It’s hard to believe, but 2015 is now in the twilight stage. The nights are beginning to draw in, and in many parts of the western hemisphere leaves are falling from the trees. Halloween is just over a month away and horror movie mayhem is foremost on many of our minds. With Hollywood running low on original horror movie ideas (the world didn’t ask for a remake of ‘Poltergeist’, although ‘Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse’ could be fun,) it is the classics that still scare the bejeezus out of us on repeat viewings. I’m one of those people who dons scary masks every Halloween (what can I say? I’m a nerd and proud.), and I find the classic horror staples come to the fore. With that in mind, I’ve committed the cardinal sin of doing a ‘list post’. Bear with me though, because if (like me) you get stuck on trying to be original at Halloween, some of my suggestions might help you out.
IT
If you’ve never read the book or seen the film, I have one piece of advice for you; don’t. This classic Stephen King horror put me off clowns for life. It didn’t help that I was already scared of them, but the book and film cemented my opinion. Clowns are horrible. So is this mask. Great for Halloween. Not so great for me.
Jeepers Creeper Mask & Hat
You don’t have to wear a complex costume to be terrifying. This mask and hat from the ‘Creeper’ in ‘Jeepers Creepers’ is simplistic horror at its best. Many will disagree about the merits of the film (I personally thought it was pretty good), but the hat lends the mask a subtlety which gives the costume great impact!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve1tYjA8_cY
Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde
I first read ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ when I was 10. It scared me then and the various film adaptations have always fascinated me. One of the best starred Michael Caine if can you believe it (I disagree with the Rotten Tomatoes average of 52%). This mask is great as you can just take it off when you want to be Dr Jekyll.
Emily the Corpse Bride
Halloween isn’t actually supposed to be about doom and gloom. Tim Burton’s ‘Corpse Bride’ (which I own on DVD) is a charming gothic reminder of that fact. If you’re looking for something different this year, going as Emily (the eponymous bride of the title) will do the job.
Ash
Ashley James Williams. If you don’t know the name, then you haven’t watched the film. And you shouldn’t try this mask. Which is awesome. But it’s obviously not for you.
They Live
They don’t make ‘em like they used to. The world is not what it seems and when Nada discovers a pair of sunglasses showing the world as it really is, what he sees is enough to make you question the world around you. Great film (thank you John Carpenter!), and a fun mask to wear on Halloween.
Friday the 13th
Who was the murderer in the original film? If you can answer that, you deserve to wear the now classic hockey mask.
Hellboy (& Hellboy 2)
Technically I wouldn’t class this as a horror film at all. It is however a fantastically creepy mash up of Lovecraft, Clarke, King and many other master horror story tellers. Hellboy might be a wisecracking good demon, but the things he fights are still pretty unnerving. I dare anyone not to be a little creeped out by Kroenen, a man with dust in his veins and a CV whose credits include ‘Hitler’s Top Assassin’. Don’t even get me started on the Angel of Death in the second film.
Jaws
Again is it really a horror film? I’m not so sure. What I am sure about is the impact that shark had on my respect for the ocean. Jaws epitomises all our fears of the unknown in one single bite.
Chucky
Everyday objects that we take for granted can easily be transmuted into primal fears. The Chucky films may not be the best horror movies, but they are memorable just for that doll. Toys coming to kill you? It’s a nightmare I’ve had, thanks to Chucky.
All of these Halloween masks have been found at Universal Fancy Dress
