Welcome back for Day 9 of Daily Dead’s fourth annual Holiday Gift Guide, readers! Once again, our goal is to help you navigate through the horrors of the 2016 shopping season with our tips on unique gift ideas, and we’ll hopefully help you save a few bucks over the next few weeks, too. For today’s gift guide, we’re showcasing several of the amazing Arrow Video releases of 2016, and we're also featuring the work of IBTrav Illustration & Design, the Mondo soundtrack release for DEATHGASM, more enamel pins, a book celebrating Marvel’s Doctor Strange, Horror LEGOs, recent Monster High releases, and so much more!
This year’s Holiday Gift Guide is sponsored by several amazing companies, including Mondo, Anchor Bay Entertainment, DC Entertainment, and Magnolia Home Entertainment, who have all donated an assortment of goodies to help get you into the spirit of the season. Daily Dead also recently teamed up with Texas-based artist Dustin Pace of Duddy in Motion to create an awesome Stranger Things print (see below) that all of our giveaway winners will receive in our amazing prize packs that include movies, graphic novels, and much more. One lucky winner will also receive the limited edition box set of The Walking Dead Season 6!
For a chance to win one of our 2016 Holiday Gift Guide prize packs, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with “Holiday Gift Guide” in the subject line, and be sure to include your full name and mailing address as well.
Blu-rays & DVDs:
The Hills Have Eyes: Limited Edition (Arrow Video, Blu-ray)
THE LUCKY ONES DIED FIRST... Horror master Wes Craven achieved critical and commercial success with the likes of Scream and A Nightmare on Elm Street but for many genre fans, the director s seminal 1977 effort The Hills Have Eyes remains his masterpiece.
Taking a detour whilst on route to Los Angeles, the Carter family run into trouble when their campervan breaks down in the middle of the desert. Stranded, the family find themselves at the mercy of a group of monstrous cannibals lurking in the surrounding hills. With their lives under threat, the Carters are forced to fight back by any means necessary.
As grueling a viewing experience today as it was upon initial release, The Hills Have Eyes stands alongside the likes of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Night of the Living Dead as one of the defining moments in American horror cinema.
The Bride of Re-Animator: Two-Disc Special Edition (Arrow Video, Blu/DVD Combo)
The success of Stuart Gordon's hit horror-comedy Re-animator meant that a sequel was all but inevitable. The resulting follow-up, Bride of Re-animator this time helmed by director Brian Yuzna (Society, Return of the Living Dead III) would prove that there was a good deal more life (and death) left in the story of Dr. Herbert West and his ghoulish exploits.
It has been eight months since the bloody massacre at the Miskatonic medical school. Unperturbed by the disastrous outcome of his previous meddling with the dead, Dr. West (again played by Jeffrey Combs) continues his research into the phenomenon of re-animation; only this time, he plans to create life starting with the heart of his young protégé Dan's dearly deceased, Meg Halsey. Surely nothing could go wrong?
With special effects master Screaming Mad George (the man behind the infamous "shunting" sequence of Society) on hand to contribute a host of characteristically weird and wonderful creations, Bride of Re-animator is a more than worthy successor to Stuart Gordon's original cult classic.
Vamp: Special Edition (Arrow Video, Blu-ray)
THE FIRST KISS COULD BE YOUR LAST! Two fraternity pledges head to a seedy part of town to find some entertainment for their college friends but are faced with bloodthirsty vampires!
Keith (Chris Makepeace, Meatballs) and AJ (Robert Rusler, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy s Revenge) want to make the right impression at college and so they devise a plan to get them into the best frathouse on campus. They head to the After Dark Club where they want to find a stripper for a party their friends won t forget, instead they find themselves among vampires led by Kinky Katrina (Grace Jones, A View to a Kill)!
