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Author: Sue Granquist

Goth Chick News: “The Season” Approaches and Midnight Syndicate is Celebrating

Goth Chick News: “The Season” Approaches and Midnight Syndicate is Celebrating

The summer sun may still be baking us alive, but the haunt world clearly didn’t get the memo, because my inbox just lit up with juicy updates from none other than Edward Douglas of Midnight Syndicate. If you’ve ever wandered through a haunted attraction worth its cobwebs or spent any amount of time here at GCN, then you’ve heard of their work. Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka have been crafting the gothic, orchestral soundtracks of our nightmares for nearly three decades, and this month, they’re unveiling something truly historic.

For the very first time in their career, Midnight Syndicate has composed a “custom score for a haunted attraction,” and not just any attraction. They’re the sonic architects behind Universal Horror Unleashed, Universal’s first permanent horror experience, which opened earlier this month in Las Vegas at AREA15.

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Goth Chick News: Reporters at Large Head to the Fan Expo ‘25 – Special Correspondent Nick S and Photog at Large Kat

Goth Chick News: Reporters at Large Head to the Fan Expo ‘25 – Special Correspondent Nick S and Photog at Large Kat

Chevy Chase and Brendan Fraser at Fan Expo Chicago

Unfortunately, real life sometimes gets in the way of our “fun” jobs. Last weekend, Black Gate Photog Chris Z and I were forced to miss out on what was likely the biggest pop culture event in Chicago.

As you may remember, for decades, the Chicago Comic Con was the Midwest’s scrappy answer to San Diego, with folding tables covered in long boxes, artists sketching for a few bucks, and maybe a handful of cult TV guests tucked away in the corner. Things began to shift in the 1990s when Wizard Entertainment bought the show and rebranded it as Wizard World Chicago, pumping up the spectacle with celebrity signings, mainstream movie tie-ins, and that strange mix of pop-culture carnival and dealer’s room we all know today.

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Goth Chick News: A First Look at Stills from del Toro’s Frankenstein

Goth Chick News: A First Look at Stills from del Toro’s Frankenstein


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.

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Goth Chick News: Yet Another Reason I Don’t Have Children

Goth Chick News: Yet Another Reason I Don’t Have Children

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.

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Goth Chick News: Fear Dome Las Vegas is Gambling on Our Nightmares

Goth Chick News: Fear Dome Las Vegas is Gambling on Our Nightmares

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.

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Goth Chick News: Something Wicked (and Corporate-Funded) This Way Comes

Goth Chick News: Something Wicked (and Corporate-Funded) This Way Comes

Universal Horror Unleashed

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.

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Goth Chick News: BGPCZ Solos into the Unknown at the Haunted America Conference

Goth Chick News: BGPCZ Solos into the Unknown at the Haunted America Conference

Haunted American Conference

By Black Gate Photog Chris Z

So, sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip…..

It was just another typical Friday night in the Goth Chick News bunker filling out expense reports for her Gothness when a call came in over “Zuni” (Goth Chick’s version of “Alexa”). It was the “Big Cheese” John O informing me that since GC is out on assignment (attending Gothicon… don’t laugh it’s a real thing) I would need to fill in on a ghostly adventure traveling to an exotic locale. Before I could even react, a puff of air, a prick on my neck and darkness.

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Goth Chick News: Oh Deer – Bambi Goes Berserk in The Reckoning

Goth Chick News: Oh Deer – Bambi Goes Berserk in The Reckoning

Bambi: The Reckoning (ITN Studio, July 25, 2025)

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.

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Goth Chick News: Exploring GalaxyCon’s Newest Addition – Nightmare Weekend

Goth Chick News: Exploring GalaxyCon’s Newest Addition – Nightmare Weekend

Nightmare Weekend Chicago 2025

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.

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Goth Chick News: Spirit Halloween Levels Up with Haunted: Halloween ’86 – Spirit Edition

Goth Chick News: Spirit Halloween Levels Up with Haunted: Halloween ’86 – Spirit Edition

Haunted Halloween ’86 from Spirit Halloween

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.

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