Fall is my favorite season, and I always look forward to this time of year because of Halloween. I love going to haunted houses, watching scary movies, carving pumpkins, and seeing all the orange and black colored decorations around town. This year, I was able to get in the holiday spirit on campus at LMU and off campus in the city as well.
At the beginning of October, I went to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. I got to ride many rollercoasters and go through themed Haunted Houses all while having the sparking city skyline as the night’s backdrop. My favorite attraction at Halloween Horror Nights was Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak: Maze of Madness. Going through this haunted maze was a terrifying experience, but it was exciting to get a preview into del Toro’s new movie. I really enjoyed and appreciated how Universal Studios gave its visitors a unique and interactive experience with a major Hollywood production.
Later in the month, I attended The Haunting of Hannon III: Little Dead Riding Hood in LMU’s own WHH Library. The Haunting of Hannon’s tour guides took groups of LMU students, parents, and community members through the different sections of the library, starting at the basement and moving through all three of the library’s floors. In addition, the event provided delicious Halloween-themed desserts to all the guests. The different performances were incredible, and it was great to see my peers and classmates put on such an impressive show. By experiencing the Haunting of Hannon, I gained a greater appreciation for the talented actors at LMU and all the hard work they put into this annual production.
On Halloween day, I drove deep into Los Angeles to go see the famous house from season one of American Horror Story. I am a huge fan of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s series, so being able to see the location where they filmed the show was very exciting for me. Season one also featured some of my favorite actors and actresses including Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Taissa Farmiga, Connie Britton, Zachary Quinto, and more, so being on-site where so many talented people worked was an amazing experience. Since season one of AHS took place in LA, it felt surreal to know that such a successful show was filmed not too far from where I live on campus at LMU. As an avid viewer of AHS and a fan of Murphy and Falchuk’s work, going to this location was the highlight of my Halloween experience.
As October concludes, I feel sad that the annual Halloween season is ending, but I am grateful that LA and LMU were able to make this month such a memorable (and spooky) one.