Holiday gift ideas for horror fans that are a real scream

With Christmas only a little more than a week away, so begins the mad dash to find those last-minute gifts. Sometimes, it can be tricky to find the perfect present for the horror fan. However, don't fret! Here's a list of some cool holiday horror gifts, many of which can be obtained and purchased before the big day.

Horrornaments

Horrornaments is one of my favorite horror/holiday-themed companies. As the name suggests, the company sells horror-themed ornaments. Many of the designs are original, though the company does have license and permission to create ornaments inspired by major franchises, most notably Halloween. In fact, they currently sell a few different Michael Myers ornaments. A lot of their original designs are based on retro Halloween decorations from the 1960s and 1970s, including black cats, witches, and ghosts.

Based in Michigan, the company started in 2011 at a family ornament exchange. According to the company's website, the founder's family struggled to find Halloween-themed ornaments reflective of his success in the haunted house business. As someone whose tree includes several Horrornaments, I will say that they ship rather quickly and make a great stocking stuffer.

Joe Bob's Christmas Carnage - Courtesy of Shudder

Horror Streaming Service Subscriptions

With the economy the way it is, some horror fans likely had to cut back on their subscriptions or maybe haven't thought about signing up for a horror streaming service. Screambox, Shudder, and Arrow are all wonderful streaming services, tailored to genre fans. Subscriptions to each are relatively cheap, too.

Though the streaming services mentioned all certainly focus on horror, they are a bit different. Arrow's motto is "the home of cult cinema," and they certainly showcase slightly more experimental and weird films. Screambox has a lot of B movie favorites and some originals.

Shudder has a lot original programming, such as The Boulet Brothers' Dragula, The Last Drive-in, and The Creep Tapes, as well as a number of notable films, like Late Night with the Devil, Good Boy, and When Evil Lurks. Like the other services, Shudder also maintains a library that changes monthly.

A subscription to a horror streaming service makes for a fantastic gift.

Physical Media

Many horror fans are physical media collectors. They like to hold and own their favorite movies, so purchasing physical media is always a thoughtful gift idea. Boutique labels like Arrow, Vinegar Syndrome, and Severin Films all specialize in cult movies and horror especially. Some of these sites run sales through the month of December.

The Criterion Collection also sells many horror classics, including Night of the Living Dead, Freaks, Haxan, Eyes without a Face, just to name a few. I mention these boutique labels because they take great care with the artwork and the special features. They also help preserve film.

Some of these labels, including Criterion, also sell their product through Amazon. Meanwhile, GRUV is an affordable physical media outlet that sells classics, new releases, and now, the entire Scream Factory catalogue that's still in print.

Clothing and Various Apparel

Most likely, the horror lover in your life enjoys showing off their affinity for the genre through their clothing, especially T-shirts. Companies like Fright-Rags, Terror Threads, and Cavity Colors have highly stylized designs and the necessary licenses to sell T-shirts and various other horror movie apparel. The companies also run limited edition prints.

On the other hand, companies like TeePublic sell clothing and other goodies created by artists from around the world. It's another great place to stop and shop.

Homemade Holiday Horror Gifts

Despite the suggestions listed above, sometimes the best gift is one that's homemade. For those with artistic talent, a homemade ornament, card, or T-shirt will likely top any gift purchased from a company. As they always say, it's the thought that counts. For those lacking artistic talent, it's often possible to contact a local artist and ask for a specific holiday horror gift, or to shop for something creative at a holiday market. Always support local artists, whenever possible.