It’s no secret to anyone who has ever entered my office that I am a hardcore collector of all things Final Girl related. So when Loot Crate reached out to us to create our own “Dream Crate” on a theme of our choosing, we may have broken the speed of sound in accepting the challenge. As the collector of the group, I was given the enviable task of assembling a crate of goodies that would represent Loot Crate’s commitment to providing fans with fun, unique and geeky gifts while highlighting a theme near and dear to Horror Homeroom’s heart.
The decision to select ‘Women in Horror’ as our theme was an easy one. Recent statistics indicate that more women are buying movie tickets for horror films than are men. There has also been a noticeable uptick in the number of female led horror films entering production. Yet, check out the merchandise marketed to fans and it becomes glaringly obvious that the presumption most horror fans are adolescent teen boys still reigns supreme. Our Dream Crate takes that assumption and smashes it!
As someone who has purchased more than her fair share of Loot Crate subscription boxes, I’ve always enjoyed how varied the items are that you receive and so I’ve tried to mimic that approach. Where possible, we’ve also made an effort to highlight merchandise created by female artists because, well, they rock. Be sure too to check out Loot Crate’s super awesome Gifts options and design your own fangirl/fanboy experience!
Without further ado, feast your eyes on the ultimate Dream Crate for horror fans!
Item #1: Carol Peletier (TWD) Signed Knife
Did it take some restraint to not populate this crate entirely with just Carol Peletier merchandise? Oh, yes it did! But after scouring the Internet for the very best in Carol stuff and thangs, which is ridiculously limited in terms of official merchandise by the way, I finally settled on one of my favorite items in my own extensive collection: Carol’s iconic knife replica signed by the incomparable Melissa McBride.
Item #2: I Am Nancy DVD
Next to horror, my not so secret vice is documentary films, especially those of the indie variety. Heather Langenkamp’s I Am Nancy is essential viewing and offers up a compelling look at what it means to be one of the best-known Final Girls in horror film history.
Item #3: The Dread of Difference and Men, Women and Chain Saws
Listen we’re a trio of academics, which is really just code for super nerds, and so of course our crate will be brimming with some essential reading. Two must-read titles for anyone interested in depictions of women in American horror films are The Dread of Difference: Gender and the Horror Film edited by Barry Keith Grant and Men, Women and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film by Carol J. Clover. Super nerdy, yes, but both of these books are also super enlightening.
Item #4: Cat People Mug
I will argue to my grave that Cat People is a pitch perfect horror film. That it has a compelling lead in Simone Simon is just icing on the cake. This mug is the perfect way to commemorate such a complex female character.
Item #5: Women in Horror Art Prints
As big supporters of indie artists, all of us here at Horror Homeroom are in complete agreement that it doesn’t get any better than Chantal Handley’s female centered art prints. Confrontational and arresting, these prints prove that horror film monsters are by no means always dudes.
Item #6: Casey Becker (Scream) Paper Doll
If, like me, your taste tends to err on the side of quirky, you’ll likely swoon over these Casey Becker fully articulated paper dolls.
Item #7: Laurie Strode (Halloween) T-shirt
Michael Myers typically gets most of the merchandise love but this shirt by Terror Threads shifts the focus to survivor, Laurie, in a must-have homage to arguably horror’s most acclaimed Final Girl.
Item #8: Freddy vs. Jason Jason Voorhees Bishoujo Statue
Based upon a design by acclaimed Japanese illustrator Shunya Yamashita, this killer Freddy vs. Jason Jason Voorhees Bishoujo statue will make other horror fiends drool with envy.
Item #9: Bride of Frankenstein Film Cell
Sure, The Bride is a particularly polarizing character among horror fans but she’s also one of the most interesting which explains her longevity and various incarnations. This film cell of the iconic performance by Elsa Lancaster is something hardcore horror fans will treasure.
Item #10: Elvira Signed POP!
Last, but certainly not least, no women in horror dream crate would be complete without a nod to the original busty doyenne of late night horror camp, Elvira. A killer mix of sarcastic bon mots with unapologetic sexuality, Elvira created the template for the 1980’s female horror fan. And this signed POP! TV Vinyl Figure is the perfect way to celebrate her contribution to the genre!
There you have our epic Dream Crate. Have ideas for other items? Hit us up on social media and let us know!
