Holiday Gift Guide for Horror Movie Fans

Do you have a horror fan in your household? Then you're in luck! The last several years have been very good to fans of this dark genre. Stuff your favorite horror fan's stocking with some of the following gifts.

1. The Evil Dead (Book of the Dead Limited Edition). This 1983 cult classic gets a new facelift in this DVD limited edition. The DVD case is a replica of the Necronomicon demon skin encased book used in the movie. This movie is a testament of low-budget filmmaking at its best. Spiderman director Sam Raimi shot this for a budget of only $350,000. There are creative special effects and some groundbreaking camera work that highlight Raimi's wry sense of storytelling. This edition includes a commentary by Raimi and star Bruce Campbell. It also has two all-new featurettes called Discovering Evil Dead (highlights from the film's history) and Fanalysis (a documentary by Campbell showcasing cult film fans).

2. The Exorcist (25th Anniversary Edition - The Version You Haven't Seen). Any horror fan worth his (or her) salt needs this in their movie collection. The Exorcist has transcended other horror films from the same era. It continues to scare the living daylights out of fans today. Commentary by the director William Friedkin brings insight to the film. The documentary The Fear of God: The Making of the Exorcist includes never before seen footage and interviews with cast and crew.

3. The Night of the Living Dead (Millennium Edition). It's surprising what a black and white film with virtually no special effects can do. When this film was first released in 1968 it broke the mold and introduced the world to the frightening power of zombies. Since then the zombie movie has been remade and retooled, but there's nothing like the original. This edition includes a colorized version, and the original black and white version, as well as a commentary by creator/director George A. Romero. The DVD is rounded out with several shorts, including the parody "Night of the Living Bread" and a history of Romero's film company The Latent Image.

4. Fangoria's 101 Best Horror Movies You've Never Seen: A Celebration of the World's Most Unheralded Fright Flicks (paperback). If you aren't sure what movies your favorite horror fan has in their collection, this is a perfect buy. This comprehensive guide highlights some of horror's hidden treasures. The book has entries listed by category and extensive descriptions of each film.

5. Horror: The 100 Best Books (paperback). If your horror fan prefers to let their imagination run wild, rather than see images unfold on the screen, this book is sure to be a hit. The book lists, reviews and describes a range of horror fiction, dating from the 16th century to present day. By asking 100 horror, fantasy and science fiction writers to write about their favorite books, the editors have compiled short essays on horror's most popular works.

6. The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror: The Year's Best Terror Tales 2006 edition (edited by Stephen Jones). This is the premier showcase of horror and the dark fantasy genre. The short stories and novellas in this collection represent the best from authors like Neil Gaiman, Glen Hirshberg and Charles Coleman Finlay. Editor Stephen Jones is known for putting together the most comprehensive and complete selection of worldwide horror.

7. Dead Rising (Capcom, Xbox 360). Perhaps one of the most acclaimed games of 2006, Dead Rising brings the excitement of zombie movies to the first person horror adventure game genre. Dead Rising makes use of the Xbox 360's incredible graphics engine. The game follows the main character, Frank West, as he faces legions of zombies in a shopping mall. With hints of George Romero's classic Dawn of the Dead, the game has fast-paced action and exciting game play.