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Gizmodo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Epic Universe's Monster Lore Gives Us the Best Possible Dark Universe
When you visit Epic Universe's Dark Universe, you get hints of a story that's so mysterious you'll want to keep coming back to learn more. In Darkmoor Village, where monsters and humans co-exist—barely—the relationship between the villagers, the mad scientist in her castle with her monsters, and the vampires below is a very fragile menagerie of the macabre. When io9 visited Darkmoor during Epic Universe's opening week, we couldn't help but wonder if the dense canon introduced would offer some insight into Universal's abandoned Dark Universe film franchise. It turns out that some elements in the attractions, details in the land offerings, and immersive interactions echo what was once supposed to herald an Avengers-like assembly of the Universal Monsters on the big screen. Landmarks When you enter Darkmoor, you pass by a massive crypt where you hear Victoria Frankenstein's assistant Ygor shuffling about with the land's version of Frankenstein's Monster looking for victims to use in her experiments. There's squelching noises and creepy creature screeches, and it's so cool to get the sense of story as soon as you walk in. We previously covered how when you meet Frankenstein's Monster along with the Bride, she's not his Bride but his friend. The Monster we're more familiar with is displayed in a glass resting place within Frankenstein Manor. However, before you get that deep into the land, you first come across the village square which features a well that at night glows blood red. The familiars in the land shared that it's there as a monument to the dominance the vampires have on the village, and is where blood sacrifices are made to the vampire hive below in the catacombs—dark unipart of a pact to keep a balance struck between the living and the dead. In the ride Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, you see that the original Dr. Frankenstein played a huge role in the careful and sensitive cessation of carnage, and it's something his granddaughter fights to maintain. We also learn that Victoria Frankenstein has assembled monsters under her 'control;' the last remaining one she's trying to dominate is Dracula, but he's playing very hard to get. When the Dark Universe films were still in play, Alex Kurtzman, the director of the only entry that actually made it to theaters—2017's The Mummy, starring Tom Cruise—talked about the framework that was to have anchored the planned series. In his film, Russell Crowe's Dr. Jekyll headed up an organization devoted to keeping tabs on supernatural bad guys. 'We wanted to know that monsters existed for millennia. And we knew that as the story evolved there was going to be an organization that was maybe cataloging them, following them, collecting them,' Kurtzman explained at a December 2016 press event io9 reported on at the time. 'That would determine the good ones from the bad ones. That was sort of the keeper of that secret history.' That idea carries over into the theme park, albeit very minimally. Dr. Jekyll currently only has a brief interactive moment at his apothecary window, where you can hear him tell you to discover more monsters at the Burning Blade Tavern—and to tell the bartender Dr. Jekyll sent you. We didn't get to try this as alcohol was not provided to press but it results in you being offered a choice between two shots: a Jekyll or Hyde one. You can guess that in Darkmoor, Jekyll might side with Victoria's initiative, while Hyde is definitely with the monsters. The comic-themed merch In the panels of comics decorating Epic Universe merch (we're waiting for real issues!) and in the Monsters Unchained ride queue, we see Victoria front and center doing just what was envisioned for the movies: cataloging, following, and collecting. So it feels like the concept for the theme park canon retained that through line. There are definitely some monsters who are more heroic than others aligning themselves with the side that will have the lowest body count. Yet, it still mirrors the Dark Universe's cinematic plans. In 2016, The Mummy director Kurtzman looked to the Dark Universe future at that same press event. 'To me, the fun of the promise of bringing them together is that they're probably going to fuck each other up pretty badly,' he said then. 'It's not going to be a pretty room with those guys in it. And that's a lot more exciting than people who are going to behave nobly and predictably. It just makes it a more interesting experience, and a more interesting prospect.' And that's pretty much what happens on the ride between Frankenstein, the Wolfman, and Dracula and his Brides (while the Phantom of the Opera plays sweet tunes on his organ). Other pieces of merchandise that will get you other glimpses of the lore are the designs in the Dark Universe collection that depict the blueprints of Frankenstein Manor. Also, if you get transformed into a monster at the park's Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience, then run into Ygor, you're recruited even more relentlessly than the average human to volunteer for the Frankenstein Experiment. Ygor is by far one of the most interesting walk-around characters created and really drives the lore in his interactions. Restaurant lore When asked back in 2016 how the Dark Universe monsters would end up teaming up, Kurtzman said ideas around that were still being formulated. But most