Critique And Costume: 5 Films That Double As The Perfect Halloween Look

If you’re anything like me, Halloween is more than a holiday to you. It’s a day of self-expression to advertise your creativity to the world and finally try that bold makeup look you’ve been eyeing for months.

Endless scrolling on various social media apps, such as Pinterest and TikTok, has allowed me to see the close connection between Halloween and film. As a self-proclaimed film girl myself, I was intrigued by the cultural impact and wanted to apply the phenomenon to five of my own favourite flicks. 

So what is it about these films that are so memorable? And how do their stylistic choices make them such interesting Halloween costumes? 

Bram Stoker’s Dracula 

Bram Stoker’s Dracula, directed by none other than Francis Ford Coppola, can only be described as a gothic triumph! From the tragic yet complicated romance between the titular figure and Mina (played by Winona Ryder) to the theme of vampirism as a metaphor for sexual awakening, Coppola creates an eccentrically rich adaptation of Bram Stoker’s original novel. 

Set in the late 1800s, a young lawyer (Keanu Reeves) is sent to the mysterious Count Dracula’s (Gary Oldman) home to finalize a land purchase and discovers that his wife resembles Count’s late lover, who suffered a tragic death. 

The film takes inspiration from the filming techniques of early Hollywood, allowing for a truly classic feel. Such is relayed through the film’s costumes, with the pastel dresses of the girls representing their innocence, then stained red through sexual reawakening into vampirism. Mina’s final gown is a deep, passionate red textured with frill. 

The dress itself, along with her intricate half-up hairdo, works to inspire a beautifully classic Halloween costume — fully complete with vampire teeth. Finding pieces in that deep red will work to emulate the character perfectly.

Bodies Bodies Bodies

Finding a film that does the horror-comedy genre justice is almost impossible. Halina Reijn’s Bodies Bodies Bodies is a delightfully refreshing take on the genre, combining relevant humour and all the elements of a good murder mystery.

The film’s star-studded cast, including Amandla Stenberg, Rachel Sennott, and Pete Davidson, allows for a whirlwind of iconic moments that raved audiences and critics alike, scoring an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The best thing about this movie? It makes a killer group costume! 

Layering neon colours, a sturdy pair of jorts and a chunky belt will pay homage to Amandla Stenberg’s Sophie, the surviving protagonist with a complicated past. 

Emulate Rachel Sennott’s insanely quotable character Alice with a crochet top paired with black leather pants and shimmering pale blue eyeshadow. Accessorize with glow sticks that represent how, even in its darkest moments, Sennott’s perfectly dry wit cements the film as a horror comedy. 

And finally, with a standard black tank and green cargos — alongside a headlight — you can be Jordan, played by Myha’la, the logical yet morally ambiguous member of this twisted friend group. Her complicated dating history with Sophie, as well as her growing suspicions of her friends’ budding relationships, adds some much-needed external conflict to their already extreme situation.

Be sure to put your makeup skills to the test because blood and dirt are key accessories for each.  

Yes, I’m painfully sparse on the actual details of the movie itself, but with this type of film, you need to watch blind. The fun of it is following these characters on this hilariously creative take of the “Who’s the Killer?” scenario so often played out in classic horror films.

Sophie, Alice and Jordan’s dynamic on screen is insanely memorable, with each actor’s performance brilliantly shining in the infamous podcast scene that never fails to make me laugh. 

Trust me, this group costume is iconic, iconic, iconic. 

Brokeback Mountain

Has a film ever stopped you dead in your tracks with just how insanely poignant it is? If not, you’ve clearly never seen director Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain.

A landmark in LGBTQIA+ representation of the early 2000s, this film depicts the complicated yet tragic love story of Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, two cowboys navigating their love for one another in 1960s rural America. 

It paved the way for how queerness is represented in modern film by humanizing the simplest action of love. The film’s main theme is just simply that, and how nobody has the right to deny LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals of love because of their harmful bias. 

The roles that the film’s actors, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, play in this fight for mainstream representation are admirable, and it’s extremely important to create a space in which queer couples of all kinds can dress up in the same way straight couples can. 

Ennis Del Mar is reserved and quiet, a tortured soul with a heart of gold. He’s dressed in muted tones that allow him to blend into his surroundings, as he is afraid of being made a target. His most iconic look consists of a white cowboy hat, a beige corduroy jacket, and the muted plaids of his button-up shirt.

