Category Archives: General Entertainment

You Don’t Stand a Chance: Universal Orlando’s “Halloween Horror Nights 26” review

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hhn26logoA dynamic range of houses and horrifying encounters! Of all the Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) over the last few years, this year could likely be my favorite. From the houses based on familiar IPs to the original concepts, there is something for everyone as HHN turns 26. Even the wildly popular and iconic Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure was refreshingly funny this year. Although HHN has the reputation for being an event at which it’s nearly impossible to experience all the houses and the Bill and Ted Show in one evening, I’ve concluded that if you arrive at open and remain until 2am that you CAN make it to all the experiences on a typical crowd night. Unfortunately, my friends and I lacked three houses to complete them all since we arrived at 9pm; but two of those three were not ones that I was planning on experiencing anyway. Since I pay for annual passes to Disney, Universal, Busch Gardens, and SeaWorld, I do not opt for the frequent fear pass that Universal Orlando img_6981offers for multiple visits to the celebration of the macabre, so I try to do as much as I can in one night. And this year, I am quite pleased with what I was able to accomplish during my time at one of the areas two best Halloween events (the other being Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay). If you haven’t been to HHN (or HOS) this year, there is still a couple of weeks to visit Universal Orlando or Busch Gardens and experience some outstanding scares, irreverently funny shows, and special times with friends.

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stage19One of my favorite parts of the seasonal Halloween events at the theme parks is experiencing the transformation from daytime operations to Halloween. From the music to the lighting, the very atmosphere of the park sets the mood to be scared. Another personal favorite experience at HHN specifically is witnessing the uncanny (that which should remain hidden but reveals itself) by venturing behind the scenes of the park and entering sound stages that used to house television productions and former attractions. The two most nostalgic and uncanny memories from last night is walking through American Horror Story in Stage 19 and Krampus. If you’re a long-time visitor to Universal Orlando or simply a theme park enthusiast, you might recognize why Stage 19 would be nostalgic. Stages 18 and 19 are where Nick was made! Soundstages 18 and 19, along with 17 as part of the Universal Studios Florida studios tour and 21 leased occasionally, were the home of Nickelodeon Studios in the 1980s-90s (minimally in the early 2000s). I love the juxtaposition between the classic Nick shows that were produced there against the present haunted houses. The Krampus haunted house is located in the former Alfred Hitchcock soundstage that was part of the Hitchcock: the Art of Making Movies attraction until 2002. I had not been in that stage since before the iconic opening day attraction closed its doors to make way for Shrek 4D. While walking through Krampus, I couldn’t help by wonder if we were standing where the Bates House, Motel, or infamous shower used to be.

img_7009-1The first house that my friends Derek, Adrianne, and I experienced was Krampus. With only a 30min wait, it was definitely a great way to begin the evening since the parking garage was a complete cluster (not one parking attendant was to be found in the garages). Located within the former Hitchcock Stage, Krampus is an impressive translation from screen to live experience. Since my research area and peer-reviewed publications are on the topic of experiential storytelling and film/theme park convergence, this is an element to which I pay particular attention. Doesn’t mean that I don’t concurrently enjoy the entertainment value of the house, but I am always looking around to see if I can get a glimpse of the magic behind the experience. Since we are four weeks into HHN, there’s a good bet that many of you have experienced the house, but I don’t want to spoil it for those of you who have not. Upon entering the soundstage, the skies grow dark, the wind howls, and the snow blows across your face as you enter the stately home from the movie Krampus. Each and every room depicts an event from the movie. From the sinister jack-in-the-box to the demented gingerbread men, you will encounter nearly all the creatures from the movie. And yes, Krampus himself makes appearances here and there. Probably the most surprising effect in the house was the smell of gingerbread when walking through the kitchen–truly felt like an immersive experience. Just like I loved the contrast between horror and holiday cheer in the movie, I equally loved the juxtaposition of a house all decorated for the “most wonderful time of the year” located within a brilliant Halloween event.

