scream house tour 2023

• Insider’s guide to Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Extras: Express Passes, RIP Tours, and More
• Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Touring Plan
• How to Get Early Admission to Halloween Horror Nights 2024 at Universal Orlando
• Insider’s Guide to Halloween 2024’s Exclusive Food and Drinks at Universal Orlando Resort
• Insider’s Guide to Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Tickets

When purchasing extras for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida , there are many upgrades to consider – and we’re going to walk through all of the different options to make sure you get the most out of your experience!

But before we get started, there’s a very important point that you should know first: Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event  (sometimes referred to as a hard-ticket event), which means, one way or another, that you have to pay for separate admission to get in. The event is not included with regular admission to Universal Orlando’s theme parks, like, say, Mardi Gras or the holiday festivities .

After you’ve read our complete overview of Halloween Horror Nights extras, use the navigation links at the top or bottom of the page to learn even more.

Skip to: Express Passes | Multi-Night Admission | Scream Early Tickets | Add-on experiences | Tours  

Halloween Horror Nights 2024 admission – Express Passes

Just like regular Universal Express Passes , Halloween Horror Nights Express Passes enable you to skip the standby queue and hop in a shorter line, thereby allowing you to experience the various haunted houses in an expedited fashion (just once per haunt). Although the regular, daytime tickets nearly always allow you to get into an attraction in only a fraction of the time, the HHN-specific passes can sometimes, on peak nights, only cut off half of the posted wait – which, yes, means you will still spend a fair amount of time standing in line. But there are two important things to keep in mind in this regard: (1) you’ll be able to get more value out of your Express Pass on less-crowded dates (though, then again, you might not need it as much to begin with), and (2) when you consider that the houses on those peak nights can get up to a three-hour wait, you’re still getting out ahead with Express access.

Rounding out your HHN Express Pass decision-making, you should be aware that it also works on each of the rides that are open during the event as well as the mazes (again, just once per attraction), but – super important  – it is separate from the usual, daytime express pass tickets, which means that your free Express access from staying at one of the Universal Orlando Resort hotels or from your annual pass won’t be valid here.

HHN Express Passes vary in price, ranging from $160, plus tax, per person to $260, plus tax, per person. Unfortunately, there are no discounts for Florida residents, annual passholders, or anyone else.

Here is what the pricing looks like for 2024:

• $160 – September 18
• $170 – September 12, 19, 20, 22, 25
• $180 – September 29, November 1, 3
• $190 – September 26, 27, October 2, 3, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, November 2
• $200 – September 21, October 4, 6, 9, 20
• $210 – October 18, 25
• $220 – September 28, October 10, 11, 31
• $230 – October 5, 13, 26, 27
• $240 – October 19
• $260 – October 12

Unlimited Halloween Horror Nights Express Passes – currently not available for 2024

In 2019, Universal tested out offering  unlimited versions of its Horror Nights Express Passes – which means that, just as with the daytime version of Unlimited Express, it would allow users to hop into the shorter line for each haunted house and ride as many times as they would like. There were several stipulations to this experimentation, however: only an  extremely limited number of these tickets were offered; they were only for sale at the front gate or in the park; they weren’t available every single event night; and, finally, the price seemed to fluctuate.

Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Express Pass tips

Whether or not you’re considering Express Passes for Halloween Horror Nights 2024, you need to read these tips.

1. Express Passes for HHN 2024 will sell out on peak nights

If you know you’re going any night that Express Passes are $160 or more, we recommend that you buy them as soon as possible, because they will likely sell out (or, at the very least, ramp up in price) – sometimes, many days in advance. (It’s worth mentioning here that guests can purchase Express separately, so don’t worry if you haven’t yet figured out what general-admission ticket you’re getting.)

2. Express Passes might (and usually do) go up in price the closer we get to the event

This is because Universal’s projections for certain dates change as more and more tickets are purchased, which means nights that might have seemed slower even just a few weeks ago are suddenly looking busier and busier. So, if you have your dates locked in right away at the start of the Horror Nights “pre-season,” when Universal first puts the various passes up for sale, you’d do well to buy them right away. (In 2018, for example, two new, more expensive pricing tiers were added to the roster due to all the increases [and added-on dates]!)

3. The unlimited Express access included with staying at select Universal Orlando Resort hotels does not cover HHN (or any other separately-ticketed event)

Yes, we’ve already pointed this out, but it’s worth repeating it. It doesn’t matter if you purchase a Halloween Horror Nights vacation package, book the hotel on its own, or stroll in an hour before the event starts – your Universal hotel Express benefit does not work at Halloween Horror Nights. Consider yourself (doubly) warned.

4. Express Passes can, on certain nights, only be expected to reduce your wait time by half of the posted standby time

Here we go, repeating ourselves yet again, but we’re doing so because we really want to make sure your expectations are calibrated correctly. On peak nights, the popular houses often have wait times of over two or three hours – so, even with an Express Pass, you may still have to wait an hour (or more). This is yet another reason to skip peak nights altogether, which we can’t stress enough!

We do want to mention that the speediness of HHN Express access tends to change year-to-year and house-to-house – it is very dependent upon the popularity of the maze and the team members working it.

(Need a reminder of what the peak nights are ? No problem – you can view them on our Halloween Horror Nights overview page .)

5. It’s possible to get a discount on Express Passes – sort of

If a certain date’s Express Passes don’t sell out, Universal  may offer the remainder of its inventory at a discount (usually 50% off) later on that night (typically around 10:00 or 11:00 pm). The catch here is that some Horror Nights evenings only run until 2:00 am, so you’ll only be getting some three or four hours’ worth of use out of them – and if a night isn’t busy enough to move all of its Express Passes, it’s debatable whether it’s busy enough to warrant the use of Express in the first place. We just mention this here in terms of completeness.

Halloween Horror Nights Multi-Night Tickets

For some thrill-seekers, one night of fear isn’t nearly enough. Universal Orlando Resort offers varying levels of multi-night admission for those ready to come face-to-face with terror again and again. 

The Rush of Fear Pass allows access to the first 18 event nights, which include: August 30, 31, September 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Pricing begins at $179.99.

The Halloween Horror Nights Frequent Fear Pass gives access to every Sunday through Thursday event night and the first weekend of Halloween Horror Nights. Prices for this pass start from $239.99. 

The Halloween Horror Nights Frequent Fear Plus Pass, beginning at $289.99, includes every Sunday through Friday event, as well as the first and last Saturday event evenings. 

The Halloween Horror Nights Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass is the last tier for these multi-night tickets. Not only does it include all 48 nights of horror, but those ready to embrace the chills and thrills with this pass will also receive free regular parking after 5 PM on all event evenings. Pricing for the Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass begins at $399.99.  

Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass access can also be added to multi-night admission at an additional charge.

Scream Early Ticket

Can’t wait to dive into this realm of terror and fright? Universal Orlando Resort offers a Scream Early Ticket, where those eager to embrace the fear can enjoy the park from 3-5 PM and then wait in the Stay & Scream area once Halloween Horror Nights officially begins for the evening. Pricing for this ticket is $55.00 before tax, and Halloween Horror Nights admission is required. 

Halloween Horror Nights 2024 admission – add-on experiences

Nearly every single year at Halloween Horror Nights, Universal experiments with additional add-on experiences, some of which end up returning and becoming the newest horror mainstays and some of which end up becoming fleeting – but nonetheless intriguing – one-offs. Each of these items is an upcharge, meaning that you’ll have to pay extra for the experience, and, as such, you’ll have to carefully consider whether the expense – and the time it takes away from your touring of the event – is worth it for you and your party.

With that warning out of the way, we should also point out that some of these premium items are some of the most fun a number of attendees have at HHN. It really does come down to personal preference.

Premium Scream Night

Be one of the first to brave this year’s scares at Premium Scream Night on August 29. This event offers a first look into Halloween Horror Nights before it officially opens to the public with limited capacity, shorter wait times, and all-you-care-to-enjoy food. Tickets for the Halloween Horror Nights Premium Scream Night event are limited, and pricing begins at $350 plus tax.

Halloween Horror Nights 2024 tours

Halloween Horror Nights offers up several different tours to allow horror aficionados to get the best bang for their annual-event buck – or, even more intriguingly, to get an in-depth look at what it takes to make an HHN haunted house.

RIP Tours provide you with a blood-red-carpet journey through a multitude of horrors more ghastly than you can imagine, without having to face your worst nightmare: waiting in line. All RIP Tours provide you with immediate VIP entry to the haunted houses and select regular park attractions. 

Orlando Informer recommends the RIP Tours for guests who want to experience the best of Halloween Horror Nights and who do not want to have to worry about planning.

Private RIP Tour

The chilling choice for the true connoisseur of carnage and chaos! You and your party of up to nine guests will take part in a guided walking tour of a single Horror Nights event night. As the party consists of just your compatriots, the choice is yours as to how to spend your evening; your RIP guide can tailor the tour to the interests of your party to include not only the haunted houses and shows, but the regular park attractions, as well.

Private RIP Tours can depart nightly as early as 5:30 pm, with a 30-minute break midway through. Universal has a strict policy of not listing any pricing whatsoever for these – instead, it strongly encourages guests to call its VIP Tours number at 866-346-9350 to discuss cost and reservations. (Just be aware that you must already have HHN admission before you can start your tour.)

Private RIP Tours include the following:

• VIP entrance to Universal Studios Florida
• Unlimited immediate VIP entry to all haunted houses while with your RIP guide
• Customizable itinerary
• Reserved seating at select shows
• Unlimited Express access to participating regular park attractions with your RIP Tour credential following the tour (park hours permitting)
• Access to exclusive cash bar locations throughout the tour
• Commemorative RIP Tour credential with lanyard
• Complimentary standard valet parking (subject to availability and limited to one vehicle)
• Pre-Tour Reception

Non-private RIP Tour

Indulge in an evening of unbridled terror! You and your party, along with other RIP Tour guests, will be combined together and take part in a structured, guided walking tour of one Halloween Horror Nights event night. During the Non-Private RIP Tour, you will experience all of the haunted houses (one time each) and have reserved seating for the live stage show.

Non-private RIP Tours offer various times for check-in that are determined upon booking. This tour can last up to four hours with combined groups consisting of no more than twelve guests per RIP guide. Please note that you can only have six people in your individual party. Should you have seven or more guests in your party, you will need to book a private RIP tour. Prices start at $259.99 per person, plus tax and event admission, but they are wildly dependent upon date and availability.

Non-Private RIP Tours include the following:

• One-time immediate VIP entry to all haunted houses while with your RIP guide

Non-Private-RIP-Tour guest requests to be in the same party as other Non-Private RIP Tour attendees cannot be guaranteed. Furthermore, it should be noted that the tour ends once all of its inclusions (all haunted houses and stage shows) have been met.

Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour (daytime)

Pierce the veil and get a lights-on, inside look at Halloween Horror Nights. You and your party, along with other Unmasking the Horror guests, will be combined together to take part in a guided, informational walking tour providing an overview of this year’s event as well as a lights-on walk-through of several haunted houses, with the opportunity to take photos in select rooms. Along the way, you’ll learn how Universal’s Art and Design team takes some of the world’s most popular movie, television, and videogame properties and turns them into immersive haunted houses, along with how they create original haunts that can only be seen at Halloween Horror Nights each year.

Guests can choose a three- or six-house Behind the Screams Tour, with the former lasting up to two-and-a-half hours and the latter up to five. Groups consist of 12 attendees, with each member receiving a “unique HHN token.” Prices start at $99.99 for the three-house variation and at $179.99 for the six-hour configuration, plus tax – but please note that, unlike with the various RIP Tours, Horror Nights admission is  not also required. You  must reserve your spot in advance, however, with departure times starting as early as 8:30 am. Behind the Screams outings are typically available on every single event date.

And here’s one final important bullet point to keep in mind: due to the intensely graphic nature and lights-on viewing within the haunted houses, these are not recommended for children under the age of 13.

Orlando Informer strongly recommends the Unmasking the Horror Tour for anyone interested in learning how Universal produces Horror Nights.

3-Haunted House Unmasking the Horror Tour

Slaughter Sinema 2 The Museum: Deadly Exhibits Triplets of Terror

6-Haunted House Unmasking the Horror Tour

Goblin’s Feast Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Insidious: The Further Major Sweets Candy Factory Monstrous: The Monsters of Latin America Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines

Before you go, don’t forget: some upgrades (like Express Pass) require standard Halloween Horror Nights admission – and Halloween Horror Nights itself is a separately ticketed event from a normal visit to Universal’s parks.

Save with Orlando Informer Save with Orlando Informer!

Savings vary by day. Restrictions apply.

WARNING: EVENT MAY BE TOO INTENSE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13. NO COSTUMES OR COSTUME MASKS ALLOWED.

Living Life One Trip at a Time

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando- 2023 Guide

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Halloween Horror Nights is almost here- the sun is setting on summer nights, and the fog will soon roll across Universal Studios Florida.

I will be the first to admit that I am not a true horror fan, but something about HHN has pulled me in year after year since my first walk through the fog in 2018. It’s a brilliant production that is nearly flawless in it’s execution for horror fans. Throw in world class coasters and attractions and you have a masterpiece of an event.

Halloween Horror Nights 2023 Guide

Here is everything we know so far about HHN 32 !

HHN 2023 Dates

This year Halloween Horror Nights will take place on select nights from Sept. 1 through Nov. 4, 2023, with ten haunted houses, five scare zones, and a new live show.