In contrast, Jack Twist isn’t afraid of his identity, instead led by love rather than fear. His personality is reflected through his daring denim outfits, starkly contrasted by the black cowboy hat he so often dons. Most importantly, his cowboy boots represent his true self — as someone brave enough to stand out against all odds to fuel his desires. 

This film’s impact is undeniable, and this costume is definitely something “I wish I knew how to quit.”

juno

Honestly, this is a costume I’ve seen quite a few times, but I couldn’t help to include it just because of how much I admire the film’s creative humour. 

Juno is a film that knows exactly what it is and doesn’t even entertain the idea of changing itself. Following the journey of 16-year-old Juno (Elliot Page) navigating teen pregnancy, this film is delightfully heartwarming and lighthearted. 

With an ensemble cast including talents such as Michael Cera, J.K. Simmons, and Jennifer Garner, the importance of strong familial bonds and the everlasting gift of friendship shine. 

Juno herself is an unapologetically weird and relatable character tasked with finding herself through such a physical challenge. Her image is notably associated with a striped shirt that covers her baby bump, layered with thick, durable plaid jackets. Jeans, sometimes layered with a corduroy skirt, are essential. Your most important accessory? A convenience store-sized jug of Sunny-D. 

Michael Cera’s character, Paulie Bleaker, is your average awkward yet somehow charming teenage boy. His most consistent outfit from the film is his track-and-field uniform, consisting of a red sweatshirt and bright yellow shorts. The outfit is tastefully brought together through the use of yellow sweatbands on his head and wrists. 

Through the warm tones and creative accessories, this costume allows you to emulate the feeling of watching a fall movie with someone you are truly “in love with… I mean, as friends.” 

challengers

The final look on this list comes from a film that has refused to leave my mind since my first viewing in May 2024. 

Challengers is an addictive, chemistry-altering grand slam of a film. Filled with some of the year’s strongest performances from Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist, this film beautifully explores complex relationships through the use of tennis. 

Tennis is dialogue in this film. Each match, each foul, and each time they swing their rackets is their way of communication. It’s tennis that fuels Art and Patrick’s friendship, as well as their complex love for Tashi. 

This toxic love triangle immediately spoke to me — it’s so rare to see such three-dimensional characters on the screen, so much so that the audience is constantly debating who the true “villain” is. 

Every decision Challengers makes is bold, from its creative and tense camera work to its sometimes clunky editing. Each aspect of the film only strengthens this masterpiece of a script — especially its costumes. 

Tashi is most aligned with her outfits, each look carrying a massive distinction between her sense of self before and after her accident. Although, her most iconic look features a sharp bob and big sunglasses, and a full white piece tennis outfit she wears while on the court. It emulates the youthfulness of a girl unphased by the trials of life just yet. It’s sleek and so stark. And like Tashi, if you choose to wear this, all eyes will be on you. 

The character Art is divided through multiple scenarios during the film. He finds no joy in the sport that used to fuel him, allowing him to contrast Patrick in the most tragic of ways. He feels out of place living out Tashi’s dream, something ever so subtly reinforced through his final outfit — an all-white polo and shorts.

It pays homage to Tashi, visually showing her impact on his career. No longer is Art in the pigmented colours and backward caps of his youth. Both looks effectively capture the essence of the character at two very different periods of his life, and both can easily be emulated in a cost-efficient manner. 

Patrick, as a character, stood out to me the most. From a boy who had everything looking up for him to a man living out of his car, yearning to cast away the Art-sized hole in his heart, Patrick is a visual representation of Challenger’s main themes of relationship. His final look on the court is mismatched, pairing khaki shorts with his black muscle tank. The clothes he wears directly contrast with the clean-cut white fabric of Art’s, highlighting just how different their lives are without each other. 

Whether you are in a group of three or just by yourself, Challengers is the costume of 2024. Its immense success and attention to detail through costume design allow for the perfect look that will have me saying, “I Told Ya.”

The role of costume design is integral to film, as it adds another layer to these already fantastic stories. Whether you emulate the horror genre or pay homage to one of your comfort films, a film-inspired Halloween costume is always a success in my book. 

So now, put your best foot forward and be ready to win all those costume competitions this year. 

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