Deathless Style: Menswear In Horror Films
by Ben St. George
Normally when you refer to tailoring as a horror show the implications aren’t so good - however the spookiest of movie genres has a surprising amount of entries full of great clothing, and menswear in particular. To celebrate Halloween this weekend, we’re cracking open the coffin lid on six such films (five and a show, technically) - and finding some frighteningly good looks.
The Hunger (1983)
This slow-burn vampire horror film starring David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon is as chic as they come. Bowie’s looks are absolute winners all the way down, from all-black-everything tailoring (worn, naturally to see the band Bauhaus, who appear as themselves), to pastel summer suiting, a powerful raglan glen-check coat and a really killer robe.
Hannibal (2013 - 2015)
Yes it’s a TV show, not a film, but unlike Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (or Brian Cox in Michael Mann’s masterful Manhunter), Mads Mikkelsen’s deliciously evil portrayal of everyone’s favourite cannibal is set primarily before his incarceration, giving him a chance to demonstrate his sartorial acumen with a vast array of indulgent tailoring, and a particular zest for Prince of Wales checks.
American Psycho (2000)
Christian Bale’s towering performance as yuppie-killer Patrick Bateman in the film adaptation of Brett Easton Ellis blacker-than-black satire is the stuff of legend. The film’s meticulous reconstruction of 1980s Alan Flusser-esque power suiting reintroduced the style to the lexicon nearly two decades after Gordon Gekko first made pinstripes, suspenders and contrast collars a thing.The Omen (1976)
One of the best horror films ever made, and a late period masterpiece for Gregory Peck, The Omen is a genuinely unnerving watch. As diplomat Robert Thorn, Peck gets some splendid Seventies tailoring, from a beautifully cut charcoal pinstripe suit and a smart duster coat to a very tony glen plaid sports jacket. A pity he adopted the Antichrist!
The Birds (1963)
Birds - they’re up to no good! A million nightmares were launched by such a simple premise. On the run from their avian adversaries, we have Tippi Hedren (chic) and Rod Taylor, who gets a couple of smart Sixties suits. His casualwear has some really standout looks as well - the cream boatbuilder sweater with neckerchief is good, and the tailored cargo chinos (in 1963!) are even better.
The Thing (1981)
Scarier (and grosser) than Alien, John Carpenter’s The Thing blends extraterrestrial spooks with psychological tension (the thing could be anyone!) and some truly wild body horror. The team at the film’s blue-collar Antarctic base get a selection of great workwear - but Kurt Russell’s leather bomber jacket (and hair) is the obvious star.
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