The dates for Halloween Horror Nights 2023 are:

September: 1-3, 6-10, 13-17, 20-24, & 27-30

October: 1, 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29, & 31

November: 1-4

HHN TIP : Weekdays are the best time to go, as the lines are shorter and you can see more houses.

HHN Tickets

Halloween Horror Nights is a separately ticketed event and is NOT included with your regular Universal Orlando Resort theme park admission. Tickets for Halloween Horror Nights are now on sale. There are a variety of tickets to choose from, including single-day, multi-day, Frequent Fear passes, and tours.

Single Event Tickets

Single-night tickets start at $79.99 a person and go up to $119.99 a person, depending on the date.

Stay & Scream Option

Start the thrills early at Universal Studios Florida from 3-5 pm. At 5 pm you’ll wait in a Stay & Scream area until the event begins. Event admission for the same day is required and not included. Guests who arrive at Universal Studios after 5 pm forfeit their Scream Early Ticket.

The Scream Early Ticket costs $40 to add onto your regular Universal Studios Florida admission.

HHN Tip: If you want to get your bearings and see things while it’s still light outside, this is a great way to do so! I did it for my first HHN and knowing where things were before the dark rolled in helped a lot.

HHN Express Pass

Want to get all of the haunted houses done in one night? Universal offers Express passes for Halloween Horror Nights. They are an extra fee but are definitely worth it if you only have one night at HHN.

Halloween Horror Nights 2023 Express Pass prices start at $109.99 a person and go up to $219.99 a person depending on the date. These do sell out, so purchase yours in advance.

Rush of Fear Pass

The Rush of Fear ticket is valid only for Halloween Horror Nights 2023 event date(s):

• Sept. 1–3, 6–10, 13–17, 20–24

Rush of Fear is $179.99 per person plus tax.

Frequent Fear Pass

Get up to 30 nights of HHN with this pass and visit Sun-Thurs.

Dates for the Frequent Fear Pass are:

• Sept. 1–3, 6–7, 10, 13–14, 17, 20–21, 24, 27–28
• Oct. 1, 4–5, 8, 11–12, 15, 18–19, 22, 25–26, 29, 31

Frequent Fear Pass is $229.99 per person plus tax.

Frequent Fear Plus Pass

Get up to 40 nights of HHN with this pass and visit Sun-Fri, PLUS the first and last Saturday.

Dates for the Frequent Fear Plus pass are:

• Sept. 1–3, 6–8, 10, 13–15, 17, 20–22, 24, 27–29
• Oct. 1, 4–6, 8, 11–13, 15, 18–20, 22, 25-27, 29, 31

Frequent Fear Plus Pass is $269.99 per person plus tax.

Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass

Get up to 48 nights. Experience EVERY night of the event, plus, get FREE Regular parking after 5 pm on all event nights.

Dates for the Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass are:

• Sept. 1–3, 6–10, 13–17, 20–24, 27–30
• Oct. 1, 4–8, 11–15, 18–22, 25–29, 31

The Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass is $374.99 per person plus tax.

HHN RIP Tours

Halloween Horror Nights RIP Tour is the ultimate HHN experience. The RIP Tour features a guided experience allowing front-of-the-line access to all of the haunted houses, shows, and attractions.

Halloween Horror Nights R.I.P. Tour Includes:

• Priority V.I.P. entry to haunted houses and participating park attractions (once per house, based on itinerary) while on tour with the R.I.P. Guide. Tour inclusions are subject to itinerary and Houses toured are at the discretion of Universal Orlando Resort.
• Commemorative R.I.P. Tour credential, lanyard, and pin (one each per guest)
• Complimentary Valet Parking (one (1) vehicle based on availability and advance purchase)
• Pre-Tour Reception in Cafe La Bamba
• Access to exclusive cash bar locations (must be 21+ with valid photo ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages)
• Universal Express Unlimited ride access (with R.I.P. credential) at all participating rides & attractions for the date of their tour (valid upon check-in at VIP Experience lobby to be used before or after a tour during normal event operating hours; excludes Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses)
• Reserved seating at select event show(s) during the tour

Important Information:

• Event admission is not included in the listed price. Separate Halloween Horror Nights event admission is required for all R.I.P. Tour experiences AND must be valid for the same calendar day as the R.I.P. Tour ticket.
• Pricing and availability vary depending upon the date and product selection.
• R.I.P. Tours are available for individual parties of up to six (6) persons only and will include multiple parties in the same tour group. Parties or groups of seven (7) or more will need to book a Private R.I.P. Tour which will include only members of their individual group.

Halloween Horror Nights 2023 R.I.P. Tours start at $299.99 a person and go up to $449.99 per person depending on the date you choose.

Behind The Screams: Unmasking The Horror

Experience the horror of Halloween Horror Nights, with the lights on and no scareactors. Pick from a 3 or 6-house tour. Theme park and/or event admission is not included or required to participate in a tour. 

Halloween Horror Nights Behind-the-Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour prices start at $119.99 for the 3-house tour and go up to $149.99 depending on the date.

The 6 house tour starts at $169.99 and goes up to $199.99 depending on the date you choose to go.

HHN Vacation Packages

Universal Orlando hotel guests can stay near the fear and receive exclusive benefits, including Early Park Admission to the theme parks during the day and access to priority event entrance to Halloween Horror Nights at night as well as complimentary transportation to the theme parks and Universal CityWalk.

Vacation packages are available that include one-night admission to the event, Universal hotel accommodations and admission to all three of Universal Orlando’s thrilling theme parks. And for the first time ever, the fog has spread to all eight of Universal Orlando’s hotels with exclusive activations and experiences for hotel guests inspired by this year’s event, including Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort’s exclusive “Chucky’s Twisted Playground” photo illusion experience based on the USA and SYFY series, plus, the Universal Monsters Gallery of Legends lobby photo opportunities in all other hotel lobbies and more.

Click  here  for more information and to book a fall getaway.

10 Haunted Houses

From original houses to horror favorites this years line up is sure to bring the horror!

The Last of Us For the first time ever, Naughty Dog and PlayStation’s award-winning post-pandemic video game  “The Last of Us”  comes to life in an all-new haunted house that propels guests into an obstacle course of carnage and mayhem as they join a brutal journey in a world overtaken by a fungal virus that turns humans into various forms of a new threat known as the Infected. Guests will find themselves navigating iconic locations from the video game in a desperate attempt to escape and survive.

Stranger Things 4 Season 4 of Netflix’s original series  “Stranger Things”  is brought to life in a terrifying all-new haunted house that transports guests to Hawkins, Indiana where they will be immersed in the eerie Upside Down for a heart-pounding experience while traveling through iconic scenes. Guests will confront their deepest fears and come face to face with otherworldly creatures like demobats, and even Vecna himself within his blood-red Mind Lair in a race against the clock to escape and save mankind from his deadly curse.

The Exorcist: Believer Inspired by Universal Pictures’ terrifying new horror film from Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Entertainment  (in theaters Friday, October 13),   “The Exorcist: Believer”  haunted house will transport guests to a bustling street market in Haiti, where an innocent purchase of a strange folk doll with three eyes leads to the opening of a demonic portal, the awakening of sinister spirits and the subsequent disappearance of two 12-year-old girls in the U.S. The girls are found three days later with no memory of what happened to them. After the girls begin to exhibit unsettling behavior, it soon becomes clear that only an exorcism can save them – and everyone who comes in contact with them, including unwitting guests, is suddenly at risk of losing their souls.

Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count Inspired by the hit USA & SYFY series and cult classic films,  “Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count”  casts this killer doll as the star of his very own haunted house for the first time. A true sadistic killer, Chucky has been mired in the agony of disrespect he feels from his peers at not being taken seriously. Thus begins his quest to turn his haunted house into a living slaughterhouse by killing every person who enters.

Universal Monsters: Unmasked The dank Catacombs of Paris house a much darker secret sixty feet beneath the bustling streets, as the all-new haunted house  “Universal Monsters: Unmasked”  takes guests down into the infamous burial grounds where every corner and crevice overflows with millions of skeletal remains and even more sinister secrets. Deep within the Catacombs, Universal’s most notorious creatures – The Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dr. Jekyll and his deranged alternate personality Mr. Hyde, and Dr. Jack Griffin, aka The Invisible Man – lie in wait as they bide their time and seek vengeance against guests after the opening of the Catacombs to public visitation. These desperate and dangerous fiends have become filled with a rage toward guests navigating the twisted tunnels of their underground labyrinth home.

Dr. Oddfellow: Twisted Origins In the 1930s Dust Bowl era, guests won’t be able to resist going inside Dr. Oddfellow’s menacing menagerie of twisted oddities where they’ll encounter grotesquely distorted animals and freakish fiends. In  “Dr. Oddfellow: Twisted Origins,”  the price to enter this creepy caravan is steep as souls feed his immortal power.

Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate The great wizard Merlyn has been transformed into the Enchanted Oak, leaving a power vacuum. When two powerful warlocks invade his castle to steal his spell book, they are turned into dragons of fire and ice. Now guests are caught in the middle of their battle and are forced to choose a path and a victor. But beware, one never knows who will win in  “Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate.”

YETI: Campground Kills In a 1950s campground, a group of towering, terrifying yetis are running rampant, ripping apart campers, rangers and anyone else who gets in their way. In  “YETI: Campground Kills,”  guests must flee through the campground into cabins, a bait shack and even the outhouse in hopes of making it to the ranger tower before it’s too late.

The Darkest Deal In the Mississippi Delta, blues musician Pinestraw Spruce meets at a crossroads with a diabolical entity known as The Collector to make a deal: his soul for musical glory. Guests will witness his big break performing for a crowd before The Collector drags him to Hades with the other musicians who learned the terrible price of fame in  “The Darkest Deal.”

Bloodmoon: Dark Offerings Colonial-era villagers begin to worship the moon obsessively. When the blood moon rises at their fall festival, they take it as a sign that they must hunt down any non-followers within their village. Guests will need to try not to become part of the sacrifice as they gather body parts to form a grisly offering in  “Bloodmoon: Dark Offerings.”

5 ScareZones

As the sun sets on Universal Studios Florida and ominous clouds fill the sky, Dr. Oddfellow steps out of Halloween Horror Nights past to fill the streets with hordes of taunting scareactors in five all-new scare zones where guests:

• Come face to face with the devious legend who is promising immortality for those who dare to enter  “Dr. Oddfellow’s Collection of Horror”
• Cower in fear as the signs of the zodiac come to life in  “Dark Zodiac”  where Dr. Oddfellow uses his power to transform the zodiac signs into horrifying horoscope creatures
• Venture into the  “Jungle of Doom: Expedition Horror”  where Dr. Oddfellow’s twisted and bizarre experiments combine elements of nature and animals to create vicious jungle creatures looking to satisfy their cravings
• Attend a music festival crashed by bloodthirsty vampires let loose by Dr. Oddfellow in  “Vamp ’69: Summer of Blood”
• Stumble upon Dr. Oddfellow’s crates and cages that once housed monsters of all kinds who have escaped in pursuit of chaos in  “Shipyard 32: Horrors Unhinged”

While the houses are always visually stunning the scarezones are arguably my favorite part of HHN. They are never the same as the scareactors feed off fear, and you never know what to expect lurking beyond the fog.

Nighttime Show

Nightmare Fuel Revenge Dream The show that sparked the darkest of dreams has reignited. Nightmares burn out of control as pyro and aerial performers fire guests up to the beat of metal and electronica.

CHILLING EXPERIENCES AND KILLER FOOD

• Guests can enjoy the all-new disturbingly entertaining show,  “Nightmare Fuel Revenge Dream,”  that features a new dreamer confronting the creature that’s been turning her dreams into nightmares.
• While shopping the latest Halloween Horror Nights merchandise and treats in an  all-new Tribute Store , guests can enter a mysterious NYC Comic Book Shop and experience the “Tribute to Terror” by stepping into the pages of this original, terrifying, horror comic book.
• Guests can enjoy a drink at the Red Coconut Club as it will once again transform to the  Dead Coconut Club  donning a new theme and menu.
• When guests want to take a bite out of the horror, they can enjoy a monstrous menu of  all-new food & beverage items,  including Bloody Campground Poutine, El Pastor Torta and Sour Apple Pie Funnel Fries, in addition to returning fan-favorites like Pizza Fries.
• New this year,  Peacock’s Halloween Horror Bar  will feature themed libations within an ominous nightclub vibe, photo opportunities, and more.
• For those dying to experience this year’s “killer” food & beverage before the event even opens,  Taste of Terror  will offer guests an exclusive preview of select items that will be featured at Halloween Horror Nights select nights from August 10 through August 26. For more information and to purchase tickets to Taste of Terror, click  here .

Are you ready for the fog? I can already hear the chainsaws buzzing!

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The SCREAM house tours are back

Visit the iconic house where your favorite scary movie was filmed.

Spring Hill Estate, aka 261 Turner Lane in the fictional town of Woodsboro, opens its doors again for SCREAM fans. All you have to do, to see this iconic place with your own eyes, is to buy your tickets and head to Tomales, California.

“ The SCREAM House Tours were created to give hardcore fans a unique and memorable experience and to showcase the legendary house where the original SCREAM was filmed. It is amazing in the way that little has changed, and fans can feel like they’re stepping back in time to 1996. An experience every mega SCREAM fan must have, ” explains Dane Petrali , who envisioned this experience and is also the entrepreneur behind the Chilling App (backed by Jamie Kennedy himself, recently).

Petrali was joined by the photographer and cosplayer Franco Caramelino who is helping in creating an immersive and scary-fun ride. Photo-op section, merchandise, souvenirs, and a lot more is on the way.

