Top 5 Scary Halloween Costumes for 2018

It’s official. The 2018 NFL season has kicked off. Pumpkins are popping up everywhere. People are stocking up on candy and cider.

And if you love everything to do with Halloween, you’re probably as excited as Michael Meyers here…

Pretty soon, things are going to get pretty spooky. If you’re looking to cause a scare this year, now is the time to start planning your costume.

We’ve all seen zombies, werewolves, and vampires. And don’t get us wrong. These classic costumes can be downright terrifying when done right.

But you may be looking for something a little more outside the box.

Are you looking for scary Halloween costumes that are as frightening as they are unique? Don’t wait until the last minute to start planning your scary costume this year. Here are 5 Halloween costumes ideas to help inspire the inner monster within you!

1. Demon

It’s no secret that humans have had a long fascination with the concept of demons for thousands of years. Ancient Greeks considered daemons to be benevolent, powerful entities. They were once seen as similar to ghosts and guiding spirits. When Christianity rose, demons started to have a malevolent connection with Satan.

No matter how you personally view demons, they can inspire very scary Halloween costumes. Sure, you could spend $60 on a devil costume or witch dress at Party City. But one of the great things about the demon costume is how DIY-friendly it is.

The horns, of course, are the highlight of any demon costume. There are lots of ways to create a horned headpiece. Some people have used aluminum. Others have used clay, paper mache, or even foam. You can also create devil horns and glue them to your forehead.

Every demon costume needs a creepy outfit to go along with it. And there are really no limitations to this. Women can wear anything from a black jumpsuit to a goddess dress and so on. Men can wear black suits, warrior costumes, or even loincloths if they want to go all out.  

2. Voodoo Queen/King

Voodoo queens will be among the best Halloween costumes for women this year. And this Halloween, you can look both fabulous and scary as a fierce and ruthless voodoo queen.

The base of your costume will be a loose-fitting, long-sleeve dress. The dress can either be solid colored or patterned to your choosing. You can go for a look that’s inspired by Creole, 19th-century fashion. Or, you can even be a voodoo queen from another generation (you’re immortal, after all).

You’ll then need lots of beaded necklaces, bangle bracelets, and rings. Complement the rest of your jewelry with big hoop earrings or statement earrings. And don’t overlook the importance of a Creole-inspired headscarf or wrap!

Angela Bassett as Marie Laveau in American Horror Story: Coven
Photo from PopSugar

Colored contact lenses can make any voodoo queen costume look spooky. And there’s no shortage of lenses to choose from. White lenses can make you look possessed by a spirit you’ve summoned with voodoo. Reptilian contact lenses can make it seem like you’ve got the snakes on your side. Or, you can go for a basic red or purple lens to create a wrathful look in your eyes.

Go All out as a Voodoo Queen or King

There are a few options as far as accessories go. A fake skull or a faux voodoo doll are the go-to choices. You can also rock a toy snake around your shoulders.

Are you looking to find Halloween costumes for couples? Have your significant other go as a voodoo king! Here’s what they’ll need:

  • A black top hat (decorated with bird feathers)
  • A suit with dress shoes
  • A spooky cane with a skull head or covered in bird feathers

Skeleton makeup is the main feature of the voodoo king costume. After all, it’s inspired by Louisiana voodoo. And even the voodoo queen herself can arrive on Halloween clad as a skeletal version of herself.

3. The Demogorgon

Once a creature only Dungeon & Dragons fans knew, the Demogorgon is now a pop cult staple. All thanks to Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things. And if you’re a fan of the show and are looking for Halloween costumes ideas, bring the Upside Down to our world on October 31st.

In 2016, image artist Carl Leck debuted one of the best Demogorgon costumes anyone has ever seen. Leck created a headpiece that opened and closed with the flick of his wrist.

Carl Leck’s Demogorgon costume
GIF Source

We’re not saying you should go all out like Carl Leck (though it would be pretty awesome if you tried). You could certainly buy a Demogorgon costume. And though it’ll be a challenge, it is possible to create your own DIY Demogorgon costume this year.

Different Ways to Create a Demogorgon Costume

First, you’ll need a dark brown, dark green, gray, or black bodysuit. Then, cover the bodysuit with a mixture of these colors using fabric paint.

The Demogorgon is from the Upside Down, an alternate dimension that’s dark, cold, sticky… and let’s just say downright scary. To make it look like you’ve come straight from the Upside Down, hot glue some fake moss and leaves.