img_6994-1After experiencing Universal’s ‘nightmare’ before Christmas, we were left with deciding what to do next. Since we wanted to hit the 12:00 Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure, we needed to choose something in the mean time. It was at that time, that we began to experience some light rain. With the queue for American Horror Story down to a 60-minute wait time–all indoors, we could easily hit that house and then the show. On the way to the house, we stoped for a pretzel and churro (salty and sweet). I was excited that the AHS house was located in the old Nickelodeon soundstage. What makes the AHS house unique, is the fact that it’s really three houses in one. The seasons of the series that the house covers is “Murder House,” “Freak Show,” and “Hotel.” Instead of combining elements from each of them into one house, Universal Creative made the decision to separate them. I was impressed with the character performers selected to bring such characters to life. Those selected to play Kathy Bates and Lady Gaga’s respective characters were ‘dead’ ringers for the leading ladies. If you’re scared of clowns, this house is definitely not for you because you are going to encounter Twisty on more than one occasion. There are a few entire scenes from the show that are recreated for the house. John Hammond would be proud of this house because in bringing the three seasons to life, Universal “spared no expense.” I am definitely looking forward to the next AHS house as I image that Universal will bring it back next year. Perhaps we will get “Asylum” and “Coven” (arguably the favorite of most of the fans of the series) in the next house for HHN 27, and the most recent “Roanoke” combined with whatever season 7 is or HHN 28.

img_7007Following two exceptional haunted houses, it was time for some laughs! One of the highlights of my HHN experience every year is the Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure because it often does a great job of commenting on pop-culture, parodying crowd favorite movies and tv shows, and socio-political satire. Not for the kids that are at HHN, this show is about as offensive and irreverent as they come–it’s brilliant! Usually, anyway. Honestly, I did not care for last year’s show at all. Knowing that the last couple of years have seen the show go downhill in terms of the cleverness of the writing, I did not have high expectations; however, I knew I would laugh and sometimes that’s all that matters. To my pleasant surprise, the show this year was outstanding (most of it anyway). The first 2/3 of the show were filled with witty jokes, facetious behavior, and brilliant one-liners. The overall plot was to figure out Rylo-Ken’s (a parody of Kylo Ren from The Force Awakens) plan to take over the world. Over the course of the more than 30-minute show, the audience encounters pop-culture icons such as Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones), Chewbacca Mom, a Pokemon GO trainer, 11 (Stranger Things), and even Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Of course, no Bill and Ted show would be complete without throwing shade on and jabs at Disney World. There is even a joke at the end (a hand gesture) that only true fans of the Disney Parks would get. Unlike previous years, this year’s show had a coherent plot until the showdown consisting of an “Ultimate Versus” that was pretty much just a cluster of most of the cameos from the show in a Captain America: Civil War tarmac battle that resembles a reimagined Super Smash Bros. meets Mortal Kombat battle scene. I find shows that push the envelope–even if right off the counter–in the theme park settings to be some of my favorites. Shows like these are typically open to adding and striking jokes as pop-culture shifts its focus. You’ll find some political jabs that came out of news from just a couple weeks ago in the show. Strong writing is important even in an irreverent comedy. This year’s Bill and Ted contains mostly solid writing and slapstick antics sure to entertain! Other than reworking the showdown, the img_7008only element of the show I would change would be the pre-show funny videos taken directly from YouTube. Yes, some of them are funny; but they are also videos that many in the audience have already seen. I think a better idea would be to have a camera operator follow some of the preparations during construction and rehearsal and cut together a gag or outtake reel. That would be funny and something that you couldn’t get online.

tombNext, it was time to go on an expedition to uncover some dark secrets that ancient civilizations kept in Tomb of the Ancients. An original IP for Universal Orlando this year, Tomb was probably the most impressive house as far as production design. While many, if not most, guests are at HHN for the film/tv IP houses–and to a great extent, so am I–I really enjoy and look forward to the original concepts designed by Universal Creative’s HHN teams. There are themes and elements taken from ancient civilizations an cultures such as Egyptian, Mayan, Incan, Cambodian, and more. After analyzing all the houses I experienced, I am left with the conclusion that Tomb was the most immersive out of all the houses. While walking through Tomb, I made a very interesting observation. It’s an observation that only those who have been to both HHN and HOS could pick up on. Since Busch Gardens cannot compete with Universal on production design, over all, they learned how to perfect the ‘scare.’ One of the methods for scaring guests is false walls, windows, mirror, etc that drop with a loud bang and a scare-actor jumps out. In film terms, this is the classic jump scare. Not having experience every original IP house HHN has done in the past, I cannot say for sure that this concept is new, but I definitely noticed it this time. Just like Busch probably borrows ideas from Universal, this is a great example of how Universal has borrowed from the Busch’s HOS houses.