Caramelino also recommends to fans the nearby locations where the film was shot :

“ The area is gorgeous. There are many things one can do outside of visiting the house. Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, and Sonoma are very close to Tomales. You can visit the Sonoma Community Center that was used as the Woodsboro High School. Tatum’s House is in Santa Rosa as well as the grocery store where Sidney and Tatum stop by to get drinks and snacks before Stu’s party. The fountain where Sid, Tatum, Billy, and Stu ate their grapes while talking about Casey Becker’s murder is in Healdsburg and that town is also beautiful. Across from the fountain, you can see the Woodsboro Police Station, and get a great movie angle. ”

You can always check this link to see the next tours:

Chilling App

[Sponsored content] Chilling is a new horror platform that is dedicated to its community of horror lovers! It features horror story narrations, and very soon with Chilling 2.0, video content including full-length movies, shows, short horror films, and Chilling originals!

“ Chilling might be the most organic business fit of anything I’ve ever done. It’s literally made by horror fans, for horror fans, with horror fans. And me playing Randy in the SCREAM franchise, I feel it goes perfectly hand in hand ,” tells Jamie Kennedy , who recently invested in the project.

Chilling is now accepting investments from the public. In just over a year since launch, we have seen tremendous growth and successes, including almost 200k user accounts created, 14,000+ paid monthly subscribers, and $500k in annual recurring revenue!

Join our WhatsApp Group for exclusive content!

🔪 Follow us on Instagram for exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes, and all things Ghostface. Don’t miss a SCREAM!

🔪 Since today is a special occasion, here it is... Jenna channeling full Drew Barrymore vibes in the promo shoot for Scream (2022). 😱 hellosidney.com 🩸 #scream #screammovie #scream7 #screamVII #ghostface #jennaortega

🔪Happy Birthday, Jenna Ortega! 🍰 From taking down Ghostface as Tara to mastering the deadpan as Wednesday, you never miss a beat! Wishing you a birthday as bold and unforgettable as your characters. 🩸 #scream #screammovie #jennaortega #wednesday @jennaortega

Ever wanted to party where SCREAM was filmed? Now’s your chance! Join the Screamathon 2024: Meet the Original Ghostface, watch the movie where it happened, and take photos and cosplay in the iconic spots! 🎟 Tickets and Info here: 🩸 https://is.gd/screamathon 🔪 #Scream #Screamathon2024 #Halloween2024 #ScreamFansUnite 🎃

From the screen to the skin: Drew Barrymore, Ghostface, and the legendary Scream saga. Got the iconic movie inked on your mind and body too? 🔪 Share your tattoo and let’s celebrate our love for horror! 🖤 📸 @drewbarrymore @thedrewbarrymoreshow 🩸#scream #drewbarrymore #caseybecker #wescraven

Courteney Cox talks Scream 7 status and hopes for Dewey’s comeback in new interview. Read now: 🔪 hellosidney.com/content/courteney-cox-not-signed-on-for-scream-7-yet/ 🩸 #scream #screammovie #scream7 #screamVII #ghostface #courteneycox #galeweathers

Fitting for Quinn Bailey, where the real killer style begins. 🖤 Via @lianaliberato 🔪 #ScreamVI #LianaLiberato

SCREAM VI: Interview with Michele Laliberté

Dive into a master class of production design, exploring the art, locations, decoration, and coolest props of SCREAM VI.

SCREAM VI: Exclusive Interview with Liana Liberato

Liana Liberato talks about her pivotal role, scary movies, and photography. She also answered fun and tricky questions from the fandom.

SCREAM VI: Exclusive interview with Radio Silence

HelloSidney.com had the pleasure of another conversation with the genius minds of Radio Silence about SCREAM VI.

Bloody Ghost Face: The new HMBR exclusives!

Handmade by Robots and HelloSidney.com present an exclusive limited edition vinyl figures.

Interview with SCREAM’s Jasmin Savoy Brown

She proudly wears many badges of honor: Woman, Black, Queer, and now Scream Queen.

SCREAM: Radio Silence discusses the cast, legacy and the pandemic

The final part of the interview with the filmmakers of SCREAM 5.

A conversation with Radio Silence

HS had the honor to meet Chad Villella, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. In this part, we remember Wes Craven.

Get Ready for Screamathon 2024!

Party Like It’s 1996: Celebrate Halloween 2024 at the house the original Scream was filmed!

Courteney Cox not signed on for Scream 7 — Yet!

Courteney Cox talks Scream 7 status and hopes for Dewey’s comeback in new interview.

Scream Universe expands with New Spinoff & Scream 7

Hayden Panettiere takes the lead in Untitled Scream Spinoff, Scream 7 slated for 2025.

Scream 7 to Refocus on Sidney Prescott

Neve Campbell hints at franchise return to roots & teases co-stars involvement.

In The Footsteps of Ghostface: Scream Filming Locations

Who knew the slasher classic Scream hailed from such a bucolic county?

Written by: Gem Seddon

Published on: May 13, 2023

This post is based on extensive research. While I only visited two locations, this felt more suited to this category. The information contained within is thoroughly fact-checked. We will update this post with firsthand impressions once we visit more locales.

While house sitting alone one night, screenwriter Kevin Williamson caught a TV special on the Gainesville Ripper. Suitably spooked, he called a friend for company and the pair began quizzing each other on horror movie trivia. And so, the spark for Scream was born. 

Table of Contents

Williamson holed up for a week to bash out the script, leading to a bidding frenzy that eventually caught the eye of Dimension Films, and in turn, Wes Craven. Thanks to Williamson’s knowing script, the Scream series reinvigorated the gasping slasher genre in the mid-90s. 

Peppered with self-aware teens and horror references galore, the then-titled Scary Movie came to life under Craven’s directorial eye. Once it hit theaters, audiences loved its mash of scares and chuckles and word of mouth spread. At the end of its theatrical run, Scream scared up $173 million in worldwide box office receipts, and the horror genre was given a new lease of life.

Where was Scream filmed?

The Scream filming locations are anchored in the Northern California wine country. The Sonoma County towns of Glen Ellen, Tomales, Healdsburg, Sonoma, and Santa Rosa all feature in the film, lending the slasher the perfect  small-town atmosphere. 

For fans of the Scream franchise, visiting the film’s actual locations goes beyond mere sightseeing; it’s an experience that brings it shuddering to life. There’s an undeniable feeling that comes from standing in the same spots immortalised on film. Trust me, this is coming from someone (me, it was me) who got weirdly choked up at the grocery store where Sidney and Tatum pick up party snacks.

This guide will dive into why these spots were selected by Craven and his production crew, what happened during the location shoots, and how you can visit the Scream filming locations yourself. 

Why these locations were handpicked for Scream

3080 Marlow Road, Santa Rosa, California 95403

1465 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa, California 95404

217 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, California 95448

124 Matheson Street, Healdsburg, California 95448

824 Mcdonald Avenue, Santa Rosa, California 95404

276 East Napa Street, Sonoma, California 95476

7420 Sonoma Mountain Road, Glen Ellen, California 95442

This is a private residence. 1800 Calistoga Road, Santa Rosa, California 95404

3871 Tomales Petaluma Road, Petaluma, California 94971

The first draft of Williamson’s screenplay initially took place in his home town of Bayboro, North Carolina. But production struggled to find locations that fit his exact descriptions without requiring a lot of work.

They needed “either a lot of painting or upgrading or downgrading,” explains production designer Bruce Alan Miller in the E! A True Hollywood Story: Scream documentary. The dark, brick homesteads they visited in Wilmington didn’t sync up with Craven’s vision. 

After reading the script, Craven knew it was critical to find the right spot, and as a native Californian he felt it had to be rooted in the west coast state. He wanted to find a place to tap into a special sort of Americana.

Nevertheless, the Weinsteins had other ideas, wanting to save $1 million dollars by shooting in Canada. And while producers ventured to Vancouver for a preliminary scout, ultimately Craven “took a hard stand,” and insisted that the movie shoot in the US. 

“We looked in L.A., and we flew to San Jose and drove up to Northern California, stopping at towns and looking,” co-executive producer Stuart M. Besser told E! And, in February 1996, they found the fictionalised version of Bayboro, now known as Woodsboro, in the small towns of Sonoma County.

Situated an hour’s drive north of the San Francisco Bay Area, the wine country’s bucolic, small-town feel matched the atmosphere of Williamson’s script. “Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Tomales Bay… all of those towns, they had a charm to them, they had a small-town America feel to them,” said Miller. 

This echoed Craven’s wishes for a filming location on homegrown soil. “I wanted very much that very, very American feel to it, so that’s how we ended up there,” Craven reveals in Scream: The Inside Story .

Not only that, it aligned with Miller’s goals for the production design. Unlike North Carolina, where they struggled to find houses that matched the specific geography inked into Williamson’s script, in Sonoma they uncovered a range of perfect homesteads none of which required any major building.

The glass windows from Casey Becker’s front porch, intricate sprawl of Stu Macher’s home, all of these key components were crucial to exacting the terror of the setpieces, were found on their scouting missions.

So let’s dive into them.

Primary Scream filming locations

Stu macher’s house : 3871 tomales-petaluma road, tomales, ca.

“It all began with a Scream over 911, and ended in a bloodbath that has rocked the small town of Woodsboro,” begins Gale Weathers’ voiceover accompanied by a wide shot of a Californian sunrise illuminating the wine country foothills. It’s hard to imagine that closing shot without that breathtaking view of the Cotati Valley from the Tomales Bay location. 

The Victorian homestead was built in 1990 for Jack and Carolyn MacPhail, a couple who both passed away in 1991 shortly before construction was completed. The house remained in the family until it was listed for sale several years later. Details of the couple’s passing didn’t elude the filmmakers, with cast and crew both aware of the dwelling’s macabre history. 

In a set interview featured in the Behind the Scream documentary, Matthew Lillard said: “Literally – two people have died in the house. So coming up the hill and you’re doing a Wes Craven film and somebody tells you, ‘Oh, by the way, two people have died in the house,’ it brings on an entirely new thing.” 

The house sat on the market until Scream location manager Eric Klosterman came across it one morning. According to Miller, Klosterman was at a bakery in downtown Tomales and spotted the house in the realtor’s window next door.  Once Craven and Miller saw it, they knew it was the one with the latter stating the abode appeared like a “haunted house”: 

“It’s set up on this hill which is spooky looking,” Miller explained, “And there’s this flow around the house with lots of ways that people could walk and go from one room to another. Somebody could be in trouble in the driveway or in the front of the house, and you wouldn’t know about it in the TV room.”

But its success rested upon more than the house’s layout – Craven’s keen eye for horror movie geography brought those aspects clearly to life. 

“You have to solve certain problems that relate to the geography of the house,” stated Craven in Cinefantastique’s Lawrence French in January 1997, explaining the script’s original attic chase sequence between Sidney and the killer. “But we never found a house that was designed like that.” So, they reworked the script based on the layout of the Tomales homestead. The Victorian mansion’s unique framework could easily have proven confusing for audiences, but Craven turned it into a memorable location.

On the dressing front, the production was delighted by most of the existing components but augmented it some. “We wanted Stu’s home to have elements of a dark and haunted Gothic house and it needed to be very isolated,” Craven added.

“The art department went in there and did an enormous number on the house. We put in all sorts of beams, and stained-glass windows, darkened all the colors, and brought in all the set dressings. It was done in a sort of farmhouse style, and we changed it into a Gothic farmhouse. We shot everything right in the house, and even used the attic. The attic wasn’t very creepy, so we darkened it.”

Scenes filmed at 3871 Tomales-Petaluma Road

Arguably the most beloved horror movie finale of all time, the movie’s last act takes place entirely at 3871 Tomales-Petaluma Road, als known as 261 Turner Lane in the movie.

From the moment the Top Story news van pulls up to its long, winding driveway to the opening bars of Birdbrain’s “Youth in America”, all the way through to Gale Weathers’ closing report to camera, the film’s twists and turns all unravel here. 

Here are the scenes that take place at Stu’s house:

• Randy, Stu and friends watch Halloween
• Sidney and Billy sneak off to have sex
• Tatum’s death in the garage
• Gale and Dewey’s walk in the woods
• Sidney’s chase with the killer
• The final kitchen showdown

Stories from the set

One of horror history’s most well-loved endings took a whopping 21 nights to shoot, its cast and crew calling it quits as the sun rose and starting over again the next evening. This rigorous shooting schedule took its toll. 

Every sequence that takes place at Stu’s house technically falls under Scene 118 in the script, making it one of the longest scenes of the production. The crew even got t-shirts printed up that read “I Survived Scene 118′:

The assistant director referred to it on the daily call sheets as the “People live, people die” scene. Is it any wonder Craven called it “the scene from hell?”

Sidney Prescott’s house – 1820 Calistoga Road, Santa Rosa, CA

The Prescott house appears only in a handful of scenes but it needed a specific atmosphere for the movie’s second attack sequence that strikes when Sidney is home alone. “There is something that’s not normal about it, it’s just sitting there, isolated by itself,” Miller told E!. 

“We wanted houses that were vulnerable.” Miller explained to Cinefantastique when discussing how they chose the Woodsboro dwellings. “We didn’t want homes that looked like castles, or that you could really protect yourself in. We needed houses that were close to the ground, and that had windows and doors that were very accessible, so if somebody was going to be stalking them, they could get to them very quickly. 

It would be your average middle-class teenager’s home, with nothing too scary about it. When they come home, they think they’re safe and then all of a sudden there’s a knock at the front door, and then there’s a knock at the back door. What teenager thinks that death is just around the corner? They just don’t think in those terms, but in reality they are susceptible to being stalked.”

