Somewhat quick and cheap geek costumes for Halloween

Holy Crap! Halloween is only 5DAYS AWAY! Do you have a Halloween party to go to on Saturday and you still don’t have a costume? Don’t fret, I have a few geek inspired solutions for you that will be cheap and easy. And just for those with a little extra cash and want to go the EXTRA MILE, I’ve included upgrade options too.

District 9: Wikus Van De Merwe

SPOILER ALERT for those who haven’t seen the movie. Skip ahead. Those of you still with me, this costume is pretty simple. Get a long sleaved light gray or white shirt and make it look really dingy with brown paint and splatter some fake blood on it while you’re at it. Or put together a cheap ensamble of camolfauge gear from a thrift store. The key part of the costume you’ll want to look good is the evolving alien arm. Get a monster hand or alien hand at the costume shop — any will do and run about $10. Take some duct tape, wrap up the index finger and middle finger, then wrap up the ring and pinky finger together. Make sure you start from the bottom of the fingers and work your way to the top, creating a pointed tip. Then take some dark brown spray paint and paint the whole thing. If you’re feeling artistic, create higlights with a lighter brown acrylic paint, shadows with black paint. Oh, and don’t forget the mustache. If you can’t grow one, they’re pretty cheap at costume shops.

THE EXTRA MILE : Get a yellow costume contact from your optometrist and pop it in your left eye.

Ghostbusters: Key Master & Gate Keeper

With Ghostbusters making a comeback we might see a lot of guys and gals sporting khaki jumpsuits and homemade proton packs this year. But what about the supporting players? Louis Tully, aka. The Key Master would be pretty simple to pull off. Just get some black or dark gray slacks, a light blue dress shirt  and mustard yellow shirt to wear underneath (if you don’t have ‘em, try thrift stores) and a pair of nerd glasses you can find at any costume shop for a couple of bucks. Make sure you mess up your hair and let your dress shirt look nice and sloppy. For Dana as the Gate Keeper, tease out your hair ’80s style, apply liberal amounts of make-up, especially eye shadow, and throw on a redish orange shimmering fabric on top of whatever you feel like wearing underneath. You can find a wide variety of fabric that would work at Jo Anne’s or other local craft stores.

THE EXTRA MILE : For the Key Master, Glue a bunch of electronic wires and parts to a cauldron strainer and strap it to your head with a piece of white elastic. For the Gate Keeper, get a battery operated fan and make one of your friends hold it in front of you so your hair is constantly blowing, like you’re about to unleash your supernatural wrath on the party.

Battlestar Galactica: Samuel, Starbuck and Apollo

What better way to celebrate the year of the show’s finale? Black tank tops over a gray one plus cargo pants couldn’t be easier. Oh, and if you’re going as Starbuck, or as Sam — don’t forget to draw on the arm tattoo!

THE EXTRA MILE: Gain 50 pounds and be out of shape Apollo. Or — build yourself a mini Viper out of cardboard and attach suspenders to it so it hangs onto your shoulders and sits around your waist.

Dr. Who: Tardis

Screw being Dr. Who. The Tardis is where all the action is. Get a large cardboard box just big enough to fit into. Spray paint it blue, add windows and a Police Box sign with white acrylic paint. Make sure you cut holes for your eyes to peer out of or  a hole at the top for your your head, but for the sake of moveability, make sure the box only comes down to your knees or waist.

THE EXTRA MILE : Find a battery opperated blue rotating Police light from a party store, attach elastic and velcro to it and wear it on top of your head.

Star Trek: Lens Flare

Everyone and their Tribble will be Kirk, Spock or Uhura for Halloween but the real star of Star Trek out shined them all — the Lens Flares. How do you be a lens flare? It’s a pretty simple cop-out, plus I’ve already done some of the work for you!

Click here and save the image (make sure you download the big one), then print it out on heat transferable iron on computer paper. Follow the directions as stated on the package and iron it onto a blank white shirt. Throw it on and your ready to party!

THE EXTRA MILE : Put on a head lamp (flash light with an elastic band) from your local hardware store so everyone will be blinded by your shimmering future self.

Zombieland: Tallahassee

If you can’t grow stubble, use light brown make up and a make-up sponge to stipple in a handle bar mustache. Get a cowboy hat similar to Tallahassee and whatever random t-shirt jeans, and boots to complete the look. Jacket is optional. Get a couple of toy plastic guns at the costume shop while you’re at it too — gotta be prepared to defend yourself against whatever zombie you encounter at the Halloween party. Oh, and be sure to always carry around a single Twinkie with you and act like it’s the only thing that matters to you anymore. If you’ve got a buddy, talk them into going as Columbus.

THE EXTRA MILE: Rent a yellow Hummer to motor around in for the evening.

Got any other costume ideas? Sound off below!