PopHorror Let's Get Scared
In addition to offering up some blood and guts, horror movies also feature some amazing costumes! In this list, we’ve chosen some popular films – and some you may not have thought of – to find all of the best costumes, starting way back in 1980 and ending right here at the present. I also included a few that may not be horror films in the classic sense, but contain horror elements. But all of them share the same thing: amazing costumes! Here they are, in no particular order. Enjoy!
Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997)
The real tale of Snow White, starring Sigourney Weaver and Sam Neill, is a story of relentless terror and unimaginable horror. When young Lilli’s mother dies during childbirth, her father soon re-marries the well-intentioned Lady Claudia.
But the horror is just beginning. Sigourney Weaver is just fantastic as the jealous stepmother, and a charismatic Gil Bellows smolders as the bitter, scarred “dwarf” who comes to Lilli’s aid. This adult version of the classic tale is fresh and exciting, and the costumes are just perfect! This is, hands down, the best of the modern adaptations of Grimm’s fairy tales!
Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)
In 18th century France, the Chevalier de Fronsac and his Native American friend, Mani, are sent by the King to the Gevaudan province to investigate the killings of hundreds by a mysterious beast.
This is one of my favorite films of all time. It’s a perfect mash up of action, period drama, conspiracy, horror, romance and martial arts. And it all works. They had some great costumes, too! Be still my beating heart. The film is in French with English subtitles, but don’t let that scare you away. There is so much action, you’ll never even notice!
Byzantium (2012)
Residents of a coastal town learn, with deathly consequences, the secret shared by the two mysterious women who have sought shelter at a local resort.
This grossly underseen gem by Neil Jordan is one of the best vampire films out there. The costumes range from regency to modern times, all helping to frame the tragic story of two women simply trying to survive. Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Arterton are amazing as the two outsiders clinging to each other for survival.
The Company of Wolves (1984)
A teenage girl in a country manor falls asleep while reading a magazine, and has a disturbing dream involving wolves prowling the woods below her bedroom window.
Another one from Neil Jordan, who specializes in gorgeous costumes and lush scenery. This fairy tale-like film is an incredible twist on both the werewolf genre and the Little Red Riding Hood story. Presented in tales told by various characters throughout the movie, the costumes range from village peasant to the rich, lush nobility of a wedding party. Even years later, this film still holds up well, and remains a great watch.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
The centuries old vampire Count Dracula comes to England to seduce his barrister Jonathan Harker’s fiancée, Mina Murray, and inflict havoc in the foreign land.
A sumptuous telling of the Dracula legend, this film has some of the best costumes of this bunch!
The Cell (2000)
An F.B.I. Agent persuades a social worker, who is adept with a new experimental technology, to enter the mind of a comatose serial killer in order to learn where he has hidden his latest kidnap victim.
Cell is a unique and daring visual film of its time that still holds up today. There are scenes from this film that I remember years after I first watched it, all thanks to the unbelievable costumes, especially the mask on Jennifer Lopez! WOW!
Crimson Peak (2015)
In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds – and remembers.
A truly beautiful gothic ghost story with lush trappings and jaw dropping costumes.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Ichabod Crane is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of three people, with the culprit being the legendary apparition, The Headless Horseman.
It wouldn’t be a costume list without including Tim Burton. This is one of my favorites, with rich costumes that pop against a near black and white background of the spooky woods.
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Interview With the Vampire (1994)
A vampire tells his epic life story: love, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger.
Yes, another Neil Jordan movie. What can I say, he knows how to make a costume horror movie! This film is positively dripping in ribbons and silks, a beautiful juxtaposition to the blood that will be spilled.
Underworld franchise
Selene, a vampire warrior, is entrenched in a conflict between vampires and werewolves, while falling in love with Michael, a human who is sought by werewolves for unknown reasons.
The best words to describe this film are leather and silicone. The suits and coats in this series are amazing! They tell a story of their own and add so much style to the feel of the film.
Van Helsing (2016)
The notorious monster hunter is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula who is using Dr. Frankenstein’s research and a werewolf for some sinister purpose.” I’m always impressed when someone can kick some major ass in a corset (those things are not comfortable), and the rest of the clothes in this film are absolutely to die for.
So, there we have it! Are there any films you think we missed? Let us know in the comments below! Stay tuned to PopHorror for an upcoming list on the best costumes in horror films before 1980, and a list of the best costumes in TV horror series.