Almost certainly an influence on From Dusk Till Dawn, Vamp is superbly designed by many of Grace Jones own award-winning collaborators and features stunning effects by four-time Oscar winner Greg Cannom (The Lost Boys, Bram Stoker s Dracula). Delivering laughs and scares in equal measure, with the added bonus of vampy sex appeal, Vamp is a comedy horror romp with real bite! First pressing only: Booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Cullen Gallagher
Dead End Drive-In: Special Edition (Arrow Video, Blu-ray)
THE PRICE OF ADMISSION IS THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. One of Quentin Tarantino's favourite directors, Brian Trenchard-Smith was a key figure in the Ozploitation movement, responsible for The Man from Hong Kong, Stunt Rock, Turkey Shoot, BMX Bandits... and dystopian cult classic Dead-End Drive In!
Set in a near-future where the economy has crumbled and violent gangs play havoc in the streets, the powers-that-be have decided to lure the delinquent youth into drive-in cinemas and keep them there. No longer just a place to watch trashy movies and make out, these outdoor picture shows have become concentration camps for the unruly and unwanted.
With its Day-Glo colour scheme, new wave soundtrack and extraordinary stunt work, Dead-End Drive-In is in the tradition of Ozploitation milestones Mad Max and The Cars That Ate Paris only very, very eighties.
Blood and Black Lace: 2-Disc Steelbook Edition (Arrow Video, Blu/DVD)
SIX MODELS. SIX VICTIMS FOR A CRAZED MASKED KILLER. The Cristian Haute Couture fashion house is a home to models... and backstabbing... and blackmail... and drug deals... and MURDER.
Having established a template for the Giallo with The Girl Who Knew Too Much, Mario Bava set about cementing its rules with Blood and Black Lace. In doing so he created one of the most influential films ever made an Italian classic that would spearhead the Giallo genre, provide a prototype for the slasher movie, and have a huge effect on filmmakers as diverse as Dario Argento and Martin Scorsese.
Newly restored from the original camera negative and presented here in its original, uncut Italian form, this dual-format release allows fans to see Blood and Black Lace afresh and offers newcomers the ideal introduction to a major piece of cult filmmaking.
The Stuff Special Edition (Arrow Video, Blu-ray)
Are you eating it ...or is it eating you? The Stuff is the new dessert taking supermarket shelves by storm. It s delicious, low in calories and better still doesn’t stain the family carpet... What’s not to like?! Well, for a start it has a life of its own, and we re not talking friendly live bacteria...
Young Jason seems to be the only one who doesn’t love The Stuff, in fact he won’t go anywhere near it, after having seen the pudding crawling around the fridge one night. What’s more, everyone who eats The Stuff has started acting really weird... Now, teaming up with wise-cracking industrial saboteur Mo, Jason must put a stop to The Stuff and the organization behind it or face a gooey, gloopy demise.
Coming courtesy of horror auteur Larry Cohen (director of the It’s Alive series and scribe behind the Maniac Cop trilogy), The Stuff is a titillating treat for the taste-buds, which blends elements of films such as Street Trash with the straight-up B-movie flavor of The Blob. So grab a spoon and dig on into The Stuff, the taste that delivers... much more than you bargained for!
Special Features include New High Definition restoration of the film from a brand new 2K scan of the original camera negative, Original stereo 1.0 uncompressed PCM Mono audio, Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, Can’t Get Enough of The Stuff: Making Larry Cohen’s Classic Creature Feature Documentary featuring Larry Cohen, producer Paul Kurta, actress Andrea Marcovicci, Steve Neill (mechanical makeup effects) and Kim Newman, Introduction and trailer commentary by director and The Stuff fan Darren Bousman (Saw II, Saw III), Original Trailer, Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin, Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Joel Harley, illustrated with original stills and promotional materials.
The Black Cat Special Edition (Arrow Video, Blu-ray)
From Italy’s own Godfather of Gore Lucio Fulci (Zombie, The Gates of Hell) comes The Black Cat a gruesome reimagining of the classic Edgar Allan Poe tale starring Patrick Magee (A Clockwork Orange) and Mimsy Farmer (The Perfume of the Lady in Black).
When a young couple goes missing in a sleepy English village, Scotland Yard Inspector Gorley (David Warbeck, The Beyond) is brought in to assist on the case. But what starts off as routine investigation turns into a murder inquiry when the couple are found dead in mysterious circumstances.
