Ten cult characters to get inspired by this Halloween

Patrick Bateman is leaning against the fridge chatting up Audrey Hepburn with a smirk. The twins from The Shining have locked themselves in the toilet. Mia Wallace is trying to lure Wednesday Addams onto the makeshift dance floor. Do you ever get the feeling that you've been to this Halloween party before? While looking to cinema for your costume inspiration come October 31st is a good shout (at least, one that’s a lot better than appropriating from other cultures) it can be easy to tread the overly-obvious territory. So, we’ve put together some other options. Not everyone will know who you are, but hey – that what makes these costumes a good conversation starter.

THE BASEBALL FURIES, THE WARRIORS (1979)

Want to make sure no one messes with you this Halloween? Dress up as a Baseball Fury, a member of one of the most fearsome gangs from 1979 film The Warriors. With ghoulish painted faces, athletic uniforms and baseball bat weapons, the Furies were one of the crews stalking the streets of NYC, blocking the path of the Warriors as they attempted to journey home to Coney Island. Most importantly though, their crew aesthetic was on point.

AMY BLUE, THE DOOM GENERATION (1995)

Oh, Amy Blue. Foul mouthed, firey and totally fierce, Rose McGowan’s character in The Doom Generation means business. In a black dress, dogtag necklace and Dr Martens (and later sporting retro pink and a plastic mac) her character goes on the run from an accidental murder with fellow outlaws Jordan and X. Her look was inspired by punk rock and the Californian hardcore scene – as costume designer Cathy Cooper explained recently, “She was a direct reference to ‘that chick’ that used to hang out with bands. Not a chick in a band, but a chick that used to hang out with bands. Two different things!”

DIVINE, PINK FLAMINGOS (1972)

Oh Divine. John Waters’ shoestring budget film Pink Flamingos was the one that launched the drag icon into the American consciousness, thanks to her taste-pushing quest to become the filthiest person alive. With sky high eyebrows, huge, overdrawn lips and very tight clothes, Divine made her mark on cinema through her exaggerated self presentation, making her fertile ground to draw on for fancy dress inspiration. Dog and faeces optional though.

COUNTESS BATHORY, DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS (1971)

Daughters of Darkness has literally everything you could want from a 70s horror movie. Lesbianism? Yep. S&M? Yep. Death by fruit bowl, complete with spurting, luridly red blood? Yep. When a young pair of newlyweds stay at a hotel on the Belgian coast, they aren’t betting that a vampiric countess and her young companion will be their only fellow guests – but that’s just what happens in this flick. Countess Bathory (yes, that is a reference) is alternately clad in red chiffon, silver sequins (very Dior), and purple marabou feathers, her old Hollywood, Marlene Dietrich glamour only beaten by her bloodlust. Tres chic.

THE GANG, FASTER PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! (1965)

This one’s perfect for a gang of friends (gender irrelevant, you could do some great drag of this). Ross Meyer's classic 1965 exploitation film features a pack of go go dancers that race cars through the desert, unafraid to kidnap (or kill). Lead by real-life badass Tura Satana, the statuesque brunette with winged liner as sharp as her tongue and a sexuality that was years ahead of those touted elsewhere on screen in the 60s, this film comes full of retro badass inspiration.

MICKEY AND MALLORY, NATURAL BORN KILLERS (1994)

Lucky enough to have a SO that shares your passion for satirical mid 90s, hallucinogenic crime flicks? Dress up together as coordinated killers Mickey and Mallory Knox from Oliver Stone’s 1994 trip Natural Born Killers. The two of them showcase a series of excellent looks as they rampage across America, from matching red outfits to Woody Harrelson sporting boyband white-on-white. Just don't forget your snake rings and pact signed in blood.

ASAMI, AUDITION (1999)

Audition is one of those films that has moments that are actually almost impossible to watch. That’s all down to Asami, the cult Japanese horror’s piano string-wielding serial killer with a penchant for chopping off people’s feet. Don’t let her sweet, buttoned up exterior early on in the film fool you – she soon turns into a leather apron-clad maniac. If The Texas Chainsaw Massacre taught us anything, it’s that no one nice in a horror film ever wore an leather apron. Her latex gloves are quite chic though.

FOXY BROWN, FOXY BROWN (1974)

With her fro (the perfect place to conceal a handgun), wide collars and flares, Pam Grier stars as Foxy Brown in this 1974 exploitation movie, a wronged woman on the hunt to find out who is reponsible for the slaying of her boyfriend. Epitomising 1970s style, Brown is arguably the most well dressed revenge heroine ever to grace our screens. She’s not afraid to take out an enemy, and looks absolutely killer (sorry) while doing so. 

THE ALCHEMIST, THE HOLY MOUNTAIN (1973)

The Holy Mountain is widely regarded as one of the most insane visual epics ever made. A psychedelic tale of twisted religious symbolism and colourful surrealism, director Alejandro Jodorowsky didn’t just call the shots, he also took a starring role. Appearing as The Alchemist in white robes and a tall hat (and flanked by some taxidermy goats) he also featured in an all-black version of the look. Just make sure to include the handlebar moustache.

BOB, TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME (1992)

David Lynch has the power to make totally banal looking characters into cold sweat-inducing visions that look like they've been thrown straight from your nightmares (see: the guy behind Winkies, the Mystery Man – also valid costume choices). Case in point, Twin Peaks’ BOB – and what may be one of the most terrifying characters in TV and movie history (despite barely speaking any lines). This costume is low maintenance – just get a enim jacket and lank grey wig, and lurk behind sofas.