Sinners was another incredible house to explore during the tour, with its detailed sets recreating the atmosphere of the film while hiding some surprisingly clever effects. One of the first things we discovered was that the opening scene is the only point in the attraction where guests encounter Smoke and Stack together as scare actors. It's a small storytelling detail, but one that becomes much more meaningful once you understand how the house is structured.

Our guide showed us how even seemingly ordinary props can contain hidden mechanisms. One example was a rocking chair operated using a piston, allowing it to move backwards and forwards without anyone sitting in it. We also learnt that the landscaping team regularly repurposes trees and other natural materials for haunted houses and scare zones, helping the environments feel much more realistic. Universal also sources many of its smaller props and decorations from estate sales, charity shops and second-hand shops, giving the scenery a more authentic appearance than entirely new items would provide.

Another fascinating detail involved the scare actors themselves. We were told that Universal provides specialist contact lenses for performers when required, taking their individual prescriptions and comfort into consideration. Elsewhere, mannequins use reflective safety stickers to create the appearance of glowing eyes, while fake cigarettes feature a metallic strip that makes them look as though they're lit. These are tiny details, but they make a huge difference when combined with the house's carefully controlled lighting.

One of the most impressive scenes comes towards the end, when the sun begins to rise and a vampire appears to melt as it charges towards guests. We discovered that part of this effect involves a smoking jacket, creating the illusion that the character is burning as daylight reaches them. It's a brilliant example of how practical effects and performer timing work together to create a memorable scare.