Gifts for Horror Fans

Horror fans like being scared on their own terms: a book read at night, a movie with the lights off, a game they can pause. They are often well read in the genre and have strong opinions on remakes. A good gift respects that, with a classic they can own on disc or a newer favorite they might have missed.

Under $25 7 ideas

  1. The Shining

    The haunted-hotel novel that most fans only know from the movie. The book is scarier in different ways.

    Stephen KingBook

    See it on Amazon

  2. Mexican Gothic

    A stylish gothic horror novel set in a rotting mansion in 1950s Mexico. A modern favorite for readers who liked Rebecca or Crimson Peak.

    Silvia Moreno-GarciaBook

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  3. The Only Good Indians

    A revenge horror novel about four friends haunted by a hunting trip. Acclaimed by readers and critics.

    Stephen Graham JonesBook

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  4. Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales and Poems

    Every Poe story and poem in one volume. A foundational horror book that looks good on a shelf.

    Edgar Allan PoeBook

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  5. Hereditary (Blu-ray)

    Ari Aster's family nightmare, one of the most talked-about horror films of the last decade. Worth owning to rewatch for clues.

    Lionsgate

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  6. Funko Pop! Movies: IT - Pennywise

    An easy, official horror-icon figure for a desk or bookshelf. Good for the office gift exchange too.

    FunkoStocking stufferFor display

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  7. Hasbro Gaming Ouija Board Game

    The official Ouija board, a horror-movie staple. Fun for a dark-room party, and a good joke gift for the fan who has everything.

    HasbroWhite elephant

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Under $50 8 ideas

  1. Resident Evil 4 (PlayStation 5)

    The remake of the action-horror classic, tense and very replayable. A good pick even for fans who played the original.

    Capcom

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  2. Horrified: Universal Monsters

    A cooperative board game where players work together against Dracula, the Wolf Man and friends. Spooky, but easy for family members who do not like being scared.

    RavensburgerAn experience

    See it on Amazon

  3. NECA Halloween (2018) Ultimate Michael Myers 7-Inch Action Figure

    A detailed official figure from the leading horror toy maker, with extra heads and accessories. A slasher shelf centerpiece.

    NECAFor display

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  4. The Thing (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray)

    John Carpenter's paranoid Antarctic classic, and its practical effects look sharper than ever in 4K. A film fans revisit every winter.

    Universal

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  5. Night of the Living Dead (Criterion Collection Blu-ray)

    The restored version of the film that invented modern zombies, with Criterion's extras. A collector's edition worth owning.

    Criterion Collection

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  6. John Carpenter's Halloween Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Vinyl)

    Carpenter's own synth score, maybe the most recognizable horror theme there is. Fans with a turntable will play it all October.

    Sacred Bones RecordsFor display

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  7. House of Leaves

    A cult novel about a house bigger inside than out, told in footnotes and sideways text. Readers either finish it obsessed or give up, and fans love it.

    Mark Z. DanielewskiBook

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  8. Uzumaki (3-in-1 Deluxe Edition)

    Junji Ito's manga about a town consumed by spirals. Strange, beautiful and deeply creepy, even for readers who never read manga.

    VIZ MediaBook

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Under $100 2 ideas

  1. Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 5)

    The faithful remake of one of the most respected psychological horror games ever made. Slow, foggy and deeply unsettling.

    Konami

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  2. Betrayal at House on the Hill 3rd Edition

    Players explore a haunted house together until one turns traitor halfway through. Every game tells a different horror story.

    Avalon HillAn experience

    See it on Amazon

$100 and up 2 ideas

  1. Meta Quest 3S 128GB

    Horror is scariest in VR, where there is no looking away from the screen. A strong library of horror games makes it worth it for a fan who likes to be terrified.

    MetaAn experience

    See it on Amazon

  2. NEBULA Capsule 3 Smart Projector

    A can-sized projector that turns any wall into a movie screen. Horror is a lights-off genre, and it makes movie nights feel like an event.

    Anker NEBULAAn experience

    See it on Amazon