Hang up the landline, boot up that web browser, and surf over to Shout! Factory where our Love Is In The Scare sale is in full effect until Friday, Feb. 24th.

This year, we’re taking you back to a simpler time - when the cultural definition of ‘true love’ was shaped by our rank in the top 8. An era whose fashion sense has somehow resurfaced in the mainstream affinity for bedazzled tees and baggy denim.

It may have been an infamous time in the world of personal styling, but it was a notable age in horror. More tropes were invented, new icons emerged. Pivoting to an era of scary movies that mirrored the technological landscape, our entertainment was a reflection on the quickly changing tides of the world like never before.

Some are remembered fondly, while others are celebrated in smaller but equally passionate circles. It was in that spirit of affection that we curated this year’s Love Is In The Scare.

Though we may be far removed from the turn of the new millennium, true horror heads don’t need to flip through some dusty old yearbook to remember the greatest hits. But just in case you’d like a refresher, we’ve assembled a rundown of our favorite characters from the ‘90s through the 2010s. Superlatives, if you will, that defined the age of Y2Slay.

Y2Slay Superlatives

Class Clown: Dr. Giggles (Larry Drake) from Dr. Giggles (1992)

Joey G.

You think he’d be voted ‘Most Likely To Succeed’, what with his PhD. But no: All it takes is hearing one bad pun from Dr. Evan Rendell Jr. — aka “Dr. Giggles”—to understand why he takes the title of “Class Clown”.

Even the bad doctor himself (played pitch perfectly by Larry Drake) can’t help but enjoy his own eye-rolling wordplay: He erupts into a fit of maniacal snicker that even the most rabid group of hyenas would be jealous of.

“Have a heart,” he says to a policeman, tossing him the bloodied organ.

“Oh, I see the problem,” he tells a girl… just after stabbing her in the eye.

If these groaners have you feeling sick, just remember what Dr. Giggles says to one of his victims: Laughter is the best medicine.

Best Dressed: The Candyman (Tony Todd) from Candyman (1992)

Emily H.

While villains of the era were rocking tattered jumpsuits and hockey masks, The Candyman stepped onto the scene serving elegance and style. That floor-length fur-trimmed coat? Iconic. The crisp, tailored fit? Impeccable. The well sharpened hook? A statement piece. The thousands of bees? Priceless accessories. Candyman didn’t just haunt Chicago—he owned it, gliding through the film draped in chunky, complementing fabrics speckled with the blood of his enemies. If you whispered his name five times, he wouldn’t just appear—he’d do it looking better than anyone else in the room. In a world of messy, blood-soaked killers, Candyman proved that revenge is best served with style.

Best Couple – Chucky (Brad Dourif) & Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) from Bride Of Chucky (1998)

Emily H.

If you ever strolled through the horror section of your local Blockbuster in the ‘90s, then you were familiar with Chucky, the Good Guy doll gone very wrong. But it was 1998’s Bride of Chucky that introduced the ultimate power couple that is Chucky and Tiffany Valentine. Chucky and Tiffany weren’t just about murder—they had passion, commitment, and matching homicidal tendencies. With their iconic outfits and sassy one-liners, they were undeniably the Barbie and Ken of the slasher world. Sure, their version of “’til death do us part” is a little more…literal, but in a world of doomed horror relationships, Chucky and Tiffany’s love is forever—stitched together, voodoo-powered, and utterly unforgettable.

Most Likely To Win A Pulitzer: Paul Gardner (Jared Leto) from Urban Legend (1998)

AJ M.

Though it might seem dated at face value, Urban Legend was ahead of the curve in a couple respects. For instance, one could argue that Tara Reid’s portrayal of a campus radio shock jock walked so that Call Her Daddy could run.

Secondly, it knew how to leverage the many talents of a teen heartthrob named Jared Leto as Paul Gardner, hard-hitting reporter for the Pendleton University newspaper. To succeed in his racket, persistence is key–even if it means making a few enemies in the process. His search for truth as to who is committing a string of grisly murders across campus leads him to a series of inquisitive confrontations against fellow students, faculty, and even the dean himself.

It doesn’t take a byline in the Boston Globe to understand this killer’s M.O. But Paul’s resilience and go-getter attitude proves he’s got the journalistic chops of a seasoned pro, worthy of the most prestigious news desks in the entire country. He may have fallen short of the Student Pulitzer … but if he cracks the case of the urban legend killer, he might just be a shoo-in for the real thing.

Best Smile – Dracula (Gerard Butler) from Dracula 2000 (2000)

Emily H.

Forget the stiff, brooding vamps of the past—Gerard Butler as Dracula had millennium-era swagger, dripping with charm and a devilish grin. His smile was a weapon, luring in victims with just the right mix of danger and seduction before sealing their fate. In an era that elevated smoldering bad boys, Dracula 2000 gave us a fanged heartthrob whose smile could make you forget all about that whole eternal damnation thing. The goth glam vampire blended perfectly into the nightlife of New Orleans and used that smile to quickly acquire new thralls in support of his quest.  

Most Changed – Jeremy Melton (David Boreanaz) from Valentine (2001)

Emily H.

One of the best parts of a ‘90s or early aughts movie was the makeover. And while we didn’t enter the dressing room with Jeremy Melton, he must be recognized for his undeniable glow up. Bullied and humiliated at a middle school dance, he disappeared, forgotten, only to return years later as a mysteriously suave, impossibly vengeful, and sharply dressed killer in a Cupid mask. Talk about a transformation. While everyone else was stuck in their same catty high school dynamics, Jeremy traded dweeby desperation for icy confidence and a newfound flair for poetry. If there were a Most Changed award in the yearbook of horror villains, Jeremy would take it home—right after making sure everyone who wronged him got their Valentine, sealed with a kiss… and a body count.

Most Likely To Be on TV Someday: Samara (Daveigh Chase) from The Ring (2002)

AJ M.

Y2K horror operates on a sacred hierarchy: once you get spoofed in the Scary Movie franchise, that’s when you know you’ve made it.

Sprung from the well of Japanese cinema, Gore Verbinski’s The Ring emerged as one of the most iconic movies of the 2000s, regardless of genre. Its success at the box office sparked a wave of American reimaginings of J-horror classics, though it remains undefeated in terms of sheer quality.

A large part of its mainstream adoption was the resonance of Samara, a terrifying antagonist with an empathetic – and ultimately, tragic – backstory. Confined to a well that she was shoved into by her own mother, Samara now exists as a bloated, corpse-y specter who lives inside your television screen. She can only be summoned by those ill-fated enough to play her cryptic VHS tape and wait 7 days for their gruesome demise.

Scream Factory is proud to celebrate a movie that taught a whole generation just how deadly physical media collecting can be.