Horror Gift Guide For Christmas 2012

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) and Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987) Combo
This one’s a no-brainer. The original unrated version (with Linnea Quigley) and the infamous sequel starring Eric Freeman (“Garbage day!”). This is a 2 disc DVD set that was once released years ago but went out of print. Now it’s back! Naughty! This title will be released on December 4, 2012, so pre-order now. Also see Bill’s review.

Silent Night (2012)
This is the remake of the 1984 horror classic (see above). When Sheriff Cooper (Malcolm McDowell) and his deputy Sheriff (Aubrey Bradimore) investigate a horrific mass homicide at a local motel on Christmas Eve they discover there is a killer Santa Claus on the loose. The officers quickly conclude that the killer is still in the area-but there is one problem: tonight is the annual Santa costume contest and nearly every guy in town is wearing a red suit and a white beard including Sheriff Bradimore’s father. With the town’s body count rising the race is on to put an end to the jolly old St. Nick’s murderous rampage. This title will be released on December 4, 2012. Pre-Order the Blu-Ray or the DVD.

Gone Girl
On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented mansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy’s diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? From author Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl is sure to make a good stocking stuffer. Order Now. Fans of Flynn will also want to read Dark Places and Sharp Objects.

The Apparition (2012)
When frightening events start to occur in their home, young couple Kelly (Ashley Greene) and Ben (Sebastian Stan) discover they are being haunted by a presence that was accidentally conjured during a university parapsychology experiment. The horrifying apparition feeds on their fear and torments them no matter where they try to run. Their last hope is an expert in the supernatural (Tom Felton), but even with his help they may already be too late to save themselves from this terrifying force. Released on November 27th. Pre-order now.

The Walking Dead Compendium Volume 2
Returning with the 2nd eight volumes of the highly acclaimed series, The Walking Dead, collected into one massive paperback collection. This is the perfect collection for any fan – over one-thousand pages chronicling the next chapter of Robert Kirkman’s Eisner Award-winning continuing story of survival horror – beginning with Rick Grimes’ struggle to survive after the prison raid, to the group’s finding short solace in The Community, and the devastation that follows. Order Now. Also available: The Walking Dead: Compendium One.

V/H/S (2012)
POV/Found Footage horror anthology that has been making the rounds. You can read more about it here. Released on December 4th. Preorder the Blu-ray or the DVD.

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
If your friends are looking forward to the upcoming movie World War Z starring Brad Pitt, you might want to whet their appetites with the Max Brooks novel that inspired it. Carlos Orellana: “like George Romero’s Dead trilogy, World War Z is another milestone in the zombie mythos.” Order Now. Brooks also wrote the zombie parody book The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead.

Death Ship (1980)
A haunted Nazi vessel rams a cruise ship and then starts taking out the survivors who come aboard. With Richard Crenna and George Kennedy, who plays a captain that gets possessed by Nazi ghosts. DeathShip was surely an inspiration for 2002’s Ghost Ship, but more old-fashioned and less gory (although there is a nice nude-woman-in-bloody-shower scene that predates This House Possessed). It played on a double bill with Prom Night back in 1980. The Blu-Ray edition will be released on December 18th. Preorder the Blu-ray or order the DVD now.

Death Valley (1982)
A divorcee, her son and her boyfriend are on a vacation in Death Valley when they happen upon a murder and find themselves pursued by a maniac. Starring Catherine Hicks (Child’s Play), Paul Le Mat, Stephen McHattie, and Peter Billingsley. Not a well known slasher but it has its share of fans. Comes out on December 11th. Pre-order Death Valley here.

The Walking Dead Board Game
Does your friend already own all Walking Dead DVDs and Comics? Get him the board game! This game for 2-4 players comes from Cryptozoic Entertainment.
Order Here

They Live (1988)
This crazy ride from John Carpenter stars Roddy Piper as a down-on-his-luck drifter who discovers that aliens have secretly taken over the world and they can only be seen with a special pair of sunglasses. The ghoulish aliens are simultaneously grotesque and hilarious; the highlights of They Live include a scene where Piper discovers all the subliminal messages hidden inside billboards, magazines, and the television; and another scene involving a brutal fight between him and Keith David, which was even spoofed on South Park. Order the Collectors Edition Blu-Ray.

Silent Hill: Downpour
Return to the horror and desolate town of Silent Hill. Marking its return to next-generation consoles, Silent Hill: Downpour delivers a completely original storyline, new soundtrack and more haunting moments that are sure to make your spine tingle. This is the 8th entry in the long running video game series. Available for PS3 and XBox360. Order Silent Hill: Downpour.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)
A young Abe Lincoln (Benjamin Walker) sees his mom get killed by vampires so he decides to take them out, while courting Mary Todd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and becoming a lawyer during the daytime. Rufus Sewell (Dark City, ) plays a master vampire. With a title like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, You should know what to expect. Order the 3D Blu-ray, regular Blu-ray, or DVD.

Resident Evil 6
The survival horror video game series Resident Evil won’t die. In Resident Evil 6, players enjoy a diverse play experience, highlighted by the ability to select between three scenarios featuring multiple characters and intertwined storylines. Additional features include zombies as well as new enemies, upgradable firepower and characters, vehicle based options, the mini-game based Mercenaries mode, and single-player and co-op play options. Order Resident Evil 6.

American Horror Story – The Complete First Season (2011)
A family of three move into a new home called “Murder House” by the locals. Since the 1920’s, people have been murdered in various ways and their spirits have stayed behind, trapped in the very place they died. In this case, the ghosts from all eras can take physical form as well as vanish in an instant. Stars Dylan McDermott as Ben, Connie Britton as Vivien, and Taissa Farmiga as Violet. The first season deals with Ben’s infidelity while introducing us to the ghostly residents of the murder house. Order the DVD or Blu-Ray.