Just as Pepsi has it’s Coke and Ford has it’s Chevy, in the name of healthy competition, Halloween Horror Nights now has it’s
Howl-O-Scream. Universal reigned supreme with their Halloween event until 3 years ago when Busch Gardens Tampa threw their hat into the ring with an impressive start, and in their third year, we look for things to just continue getting better.
Perhaps it is unfair to compare the two events, but human nature has hardly ever lent itself to “fairness.” The two parks take a different approach to their events. Universal seeks to reinvent itself yearly, theming all new houses, with perhaps an occasional “sequel” to a popular house of the previous year. Busch Gardens appears to be following in the footsteps of Knott’s Berry Farm, seeking to keep the houses that work for them and building upon this foundation. A concept that has their Florida detractors sneering, but from a haunt biz standpoint, a concept that has been working for Knott’s for over 30 years.

We did catch the show later and we’re sorry to say that the shows were the only weak point of Howl-O-Scream. Like we said at the beginning of this article, it might not be fair to compare the parks, but I believe we may have been spoiled by Universal’s shows…. (Not that they haven’t had some bombs, anyone remember “Franz Harary?”). RIP TV, a celebrity inspired show, was loosely based in a talk show format but with dancers bringing out today’s pop stars such as Gwen Stefani, Ozzy & Kelly Osbourne and Shakira for lip-syncing numbers, the finale consisting of a group number performed by their “tormented souls.” The most amazing part of the show was how their 2 main “creatures” were able to maneuver around on stilts, 4 of them, almost spider like, and incorporate themselves into the dance numbers with what appeared to be such ease.
The other show, “Fiends,” fared better with the group… no lip syncing here and the “naughty nurses” with pink hair and vinyl mini nurse costumes were a hit…. Much in the vein if USF’s Beetlejuice show, Fiends employed a rock and roll theme with performances of some old classics. Was an enjoyable little venue typical of what one would find in a theme park.

The selling point of Howl-O-Scream would be their houses. Consistently good quality throughout, we all had our favorites but all were done exceptionally well, none stood out as a “throw-away” house just to met a quota.

Of the houses, the PERSONAL favorite of the HF crew would have to be Escape from Insanity…. From the actors, to the scenery, bizarre and twisted humor intermingled with a classic psychotic theme, it employed everything we love. It was the only house we would have the pleasure of visiting twice that evening. One entered into the waiting room of Sunny Meadows where upon closer inspection you would find “marbles” in the lost and found bin and “Mad Magazine” for reading materials…. Breaks in the line allowed us to wander a bit more and to soak up the atmosphere…. No “cattle chutes” here this year. Making good use of the cages in the facilities (used to house animals in the park) they enclosed the more dangerous patients behind their iron bars…. A talented cast in here had US laughing and OTHERS shying away.

“Bloody Bayou” took place indoors and out and succeeded where Universal’s Jurassic Park scare did not. Creating good atmosphere with effective lighting (not everything should be dark) we were lead thru the bayou where the park capitalized on the ever growing “hillbillies as horror” theme. The path appeared to have us walking inside and outside, thru small ramshackle shacks inhabited by bloody weapon wielding bayou banshees…. the one “break” from theme would be a “Freddy” scene in Bloody Bayou…. Seems someone is a big movie fan… and we love Freddy too…but it was out of place.

Ripper’s Row was another favorite with guests, though those familiar with the time period were quick to point out that not all of the “accents” were correct for London in 1888. But for the rest of us who have no clue, we never noticed, and it was fun house employing one of the oldest and most familiar horror icons. Another house with well done sets…

The Mortuary had an interesting theme, taking the guests thru the many stages of death, beginning in the funeral home thru embalming / morgue rooms and ending in the graveyard…. Not something many like to ponder, but it will meet with us all someday…. This house is slated to return this year with many improvements according to sources in the park.

Demented Dimensions (3 D House). I would loved to have had the archway used for the queue in this house… an open skull overhead flanked by two giant climbing lizards… was one of my favorites facades… Demented Dimensions was done under the premise of an archeological dig that discovers alien life… (very Sci-Fi “Declassified Tuesdays…” for those that believe aliens have visited us all thru history…). Not one of the scarier houses, but extremely well done from an artistic standpoint…. And again, breaks in the line allowed us time to wander and appreciate the amazing job.

Tortured was your classic haunted house, the theme was supposed to be that you were invited to a party, tho you did not know who the host was…. But it was probably the only house that the theme was not prevalent to the house. It was a maze type house where one entered thru a bookcase and proceeded thru a more traditional “haunted maze house.”