The Dark Lord has risen in the all-new light projection experience, DARK ARTS AT HOGWARTS CASTLE at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The show introduces the darker side of the Wizarding World, unleashing everything from Dementors, to larger-than-life spiders, and even Mountain Trolls, along with a powerful musical arrangement from the London Symphony Orchestra.
As a massive Harry Potter fan, and a proud Slytherin, I was beyond ecstatic to see an event that was relevant to my interest in terms of dark subject matter. I was lucky to attend, as press, a private event which was taking place for two days only that allowed the most hardcore fans of the Wizarding World a chance to be among the first to experience the DARK ARTS AT HOGWARTS CASTLE. Those that were able to attend got exclusive coveted after-hours access to Hogsmeade village, a feast of delicious food and dessert, fun photo ops, and the chance to purchase a limited edition wand that was only going to be available for those two days. I bring all this up not to make anybody jealous, but to say that in the future, we may see more of these types of private events from Universal Studios and I highly recommend attending and future ones if you have the chance.
As for the main event itself, the DARK ARTS AT HOGWARTS CASTLE was absolutely breathtaking. As a horror fan, to see Hogwarts turn into a castle filled with dark imagery was absolutely mesmerizing. Easily my favorite part was when the castle turned into all skulls followed by Hogwarts turning red with a giant spider crawling on the side. For those of us who have a love for all things dark, creepy, and unsettling, this was a visual feast that resonated deep within me. As I watched each projection play out, my jaw just kept falling further and further to the ground. It was beautiful and sinister in all the right ways with my only complaint being that I wanted more, much, much more.
However, as much as I would have loved for the show to end on a villainous note, I wasn’t too put off by the sliver of hope that came during the conclusion. This was executed by an incredible display of drones in the shape of a Patronus that lit up the night sky and honestly, it took my breath away. Combine that with the projections on the castle, the atmospheric music, and fire shooting into the sky, it’s easy to understand why DARK ARTS AT HOGWARTS CASTLE was the best show I’ve seen at Universal Studios Hollywood. And to cap everything off, we get to see the man himself, he-who-must-not-be-named, Lord Voldemort, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say it sent a small shiver down my spine.
I can’t stress enough that this is a show that you should not miss, regardless of if you are a Harry Potter fan or not. In all, it’s a massive feat of magical proportions that must be seen with one’s own eyes. DARK ARTS AT HOGWARTS CASTLE is now open to the public and will continue through Sunday, April 28, 2019, at Universal Studios Hollywood. With only a few days left, this is one show you will regret missing, so grab your cloak and wand and head over to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for a show unlike anything else. Some of you will be challenged to find the strength to defeat the Dark Lord while others will succumb to the powers of Voldemort, but either way, you won’t soon forget what you see at DARK ARTS AT HOGWARTS CASTLE. For more information or to purchase tickets click HERE.
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