Scenes filmed at 1820 Calistoga Road

• Sidney exits the school bus and enter her home
• A montage of shots as the sunsets
• Sidney on the phone with Tatum 
• Sidney on the phone with the killer, and the chase sequence
• The cops arrive and Sidney is outside in an ambulance

“Fantastic location,” laughs Craven on the Scream audio commentary, before revealing how much it cost to use the home: “We just about bought it between the rental fees and the repair fees.”

“We were shooting in the beautiful wine country around Santa Rosa, using some very interesting houses we found there, so I wanted to be able to see out of windows a lot, and get a sense of inside, outside, as opposed to doing interiors on a stage. There was a lot of tricky balancing of light levels from interior to exteriors. that we had to contend with. It’s a shame so much of the film takes place at night, because it’s so beautiful where we were shooting.

Casey Becker’s house – 7420 Sonoma Mountain Road, Glen Ellen, CA

“She worked for five days and made cinematic history in genre films,” Craven said of Barrymore’s performance in the film’s iconic opening sequence.  And for such an impactful, and devastating introduction to Scream , production sought an isolated house for Barrymore’s character Casey Becker to spend her final moments. 

Initially, they ventured to a familiar horror movie locale. “We’d gone to the Cujo house,” Miller told E!, “and I think that’s when the location manager saw the house back in the trees and made contact with the people.” While they opted not to shoot at the Cujo homestead, Williamson told The Ringer the famous abode was production basecamp for the opening shoot.

It was that “house back in the trees” which would go on to become the Beckers, and it was located next to an isolated vineyard. “Although it looks like this beautiful idyllic setting, if you’re in that house and someone’s wandering around outside stalking you, you’re very vulnerable.”

Scenes filmed at Casey’s house

• Casey on the phone with the killer
• Casey’s attack and death
• Casey’s parents coming home

Throughout production, Craven chose to shield the actor who voiced Ghostface from the cast. Roger Jackson, who plays the spectral killer, was not in the same room as Barrymore for filming. In fact, the two never met. “We hid him. We had separate rooms. He was never around. He was never at craft services. He was absolutely incognito. It made it scary for the actors and Wes just got better performances out of them,” executive producer Marianne Maddelena told THR .

“The first night when we were filming the bulk of the scene with Ms. Barrymore, I was outside the window under a little canopy trying to keep dry because it was raining,” Jackson explained to THR . 

“I’m looking at her through the window while I’m talking to her on the phone, but she couldn’t see outside. Then on the second night they moved me to the garage of the house and set me up with a monitor so I could watch the camera feed.”

Woodsboro High School – Sonoma Community Center, 276 E Napa St, Sonoma, CA

Discovering the Santa Rosa High School was part of what clinched the production’s decision to shoot in that area, Miller describing it as “Gothic, and has a kind of castle-like quality to it. It’s Gorgeous To Look At, and it looks a little scary.” 

But they didn’t shoot there. 

Despite this perfect locale, things didn’t quite go to plan. While the school administration and the Principal were excited for the movie’s production to enter its halls, shortly before cameras were set to roll the Santa Rosa School Board finally read the script and took umbrage with the violence.

In addition to the movie’s they even referred to the movie’s Principal Himbry as “foul-mouthed” even though he only calls two pranksters little shits.

At a public forum it was decided that the movie would not be shot there. Craven was frustrated by the way the decision had been reached: “It was all based on a manufactured reality… Over and over they were saying it was about disemboweled teenagers, and a foul-mouthed principal. From that you could imagine that every other scene is people being gutted, and having their viscera being thrown at the camera, while the principal was running around using four-letter words. If I heard that, I would say. ‘Hey. wait a minute, let me read it,’ but people just accepted that that was what the script was about, which was completely not the case.”

The way the issue was finally resolved was not to my liking,” Williamson told Cinefantastique, “because it was counter to the message of the film, which is that you can’t blame movies for real life violence. The Santa Rosa school board felt that, *We can, and we do,’ and they did. As a result, we weren’t allowed to shoot at their school. “

While the ethical frustrations facing the filmmakers were aplenty, the delay also cost Miramax what Craven estimated to be around $350,000. Despite several other schools in the surrounding area following suit, and refusing Craven’s production, they eventually found a spot that worked perfectly – Sonoma Community Center.

“It had been a high school and it didn’t fall under the jurisdiction of any of the school boards, so we could pay to use it,” said Dimension Films development head, Richard Potter. 

Scenes filmed at Sonoma Community Center

• Sidney arrives to school the morning after the opening deaths 
• Sidney in class
• Stu, Tatum, and Sidney hanging out at the lockers
• Sidney’s bathroom attack and discussion with Billy
• Stu, Tatum, and Sidney leave school when Principal Himbry announces curfew

Note: the Principal Himbry office sequences were shot on a warehouse set in downtown Santa Rosa.

Originally the Sonoma Grammar School, this landmark building became the Sonoma Community Center in 1952 and has since established its mission as a place “where recreational, artistic, instructive, literary, and educational projects for the general welfare of the community may be furthered.”

The Center recently celebrated its 70th birthday which included photos and mementoes from the Scream set.

The Riley house – 824 McDonald Ave, Santa Rosa, CA

The Riley house in Scream

The Riley household is nestled in amongst other Santa Rosa horror hotspot. ​​“It was right across the street from the house used by Alfred Hitchcock in Shadow of a Doubt, ” noted Miller. “It was a wonderful fluke, because Shadow of a Doubt is one of my favorite movies.” While Miller had hoped to film in that iconic horror abode, the upstairs landing didn’t have sufficient space, so they ventured across the street for what would become the Riley house.

Despite the upstairs being unsuited, one room at 904 MacDonald Ave did make it into the finished product: the kitchen from the Shadow of a Doubt house is where they filmed the Riley house breakfast scene. Thanks to Mark Hough for confirming!

Scenes filmed at the Riley house

• Sidney and Tatum hang out in Tatum’s bedroom
• Before the party they hang out on Tatum’s deck

During filming, Hitchcock hung out on 824’s beautiful porch – the very same wraparound one Sidney and Tatum spend time on while being stalked by Ghostface. 

While scouting for the location, the crew visited the house across the street – the aforementioned Shadow of a Doubt house which was owned by a widow whose grandchildren often came to stay. It was here, in one of their rooms, that producer Marienna Maddelena spotted a mask draped over a chair: the Ghostface mask that would become an iconic part of Scream lore.

“We were scouting a location and we went to this two-story house on this lovely street. The lady was fine with us walking around and I went upstairs and there was a boy’s bedroom. It had the feeling that no one had been in it for a while. Like, whoever had moved out. And I saw the mask sitting on a chair. At the time it had a white shroud. And I thought, “Oh my God, this mask, this is it.”

Downtown Woodsboro  – Healdsburg, CA Town Center

To capture the small-town feel Craven felt integral to the movie, producers honed in on Healdsburg Town Center to stand in for downtown Woodsboro.  “It had a very pretty town square,” revealed Miller to Cinefantastique. “It really looked more like New England than California.” 

The police station – City Hall, 124 Matheson Street, Healdsburg, CA

The police station where Billy is questioned, where Sidney waits for Tatum, and the infamous alleyway where Sidney punches Gale were all filmed at the same place — Healdsburg City Hall.

“There’s a City Hall on the corner of the square that we turned into our police station. We just changed some signs and put a few things in the windows.  We couldn’t use a real police station, because we would have been at their mercy, and we couldn’t be disrupting their police activity,” Miller told Cinefantastique. 

We also see the building later on when Dewey drops off Sidney and Tatum in town before the party. In this screenshot, you can see evidence of City Hall. Just beside Tatum is a drop-box for people to pay their city utility bills:

Healdsburg City Hall was relocated elsewhere shortly after filming on Scream wrapped, but the building remains. It’s now a deli called Oakville Grocery that retains some of the original – and recognisable – structures that made their way into the film. 

The town square and fountain – Healdsburg Plaza Park, 217 Healdsburg Ave, CA

The town square appears for establishing shots and lengthier dialogue sequences in Scream. Craven lensed quick snatches of a garbage truck to denote early morning in Woodsboro at the corner of the park, and part of the town curfew montage features store owners locking up and a mother and child rushing to their car.

But its most memorable sequence features the core gang chewing the fat over Casey and Steve’s murders. This is where we first meet Stu and Randy and we’re treated to the “liver alone” pun by Matthew Lillard and Matthew Lillard’s extremely long tongue. 

This one-acre urban park sits at the intersection of Matheson Street and Healdsburg Ave, and was dubbed one of the most beautiful town squares in the US .

The grocery store – Pacific Market, 1465 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa, CA

The Pacific Market in Santa Rosa was known as Town and Country Market in 1996 during filming and when I visited in 2008. You can see my photo above (that’s my then-partner looking very excited about shopping carts) which I took without a movie still for reference – and I suspect I’m in the wrong spot entirely! Surely this means another visit is on the cards to rectify this massive error?

The scenes filmed here follow on from Sidney and Tatum hanging out at the Rileys. Dewey drops them off outside the police station and they wander over to the store, where they are stalked through the aisles by Ghostface.

Randy’s Video Store – Bradley Video, 3080 Marlow Road, Santa Rosa CA

Part of the allure of Scream is its love of movies. The video store where Randy works ropes in a slew of visual nods – a promotional standee of Jamie Lee Curtis in Mother’s Boys – alongside its staple sound bites. A customer asks Randy for “the werewolf movie with ET’s mom in it,” to which he fires back, “ The Howling . Horror. Straight ahead.” 

But it’s the existence of the actual establishment itself that anchors the film to its era. A small town under a curfew and what’s everyone doing? Hitting up the video store! And this isn’t a Blockbuster the kids frequent either, but a local Bay Area video store called Bradley Video. 

Unfortunately the store closed down in 2008 after the owner filed for bankruptcy, along with another 10 Bradley Video locations in the area. The building where it was once located remains vacant, if you want to visit it and commiserate.

A big thank you to I Am Not A Stalker for the image of Bradley Video.

Visiting the Scream filming locations

With the exception of three scenes – Sidney’s bedroom, Principal Himbry’s office and the high school bathroom – the entirety of Scream was filmed on location. Once you’re in Sonoma County you can explore most of the sites without permission. Several homes sit on private properties that require homeowner consent before visiting. 

Travel and accommodation options

Airports and public transportation.

The closest major airport is San Francisco International. Sonoma County Airport located in Santa Rosa offers direct flights from eleven locations in the US. Of course, you can connect from elsewhere at those departure airports too. 

From there, you can rent a car – you can book in advance thru Qeeq or try DiscoverCars.com to find a better price than going directly to the main car rental companies.

Take the bus

You can take a shuttle bus up to Sonoma County which takes around 2.5 hours and costs $48 with multiple drop-off options. 

A cheaper option is the Greyhound or Amtrak that takes you from San Francisco International Airport to Santa Rosa Transit Terminal. Find the best option on Busbud.

Hotels and lodging recommendations

Sonoma county offers plenty in the ways of budget, moderate, and luxury accommodations – it all depends on what you’re looking for. 

Mid-priced option: The DoubleTree by Hilton Sonoma Wine Country

The rates are what you’d expect for a three-star hotel in the middle of wine country, around $160 per night. Plus, if taking the SFO-Santa Rosa airport shuttle you can get dropped right at its doors. And, while it boasts the same name as the hotel where the cast stayed during filming, that original site burned down in the 2017 Tubbs Fire which devastated Santa Rosa and the surrounding areas. 

Luxury option: The Vintners

This is a more up-scale spot that starts at around $300 a night.

Budget option: Point Reyes Hostel

I stayed a little out of town at the Point Reyes Hostel, which was clean and affordable at around $50 a night. It’s around a 40 minute drive from Santa Rosa. You can also try a Quality Inn in Santa Rosa.

The Scream House tour

The only organized tour of the Scream locations currently on offer lets you experience the Victorian house at 3871 Tomales Petaluma Road – aka Stu’s house. 

The entire property is now a wedding venue that’s also leased out for other tours and parties – including a group that hosts Scream-related tours. For 2023, you can visit in July and October and prices are $200 per person. You can book over at Eventbrite . 

Self-guided tour tips

Preparing for your visit.

I’d recommend doing a combination of the Scream house tour along with a self-guided tour of some other key locations. 

Back in 2008 when I visited the locations, there were no house tours of Stu’s abode available. Somehow, we managed to find the road below – bear in mind, this was before smartphones, GPS, etc – and I snapped this phenomenal photo that appears as if it were plucked from the movie itself:

While you might struggle to see all of the locations, once you’ve visited Santa Rosa, Healdsburg and Sonoma – and once you see Stu’s house – you’ll get a feel for the movie. 

Navigating the locations

I recommend breaking up a visit into two days.

• Bradley Video, Santa Rosa
• Tatum’s house, Santa Rosa
• Pacific Market, Santa Rosa
• Woodsboro Town Square, Healdsburg
• Woodsboro Police Station, Healdsburg
• Sonoma Community Center, Sonoma
• Casey’s house, Glen Ellen – you might not have access 
• Stu’s house, Tomales-Petaluma Road – you can try to recreate my amazing photo up top from the roadside if you don’t opt for the tour!
• Sidney’s house, Santa Rosa – you may also struggle to get access as it’s now behind a gated driveway.
• If Day Two feels a little sparse – you can always visit a few other spots nearby.

Hiring a car offers the most ease to get to the more awkward spots, but local buses are an option.

