Christmas Gift Guide 2019: Horror Movies

Just like his first film Hereditary, Ari Aster's Midsommar is not for the faint of heart – a graphically and emotionally brutal sun-bleached epic at a summer festival more nightmarish than any Glastonbury wash-out. Florence Pugh is astonishing as the grieving Dani, subject to a host of instantly-iconic horror moments. The Blu-ray release includes the Director's Cut with 30 minutes of added trauma. Hooray?Amazon.co.uk

John Landis' comedy-horror has some of the most stomach-churning werewolf transformation scenes ever committed to film, with horrifying special effects courtesy of the legendary Rick Baker. This set includes the newly-restored film with a raft of extras – plus a double-sided poster, a 60-page book of writing around the film, and art cards.Amazon.co.uk

Nearly 40 years later, Stanley Kubrick's take on Stephen King's haunted hotel story remains perhaps the best horror film ever made. The spectres of the Overlook – from the twins, to the lady in Room 237, to whatever's going on behind that door in the final reel – are matched by a none-more-menacing Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, the alcoholic writer who descends into madness and turns on his family. Now experience its visionary terrors in Ultra-HD.Amazon.co.uk

Jordan Peele follows up Get Out with a doppelgänger slasher, starring Lupita Nyong'o as a mother attempting to protect herself and her family when their red-boiler-suited doubles attack. Another richly-layered, visually impressive feature from the new horror-master, with twists and turns that reward repeat viewings.Amazon.co.uk

Original Exorcist writer William Peter Blatty turned director for this third outing, beloved among die-hard fans. Previously tricky to track down, a new Arrow Video set collects both the original cut and Blatty's director's cut in HD, plus a ton of extras. A must-have for the horror hardcore.Amazon.co.uk

From Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino, the remake of Suspiria is an entirely different take on the Dario Argento giallo classic – far lengthier and tonally more muted, but still boasting shocking body horror and bewitching dance sequences. One for fans who prefer their art-horror on the artier end of the scale.Amazon.co.uk

Following up Berberian Sound Studio and The Duke Of Burgundy, Brit director Peter Strickland serves up another heady brew – a tale of a haunted dress that's indebted as much to Are You Being Served? as it is to '70s Italian shockers. A trippy, sensory ride, with an undercurrent of dry humour.Amazon.co.uk

Another Stephen King favourite is resurrected for a new generation. This gruesome take on King's ultra-bleak tale of an ancient burial ground that brings things back from the dead twists the narrative while remaining thematically faithful – and undead cat Church makes for a memorably feral feline.Amazon.co.uk

The ultimate J-horror saga gets a scrubbed-up re-release, in a box set that collects Hideo Nakata's Ring, Ring 2 and Norio Tsuruta's Ring 0 – as well as 'lost' sequel Spiral – all presented in HD. If the original's shocking finale is ubiquitously known these days, it's lost little of its power.Amazon.co.uk

Since the 1978 original, John Carpenter's genre-defining slasher has had plenty of sequels. This one, set exactly 40 years later, ignores all of the others – bringing Jamie Lee Curtis back as a battle-hardened Laurie Strode, ready to face Michael Myers if he ever wreaks havoc again. A slick and entertaining horror ride, with a script that also brings laughs courtesy of co-writer Danny McBride.Amazon.co.uk

It's a zombie movie. It's a Christmas movie. It's a musical. No, really it is – a genre mash-up that sees Ella Hunt's titular Anna face off hordes of the undead on the night of the school Christmas show. Cue gory showdowns and all-singing all-dancing musical numbers in equal measure. Second Sight's release includes the theatrical and extended cuts, the short film that spawned the feature, and much more.Amazon.co.uk

One of the most brilliantly scuzzy movies ever made gets the crystal-clear 4K treatment. Sam Raimi's sequel to (and semi-remake of) his classic video nasty combines visceral ghoulish frights with slapstick humour, largely at the expense of Bruce Campbell's hapless hero Ash. One of the most outright entertaining movies of all time.Amazon.co.uk

Don't go into Guillermo del Toro's gorgeous ghost story expecting big frights – it's more a Brontë-inspired gothic romance. Mia Wasikowska is struggling writer Edith Cushing, who falls for Tom Hiddleston's tall dark stranger – the heir, along with his ice-cold sister (Jessica Chastain), of a grand, crumbling mansion sitting atop a mountain of bubbling, blood-red clay. This limited edition comes with deluxe packaging and an 80-page hardback book with essays and original concept art.Store.HMV.com){href='https://store.hmv.com/store/film-tv/blu-ray/crimson-peak-(2)' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'}

Nicolas Roeg's harrowing grief-horror is one of the all-time greats – now in 4K. Just, don't watch it if you've planned a romantic trip to Venice any time soon.Amazon.co.uk