WB’s Horror Made Here – Survive Your Favorite Scary Movies

Universal Halloween Horror Nights, Knott’s Scary Farm, and Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor have been titans during the Halloween season for years, dominating the Los Angeles haunt scene. Now, after the success of pop-ups like IT’s Neibolt House, Warner Bros. is taking a more immersive approach with Horror Made Here. Focusing on more intimate group sizes, smaller maze footprints, more interactivity, and higher production value compared to other competitors, Horror Made Here provides five must-see haunted houses lining the WB backlot.

Horror Made Here Haunts

Arkham Asylum

Taking its aesthetics from the 2009 Batman: Arkham Asylum video game, the haunt welcomes small groups into Arkham, arrested for “Orderly Conduct.” Doctor Harley Quinn presents the group to the judge (the Joker in disguise) for ruling; he finds us unfit and sentences us to a stay in the Asylum. Awash in black-lights and neons, the sets are colorful and straight out of a comic book, with infamous Batman villains – Two-Face, the Riddler, the Penguin, and more – roaming the grimy halls of the institution.

Photo By: Taylor Winters

While this maze rarely employs jump scares and avoids the classic horror tropes of most haunted houses, Arkham Asylum is easily one of the best experiences at Horror Made Here. Towering sets and fantastic casting and costuming bring the world of Batman alive. While the ending could have used a little more oomph, the outlandish charm of my stay in Arkham Asylum was a more-than-welcome change of pace from ghosts and killers.

Photo By: Taylor Winters

The Conjuring

The Conjuring invites small, intimate groups into famed paranormalists Ed and Lorraine Warren’s home to tour their collection of possessed items. But when demonic doll Annabelle is found missing from her case, the home is filled with loud noises, items that move on their own, and maybe a recognizable face or two.

Photo By: Taylor Winters

With a lot of source material to draw from – The Conjuring and Annabelle films – this haunt effectively incorporates a little of each to maximize the scares. This maze excels in its effects and the strong acting of its guides. Make sure to look out for a demon hand emerging from a crib, the actual doll from the Annabelle films, and a close encounter with The Nun, which proved to be the most effective fright of the haunt.

Photo By: Taylor Winters

The Exorcist

Billed as a “Forbidden Screening,” The Exorcist brings groups of 30-40 into a church set (the same church used in Monster Squad), where select scenes from the film are shown, much to the dismay of the host introducing the film (alternately played by Dolores Quintana and Maria Olsen). The scenes on the screen set the tone and prime the group for maximum fear when supernatural happenings begin in the church: a door blows open on its own, red lights emanate from a statue’s eyes, growling from behind the podium…

Maria Olsen | Photo By: Taylor Winters

While this is not a traditional walk-through haunt and had one of the longest lines of the night, The Exorcist provides a chance to sit and let the scares come to us.

IT

IT knows what scares you. With Pennywise (and IT’s many other incarnations) lurking throughout, IT brought many iconic scenes from the 2017 film to life. I found IT to be the most “classic” walk-through haunt of the night, but that doesn’t mean that the immersion was any less. The house offers numerous opportunities for jump scares while guests are distracted by the grisly yet elaborate scenes. From poor Georgie asking us to help find his boat to the climactic sewer showdown, I found it hard not to absolutely adore this maze, the amazing scares it offers, and the magnificent details on display.

Photo By: Taylor Winters

Nightmare on Camp Crystal Lake

Reminiscent of the Terror Tram at Halloween Horror Nights, Nightmare on Camp Crystal Lake takes guests on a brief tour (via tram) of some backlot staples – like the fire escape from Annie – and drops us off at Camp Crystal Lake, where more than counselors is waiting for us. Nightmare on Camp Crystal Lake combines the Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13^th franchises, incorporating both Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees.

Photo By: Taylor Winters

With smaller group sizes compared to Halloween Horror Nights and more room to move, actors are able to utilize the space to their advantage. The backlot felt isolated and alone, and the lake was ominously lit to perfection. As guests walk through the dark woods of Crystal Lake, they come across the bloody aftermath of Jason’s murdering spree, while frightened counselors literally run away. Seeing actors run in a haunt is a welcomed and exciting effect that most large-scale haunts cannot do.

Photo By: Taylor Winters

My only complaint is that the haunt is predominantly Friday the 13^th themed, and I would have liked to see more Nightmare elements incorporated; Freddy only makes a few minor appearances throughout the largest maze on the backlot. I would have preferred a completely separate Nightmare maze, or more interaction between the two iconic villains, a la Freddy vs. Jason.

Other Entertainment

Horror Made Here also offers a few other winks to classic films for pop-culture enthusiasts. Little Shop of Horrors (the merchandise store), the Crave Inn Diner (complete with red and green striped walls), and The Lost Boys Arcade provide non-scare-related pleasures, and make-up demos offer various tutorials throughout the night. Guests can also watch the DJ or performances on the center stage, take in the magical props and costumes from select Tim Burton films (Beetlejuice, Sweeney Todd, Corpse Bride, and more) at the Stage 48: Script to Scream exhibit, or brave the central Devil’s Drop ride.

Photo By: Taylor Winters

With plenty of food and drinks around the lot, my favorite was the True Blood-inspired bar, Fangtasia. The full bar, for guests over 21, is run by vampires and lets guests purchase a variety of themed drinks like the V-Shot (served in a test tube) or the True Blood (served in a blood bag). Fangtasia is flooded in red lighting and creepy paraphernalia, and guests can take pictures in Vampire Eric’s notorious stately chair. A fun nod to the show, I wish Fangtasia was available to access as an everyday Los Angeles bar; I would likely visit the bar frequently during the non-haunt season.

Photo By: Taylor Winters

Conclusions

Overall, Horror Made Here provides audiences with an exciting alternative to the larger, impersonal and conga-line-afflicted theme park haunts. Warner offers more intimate experiences with smaller group sizes that allow guests to truly take their time and appreciate the impressive details hidden within the mazes. The production value here is astounding and the acting is elevated beyond traditional scare-acting and approaches the quality and audience interactivity found in immersive theater. While guests may endure longer wait times, experiencing their favorite horror films coming to life is an unforgettable and exhilarating experience.

For more information and tickets, click here, and be sure to check out the rest of our Halloween 2018 coverage.