Horror Unleashed

We were brought out to Universal Horror Unleashed just a bit before it opens up. Here is our experience of everything Horror Unleashed offers up

We have hyped it up, talked about it a few times on the AggroCast, and just before the doors open to the public on August 14^th, we were allowed to enter into Universal Horror Unleashed. This is the new horror experience opening up in Las Vegas, NV, in the Area 15 district that is aiming to bring a little bit of Halloween Horror Nights to the world. To the world and year-round. We had a chance to check out Universal Horror Unleashed during a small soft open event, where we got to take in the sights, sounds, food, drink, and the haunts that are coming when it all opens up. Join us for the ride we took and a bit of the experience as we review it in the current state. This is a soft open, so we note that what we are going to talk about might change along the way. This is just a look at it all, only a little over a week before the doors open to the first paying customers.

So right out of the gate, and going through security to enter Universal Horror Unleashed, we are greeted in the main warehouse of the building. Not just in name, but in terms of the "in-universe" explanation as to why this exists out there. A bit of a meta story is delivered by the cast, and then you are ushered into the first main scare zone and area to wander about. Weirdly, it is specifically one that has a vampiric court, but also weird insects roaming around, too. This all takes place in front of the Universal Monsters haunt, so it is kind of fitting and still entertaining. This is where it felt like the actors were all setting the stage as they each had their own little narrative that built into the specific haunt, but others, in terms of Horror Unleashed. Roaming about, each of the haunts except Scarecrow The Reaping had something like this. With both characters or creatures fitting for the haunt, but also some "warehouse" workers looking to seed more of the story out there and distract patrons so some of the scare actors could get a solid jump on them. An amazing tactic that I was able to sit back and watch happen many times over, as I started out peckish and looking for some liquid encouragement.

That all means, it was time to wander about Universal Horror Unleashed toward the four different bars and restaurants in the building. We had The Boiler, which is the main centerpiece of it all, with a signature cocktail. Rough Cuts, was more of a quick snack and bite area with a butcher shop theme. Jack's Alley, which not only serves as a main bar but also the place where the main show from Jack & Chance starts. Then, finally, The Premier, which was more of a sit-down location for food and drinks in Horror Unleashed, with the theming all around the various Blumhouse films that are out there. Mostly just little photo ops for The Purge, Black Phone, and M3GAN. A fun little dance was taking place from someone dressed up like M3GAN that happened at various intervals. While we did partake in the food after hitting all of the haunts, I am going to dig in now on all of that. This is one of the big draws to the place, and a little harder to showcase in video as we have with the Jack & Chance Show and the other performances that went down in the building. Especially, since it felt like we were being hit with Vegas Strip prices while off The Strip…

Yes, you should not expect to see any of the "locals'" pricing at Universal Horror Unleashed when it comes to the food and drink. Something that was a little expected before going in and dealing with Area 15 in the same way. Not to mention, just as it is out at Universal Studios in general, they have a captive audience. That is, you are not allowed re-entry, and if you are hungry or thirsty, you are stuck. Not terrible, just something to plan on. That, or plan to have something to eat before coming in, as the food was mostly bland and barely worth the cost of it all. The flatbread pizza, to me, tasted like something I would have had in a high school cafeteria. The chicken lollipops were good, as was the pizza skull, but so small that the following pictures are not the best to highlight that. Especially for the cost of it all. Then we have the drinks. This is where I will say things began to taste better, but the presentation of them all left little to be desired. Especially after seeing that the food was given that treatment, but all of the drinks I had out at Horror Unleashed looked just like anything I could have picked up in a general bar. Outside of the signature cocktail at The Boiler, but that was still the same, just with the chance to have a good photo op with some props and nothing else. Given that we used to have a smaller cafe in town built around a similar experience, that was where the bar was set, and Universal did not even compete with the theming and presentation of a small mom and pop level bar. Feels like this needs to be beefed up if you are still going to charge the high prices.

