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Universal Brings H.R. Bloodengutz Back as Halloween Horror Nights 35's First Original Haunted House
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Universal Brings H.R. Bloodengutz Back as Halloween Horror Nights 35's First Original Haunted House

Michael Travels
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Published

Universal Orlando just announced the third house for Halloween Horror Nights 35, and it marks the return of a character HHN fans have not seen as a headliner in 15 years: "H.R. Bloodengutz presents: Halloween Fright-Tacular", the first original (non-IP) haunted house of the 35th-anniversary event. The fan-favorite horror host character Larry Kurtzberg is back as a headliner for the first time since 2011.

Promo art for H.R. Bloodengutz presents: Halloween Fright-Tacular, the first original haunted house announced for Halloween Horror Nights 35 at Universal Studios Florida.
H.R. Bloodengutz returns to host the first original haunted house of HHN 35. Image: Universal Destinations and Experiences.

The headlines:

  • House (official styling): "H.R. Bloodengutz presents: Halloween Fright-Tacular" (lowercase "presents" per Universal).
  • Event: Halloween Horror Nights 35 (HHN 35), the 35th-anniversary edition of HHN.
  • Park: Universal Studios Florida.
  • Event dates: Select nights, August 28 through November 1, 2026.
  • Setting: Inside the fictional WKNB television studio in Carey, Ohio, the same in-universe station where H.R. Bloodengutz hosts his late-night B-movie show.
  • What makes it notable: First original (non-IP) house announced for HHN 35. The two prior house reveals were licensed: Sinners (the Ryan Coogler horror film) and Stranger Things (the Netflix series).
  • Character last headlined: 2011, at HHN 21 ("H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: Holidays of Horror"), a 15-year gap.

Who is H.R. Bloodengutz

For non-HHN-lifers: H.R. Bloodengutz is the on-air horror host persona of Larry Kurtzberg, a washed-up actor who hosted late-night B-movies on the fictional WKNB-TV in Carey, Ohio. After his show was canceled, the character descended into violent madness and turned on his TV crew. For the new house, the in-universe story is that Bloodengutz has "escaped from Carey Penitentiary" to return to WKNB for a final Halloween special.

Universal's house description, per the press materials reproduced by Inside Universal: "Tune into a curated selection of H.R. Bloodengutz' Halloween favorites in this haunted house complete with ghouls, gore and all the frights that keep you coming back for more."

Where this slots into the HHN 35 lineup

Universal has now announced four houses for HHN 35 so far:

  • Sinners (based on Ryan Coogler's film) - licensed
  • Stranger Things (Netflix) - licensed
  • Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control - original
  • H.R. Bloodengutz presents: Halloween Fright-Tacular - original (just announced)

The Bloodengutz house, with Ramon Paradoa as Show Director, is the first one announced in the 35th-anniversary lineup that pulls directly from HHN's own back catalogue rather than from a licensed property.

Quick planner notes

  • HHN 35 runs select nights from August 28 through November 1, 2026. Check the official HHN event site for the latest on tickets, Express Pass, and packages.
  • Per Inside Universal, the in-universe premise is that Bloodengutz has broken out of prison on Halloween Day to return to WKNB for a final Halloween special.

Sources

Image credit: Universal Destinations and Experiences.

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