Safety and etiquette while visiting

The biggest note about all of these locales is noting which ones are private residences and which ones are accessible to the public. Some homeowners don’t welcome Scream fans onto their property, which is to be expected. 

Places to Visit in the Area

Other horror movie locations nearby.

Luckily, John Carpenter’s The Fog lensed in this area. An hour’s drive west and you can visit the Point Reyes Lighthouse in Inverness where Stevie hosts her radio show amid the creeping fog. 

Hitchcock had some affection for the area, filming Shadow of a Doubt in Santa Rosa, then returning to film The Birds in nearby Bodega Bay a few years later.  

Local attractions and activities

Rancho Obi-Wan, Petaluma

If you’re a Star Wars fan then I’d recommend checking out Rancho Obi-Wan , the largest collection of Star Wars items in the world. Curated and carefully tended by Steve Sansweet, the former head of Fan Relations and Director of Content Management at Lucasfilm, this archive is nearly 25 years old.  

Jack London’s Wolf House, Glen Ellen

The remains of Jack London’s abode still sit, silently eroding, and they’re rather haunting. 

Tell us about your visit

That’s all here for now on the Scream locations, but if you’ve any hints or tips on how you perhaps got a better view of Stu’s house or if you got permission to snap a pic of Sidney’s house – let me know in the comments!

About Gem Seddon

4 thoughts on “In The Footsteps of Ghostface: Scream Filming Locations”

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Correction. Tatum’s kitchen was shot in the Shadow of a Doubt house. I was there.

Thank you Mark for shedding extra light on this location! Will update post to reflect this 🙂

The breakfast scene at Tatum’s house was actually filmed across the street from the actual location for Exteriors. It was shot inside the house that AlfredHitchcock used in shadow of a doubt. I know this because I lived in Santa Rosa at the time of filming and I am also involved in Film Production in the northern Bay Area. If you could make that correction it would be greatly appreciated, and I’m sure the fans would appreciate where that scene was actually shot

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MoPop’s Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film

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Sheriff Dewey Riley hosts thrilling Halloween overnight at the SCREAM house

Key Takeaways

• This Halloween, everyone’s favorite small-town sheriff is hosting SCREAM superfans for an overnight stay in honor of the blockbuster hit film’s 25th anniversary and upcoming SCREAM release in 2022.

Do you like scary movies? If the answer is yes, then you’re invited to try your luck at surviving the ultimate Halloween overnight stay at the original house from the classic horror flick SCREAM on Airbnb. With reports of Ghostface on the loose terrorizing Woodsboro once again, local sheriff Dewey Riley (aka David Arquette) is your Host, there to share his tips on survival. Heed his warnings and watch your back or you might find yourself face to face with the most fearsome killer to slash his way across the silver screen.

When it was released 25 years ago in 1996, the original genre-busting, hit film became a pop culture phenomenon, eventually spawning four sequels. SCREAM, the latest film in the series will be released in theatres around the world starting in January 2022.

“Protecting the town of Woodsboro is my life’s duty, and I’ve certainly developed a knack for escaping Ghostface,” said Riley. “As your Host, I’ll be keeping a watchful eye on guests to ensure no one gets surprised by an unexpected plot twist. Trust me, horror movies always keep it interesting, for better or for worse…“

Dewey will host three, one-night stays* for up to four people at the Northern California estate on October 27, October 29 and October 31 for only $5* a night, in honor of the upcoming release of SCREAM in 2022. During their stays, guests will get to experience all the scariest elements of the original SCREAM , including:

• A virtual greeting at check-in from Dewey (as long as Ghostface doesn’t catch him first).
• The chance to explore the SCREAM house in all its original glory, from knife marks on the doors to the garage where Dewey’s sister Tatum met her unfortunate demise.
• A movie marathon featuring all four SCREAM films (on VHS, of course) to get caught up ahead of the next SCREAM release. 
• A dedicated phone line for reaching Ghostface, in case victims (ahem, guests) dare to ask any questions or make requests — but watch out, he might just call the house, too. 
• Classic 90s snack favorites, like Jiffy Pop, ice cream with all the Reddi-whip you could ever want and pizza, if you’re able to stomach it. 

The chance to take home unique SCREAM memorabilia, including a DVD bundle of the first four SCREAM films, Woodsboro High gear, SCREAM (2022) posters and more.

Those looking to book should note that this stay’s rules are in strict adherence with local COVID-19 guidelines. And guests can rest easy knowing that onsite staff will follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines as well as Airbnb’s COVID-19 Safety Practices , which include wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and abiding by our five-step enhanced cleaning process. Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Northern California**.

To celebrate the most frightful time of year, Airbnb will make a one-time donation to Ween Dream, which provides free Halloween costumes to children in need nationwide.

Superfans interested in tempting fate can request to book this stay beginning Tuesday, October 12, at 1 p.m. EDT at airbnb.com/halloween . 

For those SCREAM enthusiasts and horror movie fans who are unable to book the stay, there’s another opportunity to get your adrenaline rush. Original SCREAM screenwriter, SCREAM (2022) executive producer and scary movie expert Kevin Williamson will host an Online Experience on Thursday, October 28 that will give guests a chance to learn behind-the-scenes secrets of the SCREAM franchise, including the cast, characters, plot twists and more. 

Booking for this chilling Online Experience also opens on Tuesday, October 12, at 1 p.m. EDT, and is bookable by visiting airbnb.com/secretsofscream . 

*Plus taxes and fees

**Those who request to book must currently live in the United States.

The one-night stays are not a contest. 

Ghost Face is a Registered Trademark of Fun World Div., Easter Unlimited, Inc. ©1999. All Rights Reserved. © 2021 Paramount Pictures.

Airbnb is closely monitoring California COVID-19 infection rates and local guidelines and travel advisories, and will offer each booked guest a $1,000 USD Airbnb travel credit if it becomes necessary to cancel the stays.

Video: Take A Tour Of The Original ‘Scream’ House

It’s always nice to see an iconic film location that’s still standing. This obviously includes Stu Macher’s house from Scream , which was used heavily during the movie’s third act. What’s more, both the interiors and exteriors for the house were taken from the same real-life building, located in Tomales, California. If that’s not enough, the iconic structure mostly looks the same all these years later. Now YouTube channel Dead Meat has taken the opportunity to give a tour of the fan-favorite Scream house.

The tour, which you can see below, is led by both James and Chelsea from the Dead Meat channel. The two go over all of the iconic spots in the house that were shown in the classic movie , and it’s such a great treat for fans. After all, many movies have locations that are built with stages or were torn down after a certain amount of time. As such, it really is great to see that Stu Macher’s iconic house from Scream still stands and looks the way it did in 1996.

Here’s the video:

Meanwhile, if fans are still anxious for more Scream content, there is a new movie on the way this month. And what’s also great about this new film, is that it also uses Stu Macher’s house from the original Scream ! While plot details are scarce, early reviews for the film have been quite positive . As such, it’s presumable that the film does great justice to this beloved shooting location.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett directed the new Scream , taking over for the late Wes Craven who directed the original four films. James Vanderbilt wrote the script with Guy Busick. Original  Scream  screenwriter Kevin Williamson is executive producing alongside Chad Villella. Project X Entertainment’s James Vanderbilt, Paul Neinstein and William Sherak are serving as producers on the film.

The cast for  Scream  includes returning cast members David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Marley Shelton, and Roger L. Jackson. The new cast members include Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Dylan Minnette, Mikey Madison, Sonia Ben Ammar and Kyle Gallner.

Scream  is currently scheduled to hit theaters on January 14, 2022.

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Idaho College Killings Idaho Killings: Roommate of Murder Victims Saw Black-Clad Figure in Their House

In an affidavit, officials provided more details about the night of the killings and said DNA and surveillance video led them to the 28-year-old accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students.

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Mike Baker Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs and Serge F. Kovaleski

A knife sheath, phone pings and trash: The hunt for a killer in Idaho.

MOSCOW, Idaho — On the night in November when four University of Idaho students were murdered in a home near campus, another roommate awoke to a noise that she thought was her friend playing with her dog. Then she heard someone crying, and a man saying something like, “It’s OK, I’m going to help you.”

When the roommate peered out of her room just after 4 a.m., she later told investigators, she stood in “frozen shock” as a man wearing black clothes and a mask walked by her toward the home’s back door. She did not recognize him, she said, but she noticed his bushy eyebrows.

It was not until many hours later that the full extent of what had happened upstairs and down the hall became clear: Four students had been stabbed to death, leaving two roommates — and a dog whose barking had been loud enough to be heard outside — alive.

On Thursday, law enforcement officials ended nearly two months of silence on the details of their investigation and unveiled an array of evidence they say left them with little doubt about the identity of the killer: Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old Ph.D. student in criminology at a neighboring university.

Mr. Kohberger, who was arrested on Dec. 30 at his parents’ home in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, appeared in court for the first time in Idaho on Thursday to face charges of first-degree murder and felony burglary.

In a packed courtroom where the father of one victim was sitting in the front row, Mr. Kohberger hardly spoke except to say that he understood that the maximum penalty for each murder charge was life imprisonment or death. His public defender, Anne Taylor, said in court that Mr. Kohberger “has a good family that stands behind him.” He has said through another lawyer that he looks forward to being exonerated.

Authorities have yet to detail a motive in the killings, nor has there been any explanation for why the two surviving roommates, who are also students at the University of Idaho, did not call 911 until shortly before noon the next day.

But in a small college town that had not recorded a murder in seven years, the newly unsealed court records offer a detailed account of how police officers, with the aid of dozens of F.B.I. agents, methodically triangulated clues. Among them were DNA found on a knife sheath left at the scene, surveillance cameras in the neighborhood, cellphone tower records and DNA from the suspect’s father collected from the family’s trash in Pennsylvania — all of which, the police said, pointed to Mr. Kohberger.

The early morning attack at the house along a dead-end street, a five-minute walk from campus, claimed the lives of Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20.

It came after an otherwise typical Saturday night. Ms. Kernodle and Mr. Chapin, who were dating, had attended a fraternity party together, and Ms. Goncalves and Ms. Mogen had gone to a bar. All four victims, as well as the two surviving roommates, were back at the home before 2 a.m.

The new documents suggest that Ms. Kernodle was awake around the time of the killings, receiving a DoorDash delivery around 4 a.m. and apparently using the TikTok app on her phone 12 minutes later. Police said the murders likely happened before 4:25 a.m.

In addition to hearing the crying and the man’s voice, the roommate on the second floor also heard one of her roommates say something like, “There’s someone here,” around 4 a.m.

At roughly the same time, a security camera from a nearby home picked up distorted audio of a whimpering sound and a loud thud. A dog could be heard barking several times.

A variety of surveillance footage collected from the neighborhood gave investigators some of their early leads, showing that, shortly before the crimes, a white Hyundai Elantra had made three passes along the dead-end street where the killings took place. It returned a fourth time, at 4:04 a.m., around the time the surviving roommate said she had woken up.

The vehicle was seen 16 minutes later leaving the neighborhood “at a high rate of speed,” according to the affidavit, which was signed by Cpl. Brett Payne of the Moscow Police.

Investigators began scouring the region for similar cars. At the end of November, a campus police officer at Washington State University, which is about a 15-minute drive from the University of Idaho and the crime scene, discovered that an Elantra belonging to Mr. Kohberger was registered with the university.

The investigators soon found from Mr. Kohberger’s driver’s license that he matched the roommate’s description of the man in the mask, including, they say, the bushy eyebrows.

In December, Mr. Kohberger drove home to Pennsylvania with his father for winter break while investigators were still piecing together their case. Two days before Christmas, the police were able to obtain cellphone tower records showing that on the night of the killings, Mr. Kohberger’s phone had stopped connecting to cell towers somewhere near his apartment in Pullman at 2:47 a.m. before reconnecting somewhere south of Moscow at 4:48 a.m. — suggesting that his phone had either traveled out of a coverage area or been turned off.

His phone had already been in the area of the house 12 times in the months before the murders, according to the affidavit.

He appears to have also been back in the vicinity of the house hours after the killings, but before the victims were found, according to the court affidavit. Cell tower records showed that his phone had traveled from Pullman back to Moscow, connecting for nine minutes to the cell network that services the neighborhood of the crime scene.

Investigators had another key piece of evidence: the DNA sample found on the button snap of a tan leather knife sheath that had been left on a bed next to the bodies of Ms. Goncalves and Ms. Mogen.

In December, investigators traced Mr. Kohberger to his parents’ house in Pennsylvania. On Dec. 27, while he was there over winter break, the police managed to retrieve some garbage from the house and sent what appears to have been a DNA sample from Mr. Kohberger’s father for testing. The results showed a strong probability that the elder Mr. Kohberger was the father of whoever left DNA on the knife sheath.

In a predawn raid on Dec. 30, the police broke through windows and doors of the family home and arrested the younger Mr. Kohberger. They followed up quickly with searches of his apartment in Pullman, the white Hyundai Elantra he had driven with his father to Pennsylvania and the parents’ home. They also got a court order to obtain a direct DNA sample from Mr. Kohberger.

Friends of the victims have been searching for possible connections between the victims and the accused killer — so far, disclosing none — and classmates of Mr. Kohberger’s at Washington State University have examined their own recollections to try to identify clues.

Some said Mr. Kohberger spent time studying the exact kind of techniques that the police used in recent weeks to identify him, and had a deep interest in criminal psychology and crime scenes.

Benjamin T. Roberts, a fellow graduate student at Washington State, said Mr. Kohberger had been interested in areas like psychology and Rational Choice Theory, which suggests that offenders may often try to assess the potential costs and benefits of committing a crime.

