As new horror movies hit theaters, fans rush to their local cinema to indulge in all things scary. However, when it comes to horror classic films always have seniority among fans of the genre.
When peering back on the most iconic films within the horror drama it’s not just the plot of the film that sticks with fans, a lot of the time it's the outfits that go down in history and become staples every time the films are brought up in conversation. So here are five iconic horror movie outfits!
Carrie (1976)
Carrie (1976) starring Sissy Spacek was based on the Stephen King novel of the same name and the screenplay adaptation was written by Lawerence D. Cohen. The horror mystery film told the story of Carrie White, a timid teenage girl with no friends coddled by her overbearing, religious mother (played by Piper Laurie). After being humiliated by her classmates at the senior prom Carrie begins to murder her senior class as she unleashes telekinesis powers.
Carrie’s satin pink prom dress has become an iconic piece of clothing in pop culture, with many recreating the look of the blood-drenched prom queen for Halloween. Carrie has since been remade into a musical and there was also a remake in 2013 that starred Chloe Grace Moretz in the role of Carrie, where she too wore the iconic satin pink prom gown.
The Shining (1980)
The Shining starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall was also based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. The screenplay was written by Stanley Kubrik and Diane Johnson. The Shining is a horror drama that tells the story of a family that travels to a hotel during the winter months and are met an eerie presence that sends the father into violence, meanwhile his son who wields psychic abilities is able to peer into the horrific events of the past and what's to come.
The most iconic scene in the film is unarguably when the Grady sisters (played by Louise and Lisa Burns) appear and recite the iconic “come play with us” line. As the girls recited this line they wore matching light blue ruffled dresses adorned with a pink bow in the center. This dress has also earned its credit in Hollywood and is a staple during the Halloween season due to its iconic nature.
Scream (1996)
Scream starring Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox was directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. Scream tells the story of a girl grappling with the murder of her mother, who a year after her mom's tragic passing finds herself being terrorized by a new killer, who then begins to target her close friends as well, utilizing horror movies as a part of their horrid murder plot. Since the release of the first film, Scream has now become a well-established horror franchise that has produced five films, with a sixth on the way.
Scream also had a short-lived television series that ran on MTV for three seasons from 2015-2019. Scream has established itself as an iconic piece of cinema not only due to the film's material but the costumes. The killer wears a Ghostface mask which is a massive part of the franchise’s brand, and it's one of those things everyone can recognize even if they’ve never even viewed anything Scream-related.
It (2017)
It stars Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Martell, and Finn Wolfhard in the adaptation of the 1986 Stephen King horror novel of the same name. It tells the story of a group of children in the town of Derry, Maine. As children start to disappear in Derry the group of kids set out to discover the truth and are met with Pennywise the murderous clown (played by Bill Skarsgård).
It was well received when it was released in 2017 due to its comedic nature, exhibited by its youthful cast, and Skarsgård’s commitment to the role of Pennywise. Pennywise, a spooky clown ensemble adorned with the classic red balloon he uses to lure children into his trap, has become an iconic staple in pop culture, with many recreating the memorable.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The first film in the horror franchiseA Nightmare on Elm Street stars Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, and Johnny Depp in his film debut. The film follows Nancy Thompson (played by Heather Langenkamp) as she attempts to discover the hidden truths behind why she and her close friends are being targeted by the spirit of a serial killer with a blade-adorned glove during their dreams.
Freddy Krueger was created by Wes Craven and in addition to his bladed glove, he wears a red and olive striped sweater and a fedora. The creepy killer is a staple within the horror genre and the costuming is one of the most recognizable and iconic out there. Many have recreated the look and still do to this day.