Fusing a classically gothic atmosphere with the decidedly more visceral elements that are the hallmark of Fulci’s films, The Black Cat is a too-often overlooked and underrated entry in the Italian master filmmaker’s canon.
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS INCLUDE Brand new 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative, Original Italian and English soundtracks in DTS-HD mono audio, Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack, Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack, Brand new audio commentary by filmmaker and Fangoria editor Chris Alexander, From Poe into Fulci: The Spirit of Perverseness film historian Stephen Thrower on Fulci’s Poe-tinged classic, In the Paw-Prints of The Black Cat a look at the original Black Cat locations, Frightened Dagmar a brand new career interview with actress Dagmar Lassander, At Home with David Warbeck an archive interview with the Black Cat star, Original Theatrical Trailer and Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin.
Books:
Marvel’s Doctor Strange: The Art of the Movie
Get an exclusive look at the art behind one of Marvel's most visually compelling super heroes in this latest installment of the popular ART OF series of movie tie-in books! When a terrible accident befalls extraordinary surgeon Dr. Stephen Strange, he'll do anything to regain mobility in his crippled hands. His journey will take him to unbelievable realms - and bring him face-to-face with petrifying dangers. Explore the fantastic worlds of Doctor Strange with exclusive concept artwork and in-depth analysis from the filmmakers. Go behind the scenes in this deluxe keepsake volume as Marvel once again brings its strange history to the silver screen!
Artwork:
IBTrav Illustration & Design is a company we’ve featured on previous iterations of our Holiday Gift Guide, but I’ve remained a big fan of artist Travis Falligant’s over the years, so I definitely thought his stuff was worth sharing again for 2016. His entire collection pays homage to all facets of pop culture, but genre fans should dig his It Follows poster, Teen Wolf poster, and (my personal favorite) his Gremlins tribute print featuring Gizmo. Also, current orders receive 10% off, plus free shipping.
Apparel:
I came across Last Shirt on the Left a while back while doing my holiday shopping research, and they’ve got some really badass shirt designs horror fans should definitely check out, including this Fright Night baseball shirt, their KISS-inspired slasher T-shirt, or this T-shirt that’s a tribute to David Cronenberg’s demented doctor from Nightbreed. Customers can also receive 15% off everything they order through December 21st when they use the code LSOTLXMAS16 at checkout.
Monster High Playset Set Mega Bloks (280 Pcs) + Freaky Fab Beauty Set (5 Pcs)
Monster High Mini Collectibles
The Monster High Mini Collectible figures are monster cute -- so cute, you'll want to collect them all! And with three mini figures in each of these packs -- one of which is exclusive and found nowhere else -- your collection instantly grows! Each small figure is recognizable through signature styles, iconic elements and monsterrific details. Unique outfits are clawesome and dramatic hairstyles flawesome! Plus, a mix of themes within each three-pack of mini figures means you can build your collection in all sorts of ways. Look for favorite characters, entertainment collections and unique Monster High themes. Each three-pack includes an exclusive character found nowhere else! Find a favorite, focus on a theme or collect them all! Includes three Monster High mini figures. Each pack is sold separately, subject to availability. Colors and decorations may vary.
Etsy Spotlight:
For today's Etsy Spotlight, we’re taking a look at the work of the Los Angeles-based artist/shop known as Rad Retro Movie Posters, as I recently came across their incredible prints that pay homage to several of the iconic films many of us grew up on. If you’re looking to give that special someone some stunning art this holiday, check out these prints for Jaws, Blade Runner, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
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In case you missed them, check out the other installments of Daily Dead's 2016 Holiday Gift Guide:
Heather A. Wixson was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, until she followed her dreams and moved to Los Angeles in 2009. A 14-year veteran in the world of horror entertainment journalism, Wixson fell in love with genre films at a very early age, and has spent more than a decade as a writer and supporter of preserving the history of horror and science fiction cinema. Throughout her career, Wixson has contributed to several notable websites, including Fangoria, Dread Central, Terror Tube, and FEARnet, and she currently serves as the Managing Editor for Daily Dead, which has been her home since 2013. She's also written for both Fangoria Magazine & ReMind Magazine, and her latest book project, Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume One will be released on October 20, 2021.
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