Guillermo Del Toro Sells Off Horror Treasures After Fire Scare—Because Even Monsters Need Estate Planning
Avery Sinclair here, your favorite cynic with a caffeine addiction and a front-row seat to the absurdity of celebrity life. Buckle up, because today’s dose of reality comes with a side of haunted dining rooms and fire-evacuated collectibles. Oh joy.
So, here’s the deal: Guillermo Del Toro—yes, the guy who made fish sex Oscar-worthy—is parting with pieces of his horror memorabilia collection. And no, this isn’t some midlife crisis where he suddenly hates monsters. Turns out, the Los Angeles wildfires came a little too close to his Santa Monica compound, affectionately dubbed “Bleak House.” And in true Hollywood fashion, he’s auctioning off parts of his life’s work because apparently, even ghouls need estate planning.
Let’s be real—this isn’t just a garage sale with a gothic aesthetic. Del Toro’s stash includes behind-the-scenes sketches, rare props, and exclusive pinups from classics like *Hellraiser*. The Oscar-winning director is teaming up with Heritage Auctions for a three-part sale, starting September 26. And no, he’s not just doing this because he needs a new espresso machine. The near-loss of his collection during January’s wildfires shook him up enough to realize that hoarding culture doesn’t mean squat if it all goes up in smoke.
Del Toro’s “Bleak House” is less Victorian novel, more haunted museum-meets-library-meets-lair-of-a-genius. It spans two and a half homes, packed with thousands of creepy artifacts, comic art, and film props. During a tour with the Associated Press, he casually mentioned greeting life-sized *Haunted Mansion* figures like old friends. Because of course he did.
When the fires hit, he had hours to save his collection. He managed to salvage only 150 pieces before the flames miraculously spared his homes. That’s right—Hollywood magic or just dumb luck? Either way, it was a wake-up call.
Now, he’s calling the auction a love letter to collectors and a way to “read and write film design differently.” Sure, Guillermo. We all know you’re just trying to lighten the load so you can binge-watch Netflix without worrying about humidity levels in your Frankenstein shrine.
Del Toro insists this isn’t about letting go—it’s about preservation. “We don’t know which of the pieces you’re holding is going to be culturally significant 100 years from now,” he mused. Oh, spare me the dramatic monologue. You’re downsizing, and we all know it.
Still, it’s hard not to respect the guy who’s spent decades curating a piece of cinematic history. Whether you call it a collector’s purge or a calculated cultural donation, one thing’s for sure—this auction is going to make some horror fan’s year. Or at least their Instagram feed.
And that’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, Associated Press, Heritage Auctions
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