So I can finally update this list with my top 25!
Been to the event 5 times, 2010, 2012, 2019, 2022, and 2024. Excited to share where things are for me as I think on things further. Will keep it simple and rank the houses for 25 to 11. If I miss a house, it's because I don't know where they'd be in the top 10, and mainly focusing on the houses that made the most impact.
- 25 - HOTC [2019]
- 24 - Stranger Things [2019]
- 23 - Universal Monsters Remix [2012] (BWAMMMMP BWAMP BWAMP, *insert Figure music*)
- 22 - Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman [2019]
- 21 - Saw: Game On [2010]
- 20 - Killer Klowns from Outer Space [2022]
- 19 - Vampyr: Castle of The Undead [2010]
- 18 - Nightmare on Elm Street: Never Sleep Again [2010]
- 17 - Welcome to Silent Hill [2012]
- 16 - Universal Monsters: Legends Collide [2022]
- 15 - Holidayz in Hell [2019]
- 14 - Pandora's Box [2019]
- 13 - Universal Horror Hotel [2022]
- 12 - Ghostbusters [2019]
- 11 - A Quiet Place [2024]
Now then, let's get to the meat and potatoes. And with 2024, the top 10 changed quite a bit! Before that though, we begin with the main list.
10 - Friday The 13th: Kill Jason Kill, HHN 2010
I'd say this is the best of the "New Line Duo" in the terms of Freddy and Jason combined. It is intense, highlighting the best element of the 2009 remake with the more "active" and "Fit" Jason. He is ruthless, and the intensity of the actors were a highlight for my first HHN. There is one other house that is my favorite of 2010, but we'll get to it later.
9 - Alice Cooper Goes to Hell 3D, HHN 2012
In the pocket of time that has come with 2012, it was filled with amazing houses. Alice Cooper Goes To Hell, was in this case; a theatrical showcase that highlighted the best of the T23D Venue with it's scale and scope being one of the biggest at the time. Loved the diversity of going through each circle of hell; and the scares were great in this too. Not my favorite of 2012, but it's one of my favorites.
8 - Creepshow, HHN 2019
I think I talked to
@Freak about it when we both saw eachother on the final night of 2019, but Creepshow is a hell of a package. Scariest of 2019 for sure, but riddled with so much love and care. This felt like a passion project that stemmed to Murdy's wanting to tackle something as diverse as Creepshow's anthology format. Really hope we get to see Scary Tales from Orlando brought over, using the Creepshow format.
7 - House of 1,000 Corpses in 3D Zombievision, HHN 2010
This is me giving my "I'm old card". HOTC 2010 is the best 3D house they have ever worked on, and it baffles me to see how badly they screwed up 2019. Scary, spooky, and fun; it felt extremely well rounded with a great use of how the Murder Ride was handled. Also love the Firefly house, especially as the color mixing reaches it's peak in the middle.
6 - The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare, HHN 2022
AHN not in my top 5?! What am I, a liar? So I think there is one issue that bogs AHN to not be in the top 5. And that is the lack of intensity that is present with no real scare opportunities. It's a shame too, because I think it is one of the strongest houses thematically; with the best sound design for audio mixing thanks to the Mike Dean remixes.
So to preface as we go to the top 5, this is probably the section that will be resisting and will stay together unless a surprise comes. But before that, want to highlight quickly a few other houses.
KKFOS 2019 was a really fun and engaging time, filled with fun gags and fun surprises (really hope we get to see them in 2025); The Walking Dead 2012 is the best IP house of that year and it isn't close (with amazing set design and set pieces; and the best façade of the 2010's); Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines is easily my favorite UM house (and I think had it of been made as a soundstage house in mind, then we'd be aces) and Texas 2012 hits like a freight truck in intensity and scares, and was the scariest house of the 2010's with excellent flow and rhythm.
....The funny thing is, 5 is scarier to me; than Texas 2012.
