Universal Studios wants to “create a strong female character” to shake up the “male-dominated” horror genre for its annual Halloween event.
Earlier this year, Universal announced eight new haunted maze themes as part of Halloween Horror Nights 2024. One of the newly added mazes is called “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines,” a new attraction featuring an all-female cast of horror characters, including the Bride of Frankenstein, Van Helsing's Daughter, the She-Wolf, and Dracula's Daughter.
In an interview Los Angeles TimesHalloween Horror Nights creative director John Murdy revealed that this was a deliberate attempt to counter the “hierarchy” of Universal film monsters, which were “all male.”
“Universal Monsters: The Enduring Bloodline” focuses primarily on lesser-known female monster movie characters. (Photo: Universal Pictures/Getty Images)
Universal Orlando announces details of Epic Universe theme park due to open next year
“I want to create strong female characters,” Murdy says, “When horror started, it was very male-centric. Even in the '80s, it was all about Freddy, Jason, Leatherface, Michael Myers. That's what we started with. That was the horror genre. But as time has gone on and the event has grown and evolved, we've kept an open attitude to embracing all forms of horror.”
Murdy said the idea was inspired by the popularity of a “Bride of Frankenstein”-themed haunted maze in 2021, which gave him confidence a female-only attraction would be successful.
A tourist takes a photo with a globe outside the entrance of Universal Studios Orlando, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Florida. (Katie Rice/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“I really love the female-centric approach,” Mardy says, “I have two daughters and, honestly, I have the largest collection of Universal Monsters merchandise in the world. It's in my house here in LA, so my daughters have been in the monsters room since they were babies. I have pictures of them kissing a bust of Frankenstein and they knew that was normal from the time they were kids. They have a weird emotional attachment to Frankenstein, just like I do. I want to create strong female characters for my daughters.”
For more articles on Media and Culture click here
“This is my 11-year-old daughter's first time coming,” Maadi added, “and she's never asked before, but she said, 'I think I'm ready,' so I want her to see female representation.”
Halloween Horror Nights 2024 opened at Universal Orlando in August and Universal Studios Hollywood in September. (Photo provided by Qiu Chen/Xinhua via Getty Images)
“Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines” opened at Universal Orlando on August 30 and at Universal Studios Hollywood on September 5. It will run on select nights through November 3.
Click here to get the FOX News app