exorcistLeaving archeological excavations, it was time to head to Maryland. To the home of Regan MacNeil. That’s right. The Exorcist. It is the first time HHN had themed a house based on the iconic cult horror classic. Spinning head, pea soup, Holy Water and all. You’ll come face-to-face with one of the most terrifying horror films of all time. Universal has always done a remarkable job with the forced perspective of its facades. It really feels like walking off the street into the MacNeil house. One of the most interesting aspects to the production design of this house is the practical ceiling. In most haunted houses, the illusion can be ruined by simply looking up and staring at the trusses and air ducts above in the soundstage. Not true with The Exorcist. Through much of the house, if you look up, you’ll see a practical ceiling. This adds to the claustrophobic feel of the house. Other than spending time in at the excavation site, foyer, living room, and other common areas, the majority of the house takes place within Regan’s room (much like with the movie itself). The park guests walk through multiple rooms depicting, in sequence, the events of Regan’s possession and exorcism by the priest. There aren’t too many jump scares in this house. Regan pops out at you each time you walk from one room to the next. But, what’s great about this house is how real it felt. Universal did an excellent job recreating the most notable scenes from the movie and translating it into a live experience.

ghosttownWho would’ve known that the MacNeils lived next door to a ghost town. Another HHN original IP is Ghost Town. Taking a classic haunted house approach, Ghost Town puts park guest in the middle of an old gold mining ghost town that looks as though it stepped right off the screen of an old-timy western. Kind of reminded me of the western sequence from Hollywood Studios‘ The Great Movie Ride. Instead of a bank robbery, you encounter sinister apparitions of gold miners, bar maids, and there’s even a hangin’. Although this house takes a more traditional approach to scaring park guests, it’s not for the timid as there are a great many disturbing images and experiences in this house. Unlike the other houses this year (at least the ones that I experienced personally), this house comes complete with scare-actors in the rafters above. After you are startled by a ranch hand grabbing at you from above, your senses will be greatly heightened because you have to not only worry about what’s around the next corner but what is also lurking above.

img_7021-1The final house I was able to experience this weekend was Halloween II. HHN offered the Halloween I house two years ago, and much like how the sequel (film) picks up right where Halloween I left off, this house picks up right where the previous one left guests. No real surprises in this house. It is pretty well straight forward and includes all that is expected of a house paying tribute to the iconic Michael Myers. From the closet to the hospital, Michael is everywhere. Sometimes everywhere a little too much. There are definitely times that he appears in two separate places in the same room which impacts the believability of the scares. Pretty sure I saw two Michaels standing close to one another at some point. The quality of the house is on par with most of HHN’s houses, and put you right in the middle of the hospital. Much like with the Exorcist house, this one also walks you through and depicts the various kills in the movie. My favorite part of the house comes at the very end, but I won’t spoil it for those who have not been through it.

img_7019Beyond the houses and Bill and Ted show, HHN also offers guests the opportunity to walk through various scare zones. These are areas that typically contain themed scare-actors, music, and minimal production design. Most of the ambiance is created through lights and sound. And of course fog! Conspicuously missing from the scare zones this year is The Purge. Earlier in the summer following the Pulse massacre, it was announced that The Purge was going to be removed from the HHN offerings as either a house or scare zone. The massacre at Pulse had a profound affect upon HHN. One of the observations I made about this year is the lack of death and violence. For the most part, there was very little murder, dismemberment, and seldom a showing of the glorification of violence. Compared past years, this year was quite tame. Although there could be multiple reasons for the mitigation of violent acts, it is most likely related to the tragedy that affects not only the community but team members at Universal Orlando. Just goes to show that there is not need for explicit violence in order to create an outstanding celebration of the macabre during the Halloween season.

img_6989Not having experienced The Walking Dead, Lunatics Playground 3D, or Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I am unable to provide any feedback on or analysis of those houses; but, friends of mine that have experienced them tell me that they are excellent as well. Although Texas Chainsaw has been part of HHN in the past, this year is difference because it is based on the original 1974 Tobe Hooper film instead of the 2003 remake produced by Michael Bay. With the wild success of Netflix’ Stranger Things, it would not surprise me if we see that as a scare zone or haunted house next year. Twenty-six years in, HHN is still going strong. Still debating on whether to attend HHN or HOS this year? Debate no more because both events are fantastic. Want to experience your favorite horror movies and TV shows? Then HHN 26 is your destination. You’ll definitely enjoy all that is offered to the guests this Halloween Season.

