The top 10 Halloween costumes for 2012
By Simon Miraudo
October 26, 2012
Picking the perfect Halloween costume is a tricky business. How do you capture the Zeitgeist, inspire genuine laughter (or chills), display ironic detachment, and still look good? Like we said: tricky. At Halloween parties across the country, you can expect plenty of PSYs and Honey Boo-Boos (and probably a dearth of Lance Armstrongs). Stand out from the crowd with our crop of movie-related outfits, all culled from the biggest pop cultural sensations of the year (well, excluding the floptastic #8). We've also provided handy cost estimates, in case you're hoping to keep prices down this year. Because the only thing scarier than Halloween is the economy, right? Hello (*taps microphone*), is anyone out there?
10. Loki from The Avengers
Though Tom Hiddleston's villainous Loki is eighth billed in the all-star superhero flick, his flowing locks and asexual demeanour mean he's the Marvel costume of choice for men and women alike.
Cost: $200, not including Tesseract.
9. Monsieur Oscar from Holy Motors
In the befuddling Holy Motors, Monsieur Oscar (Denis Lavant) travels Paris and poses as a variety of individuals, bleeding into their lives before making his way to the next appointment. The genius of this costume is that you can go as Monsieur Oscar as yourself. No need to dress up at all.
Cost: $0 if you take our advice, or $150 for the spandex body-suit.
8. Anyone from Rock of Ages
So many choices! You could dress as Tom Cruise's boozy rocker Stacey Jaxx, though you'll need a Malin Akerman lookalike so you can sing "I Want to Know What Love Is" into her behind. Or, perhaps you'd like to go as Alec Baldwin's club owner Dennis Dupree. Make sure you perfect his ever-present, not-so-subtle expression of shame and embarrassment!
Cost: Your dignity.
7. Bane from The Dark Knight Rises
If you can pull it off, it's a great look. If your physique does not match that of the ginormous Tom Hardy, you may want to rethink it.
Cost: $960 for a gym membership, and here's hoping you joined 12 months ago.
6. Joe from Looper
Do you go as old Joseph Gordon-Levitt or young Bruce Willis? Why not both?!
Cost: $140 for the leather jacket. $2 for a bag of those fake candy lips (hey, they're more convincing than whatever Jo Go wore in the film!).
5. Katie from Paranormal Activity 4
Katie (Katie Featherston) literally just looks like a regular woman, and if you are a regular woman, you are in luck.
Cost: You should already have jeans and a t-shirt. $10 for comfortable pyjamas if you want to go back to the original look. The invisible presence that is inexplicably tormenting you without relief comes free.
4. Suzy Bishop from Moonrise Kingdom
Scout uniforms are timeless, but 2012 is all about knee-high socks, short pink dresses, and dark eye makeup. That, and bird outfits. Therefore, Kara Hayward's Suzy is the one you should be imitating out of Wes Anderson's colourful cast.
Cost: Depends. What kind of bird are you?
3. Tony Mendez from Argo
Seeing as Movember begins the day after October 31st, this will be your last chance to show off a beard as impressively groomed as Ben Affleck's in Argo. Look at it. Just look at it. Also, those suits! Those haircuts! The entire cast pretty much looks like they're at a Halloween party all the time.
Cost: $16 for a beard-grooming comb, and the rest is pure testosterone.
2. Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games
There will likely be a lot of archers roaming the streets this year (Merida, Hawkeye, Kevin), but Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is best with the bow. You have two choices here: Katniss' efficient survival gear, or that flaming unitard she wore at the opening ceremony. Officially, we encourage you to select the former, but one of those outfits is definitely cooler than the other.
Cost: $7000 in medical bills.
1. Magic Mike from Magic Mike
Alright, alright, alright, alright! Fellas, find yourself a tearaway tracksuit and your Magic Mike outfit is set. If Channing Tatum's build is a little intimidating, you could always don a cowboy hat to dress (and then undress!) like Matthew McConaughey's Dallas. Or, for the more hirsute gents, perhaps playing Kevin Nash's Tarzan is the way to go. There is a smorgasbord of options here.
Cost: Cost? Baby, this thing will make you money.