“He took the field of study very seriously,” Mr. Roberts said.

But peers also said he at times caused conflict in the program. Mr. Roberts recalled that Mr. Kohberger tended to be more forceful and condescending in challenging the ideas of female students during discussions in classroom settings.

“There was a consistent pattern in which he would push back more with women colleagues than with male colleagues,” he said.

One new revelation in the court affidavit had a tinge of irony: After enrolling in the Ph.D. program at Washington State in August, Mr. Kohberger had applied for an internship. In an essay as part of the application, he described his interest in helping rural police departments collect and analyze data as part of public safety operations. The internship he applied for was at the Pullman Police Department, whose officers would wind up helping in the investigation of the murders.

Kirsten Noyes and Susan C. Beachy contributed research.

A sweeping gag order remains in place for the case. The order prohibits the police, prosecutors and defense lawyers from commenting publicly, and may last until a final verdict is reached.

Court documents provide a timeline of the night of the murders.

New investigative details released on Thursday provide the first clear view of the apparent movements of the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in the early morning hours of Nov. 13.

A newly released law enforcement affidavit and information previously released by investigators provide a timeline of what happened that night:

1:45 a.m. — After spending several hours at a fraternity party, two of the victims — Xana Kernodle and her boyfriend, Ethan Chapin — return to the off-campus house Ms. Kernodle shared with several roommates, including the other two victims.

1:56 a.m. — The other victims — Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen — arrive back at the house after spending time at a bar and grabbing food at a food truck.

2:47 a.m. — A phone belonging to the suspect, Bryan Kohberger, stops connecting to the cellphone network in Pullman, Wash., where he lives, a short drive from the University of Idaho campus in Moscow.

2:53 a.m. — Surveillance footage shows a white sedan, consistent with a white Hyundai Elantra registered to Kohberger, traveling toward the highway between Pullman and Moscow.

3:29 a.m. — Surveillance video shows what police say is a white Hyundai Elantra in the Moscow neighborhood that includes the victims’ house, where the crime later occurred. The vehicle makes three passes by the house.

4 a.m. — One of the victims, Xana Kernodle, receives a DoorDash delivery at the home, according to investigators. At about the same time, another occupant of the house is awakened by what she thinks is an upstairs roommate playing with her dog, according to her statement to the police.

4:04 a.m. — Video shows the Elantra returning to the area for a fourth time, at one point doing a three-point turn in the roadway near the house.

4:12 a.m. — Kernodle uses the TikTok app on her phone, her phone records suggest. The downstairs roommate is also awake: Sometime shortly after 4 a.m., she tells investigators, she hears what sounds like crying coming from Kernodle’s room. When she opens her door, she hears a male voice telling someone something to the effect of, “It’s OK, I’m going to help you.”

4:17 a.m. — A security camera from a nearby residence picks up distorted audio of what sounds like a whimper and a loud thud. A dog can be heard barking numerous times. At some point — and exactly when is unclear — the roommate opens her bedroom door again, according to the account she gave investigators, and sees a man with “bushy eyebrows,” clad in black clothing and a mask. The man walks past her toward a sliding-glass door on the second floor. She goes back into her room and locks the door, and it is unclear what she does during the next several hours.

4:20 a.m. — The white Elantra is seen leaving the neighborhood “at a high rate of speed.”

4:48 a.m. — Kohberger’s phone reconnects to cell networks south of Moscow, near Blaine, Idaho.

5:30 a.m. — After traveling in the area south of Moscow, Kohberger’s phone is detected back in Pullman.

9:12 a.m. — Kohberger’s phone returns to Moscow and connects to the cellular network near the scene of the murders. It stays there until 9:21 a.m. before returning to the area of his home in Pullman.

11:58 a.m. — A 911 call reports an unconscious person at the scene of the killings, triggering a response from law enforcement.

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Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs

Bryan Kohberger applied for an internship with the police department in Pullman, Wash., in the fall while studying criminology at Washington State University, according to an affidavit unsealed on Thursday. He wrote an essay as part of the application in which he described his interest in helping rural police departments collect and analyze data. It is unclear whether he applied before or after the Nov. 13 murders in Idaho.

The suspect has ‘a good family that stands behind him,’ his lawyer told the court.

Bryan Kohberger appeared in an Idaho courtroom on Thursday to face murder charges in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students in November.

Six days after his arrest on the other side of the country, Mr. Kohberger, 28, wore an orange jail jumpsuit during a brief appearance in a Latah County courtroom.

Relatives of at least one of the victims, Kaylee Goncalves, sat in the front row of the courtroom’s benches. Mr. Kohberger did not turn around during the hearing, and he spoke only to say that he understood his rights and that he was being represented by a public defender.

The public defender, Anne Taylor, said in court that she was just beginning to learn about the evidence in the case, and that Mr. Kohberger has “a good family that stands behind him.”

Mr. Kohberger was not required to enter a plea at the hearing, and did not do so. He is expected to enter a plea at a later date.

Megan Marshall, the Latah County magistrate judge conducting the hearing, declined a request from Ms. Taylor to set bail in the case, meaning that Mr. Kohberger will continue to be held at the jail in Moscow, Idaho. Bill Thompson, the top prosecutor in Latah County, opposed the request, noting that Mr. Kohberger had been arrested in Pennsylvania at his parents’ home, thousands of miles from the crime scene.

Judge Marshall read aloud the charges from the criminal complaint, naming each of the four students — Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. For each of the four murder charges, she asked if Mr. Kohberger understood that the maximum punishment was death or life in prison. Each time, he leaned forward and said, “Yes.”

Except for a brief conversation with his lawyer, Mr. Kohberger said nothing else during the hearing. He nodded several times as the judge read him his rights, and sometimes tensed his jaw, but did not show any emotion.

After the hearing, a lawyer for the Goncalves family, Shanon Gray, gave a brief statement on the courthouse steps, standing with Ms. Goncalves’s father and other relatives.

“It’s obviously an emotional time for the family, seeing the defendant for the first time,” Mr. Gray said. “This is the beginning of the criminal justice system, and the family will be here for the long haul.”

Judge Marshall ordered Mr. Kohberger not to contact the two surviving roommates, who were in the house on the night of the crimes, nor the relatives of the four victims. She scheduled a status hearing for Jan. 12, when Mr. Kohberger’s lawyer and prosecutors will update the judge on where matters stand in the case.

Mr. Kohberger is a Ph.D. student in Washington State University’s criminal justice and criminology department. Washington State’s campus is in Pullman, Wash., a short distance across the state line from the University of Idaho in Moscow.

Authorities did not detail any links between the suspect and the victims, but said cellphone records showed he was near their house a dozen times before the night of the killings. That night, his phone dropped off the network in Pullman at 2:47 a.m. and reconnected at 4:48 a.m. south of Moscow.

“It’s obviously an emotional time for the family, seeing the defendant for the first time,” Shanon Gray, the lawyer for the Goncalves family, said on the courthouse steps, where he was joined by some of Kaylee's relatives. “This is the beginning of the criminal justice system, and the family will be here for the long haul.”

The New York Times

Read the affidavit filed by the authorities.

Authorities say they identified Bryan Kohberger , the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November, through a wide range of evidence, including surveillance footage, cellphone data, and DNA on a knife sheath found at the scene, according to court records released on Thursday . Here is the police affidavit:

Read the Affidavit

Here’s how the police say they identified Bryan Kohberger as the suspect in the Idaho college murders.

Read more coverage of Thursday’s court appearance and what the new documents reveal about the investigation, including a timeline of the suspect’s movements on the night of the murders.

Relatives of Kaylee Goncalves, one of the four slain college students, were in the courtroom during the hearing and are about to speak to the news media in front of the courthouse.

Bryan Kohberger did not enter a plea at Thursday’s hearing. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 12 for a status hearing.

During the hearing, Latah County Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall advised Bryan Kohberger of the charges against him. For each murder charge, the judge read from the criminal complaint, naming the victims, and asked Kohberger if he understood that the maximum penalty was life imprisonment or death. Each time, he leaned forward and said, “Yes.”

In court, Bryan Kohberger’s public defender, Anne Taylor, said she had just begun reviewing the case, but wanted to share that Kohberger “has a good family that stands behind him.”

Bryan Kohberger made his court appearance in an orange jail jumpsuit. The father of one victim, Kaylee Goncalves, was seated on a bench in the courtroom. Kohberger did not turn around to look at the benches.

A judge denied a request from Bryan Kohberger’s lawyer to set bail in the case, meaning Kohberger will continue to be held at the Latah County Jail in Moscow.

Bill Thompson, Latah County's top prosecutor, argued against bail, noting that Bryan Kohberger had been arrested thousands of miles away from the crime scene.

Investigators suggest the suspect may have returned to the crime scene, saying in court records that on the morning after the killings, his cellphone traveled from Pullman, Wash., to Moscow, Idaho, connecting to a cell tower that provided coverage to the neighborhood where the killings occurred.

The affidavit says DNA was taken off the button snap of a tan leather knife sheath that was found on the bed next to one of the victims. The DNA, investigators said, was linked to Bryan Kohberger through a comparison with his father’s DNA.

Here is what the newly released affidavit tells us about the killings.

Investigators looking for the killer of four University of Idaho students assembled an array of evidence that led them to their suspect: DNA on a knife sheath found at the scene, surveillance footage that captured a white sedan like his circling the neighborhood, cellphone tower records showing that his phone had visited the area before and, perhaps most chilling of all, the testimony of a roommate who saw a figure clad in black clothing in the house on the night of the murders.

In court records made public after the suspect, Bryan Kohberger, arrived back in Idaho to face murder charges, investigators wrote that a tan leather knife sheath was found on the bed next to one of the victims in the rental house where they were found stabbed to death.

The sheath, investigators said, had DNA on the button snap that was linked to Mr. Kohberger through a comparison with his father’s DNA. Investigators obtained that sample from the trash at the family’s Pennsylvania home on Dec. 27, three days before Mr. Kohberger was arrested in a pre-dawn raid.

Investigators did not detail a motive for the killings.

They said a review of surveillance footage from the neighborhood of the murders showed that a white Elantra similar to the one Mr. Kohberger drove was seen several times in the neighborhood of the killings between 3:29 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. The vehicle made three passes by the residence where the killings occurred before returning a fourth time at approximately 4:04 a.m.

The vehicle was seen 16 minutes later departing the area “at a high rate of speed.”

One of the surviving roommates in the house told investigators that she was awakened at around 4 a.m. by noises that sounded like one of the victims playing with her dog upstairs. Then she heard someone say something like, “There’s someone here.” The roommate told investigators that she looked out of her bedroom but did not see anything.

Later, she said, she thought she heard crying coming from another room, then heard a male voice say something to the effect of, “It’s OK, I’m going to help you.” The roommate reported looking out her bedroom door again after that, and seeing a figure in black clothing and a mask covering the mouth and nose walk toward her and then to the back door. The person had “bushy eyebrows,” she told investigators — a detail that they later concluded also matched the suspect.

The roommate said she locked herself in her room. It’s unclear why she did not call 911 at that time. The authorities were not called to the scene for several more hours.

The authorities did not detail any previous connections between Mr. Kohberger and the victims, but they said that his phone had connected to cell towers near the residence in Moscow a dozen times in the months before the night of the killings.

That night, the victims had been out at a party and a bar near the University of Idaho campus in Moscow. In the early morning hours, Mr. Kohberger’s cellphone was detected in Pullman, Wash., where he lived, but it stopped connecting to cell networks at 2:47 a.m.

The phone did not reconnect to the networks until 4:48 a.m., when it made contact with towers south of Moscow. It then traveled a circuitous route back to Pullman, the investigators said, reaching there at around 5:30 a.m.

The investigation appeared to suggest that Mr. Kohberger returned to the crime scene: Later in the morning, the phone was detected in Moscow at around 9:12 a.m., connecting with the cell tower that serves the neighborhood where the killings occurred. It stayed there for about nine minutes.

I am entering the Latah County courtroom, where reporters will be prohibited from posting live updates during the hearing, or using electronics at all. I will share updates as soon as I leave the courtroom.

The prosecutor has entered the courtroom in Moscow, Idaho, and the hearing is set to begin any minute.

Surveillance videos showed a vehicle, a white sedan, pass by the scene of the crime four times on the night of the murders, according to the newly released affidavit, which is signed by a Moscow police corporal. When the car last left the area, at 4:20 a.m., it was driving fast.

Fear and frustration shook a college town where such violence was all but unknown.

MOSCOW, Idaho — For weeks after four college students were stabbed to death in Moscow, a city of 25,000 people in the rolling hills of northern Idaho that hadn’t recorded a murder in seven years, fear cast a long shadow.

The police were flooded with calls: a delivery driver who heard a woman screaming, a mother asking officers to walk her daughter to her car, a woman who woke up to find her front door wide open.

After the killings on Nov. 13, some students left the University of Idaho campus and many refused to come back to after Thanksgiving, leaving some classrooms half empty. Those who did return said they bought doorbell cameras, put rods in their windows to lock them shut or began hunkering down with roommates at night.

Adding to their fear was frustration with the police response: Officials issued sometimes contradictory statements, leading at least one victim’s family to question whether investigators are up to the task of solving a quadruple homicide in a city that had not seen a murder since 2015.

Seeking to calm the community in the immediate aftermath of the killings, the police quickly said they believed there was no “ongoing community risk” or “imminent threat.” An initial statement from the police that the attacks were “targeted” was walked back, with Bill Thompson, the Latah County prosecutor, saying at one point that he had no more information than the public about why the police had called it that.

“That’s what they told us, and we accepted that at face value,” he said.

