Yes, horror figures of Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers continue to sell and make money. This “trilogy of terror” keeps the spirit alive, and that’s nothing but good thing for the genre and horror toys in general. However, if your collection is anything like mine, then you already own enough of these classic slashers to open your own toy museum. Sure, that new Michael Myers figure from 2018’s amazing Halloween is a must-have, but where’s the killer miner from My Bloody Valentine? Axe-wielding Jack Torrance from The Shining? Where are my action figures from horror movies that don’t have 500 million sequels?

Horror hounds can thank NECA for getting many of their favorite scream greats made into figures. Yes, NECA produces Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers in every conceivable look, shape and form. However, it is the success of these popular sellers, along with a fantastic partnership with Scream Factory, that allows NECA to experiment with lesser known horror characters. The drilling maniac from the indie-classic, The Slumber Party Massacre? All part of this slash-tastic bundle. The creepy trick or treaters from the underrated Halloween III: Season of the Witch? On the way this January. As great as it is to see these non-mainstream horror characters receive some NECA love, there’s one new release that REALLY blows my mind. I’m talking about Dr. Philip K. Decker, the zipper-masked serial killer from Clive Barker’s Nightbreed. The 8-inch tall clothed figure is hitting retail now priced at around $30.99.

Played by famed “body horror” director David Cronenberg (Scanners, The Fly), Dr. Decker is a psychiatrist – and a serial killer – who attempts to frame one of his mental patients for his murders. That story line alone would make for a great horror movie, but this IS Clive Barker we are talking about. Nightbreed also involves a bunch of monsters… which just so happen to be the good guys to Decker’s crazy ambitions. While it’s no Hellraiser, Nightbreed ultimately succeeds at being a cult-classic thanks to its bizarre cast of highly original creatures and characters.  For me it was all about Decker and that eerie zipper-mouthed mask with button eyes.

 It’s tough making a masked movie maniac that stands out from the pack. After the success ofHalloween and Friday the 13th, every filmmaker and their mother was trying out some new combo of mask, outfit and teen-slaying gimmick. Some worked better than others, with the majority being campy and forgettable. Decker’s design is unnerving and unique. It has this sadomasochist gimp-suit quality combined with the professional sophistication of a black suit and tie. I’m not sure how he sees out of those button eyes, but the killer doll/ scarecrow vibe they emote is the stuff of nightmares.

NECA’s Decker action figure nails the frightening look. While a traditional all-plastic action figure of Decker would have worked, the choice to go with a sculpted head and real cloth attire lends the figure a more layered and realistic appearance. If I had one small critique, I wish more attention was given to the tie where it attaches at the neck, or rather, where it doesn’t. The “tie” on the tie appears to be missing, an easy fix if you have some spare black cloth handy. Regardless, it’s really not noticeable on display.

To complete Decker’s demented design, NECA provides the figure with his “tools” of the trade: an enourmous pointy knife (eat your heart out Michael Myers), a machete (Jason envy), along with a briefcase packed with three smaller blades, you know, for slaying variety. (FUN FACT: The long blade is known as a Khyber or pesh-kabz knife, something I wasn’t aware of until I was writing this review. Learn something new everyday!)  

As an extra nice touch, the briefcase opens and the three small knives can be stowed inside, though I suspect most collectors will opt to have Decker holding his Khyber blade with the briefcase in his other hand or opened on display next to him.

NECA’s announcement of a Nightbreed Decker figure back at Toy Fair earlier this year took many horror enthusiasts by surprise. It’s such a niche character that I honestly hadn’t even entertained the idea that a Decker figure would be made at all. But here we are… and the horror fanboy in me couldn’t be happier. 

Scroll on for more photos!

Review and Photos by Jeff Saylor

Review Sample Courtesy of NECA

[See image gallery at www.figures.com]

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