Filmmaker Eli Roth Makes Commercial Directorial Debut for Universal Studios' 'Halloween Horror Nights' 2017 Bi-Coastal TV Commercial

This year, filmmaker Eli Roth - acclaimed director of blockbuster horror films such as Hostel and Cabin Fever - makes his commercial directorial debut with Universal Studios' new "Halloween Horror Nights" television spot, entitled "The Mourning After."

"Halloween Horror Nights" kicks off at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort on Friday, September 15.

With Roth's creative direction and filmmaking expertise, the compelling 30-second commercial becomes one of the most cinematic, horror-film-inspired, "Halloween Horror Nights" commercials ever created. "The Mourning After" spot follows a group of friends as they attend an unusual Halloween costume party and unfolds with a series of suspenseful twists and turns that begs for more.

Viewers will see an array of hidden references woven throughout the spot that pay tribute to the horror films and television-themed mazes guests will encounter at this year's "Halloween Horror Nights" events. These include FX's critically-acclaimed, Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning television series, "American Horror Story," Stanley Kubrick's psychological horror film, The Shining and the upcoming SAW: The Games of Jigsaw movie.

Roth is a long-time fan of "Halloween Horror Nights" and has previously served as a creative consultant for the event, including a Hostel-inspired maze. He said the commercial gave him the opportunity to combine a love of horror films with how those films are brought to life within "Halloween Horror Nights."

"I first got involved with 'Halloween Horror Nights' as a fan - I felt that I was in a horror movie and I didn't want it to end," said Roth. "For this spot, I wanted to pay homage to these brilliant and scary films, and yet put my own spin on it."

Universal Studios' "Halloween Horror Nights" is the ultimate Halloween event. For more than 20 years, guests from around the world have visited Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood and Orlando to become victims inside their own horror film. The streets of each coast's event are transformed into highly-themed scare zones where menacing "scare-actors" lunge from every darkened corner. Multiple movie-quality haunted houses are erected throughout the event, based on everything from iconic SLASHER films to hit horror television series to haunting original stories.

For more information and to purchase tickets to "Halloween Horror Nights" at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

About Universal Studios Hollywood: Universal Studios Hollywood is The Entertainment Capital of L.A. and includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour. As a leading global entertainment destination, Universal Studios Hollywood delivers highly themed immersive lands that translate to real-life interpretations of iconic movie and television shows. Recent additions include "The Wizarding World of HARRY Potter™" which features a bustling Hogsmeade village and such critically-acclaimed rides as "Harry Potter and the FORBIDDEN Journey" and "Flight of the Hippogriff™," Universal Studios Hollywood's first outdoor rollercoaster. Other immersive lands include "Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" and "Super Silly Fun Land" as well as "Springfield," hometown of America's favorite TV family, located adjacent to the award-winning "The Simpsons Ride™." and the "The Walking Dead" daytime attraction. The world-renowned Studio Tour is Universal Studios Hollywood's signature attraction, inviting guests behind-the-scenes of the world's biggest and busiest movie and television studio where they can also experience such authentic and immersive thrill rides as "Fast & Furious-Supercharged." The adjacent Universal CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex also includes the all-new multi-million dollar, redesigned Universal CityWalk Cinema, featuring deluxe recliner seating in screening room quality theatres, and the "5 Towers" state-of-the-art outdoor concert stage.

For exciting updates and exclusive "Halloween Horror Nights" at Universal Studios Hollywood content, visitwww.HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Hollywood, like Halloween Horror Nights - Hollywood on Facebook; follow @HorrorNights #UniversalHHN on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat; and watch the terror come to life on Halloween Horror Nights YouTube.

About Universal Orlando Resort: Universal Orlando Resort is a unique vacation destination that is part of the NBCUniversal Comcast family. For more than 25 years, Universal Orlando has been creating epic vacations for the entire family - incredible experiences that place guests in the heart of powerful stories and adventures.

Universal Orlando's theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure, are home to some of the world's most exciting and innovative theme park experiences - including The Wizarding World of HARRY Potter-Hogsmeade and The Wizarding World of HARRY Potter-Diagon Alley. And now open is Universal Orlando's third park, Universal's Volcano Bay - an entirely new water theme park experience. Universal's on-site resort hotels, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, feature a total of 5,600 rooms and are destinations unto themselves. Its entertainment complex, Universal CityWalk, offers dining and entertainment for every member of the family.

Universal Orlando Resort has unveiled more than 20 new guest experiences since 2010 - powerful attractions, incredible dining opportunities and dramatically themed hotels. Now open is Skull Island: Reign of Kong, a groundbreaking attraction in Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk's newest, unique dining experience, The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen.

Universal Orlando Resort is part of NBCUniversal, a Comcast company. Follow us on our blog, Facebook,Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

The commercial begins airing after the Labor Day weekend and can be seen below. A behind-the-scenes making of and extended Director's Cut version can also be viewed below.