Halloween is arguably the best holiday of them all.

The costumes, candy, and jack o'lanterns set a tone of excitement that is unparalleled. After the age of twelve however, the promise of free candy and dress up might not ring like it used to. How else should one get themselves in the festive mood, but with a healthy dose of fear?

For this Halloween, GATA presents a special collaboration with Tokyo-based rapper Nina Utashiro and her stunning mother Julia.

Inspired by six of their favorite horror films, ones you might already know but now reborn through a new gaze; this editorial takes you on a nostalgic trip into the movies we couldn’t stop watching.

Just like back then, when we fell for those strange, beautiful worlds, this GATA story pulls you into a new one.

The Bride of Frankenstein

Both dresses→Archival Prada , Necklace and earrings→Stylist’s own

The much awaited sequel to the 1931 “Frankenstein,” “The Bride of Frankenstein” is perhaps one of the rare cases where the sequel outperformed the original. Despite the title of the movie alluding to the “bride” being the central focus, the “bride” in question (Elizabeth Frankenstein) has approximately 4 minutes of screentime in total. Yet somehow she is still one of the most recognizable female monster characters 90 years later, making her the queen of “work smarter, not harder.” On top of that, Elizabeth Frankenstein has the most stunning side profile in the history of cinema, point blank period.

2. The Exorcist

Nina: Bolero and bra→Prix Workshop, Sweat pants→Supreme, Sneakers→KNWLS x Nike
Julia: Hoodie→Supreme, Leggings→Bloch, Sneakers→KNWLS x Nike

I was in the 1st grade when I first watched “The Exorcist” and I believe it was the first horror film I had watched in my life. A game changer and instant horror classic, this film continues to be a key reference point of modern day horror movies. The older I get the more I understand the humor portrayed in the film, and how it has captured the absurdity of the world in its true form. On an aesthetic note, neon green will always belong to “The Exorcist.”

3. Death Becomes Her

Nina: Bolero→Rick Owens
Julia: Top→Comme des Garçons

As a die hard fan of Meryl Streep, “Death Becomes Her” is one of my favorite movies that she stars in. The whole film is so whimsical, so rhythmical, and tickles an itch I didn’t know needed scratching. As I grow older and now get beauty treatments done, I find myself having the same reaction that Madeline (Meryl Streep) has to Anna (Isabella Rossellini) to my doctor when they start recommending new treatments and giggle a little bit.

4. Black Swan

Dress→Archival Noir Kei Ninomiya, Tiara→Stylist’s Own

As a girl that grew up dancing ballet, and have the name “Nina,” when “Black Swan” came out I went to see it in theaters the day it started showing. I resonated more with Mila Kunis’ character “Lily” but nonetheless it quickly became one of my favorite films of all time. Ballet is an artform that requires you to stand on the cusp of madness and purity and balance yourself on that very thin and fragile line, which was portrayed so accurately that I felt the secret that only us ballet dancers know was exposed to the world. A true depiction of “beauty” in my opinion.

5. The Addams Family

Nina: Dress→Archival Marc Jacobs, Shoes→Stylist’s Own
Julia: Full look→Mukcyen

Before the Kardashians, there was the Addams Family. As someone who grew up in a very small family with no extended relatives nearby, “The Addams Family” was a film I would watch in envy of a big and chaotic but loving family. Morticia Addams is still to this day one of the best mothers on screen to me, with the perfect balance of maternal love and womanly sexual allure. Come to think of it, it could be because my own dear mother resembles Morticia as seen in the photo. I know there are a million remakes and spin offs but the 1991 version with Angelica Houston as Morticia is the best, hands down.

6. Jennifer’s Body

Zip Up Hoodie→Stylist’s Own, Jeans→Levi’s®︎, Charm→GATA x Open Toys

Ah, the forever iconic high school classic. “Jennifer’s Body” came out during my angry teen era and much like it did to other girls of my generation, it became an instant obsession. With so many iconic one liners including “I am going to eat your soul and shit it out Lesnicki!” “I am a god” and my personal favorite “And now I’m eating your boyfriend. See? At least I’m consistent.” Jennifer taught me something that has stuck with me for life: consistency is key.

Credits

Creative Direction, styling, writing → Nina Utashiro
Starring→ Nina and Julia Utashiro
Photography→ Keisuke
AI Art / Photo Edit → Marta Espinosa
Hair→ Ryunoshin Tomoyose
Make up→ Yoko Minami
Nails→ Mayu Itoga

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