important, he said, was the question 'Why would you bring them together? There has to be some kind of unifying reason if you're going to do that.' Dracula. Dracula is the drama. And I wonder if he was meant to be the big bad in the film universe just as much as he is the big bad in the theme park canon. When you go into the Das Stakehaus restaurant, you see the former vampire leaders of Darkmoor staked and on display atop the bar. Why? Well, Dracula felt their bending the knee to the Frankenstein family to try and co-exist to further the scientists' agendas was an affront to their kind. (Really, the familiars have all the tea, it's fabulous.) So the conflict is there—Dracula wants to take control back of the village for a feast, instead of letting Victoria Frankenstein continue her experiments. Clearly, it's an ongoing battle. Like the familiars at the restaurant, the interactive characters at the Burning Blade Tavern have even more to share. The monster hunters that hang out there motion to the monster heads on display behind the bar, including another 'creature' from the Darkmoor swamplands, and be careful going in there in monster makeup. We also got hunter knowledge as to why Dracula is barefoot with the ugliest toenails on the ride (a detail that's going viral). Their version of why—and we are not sure if they were joking—is that allegedly it was done as a way to shame Dracula when he was captured, by taking his shoes off when he was chained. And honestly, that's so foul I would be so mad about it too. It's rumored that the stories they tell of monsters they're on the hunt for (and that we have yet to meet) are Easter eggs for future Dark Universe expansions and we hope it's true. And it really ties in the monsters that were all floated for the cinematic universe, which included the Invisible Man (who is a roaming character at the park), Dracula, Jekyll/Hyde, the Wolfman, the Creature From the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein's Monster, and the Bride. We'd love to see a boat ride featuring the Creature some day. Dark Universe is now open at Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida.
Gizmodo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
All the Spooky Details We Loved at Epic Universe's Darkmoor
Universal Studios Orlando's Epic Universe is now open, and its horrors are loose in the Dark Universe. To Universal Monsters fans, the Dark Universe is everything we've wanted to see come alive in a horror theme park dedicated to the terrifying and strange. Without the films, there would be no Universal Pictures or the first Universal Studios theme park, for that matter. Epic Universe's Darkmoor is a monument to the monster legacy at the studio, and it's befitting of all the creature comforts in store for fans. The moment you enter, Danny Elfman's score for the land echoes through the nooks and crannies of the cobblestone streets and bounces off the brick buildings. You'll see little homages to various characters, such as Dr. Jekyll's Apothecary, which we wish was a real shop. There's a number of walk around characters that share the lore of the monsters, and you might run into the bandaged form of the Invisible Man, or even the Bride and the Monster. On the attractions, the first monsters of the franchise including the Hunchback of Notre Dame (look up when the bell tolls) and the Phantom of the Opera make their presence felt. The haunting worlds of original films are canon but do get expanded on in intriguing ways. When you meet the Monster you find out he's just the Bride's friend, and the experiment from the James Whale movie she was made for lies dead in the queue of Monsters Unchained. To really get the sense of what those stories would have evolved to in the modern day, you actively have to pay attention to all the small details. When you get there, Ygor asks you to volunteer to help Victoria Frankenstein bring glory back to the family name on her quest to control Dracula (yeah, good luck sis). And even the vampire familiars at Das Stakehaus echo the sentiment that there's no tying that undead man down. Over at the Burning Blade Tavern ,you get more about the villagers' sentiments about who the real monsters are in Darkmoor: the creations or the humans who seek to overpower them? I wish I'd been able to spend more time in the area to talk to every performer to get as much lore out of them as possible because it's dense. And we only got a few hours there to gather as much spooky intel as possible and try the food and do the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience. I am already itching to go back! To an extent, for the casual theme park fan, it might be a bit much to really wrap their heads around when they ride Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. You do get to see that Victoria has continued the work of her family name in many ways including making her own version of the monster. But there's also video clips that play of her and Ygor capturing the Creature From the Black Lagoon and the Wolf Man—there might be more clips but we went through the queue rather quickly. I imagine that she thinks that by making some sort of Monster Squad she'll live up to her family reputation but might be in over her head. We can't wait to see how the world continues to grow as more people visit Darkmoor. Check out the gallery below to get a taste of the fun details and Easter eggs! Epic Universe is now open at Universal Studios Orlando. Travel and accommodations were provided for the purposes of this review.
