Look, I know I’ve been badly burned before when it comes to remaking classic horror, and the cinematic road to bringing Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to the screen has often been paved with both hell and good intentions. More often than not, the monster’s not the only thing that’s been poorly stitched together.
But this time it feels different.
Which I know has likely cursed this entire endeavor, but here we go.
I don’t have kids — and while that decision might be rooted in all sorts of deep psychological selfishness, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that horror movies had at least a tiny role in it. You know what I’m talking about: the blank stares, the sing-song voices in the dark, the slow-motion head tilts, and the uncanny way they just know things no normal human should. From the twin terrors of The Shining, to the pale, whispery menace of The Ring’s Samara, to the pint-sized creeper in The Omen: kids in horror are often less adorable munchkins and more pint-sized portals to pure nightmare fuel. So, when I first heard the premise of Zach Cregger’s upcoming film Weapons, I got a full-body chill and immediately put the release date on my calendar. Because this time, it’s not just one creepy kid.
It’s seventeen of them.
All standing up in the middle of the night.
All walking into the darkness.
All vanishing.
We are so here for this news.
As you may or may not have noticed, recent years have seen Sin City embracing the era of mega, year-round haunted attractions, and the newest, Fear Dome, is here to stake its claim.
Following Universal’s lead with Universal Horror Unleashed, a permanent 110,000 ft² horror experience set to debut this August at Area15 in Las Vegas and another planned for Chicago in 2027, the trend is clear: immersive horror is evolving beyond seasonal frights into full-blown entertainment districts. Long-running events, from Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights to pop-up mazes, are giving way to permanent monstrosities like Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, and these “horror parks” are meant to terrify year-round.
If there’s one thing we here at Goth Chick News appreciate, it’s an over-the-top haunted attraction. And if said attraction also happens to be housed inside a massive, blacked-out inflatable dome that looks like it crash-landed from a Cenobite dimension? Well, sign us up and take our money.
In a move that has us polishing our Doc Martin boots and doing a goth happy dance, Universal Destinations & Experiences has officially announced plans to unleash its first-ever year-round horror destination in the Midwest. It’s called Universal Horror Unleashed: Chicago, and it’s set to rise from the bones of the old Tribune Distribution Center at 700 W. Chicago Ave; somewhat ironically, only footsteps from the new Bally’s Casino, which is generally populated by zombies. Groundbreaking kicks off in early 2026, with doors creaking open in 2027.
So, what is Universal planning? Consider it a haunted house on performance-enhancing drugs. We’re talking about over 110,000 square feet of immersive horror experiences, ghoulish bars, monster merch, and interactive stage shows. According to Universal’s promises (which we’ll hold them to, with pitchforks if necessary), this isn’t just a walkthrough attraction; it’s an ever-evolving horror campus that pulls from both classic monsters and modern nightmares.
Why did Universal choose Chicago you ask (besides our weather being a horror in itself)? Good question. Chicago isn’t exactly known for year-round scream parks, unless you count the CTA Red Line after midnight.
File this one in the “Why the F?” folder.
Bambi: The Reckoning is a British indie horror flick directed by Dan Allen and written by Rhys Warrington. It marks the fourth disturbing entry in The Twisted Childhood Universe (TCU), which brought us Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey and is now turning Felix Salten’s beloved deer into a forest-dwelling force of vengeance.
The Brits must really hate us.
One of the most entertaining aspects of working for Black Gate is hitting the road with Photog Chris Z to cover horror-themed events in the Midwest. Though many people think about Halloween during the fall months, there is an enormous subculture of vendors, artists, and fans for whom the spooky season never ends. This year, Chicago was not only the site of an entirely new show just for this audience but also the first city to host it—and we had a front-row seat on opening night.
GalaxyCon, LLC, founded in 2006 by Mike Broder and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is one of the leading organizers of pop culture conventions in the United States. Initially focused on comic books, anime, and broader fan engagement, GalaxyCon has successfully expanded its portfolio to include horror-themed entertainment with its Nightmare Weekend series.
The only thing I like better than blowing a whole day playing video games, is playing retro video games. Of course I love movie-quality HD graphics, but little pixelated Lego-people give me a case of the warm fuzzies. I did some digging and discovered I’m far from alone. The global retro gaming market has experienced significant growth in recent years. For instance, the NES Classic Edition sold 2.3 million units in less than a year, and the SNES Classic Edition surpassed 5 million units globally. The Sega Genesis Mini also exceeded 1 million units sold worldwide in its first year. Additionally, the arcade gaming sector, closely tied to retro gaming, was valued at $19.0 billion in 2023.
But when I think of one of my favorite retailers crossing over into retro-gaming, I most definitely get the fan girl squees.
Spirit Halloween, the annual haunt-headquarters that pops up every fall in the unused strip mall space near you, has just announced Haunted: Halloween ’86 – Spirit Edition, a pixelated plunge into Halloween nostalgia brought to you by Retrotainment Games.
It’s been a while since we’ve had the chance to bring you a brand-new convention offering, and in 2025 we’re bringing you two. First up is one of the biggest celebrations of all things spooky, creepy, and downright chilling heading to Chicago for the first time this May. GalaxyCon, the powerhouse of fan events, is bringing its first-ever Nightmare Weekend to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, from May 2-4, 2025 — and it’s shaping up to be an unforgettable fright fest.
“We’re thrilled to deliver our unique fan experience to Chicago,” says Mike Broder, GalaxyCon’s founder and president. “Our events have brought millions to local economies, and we can’t wait to make a positive impact in this area too.”
Translation? A weekend of scares and a boost to local businesses. Win-win!
One of the best parts of my Black Gate side hustle is the cool people we get to meet, and there’s nothing more exciting than connecting with those who are most definitely “our people.” I am embarrassed to admit that the Fall Days of the Dead show in Chicago last November was my first encounter with the geniuses behind the podcast They Mostly Pod Out at Night, Mostly, who go by the monikers Graveyard and Salem. And after all, who doesn’t love an Aliens reference?
They Mostly Pod Out at Night, Mostly is a weekly podcast dedicated to all things horror. Each episode features in-depth discussions, covering a range of topics from classic and contemporary horror films to broader themes within the genre. The hosts provide insightful analysis, engaging reviews, and lively conversations that appeal to both casual viewers and die-hard horror enthusiasts. Their passion for horror is on full display as they explore the intricacies of various movies, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of the genre’s evolution and impact.
Since meeting them in November I’ve become a regular listener, discovering yet another dark and intriguing corner of the horror subculture, and last night I had the honor of being a guest.
Around this time every year, Black Gate photog Chris Z and I pack up the car for the 10-hour-round-trip from Chicago to St. Louis to attend the TransWorld Haunted Attractions Show. This event not only kicks off the spooky season for the new year but never fails to produce at least one memorable adventure. From Fireball shots to epic snowstorms, to celebrity encounters, I can always count on our annual road trip to produce stories that will easily carry me through a year’s worth of cocktail-party small talk.
This year was no exception.