The claims never made sense to locals, students or their parents, since the police were also saying they did not know who had committed the killings, or where they might be. Chief James Fry of the Moscow Police Department ultimately conceded, three days after the crimes, that the police could not say there was no threat.

Authorities investigating the killing of the four students say they linked the suspect to the crime by analyzing surveillance footage and DNA on an empty knife sheath that was found at the scene, according to records released Thursday.

A surviving roommate of the Moscow, Idaho, killings heard crying from a victim’s room and then a man’s voice say something like, “it’s ok, I’m going to help you” on the night of the slayings, according to a newly released affidavit. The roommate said she opened her door to see a man clad in black, and then closed and locked her door. Investigators believe the man was the killer.

There will be dozens of reporters in the courtroom and two television cameras that can record the proceeding and publish it afterward, but cannot carry a live feed. Also in the court will be one photographer, Ted Warren, who grew up in town and is freelancing for The Associated Press.

I’m toward the front of a long line of reporters at the Latah County courthouse, where some journalists arrived as early as 5 a.m. The suspect, Bryan Kohberger, has been held in the same building since Wednesday night, when he was flown here from Pennsylvania. He was arrested there last week.

Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs Rachel Sun Mike Baker and Serge F. Kovaleski

The suspect: A criminology student who could be analytical and cruel.

MOSCOW, Idaho — About two weeks before four University of Idaho students were found stabbed to death in a house near campus, Bryan Kohberger was sitting in a criminology class at a college just a short drive away, leaning into a conversation about forensics, D.N.A. and other evidence prosecutors use to win convictions.

The 28-year-old graduate student seemed highly engaged in the discussion, a former classmate recalled. It was a subject that had long captivated Mr. Kohberger, who had researched the mind-sets of criminals, studied under a professor in Pennsylvania known for her expertise on serial killers and, for the last few months, pursued a Ph.D. in criminology at Washington State University, about 10 miles from the Idaho crime scene.

Less than two months later, Mr. Kohberger would be the subject of a criminal inquiry, arrested last week and charged with the Nov. 13 murder of the four students.

Mr. Kohberger’s deep interest in the psychology of criminals has opened another layer of mystery in a case that traumatized the college town of Moscow, Idaho, and spawned countless theories from people around the country, who followed the case in captivated horror.

Peers and former classmates of Mr. Kohberger, who grew up in suburban eastern Pennsylvania, recalled that he had an analytical mind, but could sometimes be cruel.

Thomas Arntz befriended him while riding the school bus around 2009. He said their friendship ended in 2014 after lighthearted “ribbing and jabbing” between friends turned “meanspirited,” with Mr. Kohberger sometimes putting him in a headlock hold.

“Over time it just got so, so bad that I just shut down when I was around him,” said Mr. Arntz, now 26. “I eventually just had to cut ties with him.”

Mr. Kohberger struggled with a heroin addiction beginning in high school but had seemed to have moved past it in recent years, according to those who knew him. After earning a psychology degree at a community college in 2018, he began studying psychology and later criminal justice at DeSales University, a Catholic institution in Center Valley, Pa. There, he studied in part under Katherine Ramsland, a well-known forensic psychologist whose books include “The Mind of a Murderer” and “How to Catch a Killer.”

In a post on Reddit from about seven months ago, a user who identified himself as Bryan Kohberger sought people who had spent time in prison to take a survey about crimes they had committed. The survey listed Mr. Kohberger as a student investigator working with two professors at DeSales, and it asked respondents to describe their “thoughts, emotions and actions from the beginning to end of the crime commission process.”

Mr. Kohberger was a quiet person who liked to work alone but came across as smart, said Brittany Slaven, who took several classes with him at DeSales. She recalled an instance in one of Dr. Ramsland’s classes when students were asked to look at photos of a crime scene and figure out what happened; she said Mr. Kohberger was quick to come up with ideas.

He seemed to show a particular interest in crime scenes and serial killers, Ms. Slaven said.

“At the time it seemed as if he was just a curious student, so if his questions felt odd we didn’t think much of it because it fit our curriculum,” she said.

Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs Mike Baker Serge F. Kovaleski Susan C. Beachy and Sheelagh McNeill

The victims: Loved ones spoke of kind hearts and bright futures.

Madison Mogen , who went by Maddie, was a senior from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, who was majoring in marketing. Her grandmother, Kim Cheeley, said Ms. Mogen had always been a gentle and caring person who kept many long-term friendships and close ties with an extended family.

Ms. Mogen’s boyfriend, Jake Schriger, said she had been excited for graduation and talked about wanting to explore other parts of the world. Ms. Mogen always spread positivity and brought acts of kindness to others, Mr. Schriger said, adding that he hoped people would remember her for the love she had given to others.

“There’s no words that I can really describe her — how amazing she was and how wonderful of a person she was,” Mr. Schriger said.

Kaylee Goncalves , who was from Rathdrum, Idaho, had been set to graduate early in December and planned to move to Austin, Texas, with one of her close friends in June. The friend, Jordyn Quesnell, said Ms. Goncalves had secured a position with a marketing firm and was excited to explore more of the country.

“We wanted that adventure,” Ms. Quesnell said. “I would be like, ‘Let’s go do this,’ and she’d be like, ‘Down!’”

Alivea Goncalves said her younger sister and Ms. Mogen had served as bridesmaids for her wedding. Her sister, she said, still shared a dog with her former boyfriend, and the two had seemed likely to get back together.

Ethan Chapin , from Conway, Wash., was one of a set of triplets and had spent much of Nov. 12, the day before the killings, with both of his siblings, who are also University of Idaho students, their mother, Stacy Chapin, said. In the evening, they all attended a dance together held by his sister’s sorority, she said.

“My kids are very thankful that it was time well spent with him,” Ms. Chapin said. “He was literally the life of the party. He made everybody laugh. He was just the kindest person.”

Mr. Chapin played basketball in high school and was known by friends and family members for always having a big smile, ever since he was a baby. Ms. Chapin described her son as “just the brightest light.”

Xana Kernodle grew up in Idaho but spent time in Arizona in recent years, according to an interview that her father, Jeffrey Kernodle, gave to an Arizona TV station .

Mr. Kernodle told the station that his daughter was strong-willed and had enjoyed having an independent life in college.

He said his daughter had apparently tried to fight her attacker, an account backed up by Cathy Mabbutt, the coroner. Mr. Kernodle expressed shock that his daughter could be killed while at home with friends and said that he, too, had no idea who could have committed the attacks.

“She was with her friends all the time,” Mr. Kernodle said.

Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs and Mike Baker

The suspect received a new license plate five days after the murders, and was pulled over as he drove across the country.

MOSCOW, Idaho — The man accused of killing four University of Idaho college students received a new license plate for his car five days after the murders, according to records released Wednesday.

The licensing documents in Washington State show that the vehicle driven by the suspect, Bryan Kohberger, was a white Hyundai Elantra, the type of vehicle that investigators had been seeking in recent weeks.

The police in Moscow had said that a white Hyundai Elantra from between 2011 and 2013 had been seen near the scene of the crimes on the night of the killings in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13. Mr. Kohberger’s car was a 2015 model and registered on Nov. 18, according to the licensing document. A vehicle history report shows the car had previously been registered in Pennsylvania, where Mr. Kohberger is from.

Mr. Kohberger, 28, had moved to Pullman, Wash., in recent months and began studying criminology in a Ph.D. program at Washington State University in August. He has said through a lawyer that he expects to be exonerated in the case. Mr. Kohberger’s new lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the license plate records.

On Wednesday, the police in Indiana released new body camera footage showing that, two weeks before Mr. Kohberger was arrested, the police there had pulled him over twice in a 10-minute stretch for tailgating. The traffic stops, on Dec. 15, came as Mr. Kohberger was driving across the country with his father for winter break in the same car for which he had obtained the new license plate.

During both stops, the suspect’s father mentioned a fatal police standoff that took place that morning near Washington State University, where his son was a student, and told the officer that he and his son had been discussing the “horrifying” incident.

The police shooting that they were discussing does not appear to have any connection to the four fatal stabbings that occurred about a month earlier in Idaho, just across the border from the W.S.U. campus. Mr. Kohberger is now charged with four counts of murder in the stabbings.

Mr. Kohberger was the driver of the car during both stops, and the new footage is the most that the public has seen of him since he became the subject of intense scrutiny after his arrest. On Wednesday, Mr. Kohberger was flown by the police from Pennsylvania, where he was visiting his parents after the road trip, to Idaho, where he stands accused of stabbing four students to death overnight in their home on Nov. 13.

The Pennsylvania State Police plane touched down at the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport shortly before 6:30 p.m., and Mr. Kohberger was booked into the Latah County Jail in Moscow.

Mr. Kohberger’s father, Michael Kohberger, visited him in December, and they drove across the country from the W.S.U. campus in Pullman, Wash., to their home in eastern Pennsylvania. During that trip, they were pulled over twice on Dec. 15 for tailgating; in both traffic stops, the officers let the men off with a warning.

There is no indication that the police in Indiana had any idea that Mr. Kohberger would be arrested for the murders, or that they were aware of the police in Moscow, Idaho, saying that a white Hyundai Elantra had been seen near the crime scene on the night of the murders.

During the first stop, at about 10:42 a.m., a deputy with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department pulled Mr. Kohberger and his father over along Interstate 70, just east of Indianapolis. The body camera footage released on Wednesday captured the deputy asking where the two were headed. In response, Mr. Kohberger’s father said that they were coming from Washington and had been talking about the police standoff that was unfolding near the Washington State campus that day.

Mr. Kohberger’s father told the officer that there had been a “mass shooting.” He was corrected by his son, who said, “We don’t know if it was a mass shooting,” and referred to a SWAT team being called for the standoff. “It’s horrifying,” Mr. Kohberger’s father said in the video. That incident involved a man who the police later said had barricaded himself in an apartment and threatened to kill his roommates before a police officer shot him to death.

At another point in the video, the father said, “We’re slightly punchy because we’ve been driving for hours.”

After about three minutes, the deputy said, “Do me a favor and don’t follow too close, OK?” and then returned Mr. Kohberger’s driver’s license and let them go.

Just five minutes later, Mr. Kohberger and his father were pulled over again, this time by an Indiana state trooper who also said that they were tailgating. The audio from the trooper’s body camera is obscured by traffic noise, but Mr. Kohberger and his father could be heard telling the officer that they were just stopped minutes earlier. Again, the father brought up the incident that morning at Washington State. The trooper wished them a safe trip and let them go with a warning.

It was two weeks later, on Dec. 30, that the police in Pennsylvania carried out a predawn raid of Mr. Kohberger’s parents’ home, arresting Mr. Kohberger on suspicion of carrying out the Idaho killings. They also searched his car and executed a warrant to obtain his DNA, officials said. Mr. Kohberger has said through a public defender that he looks forward to being exonerated.

Mr. Kohberger had just completed his first semester at Washington State, which is about a 15-minute drive from the crime scene in Moscow. Classmates said he had shown an interest in the psychology of criminals as well as in forensics .

The murders of the four University of Idaho student victims — Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20 — and the arrest of Mr. Kohberger have rattled the neighboring college towns of Moscow and Pullman.

The stabbing took place in the early morning hours at a home along a dead-end street a five-minute walk from campus. The police have said that the victims were most likely asleep when they were attacked, and two more roommates were in the home but apparently slept through the killings.

Friends and relatives of the victims are searching for any connection between the victims and Mr. Kohberger, but so far none has been disclosed.

The police have said that the surviving roommates realized something was wrong only late in the morning and believed that one of their roommates had passed out. They called friends to the home and then someone called 911, after which police officers discovered the grisly scene.

Moscow concert attack: More than 60 reported dead; ISIS claims responsibility

This live blog has ended. For the most recent updates, please click here .

What we know about the Moscow concert attack

• Men in camouflage broke into a Moscow concert hall and opened fire, shooting an unknown number of people, Russia’s prosecutor general said.
• The terror group ISIS has claimed responsibility but did not provide proof of the claim, which was made on ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram.
• Russia's Investigative Committee said that more than 60 people are dead after the attack at Crocus City Hall. Officials have said more than 100 others were injured.
• A fire also started inside Crocus City Hall, a large concert venue northwest of central Moscow. Firefighters have evacuated about 100 people from the basement of the building and efforts are underway to rescue people from the roof, Russian emergency officials said.
• Russia officials said they were investigating the attack as a terrorist act.
• A popular rock band was scheduled to play what appeared to be a sold-out show at the venue, which has a maximum capacity of more than 9,000 people.

Three children among those killed, state media reports

Chantal Da Silva

Three children were among the more than 60 people killed in yesterday's attack at Crocus City Hall, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing the Russian Ministry of Health.

Officials have warned that the death toll connected to the deadly incident may increase as the investigation continues.

Xi sends condolences to Putin

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday after a deadly shooting at a concert hall near Moscow, saying China opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns terrorist attacks.

China firmly supports the Russian government’s efforts to maintain national security and stability, Xi said, according to CCTV state television. 

Moscow bloodshed comes two decades after some of worst attacks in Russia

Phil Helsel

The shooting attacks in Moscow are the latest in a series of deadly terror attacks in the country since the 2000s.

In 2004, militants from Chechnya and elsewhere took hostages at a school in Beslan in southern Russia.

The militants demanded a withdrawal from Chechnya. Hostages were kept in a gymnasium, and 334 died — half of them children — when gunfire and explosions erupted when it was stormed. Hostages’ families were critical of the rescue operation. Russian prosecutors later cleared authorities .

