Editorials
10 Underrated Horror Villains to Dress as This Halloween
The best time of the year is finally upon us! This means you’re likely already thinking costume selection if you haven’t already plotted one out. The Halloween stores are stocked with current trends, like Stranger Things costumes, or classic favorites like Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees. If you’re tired of the same options or just don’t want to show up to the Halloween party where there are already 5 other Elevens from Stranger Things, then here are 10 underrated horror villains to dress as this Halloween:
Victor Crowley – the Hatchet series
With the surprise newest entry of this beloved franchise currently on tour in the Victor Crowley Road Show, one could argue that this horror villain isn’t exactly underrated. Yet, the Hatchet series still feels more cult appreciated than the mainstream love it deserves. As for assembling this costume, Trick or Treat Studios made a fantastic Victor Crowley mask available on their site or through Amazon. With a few more easy finishing touches, like overalls and prop weapons, you have an easy costume that will make party-goers intimidated.
Billy Murphy – The Final Girls
This horror comedy doesn’t get nearly enough love, and neither does its slasher villain Billy Murphy. A clear parody of films like the Friday the 13th series, Billy Murphy shares a resemblance to Jason Voorhees. Instead of a hockey mask, Billy has a comical tiki mask. Don’t have coveralls? That’s ok, Billy Murphy is more the black pants, shirt, and jacket type. Easy costume assembly representative of a fun horror comedy.
Any – Killer Klowns from Outer Space
With the smashing success of IT at the box office, you can almost guarantee Pennywise will be a hot costume commodity this Halloween. That makes this the perfect time to bring this cult classic to the forefront. The best part is that there’s no shortage of costume ideas to be taken from the colorful clown villains featured in the film. Jumbo, Fatso, Shorty, and so many more, all are perfect for terrorizing those with coulrophobia this Halloween. Trick or Treat Studios developed costumes for many of the Killer Klowns, though you could always make your own. Not into the idea of being a clown? That’s ok; you could always be one of their victims in cotton candy cocoons instead.
Lola – The Loved Ones
For an easy costume of an underrated, yet chilling horror villain, look no further than Lola “Princess” Stone. Wearing a simple pink dress and a pink paper crown, Lola dubs herself her own Queen of the dance as she tortures her victims for rejecting her, all in search of her own prince. Lola’s standards are impossibly high; making anyone she sets her sights on very unfortunate. Lola is a worthy horror villain with an easy ensemble to emulate- making her a great costume selection this Halloween.
Dr. Phillip K. Decker – Nightbreed
Played by horror master David Cronenberg, the movie’s first introduction to this horror villain is the opening sequence that sees the masked psychotherapist systematically murder an innocent family, including the children. The mask is creepy enough, but Decker’s cold demeanor and calm intelligence make him the true terror of the movie. In a world where monsters of all shapes and sizes exist, it’s the serial killing human that we’re afraid of. A burlap sack-like mask with button eyes and a zipper mouth paired with a suit makes for an easy, yet terrifying costume.
Candyman – Candyman
Not only is this supernatural urban boogeyman severely underappreciated, but he would make one awesome Halloween costume this year or any year. The bees, the hooked hand, and even the exposed flesh- the Candyman, thanks in large part to Tony Todd’s performance, is equal parts terror and class. For all of the horror icons cosplayed at horror conventions or Halloween parties, I have yet to see a Candyman. Can we change that, please?
Julia Cotton – Hellbound: Hellraiser II
While poor Kristy Cotton’s wicked stepmother proved to be a real villain in the first film, the sequel allows Julia to truly shine as the evil killer unleashed from hell. Even without skin, men still fall for her wiles, not realizing how deadly she is until it’s too late. While Frank Cotton simply wanted to free his hellish prison in the first film, overachiever Julia wants to rule in it as a Cenobite herself. One of the most ruthless horror villains of all time, Julia’s Bride of Frankenstein inspired outfit would make for an excellent costume.
Leslie Vernon – Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Nathan Baesel’s performance as the eponymous Leslie Vernon is pure heart and humor. This slasher lovingly pokes fun and dissects the slasher sub-genre in mockumentary style before giving way to full-on film during the climax. For those that prefer dressing as a character full of charm that doesn’t take themselves too seriously, Leslie Vernon should be your pick. The overalls allow for more breathing room, you know, if you need to do a lot of cardio this Halloween. And don’t forget the flame-retardant gel underneath the mask if you think your Halloween party might get out of control. Then again, you don’t even have to have the mask to pull this one off.
Officer Matthew Cordell – Maniac Cop 2
Why the sequel version of NYPD’s worst nightmare? While any iteration of the undead Maniac Cop would work, this sequel gives the character a cool makeup upgrade. As for the franchise itself, Robert Z’Dar delivers an iconic performance, and Larry Cohen films are always a blast. Not only is the series worth seeking out and watching, but Halloween could use more Maniac Cops. Cop costumes are super easy to find this time of year, so why not upgrade it into something horror related?
Angela Franklin – Night of the Demons
Night of the Demons is quintessential Halloween. Holding a Halloween party at Hull House is all fun and games until party host Angela Franklin performs a séance and unleashes evil demons within. So iconic and cool, Angela becomes the centerpiece for the entire trilogy. The best part about dressing as Angela is that you’ve got multiple stages of Angel’s possession to choose from. Gothic black wedding dress, tiara, and jewelry and you’re all set for pre-possession. Throw in fangs, contacts, and blood? Even better. Major points to those daring enough to take her full demonic mode.
