A killer clown in Slaughter Sinema 2
Dying for a B-movie marathon? You and me both. In fact, I’ve been hoping, dreaming and wishing for a sequel to Slaughter Sinema since the haunted house first appeared at Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) in 2018. As a huge fan of horror movies — the lower the budget, the better — it became an instant favorite of mine.
Well, my fellow sinephiles, I have some good news: it’s time to go back to the Carey Drive-In for more horror movie mayhem! From creature features to sci-fi to spaghetti westerns, Slaughter Sinema 2 is chock full of screams on the big screen.
I had the chance to speak with Charles Gray, senior show director for Halloween Horror Nights, all about this year’s house, and rest assured: Slaughter Sinema 2 is a worthy new installment in this horror franchise. Grab your popcorn, put on your bravest face, and join me for a night at the drive-in.
The Lore
The titular Beast Baby in the original Slaughter Sinema
First, some lore. Because I love lore. Slaughter Sinema 2 takes us back to the Carey Drive-In, a location first seen in the 2015 scare zone All Nite Die-In: Double Feature. As the legend goes, the theater was closed due to a grisly murder during a double feature. The scare zone featured black and white monsters from classic horror movies along with modern monsters in full color.
The Carey Drive-In returned in 2018 when it served as the main setting for the original Slaughter Sinema haunted house. This time, the theater sucked guests into the world of ‘80s B-movies, including such (fictional) classics as “The Cult of the Beast Baby,” “Amazon Cannibals from Planet Hell” and — my personal favorite — ”Midnight Snack 2: The House Swarming.”
Slaughter Sinema would prove to be an HHN fan favorite, with Easter eggs and nods to the house popping up in subsequent years of the event. (You may have noticed some in the Mega Video Rental section of this summer’s Tribute Store, too!)
Now, after six long years, the Carey Drive-In is back open for business with a brand-new slate of horrifying B-movies to show for it.
The House
The snack counter of the Carey Drive-In in Slaughter Sinema 2
It wouldn’t be a night at the movie theater if it didn’t start with a few trailers, and the same is true for Slaughter Sinema 2. As you wait in line, enjoy a taste of the cinematic horror to come as you watch the trailers for upcoming flicks at the Carey Drive-In.
“Even before you get in the house, you will be entertained by what’s coming and what you might see” shares Charles. “I’d be curious to see if there are any trailers where people go, ‘Oh, I’m interested in that story. I wish we could see that.’ I’m always up for the fans saying what their favorites are.” Who knows — maybe your favorite trailer could get its own HHN house one day!
PRO TIP: Keep your eyes peeled! Eagle-eyed HHN fans may spy some familiar locations featured in these trailers.
Once you’re done enjoying the trailers, you’ll enter Slaughter Sinema 2 and find yourself at the Carey Drive-In concession stand. While some elements of the house will feel familiar to long-time fans, rest assured this isn’t your typical sequel that just rehashes the first movie. In fact, Slaughter Sinema 2 goes beyond the ‘80s setting of the original house, opening the door to a much wider variety of genres and fictional movies.
“Last time, we leaned a little more grindhouse,” says Charles, referring to the genre of low-budget, campy horror movies. “This time, we were a little more diverse in the different types of movies there are… like a huge ode to the creature features.”
Any true film buff knows that spoilers should be avoided at all costs, but if you can’t resist learning a little more about what you’ll experience in Slaughter Sinema 2, read on. Each room will transport you into a different film, with movie posters setting the stage for what you’re about to witness. This year’s slate of B-movies will take you from a twisted rendition of the North Pole down to the depths of the ocean. You’ll experience a demonic version of the wild west, and you’ll even find yourself in the trenches of the zyborgs. (I’m not at liberty to explain what a zyborg is, but trust me — you’re going to love finding out.)
Holiday horror in the North Pole
PRO TIP: Have any cheap 3-D glasses lying around? Pop them on for your walk through Slaughter Sinema 2 for a cinematic surprise.
A personal favorite for Charles? “Heavy Metal Hell,” a spoof of the 1970s fear of rock music’s demonic tendencies. But what happens when a kid plays his record backward and actually opens a portal to rock ‘n’ roll hell? You’ll have to get a ticket to the Carey Drive-In if you want to find out!
Speaking of music, every true film fan knows that a score can make or break a movie. Slaughter Sinema 2 has that covered, as it features a unique track for each of the movies featured in the Carey Drive-In.
“Audio is probably my favorite thing to dive into,” says Charles. “But my philosophy is, if you really notice it, I’m not doing my job, because it should almost be subliminal. It’s built to support the story and the scale.”
If there’s two things that Slaughter Sinema 2 has in spades, it’s story and scale. Charles shared with me that this year’s house — as with all HHN haunted houses — was designed and built from the ground up, drawing on a plethora of ideas from the creative team. He and scenic designer Dylan Kollath worked together to take the concept and storyline from a sketch on a whiteboard to a 3D model to the final product: the Carey Drive-In as you’ll experience it.
“The scenic designer and the show director are hand-in-hand the entire time,” Charles says of his partnership with Dylan. “He’s brilliant. He’s very experimental, but he always has the scare at the front of his mind, too.”
If my conversation with Charles taught me anything about Slaughter Sinema 2, it’s this: as you’re walking through the Carey Drive-In, you’ll have the scares at the front of your mind, too.
Cameos & Easter Eggs
A Mardi Gras massacre in Slaughter Sinema 2
It wouldn’t be a sequel without some cameos and Easter eggs, and HHN fans can expect to see plenty in Slaughter Sinema 2. Without giving away too much, keep your eyes peeled for appearances by two characters from the original house, along with plenty of other hints and references to the Carey Drive-In’s past screenings.
This one is truly for the fans. And as a fan myself, I couldn’t be more excited to experience Slaughter Sinema 2 and come away with a brand-new set of favorite fictional B-movies worthy of their own sinematic universe.
“It’s an opportunity for those of us who are creating it to invite the guests and be one with them, in the sense that we’re all fans,” shares Charles. “I’ll be walking in the house, shoulder to shoulder with you, and enjoying it as much as you are!”
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