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Fashion is subjective. What looks good, or horrifying, to one person might be boring to another. What unites these killers is a distinct and memorable look, something that sets their character apart, whether they’re clean and pampered or covered in blood. There’s a reason these killers stay in audiences’ nightmares. Here are some of the most fashionable villains in horror movies.
8 Pennywise – It
White greasepaint, cowlicked red hair, and ruffles might not scream fashion icon, but somehow Pennywise pulls it off. The clown from It is an unforgettable monster, not only because he has a nasty habit of leering at little kids from the sewer, but also because he is dressed to the nines. In white, no less, which is quite the risk given the amount of blood he’s willing to spray around.
Horror films are flooded with clowns, some more memorable than others, and for Pennywise to beat all of them when it comes to a gorgeous look is saying something. This is one of the best horror remakes thanks to Pennywise.
7 Dracula – Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Another classic horror character that has seen countless treatments throughout the decades, Dracula has been done a thousand different ways, but nowhere is he done better than in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Francis Ford Coppola’s gothic horror masterpiece gives viewers Gary Oldman as Dracula, and it’s not to be missed.
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Fashion aficionados know that texture plays as much a part in a great outfit as visuals do, and Dracula capitalizes on this truth expertly. Laces, leathers, silks, and other textures blend in a tapestry of feeling, all of it done in gorgeous reds, whites, and blacks to provide a strong contrast. To top it all off, his entire look is a thematic riff on the themes of elegance and immortality, tying the character’s look back into the story.
6 Sil – Species
Species is in many ways a divisive film, beloved by many in the horror community despite its numerous flaws. There is one aspect of the film upon which basically everyone agrees, however: the villain, Sil, is impeccably dressed.
An alien-human hybrid on a mission to mate with a human man and thereby bring about the destruction of the earth, Sil is smart, strong, and blessed with regenerative capabilities. These talents, in tandem with her ability to disarm her potential victims through charm (an ability enhanced by her pitch-perfect style), make her a potent killer and a legitimate threat to the entire planet.
5 Rose The Hat – Doctor Sleep
Jack Torrance pressing his face into the door after smashing it with an ax almost always tops the list of most memorable moments from Stephen King films. Without question, The Shining is full of such imagery, from the twins to the Big Wheel scene to the flood of blood. Yet Jack himself pales in comparison to the villain from the sequel when it comes to fashion.
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A person doesn’t get the name Rose the Hat without having a hat worth talking about, and her top hat is. Add to that a variety of colorful scarves, braids, and stylish jacket, and Rose the Hat is one of the best-dressed villains around, in King films or otherwise.
4 Patrick Bateman – American Psycho
Patrick Bateman is a fascinating character who shakes up the traditional slasher format, his appearance is a huge reason why. It isn’t just that Bateman is perfectly groomed at all times, it is that he is obsessed with this grooming. To him, impeccable appearance is a sign of power, importance, and control, three things that mean more to him than almost anything else.
Watching a character wax lyrical about the importance of a good exfoliating gel scrub before dropping a chainsaw on someone is a unique experience in horror cinema. American Psycho is a glorious cultural satire, one of the best around, and Bateman’s fixation on his appearance is a significant part of that.
3 Candyman – Candyman
In the 19th century, a black artist is murdered after his girlfriend’s wealthy white father learns of their relationship and sends a lynch mob after him. Cut to the present where a series of murders shakes the neighborhood of Cabrini-Green.
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Candyman is easily recognizable for his gorgeous coat of suede leather. In part because of his carefully chosen wardrobe, Candyman has an overwhelming presence: whenever he appears, he dominates the scene with his charisma. His appearance before Helen in the parking garage, the supernatural killer silhouetted against the broad windows before he finally draws close enough to make out the finer details of his look, is one of the film’s best.
2 Hannibal Lecter – Silence Of The Lambs
Hannibal Lecter is a killer who takes his appearance seriously. Even during his imprisonment in a psychiatric facility, he maintains as clean and polished a look as possible, managing to make even his blue jumpsuit look somehow dapper.
Between the slicked black hair and the perfect creases in his outfit, Hannibal serves as the perfect aesthetic contrast to Buffalo Bill, the other major villain in Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal’s affinity for sartorial greatness only becomes more evident after he escapes and has the opportunity to craft his appearance to his liking, as is the case in the sequel.
1 Pinhead – Hellraiser
The Cenobite affectionately known as Pinhead famously describes himself and his companions as “Demons to some, angels to others,” so it’s only fitting that his wardrobe should be divine. A mixture of black leather, chains, hooks, and of course the pins from which his nickname is derived, Pinhead’s style is part of what makes Hellraiser such a memorable and cherished franchise.
Chatterer, Butterball, and the Female may not have penetrated popular culture as thoroughly as the Hell Priest has, but all of them boast mesmerizing looks. Doug Bradley’s performance, voice, and movements elevate Pinhead that much more, making Pinhead’s villainous style one of the greatest of all time.
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