Monstros: The Monsters of Latin America was one of Universal Studios Hollywoods most popular mazes. It was so popular, in fact, that they're bringing back a sequel to the 2024 Maze lineup, titled Monstros 2: The Nightmares of Latin America. Guests are able to further explore the terrifying universe of Latin American horror-folklore in this all-new, original house in which El Muerte will return to guide you through a graveyard of mythical monsters.
Meet three new monsters to run from in Halloween Horror Nights 2024: the soul-stealing rider, El Charro; the supernatural, dog-like spirit El Cadejo, who roams silent roads at night in search of prey; And the kid-eating horror movie staple, The Boogieman, this time called El Cucuy. Each of them comes with their own chilling backstories taken from real-life folklore and local stories.
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;Screen RantAlong with several other media outlets, recently had the opportunity to visit Universal Studios Hollywood and preview two of the terrifying haunted houses for 2024. One of the mazes that Halloween Horror Nights creative director John Murdy provided a tour was Monstruos 2: The Nightmares from Latin America. During the passage, he explains the legends of Monstruos' three new monsters. Mardi explains that all three of them have something in common - They all have glowing eyes.
Meet El Charro
The rider who steals souls
The legend that Universal Studios Hollywood bases their version of El Charro on Begins in a canteen very similar to the one that guests will encounter at the beginning of the maze. A man named Juan or Jose, depending on who you talk to, is a poor miner. One night, instead of going home to his wife and large family, he decided to stop for a drink with his friends from the mine. Over time, he drinks more and more, until he is the last one left in the canteen.
At one point, he shouts out that it is so unfair that he is poor, and that he would do anything to be rich. In walks a man in a black, dark suit who sits down with him and explains that he can make his dreams come true. The man ends up making a deal with the devil. When he wakes up the next morning, he finds sacks of gold, which he spends frivolously on food, drink and friends. As he nears the end of his life, He understands that he will have to pay and leaves on his horse.
At last the devil catches him, Dooming him to eternity as El Charo - Along with his horse. Now, he is forced to find someone to take his place by accepting his bag of gold. The man who agrees will have riches beyond measure, the only price? their soul.
Resist the Hell Rider El Charro, or he will take your soul.
Meet El Cadejo
The dogman-like spirit
The myth of El Cadejo is that God created a white dog that acts as a spirit animal for people and helps guide them on the path to righteousness. This white dog would get them to paradise at the end of their lives. But, as the legend has it, the devil became jealous and made a dog of his own. He sent the dog to Earth to mess with all of this - and that dog is El Cadejo.
As guests walk through the maze, they encounter El Cadeja's lair, which is strewn with half-eaten bodies and bones left by the dog. There are several moments When El Cadejo pops out unexpectedly as corners are rounded. Because he is a dog, this monster is recreated only by puppets, and not by any live scare actors.
Do not turn your back to the devil dog El Cadejo, or you will be lost forever.
Meet El Cucuy
The child-stealing boogeyman
Maybe The most terrifying of all three new monsters is El Cucuy. This creature is essentially the Latin American boogeyman. The legend that accompanies this monster is the classic story that parents tell their kids when they want them to behave. They tell them to go to sleep or the monsters under your bed will take you away to their cave in the mountains and eat you.
"What is interesting about El Cucuy is that there are all these different stories about him, but the myth is that no one has ever seen his face and lived. However, there are all descriptions of what he supposedly looks like, so we used that as inspiration for our character design.", John Murdy explained.
The story starts in a house during Dia de los Muertos, a time of year when people build altars in their houses to make offerings to the spirits of their loved ones and relatives. The idea that Universal Studios Hollywood lies in is: if you welcome all the spirits into your house, What if something else got in?
The first time guests actually see Al Kukui is up on a roof with a bag full of the children he kidnapped. When you make your way through the family's house, you end up in a child's bedroom. He is on his bed crying, and Al Kukui's bag is also on the bed. After this room, guests go to the monster's cave, which is filled with souvenirs he took from the homes he visited. Here you will also come face-to-face with El Cucuy himself. If you look closely, there are children in his mouth.
You'd better behave, or the boogeyman El Cucuy will get you.
About Halloween Horror Nights 2024
You never feel more alive than when you are scared to death at Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights, Southern California's scariest Halloween event. Bring your friends and you might survive. Enhance the horror with a RIP tour or admission that includes express access. Or, maximize your awe by staying near the screams with a hotel & ticket package.
Halloween Horror Nights 2024 at Universal Studios Hollywood runs on select nights from September 5 to November 3.
Tickets can be purchased HereAs it is ticketed separately from general admission to the park.