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“The Accountant” movie review

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theaccountantA moderately good investment of your time. The Accountant is quite the interesting crime drama that shows that math can be exciting and lead to dangerous adventures. Directed by Gavin O’Connor and starring a phenomenal cast including Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, and John Lithgow, this film will keep your intrigue the entire runtime. What makes this film most interesting is the approach one might take when screening it. You can either approach it from a psychological/behavioral or a financial perspective. Although the plot is a little difficult to follow at times, the solid performances by the actors make the film one not to miss if you enjoy thrillers involving the government, covert ops, and savants. While some in the U.S. are shouting “make America great again,” Warner Bros. is shouting “make math sexy again.” From drop-dead shoot-out scenes to awkward comedic interactions, The Accountant will definitely have you thinking about it even after leaving the movie theatre. One the verge of being a non-linear film, the main plot does, at times, get lost in a few poorly integrated sub-plots. Definitely feels like one of those movies where important scenes that would have better supported or developed some of the sub-plots were left on the cutting room floor. The movie is not without its highlights. Affleck and Kendrick deliver outstanding performances that hold the film together. Whether it’s Affleck’s vacant expressions on his face or Kendrick’s WTF moments, the best part of the film is the talent on screen.

Talk about a double life. Accountant Christian Wolfe (Affleck) runs a small accounting agency in a nondescript strip plaza as a cover for his real work as an accountant and financial analyst for many organized crime groups. When the U.S. Treasury Dept begins to investigate him further, he takes on a seemingly normal client in an innovative robotics company. Forced to work with a beautiful and geeky in-house accountant (Kendrick), Wolfe is challenged with conducting a forensic analysis of the financial records in order to determine if there is embezzlement or money laundering occurring at the humanitarian robotics company. When he uncovers corruption, his life and the life of his counterpart is in jeopardy. Good thing Wolfe has an extensive background in martial arts and tactical armament.

Central to the plot of the film is the fact that our protagonist Christian Wolfe (Affleck) is on the autism spectrum. Although, he is on the high functioning end (often times diagnosed as Aspergers syndrome), Wolfe certainly displays classic signs of autism throughout the movie. More noticeable in his younger years, he still carries some of the psycho-social dysfunction into his adulthood. Wolfe’s father was a high-ranking official in the Army specializing in psychological warfare. He ran his home fairly, but with an iron fist. Both Wolfe and his brother were highly affected by the departure of their mother at Christmastime. The following years were hard on both of them. Coupled with–let’s be real here–daddy issues, Wolfe channels all his time and energy into military operations, martial arts, and psychological defenses. But, this intense training was forced on him by his father in order to combat the behavioral issues brought on by autism. After the death of his father, Wolfe decides to go from hero to anti-hero by making his living off organized crime but funneling his money into charitable causes. Although he may not have been racking up zeros in his bank account, he found other ways to be paid: valuable original artwork. The character of Christian Wolfe posts quite the dichotomy of attributes that create an interesting juxtaposition. One one hand, Wolfe is a ruthless criminal but not he other he is a humanitarian who appreciates fine art and loyalty.

There haven’t been many movies that fall into this sub-genre of drama. The Accountant is what you get when combining Batman with The Big Short. Because the film contains the classic elements and plot devices found in the aforementioned films, it has a little bit of an identity crisis. One of the flaws that besets this film is too much sub-plot. If the writer had spent more time developing the autism or concentrated on the daddy-issues sub-plot then perhaps the film would have flowed more smoothly. As it stands, the flashbacks introduce too much under-developed material into the high-concept plot. It’s almost as if the writer and director took a high-concept film and attempted to give it more emotional depth. The result is a fractured film that is interesting to watch and includes some dark comedy but suffers from coherent storytelling.

There aren’t too many choices at the cinema this weekend. If you are looking to laugh your ass off, then perhaps the Kevin Hart film will fit the bill; but if you are looking for an interesting film that highlights the potential and capabilities of those who are diagnosed as autistic and channel those abilities into a financial thriller, then The Accountant would be an excellent choice. Although there have been films featuring protagonists with physiological or psychological disabilities, this one is unique in that the main character harnesses the powers of the indirect affects of autism, and becomes an anti-hero who the audience roots for the whole time.