Gizmodo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Everything You Need to Know About Epic Universe
Here's everything you need to know about navigating Epic Universe if you managed to nab tickets to its opening season. To make the most of your trip you might want to temper your expectations: operations at the first theme park to open in 25 years in America are going to have their hiccups—and not just the How to Train Your Dragon kind. io9 attended as a paying guest before participating in media week to get a sense of what the park will really be like for guests visiting this summer. Prioritize your portals Are you a Universal Monsters fan or a gamer ready for Super Nintendo World? Rank your fandoms and move accordingly. Don't be afraid to jump to portal option two if your first option has more wait times. Mind the time of day as well. If one of your ride choices is outside, try to get on early or later in the day. The Florida heat and humidity is quite oppressive. Attractions such as Harry Potter at the Battle of the Ministry have reached five-hour waits during preview and opening day already, but that does go down after the morning rush. Hit other hot ticket attractions instead. I had no interest in visiting the Ministry of Magic attraction, which is where most of the rope drop crowd flocked to. Instead, I headed straight for Donkey Kong Country in Super Nintendo World to check out Mine Cart Madness, since Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge is a duplicate of the one at Universal Studios Hollywood and Japan. Mine Cart Madness is the newest ride in Nintendo's expansion, and I had to know what the track jumping was going to feel like. It's delightful and just how I pictured being in the game itself might be. Fans of the game won't be disappointed! Expect delays Taking advantage of the morning rush to one particular land, I went from Super Nintendo World to Dark Universe and straight onto Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. The ride is a technical marvel with state-of-the-art animatronics and a ride system that's thrillingly terrifying. But there's seemingly still some kinks being worked out, which we found out firsthand when the ride broke down while we on it. Unless you're stuck on a ride outside—which I was for about 15 minutes on Curse of the Werewolf—I'd say don't worry and keep calm in the AC. I quite enjoyed being stuck in a comforting, creepy corridor. (Honestly at one point, I decided, 'Well, I live here now.') Seriously, though, some rides like Monsters Unchained will probably break down often, as it so often goes with new park attractions. You'll be granted the option to ride again on your way out. Mobile ordering is (unfortunately) key One of my gripes for all theme parks is when visitors are required to rely on their phones. It can be a major battery-drainer. And at Epic Universe, many dining locations are mostly mobile order only. In the Isle of Berk during lunch, all the food options save for one are outside. So you're ordering outside in the heat while your phone is warming up in the sun, fighting for its battery life. If the single tented dining area is already full, you'll be hard-pressed to find any shade. For Berk I'd strongly suggest ordering their mac and cheese cone and eating it in a long queue. Double fist it with a beverage, it's the Viking way! Prepare to wait for character meet and greets The most popular character meet and greets we encountered were Donkey Kong in Super Nintendo World and Toothless in the Isle of Berk. They're both outside queues, which means you'll spend a lot of time waiting in the sun; hydrate and slather on that sunscreen accordingly. If you have littles in your group, designate one person to wait in line—but also bear in mind the performers in the outfits need breaks more than you do. You may not get to meet them during their appearance and may continue to wait during their time to presumably cool off. For Donkey Kong, I'd say we waited about an hour to meet him, while Toothless took just under 45 minutes. Fair warning: Hiccup isn't always with Toothless and you might end up with an anonymous Viking handler in your pictures. This meet and greet let me down the most as the images of my kid meeting Toothless resulted in awful pictures in which she or Toothless were obscured by the rough photography staging. I recommend seeing the robot baby dragon walk-around performance over this. On the other hand, the line for the Bride of Frankenstein and Frankenstein's Monster meet and greet is more fun and a little less brutal of an experience. Plus, the building they're at is a shaded alleyway within Dark Universe's Darkmoor village. The wait time for that was about 25 minutes as there was more of an effort to cap it by team members. For Donkey Kong and Toothless it felt a bit more chaotic, but again, this was opening week and the kinks are all hopefully being worked out. Popular merch may already be sold out If you're on a quest to do the dragon egg hatching ceremony at the Isle of Berk, like I was for my daughter, it's going to be hard for a while at least. The popular immersive activity where you get to hatch and adopt a plush baby dragon sold out during previews and, as of publication, had not yet been restocked. The same goes for the elusive Captain Cacao, Celestial Park's adorable mascot in teddy bear form. To get souvenir satisfaction, you may need to look beyond the park's most viral items. I took my daughter to the shops at Dark Universe and had her pick her first Universal Monster from the array of cutesy creature plushes, and she loved it. There's no recording on rides We're glad this is being instituted, as many influencers have ruined the ride experience at other parks with their cameras and obnoxious antics for the views. These rides are new, and people have paid a lot of money to experience them without interruption. Your face will be captured for entry and more When you scan in, your picture will be snapped along with your admission to make sure you're you and not passing the ticket off. Understandably, this can make folks a little leery. Pictures are also taken if you use lockers to store valuables. Thankfully, it's only enforced on rides that require it, including Hiccup's Winged Gliders, Stardust Racers, and Monsters Unchained. For purposes of this review, io9 paid for a ticket, dining, and merchandise at Epic Universe.
