Free Horror-Themed Content And Collectibles For Fans In 2019

The horror genre has maintained a dedicated following throughout 2019, with numerous opportunities for fans to access free content and collectibles. While physical free samples of horror products appear limited in the available sources, digital free offerings and event-based collectibles provided several avenues for horror enthusiasts to enjoy their favorite genre without cost. This article examines the free horror-related content available in 2019, focusing on digital resources, event collectibles, and award-winning products that captured attention within the horror community.

Digital Horror Freebies

HorrorFam.com emerged as a prominent source for free horror-themed content in 2019. The website maintains a clear commitment to providing 100% free materials to its audience, as explicitly stated in their content: "Everything on this page is, and always will be, 100% FREE!" This dedication to free content positioned the site as a valuable resource for horror fans seeking no-cost entertainment options during the year.

The Quarantine Cookbook represented one of the notable free offerings from HorrorFam.com. Developed during the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020, the cookbook aimed to assist individuals who had limited experience cooking for themselves without relying on takeout options. While the source doesn't specify when this cookbook was made available in 2019, it appears to have been part of their free content offerings during that period.

Printable coloring pages provided another avenue for free horror-themed engagement. The website offered full-page PDF coloring sheets featuring HorrorFam.com mascots, which could be downloaded and printed at no cost. These resources targeted fans looking for stress-relief activities with a horror twist, with the site playfully suggesting users could "grab some crayons/colored pencils/markers/pens/the blood of your nemesis" to complete their artwork.

HorrorFam.com also promoted a horror-fantasy novel available for free listening. The first four audiobook chapters were accessible to visitors, offering an extended sample of the story to keep fans occupied during their leisure time. This approach allowed potential readers to experience the narrative before committing to the full product.

The website implemented a newsletter subscription system to notify users about new free content additions. While the site acknowledged uncertainty about the exact timing of future freebies, they confirmed plans to add more content whenever possible. Subscribers received weekly updates about new articles, podcasts, and events, with the potential for additional subscriber-exclusive freebies. The privacy policy emphasized that user information would never be shared or sold, addressing common concerns about data collection in exchange for free content.

Horror-Themed Events and Collectibles

Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights 2019 featured several horror attractions that provided fans with immersive experiences. While most aspects of the event required paid admission, the event included collectible items that could be obtained during attendance. The event dates spanned from early October through early November, with specific attendance windows on October 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-27, 31, and November 1-3.

The event showcased mazes based on popular horror properties, including: - "Us," based on Jordan Peele's film - "Ghostbusters," bringing the 1984 classic to life - "Stranger Things," inspired by seasons 2 and 3 - "Killer Klowns from Outer Space," featuring the 1980s horror sci-fi film - "Creepshow," inspired by the 1982 cult classic - "Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man," drawing from Universal's original monsters - "House of 1000 Corpses," based on Rob Zombie's film - "Holidayz in Hell," an original maze with twisted seasonal themes - "Curse of Pandora's Box," an original maze based on Greek mythology - "The Walking Dead," a permanent attraction

Food offerings at the event included a "Killer Klowns from Outer Space-inspired Kotton Kandy Cocoon Doughnut," described as a yeast-raised raspberry-filled doughnut with pink vanilla frosting encased in pink cotton candy and garnished with a swirly straw. While not free, these themed food items provided fans with opportunities to engage with horror properties in a multisensory way.

Collectible items available at the event included: - '80s inspired VHS tapes filled with "Halloween Horror Nights" and "Ghostbusters"-themed socks - "Ghostbusters" Slimer replicas - "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" cotton candy props - "Creepshow" masks - A collaboration between graffiti artist Tristan Eaton and apparel brand The Hundreds, creating exclusive "Universal Monsters" themed merchandise including skateboards, sweatshirts, t-shirts and tote bags

These collectibles allowed fans to take home physical mementos of their horror experiences, though they required purchase rather than being free items.

Award-Winning Horror Products

Paladone received recognition in the horror merchandise space with their "Horror Product of the Year 2019" award at the Warner Bros UK Partners event. The award specifically honored Paladone's range of horror products featuring characters and iconography from iconic horror movies IT, Gremlins, and Beetlejuice. This recognition highlighted the quality and appeal of horror-themed merchandise available to consumers in 2019.

