“Horror is a timeless and classic genre… I want to give people a chance to own some cool horror stuff.”
Are you a horror fan? Well of course you are or you wouldn’t be here. But have you ever thought about turning your creepy passion into a business?
This is exactly what Lucas did with his Kiwi-owned horror memorabilia business, Needful Nightmares, and now he’s providing amazing collectables to fiends across New Zealand.
From signed Jason Voorhees hockey masks, autographed Pennywise photos, and even items from classics like Hitchcock’s The Birds, he’s got something for everyone.
Join me as New Zealand Horror Fans goes behind the scenes and chats with Lucas about Needful Nightmares and his love for all things horror!
Q: Tell us about yourself and Needful Nightmares
A: My name is Lucas and I’m originally from Tauranga but have moved to the beautiful Hawke’s Bay with my wife Shaz and our 7-year-old son. Needful Nightmares (as a business) has been around for about a year, but I started by making shadow box frames to display masks, adding prop replicas and signed photos to make them more individual and custom. The more stuff I was making, the more I was selling, and I really enjoyed creating these custom pieces. It was something I was passionate about and decided to turn my hobby into a business. I’m stoked to be able to bring my ideas and love of horror to like-minded people.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for Needful Nightmares?
A: Horror memorabilia is something I felt was not easily accessible to a lot of people here in NZ. We don’t have big conventions or meet and greets so it can be super hard to obtain a specific autograph or item. I wanted to provide people with epic merchandise and memorabilia they might have a hard time getting hold of on their own.
Q: So you must be a horror movie fan then?
A: Massive fan of horror!!! I love 80s slasher style and POV horror movies.
Q: How were you introduced to horror?
A: The first horror movie I watched was The Exorcist when I was 7 or 8. I don’t remember where I watched it but yeah, it still messes with me a bit haha. Especially the spider walk scene down the stairs!
Q: Since starting Needful Nightmares, have you found some horror memorabilia more popular than others?
A: Most popular are the Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees items, but they will always be popular, especially Robert Englund and Kane Hodder who played Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th 7, 8, 9 (Jason Goes to Hell) , and X.
Q: Do you have a favourite piece?
A: Some of my favourites are the signed photo of Angus Scrimm (Tall Man from Phantasm), and the original Leatherface Gunnar Hansen signed photo.
Q: Which item has been the most difficult to part with?
A: Ah, that’s a hard one!!!!! The piece that was the hardest to part with was probably Tim Curry signed Pennywise ‘IT’ photo, and Jamie Lee Curtis signed Halloween photo.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges as a NZ-based horror business?
A: My biggest challenge is the delay between orders going out and stock coming in. I can go weeks without receiving any items, and I can go a month without receiving an order and vice versa.
Q: Horror fans can be very passionate about their collectibles. How do you confirm authenticity of your collectables?
A: All the items are purchased from UACC (Universal Autograph Collectors Club) and RACC (Real Autograph Collectors Club) who are registered and trusted sellers. I also purchase autographs that are Beckett or JSA authenticated (used by major auction houses for authentication purposes). If I purchase an autograph without any authentication, but I believe it is authentic, I will do a pre-authentication check through ACOA (Autograph Certificate of Authentication), and provide my own Needful Nightmares Certificate of Authenticity.
Q: Why should people buy from Needful Nightmares?
A: Horror memorabilia is just cool in general and has become more popular over the years. Horror is a timeless and classic genre that I don’t believe will ever lose popularity or stop being sought after. I want to give people the chance to own some cool horror stuff that usually might be a hassle ordering from overseas.
Q: What else can you tell us about Needful Nightmares?
A: If there is anything specific that you are looking for that I don’t have in stock, please don’t hesitate to message me on the Needful Nightmares Facebook page. I will do my best to find what you’re looking for, or hopefully find something like it. I’m also working on some custom, horror-movie-based frame mounts/mattes to match the photo in the frame. Keep an eye out for those and new stock!
Q: And lastly, what’s a horror movie you think every genre fan should watch?
A: There are a ton of horror movies that I think everyone should watch, but the quintessential horror every fan should see would be the original 1978 Halloween (Myers is my favourite horror icon). It’s the definition of a horror movie to me as it’s focused on a situation that could happen to you in real life.
New Zealand Horror Fans 