“The Girl on the Train” movie review

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girlonthetrainA tastes great, less filling, David Fincher-esque flick. DreamWorks Pictures and Reliance Entertainment’s The Girl on the Train directed by Tate Taylor and starring Emily Blunt is the much anticipated film adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name written by Paula Hawkins. With a slow windup and quick delivery, the suspense thriller plays off as a knockoff combination of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window, Fincher’s Gone Girl, and George Cukor’s Gaslight. Despite the wild success of the novel, this film adaptation appears to have jumped the tracks. In fact, fans of the novel may find that this translation from page to screen is a bumpy ride. The film is not without its high points; the plot is certainly intriguing and Blunt’s portrayal of the protagonist is excellent; however, her outstanding performance is simply not enough to carry the weight of an otherwise flawed film. The film fails to truly create that sense of dread and heighten the anxiety levels of the audience. There were many missed opportunities to tighten up the writing during the windup and spend more time on a successful nail-biting punch during the third act. It’s one of those films that feels like Act I is 2/3 of the movie with Acts II/III being 1/6 each. Lots of verbal exposition when exposition through showing would have been more effective. Don’t get me wrong; it was a fun suspense thriller and the plot twist and turning point from Act II to III was quite the shocker; but, the film just never seemed to move beyond the surface level.

Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) is not adapting to life as a divorcee very well. She has a pronounced drinking problem and cannot seem to hold a job. Rides the train into New York City from the countryside everyday, passing her old neighborhood. Starring into not only her old house but the house of a couple she feels are the embodiment of love, Rachel develops an unhealthy obsession with the characters that appear outside of the window as sh narrates their lives. When she learns that the young woman who lives in the house two doors up from where she used to live, has gone missing, she place herself in the midst of the investigation. Not having dealt with her own sordid past, Rachel begins to obsess over the mystery because of the empathy she feels for the missing girl. Once the authorities feel that Rachel has crossed the line too many times, they begin to look her direction. Determined to solve the case of the missing girl, Rachel must put together puzzle pieces that she never thought she would have to face again.

If I had to sum up the film adaption of The Girl on the Train, I would concisely put it this way: under-developed. From the locations themselves to the writing (screenplay) to the plot and characters, this mystery-thriller-suspense movie fails to impact the audience and truly elicit a strong emotional response. Tapping into emotions and affecting anxiety levels is paramount for suspense-thrillers. After such a long, drawn-out wind up and the rushed showdown, this film does not live up to the hype that the novel generated. Having not read the novel, I cannot comment on differences or even how the movie could have been done better; but screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson could have done a better of job of creative a cinematic story fit for the silver screen. The flaws of the film so not stop with the writing, but director Tate Taylor’s vision, for the best-seller, should be checked because it appears as though he may need glasses. If it was not for Blunt’s commitment to the character of Rachel, the film would have had very little entertainment value. This is one of those films that was saved by attaching excellent talent.

This film falls into the same sub-genre as Gone Girl. But, what made Gone Girl so successful was the exceptional direction from David Fincher and simply the fact that author Gillian Flynn also wrote the screenplay. If an author can be trained to write the screenplay of the film adaption of their literary work, then that is always the best approach because they know the characters and plot better than anyone. Fincher also includes many WTF moments and treats the camera more than lens through which to witness a visual story but creates magic that takes the audience out of the threats and transports them into the movie. The Girl on the Train has a great premise and intriguing plot. The foundation IS there for a great movie adaptation. The writing not only doesn’t do the book justice, from what I have read, but fails to create a cinematic experience as well.

Other than Rachel, the rest of the cheaters are two-dimensional. We are given just enough information to make them mildly interesting, but the character development just isn’t there. Much like the detective in Gone Girl was as interesting to follow as the main cast, Detective Riley should have been just as well developed for this film. Rachel’s ex-husband, his wife, their nanny, and the nanny’s husband have the makings of a cast of characters filled with lies, deceit, betrayal, dark secrets, and intrigue (and to some extent, that comes across in the movie); however, all those elements are touched on but never truly fleshed out. Do those elements have a place in the plot of the film? Yes. But, do they play a dynamic a role as they could have? Not particularly. Most everything in the film is very surface level. All the makings are there for a film that could be nearly as thrilling as Gone Girl, but it’s all superficial. When location scouting for a film that relies upon houses, transportation, and proximity that are intricate to the plot, it is important to treat them AS cast. The two main houses and the train in this movie almost feel like they were selected out of convenience. Nothing about the locations or train grabbed me or generated a significant emotional response. However, I liked the proximity of the train to the houses and how the lake is on one side and the neighborhood on the other.

