Welcome to 2026's 31 Days of Heistoween, a daily dose of spooky icons, spine-tingling oddities, and — most harrowing of all — memes. Check back every day from now through October 31 for each daily entry!
There aren't many horror icons with a vibe that I would describe flippantly as "goals," what with most horror icons being murderous monsters with zero style and even less charisma. Do I want a wardrobe full of dirty overalls, rags, and/or viscera? I don't think so! Do I want to be the guy at the party who looms in the corner, sucking all of the energy out of the room? No! Michael, Jason, Leather — you guys aren't exactly role models.
And then there's Jack Griffin, the lead maniac of 1933's The Invisible Man.
Now, he's not a role model, per se. He does murder a few people with his bare, invisible hands and he does ... uh ... derail a train ... off a cliff ... killing hundreds. He is a bonafide Universal Monster, after all. But. But. But. Before the derailment (and also after, oddly), Jack's biggest crime is being a scamp.
For the first third of the movie, Jack is just a mad scientist being a bitch about room service in a tiny inn, scaring the shit out of the help. His reign of terror consists of running around, bumping into people — and when you picture what's actually going on, a naked man skipping around, shoving people? It's ridiculous fun.
But as much as I want to picture actor Claude Rains nude (god, what a dashing man!), it's really Jack's wardrobe that I admire. He may be invisible, but he knows how to make a fashion statement. His suits are impeccably tailored, his accessories always pop (That fake nose! That ratty toupee! Those bandages! Those goggles) and when it comes time to relax? Baby, Jack does it in style.
If I was going to be a Halloween king, of all the monsters to choose from, I would absolutely be Jack Griffin — for the clothes alone. Not the murder. I probably wouldn't derail a train.
If you've never watched the original 1933 Invisible Man — directed by gay icon James Whale! — get to it ASAP. Then, level up your style game and get on Jack's level.
Come knock on our door tomorrow for even more 31 Days of Heistoween treats.
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