My day in Dark Universe began with a grey overcast sky and a light drizzle, the perfect weather for exploring the horror-inspired land at Epic, a new attraction from Universal showcasing five new lands that can be accessed via magical portals. I was lucky enough to get an early preview of all that Epic has to offer, including spending most of my day in Darkmoor, the creepy, gothic village that plays host to the machinations of Victoria Frankenstein, granddaughter of the original Frankenstein's monster creator, Henry.
As you approach the portal to Dark Universe, you can see the spire of Frankenstein's manor in the distance, standing like a beacon above the village of Darkmoor. The portal itself is made of a dark rock facing with Frankenstein's famous quote, "It's alive! It's alive!" written across the arch. You walk through a tunnel of swirling purple nebulous light that looks like lightning splashing across a new night sky. You genuinely feel as if you're walking into a new world.
One thing I've always loved about Universal is there attention to detail. Everything is themed down to the last buckle on a cast member's boots. As it was, Darkmoor would feel gloomy even if it were in direct sunlight and I mean that in the best possible way. After walking through the portal, you find yourself wandering through the village's cemetery with coffins you can pose in and skeletons hanging in cages from the walls. There's a wandering violinist telling Frankenstein's history, as well as meet and greets with characters like the Invisible Man, as well as Frankenstein's Monster and the Bride, if you're lucky!
Our first stop after entering was Pretorius's Scientific Oddities where you can find merch, as well as displays with adorably creepy homunculi, Henry Frankenstein's coffin, and so much more! While there, you can also get a monster makeover with your choice of vampire, werewolf, and creature makeup. Although, I didn't get a makeover while there, it was so cool to see the room with all the makeup artist's seats and the tools they use to bring little monsters to life.
From there we made our way to one of Dark Universe's new rides, Curse of the Werewolf. I'm not typically a fan of coasters, but this was one of my favorite rides during our day in Epic. It's fast, but it's fun. You settle into a cart with seats facing forward and backwards and you're launched on a coaster track that spins you as it whips you around and takes you through a tunnel where you narrowly escape being caught by the Wolfman as he lunges at your from the rafters. This ride was so fun we went on it twice during our visit!
Our next stop was The Burning Blades Tavern, above which a windmill goes up in flames every few minutes. Inside, you can find the heads of beasts and monsters mounted on the walls, and the local hunters milling around. We tried the Hunter's Garlic Stake with a buttery dipping sauce and one of their non-alcoholic drinks that was perfect for snacking on in the middle of the day.
Later, we returned to eat lunch at Das Stakehaus, a dimly lit underground cavern where you can rest in the air condition while surrounded by staked vampires. It was an incredible experience. To add to the authenticity, every few minutes the electricity cycles through and the lights dim letting you know that Victoria Frankenstein is hard at work in her castle. We had the blood orange chicken sandwich, which comes on a pitch black bun, with fries and it was delicious!
Our last stop in Darkmoor, the one thing we'd been waiting for since we'd walked in that morning, was Monsters Unchained. You enter the queue through the gates of Victoria Frankenstein's ancestral manor home. The queue takes you through the entire castle where you learn the history of Victoria's grandfather, Henry Frankenstein, the original creator of Frankenstein's Monster. Every detail is immaculate. We get to meet Victoria's loyal assistant, Igor, and the pre-show boasts a fully automated Frankenstein's Monster that is able to walk and talk on its own, which was so cool to see in person.
The ride, itself, works on the same mechanical arm system as other rides at Universal like Hogwarts's Forbidden Journey. Your strapped into what looks almost like a couch and then the arm spins you, dips you, and lifts you up. Again, I'm not usually a fan of coasters, I have an extreme fear of heights and being upside down, but I was able to do the ride and it was such a blast. Without spoiling anything, if you're anything like me and love the detail of walking through a Halloween Horror Night's haunted house, you will love this ride. A feat of set design and animatronics, you get to see all the classic Universal Monsters reimagined. It was absolutely my favorite part of the day.
I left that day feeling like a kid again with a Wolfman plushy and a limited edition action figure of the Bride. It was an incredible experience and must-see for any horror fans!
Epic Universe officially opens to the public on May 22nd!