What will you be dressing as this Halloween?
Editorials
‘Leprechaun Returns’ – The Charm of the Franchise’s Legacy Sequel
The erratic Leprechaun franchise is not known for sticking with a single concept for too long. The namesake (originally played by Warwick Davis) has gone to L.A., Las Vegas, space, and the ‘hood (not once but twice). And after an eleven-year holiday since the Davis era ended, the character received a drastic makeover in a now-unmentionable reboot. The critical failure of said film would have implied it was time to pack away the green top hat and shillelagh, and say goodbye to the nefarious imp. Instead, the Leprechaun series tried its luck again.
The general consensus for the Leprechaun films was never positive, and the darker yet blander Leprechaun: Origins certainly did not sway opinions. Just because the 2014 installment took itself seriously did not mean viewers would. After all, creator Mark Jones conceived a gruesome horror-comedy back in the early nineties, and that format is what was expected of any future ventures. So as horror legacy sequels (“legacyquels”) became more common in the 2010s, Leprechaun Returns followed suit while also going back to what made the ‘93 film work. This eighth entry echoed Halloween (2018) by ignoring all the previous sequels as well as being a direct continuation of the original. Even ardent fans can surely understand the decision to wipe the slate clean, so to speak.
Leprechaun Returns “continued the [franchise’s] trend of not being consistent by deciding to be consistent.” The retconning of Steven Kostanski and Suzanne Keilly’s film was met with little to no pushback from the fandom, who had already become accustomed to seeing something new and different with every chapter. Only now the “new and different” was familiar. With the severe route of Origins a mere speck in the rearview mirror, director Kotanski implemented a “back to basics” approach that garnered better reception than Zach Lipovsky’s own undertaking. The one-two punch of preposterous humor and grisly horror was in full force again.
With Warwick Davis sitting this film out — his own choice — there was the foremost challenge of finding his replacement. Returns found Davis’ successor in Linden Porco, who admirably filled those blood-stained, buckled shoes. And what would a legacy sequel be without a returning character? Jennifer Aniston obviously did not reprise her final girl role of Tory Redding. So, the film did the next best thing and fetched another of Lubdan’s past victims: Ozzie, the likable oaf played by Mark Holton. Returns also created an extension of Tory’s character by giving her a teenage daughter, Lila (Taylor Spreitler).
It has been twenty-five years since the events of the ‘93 film. The incident is unknown to all but its survivors. Interested in her late mother’s history there in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, Lila transferred to the local university and pledged a sorority — really the only one on campus — whose few members now reside in Tory Redding’s old home. The farmhouse-turned-sorority-house is still a work in progress; Lila’s fellow Alpha Epsilon sisters were in the midst of renovating the place when a ghost of the past found its way into the present.
The Psycho Goreman and The Void director’s penchant for visceral special effects is noted early on as the Leprechaun tears not only into the modern age, but also through poor Ozzie’s abdomen. The portal from 1993 to 2018 is soaked with blood and guts as the Leprechaun forces his way into the story. Davis’ iconic depiction of the wee antagonist is missed, however, Linden Porco is not simply keeping the seat warm in case his predecessor ever resumes the part. His enthusiastic performance is accentuated by a rotten-looking mug that adds to his innate menace.
The obligatory fodder is mostly young this time around. Apart from one luckless postman and Ozzie — the premature passing of the latter character removed the chance of caring about anyone in the film — the Leprechaun’s potential prey are all college aged. Lila is this story’s token trauma kid with caregiver baggage; her mother thought “monsters were always trying to get her.” Lila’s habit of mentioning Tory’s mental health problem does not make a good first impression with the resident mean girl and apparent alcoholic of the sorority, Meredith (Emily Reid). Then there are the nicer but no less cursorily written of the Alpha Epsilon gals: eco-conscious and ex-obsessive Katie (Pepi Sonuga), and uptight overachiever Rose (Sai Bennett). Rounding out the main cast are a pair of destined-to-die bros (Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins, Ben McGregor). Lila and her peers range from disposable to plain irritating, so rooting for any one of them is next to impossible. Even so, their overstated personalities make their inevitable fates more satisfying.
Where Returns excels is its death sequences. Unlike Jones’ film, this one is not afraid of killing off members of the main cast. Lila, admittedly, wears too much plot armor, yet with her mother’s spirit looming over her and the whole story — comedian Heather McDonald put her bang-on Aniston impersonation to good use as well as provided a surprisingly emotional moment in the film — her immunity can be overlooked. Still, the other characters’ brutal demises make up for Lila’s imperviousness. The Leprechaun’s killer set-pieces also happen to demonstrate the time period, seeing as he uses solar panels and a drone in several supporting characters’ executions. A premortem selfie and the antagonist’s snarky mention of global warming additionally add to this film’s particular timestamp.
Critics were quick to say Leprechaun Returns did not break new ground. Sure, there is no one jetting off to space, or the wacky notion of Lubdan becoming a record producer. This reset, however, is still quite charming and entertaining despite its lack of risk-taking. And with yet another reboot in the works, who knows where the most wicked Leprechaun ever to exist will end up next.
Horror contemplates in great detail how young people handle inordinate situations and all of life’s unexpected challenges. While the genre forces characters of every age to face their fears, it is especially interested in how youths might fare in life-or-death scenarios.
The column Young Blood is dedicated to horror stories for and about teenagers, as well as other young folks on the brink of terror.
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