The award, presented at the Television Centre in West London, celebrated products that were deemed "the scariest, coolest and 'most wanted' horror gifts." This acknowledgment from Warner Bros Consumer Products indicated the significant market presence and consumer interest in horror-themed merchandise during 2019.

In addition to their horror products, Paladone was shortlisted for the Classic Animation Product award for their Looney Tunes range built specifically for fashion retailers. The company had previously won the Licensee of the Year award in both 2016 and 2018, demonstrating their consistent excellence in licensed product development.

The design team behind Paladone's horror products expressed enthusiasm for the award, noting that many team members were "big fans of all things horror," which contributed to their passion for creating the range. This fan-driven approach likely contributed to the products' authenticity and appeal to horror enthusiasts.

Horror-Themed Gift Resources

While not specifically focused on free items, several gift guides provided comprehensive resources for horror fans in 2019. These guides offered curated selections of horror-themed products that could serve as gift ideas for fellow fans or personal indulgences.

The Syfy Wire 2019 holiday gift guide for horror fans emphasized that "true horror fans love horror all year 'round," suggesting that horror-themed gifts were appropriate beyond the Halloween season. The guide highlighted Etsy as a primary source for unique horror merchandise, including custom items like knit sweaters inspired by The Shining and t-shirts featuring designs from Midsommar.

Fun.com presented an extensive collection of horror gifts for adults and kids, including action figures and clothing from various franchises. Their offerings featured: - Stranger Things items such as 6" Bruce POP! Figures, adult Game Over shirts, Demogorgon POP! Vinyl figures, and Sheriff Hopper Christmas ornaments - Godzilla collectibles including the 2019 Hyper Solid Series Burning Godzilla, Godzilla World Destruction Tour shirts, and a 1991 Godzilla Statue

These retail resources, while not providing free items, demonstrated the breadth of horror-themed consumer products available in 2019, indicating a robust market for horror merchandise.

Digital Art and Freebie Challenges

The digital art community also engaged with horror themes through freebie challenges. One such challenge in October 2022 (though the source doesn't clarify if similar activities occurred in 2019) invited participants to create renders using horror movie freebies. The rules specified that participants must include a minimum of five freebies in their image, with links to the freebies used.

This challenge allowed digital artists to access and utilize horror-themed assets at no cost, though it primarily targeted creators rather than general consumers. The rules specified that Daz Bi-Weekly Freebies would be allowed throughout the entire month they were released plus the following month, providing an extended window for artists to utilize these resources.

The challenge permitted the use of various DAZ 3D programs including Bryce, Carrara, Daz Studio, and Hexagon, as well as Poser. Participants were required to submit new renders with postwork allowed, but they had to include both before and after versions of their postwork in their entries.

Conclusion

The available sources indicate that free horror-themed content in 2019 primarily existed in digital formats rather than physical product samples. HorrorFam.com stood out as the most comprehensive source for free horror content, offering recipes, coloring pages, audiobook samples, and other digital materials at no cost. While physical free horror products were not prominently featured in the sources, events like Halloween Horror Nights provided opportunities to access themed collectibles, though most required purchase.

The horror merchandise industry demonstrated strength in 2019, with Paladone receiving recognition for their horror product line, and numerous retail options available for fans seeking themed apparel, collectibles, and decor. Digital art communities also engaged with horror themes through freebie challenges, though these primarily targeted creators rather than general consumers.

For horror enthusiasts seeking free content in 2019, digital resources offered the most accessible options, with websites like HorrorFam.com providing a variety of materials without requiring financial commitment. The continued popularity of horror franchises across multiple media ensured that both free and paid options remained available to fans throughout the year.

Sources

1. Freebie Challenge October 2022-"Horror Movies!" - Main Thread
2. Paladone Wins Warner Bros Best Horror Product Collection 2019
3. HorrorFam.com Freebies
4. 2019 Holiday Gift Guide for Horror Fans
5. Best Horror Gifts for Adults and Kids
6. Halloween Horror Nights 2019 Horror Bites