To celebrate Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, which opens this Friday, a film contest was announced. The challenge was to make a short scary film and submit it to Universal. Over 100 films were entered. The prize was a broadcast of the filmmaker’s short film on the Chiller network, $1,000, and a trip for two to the opening night of Halloween Horror Nights (October 2nd) in Hollywood.
First, the films were judged by Saw VI director Kevin Gruetert, Syfy’s Executive Vice President of Programming and Original Movies Thomas P. Vitale, and Universal Halloween Horror Nights Creative Director John Murdy. The ten finalists were sent over to the public to vote and pick the winner. The contest is finally over.
And the winner is...
Drew Daywalt, who submitted “Bedfellows.” You can watch the three-minute film here, as well as the other finalists' films. Daywalt lives in Oak Park, California, although he grew up in Ohio watching horror films. It’s not his first film either: he’s written and directed features for Quentin Tarantino's A Band Apart, Tony Scott, and Jerry Bruckheimer.
Halloween Horror Nights is when Universal Studios Hollywood transforms its theme park into a complete Halloween extravaganza. There are mazes (based on Universal Horror movies like Saw) plus scare zones and shows (like a new Rocky Horror Picture Show show). All of the rides are open (Mummy, Jurassic Park, etc.) And the highlight is the Terror Tram. During the day, there is a tram that goes to the Universal Studios back lot, where they film thousands of TV shows and movies, but guests have to stay on the tram. At Halloween Horror Nights, guests can actually get off the tram and explore the back lot.
Halloween Horror Nights begins October 2nd, this Friday, and runs until Halloween. The dates are: October 2-3, 9-11, 15-18, 23-25, 28-31. It starts at 7. Get there at 7 and beat the crowds. It’ll be worth it.
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