Wow.

It’s been a long road of HHN coverage here on MRR. Close to 5 months now in fact! How the hell did that happen? Looking back on all the posts we wrote during the speculation phase of Halloween Horror Nights is a little bit of a staggering experience to be honest. Especially when you factor in that for 90% of that time we really had no idea what was actually going to happen at this year’s event. Not until just under a month ago at least.

All that coverage really takes it out of a fan. And was the reason I haven’t been writing about it that much lately. I’m sure you all can understand getting burned out on something, even when it is as awesome as Halloween Horror Nights. I just wanted to take the last few weeks, sit back, and forget about it a little. Getting myself nice and ready to then go to Orlando and have a great time with friends (ANDREW!) and family (JESS!).

Now we’re 1 Day away from the official opening of HHN:XX, and the last shoe has finally dropped. Merchandise! Yayyyyyyyyyy…oh wait, ummm…actually it’s a bit of a let down.

Ok, there are a few cool items this year.

I really like this tumbler for instance! Anything that makes me think I’m drinking blood is primo Halloween drink-ware in my opinion. And will surely find a nice place in the back of our kitchen cabinets somewhere.

And the offical “house” shirt is pretty nice as well, if you’re into that whole Hot Topic emo goth syle that is…

But that’s about it though! For the most part it’s the same old same old. Which is also what the yearly promise of “Don’t worry guys! This year? Oohhh boy! We’re gonna have some AMAZING merch for you all to buy!” has become as well. Like all jilted lovers though, I really thought things would have finally changed being the twentieth anniversary and all.

I mean all we’re getting this year is the standard lanyard, one nice house shirt, one FEAR shirt that looks forgetable, a recycled Bill & Ted shirt, and some really basic short/tall shooter glasses (AGAIN).

Is that really all we’re getting this year? No 4th shirt? No collectibles? No DVD, no posters, no figurines…no nothing? I mean I know this really shouldn’t be that shocking for anyone whose familiar with what Universal usually puts out for HHN, but still! Before last year’s HHN was even over, we were all but promised more than the typical amount of merchandise for the anniversary. And we’ve actually gotten less!

I guess I need to just start trying to convince my wife to let me spend $975 on the one thing that is actually cool about the merchandising this year. The media kit package that was sent out to a select few HHN news outlets. And not MRR by the way. Maybe next year Universal? Pretty pleeeazzzeee? Who do I need to blow to get a freakin’ demonic poker these days?! Gosh.