s just that they gave you so very little.

People walk through a scarezone in an outdoor entertainment area at night, with colorful lights illuminating a stage setup and palm trees in the background, reminiscent of Halloween Horror Nights 33.

Sinist3r and Surr3al are fun, but there’s still not much for them to work with. After they host the Opening Scaremonies, they spend time on the ground interacting with guests in the scare zone. This works to introduce them to the guests, but whereas Oddfellow had a whole little performance in addition to his time on the ground with guests and props that expanded his story, Sinist3r and Surr3al have… different colored fabric draped over the truss bases (insert sad trombone).

And they are only there during certain parts of the night, because each makes appearances in their respective scare zones as well. So there are large chunks of the night where you walk under the glorious sign and trusses with… no one there. Then, if you’re lucky, you’ll run into a chainsaw or two on your way to other things.

This is sad. And there’s certainly no scare going on in this scare zone.

Rating out of 7: 1

Video

Watch our video walkthrough of Duality of Fear below, including Sinist3r and Surr3al interacting with guests.

Location

Duality of Fear is located at the park entrance. Find it on the map at K.

Enter the Blumhouse

Poster showing four characters from horror movies with the text "Enter the Blumhouse" at the top. The background has a dark, eerie tone with fog, inviting you to experience the spine-chilling world of Enter the Blumhouse.

Escape a terrifying gauntlet of Blumhouse characters. From sinister sadists from The Purge and Black Phone to M3GAN dancing into your nightmares, you’ve never known horror like this.

Backstory

There isn’t one. This scare zone is just packed with Blumhouse characters for you to take selfies.

Review

I can’t believe I ranked this higher than Duality of Fear. I fully expected this scare zone to be the dud this year — but Duality added insult to injury. However, this is still bad. It’s the Photo Op Zone. Somehow, it still manages to be an absolute bottleneck even though there are only a few free-roaming Scareactors (and none of them are the In Demand characters; they smartly kept those confined to the stages).

Here, you can see your favorite characters from Blumhouse movies (like the Betsy Ross purger from “The Purge” franchise, the Uncle Sam purger from “The Purge” franchise, or the Man With a Mask from… “The Purge” franchise) as they repeat the same handful of pre-approved poses for selfies and TikTokers, while their eyes scream help me. I thought we were supposed to be the ones screaming.

Anyway.

Featured on the stages are The Grabber from “The Black Phone,” M3gan from “M3gan,” the creepy construction guy from “The Forever Purge” (does this guy have a name? Sorry, y’all, I skipped this movie. Not even HHN can make me watch another Purge movie.), and the Blissfield Butcher from “Freaky.”

Roaming the streets are “The Candy Girl,” the man with the horned mask, Betsey Ross, Uncle Sam, and more from “The Purge” franchise; Tree Gelbman and the Baby Face Killer from “Happy Death Day;” Vance Hopper and Finney Blake from “The Black Phone;” and Millie Kessler from “Freaky.”

A person with long blond hair in a light-colored outfit, a blue and white striped shirt, and a large striped bow stands in front of a dark background with large blue and white letters, evoking the eerie atmosphere of Halloween Horror Nights 33.

The costumes are nice, and the Scareactors embody their characters as much as they can with their limited space and props. The rest of the scare zone is big plain supports for trusses and some projections of Blumhouse titles. And fog; can’t forget fog. You can’t tell how few Scareactors are out if they pump enough fog in, after all.

This location has been notoriously hard to navigate, and I get wanting to reduce the risk of incidents by limiting the amount of Scareactors. We’re all for Scareactor safety, and no one wants a repeat of All Nite Die-In. Maybe it’s time to admit that even the little stretch of South Street by Sting Alley was a better scare zone than San Francisco. (Or, you know, add more props and scenery, and stop making this Synergy: The Scare zone. Looking at you, Crypt TV/Rob Zombie).

A figure in a tattered dress with a mask and large hammer prowls through a foggy, dimly lit scarezone with colorful lights, while people walk in the background at night. It's Halloween Horror Nights 33 at its eerie best.

