Universal Studios Hollywood Launches "La Llorona" Video Diary Series

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Oct. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrity fans of the 500 year-old legendary ghost story "La Llorona," which has terrified Mexican and Latin American children for centuries, share their childhood memories of the timeless urban myth in a bilingual video diary series for Universal Studios Hollywood's "Halloween Horror Nights®." Among the stars documenting their first recollections of the dreadful tale are Wilmer Valderrama, Kate del Castillo, Banda Recoditos, L.A. Dodgers' Luis Cruz, and other leading Latino celebs.

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In his "La Llorona" video diary, Valderrama, star of "That '70s Show," relates the fear that he and his sisters experienced while listening to the oft-repeated tale.

Kate del Castillo, set to guest star in NBC's "Grimm's" La Llorona (Weeping Woman) Halloween episode airing October 26, recalls how the horrid tale frightened her when hearing it for the first time.

Carlos Sarabia, regional Mexican singing sensation of Banda Recoditos, says he first learned of the chilling legend at age 7 and Vicci Martinez, a rising songstress from NBC's "The Voice," says she was terrified by the ghostly spirit from ages 5 to 10 years-old.

All the celebrity "La Llorona" videos can be found on Universal Studios Hollywood's YouTube channel, with Valderrama's version launching the series today. Each week will reveal a new celebrity video post through the end of "Halloween Horror Nights."

In addition, "La Llorona" fans are invited to share their own experiences online using hashtag, #LaLloronaDiaries.

This year, the reimagined "La Llorona" maze returns to Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights as one of several authentically disturbing featured mazes open on select nights now through October 31.  Event dates are: September 28, 29 and October 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 31. "La Llorona: Cazadora de Ninos" or "Weeping Woman: The Child Hunter," features immersive environments depicting scenes and imagery of a rural Mexican village.  This year's maze tells the haunting story of a beautiful girl named Maria from a poor village who desperately sought to win the affection of a rich nobleman.  Rejected and grief stricken, she drowns her children in a river.  Overcome with anguish, she drowns herself in a bitter end.  According to legend, Maria's tormented and distressed spirit forever wanders the earth.

For more information and to purchase tickets, including options for Front of the Line tickets that enables priority access at each maze and theme park attraction, and special Killer Deal Nights tickets to save up to $25, guests can visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com/hhn. Advance purchase is recommended as event nights will sell out.

Details on "Halloween Horror Nights" are available at Halloween Horror Nights, on Facebook at: "Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood" and on Instagram @HorrorNightsHollywood or #UniversalHHN.  Twitter updates from Creative Director John Murdy can be found at: Twitter.com/HorrorNights, as he reveals a running chronicle of exclusive information.  "Halloween Horror Nights" maze announcement videos can be seen at Universal Studios Hollywood's YouTube Channel.

Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A.^SM, includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour; the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the Universal CityWalk Cinemas, the "5 Towers" state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue, and the Gibson Amphitheatre concert and special event arena.  World-class rides and attractions include the critically-acclaimed mega-attraction, "Transformers™: The Ride—3D," the intense, award-winning ride, "King Kong 360 3-D" on the famed behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, "The Simpsons Ride^TM," "Revenge of the Mummy^SM —The Ride" indoor roller coaster and "Jurassic Park® —The Ride."

SOURCE Universal Studios Hollywood