Ghost Face

Thirty years ago, Wes Craven's Scream opened with a phone call, a question about scary movies and a killer in a black robe and a long white mask. That mask turned into one of the most copied faces in horror. This year, Scream 7 came out in February with Neve Campbell back as Sidney Prescott and Kevin Williamson, the writer of the original, directing. It made $214 million worldwide, more than any Scream movie before it. So Ghost Face is having a very good year for a guy who mostly hangs out in dark hallways. HalloweenCostumes.com sells a Ghost Face Adult Costume Set by Fun World for $59.99, and Fun World is the company behind the original mask design itself.

That price includes more than most Ghost Face costumes: the robe and mask, plus a headband, a bleeding knife and a voice changer with a microphone. Basically, the whole kit except the landline.

The set has four reviews and a 4.5-star average. Three buyers loved it and called it true to size. The fourth wrote a very detailed review, piece by piece, and didn't recommend it. So this review covers what's in the box, how each piece holds up according to buyers, how the sizes work and what to swap out.

What's in the box

The Ghost Face Adult Costume Set (item FU9974PP) includes five pieces: a hooded robe, a mask, a headband, a knife and a voice changer with a microphone. The materials are listed simply as "All new materials, polyurethane foam."

The robe is a pullover with a hood, and the hood has foam trim, which gives it the pointed, structured shape it has in the movies instead of flopping down around your head. The mask is hard plastic with mesh eyes. The knife is plastic and has red liquid inside that "simulates blood," so it looks like it's dripping when you tilt it. And the voice changer is plastic with seven different voices. It takes three AA batteries.

The headband isn't explained in the listing, but the Q&A gives a clue. A shopper asked if the mask is connected to the robe, and the answer was that the mask is separate, so "different masks can be substituted." The headband likely helps hold the mask in place under the hood.

A note on the Fun World name

The Q&A also has a question about licensing. When a shopper asked if it's officially licensed, the answer was that "Our product details don't confirm official licensing for this costume, so I can't say for certain either way." Another shopper asked what brand it is, and the answer was that the brand isn't specified in the product copy, though the site lists Fun World as the brand in the product details.

That's worth clearing up. Fun World is the company that created the Ghost Face mask in the first place, and the Scream movies used it. So this isn't a knockoff in the usual sense. It just doesn't carry the Scream movie branding on the listing.

How the sizes work

The Ghost Face set comes in X-Small through X-Large, all at $59.99. The chart lists three measurements for the robe: chest, sleeve and length.

The robe is very roomy. The X-Small has a 42-inch chest, the Small 46, the Medium 50, the Large 54 and the X-Large 58. Sleeves go from 21 to 25 inches. And the robe length goes from 52 inches on the X-Small to 56 inches on the X-Large.

So the chest runs big, while the length only grows by an inch per size. That's the key thing to understand. On a tall person, the robe may end at the calf or above, even if the chest has plenty of room. Ghost Face's robe in the movies goes down to the floor, so if you want that look, length is the number to check.

In the Q&A, a shopper asked what size to get at 5'7", and the answer was to check the chest measurement, with Small or Medium recommended. That's fine for the chest, but if you care about the robe reaching your ankles, go by length too.

What buyers said

Three of the four reviews are positive and mention fit. Jessica, who bought a Medium for her teenager, wrote, "We are Ghostface obsessed in this house, so of course my teenager had to this for Halloween! It's well made and true to size. The prop knife is great. The voice changer is ok, would be cooler if it was close to the original but it is fun anyway."

Kgloor bought a Medium for a son who's about 5'10" and 135 pounds, and titled the review "Great Fit": "Very happy with the quality of this costume. I ordered a medium for my son, who is about 5'10 and 135lbs. Fits him just fine. He really likes the voice changer." And Guy Holstein said, "Surprised by the quality for the price point. Lot of items for price and a very decent quality. True to size fit."

Then there's Sam, who wrote a full review of every piece and gave it an average of 5¾ out of 10. The title was "Y'know, It's True to the Original Scream Spirit," and it's worth going through piece by piece.

The piece-by-piece verdict

Sam's toughest score went to the knife: 1 out of 10. "I'll be honest and say that I hate these blood knives. They're too kitschy for me, and the blood inside will dry up eventually. Worse, it wobbles in the handle, and the blade was bent from it's time in the bag."

The voice changer got a 7. "This looks very cheap, and the microphone isn't very sensitive. It also doesn't sound very Ghostface. It's really fun and cute though. And it works!" Sam also pointed out that "even if it stops working, it looks pretty close to the one in Scream."

The mask got a 5. Sam was a little disappointed that it's hard plastic, and described it as "Standard plastic with mesh eyes, an elastic band to hold it to the face, and a weird bit of fabric at the bottom to hide the neck. It just looks strange though."

