The Sandspur

Issue date: 10/14/05 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Copyright Universal Orlando 2005

"Once upon a time..." are the innocent, familiar words that flash across the screen of the Universal Studios promotional website for Halloween Horror Nights. The childhood comfort of this phrase is lost in the dark and twisted bloodbath that follows where a sweet old lady becomes your worst nightmare. The tag line reads, "No one will live happily ever after."

It is certain many have seen the senseless torture of a man laid across a bed of spikes while his gruesome death hovers above him as he is read a fairy tale by an old lady who is assumed to be his mother. From this, one would expect the themes of the haunted houses to follow suite as they have in years past since the beginning of this Florida Halloween ritual.

The Grimm fairy tales come to mind and the excitement and anticipation of those drawn to the dark allure of the gruesome and terrifying grows as October approaches.

The difficulty with this year's theme, however, is that it seems none existent once you reach the park. With haunted houses entitled such unrecognizable names as the Terror Mines, the Skool, Blood Ruins and Where Evil Hides. These are not dark fairy tales of the familiar sort. They are based upon more of a series of created legends about different parts of a completely different "fairy tale" world, that is more reminiscent of a barbarian age theme. A time when a ruler known as the "Terra Queen," reigns, hell and terror over the lands.

This is slightly disappointing, perhaps because it seemed the perfect opportunity to play with the sick and twisted elements that are the true nature of fairy tales. As far back as childhood goes, there have been rhymes and riddle and tales whose underlying themes are terrifying and by no means suitable for children and yet they are the basis of our youth.

The envious queen who longed for the organs of the beautiful Snow White to consume as her supper and chants of Ring around the Rosy, the theme song for the plague that swept through Europe killing everything in its path. Unfortunately, this is not the theme it appears to be, which is not quite as frustrating as it seems.

One of the highlights for those compelled by the purity of fear is Cold Blind Terror, who description reads, "Bone-chilling cold and blind terror numb the senses as one can not see, one can not hear...and one cannot escape. In and out of total darkness, mankind find themselves shivering from both fear and the icy cold blackness.

Continued...

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