Inside The Weeknd’s After Hours Nightmare Experience at Universal Studios
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
The post Inside The Weeknd’s After Hours Nightmare Experience at Universal Studios appeared first on Consequence.
When you think of haunts (seasonal events held during the fall months based around scaring attendees), you often don’t think of musicians. In the rare cases where you do, perhaps you think of heavy metal or rock artists, as their music can often bring up images of horror in your mind. But horror has influenced all sorts of different genres, from pop with Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” video to rap through the imagery described in songs by Flatbush Zombies and XXXTentacion.
Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd, has never kept his love for the genre a secret, but it has taken center stage with the rollout of his blockbuster 2020 album, After Hours. While the music itself might not sound particularly scary, it is his accompanying visuals that have showcased his love for horror; a cursory glance at his promotional music videos will show you that blood, gore, beheadings, body modifications, and drug trips are common images throughout this era. However, there is only so much that Tesfaye can show under YouTube’s strict guidelines.
These restrictions are why a more horrific vision of his visuals is now on display at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort. Tesfaye has collaborated with the theme parks to bring “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare” to their annual Halloween Horror Nights events, where fans can walk through more extreme versions of his music videos.
Consequence was recently able to walk through the Orlando iteration of this experience, and if you thought this was nothing more than a cheap cash-grab, think again. In short, The Weeknd has successfully expanded the After Hours universe yet again.
Below, find everything you need to know about “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare” experience at Halloween Horror Nights.
What is “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare”?
“The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare” is a walkthrough exhibit that integrates The Weeknd’s music and artistic persona, making for a fun and thrilling experience that’s perfect for Spooky Season. As an official site description notes, “Prepare to enter the macabre mind of The Weeknd in this haunted house as he stalks your squad through the surreal nightmare of his After Hours music. A slasher carving a smile at an otherworldly rave. Bandaged maniacs performing extreme plastic surgery. A grotesque mannequin masquerade. His nightmare is now yours.”
The detailed sets and surprising amount of gore are nothing to scoff at, with a concrete and easy-to-follow storyline established when you walk into the house. As you walk into the house, you will see a lifelike dummy of Tesfaye hooked up to a rather strange contraption — it seemingly is draining his nightmares from his mind, displaying them on connected televisions as lights frantically flash around.
The proceeding experience is those nightmares, with imagery that is somewhat familiar but also twisted in a way that we haven’t seen before. Sure, we’ve seen Tesfaye licking frogs in the video for “Heartless,” but we certainly haven’t seen him and others occupying the After Hours Club turning into them. Without giving too much away, if you think you know what you are going to experience just by watching the After Hours visuals, you’re wrong.
Perhaps the biggest question on everyone’s mind when this experience was announced was how they were going to handle the songs themselves. After all, Tesfaye’s library isn’t exactly the cleanest on a lyrical level. While it is an event for adults (they highly recommend not to bring children under 12 to it), they still effectively cut around the more risque lyrics, so if you were expecting to hear the word “pussy” at a theme park, you’re out of luck. However, the remixes heard throughout the house are quite effective in making you feel uneasy, especially when paired with the disorienting lights that flash in almost every room of the house.
It is a bit of a shame that the overall experience, along with many other houses at Halloween Horror Nights, only last a few minutes, because I could linger in the world of “After Hours Nightmare” for a lot longer. While those unfamiliar with Tesfaye’s work might not get the specific references, both fans and newbies alike will likely have a blast walking through the house for its immersive theming and energetic atmosphere.
“The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare,” photo courtesy of Universal Studios
How Can I Get Tickets for “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare”?
Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event, so make sure you purchase the right access when you visit Universal Studios.
Tickets for “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare” in Orlando start at $73.99 for a Single Night Ticket, while an Express Pass starts at $129.99. Get tickets to the Orlando experience here.
Tickets for “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare” in Los Angeles start at $72 for a General Admission ticket; After 2:00 p.m. Day/Night tickets are also available (pricing varies by date). Get tickets to the Los Angeles experience here.
“The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare,” photo courtesy of Universal Studios
When Does “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare” Run Until?
At both parks, “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare” will run on select nights between September 2nd and October 31st, 2022.
“The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare,” photo courtesy of Universal Studios
Ed. note: Want even more of The Weeknd? Catch him on tour throughout the fall; tickets are available via Ticketmaster. You can also read our full review of the global stadium run here.
Inside The Weeknd’s After Hours Nightmare Experience at Universal Studios
Erin Brady
Popular Posts
Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert Was a Cathartic Six-Hour Celebration of a Rock Legend
Rihanna Helps Restaurant Staff Clean Up After Staying Late for Dinner
The Kids Are Alright: Shane Hawkins, Violet Grohl Steal the Show at Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert
"I Can't Continue": Feist Withdraws from Arcade Fire Tour Following Win Butler Allegations [Updated]
Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert: See the Full 50-Song Setlist