And the robe got a perfect 10, with a sizing twist. "I bought a medium thinking it might be a little baggy on me as my measurements were more in line with a small. It's not. I've ended up with a sexy Ghostface dress! lol But really, it's very well made and carries the spirit of Ghostface as a costume grabbed off a shelf to spice up the kills."

Sam's overall advice: "if you want all the items, this is the best option. The voice modulator is probably the most exciting thing even if it's not useful. Definitely size up one or two sizes for the outfit, and just replace the knife or toss it when the night is over."

So who's right about the fit?

At first glance, the reviews seem to disagree. Three buyers say it's true to size, and one says to size up one or two sizes. But read them together, and they line up with the size chart.

The chest is roomy, so people who measure by chest get a good fit. That's what Jessica, Kgloor and Guy are describing. The length is short for the size, so people who expect a floor-length robe end up with a "Ghostface dress," which is what happened to Sam. Even the 5'10" son in a Medium, with a 54-inch robe, would likely see it land somewhere around mid-calf.

Here's the practical rule. If you're fine with a calf-length robe, pick your size by chest. If you want it closer to the floor, size up one, especially if you're tall. The extra chest room won't matter much in a loose robe.

The mask and the night ahead

The mask is hard plastic with mesh eyes. A shopper asked whether the eyes are see-through, and the answer was that the mesh allows visibility "with slight filtering." That's typical for a Ghost Face mask. Expect a slightly dimmer view, which is more noticeable in a dark house party or outside at night.

Another shopper asked if you can drink while wearing it. The answer: no, you'll need to take it off. Since the mask is separate from the robe, that's easy. Push the hood back, lift the mask, take a sip and put it back on before anyone sees your real face. Ghost Face would want it that way.

If the hard plastic bothers you, the site sells other Ghost Face masks that work with this robe, including a Color Changing Ghost Face Mask for $29.99, a Bleeding Mask with Knife Kit for $29.99 and a Wassup! Mask & Phone Kit for $29.99, which is a nod to the Scary Movie parody. There's even a Ghost Face Santa Mask for $29.99, if you want to get two holidays out of one costume.

Swapping the knife

Sam's 1-out-of-10 knife score is a good reason to think about upgrades. The site has several alternatives. A Bloody Blade Prop costs $9.99, a Reflection Knife Accessory costs $14.99, and a Foam Knife Accessory and a Bling Knife Accessory are $19.99 each.

The foam knife is worth singling out. A lot of schools, offices, malls and venues don't allow hard prop weapons, even plastic ones, and a foam knife is much more likely to get past the door. If your Ghost Face is going to a school event or a crowded party, foam is the safer bet. Check the rules first either way.

If you keep the included bleeding knife, it's fine for photos, and it does the classic dripping effect. Just store it upright, and don't be surprised if the "blood" dries up after a season, as Sam predicted.

The voice changer

The voice changer is the part buyers seem to enjoy most. Jessica's teenager and Kgloor's son both liked it, and Sam called it "the most exciting thing even if it's not useful." It has seven voices and needs three AA batteries, which aren't mentioned as included, so pack some.

The catch, according to two reviewers, is that it doesn't sound much like the movie's Ghost Face voice. If you want a better voice effect, the site sells a separate Voice Modifier Device for $29.99. For most people, though, the included one will get plenty of laughs, especially when you call your friends' phones from the next room.

Finishing the look

Ghost Face's look is simple, so you won't need much. Black Costume Adult Gloves cost $5.99 on the site, and they're the one accessory that makes a big difference. The killer in the movies always wears black gloves. Black pants and black boots or shoes under the robe finish it.

For props, a Cell Phone Costume Companion is $7.99, if you want to carry a phone that's clearly part of the costume. And if you're decorating, there are Ghost Face String Lights for $15.99.

Summary

The Ghost Face Adult Costume Set from Fun World includes a hooded robe, a hard plastic mask, a headband, a bleeding knife and a voice changer, for $59.99. Most reviewers say it's true to size and good quality for the price, and the robe is the standout piece. The one detailed critical review calls the knife flimsy, the voice changer cheap-looking and the mask a bit strange, and says to size up for length. The chest runs roomy and the robe runs short, so tall buyers should size up. It's a strong value for an all-in-one Ghost Face.

So, is it worth it?

For most people, yes. At $59.99, you're getting everything you need to be Ghost Face in one box, including a voice changer that buyers enjoy, and a robe that even the toughest reviewer gave a 10. The knife is the weak spot, but it's also the easiest and cheapest piece to replace.

I'll admit Sam's review is my favorite thing I've read about this costume. It's honest, it's specific, and it ends up recommending the set as the best all-in-one option, even after giving the knife a 1. That's about as fair as a costume review gets.

So check the robe length against your height, and size up if you want it longer. Swap in a foam knife if you're going anywhere with rules about props, grab some black gloves and pack AA batteries for the voice changer. Then, when someone's phone rings at the party, pick up and ask them their favorite scary movie. It never gets old.