Universal's New 'Fast & Furious' Coaster Draws Screams — Toluca Lake Neighbors Call It "Bloody Murder"

Universal Studios Hollywood's newest attraction, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, has prompted noise complaints from residents near the park after test runs produced loud, repeated screams that some neighbors say sound like "bloody murder." The park's first high-speed outdoor coaster, the ride rotates each vehicle 360 degrees and reaches speeds up to 72 mph.

Residents living near Universal Studios Hollywood are complaining that a new ride is causing a noise problem, reporting loud screams that sound like 'bloody murder' (Getty)

Neighbors Alarmed By Test-Run Noise

Residents in the Toluca Lake area told local outlets the screams during testing are intrusive and unnerving. "When it's running, it's constant, and it sounds like bloody murder over there," Toluca Lake resident Colby Jensen told KTLA, adding that the noise felt like "a horror film going on. Constant screaming, yelling. Very intrusive." Another neighbor, John Heim, said he could hear the screams even with his doors closed and that the level of disturbance varies by day.

Residents of Toluca Lake say the park has gotten progressively louder of the years, though the newest coaster has caused the loudest screams yet (Getty)

What Universal Has Done

Universal anticipated sound concerns during the coaster's design and has installed sound shields at multiple points along the course and added pea gravel beneath sections of the track to help dampen noise. The park says the ride is currently in technical rehearsals — a phase used to evaluate the attraction under varied operating conditions — and that teams are actively monitoring sound levels to ensure compliance with regulations.

"The coaster is currently in technical rehearsals... As part of that process, we are actively reviewing sound levels to ensure the coaster is operating in compliance," the studio said in a statement reported to local media.

Neighbors Seek Balance

Some residents noted the park has become louder over the years and expressed frustration at online responses to their complaints. The studio has opened a hotline and placed microphones around the neighborhood to measure sound, and neighbors say the park has been responsive but that noise remains inconsistent — quieter on some days and more intrusive on others.

What to watch next: Whether further mitigation measures or operational changes will be applied before the coaster's full public opening, and how sustained monitoring affects neighborhood complaints.