Halloween Horror Nights – Event Report: 2014 Eyegore Awards

Sean Decker |

Sep 22, 2014

This past Friday evening, September 19th, we hit the 2014 Eyegore Awards and kick-off of Halloween Horror Nights held at Universal Studios Hollywood, CA, and brought back loads of ocular candy from the park as well as some video from the show. Read on!

Paying respect to some of horror’s most venerated players and one notable newcomer, the Eyegore Awards were hosted once again by Syfy’s “Face Off’” host McKenzie Westmore (returning from her 2013 duties) with presenters including Chris Hardwick (comedian and host of AMC’s “Talking Dead”) and Robert Kirkman (creator and executive producer of “The Walking Dead”), who bestowed an award to filmmaker and special effects legend Greg Nicotero. Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez (From Dusk Till Dawn, Sin City) too accepted an award, presented to him by longtime collaborator and actor Danny Trejo, as did guitarist Slash, presented to him by Nicotero. On its heels, the at one time Guns N’ Roses musician performed alongside singer Myles Kennedy the title song from Nothing Left to Fear, the debut feature from his production company Slasher Films (the film releases to DVD and On Demand on October 8th).

The highlight of the show came with An American Werewolf in London filmmaker John Landis’ acceptance of his award, presented to him by seven-time Academy Award-winning Special Effects Make-Up Artist and previous Eyegore Award recipient Rick Baker (check out video clips of both the presentation and acceptance speeches below).

With the Eyegore Awards for the first time ever opening the event to five hundred Halloween Horror Nights park goers (for the cost of a ticket upgrade), the effect seemed unfortunately to be a decrease in the show’s feeling of prestige. In order to accommodate the increase in numbers, the ceremony was moved from the Globe Theater (in which it’s historically been held) to a larger venue, the latter of which came with bleacher seating and separate (and separated) areas for the always packed red carpet and bar. Here’s hoping Universal returns the Eyegore Awards to the more centralized Globe and its grounds in 2015.

As for Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood itself, mazes offered up this year include “The Walking Dead: The End of the Line,” “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “AVP: Alien vs. Predator,” and “An American Werewolf in London” (many of them constructed on the Universal back lot itself, due to the park’s current and extensive ongoing renovations, which means prepare for some walking) as well as the 3D maze “Clowns 3D Music by SLASH,” “Dracula Untold: Reign of Blood,” and “Face Off: In the Flesh.”

Standouts for this writer included an altogether astounding Alien Queen recreation in “AVP” as well as the entirety of the “An American Werewolf” maze, which should thrill devout fans of the classic film. Rick Baker himself told us that he loved it.

More info on Halloween Horror Nights is available at Halloween Horror Nights.com. Updates from Creative Director John Murdy can be found on Twitter, as he reveals a running chronicle of exclusive information.

“Halloween Horror Nights” dates are as follows: September 19, 20, 26, 27, October 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, and November 1, 2, 2014.

Our thanks to the always amazing Trana Pittam for assisting in our coverage.