Halloween Kills - JFI Productions - Immersive Horror - Universal Studios - Haddonfield Kills: The Hunt for Michael Myers

Haddonfield Kills: The Hunt for Michael Invited Us to Join a Mob This Halloween

Below is our review of Haddonfield Kills: The Hunt for Michael, an immersive activation produced by JFI Productions on the Universal Studios backlot. While the experience has now concluded, we have included minor spoilers below to showcase the experience as well as JFI’s prowess. Further, all pictures below were taken by Jeremey Connors–please check out his other work.

 

Halloween Kills - JFI Productions - Immersive Horror - Universal Studios - Haddonfield Kills

Photo by Jeremey Connors

 

“This is our town!” A man, emboldened by the mob surrounding him, shouts. “Tonight, we take it back.” The crowd cheers in unison. We all have weapons. We’re tired of the boogeyman haunting this town; the blackest eyes, the devil’s eyes hiding among the darkness. It’s Halloween night, if we stay as a group, we’ll be okay. Right? “Oh shit.” A girl screams. “It’s him!” I turn and look into the distance. Under a glow of a singular streetlight stands The Shape—his white mask punctuating the blackness. The sight of him is enough; the group scatters, like leaves in the autumn wind, as Michael Myers disappears from view.

Haddonfield Kills: The Hunt for Michael was a one-day immersive experience hosted by Universal Studios and produced by JFI Productions. The Universal backlot was transformed into the town of Haddonfield, Illinois, and influencers and press were invited to join a mob to hunt down Michael before he kills—and kills—again. While the experience only clocks in at fifteen minutes (plus a tram ride), JFI expertly frames true terror against small moments of respite to create a dynamic experience that transports participants into the world of Michael Myers. Complete with stunts, gorgeous sets, and powerful acting, this is an experience I wish everyone could have attended.

 

Halloween Kills - JFI Productions - Immersive Horror - Universal Studios - Haddonfield Kills

Photo by Jeremey Connors

 

Haddonfield Kills: The Hunt for Michael mirrors the plot of the upcoming Halloween Kills film, placing us as main characters in our own movie. Participants are invited to join a mob with the goal of hunting down Michael. Imbuing us with purpose and providing us with safety in numbers, it is the perfect start to an experience in which dread replaces boldness as our group is picked off one by one by the infamous killer. Haddonfield Kills: The Hunt for Michael shows first-hand that you can’t kill the boogeyman. Even after burning a home—with Michael in it—he emerges unharmed. The experience ends with an exciting fight between our mob and Michael Myers as the mob uses wooden planks, crowbars, and knives against Myers. Yet, as everyone deserves one good scare, Michael returns, proving that this is not the last we’ve seen of him.

The location alone made this feel epic and cinematic. Normal immersive experiences are lucky to have a single home to produce an experience in; yet, Haddonfield Kills: The Hunt for Michael is given four houses to use fully, an entire city street, and a gazebo-filled town center to bring their story to life. It’s amazing to see what a dedicated space and studio backing can result in. It felt massive, allowing us to run between homes, screaming as we didn’t have to worry about noise complaints. It felt freeing; it felt real.

 

Halloween Kills - JFI Productions - Immersive Horror - Universal Studios - Haddonfield Kills

Photo by Jeremey Connors

 

Besides the space, the sets were gorgeously designed. All homes were decorated for Halloween, with large skeletal horses and Jack-O-Lantern-headed scarecrows flanking doorways. It felt like a Mid-West city street during Halloween. With clever nods to Halloween films of the past, we ducked past white sheets hung from clothes lines, as a mischievous trick-or-treater jumped out yelling “Boo”. The insides of the home felt lived in, real, and as if we were trespassing into other people’s lives. But the real awe-inspiring moment was the home on fire. While no real fire was used, the combination of lighting and effects perfectly mimicked that of dancing flames against the stucco home. And Michael, as he emerged, brought chills down my spine.

This was all elevated by a musical accompaniment that was perfectly tuned to the action. John Carpenter’s Halloween Theme was used at perfect moments, a harbinger denoting Michael’s arrival. The music only increased in intensity during moments of panic and fear, pushing us to run faster and making us feel as if The Boogeyman was moments from killing us too. They must have had speakers perfectly placed by every home because we never seemed to be without an accompanying musical score.

 

Halloween Kills - JFI Productions - Immersive Horror - Universal Studios - Haddonfield Kills

Photo by Jeremey Connors

 

A hallmark of JFI Productions is their acting, and using many of their regulars, Haddonfield Kills: The Hunt for Michael delivered in raw emotion and power. Austin Minard, Mason Conrad, and Nicky Romaniello perfectly captured the group-think mindset of a crowd playing to fear, ready to jump to action without thought of consequence. They hyped us up and kept us pushing forward, giving the experience narrative weight and importance. Sophie Cooper provided a softer side to Haddonfield as she showed that the deaths meant something; the pain on her face proved that each kill wasn’t something to be cheered for behind a screen, but rather was a life and was precious at that. And the numerous stunt actors that showed the brutality of Michael Myers were incredible—it felt as if I was watching someone die just feet away from me as they were strangled by their own crowbar. The final fight was epic; a worthy conclusion, even if Michael lives another day.

Haddonfield Kills: The Hunt for Michael showcases the magic that JFI Productions is capable of when given a budget, an expansive location, and an IP that already resonates in the heart of so many Halloween fans. Exploring powerful themes, brought to life by Daniel Montgomery’s talented writing, this was so much more than just a horror movie. It was a chance to step into a film, and feel the heaviness, the panic, the fear that comes with looking into the devil’s eyes and watching him pick off your group, one by one, knowing that nothing will stop him.

 

Halloween Kills - JFI Productions - Immersive Horror - Universal Studios - Haddonfield Kills

Photo by Jeremey Connors

 

While the one-night-only experience has concluded (and I wish this could have run longer), please check out JFI Production’s CreepLA running this Halloween season. It’s equally as amazing and highly recommended. For more information about JFI Productions, check out their website, Facebook, and Instagram. To find other events similar to this one, check out our Event Catalog.

<em>Special thanks to Jeremey Connors for all photography.</em>

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Haddonfield Kills: The Hunt for Michael was an Immersive Horror experience on the backlot of Universal Studios. The hunt for michael is meant to promote the new movie Halloween Kills. 

About The Author

Taylor Winters
Taylor has loved immersive theater since his first experience at ALONE in 2013. Since then, he has written, produced, & directed immersive theater, consulted for numerous immersive companies, acted in others, and attended even more. He has his PhD in Bioengineering, an MBA in Organization Leadership, and currently works fixing broken hearts.

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