Velcome… I’ve been waiting for some time to be able to cover horror collectibles here on Happy Horror, so it’s my finest pleasure to be able to bring you the first offering we’ve ever featured in this brand new category. I figured I’d start things off right with a real classic: Count Dracula!

So, take a peek!

This polystone diorama, created by the artists Tom Gilliland, Jeff Yagher, Steve Riojas, Anthony Mestas and the Sideshow Collectibles Design and Development Team is part of Sideshow’s "Universal Monsters" line. In case you’re wondering what exactly Universal Monsters are, allow me to enlighten you. They are the versions of monsters featured in Universal Studios films such as Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man and Werewolf of London. The classic horror films from the thirty year period from 1920 to the 1950’s. Essentially, the foundation of American horror movie monsters.

This diorama uses the characters from the 1931 film entitled simply, ‘Dracula‘. The same one that scared the living daylights out of me as a child even though I knew it couldn’t possibly be real. Playing The Count we have the legendary Bela Lugosi (who is dead) and that’s Dwight Frye playing poor ole Renfield. You probably already guessed what book the movie took it’s inspiration from, but I’m going to tell you anyways: Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the mother (or father?) of all vampire epics. Yes, this bloodsucker’s the real deal!

And speaking of deals, I’ve got to admit it’s extremely well-priced, too, for such a high quality collector’s item. It’s 13 inches high and 7 inches long (as well as wide), weighing in at 6 pounds! That’s a pretty substantial size considering each one is hand-painted to precision standards you’ll be familiar with if you’ve seen any other products from Sideshow. These people don’t mess around. All that and they’re still pre-ordering for $159.99! They’re set to be shipped in the 4th Quarter of this year (2008), in limited quantities. In fact, each customer is only being permitted to buy two. Probably because people who buy one of these dioramas will probably be able to put their kids through college if they decide to sell it on Ebay later!

You’ve got to love this scene they’ve chosen to portray, too, you know? All the details intact, down to the staircase Renfield cowers at the foot of. One of the most intense moments of the original film and with this diorama it’s like you’ve got a three dimensional film still directly in front of you. That’s why I included the pictures from different angles. I sat here oggling the thing for quite a while myself.

All in all, I easily give this diorama a 5 out of 5 based solely on its perfect re-creation of a moment in horror cinema history that truly scared me as a child and continues to make me want to shudder whenever I see it today. I’m pretty sure you’ll agree that I need you to buy me one of these so I can look at it between writing articles. Right? … What??

Until next time, this is GlowStormLion, looking deeply into your eyes and murmuring the seductive words: "You vant to buy dis diorama…. if you vant to leeve."

You can get your very own Dracula & Renfield Diorama, right here!

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