There are a lot of options when it comes to picking your Halloween [1] costume. There are those who like to be trendy, so they pick a pop culture Halloween costume [2] that personifies something that happened this year. Others like to travel back in time and dress as their favorite nostalgic characters from the '90s [3]. And still others just want to dress up as Beyoncé [4]. But what about the scary side of Halloween? Think of these as ways to freak out your friends.
Hannibal Lecter, The Silence of the Lambs
- What to wear: Find an orange prison jumpsuit, pair it with that infamous mask, and, if you want, a straitjacket. If you really want to go all the way, you can absolutely have someone strap you to a dolly.
- How to act: Dr. Lecter is a calm, calculating mastermind and a veritable genius. You might want to imitate the way he says, "Clarice."
Jigsaw('s Doll), The Saw Movies
- What to wear: A black suit with a red bow tie. You could probably find a mask of the face, but it's also easy to paint on! Bonus points if you can find a squeaky red tricycle.
- How to act: Just roll around on your squeaky tricycle, and in the deepest voice you can, say, "I want to play a game."
Samara Morgan, The Ring
- What to wear: A dirty white dress, and a long, ratty, black wig.
- How to act: Go for the full effect and crawl around on all fours, or just walk toward people like you're going to suck the life out of them.
Pennywise the Clown, It
- What to wear: If you can find a clown suit that matches Pennywise's, more power to you. The important details are the terrifying makeup, the razor-sharp teeth, and that awful wig.
- How to act: You feed from fear. The more the scare people, the more gleeful you are. He's the definition of a deranged clown.
The Fisherman, I Know What You Did Last Summer
- What to wear: A big fisherman's jacket with a high collar and an oversize hat. Carry around a giant hook.
- How to act: Don't speak, just brandish your hook at people.
Freddy Krueger, A Nightmare on Elm Street
- What to wear: Even if you can't find a way to pull off that burnt-up face, you should be good with a stripped sweater, a fedora, and those terrifying finger-blade gloves.
- How to act: You have to be a little maniacal. Freddie haunts your dreams, murders you in cold blood, and laughs the whole way.
Ghostface, Scream
- What to wear: Ghostface masks are a dime a dozen, and so are black cloaks. You're pretty set on this one.
- How to act: Like you'll stab anyone at anytime.
Leatherface, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
- What to wear: Any sort of dirty, Western-looking clothes will work. Find a mask that either looks like Leatherface's, or one you can turn into it. And, of course, you have to have a chainsaw.
- How to act: Incredibly violent and simple-minded, with no rhyme or reason to your aggression.
Pinhead, Hellraiser
- What to wear: You might want to go the mask route on this one, and there are plenty of Pinhead masks to be found. Pair with dark armor or a dark cloak.
- How to act: Like you are not of this world, or this dimension, and you're angry at any and all insolence.
Michael Myers, Halloween
- What to wear: Find a janitorial sort of jumpsuit, and the Michael Myers mask is another common one that shouldn't be hard to come by.
- How to act: Brutish, slow, and deadly.
Jason Voorhees, Friday the 13th
- What to wear: A ratty, dark shirt, pants, and jacket. And of course, the bloody hockey mask. Carry around a machete.
- How to act: Like you're in a murderous rage and can't be stopped.
The Miner, My Bloody Valentine
- What to wear: Any manner of dark clothing is fine; what's most important is the head lamp and the gas mask. Also, a pickax is pretty crucial.
- How to act: Bloodthirsty and merciless.
Chucky, Child's Play
- What to wear: The most childish outfit you can find (specifically overalls) and a redheaded wig. Carry around a baseball bat and add doll makeup.
- How to act: Like you're ready to terrorize anyone and everyone who gets in your way.