Speaking of the shows and other things going on in Universal Horror Unleashed, before we get into the haunts, we had a chance to take them all in and their various formats. Well, to be a little clearer, there was the one main show with Jack & Chance, and each of the haunts had their own little dance number that went along with them randomly throughout the day. Nothing major to talk about for those, even though the performers did a great job, they only felt like they were offered up as filler when the haunts we resetting. Jack & Chance, though, is the bigger show that took place in stages during the course of the experience at Horror Unleashed. A little number that started with more dancers to get the crowd hyped up, then moved into more of an audience participation. That is, Chance wanders about the bar area and offers up four random patrons the chance to partake in the rest of the show. A lot of fun humor, crowd participation, some amazing performances with all of the actors, and then moving on to the final bit. The "Stay or Slay" portion, where the crowd is treated to a few bits of dancing or sideshow performances before leading to the climax. That being where the selected participants are asked to choose which of the performers deserves to "die." Of course, this is all staged with the outcome always set by the performers, no matter what the crowd chooses, but all to amp the crowd up. Something that was needed, for sure, as most of us had been in the building for close to 45 minutes and yet had not had a chance to go into any of the haunts. Very strange, as they all seemed to shut down at the same time, and little communication until the end of this show, when they would be running.

Yes, we spent a good portion of our time not going through the various haunts in Universal Horror Unleashed. Even when it felt like each of the mini-shows were put on to help draw a crowd to the attraction. Do not think that is the case, though, as it was a lot of filler. All that said, we had a chance to hit each of the haunts a few times, and you can see those walkthroughs if you wish to be spoiled. Those who do not, well, here is a quick version of it all to keep the allure. There are four different ones as of right now, with Universal Monsters, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Exorcist Believer, and Scarecrow The Reaping making their debut. Each with some amazing theming for us all as we wait in the line. A line, that unlike Halloween Horror Nights, is actually flows to allow small groups to wander into the haunts for better scares. A solid choice as the "conga line" version usually leads to missed jumps and screams. It also allowed for Universal Horror Unleashed to perform some "featured scenes" in the haunt, where the group is stopped and a scene or event plays out, all to lead to a massive scare. All before a door opens up and ushers them out, so the next crowd can have the experience. While the actors did their best to make this work, there is the human issue they have yet to figure out with some crowds moving too fast or too slow. This is on the patrons more than the crew, but I had some of these moments ruined while going through, or I had to skip them completely as I was pushed through at a pace that made me enter just as the scene ended. Still a solid leg up for it all, but definitely some communication from higher-ups needs to happen so the actors can do the job even better.

Now, speaking of communication and a few things that went on in Universal Horror Unleashed, it felt like this needed to be kicked up a bit. Not just for the cast, but also for the crowds out there. While it is nice to have all of the cast stay in character and play up the various things going on in there, it was always a little confusing as to where to go or what was actually happening. As I mentioned above, most of the haunts were down when I first entered. The reason given, when I asked, was always something that was fitting for the haunt. Like, "we are ranging the monsters back up," or "we are cleaning up the butcher shop." Things like that, but never anything on when things would specifically open back up for us to go through. Not to mention, while overhearing some of the security-looking people, they were putting many of the actors on break at the same time. I am all for the work-life balance and that everyone should always take their breaks, but it is weird to have a building for of guests and then put 90% of the staff on break. Why not stagger this or something similar so you have two haunts always open to draw the crowds? Speaking of drawing the crowds, each of the smaller shows happened in front of the various haunts. All of them were feeling like it was to draw people over, just before things opened up. That would have made sense, but not once when out at Universal Horror Unleashed did this happen. The show happened, the crowd formed, the show ended, and the crowd was left wondering where to go, as the haunt was not open. So weird and a misuse of the talent if I say so. Just like the Jack & Chance show, these should have been used to pull people over and then keep the flow of things going.

In the end, I would be lying if I said I did not have fun out at Universal Horror Unleashed. The shows were fun the first time you saw them. The haunts were a bit of a rush and need maybe two or three walks before you are able to nail the timing and see everything. The food and drink need a whole lot of improvement, for sure. But, all-in-all, it was a fun experience that one time. Which is a bit of the problem here. For the price to enter, then all of the other costs that go into it all, and a whole lot of time standing around, there is no real reason to go back again. Maybe if you have a friend or family member who comes in and wants to try it out. Even then, maybe only worth the lower price of admission that gives you access to each haunt once. I know that will be the main reason I head back out to Universal Horror Unleashed in the future. Unless, the rumors are true and the various haunts and attractions will be swapped out over time. That did not look like an easy thing to do from what I saw, but it has been speculated. Which, is sad, as the actors and the scare actors truly shone with it all, and I wish I could justify coming out to learn all of the bits of lore and give them chances to scare me again. This was a soft open, though, so maybe they will take all of these thoughts from the early days and make some changes so this can feel like a place to keep coming back to.

Universal Horror Unleashed is another property of Universal Studios and is set open up on August 14^th, 2025. We were invited out to the event by Universal and given an Unlimited Pass for the day. All food and drinks were purchased by us.