El Cucuy: The Boogeyman, narrated by Danny Trejo (@officialDannyT)! WATCH: http://t.co/jUMZ6rL3Hb
— Horror Nights (@HorrorNights) August 22, 2013
John Murdy, creative director of Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights, tweeted the above message last night. He released quite a bit more information about the “El Cucuy: The Boogeyman” house, which we’ll summarize and condense below:
- On the Origins of “El Cucuy:” “Duérmete niño, duérmete ya… Que viene el Coco y te comerá (Sleep child, sleep now… Or else the Coco will come and eat you!)” Every culture has a legend about “The Boogeyman.” In Mexico…The Boogeyman has a name…they call him “El Cucuy.” No one really knows what El Cucuy looks like…no one who has ever gotten close to him has lived to tell the tale… Some say he is a horrible monster with razor sharp teeth, others say he is a shadow, an evil spirit that can change forms…. They say he lives in a cave, high up in the hills and comes down to the villages at night…searching for disodedient children…. Of course, this was a story you were told as a child to get you to behave…now you are older you no longer believe in El Cucuy… But maybe your parents knew something you did not, maybe there is something hiding in your closet…waiting…under your bed… Maybe there’s a good reason to be afraid of the dark….
- On Writing “El Cucuy:” So…I can tell you a little bit about EL CUCUY…or I can let you sleep? It’s your choice…what say you? Do you want to hear more??? I first came across the story of El Cucuy when I was doing research back in January. A shape shifting monster that eats children? Works for me! I brought the story to Chris and then…I went on paternity leave. When I came back, I had a concept but Chris did one too…very different. So we compromised, we did half my concept and half of Chris’ concept. This is an original maze based on the legend of El Cucuy or as some know him El Coco… We did “La Llorona” for two years (3 if you count the scare zone) and we wall felt it was time to move on…do something NEW…
- On the Location of “El Cucuy: The Boogeyman:” It’s being built right now…in 3 locations tied together… The areas include the area in front of Mel’s Diner, Parisian Courtyard and a building that used to house the Fear Factor Live Casting Center. But what to do about the surrounding architecture? Mel’s Diner and The Palace store are Art Deco style…why not start in a movie?
- On the “El Cucuy” Movie: Since the word “Coco” is an early term for what we call today “Jack O Lanterns.” The code name for this maze was “Pumpkin.” Pumpkins play a role in the maze, so does something else I came across called “The Island of Dolls” I mean…El Cucuy must take souvenirs. I came across a genre of horror, popular in Mexico in the 60’s. Lucha Libre Films. Imagine the classic monster movies with wrestlers! So I made one called “El Cucuy: The Boogeyman”…its awful…I play the token American actor thrown into a foreign film. Dr. Albondigas. But don’t worry, you won’t see much of that film before the screaming starts…and the ripping…and tearing…and crying….and….
- On Danny Trejo as Narrator: Wow! That was a really long audio session tonight, was finalizing the audio for EL CUCUY: THE BOOGEYMAN featuring Danny Trejo… When I wrote El Cucuy…I was picturing Danny Trejo…so it’s amazing that Danny came on board to be our narrator…that was a fun session.
- So its late…but I know you bad little children are probably still awake? Aren’t you? You should know by now that HORROR NEVER SLEEPS!!!