Gizmodo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Epic Universe's Best Ride Might Just Come From the Dark Universe
The portal into a whole world of gods and monsters has been opened at Epic Universe, Orlando, Florida's newest theme park. The Universal Monsters reign supreme at the Dark Universe, where you explore the world of Darkmoor that just so happens to be the place where so many of Universal Studios' classic horror films intersect. io9 was thrilled to be among the first to ride its main attraction: Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. At the center of the action is the Frankenstein Manor, where Victoria Frankenstein resides and continues the mad work of her ancestor Victor. She's built a new monster prototype and aims to capture the horrors of the icons of fright. Under her watch she's got the Phantom of the Opera, the Creature From the Black Lagoon, and more with the help of her Frankenstein she aims to dominate Dracula. What transpires is an awesome and action-packed thrill ride into the monster mash of your dreams if you're a horror fan. You see Victoria, a badass leather-donning scientist, and her monster attempt to harness Drac's power—but it might be more than they can keep their grip on because: BAT! Dracula can burst into smaller creatures of the night and aims to escape domestication for some sort of Monsters Avengers team-up. Yes, really. The ride itself uses a similar mechanism to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, where you are moved around practical and video scenes to witness the story. Along the way you bear witness to exciting monster squad squabble up moments with state of the art animatronics. To me, it's my favorite ride and I love how passionate the lore crafted around it seemed to be. If the ride were to breakdown, I'd say 'Well, I guess I live here now'—that's how amazing the showrooms are. For thrill ride fans, Epic Universe also features Curse of the Werewolf, a spinning coaster inspired by the Wolf-Man that also features incredible animatronic work. While you might not be able to live there, Darkmoor feels the most lived-in, in the best way. The wandering interactions with Igor, the Invisible Man, the Monster, and the Bride of Frankenstein weave a new classic story you're a part of. The Bride even calls this new Frank her friend as the body of her Frankenstein rests in the queue of Frankenstein Manor. They're existing in a timeline where monsters are celebrated and feared by the villagers. They even have a Burning Blade Tavern, which homages the studio's original horror film universe and incorporates the lore into the ambiance and even the menu items. I love myself a character-shaped pretzel and you'll find a Frankenstein one here to suit your snacking needs. And one of the most killer facts? The score of the land is composed by none other than 'Dead Man's Party' legend Danny Elfman (Beetlejuice). There's even a part-exclusive vinyl you can buy of his work, pressed for a limited special release only in the theme park land. The Dark Universe also offers the chance to not only walk among the creatures of the night but be one too, thanks to the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience. It's the most important spooky, scary appointment you need to make if you go. Mad scientists, er, makeup artists transform you and help you look like you walk among the shadows beneath the scorching Florida sun. It's worth it and there's even cosplay lite fashion gear to feel like you belong. For the first time in my life, I finally found a theme park land where I felt the most at home and in my true form. Epic Universe opens this Friday at Universal Studios Orlando. Travel and accommodations as well as the monster make-up demo were provided for the purposes of this review.