I could sit here and pitch ideas to improve this scare zone or new locations for a zone so we can retire San Francisco all day. But at the end of it, it doesn’t change that this year, we have Enter the Blumhouse, to which I have to say: don’t. And if you do, quickly Exit the Blumhouse because there’s nothing here for you except for the distant sound of “Turn Down for What,” which is inexplicably still playing even though Supercharged is closed.

Rating out of 7: 2

Video

Location

Enter the Blumhouse is located in San Francisco. Find it on the map at M. (Side note: I like how on the map they make it look smaller than Duality because, technically, the chainsaw peeps can roam onto Rodeo Drive a little. Like, c’mon.)

Demon Queens

Demon Queens" logo in stylized text against a dark cosmic background with silhouettes of three pointed structures above the text.

Get caught in an otherworldly hellscape ripped from the darkest corners of your mind. Four merciless queens loyal to SURR3AL rule, surrounded by hordes of fanatical followers.

Backstory

Surr3al has summoned her four queens, each who abstractly represents various psychological or physical phobias. Portals have appeared where their minions emerge, tormenting victims by playing into their darkest fears, like being watched, confinement, and more.

Review

It gets better from here, y’all. Demon Queens works. Is it a little corny? Sure is. Does it reuse a lot of old costumes? Yep. But it doesn’t matter because the Scareactors are vibing with their roles, and as usual, the setup of this zone allows for some good jump scares.

Surr3al gets to take the stage here on a large float-like platform (since the larger props have to be moveable in this zone in order to accommodate the Mega Movie Parade). Instead of a firm script, her show leans more on audience interaction. Unfortunately, that also means it falls flat if the audience doesn’t interact.

A dark, eerie parade float illuminated with blue lights moves through a foggy street at night during Halloween Horror Nights 33, featuring intricate designs and costumed performers.

When they do, she coaxes guests into revealing their fears and taunts them. While she commands everyone’s attention, the various Queens and minions can sneak up behind unsuspecting victims.

The props and costumes here are very silly in a sci-fi B-movie way. With the fog and the lighting, it just works. The four Queens have over-the-top headpieces, much like the two Icons themselves, and move in an ethereal manner. The ghouls and minions of each queen aren’t afraid to get up close to unsettle you, and they interact with each other and the Queens for further entertainment.

Performers in elaborate costumes stand on a spooky, creatively decorated float with eerie lighting effects and fog, perfect for the scarezone at Halloween Horror Nights 33.

It’s a basic concept with a story that’s easy to follow if you listen to Surr3al for a few minutes. There are some cool lighting effects, and the Scareactors have effective opportunities that aren’t tied to sound cues, offering more creativity. It could have used more props, but it suffers the curse of being on the parade route.

Rating out of 7: 4

Video

Location

Demon Queens is located in Hollywood. Find it on the map at O.

Swamp of the Undead

Image features a graphic text "Swamp of the Undead" in green, slime-like font with a frog and a zombie hand in the background, reminiscent of Star Wars Merchandise.

In backwaters Louisiana, you unwittingly wander onto private property, where you’re swamped by zombies borne from the bodies of other trespassers who were killed and dumped in a nearby bog.

Backstory

Deep in the swamp is a cabin, whose owner has seemingly installed the bayou version of a moat with sharks: a bog full of zombies. The cabin is home to a bootlegger who feeds the bodies of those who don’t keep his secrets (or those who trespass — like us) to the swamp.

Review

This was nearly a tie with Torture Faire. Unfortunately, like many of the zones, I have to dock points for the inherent issues caused by the location. Universal, if you’re not going to give us an HHN lagoon show (RIP Ghoulish), can’t the Central Park zone expand into Central Park? It’s not even a Stay and Scream location this year.

Make it a maze! Force guests to go up and around each path, so it keeps that nice, claustrophobic feeling but lasts longer because the zones here are always so gorgeous; we just want more.

Swamp of the Undead does what its predecessors have established as the best practice here and leans heavily into the existing foliage and close quarters. This year, there’s a truly hefty dose of fog. The visibility is sometimes as short-ranged as your outstretched arm. And if you’re wondering, “Did I just get sprayed with water?” Well, yes, you’re at Universal.

