Rue Morgue Magazine

What Rue Morgue Magazine does

Rue Morgue Magazine, operated by MARRS MEDIA INC., is a privately held Canadian horror media brand founded in 1997 and headquartered in Etobicoke, Ontario. The company publishes a flagship horror magazine in print (distributed via SimpleCirc) and digital (via Zinio), alongside a network of adjacent content and commerce properties: Rue Morgue TV (a YouTube video channel), the Rue Morgue Shoppe (e-commerce merchandise store), the Rue Morgue Library (archived content), the Rue Morgue Expo (live convention), the Cinemacabre digital section, and the Audio Horror sub-brand (produced in partnership with HorrorBabble). Editorial coverage spans horror cinema, literature, events, and culture, with a global audience of horror enthusiasts reached through the website, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X), and email newsletter. The company serves a primary consumer segment of dedicated horror fans and a secondary segment of genre film industry professionals seeking targeted genre publicity.

The underlying technology is a standard web-based digital media platform with third-party distribution integrations (SimpleCirc, Zinio) and YouTube as the video delivery layer; no proprietary AI/ML, API, or app-based products are evidenced. The business model is direct-to-consumer and community-led, monetized through recurring magazine subscriptions, a Patreon membership tier, one-time merchandise sales, and event/screening partnerships (e.g., Fantasia International Film Festival official coverage, Slimeball Cinerama branded screenings). Additional commercial relationships include a novelization publishing venture with Strike Back Studios and Encyclopocalypse Publications covering titles such as BURNING PALMS, SPIRIT HALLOWEEN: THE MOVIE, OLD HENRY, and THE UNITED STATES OF INSANITY, plus film distribution promotional partnerships with Maverick Film and Complex Corp.

The organization operates with 11–50 employees, has no disclosed institutional funding or ownership changes, and shows no M&A, regulatory, or restructuring activity in the available data. Leadership is anchored by Head Writer Michael Gingold, who has covered horror cinema for over three decades and also writes for FANGORIA. The company's competitive position is built primarily on its nearly 30-year brand equity, archive depth, and embedded presence in the horror film festival ecosystem, with strategic emphasis on multi-platform ecosystem buildout rather than print-magazine volume growth.

Name

Rue Morgue Magazine

Legal name

MARRS MEDIA INC.

Website

https://rue-morgue.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rue Morgue Magazine, operated by MARRS MEDIA INC., is a privately held Canadian horror media brand (founded 1997) publishing a print and digital magazine, YouTube video, e-commerce merchandise, live events, audio drama, and horror novelization IP, serving dedicated horror enthusiasts and genre film industry professionals globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Horror Entertainment Media Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines (MPAJAEAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mass Market & Paperback Publishing (MPAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Horror media publication
• Horror genre journalism
• Horror film reviews
• Horror culture magazine
• Entertainment media brand

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Print and digital magazine subscriptions through SimpleCirc and Zinio platforms
2. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling Rue Morgue branded merchandise including apparel, accessories, and collectibles
3. Patreon Membership: Patreon-based community membership providing exclusive content and supporter benefits to horror fans
4. Event Partnerships: Collaborative events including screenings and film festival coverage that drive brand engagement and potential revenue through ticket partnerships

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rue Morgue Magazine is a horror-focused media brand that publishes a print and digital magazine covering horror cinema, literature, and culture. The company also distributes horror video content via its YouTube channel (Rue Morgue TV), sells branded merchandise through the Rue Morgue Shoppe, hosts live events including the annual Rue Morgue Expo, and offers community memberships through Patreon. It operates as a multi-channel horror entertainment and journalism brand.

Product overview

Rue Morgue Magazine operates as a horror media publication offering multiple content channels: a print and digital magazine (available via SimpleCirc subscriptions and Zinio), Rue Morgue TV (YouTube-based video content), the Rue Morgue Shoppe (merchandise), the Rue Morgue Library (archived content), Rue Morgue Expo (events), HorrorBabble (audio horror content via podcast partnership), and Cinemacabre. The publication focuses on horror cinema, books, events, and culture coverage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Audio Horror: Horror audio drama series produced in collaboration with HorrorBabble
• Rue Morgue Expo