Number 5 = Insidious: The Further, HHN 2024
I believe it's right to serve context and start with the obvious: Insidious is an IP I actively avoid. For whatever the reason, the films always turned me off; not out of disinterest...but because I have an innate fear with the Insidious series. Strange, isn't it; especially as I can handle The Conjuring without issue. I think the thing that makes me have Insidious above Texas 2012, is that I couldn't go back to Texas as we had to focus on other houses then.
Insidious, is a house I managed to get 3 runs in; and in those 3 runs I was able to see the energy and the buzz that perminated. In all of them, I had to pause and rest up energy wise; as it took a lot out of me with each run. None of the other houses have this issue for me, not even any of those above here. Insidious rocked me to a level I think I will carry with genuine respect; and I await to see what changes the position of 5.
Number 4 = The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Legacy of Leatherface, HHN 2024
LoL is a very unique house. My expectation of the house was to leave me an impact that I expected of 2012, but I think it goes and does something further.
Legacy of Leatherface is a unique house that to me, is an exploration of going to the limits of what HHN has been comfortable of doing with on gore. Showing the deconstruction of human life; showing the methodical care and deliberate creative choices to show the Sawyers at their worst; is insanely impressive alongside seeing the various step-by-step process's of how they butcher their meat. I hope this is what's coming to Horror Unleashed, as it feels like it was purpose-made to celebrate the best of what Texas Chainsaw Massacre has done.
Number 3 = A tribute to La Llorona, HHN 2010; 2012; and 2022
So this one is a bit more complicated because, I have seen 3 out of the 4 versions of La Llorona (Excluding the 2011 house). She's probably the scariest legend they have done for latin american culture; and the 2012 house is quite easily the second best original house they have ever done. So to me, 2022's take had a lot to live up in order to ensure it got the dub. And I think 2022 La Llorona flourishes, as a celebration of everything USH has done with the legend. Nearly everything from all past iterations are in that house.
It's easily the best Latin American house that they've done, and I am glad to see the legacy being persevered with what they managed to do. That being said, number 2 and number 1 exceed it albeit as I think they are more complicated to digest.
Number 2 = The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy, HHN 2024
....
This is the best IP house of all time. I am gonna get flayed for that, I understand that; but this is a special kind of house that I didn't expect us to get.
This is the perfected and finalized form of what After Hours Nightmare does. From the sound design, to the scare diversity, to the set choices made. This is probably the best house they have done, and is easily on a scale and standard that makes it a complete showstopper. I also think this is unironically, the most dense of a house that they've done in subject material.
The way I interpolated it was Murdy using the Dantes Inferno storyline to highlight the cycle of rebirth that The Weeknd has been going towards. How on that road to rebirth, there are those who would torment The Weeknd; try to expedite the rebirth; and in doing so, unleashing a display of horror that is caused by expediting and quickening something that has to come from within.
It might be a bit too rich, but I think it is a prime example of USH wanting to take a narrative concept to it's natural conclusion. I also acknowlege that people are gonna say I am biased for having Weeknd here because of my love for the IP; and to that I agree and understand your complaints! But I do find so much that I genuinely love with this house. Really hope they bring the best stuff from this to the event going forward.
Number 1 = Scarecrow: The Reaping, HHN 2022.
If there is a thing I can describe Scarecrow to be; the best thing I can say is that it is a complete art house. And yet, it is one of the simplest concepts to understand.
Scarecrow is my all time favorite HHN house because I think the thing that defines what this house did; is to examine and look through what defined the hardships and the horrors of the dust bowl era. It is a complete package, from the almost Pirates DLR like tone of the facade, to the various effects and scares that made me jump; alongside amazing setpieces like the bird poop scene and that of King Crow
.
The best thing is also that as a house, it doesn't really have any form of dialogue. And yet, you can interpolate and sense what exactly happens as you experience and go through this farmland; because the method of storytelling is indirectly done. Not a lot of the houses have gone this quiet in telling it's story, but it works it into it's advantage to make you think of it constantly. As the second year to bat, this is the house that proved what H-Lot is truly capable of; and I am glad to see that sticking true for the past few years.