It’s September, and you know what that means: Watching GoPro videos of Halloween Horror Nights because you live on the opposite end of the continent. The shadow of Halloween has consumed the Universal Studios parks over the years. While Disney adults seek to remain in Neverland, the studio built on classic monsters has found demons, creatures and killers to be their main attraction. Each year, more and more horror icons are added to the bill. Assuming they’re invited. On Thursday Halloween Horror Nights had to eject one party crasher, as aspiring horror star Buddy the Unicorn attempted to enter the park.
In the quick video, the large, orange mascot mills around the Universal Studios Hollywood parking lot, taking photos with the crowd. That is until park staff approach the creature and boot him from the premises. While it smells partially staged, the overall scenario isn’t a stretch. As not to intermingle with bloodied up staff, guests are not allowed to dress up at the park. Nevermind in outfits plugging another studio’s movie.
Buddy is the titular costumed terror of the new film from Casper Kelly, best known for Adult Swim’s viral Too Many Cooks segment. Starring Cristin Milioti, Keegan-Michael Key, Patton Oswalt and Michael Shannon, the film revolves around a Barney-like children’s TV show, whose colorful plush body hides eldritch menace. Despite its humble budget, the movie has already blown through its projected box office returns by a few million. An ongoing trend for the year, where lean horror fare is attracting droves of movie goers over typical blockbusters. Speaking of…
Even without Buddy, Halloween Horror Nights is still bursting at the seems. While licensed horror movies are usually contained by a haunted house attraction (this year stars Hellraiser, Sinners, Stranger Things and Killer Klowns From Outer Space), the parks have been finding more nooks to stuff additional maniacs. Terrifier’s Art the Clown and Obsession’s “Freaky” Nikki were added as walkabout characters to lurk around and spook ya. This is all in addition to an ever extending season and a year-round Halloween Horror Nights attraction in Las Vegas opened last year. Folks can’t seem to get enough scares. Obsession’s box office slaughter attests to that. And if one orange unicorn continues to catch up, he may just be allowed back in to try that Mario Kart ride.