Who says Real Housewives and Halloween don’t go together? Throughout spooky season, we’re looking back on some of our favorite Real Housewives Halloween costumes and episodes. We’re also matching Halloween candy and classic movie monsters to our standouts in the franchise.
One of the many fun activities to plan during the Halloween season is setting up a horror movie marathon. We’re here to help you curate the perfect double features for fans of Housewives and horror. With some of the items on our list, we turned to the filmographies of actresses from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. For others, we chose movies with a Real Housewives feel. Let’s face it, the drama and twists on these shows pair perfectly with horror and thriller movies. Just ask celebrity superfan Jennifer Lawerence, who is producing and starring in a Housewives-inspired thriller!
The Halloween series
While Kim Richards was the more successful child star, Kyle Richards landed a role in one of the most iconic horror movies ever. 1978’s Halloween is the definition of a classic and essentially created a subgenre of horror. This was the second time a Richards sister worked with legendary master of horror John Carpenter. Kim had a controversial part in the director’s previous film, Assault on Precinct 13.
Kyle reprised her role as Lindsey Wallace in several of the Halloween sequels. Her return for Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends led to Jamie Lee Curtis’ appearance on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Who could forget Dorit Kemsley fangirling over the chic wind chimes!
Of the Halloween franchise, the first movie is the best by leaps and bounds. It’s the only one Carpenter directed, although he did provide the soundtrack to a few other entries. Of the recent reboot trilogy, the first one from 2018 (confusingly also titled Halloween) is the best. But the other two have their moments. I have a bit of a soft spot for Halloween Ends, which takes a lot of risks and weird directions, to mixed results. It’s the sequel that Kyle is in the most. And she’s pretty good!
Bride of Chucky
Newest RHOBH “friend of” Jennifer Tilly is a legendary scream queen. While she’s earned many prestigious honors throughout her acting career, including an Oscar nomination, Jennifer is best known for her role as Tiffany Valentine. For those unfamiliar with the Child’s Play franchise, Tiffany is, like Chucky, a serial killer turned doll.
Throughout the franchise, Jennifer plays both Tiffany and a fictional version of herself. Most recently, she reprised these dual roles on the SyFy Channel TV show. Jennifer’s bestie Sutton Stracke guest starred on an episode of the series. Considering how often Jennifer’s Tiffany Valentine doll appears on her Instagram page, we wouldn’t be surprised if it also makes an appearance on RHOBH next season.
For Real Housewives fans who prefer PG movies, Jennifer played Madame Leota in 2003’s The Haunted Mansion. The first movie adaptation of the Disney World ride starred Eddie Murphy. It was directed by Crystal Kung Minkoff’s husband, “Hip Hop” Rob Minkoff. In the 2023 remake, Jamie Lee Curtis plays Madame Leota…Beverly Hills really is a small world after all!
Death Becomes Her
This definitely leans more in the horror-comedy category, but nevertheless, it’s a perfect Halloween movie. Even the messiest, most dramatic feuds on Real Housewives have nothing on the insane fight sequences between Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. Think of it as a body horror camp comedy.
This movie has everything Housewives fans could want. Catty back-and-forth insults, years-long grudges, obsessions with looking young and thin forever, marriages where its painful to watch how much spouses hate each other, endless amounts of shady comments, amazing outfits, and, somehow, a sense of genuine friendship at the end of the day. Plus, there are several outlandish parties where everything goes wrong.
Seeing Goldie and Meryl go at it in looney situations is like watching Karen Huger and Gizelle Bryant’s legendary fight in front of the mime. If you told me Real Housewives watch this for inspiration before filming their shady confessionals, I’d believe you.
The Stepford Wives
Skip the remake with Nicole Kidman. The original is a classic for a reason. The film follows Joanna, a photographer with perfect hair and an enviable wardrobe. Joanna moves to the ritzy suburbs with her family but feels out of place. She makes an ally in neighbor Bobbie, and the two girlfriends gossip and wonder about the other ladies’ very strange behavior.
Eventually, Joanna and Bobbie become convinced there’s something sinister afoot in the seemingly idyllic Stepford. Like many of the Real Housewives cast, they take it upon themselves to investigate. Or, as Heather Gay would say, they try to find the receipts! Proof! No screenshots because it’s 1975! Timeline!
Stepford Wives is such a ubiquitous term at this point. It’s surely been referenced in almost every Real Housewives city. But the movie is well worth a watch, even if you think you know the plot. It’s very smart, feminist, and darkly hilarious. You also may see some similarities with the most notorious Real Househusbands and the male characters in the film.
The Witches of Eastwick
Based on the novel by John Updike, this very bizarre George Miller film focuses on a group of three female friends who, unintentionally, start a coven. Starring as the titular Witches of Eastwick are Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Talk about absolute LEGENDS who would be iconic in even a cameo on Real Housewives!
The drama starts when a mysterious and wealthy man named Daryl Van Horn, played by Jack Nicholson, comes into town. He is very unappealing but somehow intrigues the whole town of Eastwick, and seduces all three women. Think of him as the John Janssen, Slade Smiley, or Harry Dubin of the film. Except that, in this case, Daryl is literally the devil.
Ultimately, Witches of Eastwick is about a group of friends coming into their power, and using it to take down a toxic man. It’s the type of female power story many Bravo fans want from their shows.
TELL US – WHAT ARE SOME HORROR MOVIES YOU’D RECOMMEND TO REAL HOUSEWIVES FANS?
