Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn in Death Becomes Her

Cult classic Death Becomes Her follows a pair of washed-up celebrities (played by Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn) going to harrowing lengths in the quest for eternal beauty. Trapped in a bitter rivalry, Helen (Goldie Hawn) and Madeline (Meryl Streep) drink a seductive serum with the hope to become flawless goddesses, with darkly comedic results.

Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

In 1997, a low-budget comedy called Buffy the Vampire Slayer defied expectations and became a pop-culture sensation, transforming television. The show’s groundbreaking portrayal of homosexuality, symbolic exploration of addiction and growing up, and its representation of womanhood are all reasons to celebrate. Buffy’s genre-blending approach made it a powerful lens for examining these issues.

Anjelica Huston in The Witches

Based on the 1983 book by Roald Dahl, The Witches (1990) is a dark fantasy film that follows a group of women who masquerade as ordinary women and kill children. Although Anjelica Huston’s Grand High Witch may be hailed as one of film’s most sinister characters – she also sports an enviable, chic wardrobe that is easy to channel this Halloween.

Grace Jones in Vamp

Exploring the coming-of-age naivety, Wenk’s film Vamp follows two fraternity pledges sprawling the streets searching for a strip club, only to stumble into a bar occupied by vampires. The iconic and eccentric Grace Jones plays Katrina, an uncanny vampire covered in white paint, turquoise contact lenses and a large red bobbed wig. American pop-artist Keith Haring applied the enigmatic body paint, and Jones’ first appearance on screen is captivating, as she appears to perform a majestic, unnerving dance to ‘Seduction Surrender’ – a song by herself. Later, a frat boy tries to seduce the dancer and ends up as her dinner – naturally…

Neve Campbell in Scream

Playing by the rules helped Neve Campbell’s character survive not one, but all four parts of slasher franchise Scream. But amidst the violence, she shone through as the powerful female lead to shrug of the ‘damsel-in-distress’ cliché and call out sexism in horror films – all while dodging a series of deranged killers. Exhausting, right?

Aaliyah, Queen of the Damned

Released in 2002, “Queen of the Damned” garnered attention as the final on-screen performance of R&B icon Aaliyah. Part of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles series, it follows the awakening of Lestat de Lioncourt, who transforms into a famous rock star. His music awakens the Egyptian vampire queen Akasha (Aaliyah), who joins in the chaos. Aaliyah’s mesmerizing appearance, characterized by an Egyptian-inspired metallic look, captivates viewers from her mid-film entrance onward.

Jamie Lee Curtis, Halloween

In her 1978 film debut, Jamie Lee Curtis starred as Laurie Strode in the iconic horror film “Halloween.” Curtis wasn’t John Carpenter’s initial choice, but her performance defined her career and propelled the movie to be the highest-grossing independent horror film at the time. Initially portrayed as a meek teenage babysitter, Laurie transforms into a relatable survivor, showing us that it’s okay to be afraid and that we can fight back. Importantly, the enemy doesn’t always have to prevail.

Winona Ryder, Kim Walker, Lisanne Falk & Shannen Doherty in Heathers

Heathers is an 1989 American dark comedy following four teenage girls – three of whom are called Heather – in a high school clique. Throughout the film, their lives are disrupted by the arrival of a misanthrope intent on murdering the popular students and staging their deaths as suicides. Hailed for its wardrobe as much as its unsettling narrative, Heathers costumes are all about plaid patterns, cardigans, power-hungry shoulder pads and ankle socks.

Milla Jovovich, Resident Evil

Milla Jovovich’s portrayal of Alice in the Resident Evil films is undeniably one of her most iconic roles. Loosely based on the video game series, it follows Alice’s quest to contain a viral outbreak. Jovovich showcases her prowess as an action star, delivering standout performances in each installment. In the final storyline, she adeptly takes on multiple characters. While steeped in zombies and death, the films also seamlessly blend in action elements, making them an ideal Halloween hybrid.