10 Old-School Halloween Photos That Are Way Scarier Than Any Movie
Halloween might be a fun mix of candy and costumes now, but a hundred years ago, it looked straight-up spooky. Back then, folks didn’t have costume stores or glossy plastic masks. They made everything by hand using paper mâché, burlap, old clothes, or whatever they could find in the shed.
The Masked Family Gathering
Image via Reddit/RodzCNS
We know this looks creepy, but costumes like these existed long before store-bought ones were available. They were often made from materials such as burlap, paper mâché, or even animal hides. Artist Ossian Brown later collected many of these images in his book Haunted Air, which features photos taken between 1875 and 1955.
Skeleton On The Boardwalk
The man in the hand-painted skeleton suit stands out against the bustling boardwalk. He looks like a ghostly figure among the living. Costumes like this one echo Halloween’s deep roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people wore disguises to ward off wandering spirits. Centuries later, Pope Gregory III established All Saints’ Day on November 1, and the night before became the eerie celebration we now know as Halloween.
Haunted Block Party Vibes
Image via Reddit/RodzCNS
These oversized heads were popular back then, inspired by old festivals like All Hallows’ Eve parades. Ossian described these photos as “magical events frozen in time”. He explains that he’s especially fascinated by photos showing what he calls a “natural mutation.” He’s not just referring to the physical decay, such as mold spots or torn edges, but also to how costumes themselves have changed over time.
Fortune Tellers Of The Fright Night
Many of these photos that Ossian compiled were passed down and reused for years, and now, we get to see them right here. These people’s serious poses give the impression of an occult ritual, but fortune-telling has long been a part of Halloween, rooted in ancient superstitions about communicating with spirits. Those animal faces and that mysterious orb on the table turn what was likely a party game into something that looks straight out of a silent horror film.
The Goblin Gang Hangout
Goblin or devil costumes, like these, were inspired by European folk tales and carnival traditions that combined play with superstition. The masks look nightmarish now, but they were meant to confuse wandering spirits. It’s where old folk rituals meet the homemade spirit of small-town Halloween.
A Pig-Faced Butcher
Early Halloween costumes often reused work uniforms, so it’s likely this was thrown together after hours. The mix of the apron, the plain backdrop, and that blank animal face gives off an unintentional horror movie vibe that’s both fascinating and unsettling. The image instantly evokes the raw terror of the film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”
Love In The Afterlife
Image via Reddit/RodzCNS
Here’s a spooky yet oddly sweet moment between a clown and a skeleton. Homemade costumes like these were typical: painted bones on black fabric and repurposed clown outfits from stage performances or parades.
The Tower-Head Twins
This unusual photo shows two people in towering, square-topped masks and loose, oversized clothes. The strange proportions make them look like life-sized puppets caught mid-motion. Their painted faces, stiff and unreadable, add to the unease. The image feels like something that slipped out of a nightmare and onto film.
Creepy Class Picture
Image via Reddit/RodzCNS
This eerie group picture resembles a class picture gone awry. The faded flag backdrop only makes the whole scene feel stranger and more ghostly. The aging photo, torn and faded, reflects what Ossian calls “natural mutation,” where time itself adds another layer of mystery to the moment.
Sailor Brothers Holding Hands
Image via Reddit/RodzCNS
This photo from the early 1900s shows two boys in matching sailor suits, holding hands and wearing handmade masks that look both playful and disturbing. During this period, Halloween photography often reflected the fascination with the supernatural that followed the Victorian spiritualism movement. Many families posed for such eerie portraits as keepsakes.