If you’re looking for a fun suspense-thriller to watch this weekend, then this one may fit the bill. But, you won’t get nearly the ‘train’ ride that you experienced in Gone Girl. Emily Bunt demonstrates a dynamic acting prowess compared to other characters that she has brought to life. Whether you choose to watch this film in a local cinema near you or wait for it to be on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Prime, or HBO, the experience will be the same. At the end of the day, it’s a good movie but a poor film.

“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” movie review

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missperegrinneSurprisingly exciting! Twentieth Century Fox brings another YA novel to the screen. Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (from here on out noted at Miss Peregrine) is both a fish out of water story combined with a magical adventure that mildly comments on the human condition. Of all the YA movies that have been produced over the last few years, this one provides a much more dynamic experience than many of the others. Burton delights audiences with the classic Burton style that many of us have grown up with. In more recent years, I have often commented that he is essentially a parody of himself–a.k.a. Burt Porn (as coined by my friend Leon in Germany)–not true with Miss Peregrine. Get ready for a return to the class Burton that brought us timeless movies such as A Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands. The great cast is supported by the appearances of Samuel L Jackson and Dame Judi Dench. From Florida to Wales, this movie is sure to whisk you away to daring adventures requiring rather peculiar abilities to defeat those who would seek to take what isn’t theirs to have.

All Jake (Asa Butterfield) knew was his ordinary life. He had a rather blah home life, an eccentric grandfather, and a job that he hated. Until one day, something peculiar happened. In his grandfather’s dying breath he told Jake to find the island. With his parents finding his sports of what he saw at his grandmother’s death to be quite bizarre, they forced hi to visit a psychiatrist. Upon finding a mysterious letter, Jake is determined to find the home in which his grandfather grew up. Accompanied by his cynical father, Jake returns to the island where his grandfather grew up. Only he could never have expected the adventure and run of this life that he will soon find himself. Stumbling across the children’s home ran by Miss Peregrine (Eva Green), Jake teams up with the most unusual but fascinating people who are in a rush against time to defeat those who are out to destroy them.

If I had to name one takeaway from this film, it would be that it reminds me of the 1980s/90s Tim Burton before he “went down the rabbit hole.” It combines his surreal and gothic filmmaking style juxtaposed against his flare for the colorful and bizarre. Although it is not an original concept by any means, if you’re a fan of Fox’s film adaptations of or the animated series X-Men, then you will likely enjoy this movie! Not having read the book, I cannot comment on the film’s alignment and commitment to the literary work written by Ransom Riggs; but, from what I have read online–even the author himself–is pleased with Burton’s translation from page to screen. Very few directors would have been so successful at bringing this story to life more than Burton.  Despite an apparent successful translation from book to movie, the film suffers from an overload of mythology, exposition through dialog, and lacks the thrills to completely balance out the former two elements. Although this movie may feel like one that you have seen before, it does offer a glimpse into Burton’s prime years and perhaps offers a hope that the acclaimed visionary director can once again impress us with his fantastical but highly effective cinematic storytelling.

One of the most successful elements to the X-Men’s plight as individuals born with peculiar abilities is the fact that they are human. They hold onto their humanity (the good guys anyway). Miss Peregrine’s children do not appear to offer the same level of humanity as their X-Men counterparts. The impact of the X-Men’s abilities is felt not only by the X-Men themselves but by the community at large. For the most part, Miss Peregrine’s children’s abilities largely leaves no impact upon themselves or others. Almost plays off more as a convenient plot device than character attributes. Hugo‘s Asa Butterfield’s fake American accent does not really suit his character of Jake. In a world of fantastical dynamics and depth, he plays off as a boring, flat character. In screenwriting, it is vitally important for the writer to cause the reader/audience to love the protagonist and/or love to hate the antagonist. I found it hard to love Jake or truly hate Barron (Jackson).

So, the movie may not have the amazing principle cast that we are accustomed to in a Burton movie; but, it does still contain Burton magic and some exciting and beautiful visuals. It is also a lot of fun to watch! In addition to being fun to watch, it contains some rather disturbing imagery and cringeworthy moments. But that’s par for the course with classic Burton. One of my favorite parts in the movie is the action-packed climactic sequence accompanied by dark humor. It’s a great combination of humor and visceral conflict. If you’re looking for a fun movie to watch this weekend, then this one is a solid pick! Furthermore, if you desire to get a glimpse into a more classical Burton film, then you’ll find utter delight in this one as well.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay “Howl-O-Scream Evil Encore” Review

