How To Pull Off A Cinematically Perfect Halloween

This year, Halloween falls on a Saturday. For a holiday that has already secured it’s spot as party holiday, a weekend celebration is sure to be even more wicked. Take some tips from Hollywood to insure you and your gang have a devilish time.

1. Have a clear party theme.

They did Cady Heron so wrong in Mean Girls.  If your party’s focus is sexiness, make that clear on the invite. If your party’s vibe is spookiness, have a contest for scariest costume. If you want everyone to wear masks, tell ’em!  The best parties don’t have rules but a good host helps guide their guests.

2. Pick a comfortable costume.

You don’t want to be tugging and pulling at a skirt that’s too short all night.  Never sacrifice comfort for costume success. Have weather in mind when you pick your costume, because it’s never fun to throw a raggedy jacket over a perfect look. Don’t wear a mask you can’t see out of. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout’s brother Jem is attacked and Scout can’t help him because she can’t see out of her ham costume. What a shame!

3. Don’t wear blackface.

It’s crazy that we still have to say it, but we do. If you still don’t understand why, it’s important that you do. Queue up Dear White People now. The film shows how an offensive Halloween party at a predominately white university plays out. There’s plenty of topical Halloween costumes you can choose without doing something as historically offensive as blackface.

4. Be prepared for trick or treaters.

 

The doorbell rings and you have no candy. Sure, you can ignore it but the guilt will eat away at you. If you’re going to be home this Halloween, pick up some fun-size Snickers. If you’ll be out, put a bowl of candy on the porch, but just know that its all going into one 8th grader’s pillow case. In Big Daddy, little Julian makes his way to an unprepared person’s stoop. His caretaker Sonny gives the neighbor a scare so he’ll give him some treats. Do your job to contribute to a neighborhood kid’s loot. “Next year be prepared moron!”

5. Don’t force the fun.

Halloween is becoming one of those holidays, like New Years Eve, where the pressure to have fun can suffocate your evening. In the Halloween episode of Freaks and Geeks, Sam insists on trick or treating one final time before he’s too old, only to be stared at and bullied. His sister Lindsey gives up a night of handing out candy to impress the cool kids she desperately wants to befriend. Don’t make the same mistakes. Stick with your friends, dress up (or not) and make the best of it.