Hi all!
Today I am sharing my personal experience at Movie World Fright Nights! If you didn’t know, Movie World is Australia’s equivalent of Universal Studios, hosting its own version of Hollywood Horror Nights, during Halloween season. This year, the main attraction was IT, which is my favourite horror film and book. I had no choice but to go! I decided to take a solo road-trip to the Gold Coast, spending the night at a motel, before returning to my hometown the next day. The event started at 6pm, running until 11pm. As I went by myself, I was not permitted to enter the Panic Rooms (themed escape rooms requiring two people minimum). I was there purely for the mazes. There were five in total: 1.) IT, 2.) The Conjuring, 3.) Doll Haus, 4.) Zombieland Double Tap and 5.) Death Row. I told myself that if I managed to complete at least three mazes without tapping out, I was a brave soul. If I did all five, I was a legend. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
1.) IT
Without a doubt, the IT maze was the best of the night! It was also the most popular, which meant I was waiting in line for almost two hours! If I had known, I would’ve purchased a Fast Pass. However, it was worth the wait. Once I went through it, I immediately wanted to go again. It featured a few pieces from the actual films, as well as plenty of Pennywise jump-scares! As you can see below, the entrance was via the Funhouse clown’s mouth. I was never scared by the beloved clown, only happy to see him! I wish I could have taken photographs, but it was not permitted.
The most anxiety-inducing part of the entire evening were not the mazes themselves, but the monsters parading through the park. If you go alone (like I did) prepare to be constantly targeted by them. I spent a lot of the night screaming and running from zombies, clowns, demons and hillbillies carrying axes. It was fun, don’t get me wrong, but it definitely worked me up the most. There was one particular clown I avoided at all cost. Let’s just say he played the part a little too well…
2.) The Conjuring
The Conjuring was the fourth maze I entered. Spoiler alert, I completed all five. I am unbelievably proud of myself! Being on my own, I was forced to join groups. I was also usually at the back or the middle, so whenever I heard the front person screaming, I knew to expect something horrifying around the corner. I predicted before I even arrived that this particular maze would be the scariest and I was 100% correct. I screamed the loudest when The Nun ran at me! It had so many jump-scares, featuring Annabelle, Valak, The Crooked Man and Bathsheba. It was truly well done – my second favourite of the evening.
3.) Death Row
Death Row was the biggest surprise for me. I was so apprehensive about it beforehand, but I’m really glad I took the chance to walk through it. It was my third favourite maze. Not only that, I met some absolutely lovely people in line, who shook my hand, introducing themselves to me. They invited me to join their group and wished me well at the end. Their kindness just added to the overall experience. You enter via a hole in the wall, moving through a chaotic prison, filled with blood-thirsty inmates. It featured some really cool demonic nurses, reminding me of those from Silent Hill. One of them came right up to my face and cackled. It was terrifying – in the best way!
I also want to mention IT was the only maze held in the centre of the park. The other four mazes were located in the same area, past Wild West Falls. I really appreciated this because it meant I didn’t have to keep walking past the monsters. I could literally exit one maze and enter the next. It helped the wait times weren’t nearly as long. I was able to finish all five by 10pm, giving me one hour left before Movie World closed.
4.) Zombieland Double Tap
Zombieland Double Tap started off strong but fizzled out by the end. I loved the fun atmosphere, jumping a few times. However, in the last room, where the biggest scare is meant to be, there was nobody there. It was so strange, the guy in front of me turned around and said “huh?” I don’t know if this was intentional, or the zombies were having a toilet break. I wish it had been more exciting. It had the potential to be much better than it was. My favourite part was the screaming zombie behind the chain-link fence, running up and down.
5.) Doll Haus
In last place, we have Doll Haus. I was so looking forward to this one, as dolls are one of my favourite horror sub-genres. Unfortunately, it was lame. I expected this maze to be full of dolls, yet there were hardly any. The creatures were dressed as ballerinas, which didn’t suit the theme. I didn’t like the way they looked. It was also located in a very strange place. If I hadn’t asked somebody, I never would have found it.
Overall, I had an absolute blast. The park was alive with spooky spirit. I’ll never forget walking under the sign, seeing the monsters unleashed into the different precincts. It was great getting to meet people that love horror. The mazes were excellent (aside from the last two mentioned), and despite being chased by chainsaw-wielding masked figures, I loved every second of it. I would 100% do it all again. It was truly a night to remember.
Thank you so much for reading. Have you ever been Fright Nights?
Peace & Love xoxo