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While Halloween in 2020 may look quite different than it has in years past, people can still get creative and dress up! Thankfully, there’s still time to decide on a fun and easy costume to put together for spooky festivities (even socially-distant ones). And what better place to look for inspiration than the weird and wonderful world of science fiction movies?
Halloween and sci-fi have a lot in common. Both science fiction and Halloween’s more horror-themed content exist in the greater realm of “speculative fiction,” and capture the imagination and allow people to escape into different worlds or identities. Both also rely heavily on inventive, often iconic, costumes. With the release of incredible sci-fi movies and TV in the past year, and some highly anticipated sci-fi projects coming in 2021, it makes sense to draw inspiration from this fascinating, inventive genre.
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So this Halloween, look to the stars and check out this year’s list for some of the best sci-fi inspired Halloween costumes, including alien worms, time-inverting special agents, and more.
Sandworm From Dune
Audiences will have to wait another year until Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Dune, but the release of the film’s trailer in early September has already given viewers a glance into the desert planet of Arrakis and those who inhabit it. Among those inhabitants are the sandworms, one of the most iconic staples of science fiction. Also known as Shai Hulud, sandworms are vital to the Arrakis’s ecology and its native people, the Fremen.
To transform into this massive, otherworldly beast, cover a play tunnel in a neutral colored cloth like a sheet. Add a trifold mouth made of cardboard to mimic the worms in David Lynch’s 1984 Dune or add bristles to stick to Villeneuve’s version. The great thing about this costume, or any other costume from Dune, is that it can be re-used next October when the film releases.
The Protagonist From Tenet
The Protagonist in Christopher Nolan’s Tenet may not have a name, but he (along with the rest of the film’s characters) has impeccable style. John David Washington’s lead character learns about time inversion and works to save the world, all while wearing a collection of incredibly dapper suits. Tenet‘s costumes were heavily influenced by James Bond, dressing the time-bending protagonist and those around him to the nines.
The only item needed for this costume is a dashing suit. Since none of Nolan’s leads ever dress poorly, a suit could also turn someone into a character from Inception or even characters in his Batman trilogy. To make the costume more specific to Tenet, add an oxygen mask, which the characters use to breathe when inverted, for extra detail. To take the costume even further, do everything in reverse — maybe not for the entirety of Halloween, but just enough to highlight an impressive aspect of one of 2020’s most talked about movies.
Bill and Ted From Bill And Ted Face The Music
2020 marked the return of everyone’s favorite time-traveling duo in Bill & Ted Face The Music. In the third installment in Bill and Ted’s adventures, the two work together to write the song that will save the world. Bill and Ted aren’t the only ones trying to create this song, though. Their daughters, Billie and Thea, are along for the ride as well, recruiting famed musicians across history to create a legendary band. The film is a fun revival of two beloved characters, either of whom would make for a most excellent Halloween costume.
There are a number of ways to approach a Bill and Ted costume, including copying their street attire on the film’s poster or throughout the film. Alternatively, copying the logo of Bill and Ted’s iconic band the Wyld Stallyns onto an old T-shirt would be a quick and easy way to dress up as either member of the duo (or a fan!). To round out a full group costume, get people to dress as Billie and Thea, with a funky printed shirt and overalls for Thea and a blue shirt and handkerchief for Billie.
Neo and Trinity From The Matrix
Another iconic Keanu Reeves character makes an appearance on this list, just in time for the upcoming release of The Matrix 4 in 2021. The coolest computer programmers to ever save the world, Neo and Trinity both died in Matrix Revolutions. However, with both Neo & Trinity set to return in the fourth installation of the Wachowski sisters’ groundbreaking series, there is no better time to revisit the world of The Matrix and its iconic aesthetic.
To transform into Neo or Trinity, wear an all black outfit and dark sunglasses. Leather is especially prevalent in The Matrix, so add as much leather as possible to fully commit to the costume. Add a long, flowing black coat as well for extra dramatic effect. Like with the Dune costume, this will stay relevant next October, in anticipation for The Matrix 4‘s December release.
The Masked Characters From HBO’s Watchmen
The cast of HBO’s critically acclaimed, award-winning series Watchmen features several potential costumes. In an alternate world where police wear masks to protect their identities and masked vigilantes used to fight crime, Detective Angela Abar, also known as Sister Night, investigates the white supremacist organization the Seventh Kavalry and discovers a vast and insidious conspiracy. Masks — and what they do to their wearers — are explored throughout the show, and there is a reasonable amount of skepticism surrounding masks’ roles in vigilante justice.
Despite the critique of masked heroes in Watchmen, several of its characters would make incredible Halloween costumes. Wear an all red red outfit with a red ski mask to become Red Scare, or an all black outfit with a bandana and grey mask to become Pirate Jenny. For a more surreal look, dress up as Looking Glass with a silver reflective mask and plain street clothes. Sister Night’s instantly iconic outfit is a good option as well, with a dramatic black hood, mask, and band of black face paint across her eyes (although would be a bit more difficult to assemble). A simple purple eye mask and gold clothing help recreate Ozymandias’s look. Finally, blue face paint and a bald cap make for an easy transformation into Doctor Manhattan, one of the most powerful and memorable aspects of all of Watchmen.
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