Nerd Block is a subscription mystery box that delivers geeky collectibles right to your door each month. You can choose whatever theme box you are into–there’s the Classic Block, Arcade Block, Sci-Fi Block, Horror Block, Comic Block, and even a Boys Jr. and Girls Jr. Block for younger kids. The sets always includes a t-shirt, along with 4-6 other collectibles that are often exclusive to Nerd Block subscribers. Today I am unboxing the February 2017 Horror Block.
Lovers of horror collectibles, I’m back to show you what kinds of goodies you could have with a subscription to Horror Block! The February 2017 box is another mish-mash of random collectibles from different horror properties–including two items that fans of a certain classic haunted house movie should love. Read on to find out what these and the other exclusive items are!
It’s been a while since we have gotten a DVD or Blu-ray in the block. Sometimes they are awesome, like The Editor or Turbo Kid, and sometimes they are something like this that I have never heard of before. Silent Retreat is a 2014 Canadian film from director Tricia Lee and writer Corey Brown, and some quick research tells me that it is a creature feature, so that alone has got me excited enough to check it out!
Synopsis: Following an assault charge, Janey Andrews (Chelsea Jenish) is sent to a remote rehabilitation center in order to avoid jail time. Run by an ominous doctor (Robert Nolan) and his two sons, Janey is instructed to follow the rules of the retreat without question: No talking. No eye contact. No interaction of any kind. It doesn’t take long for her to realize that something sinister is taking place and with the help of a fellow inmate named Alexis (Sofia Banzhaf), the girls attempt to flee. However, despite the doctor’s deplorable motives, Janey soon discovers that something much more dangerous lurks just beyond the trees.
Another item that I’m glad to see pop up in the Horror Block again is a book. This time it is a collection of poems called Vault of the Macabre by author Darren Field. The 37 poems are spread out over 71 pages, with occasional creepy pictures done in a kind of pencil sketch style. Some of the poems go on for a few pages, while others are only a few lines long. The overall tone of them reminds me a lot of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, as they often leave you chuckling at the end. The coolest thing about this book? The entire back cover is a quote from Clive Barker, praising Field and his work!
My keychain collection has grown a bit over the past year or so thanks to Horror Block. The next exclusive item in this month’s box is this delightfully creepy scorpion keychain from Penny Dreadful. Forgive my ignorance, but I still haven’t watched this show yet (it’s in the queue, I promise) and I have no idea what this is in reference to. The Nerd Block magazine says that this “Little Scorpion” will “allow [me] to be tracked by clairvoyants.” That’s not something I think I want happening, but the keychain is pretty cool so I guess I’m going to risk it.
Another thing that Horror Block likes to give its subscribers is cute pins. The first of two items from the aforementioned classic haunted house movie, The Amityville Horror, this enamel pin comes courtesy of Wax Off Design (always loved that name, by the way). It is a one inch pin that features the infamous Amityville house, easily recognizable by even the most casual horror fans because of those creepy windows that look like eyes. There are two clasps on the back of the pin so this nifty bauble can stay securely with you wherever you go.
The second item from The Amityville Horror is this neat vinyl tote bag. The black bag again features the Amityville house in an interesting blue color, darkened by the shadows of the picture. The actual title of the film appears at the top left-hand corner, and I love that it is in the original font for the 1979 poster art, with the devil tail coming off of the “h.” The bag is actually quite large, and I think I can make good use of it as a reusable shopping bag. This is another one of those cool, random household items that Horror Block provides to fans for them to show off their love of the genre whenever and wherever possible.
Next up, there is the always popular inclusion of the latest edition of Rue Morgue magazine. Issue #175 for March/April 2017 features the highly anticipated cannibal film Raw on its front cover. Inside the rag is an interview with Raw writer and director, Julia Ducournau, as well as a look at other cannibal films through the years. Readers can also find an interview with Jordan Peele about his inspirations and motivations for making his directorial debut, Get Out; an ode to late actor Miguel Ferrer; and a tour of Oakley Court, a famous location in England that was used for the filming of several Hammer productions, as well as The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Lastly, there’s the t-shirt! Goodness knows that the last thing I need is another black horror t-shirt, but I can’t deny loving this one. This is a shirt for The Purge, which I honestly didn’t get the first time I glimpsed it. Then I recognized the symbols for “no police” and “no hospitals” in the eyes of the mask that overlook the skyline of New York City. Not sure why a gas mask or New York was chosen for the design of this shirt, as neither of those were included in the film, but I guess it is more symbolic of America than Los Angeles. I also like the color scheme of the shirt, and I’m happy to have it in my collection.
Inside the Nerd Block mini-magazine is a description of each item in the block, and a short article on the history of the Amityville house. If you like what you saw here, head on over to Nerd Block to start your subscription today!
