Few things are as satisfying as devising the perfect Halloween costume, and even more so when said costume could not have even existed the previous Halloween. Pop cultural references are always a good idea, of course, but even more fun is taking inspiration from the most feverishly discussed horror movies of the year so far. Here, we present five releases that have birthed endless (and relatively easy) options.
There are many iterations of Inde Navarrette’s Freaky Nikki that you could go as this Halloween: blood-splattered and hysterical in a cute, red-and-black zebra-print going-out top; lounging Nikki in a red headband and zip-up polo; having-a-meltdown-in-a-restaurant-Nikki in off-the-shoulder knitwear… Curry Barker’s jump-out-of-your-skin thriller has no shortage of memorable options. Bonus points for putting fake vomit down yourself.
The highly committed can pay tribute to Kane Parsons’s sunshine-yellow fever dream by recreating Chiwetel Ejiofor’s demented, pastel-coloured pirate gear. As for those looking for a low-lift option? Renate Reinsve’s vaguely vintage, wide-lapelled shirt and dark trousers – preferably accessorised with loafers, a boxy grey blazer and a gold locket necklace – feels infinitely more doable.
For a truly last-minute Halloween look, just dig out your favourite tomato-red cocktail dress and speak in Emily Blunt’s clicking alien voice to become weather gal Margaret Fairchild from Steven Spielberg’s mind-bending sci-fi spectacle. Or, if you’d rather go as Colin Firth’s corporate villain, might I suggest pairing your navy blue suit with a black turtleneck, creepy, slightly other-worldly contact lenses, a clear mouth guard and some fake brain-wave monitors taped to your forehead?
Three pathways are available to you when it comes to Jane Schoenbrun’s campy, blood-soaked slasher romance. Firstly, you can go as Jack Haven’s Little Death, the killer at the centre of the fictional franchise, in a dirty hazmat suit, with an air vent-shaped helmet and long spear. Or, Gillian Anderson’s Billy Presley, in her old Hollywood glam – think, low-cut 1940s-style dresses and silky robes topped off with a bejewelled turban or wide-brimmed felt hat. Or, indeed, Hannah Einbinder’s filmmaker Kris, in her unforgettable final look: a little pink crop top and slouchy pyjama bottoms soaked in gore, particularly ideal if you’re hosting an at-home soirée and want to keep things comfy. Whatever you decide, there’s no bad choice here.
Yes, Nicolas Winding Refn’s latest neon-drenched nightmare, which premiered at Cannes earlier this year, isn’t yet in cinemas (it lands on screens in the UK next week). But, why not be ahead of the kerb and dress as its heroine – Sophie Thatcher’s steely actress Elle, who is stalked through the mist by an evil spirit called the Leatherman – in dazzling Paco Rabanne-style paillettes, almost cartoonish ’60s trench coats and eye-popping face gems, while carrying a dainty (fake) golden hatchet? If you’re after a more high-fashion, gloriously over-the-top reference, this is it.