Thrill Geek
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Thrill Geek
REVIEW – Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment at Universal Epic Universe
Universal Orlando Resort's newest and greatest theme park, Universal Epic Universe, is officially opening on May 22, 2025, and with it, may be one of, if not the best, dark ride ever created for a theme park, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Let's take a closer look at this incredible new attraction coming soon to Universal Epic Universe. The queue Guests embark on their adventure inside the foreboding Frankenstein Manor, a towering structure that dominates the skyline of Dark Universe from the moment you enter the portal. There is no missing it. The queue for the attraction leads you through corridors steeped in gothic architecture and moody, atmospheric lighting, including tons of electric-themed wires and cables. As you progress deeper into the manor, guests encounter intricate set pieces and artifacts that suggest the manor's dark history of experimentation, including a standout exhibit showcasing Boris Karloff's original Frankenstein's monster corpse. One thing I HIGHLY recommend is getting caught up on the classic Universal Monster movies if you have not yet done so. There are several Easter Eggs throughout the attraction queue that you might notice if you're a fan of the classic Universal Monster movies. NOTE: The Universal Monsters in the attraction show up in order of their movie release, starting with The Hunchback of Notre Dame The preshow(s) One of the coolest things about this attraction is that it features not one, but two preshows. The first preshow features Dr. Frankenstein's assistant, Ygor, who introduces guests to the ride's KUKA ride vehicles and provides a glimpse into the experiments' mechanics. Which, for those that don't know, is the same KUKA robotics technology that's used on Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey. Good news for those who get nauseous on Forbidden Journey due to the screen bubbles, like me! There are NO screen bubbles on Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, just massive sets, animatronics, and screens that are done incredibly well. The second preshow introduces us to Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, the protagonist of the attraction. It outlines her plan to control the Universal Monsters we know, including Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and more. This preshow also gives us our first glimpse of the incredibly impressive animatronics on this attraction. Not only is Victoria herself a very impressive animatronic, but you're then introduced to her new version of Frankenstein's Monster. Towering at an impressive nine feet and weighing more than 800 pounds, this animatronic ranks among the largest and most sophisticated ever developed by Universal. And this is just the beginning of the impressive animatronics sprinkled throughout this attraction. NOTE: After the second preshow are the lockers for you to store your personal belongings. There are no metal detectors on the attraction, but it is strongly suggested that you store your loose articles due to the intensity of the attraction. Lockers for small, loose items are available free of charge while you ride. The attraction Unlike Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Islands of Adventure, which features a straight loading platform, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment features a semi-circle loading platform, similar to what you see on Kail River Rapids and Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges. Once boarded, you are then whisked off into the depths of the Frankenstein Manor where Ygor takes control of your ride vehicle and you are once again greeted by Victora Frankenstein, but not before being introduced to two Universal Monsters right off the bat, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, who you might miss if you're not paying attention (look inside the giant bell overhead). And my favorite scene of the entire attraction, The Phantom of the Opera. The Phantom of the Opera scene delivers theatrical flair with explosive fire effects. Guests come face-to-face with the Phantom's impressive pipe organ—a showstopping set piece that erupts with 14 towering jets of flame, each blast choreographed to the haunting notes of his haunting musical tunes. And of course, just like a lot of other rides at Universal Orlando Resort, not everything goes according to plan. Victoria's plans of controlling the Monsters go wrong, and Dracula escapes, thus beginning an over three-minute adventure of Dracula unleashing Universal Monsters on you at every turn. What sets 'Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment' apart from any ride Universal has ever done is the sheer amount of animatronics in the attraction. And impressive ones at that. Some of the most impressive animatronics Universal has ever built are featured in this ride, including Wolf Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Mummy, and more. The ride itself is a lot more fluid than Forbidden Journey, with movements being less jerky and a lot smoother between scenes, yet keeping you on the edge of your seat as to what is coming next. One of the greatest things technically about the ride is that Universal was able to use screen technology and integrate it into the ride to make it less obvious that you are just simply staring at a massive screen, such as building massive structures around the screens to hide them. Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Hollywood Studios is a great example of this. Theme parks, whether Disney and/or Universal, are getting a lot better at blurring the line between what is a screen and what isn't one. Conclusion Blending classic Universal Monsters lore with cutting-edge technology, 'Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment' pushes the boundaries of the modern horror theme park attraction. As Epic Universe approaches its grand opening, the attraction is quickly positioning itself as the flagship attraction at Universal Epic Universe, as Team Member previews wrapped up, and now Passholder previews are happening. It took me a while to decide which dark ride is the king of Universal Epic Universe. Between this attraction and the other groundbreaking attraction at Universal Epic Universe, Harry Potter and the Ministry of Magic. I had to go with Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment due to its incredible animatronics, massive set design, special effects, fantastic screen usage, and incredible storytelling, which is sometimes not easy to pull off on an attraction of this scale. Parents, if you're little ones are frightened easily, they may want to sit this one out. The ride is pretty much Halloween Horror Nights as a ride. The ride does feature a 48-inch height requirement to ride. Child Swap is available for Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83