Jokes aside, they make it really swampy with misters. It is damp — dare I say it’s moist. Photographers, be warned, you may think you’re stepping into a convenient little space that no one is using as a hiding spot, but you’re actually just about to stand in front of a mister and regret your life choices.

It’s worth it, though. The swamp is beautiful, with thick foliage, perfect ambiance sounds, and a bunch of ugly zombies. (You’re all beautiful, Scareactors, and your costumes are just too effective.) And the zone is flush with zombies, so as you tiptoe through the blinding fog, you’re always close to an encounter. The huge airboat and cabin are very cool as far as sets go.

Rating out of 7: 6

Video

Location

Swamp of the Undead is located in Central Park. Find it on the map at N.

Torture Faire

A banner with "Torture Faire" written in stylized, blood-dripping text against an aged parchment background, featuring bloodstains and a bloodied axe.

Come one, come all, to SINIST3R’s renaissance faire with the devious theme of medieval torture. Brave the gloriously gory homemade torture devices ‘til you’re put out of your misery.

Backstory

We’re guests at a modern-day twisted Renaissance Festival themed to medieval torture. Unbeknownst to us, the Torture Faire is being run by devotees of Sinist3r to feed her need to cause physical torment. The torture devices have been upgraded and are being used on guests at the Faire.

The torturers serve the King and Queen, who put on a show with Sinist3r as they sacrifice guests for her. Victims roaming the street have been branded with her symbol as well.

Review

Since I addressed location with the others, I’ll say this here: New York is the superior scare zone spot. It has enough space for multiple stages or large props, and as long as it’s well-stocked with Scareactors, something about this zone has always inspired more improv and depth. These Scareactors are playing specific roles that they’ve given some thought and heart. They’re not just trying to jumpscare you (though they definitely will if they think it’ll work).

A little peasant boy with a turkey leg hid behind me and begged me to keep him safe from one of the Jokers. The victims plead for help and the torturers threaten. They interact with the little sets, adding depth to the scenery. It’s not just a display at Halloween Horror Nights, it’s a display at a twisted Renaissance Festival.

In the scarezone at Halloween Horror Nights 33, a costumed person hangs upside down tied to a wheel with an apple in their mouth, surrounded by Halloween-themed decorations, eerie fog, and a target board with apples.

Also, as an HHN veteran, I can say this: the sets, especially the Aim & Maim, are some of the most unsettling things I’ve seen at the event. I often wonder if HHN has desensitized me to gore and violence, and then they add pneumatics to make the living victim twitch in sync with audio as arrows pierce his body. I got a little disturbed filming it.

If you want to watch someone get their tongue cut out or have their organs eaten by rats, go to the Torture Faire! It’ll be fun!

Other highlights are the torturers dressed as Knights, both of the armored variety and the chess-based Horse variety), the Sinist3r 33 symbol on the Jokers’ brand, and the fact that you can be given mini quests. No, I’m not joking. (At least at the time of publication. This seems like one of those things that might go away as the season goes on if guests start to abuse it). I personally did not do one, but for those who enjoy that kind of thing, it’s a luck-of-the draw activity. If you hang around and interact, a Scareactor might send you on a quest.

Outdoor themed performance area with stage labeled "Torture Faire," colorful barricade in the foreground, plus costumed actors and visitors in the background; perfect for Halloween Horror Nights 33 and an eerie scarezone experience.

Also, we asked several RIP guides, and they have said that if the Terra Cruentus symbol on one of the barricades has a deeper meaning, they weren’t told. It’s likely just an Easter egg. (Or is it? After finding out that there was a 33 hidden on the license plate of Major Sweets’ truck in 2022, signaling his return this year, I do not trust anything anymore.)

Rating out of 7: 7

Video

Location

Torture Faire is located in New York. Find it on the map at L.

Scare Zone Map

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.

More Halloween Horror Nights 33 Reviews

We reviewed all ten haunted houses at Halloween Horror Nights 33:

A collage of food items includes a drink in a bulb-shaped container, ice cream, a hot dog, snacks, a milkshake, and a dessert resembling a person. Various colorful foods and drinks are visible, perfect for Halloween Horror Nights. A feast where you can eat & drink to your heart's content!

We also tried all the new food and drinks available around the event and compiled them in one place so you can plan your night.

For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.