Universal Studios: ‘Halloween’ house rounds off Halloween Horror Nights lineup

“Halloween” is coming to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida.

The 1978 slasher film, directed by John Carpenter, will be the basis of a haunted house at this year’s Horror Nights, Universal Orlando said late Wednesday. The movie is known for introducing the character of Michael Myers, a masked mass murderer.

“Guests will come face-to-face with Michael Myers as we re-create the kills committed the night he came home,” said Michael Aiello, director of entertainment — creative development at Universal.

Sister park Universal Studios Hollywood had success with a “Halloween” house a few years ago, he said.

“It’s our holy grail of horror films. It started the slasher genre and did it so well,” he said. “It has all the right pieces essential to make a great horror maze — great character, inventive kills, really great story and iconic music.”

The “Halloween”-inspired house is the eighth maze announced for Halloween Horror Nights, which runs on 26 nights between Sept. 19 and Nov. 1. Horror Nights visitors must purchase admission separate from regular park admission. Ticket prices vary, depending on the date. The one-night base price is $95.99, but a single-night visit, purchased in advance, can be as low as $45.99. A 22-night pass with front-of-line access costs $254.99.

The design for this year’s “Halloween” house will be similar to the one for last year’s maze based on the film “An American Werewolf in London.”

“We’re going to take you on a literal, linear quest through ‘Halloween,’ beginning with the facade of the Myers home,” Aiello said.

The villain’s various kills will be represented, including the one in the kitchen “where Myers did that famous head tilt that everyone knows,” Aiello said. The house will represent only the original “Halloween” film, not its sequels or remakes.

Other houses will be based on licensed properties “The Walking Dead,” an AMC zombie drama; “From Dusk Till Dawn,” a vampire series on the El Rey network; and the film “Alien vs. Predator.” Original houses will be based on Dracula, cannibals, evil clowns and a devious dollhouse.

“Obviously we want to attract people to this event, and a great way to do that is with recognizable brands that people love already,” Aiello said. But Universal also tries to balance those properties with original fare, he said.

“That’s probably the hardest step in this process, and it’s also the first one so that we can really make sure that … we’re delivering on the expectation of what people know from Halloween Horror Nights but also surprise them with some things,” Aiello said.

The event’s street experiences — commonly referred to as scare zones — include areas based on the Syfy series “Face Off” and “The Purge: Anarchy” film. Other scare zones feature voodoo practitioners and ballroom dancers whose faces appear to be ripped off.

Stage shows “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure” and “Rocky Horror Picture Show — a Tribute” will again be part of the event.