Jack-O'-Lantern
Noam GalaiEveryone loves making jack-o'-lanterns for Halloween, but have you ever thought about becoming one? Grab a black dress and lots of face paint to complete this evil look.
Krampus
Taylor HillIf you're not familiar with the lore, Krampus is a half-goat, half-monster that punishes misbehaving kids at Christmastime. Think of it as the opposite of Santa Clause. And, while it's no easy costume, the effort will definitely be worth the scares.
Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter
WWDI can't be the only one who still gets full body shivers when I see Voldemort's face. Just make sure to have a bald cap and lots of face makeup for this one.
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Sweet Tooth from Twisted Metal
Peacock//Getty ImagesDid anyone else have to stop watching Twisted Metal after the pilot episode because Sweet Tooth the killer clown was just too damn scary? No? Just us? Okay.
Alexa and Alexie Grady from The Shining
David M. Benett//Getty ImagesDressing up with your bestie? Then you've gotta go with the blue dresses and black Mary Janes worn by the creepy twins in The Shining.
Samara from The Ring
Taylor Hill//Getty ImagesTerrifying for whoever answers that doorbell. Super long hair, a dirt-covered nightgown, and creepy voice make this a classic. Also, please do not come to my house.
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Broken Porcelain Doll
Gary Gershoff//Getty ImagesFact: Old porcelain dolls are creepy AF (especially when they get up and start walking around). Put your hair in pigtails, throw on a baby doll dress, and paint on a creepy doll face with makeup to give everyone the creeps.
Ghostface from Scream
Roy Rochlin//Getty ImagesThis one's a classic, and since it doesn't require much more than a black cape and white face mask, it's something you can pull together last-minute, too.
Chucky
Paul Archuleta//Getty ImagesThe doll of everyone’s nightmares, TBH. A striped shirt, overalls, red wig, and fake stitches will turn you into the demonic toy. Bonus points if you find someone else to go with you as Chucky's bride.
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Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street
Roy Rochlin//Getty ImagesSure, there hasn't been a new addition to the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise in over a decade, but everyone will still recognize this iconic killer.
The Tethered from Us
Gotham//Getty ImagesAll you need is a red jumpsuit, fingerless gloves, scissors, and a raspy voice to pull off the best impression of the Tethered from Us. Also: good group costume.
Billy the Puppet from Saw
Barry King//Getty ImagesIn honor of Saw X, why not dress up as everyone's (least) favorite puppet?? Bonus points if you ride into the party on a tricycle.
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Ouija Board
Rodin Eckenroth//Getty ImagesWith an all-black 'fit and some black-and-white face paint, you can transform yourself into a walking, talking Ouija board. Talk about a genius last-minute costume idea!!
Pennywise from IT
Ollie Millington//Getty ImagesHere's some advice: Don't ever follow a clown into the sewer. Just DON'T DO IT. Give yourself the same red-and-white makeup as Pennywise to scare the living sh*t out of everyone.
Zom-Beyoncé
Gregg DeGuire//Getty ImagesLove puns? Love scary costumes? Love Beyoncé? Then you've simply gotta put a ring on this costume idea, bb.
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Zombie Prom Queen
Charley Gallay//Getty ImagesSpeaking of zombies! You can do a "zombie" version of pretty much any classic costume to achieve a scary look, but this zombie prom queen getup is particularly creative.
Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz
Gilbert Carrasquillo//Getty ImagesLooking for the ultimate scary couple's costume? It's gotta be Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz.
The Bride in Black from Insidious
Taylor Hill//Getty ImagesWanna take the Old Woman from the Insidious franchise and make her ~sexy~? Here's how to do it!!
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Michael Myers from Halloween
Daniel Zuchnik//Getty ImagesThis chilling character requires almost no effort if you want to make him your costume. Grab a mask, wear dark clothing, carry around a fake knife, and walk very, very slowly to achieve the same look. Bonus points if you're tall.
Carrie
David M. Benett//Getty ImagesNote: You don't have to use actual pig's blood in order to recreate that infamous prom scene in Carrie.
Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
Brooke Shunatona is a contributing writer for Cosmopolitan.com.
I'm Cosmopolitan's Associate Fashion Editor and write about any and all trends, major celeb fashion moments, and why wide-leg jeans are basically the best. I originally moved to New York City to audition for RENT, only to find out that the play closed 10 years ago.
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