You could also go all out and paint your body. And though the Demogorgon probably doesn’t wear clothes, we do recommend wearing a loincloth.
The most challenging part of this costume will be creating the Demogorgon mask. But if you’re up to the challenge, check out Ellimacs SFX’s Demogorgon mask. With a little time and elbow grease, you’ll be able to create your own and turn heads this Halloween:

Don’t forget your clawed hands

4. Rosemary

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the debut of the horror classic, Rosemary’s Baby. The film stars Mia Farrow as Rosemary, who conceives and gives birth to the Antichrist.

Mia Farrow’s blonde pixie cut in the film was iconic both in 1968 and now. And it was her gaunt, sickly appearance that viewers find most haunting. Whether you’re a fan of the film, one thing remains certain:

Rosemary will be one of the creepiest Halloween costumes for women this year. And it’s also one of the more simpler scary Halloween costumes you can create.

Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby
Time Entertainment

First, you’ll need any colorful, 1960’s-inspired mod dress. Or, you could wear a long-sleeved blue nightgown, which is what most people will remember from the film.

If you already have a pixie cut, you’re in luck! But even if you don’t, never fear. You can never go wrong with a short-haired, blonde man wig. There’s also nothing wrong with rocking your natural hair – long or short.

Different Variations as Rosemary

There are a couple of options when it comes to dressing as the mother of… well, the Antichrist. You could stuff your dress and pretend you’re pregnant. It’s easy to create a fake pregnant belly. Or, if you’re already pregnant, you can honor your baby bump as the iconic Rosemary.

You could also carry around a toy baby or push a black stroller, just like Rosemary does in the film. If you do carry a toy baby around, be sure to make it demonic looking like below:

Ginnifer Goodwin as Rosemary

A Rosemary costume wouldn’t be complete without a pale complexion and dark eye bags. Powder your face to make it look flushed of all life. Then, use a brown and black eyeshadow palette to make it look like you haven’t slept in weeks.

If you like the Rosemary’s Baby theme, have a friend or significant other go dressed as a devil (see point #1 for ideas). Rosemary with the Devil is not one of the more common Halloween costumes for couples. But you can poke fun at the concept of an evil family all while celebrating the classic horror film.

5. Cesare

Looking for spooky Halloween costumes ideas that are low-budget and last-minute friendly?

Look no further than 1920’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari! The German silent is not only historically significant for laying the seeds of film noir. It’s also memorable for one creepy character who has haunted movie-goers for nearly a century.

Who Was Cesare?

In the film, Dr. Caligari awakens a young man by the name of Cesare from a coffin, where he has slept for the last 23 years. Cesare, under the spell of Dr. Caligari, goes on to commit murder. Cesare terrorizes his victims, leaving viewers questioning where the real mystery lies.

Dressing up as Cesare is quite simple. In the film, his character wears a black turtleneck with a white-as-a-ghost complexion. Cesare also has black lips and black triangles forming under his eyes.

Cesare from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Basement Rejects

A Cesare costume pays a great homage to one of the first horror films ever made. The costume is equally easy and spooky. Men and women alike can channel the inner, sleepwalking monster inside them. And it’s perfect whether you attend a horror film screening or a haunted house this Halloween.

What about costume ideas for couples that celebrate The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari?

If you want to dress up alongside your significant other or friend, have them go as Dr. Caligari! His costume is also simple, as he wears a black suit, a black top hat, and round spectacles. Dr. Caligari also has wacky and long straw-like gray hair. He certainly looks the part of a mad scientist.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
A View to a Queue

Cause a Fright with Scary Halloween Costumes This Year

Although it’s only still September, Halloween is surely well on its way. Whether you choose one of these costumes or go a different route, now is the time to plan!

What will you do this year to celebrate and show off your creepy Halloween costumes ideas?

Visit Haunted Houses This Halloween!

Haunted houses are the perfect place to show off your scary Halloween costumes. You can very well scare and impress bystanders with your costume when you go. You can also converse with fellow Halloween enthusiasts and share your ideas.

Interested in visiting haunted houses in the Dallas region? There’s no better haunted house experience than Thrillvania! You can choose to roam the haunted corridors of Verdun Manor. Or, you can dare to enter Cassandra’s House of Clowns or trek down Sam Hain’s Trail of Torment. Get your tickets today!