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img_6708A frightfully fun experience where all areas of the park are fair game for a scare. It’s that time of year again. Time to place yourself in terrifying situations, and ‘live’ to be scared to ‘death.’ Instead of running away from that which would ordinarily repulse ourselves, we pay money for the experience of nightmare-generating haunted houses and scare zones. In Central Florida, we are definitely not short on Halloween events. All the theme parks, also zoos, aquariums, and even museums hold special Halloween parties or events. The four most popular events are arguably Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights (HHN), Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream (HOS), Disney’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, and SeaWorld’s Spook-tacular. Of those, HHN and HOS are the most popular for a conventional “scary” Halloween experience. Although I have not been to HHN yet, I did attend HOS over the weekend, and would like to share my thoughts with you. The aim of this analysis is not to determine which is better: HOS or HHN, because they are totally difference experiences; but the idea is to reflect upon the event and provide you with a look into “Evil Encore.”

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img_6724The best part about HOS is the simple fact that every park guest, provided they arrive at or close to the opening time, has sufficient time to experience the 8 houses and Fiends show, plus the scare zones and photo-ops. You might even get a chance to ride some of the best roller coasters that Central Florida has to offer at night, including Busch Gardens newest coaster Cobras Curse. For most of the guests (who are generally locals from Tampa Bay, Sarasota, Gainesville, or Orlando), the main focus of the event and time is on the haunted houses. Although my friends and I got caught in the rain at the start of HOS, we were able to experience nearly everything! Unfortunately, I did not get to experience Zombie Containment Unit because the house was down for technical difficulties (but I did experience it last year). After reports of low crowds on Friday night, I was anticipating the event being slow and not crowded–I was wrong. Comparing Saturday night to past years, there definitely seemed to be more people than in the past. Still, the longest queue (wait/line) was for Zombie Containment Unit at 60mins; most of the other houses were 45mins or less. All of the rides also had low wait times under 30mins (except Cobra at 60mins).

Before breaking down the houses for you, I would like to provide further analysis of the event experience itself. There is no argument that HHN boasts a far higher production value than HOS. However, does that mean that HOS is less fun or less scary? Definitely not. In fact, over the years, I have come to the conclusion that HOS is scarier than HHN. Why is that? Supporting evidence of this anecdotal observation and opinion can be seen in the actual scare factor. I mentioned in my opening paragraph that the whole park is fair game. What I mean by that is the park is crawling with solitary roaming scare-actors and hoards of the undead. My favorite atmospheric jump scares is–what I call the–bush people. You never know when one of this camouflaged creatures of the night will jump up from the darkness and scare the s#!t right out of you! My friend Dani is practically never scared, but the bush people get her every time. I cannot take complete credit for the observation about the whole park being fair game; my friend Derek made that remark when we were reflecting upon our experience in the short car ride back home. It’s never a dull moment at HOS with my friend Brittany (who provided the tickets for our admission). She is so much fun o go with because of how intensely she gets scared and screams! Take my advice, find yourself a Brittany and attend a halloween event near you.

puppetmasterAlthough HOS does not have HHN’s production design quality, it does transform the whole park. The theming of the houses extends beyond the queue. Most of the queues themselves help to set the mood of the house. This idea is reinforced by themed scare-actors roaming the queue to keep everyone moving forward. Simply stated, since HOS cannot complete with HHN on IP and production design, it CAN compete with the scare factor; and time and time again, I am always more scared at HOS versus HHN. I am puzzled by one thing, and I cannot think of an explanation. If you’ve seen the Hulu ad or even billboard around Orlando and Tampa, there is a puppet master in a creepy circus or freakshow tent or workshop. Puppets are incredibly creepy and always make for an excellent horror plot device. I was really hoping to see a Puppet Master house or even puppets making a prominent showing at HOS. Unfortunately, there is not one puppet to be found and you’ll not find that puppet master from the Hulu ad either. Not entirely sure why Busch Gardens advertised puppets but failed to deliver any. Feels a little like a bait and switch. Other than being disappointed from the lack of evil puppets (I know it wasn’t supposed to be connected directly to the movie Puppet Master, but that movie terrified me as a kid and I was looking forward to reliving that frightening experience), I was delightfully impressed at the number of scares and increase in the production design and quality of the houses. This event is definitely showing signs of growth in terms of guest attendance and creative design.