Two years prior, in 2002, Chechen separatists attacked the Dubrovka Theater in Moscow and took more than 700 people hostage. Russian forces used gas, and 129 hostages died. The attackers were killed.

More recently, in 2017 a suicide bomber from Kyrgyzstan killed 15 people as well as himself in an attack on a St. Petersburg subway. In 2013, two bombers killed a combined 34 people in attacks on a railway station and a trolleybus in Volgograd.

The group Islamic State, also known as ISIS, claimed responsibility for the attacks Friday at the Crocus City Hall venue.

Putin wishes victims well, deputy prime minister says

President Vladimir Putin is thinking of those injured in today’s attack and thanked doctors, a Russian government official said according to state media.

State media TASS reported that “Putin wished all those injured in the emergency at Crocus City Hall to recover and conveyed his gratitude to the doctors, Golikova said,” referring to Tatiana Golikova deputy prime minister for social policy, labor, health and pension provision.

More than 60 dead, and death toll could grow, Russian agency says

Russia’s Investigative Committee said Saturday that more than 60 people have died in the attack, and warned the number may increase.

“The bodies of the dead are being examined. It has been previously established that more than 60 people died as a result of the terrorist attack. Unfortunately, the number of victims may increase,” according to the Investigative Committee, which is a federal state agency.

Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs and the security agency FSB are continuing to investigate, the committee said in a statement, and weapons and ammunition have been found.

U.S. warned Russia about planned terrorist attack in Moscow, NSC says

Monica Alba

The United States shared information about a potential terrorist attack in Moscow with Russia’s government earlier this month, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said.

The U.S. Embassy in Russia on March 7 warned U.S. citizens to avoid crowds and said it was monitoring reports that extremists might attack large gatherings in Moscow.

“Earlier this month, the U.S. Government had information about a planned terrorist attack in Moscow — potentially targeting large gatherings, to include concerts — which prompted the State Department to issue a public advisory to Americans in Russia,” NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.

“The U.S. Government also shared this information with Russian authorities in accordance with its longstanding ‘duty to warn’ policy,” Watson said.

Putin recently dismissed ‘provocative’ warning about potential attacks

In remarks that aired three days ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of “provocative statements” about potential terror attacks in Russia, and dismissed them.

“I’ll remind you of recent, let’s say directly, provocative statements of certain official Western structures about potential terror attacks in Russia,” Putin said.

“All of this looks like obvious blackmail and an attempt to intimidate, destabilize our country,” he said before the state security agency FSB.

Putin in those remarks did not specify a country or warning. The U.S. embassy in Russia on March 7 warned U.S. citizens to avoid crowds .

“The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours,” the U.S. embassy warned.

Guards at concert hall didn't have guns, state news says

The Associated Press

Guards at the concert hall didn’t have guns, and some could have been killed at the start of the attack, Russian media reported.

Some Russian news outlets suggested the assailants fled before special forces and riot police arrived.

Reports said police patrols were looking for several vehicles the attackers could have used to escape.

U.S. had been gathering intelligence that ISIS could attack Russia

Ken Dilanian

The U.S. had been gathering intelligence for months that ISIS could mount a mass casualty attack in Russia, two U.S. officials confirmed to NBC News.

That information led to a March 7 warning issued by the U.S. embassy in Russia about possible extremist attacks, including at concerts, urging people to stay away from large gatherings, one of the officials said.

That official said the claim of responsibility today by ISIS appears to be genuine, though no final assessment had been made about who was responsible.

Some Moscow concertgoers filmed events as they unfolded Friday night, when gunmen opened fire inside a theater and people ran to take cover in fear for their lives.

Witness says gunfire was first thought to be construction noise

A witness to today’s armed attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall told a state news agency that they first mistook the gunfire for sounds of an installation being dismantled.

“First, we started hearing typical loud pops, but it was impossible to understand that they were gunshots. We thought that something was falling, as exhibitions were being dismantled at that moment, and someone seemed to be dropping something large,” Mikhail Semyonov told TASS .

“Then, the bangs were getting more and more frequent. Suddenly, there was a scream, and the bangs started to be heard as bursts. Then it became clear that it was shooting,” he said.

ISIS claims responsibility for attack but does not provide proof

The terror group Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack in Moscow.

The group, also known as ISIS, did not provide any proof of its claim, which came from ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram.

The group’s members have carried out a number of terror attacks, including the 2015 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

Children among the victims, Russia's children commissioner says

Yuliya Talmazan

Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, said children were among the victims of tonight's attack.

"Information about their condition is regularly updated," Lvova-Belova said on Telegram. "Any additional assistance will be provided immediately."

She later told Russia 24 TV channel that at least two children had been injured, including one boy with a gunshot wound.

Earlier, Russian officials released a preliminary casualty toll of at least 40 people dead and more than 100 injured.

France, U.K., Germany condemn attack

Officials from France, the U.K. and Germany were among those who expressed their condolences to the victims of the attack at the Crocus concert hall.

"The images of the terrible attack on innocent people in Crocus City Hall near #Moscow are horrific," Germany's Foreign Office said on X . "The background must be investigated quickly. Our deepest condolences with the families of the victims."

"We condemn the terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow," the U.K.'s embassy in Russia said . "This is a terrible tragedy."

Meanwhile, France's foreign ministry called for "full light" to be shed on "these heinous acts."

Public events across Russia called off after attack

Several regional leaders across Russia, including in the annexed Kherson region of Ukraine, have canceled public events this weekend over security considerations after the deadly concert attack in Moscow.

Shortly after the attack, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin canceled all sports, cultural and other public events in Moscow this weekend. State news agency TASS also quoted Russia's cultural ministry as saying that mass and entertainment events in federal cultural institutions have been canceled in the coming days.

Zelenskyy adviser speaks out about attack

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s adviser denied that Ukraine was involved in the deadly Crocus concert hall attack.

“Ukraine certainly has nothing to do with the shooting/explosions in the Crocus City Hall (Moscow Region, Russia),” Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on X. “It makes no sense whatsoever.”

No evidence has emerged to suggest Ukraine may have been involved, but Ukrainian officials may be trying to pre-empt accusations, as some Kremlin hawks have already started pointing at Kyiv. 

Asked whether the shooting was at all tied to the war in Ukraine, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: “There is no indication at this time that Ukraine, or Ukrainians, were involved in the shooting, but again, this just broke. We’re taking a look at it, but I would disabuse you at this early hour have any connection to Ukraine.”

Videos posted to social media appear to show chaos inside Moscow's Crocus City Hall during and after a terrorist attack.

Some videos include what sound like gunshots and show men with rifles, as concertgoers frantically try to exit the venue.

State Department issues warning to Americans in Moscow

Jason Abbruzzese

The State Department said that the U.S. Embassy in Moscow is aware of the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall and that U.S. citizens should avoid the area and follow the instructions of local authorities.

"The U.S. government’s ability to provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Russia is severely limited, particularly in areas far from the U.S. embassy in Moscow, due to Russian government limitations on travel for U.S. embassy personnel and staffing, and the ongoing suspension of operations, including consular services, at U.S. consulates in Russia," the State Department said in a message posted to its website .

'What a nightmare in Crocus,' Widow of opposition leader Alexei Navalny condolences about concert attack

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny who died in prison last month, expressed her condolences about the attack Friday.

"What a nightmare in Crocus," Navalnaya wrote on X. "Condolences to the families of the victims and quick recovery to the injured. Everyone involved in this crime must be found and held accountable."

320 firefighters, 3 helicopters working to put out fire

Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations said the number of rescue crews responding to the attack is growing and now includes more than 320 firefighters, 130 emergency vehicles and three helicopters dumping water on the burning concert venue.

Moscow regional governor says 40 dead, more than 100 injured

Moscow Regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov said on Telegram that at least 40 people are dead and more than 100 injured in the terrorist attack, confirming figures previously reported by Russian state news.

Putin informed about concert venue attack 'in the first minutes,' Kremlin spokesperson says

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin was informed about the shooting at the Crocus concert hall "in the first minutes" of the attack, Russian state news agency RIA reported.

The president is receiving information about what is happening and the measures being taken through all relevant services and is giving necessary instructions, Peskov said according to RIA.

Russian journalist was inside concert venue when gunmen entered

Russian news agency RIA Novosti said on Telegram that one of its reporters was inside the venue when gunmen entered and began shooting concertgoers.

The journalist said that at least three unmasked gunmen in camouflage entered the hall a few minutes before 8 p.m. Moscow time. They shot people point-blank and threw incendiary bombs, according to the journalist.

Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson calls incident 'bloody terrorist attack'

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia's foreign ministry, called the Friday night incident at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow a "bloody terrorist attack" as she called for "strong condemnation" from the international community.

"Now, as the Russian authorities have stated, all efforts are being devoted to saving people," Zakharova said. "The entire world community is obliged to condemn this monstrous crime!"

U.S. national security spokesperson says embassy has told Americans to avoid large gatherings in Moscow

Kyla Guilfoil

National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby addressed the attack in Moscow at a White House press briefing Friday afternoon, calling it a “terrible, terrible shooting attack.”

“The images are just horrible and just hard to watch and our thoughts obviously are going to be with the the victims,” Kirby said.

Kirby added that the U.S. embassy has notified all Americans in Moscow to avoid large gatherings, concerts, shopping malls, etc., and “stay put where they are” for their safety.

Russian media says 40 dead, more than 100 injured at concert attack

TASS, Russia's state-owned news agency, and RIA Novosti are reporting that Russia's FSB security agency has put the preliminary casualty count at 40 dead and more than 100 injured by a terrorist attack on a Moscow-area concert venue.

NBC News has not confirmed those casualty numbers.

Roof of concert venue at risk of collapse, Russian media says

Russian news agency RIA Novosti said on Telegram that the roof of the building near the concert venue's stage has begun to collapse.

Video posted to Telegram by RIA Novosti showed fire continue to blaze inside the venue.

Moscow area governor says more than 70 ambluances at scene of attack

Andrei Vorobyov, Moscow's regional governor, said on Telegram that more than 70 ambulances have been dispatched to the scene of concert venue attack.

“Everything is being done at the scene to save people," he wrote in the Telegram message. "The Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR) has been deployed. There are over 70 ambulance carriages near Crocus, doctors provide the necessary assistance to all victims."

Nigel Chiwaya

Russia’s prosecutor general office says number of victims still being determined

Russia's prosecutor general said on Telegram that officials are working to determine how many people have been killed or hurt in the concert attack.

“On behalf of Igor Krasnov, the prosecutor of the Moscow region has gone to the scene of the incident at Crocus City Hall to coordinate the actions of law enforcement agencies," the prosecutor general's Telegram account posted. "Tonight, before the start of the event in the concert hall in Krasnogorsk, unknown men in camouflage clothes broke into the building and started shooting."

"The number of victims is being determined, a fire started in the entertainment center building, and citizens are being evacuated."

Moscow's mayor cancels weekend events

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram that he was canceling all public events in Moscow this weekend.

"I have taken the decision to cancel all sports, cultural and other public events in Moscow this weekend," he said. "I ask of you to treat this measure with understanding."

Popular rock band was to play sold-out venue that can hold 9,500

Tim Stelloh

A popular rock band was scheduled to play what appeared to be a sold-out show at the Moscow concert hall where there were reports of gunmen in combat fatigues opening fire.

Picnic, formed in 1978, was to play at Crocus City Hall, west of central Moscow.

The multilevel facility in Krasnogorsk has a maximum capacity of 9,527 people. Booking sites show the event was sold out.

Russia's aviation agency says additional security added to Moscow airports

The Russian aviation agency Rosaviatsiya said that additional security measures are being introduced in Moscow airports

"Due to increased security measures, we ask passengers to arrive at Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports in advance," the agency said on the Telegram messaging app.

Moscow's emergency ministry says it is working to extinguish fire

Moscow’s emegency ministry said it was working to extinguish a fire that began at the music venue.

The ministry said about 100 people were evacuated from the building, and it was working to rescue people from the roof.

Russian media says state security taking action

Russia's news outlet RIA Novosti said that the country's security agency, the FSB, is taking measures to respond to the shooting at a concert hall near Moscow.

Videos posted by Russian media show men with rifles moving through area

Extended rounds of gunfire could be heard on multiple videos posted by Russian media and Telegram channels. One showed two men with rifles moving through a concert hall. Another one showed a man inside the auditorium, saying the assailants set it on fire, with incessant gunshots ringing out in the background.

Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of the Moscow region, said he was heading to the area and set up a task force to deal with the damage. He didn’t immediately offer any further details.

Russian media reports said that riot police units were being sent to the area as people were being evacuated.

Russian news outlets report gunman opened fire at Moscow concert hall

Several gunmen in combat fatigues burst into a big concert hall in Moscow on Friday and fired automatic weapons at the crowd, injuring an unspecified number of people, Russian media said.

Russian news reports said that the assailants also used explosives, causing a massive blaze at the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow. Video posted on social media showed huge plumes of black smoke rising over the building.

Russia’s state RIA Novosti news agency reported that at least three people in combat fatigues fired weapons. The state Tass news agency also reported the shooting.

U.S. warned of imminent Moscow attack by ‘extremists,’ urges citizens to avoid crowds

Patrick Smith Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

U.S. citizens in  Moscow  had been warned to avoid large gatherings earlier this month because of heightened fears of a terrorist attack.

The U.S. Embassy in the Russian capital said it was “monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours.”

U.S. citizens should avoid crowds, monitor local media for updates and “be aware of your surroundings,” it said in a brief  online update .

Read the full story here.