Universal City, CA— The twisted landscape of the famous “War of the Worlds” set—with its authentic airline jumbo jet wreckage, devastated houses and apocalyptic vistas, will be transformed into “The Containment Zone,” an elaborately themed, zombie-ridden “scare zone,” bringing scenes from an unmade movie to life as part of a “Terror Tram: Live Or Die” experience at this year’s “Halloween Horror Nights event,” which begins a 16-night run on October 2 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

In addition to the new “Terror Tram: Live Or Die” attraction,  “Halloween Horror Nights” will feature four new maze experiences,  and six new “scare zones.”  The  all-new  “Halloween Horror Nights” for 2009 will be the most intense and impactful “live” horror event ever to be presented in a theme park environment.  Tickets are now on sale at http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/hhn including limited-time advance purchase discounts.  

New “Halloween Horror Nights” attractions will include “Saw: Game Over,” a “live” maze experience based on the “Saw” film franchise, per an agreement among Universal Studios Theme Parks, Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures.  The interactive maze, “Halloween: The Life and Crimes of Michael Myers,” will be the first attraction based upon the “Halloween” films to be created by a U.S. theme park. The “live” multi-sensory horror experience, “My Bloody Valentine: Be Mine 4 Ever,” will be based on the 2009 hit movie.  “Chucky’s Funhouse,” will be a fresh, flesh-and-blood incarnation of one of Universal’s most iconic horror franchises.   

The “Terror Tram: Live Or Die” is all-new for 2009 and, in addition to “The Containment Zone,”  features key theming from “Saw,” “My Bloody Valentine, “Psycho” and “Halloween.”   “Terror Tram: Live or Die” combines a harrowing tram-ride journey with a terrifying walk through the sets and specially designed gauntlets created on the studio’s historic backlot.

Also new for 2009 is “The Rocky Horror Picture Show:  A Tribute,” bringing the mayhem of the classic horror spoof to life on-screen and on-stage with live performers singing and dancing in the celebrated, outrageous “Rocky Horror” costumes, per an agreement between the theme park and Twentieth Century Fox’s Licensing & Merchandising Division.  

Updates on “Halloween Horror Nights” are available at http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/hhn and also on Twitter and Facebook, as Creative Director John Murdy reveals a running chronicle of exclusive information.  Fans are invited to follow John Murdy on Twitter at: Twitter.com/HorrorNights or via Facebook at: “Halloween Horror Nights - Hollywood (Official).”

Universal Studios Hollywood’s favorite thrill-ride attractions will also remain open for “Halloween Horror Nights” nocturnal affair, many with menacing twists.  Favorites include “The Simpsons Ride®,” “Revenge of the MummySM – The Ride” and  “Jurassic Park® In the Dark.”

“Halloween Horror Nights” will continue on consecutive weekends and selected weekday nights beginning on Friday, October 2 through Halloween, Saturday, October 31.  Event dates are: October 2-3, 9-11, 15-18, 23-25, 28-31. The event will begin nightly at 7:00 p.m.; closing hours vary by night throughout the event.