Universally frightening

By Jimmy Chai, On-Line Forty-Niner

Thursday, October 29, 1998

Logic has always been my best friend in times of need. At Universal Studios Hollywood's second annual "Halloween Horror Nights II," fear coarsed through my body while standing in front of the dark, foggy entrance.

Sounds of women screaming and chains rattling emanate from no particular source.

The unpredictability of an unfamiliar area, filled with gruesome monsters hidden behind seemingly trustworthy garbage cans, tested the strong willed and punished the weak hearted.

Paranoid children latched to the arms of their oblivious fathers, who guided them though booby-trapped pathways leading directly to "Animal House of Horrors." Cute animal tricks and silly stunts calmed unsettled nerves and turned stone cold faces into smiles.

Passing by the family animal show on the way to "Clive Barker's Freakz" were young and indulgent couples hoping to test the boundaries of their fears. The dark smoke-filled maze plagued with pop-out heart-jolting freaks were off limits to fathers who wanted to maintain an image of strength in front of their unsuspecting children.

At "Clive Barker's Freakz," girlfriends viewed the true nature of their image-upholding boyfriends. In return, the boyfriends viewed the strength hidden inside their better half. While much of the theme park was manipulated from its original version to accommodate the four haunting mazes and six Halloween shows, "Back To the Future the Ride" and "Jurassic Park the Ride" remained the same. People found comfort in the familiar.

But when the clock struck 1 a.m. and the park began to close its doors, I fell deeper and deeper within myself and struggled to conquer and suppress my fears, but was losing the battle.