Halloween Horror Nights is held on select nights from Oct. 2 to 31.

There are two types of scare houses at the Halloween Horror Nights 5 this year at Universal Studios Singapore from Oct. 5 to 31: Localised scare houses that incorporate recognisable Singaporean elements and the non­-localised ones that are filled with Hollywood horror cliches.

These cliches include standard alien invasion to zombies and mutants infesting sewers and quarantined zones -- basically things that you have seen countless times on TV, films and video games.

1. Watch aliens invade New York again at The Invaders

Stand in helpless wonder as an army of aliens rampage New York City. Because just what is it about New York City that makes it so attractive for aliens?

From the huge spaceships of Independence Day to the Chitauri (Loki’s khakis) in The Avengers, New York City seems to be the prime location for every last single battle where humanity makes its stand.

A change of location for once would be nice: Such as having an alien attempting to abduct an uncle off the street in the CBD? Or people getting disintegrated at a hawker centre? Or the SAF attempting to face down a tripod/UFO in Orchard and getting vaporised by the mothership?

2. Choose the narrow path at Tunnel People

Kudos to USS for making this event an equal opportunity one with wheelchair access routes.

But for maximum feels, take the confined path in this Tunnel People haunted house. Nothing says creepy like pawing your way through dark, dank and smelly tunnels.

There are realistically furry rats and the authentic smell of sewage, complete with spongy algaeic walls, and of course, the Tunnel People themselves whom it seems have been turned into zombies by virtue of living underground.

Not that this means you can’t get scared though. This is the darkest attraction (literally) which means you can’t really see what’s coming up and the jump scares are much more effective.

Don’t expect them all to be from behind the walls too.

3. Venture into Conterminated

Nothing screams, "If there are no silly puns, you are not in Singapore!" than this groan-­inducing pun: Conterminated.

This scare zone is where you’ll find yourself stepping into a rubbish­-strewn quarantine zone filled with disease­ridden mutants craving human flesh.

This setting is about as fresh as “It was a dark and stormy night”. Blood everywhere? Check. Body parts strewn everywhere? Check.

Mutant­-cum-­zombie with a chainsaw sawing off corpses? Check. And of course, all of this wouldn’t be complete without an emperor mutant sitting amidst all the jarring anarchy of corrupt human civilisation.

Those of you who spent a fair amount of time at LAN shops will probably spot him with ease, given your familiarity with his cousin:

Fans of Left 4 Dead and 28 Days Later will enjoy this section, despite its stereotypes. Could this perhaps be a prelude to Siloso Gateway 50, despite the difference in setting and culture?

However, there is some pretty wicked prop design going on here, what with the body parts being piled up everywhere disorientingly like a butcher’s shop, all for the mutants’ sustenance.

There are even mechanised props such as dismembered corpses popping out of boxes. And the chainsaw wielding mutant is still an impressive feat, along with the barrel of heads beside him

Verdict:

All of these scare houses and concepts will leave you right at home. Because as Singaporeans, you have seen them all one way or another.

If you like what you read, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest updates.