Even when you search for “female villains,” the results typically show “hottest female villains!” What the hell? Male villains, though sometimes hot, are much more renowned for their fear factor. Female villains are also often simply the males’ sidekicks, or called a villain for being a bitch rather than a real scary person (such as Meryl Streep’s character in The Devil Wears Prada).
In retaliation, I think we should all simply stop buying costumes and start making our own. Here are some fun scary female costumes I was thinking about using this year.
Mrs. Lovett (from Sweeney Todd): Yes, the Helena Bonham Carter version did show some cleavage, but with those long black skirts, creepy makeup, wild hair, and bloody props, I think this would be so much fun to do!
The Red Queen: You can tell I love Helena Bonham Carter! However, Queen Redd in Frank Beddor’s Looking Glass Wars series is far more sinister and would be an epic costume.
Annie Wilkes from Misery: Nobody does scary better than the awesome Kathy Bates in this film version of Stephen King’s novel.
The Wicked Witch: This one’s been done over and over again, but going as Elphaba from Wicked would be fun—of course, she’s not as much a villain so much as an anti-hero, but imagine if you could get your partner to go as Fiyero (from the novel, not the musical)! Those would be some cool costumes.
Erzebet Bathory: The “blood countess” who killed hundreds of young girls to bathe in their blood will always live in infamy, and she’s surely much more sinister than the Jack the Rippers you’re bound to run across on Halloween.
Nurse Ratched: Instead of wearing a SEXY!nurse costume, why not go for this horror of all horrors instead? (I actually named my elliptical trainer after this beastly character from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.)