img_6722The house closest to the entrance is Death Water Bayou. Upon entering this house, you are instantly transported from Tampa to the bayous of southern Louisiana. Setting the mood of the house and creeping you out from the very beginning is a voodoo priestess. Throughout the house, you will encounter much of what you expect, and even some unexpected deathly surprises. The quality of the design of the house is fantastic! I love the feeling of going in and outside of buildings. I have never traversed a swamp before, but I imagine that walking through a really creepy swamp in southern Louisiana would feel very similarly. Following a mostly safe return to Tampa, my friends and I headed for Zombie Containment Unit. Finding the wait to be more than an hour, we decided to head for one of this year’s new houses Black Spot. On the way to Black Spot we walked through a disturbing playground featuring some of the props from the former Dead Fall house. I recognized the merry-go-round and tea party and more. While we were walking though the scare zone, one of the scare-actors followed Brittany and Dani very closely. It was all Brittany could do to ignore his ominous presence. Black Spot was incredibly well done. It is located where Dead Fall used to be (former Tidal Wave). From the pirates to the sirens, the scare-actors truly brought the world of curses, pirates, and adventure to life–or death rather. The queue leading up to the main entrance was filled with props, scare-actors, and structures to effectively transport you to some remote deserted island somewhere in the caribbean.

img_6801The next stop on our terrifying journey was to visit some dearly departed loved ones at the Zombie Mortuary. This house has been around for a few years, and has pretty well remained the same. You make your way slowly through the scariest mortuary you’re ever been in. From the dead rising out of coffins to those trying to escape the flames of being cremated alive, this house is sure to please the zombie fans out there. Making a ‘return’ this year, is last year’s new house Unearthed. Largely unchanged, this house increased the production design and added more effects. Most notably is the incredibly amazing even tree animatronic in the queue just before entering the house. Derek, who is typically all about HHN, was extremely impressed. Moreover, we were all mesmerized by the sinister tree and the twisted, mangled branches that have destruction emanating from the few leaves left on the ancient bark. I was glad to see that the horned women was nowhere to be found. She did not really fit the theming last year either. Although Unearthed did not impress me last year, I very much enjoyed the experience this season. No Halloween event would be complete without a trip through the “greatest show on earth.” What is img_6729creepier than a sinister clown or circus? Not very much, especially if you are already terrified of friendly clowns. Circus of Superstition returns with the most macabre sights and sounds of the big top. With available “3D” glasses (more like augmented-ish reality), the colors and lights of the circus will be intensified. From breaking mirrors to walking under ladders, you are certainly going to test your luck in this house.

img_6752One of my person favorite parts of HHN and HOS are the live shows! These shows are always a fun way to break up the frights. Some of the best horror films have a splash of comedy in them, and the Halloween events are no different. HHN has Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure and HOS has Fiends. Fiends is a Halloween themed show featuring hot shirtless guys, sexy female nurses, and the headlining antics of Dr. Freakenstein and his trusty sidekick Igor. Like with other parodies and satire out there, this one was quite political. The best part of any presidential election is the amount of material available to comedy writers and comedians. Between the sketches, there are dance numbers usually featuring whatever the most popular songs from vocal artists or bands are that year. Like clockwork, Fiends always ends with the cult classic Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show. If you are one of those parents who brings their kid to HOS, I highly advise not to bring them to the show. The material int eh show is definitely PG13, if not for mature audiences. This year’s Fiends was completely irreverent and pandered to college students, just as it should! If you do not laugh during this show, then I feel sorry for you, haha. Since this is a presidential election year, I would have liked to have seen more parody and satire directly related to Clinton and Trump, but perhaps Busch Gardens didn’t want to push the envelop too far.

img_6759Last but not least, we checked into Motel Hell. Not to be confused by the 1980s movie by the same name, Busch Gardens’ Motel Hell is probably the best designed HOS house to date. It was arguably an HHN quality house and boasted so many scares! The best part: creepy old time 1940s scratchy music from a record player. I really felt like I was visiting an old rundown motel in some jerkwater town that fell to the wayside when the interstate or expressway can through. It was a motel frozen in time. Even the entrance to the motel looked like something right out of a movie. From the lobby to guest rooms to the pool, this is one motel that you will not find anywhere on TripAdvisor. For most of the houses, when you look above you, you see rafters or even the roof of the sound stage or tent; no so with Motel Hell. Although there are places where you look up and the illusion is broken, there were rooms in the motel that had a ceiling. This ceiling creates an instant claustrophobic feeling that does nothing but intensifies the scares.

Running on select nights from now until the end of October, Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream is not to be missed if you are looking for a fun time of scares and laughs.

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