Products and services

• Rue Morgue Magazine Flagship horror magazine available in print and digital formats through subscriptions via SimpleCirc and Zinio, covering horror cinema, literature, events, and genre culture for horror enthusiasts.
• Rue Morgue TV Horror-themed video content distributed via the Rue Morgue YouTube channel, featuring film coverage, reviews, interviews, and original programming for horror fans.
• Rue Morgue Shoppe Online e-commerce store selling Rue Morgue branded merchandise, apparel, accessories, and related horror collectibles to fans and collectors.
• Rue Morgue Expo Annual horror convention and live expo event organized by Rue Morgue, bringing together horror fans, creators, and industry professionals.
• Patreon Community Membership Patreon-based recurring community membership offering exclusive content, early access, and supporter benefits to dedicated horror fans.
• Audio Horror (HorrorBabble partnership) Audio drama podcast series produced in collaboration with HorrorBabble, featuring dramatic adaptations of classic horror literature and original horror audio content.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fantasia International Film FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial coverage partner for Fantasia International Film Festival, providing reviews, interviews, and event reporting for the Canadian genre film festival celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026. Rue Morgue serves as a primary media outlet for festival coverage.
• HorrorBabblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudio drama content partnership featuring HorrorBabble productions on Rue Morgue's platform, including adaptations of classic horror literature and original audio content. The partnership includes series like WEREWOLVES AND DOG MEN and other horror audio drama content.
• Slimeball CineramaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent screening partnership with Detroit-based monthly cult film screening series. Rue Morgue co-promotes screening events branded as 'Rue Morgue presents' events.
• Slimeball CineramaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent screening partnership with Detroit-based monthly cult film screening series featuring free screenings of cult horror films.
• Strike Back StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Strike Back Studios for novelization projects including BURNING PALMS, SPIRIT HALLOWEEN: THE MOVIE, OLD HENRY, and THE UNITED STATES OF INSANITY. Encyclopocalypse Publications serves as the publishing partner.
• Encyclopocalypse PublicationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublishing partnership for horror film novelizations in collaboration with Strike Back Studios, covering titles like BURNING PALMS and SPIRIT HALLOWEEN: THE MOVIE.
• Maverick FilmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFilm distribution partnership for coverage of SPEED DEMON film release through theaters, VOD and digital platforms.
• Complex CorpminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFilm distribution partnership for coverage of SPEED DEMON film release through theaters, VOD and digital platforms.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IndieWire: Major independent film trade and consumer outlet with significant horror and genre film coverage. Overlaps with Rue Morgue on festival reporting, reviews, and industry interviews at the same festival circuit.
• Shudder: Leading horror-specialty streaming service that also produces editorial content, festival coverage, and curatorial programming. Not a print publisher, but competes for the same horror enthusiast attention and ad/subscription dollars.
• Nerdist: Broad pop-culture and genre editorial site covering film, TV, and comics including significant horror content. Competes for the same general enthusiast segments and digital advertising inventory across horror titles.

Direct peers

• Birth.Movies.Death: Genre-focused film editorial publication covering horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. Overlaps with Rue Morgue in horror film coverage and shares contributor crossover, including alumni writing for both outlets.
• Diabolique Magazine: Independent horror and genre film magazine with print issues and digital editions, comparable in scope and audience to Rue Morgue's print and digital magazine products.
• HorrorHound Magazine: Horror magazine paired with horror conventions across multiple cities, sharing both the publishing and live-event pillars that Rue Morgue operates through its Expo and screening events.
• Dread Central: A long-running digital horror news, review, and interview site covering film, TV, books, and events. Mirrors Rue Morgue's editorial pillars in a digital-only format, targeting the same horror enthusiast audience.
• Bloody Disgusting: Horror-focused digital outlet with original video, news, reviews, and a paid streaming service. Competes directly with Rue Morgue for horror fans' attention on news, podcasts, and YouTube video content.
• Scream Magazine: Print and digital horror magazine publishing film reviews, interviews, and features. Closely comparable product format and editorial scope to Rue Morgue's flagship magazine.
• Fangoria: The leading horror-genre magazine and digital publication, with a long history and similar mix of print issues, editorial reviews, original video, and genre festival coverage. Directly comparable in audience, content categories, and editorial voice to Rue Morgue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/RueMorgue
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCniP19g8LDzouyVotsYL4sg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ruemorguemagazine
• Instagraminstagram.com/ruemorguemag
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rue-morgue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rue Morgue Magazine