five cinematic lockdown halloween costumes
Halloween is nearly upon us, and here in the United States, we are all either stuck at home or forced to work in the public during a pandemic. Regardless, there is no safe Halloween party fun going on. And nowhere to go to show off our carefully crafted looks.
Mostly, this is fine by me, because I will never be able to top my look last year of Keanu’s John Constantine. THE ABSOLUTE POWER I HAD. I have never looked or been cooler. I was sauntering. I spent two solid days post-Halloween wondering if I should get forearm tattoos. It was a time to be alive.
(For my pre-pandemic day job at a children’s informal learning institution, last year I went for a more child-friendly costume of last-minute Lionel Messi [we aren’t gonna talk about how I realized I somehow had full Barcelona kit—including shorts and socks] complete with a mate gourd, and two little girls seeing me from the back got very excited and whispered to each other: “It’s him! It’s Messi!” But, then, I turned around, and no one in the history of ever has been more disappointed to see my face then those small children. Sorry!)
ANYWAY. All of this rambling chatter to say, just because we are stuck inside, I don’t think we need to entirely give up Halloween costumes this year. We just gotta adapt and use what we have on hand. So, with that in mind, I present five nearly ready-to-go costume options from movie favorites past and more recent past: presented in order of me thinking of them while writing this post.
1. Maxwell Frere in Dead of Night (1945), as played by Michael Redgrave
Now, this is really getting into spooky season. I am honestly leaning most heavily to making this my personal Halloween costume.
Need:
Mascara
Eyeliner
Single Tear
Feeling of Dread of Being Abandoned By Your Only Friend (who is also your worst enemy and is also ventriloquist’s dummy)
This is a great costume idea! Super low-effort, but with great spooky returns. One tip: make sure your mascara/eyeliner is not waterproof as you will want it to properly smear when you get upset. It’s optional, but you can also consider a great mirror set-up to stare into while in emotional agony. If you don’t have a mirror, staring out the window is a great option too.
2. Alex Wyler in The Lake House (2006), as played by Keanu Reeves
This is for you if your approach to the season is something a little less spooky and a little more cozy.
Need:
Cozy, Zip-up Pullover
Many Tears
Pot of Soup
This costume just says oooh, I love quarantining alone and enjoying a pot of soup that I made myself. To be completely accurate, you will need to talk to your soup (and other inanimate objects around the house): in the film, Keanu famously says, “Come to papa!” while pouring out his soup into his bowl. For an optional extra bit of spice, consider becoming pen pals with someone a couple of years in the future, and/or spending time alone working through a painful parental relationship. It’s all up for grabs costume-wise, as long as you remember to cry copious empathetic tears throughout.
3. A Ghost in The Uninvited (1944)
This costume may require some outside materials, but nothing you won’t be able to reuse at a later date. It’s also very spooky!
Need:
Mimosa Perfume
Tears (to taste)
Unfinished Business (optional)
This costume is great if you want to truly make your presence known with a big splash. You just need to apply a little bit o’ mimosa and wander about your home wailing. OR, you just douse some spots in your house in mimosa and then whenever you walk by these areas—it will be super freaky and as if you are haunting yourself. The best part about this one: absolutely no crafts or construction needed, but you may need to buy mimosa if you don’t have it on hand. I know I said the unfinished business is optional, but really it does make the costume pop—so consider it what takes things to a next level.
4. Bella Swan in Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009), as played by Kristen Stewart
Okay, so this going to be the first costume in this list that—crucially—does not require tears, so if those are not readily on-hand for you, then this might be the best option.
Need:
Hoodie (or sweatshirt)
Flannel
Sweats (or other comfortable pants)
Long Underwear (optional)
Chair
Window
Absolute Saddest Song You Know
I do not claim to be an expert on Bella Swan’s wardrobe, so if you want a more in-depth how-to on the costume, I will recommend this wiki-how that promises to teach you how to dress like Bella Swan: “Do you love Bella? If so, this article will explain how you can dress and look like your idol!”
The key to this costume is actually making sure you do not cry any tears. Absolute crushing sadness is however on the table. Sit in a chair, stare out your window, and play the saddest song you know—and you will have absolutely nailed this seasonal cinematic look. Check out the video below for more in-depth inspiration.
5. Anne Elliot in Persuasion (2007), as played by Sally Hawkins
Some of us love a more historical costume—something that lets us leave our current century and think about the past possible versions of ourselves, or just to dabble in some ornate old fashion. This is the look for you, and thankfully it’s a simpler spin on the classics.
Need:
Extremely Greasy Hair (that appears to have been unwashed for quite sometime)
Eyes Glistening with Unshed Tears
Longing
Regret
Journal
This is a look for Halloween 2020. While you should have most of the supplies on-hand, it does require a bit of advance preparation when considering the hair. Do not wash it for as long as it takes to work up a greasy sheen if that is possible with your hair. If you cannot work it up to a greasy sheen, at least make sure to pull it as severely away from your face as possible. While the stoic unshed tears look is the most obvious variety of Anne Elliot, you do always have the option of full-on sobbing if you like that version more. Journaling about everything going on around you (or not going on around you) while occasionally stopping to look straight into an optional camera is the best way to complete the look.
I hope these have given you some helpful options for the upcoming indoor holiday. Stay safe in there!
Also, also, lol, you know I was not gonna end this post without some shots of my 2019 Meg LIVING THE ABSOLUTE DREAM TO BELIEVE !!!! (those are candy cigarettes—nothing untoward is allowed in these asthmatic lungs of mine):
byeeee! Be back soon for more 1966 posts—got temporarily distracted by an extremely ludicrous television program that I am honestly going to leave nameless until I finish it and can determine whether or not I can retcon my watching it as being me appreciating an underrated masterpiece.