“There are two different stories in horror: internal and external. In external horror films, the evil comes from the outside, the other tribe, this thing in the darkness that we don’t understand. Internal is the human heart.” – John Carpenter
As a follow up to a post I did last year titled “Why The Shining Could Be Coming to HHN” I decided I would do a post this year about the Horror Classic that every year at HHN we have one (2013 An American Werewolf In London, 2014 Halloween, 2015 Halloween (Hollywood), 2016 Exorcist, 2017 Shining). This year the Horror Classic that is rumored to be coming is John Carpenter’s The Thing.
The Thing (1982) is one of my all time favorite Horror Films. It’s hailed as John Carpenter’s Masterpiece and has had such a big influence on Horror Films with the Best Practical Effects in a Horror Film. The Thing has been at the event before twice for Orlando and once for Hollywood. It was 2007 The Thing: Assimilation for Orlando which was a Original Sequel to the 1982 Version. And then the Remake/Prequel in 2011 for both Hollywood and Orlando.
But why would The Thing be coming to HHN28? Why this year in particular? Well it’s gotten a lot of buzz with rumors and such (And it was on the Hollywood Leaked Lineup). Plus it is actual owned by Universal so they could easily do the Property if they wanted to. There’s even tweets out there that are hinting at it…
Hollywood:
I know. Loved that. I hope I get the opportunity. Love that film but would be very expensive to do
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) December 16, 2017
Murdy even acknowledges that he wants to do The Thing and that he is a huge fan of the original film.
The living room and queen in AVP, La Llorona facade, giant Pumpkin in H2, Crimson Peak hallway, The Thing facade…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) May 31, 2017
Welcome to My Nightmare, Halloween, The Thing, American Werewolf, Exorcist
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) May 31, 2017
He also acknowledges that he is fan of the Maze they did in 2011 for the Remake. Which could be improved upon if they do it this year and even better.
Woke up this morning in Ireland to find everything blanketed in snow! Perfect setting for something I’m working on today (I’m writing…shhhh…don’t tell anyone…it’s a secret).
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) December 8, 2017
This of course could be The Thing which the film takes place in Snow.
Back in 2016…
Q: Now that you have the Exorcist what is your next dream property to catch?
55:23. Before that they mention they would want to do Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn. However, they did do Ash vs Evil Dead last year. But at 55:23 they mention they would want to do the Original John Carpenter The Thing. Which since they did Evil Dead last year does that mean we could get The Thing this year?
Hollywood Codenames:
OK Boils and Ghouls! You’ve been very patient so I feel I should toss you a hint that will reveal the code name for a maze at HHN 2018 at USH. At least it will give you a sporting chance at figuring it out…we’ll not really…it’ll probably just drive you insane!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) February 17, 2018
The hint to figuring out the code name is “Terror in the Aisles” a film I actually saw in a movie theatre years ago…something about that film is the hint…now…drive yourselves crazy trying to figure it out! Mwaaa Ha Ha Ha HA!!!! More hints to come…
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) February 17, 2018
Here’s the connection to the song lyrics I tweeted earlier. As some of you guessed, all the songs were released in 1984, the same year Terror in the Aisles (the earlier clue) was released. So the hint had nothing to do with the films featured in Terror in the Aisles but the year
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) April 4, 2018
Murdy released a Film that has a Hint called “Terror in the Aisles” and he confirmed that the hint of the film is that it was released in 1984.
So here’s the deal, I’m gonna release 3 clues in the form of a riddle you will have to solve. Two of the hints are “red herrings” only one is a true hint.
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) March 19, 2018
Riddle/clue/hint #1 – a song made famous by Johnny Cash, though he didn’t write it. It was performed at Woodstock in 1969. There is a major hint in the title of the song!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) March 19, 2018
Riddle/clue/hint #2 – the name of a best selling album by a famous band from So. Cal. In fact I saw this band play my high school, before I started attending it (went with my mom to pick my older brother up from a school dance/concert they played). They were very LOUD!!!!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) March 19, 2018
Riddle/clue/hint #3 – a famous/classic film featured in Terror in the Aisles, one of the main creative forces behind its creation passed away within the last 5 years.
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) March 19, 2018
So perhaps with the first hint we are looking for something that involves 1984. A song made popular by Johnny Cash in 1984, a Best Selling Album released in 1984 with a band formed in So-Cal, or a Film released in 1984 that has a Creative force that passed away in the last 5 years.
No songs were made famous by Johnny Cash in 1984 and the only horror filn released in 1984 with a creative force that passed away in the last 5 years is Wes Craven for A Nightmare on Elm Street which is rumored for Orlando but not for Hollywood.
I don’t know. This is Hollywood…and we had Freddy last year
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) January 20, 2018
What I found is that for Hint 2. John Murdy stated in a tweet that he went to Bishop Amat and graduated in 1985 which means he started in 1981. And his brother he stated graduated in 1980 which means he started in 1976. That means a Band formed in So-Cal before 1976 and has a Best Selling Album released in 1984.
Van Halen formed in 1972 in Pasadena California. Which gives them time to go out and perform. They released a Best Selling Album in 1984 called 1984.
Well I will say you got the Van Halen connection. They are band that played my high school when my brother was a freshman. I’m having him send me a pic of the poster so I can share…they weren’t even the headliners!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) April 5, 2018
In which Murdy when I sent him a connection said that the 1984 connection with Van Halen is correct. Which means we have two hints to solving the codename which is that Terror in the Aisles was released in 1984 and Van Halen released a Album in 1984 called 1984.
You’re trying to figure out the “code name” for one of the mazes…which in turn will reveal the true theme of the maze. But be ye warned!!! This is all designed to drive you insane!!!!
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) March 19, 2018
1984
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) March 2, 2017
Last year I requested Murdy a idea for a David Bowie Inspired Codename which was for Ash vs Evil Dead with the Album Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) with the song Ashes to Ashes. Here he responded with 1984 a song by David Bowie.
Which is what I’m leading to. 1984 is off the Album Diamond Dogs by David Bowie. One of the songs of that album is called Sweet Thing (Reprise) and that Sweet Thing is the codename and the lyrics reveal the theme of the Maze. And what are the lyrics?
‘Cause hope, boys, is a cheap thing, cheap thing
Freezing your brain?
Do you think that your face looks the same?
Then let it be
It’s all I ever wanted
It’s a street with a deal
And a taste
It’s got claws
It’s got me
It’s got you”
Look at this wonder!! https://t.co/gs2yTn5LcH
— Michael Aiello (@Michael_Aiello) August 9, 2017

