The Grabber Costume
Recreate the chilling, masked antagonist from the horror hit The Black Phone.
The Grabber from The Black Phone is one of modern horror's most unsettling villains, played with menacing energy by Ethan Hawke. This costume is a popular choice for horror fans who want a genuinely creepy, instantly recognizable look. The outfit centers around his signature split-face devil masks, a vintage top hat, and a dark, layered 1970s ensemble.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $40–120
Try it on
See yourself as The Grabber
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
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What you need for a The Grabber costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete The Grabber costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.
The Grabber Mask
A two-piece, pale gray or white textured devil mask with a wide, eerie grin and horns, which can be worn as a full face or split into top/bottom halves.
DIY: Paint a plastic devil mask with textured gray and white acrylic paint, adding dark shading around the eyes and mouth.
Black Top Hat
A classic black felt or wool top hat with a structured crown and a black ribbon band.
Dark Plum or Brown Short-Sleeve Shirt
A textured, short-sleeve button-down or pullover shirt in a dark plum, burgundy, or charcoal tone.
DIY: Use a dark, faded short-sleeve shirt from a thrift store.
Black Long-Sleeve Turtleneck
A lightweight, fitted black long-sleeve turtleneck worn underneath the short-sleeve shirt.
Dark Gray or Black Trousers
Relaxed-fit dark gray, charcoal, or black pants, preferably in a vintage or textured fabric.
Black Leather Belt
A simple black leather belt with a silver-tone buckle.
Aviator Sunglasses
Gold-framed aviator sunglasses with dark lenses, worn when the mask is off or resting on the head.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made The Grabber costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the black long-sleeve turtleneck as your base layer.
- 2
Layer the dark plum or charcoal short-sleeve shirt directly over the turtleneck.
- 3
Put on the dark gray trousers, secure them with the black leather belt, and tuck both shirts in neatly.
- 4
Put on the black top hat, positioning it straight or slightly tilted forward.
- 5
Secure the two-piece Grabber mask over your face; you can choose to wear just the top half, just the bottom half, or the full face depending on the scene you want to evoke.
- 6
Slip on dark boots or work shoes to complete the silhouette.
- 7
Carry a prop black rotary phone or vintage leather satchel for an extra thematic touch.
Makeup & hair
Apply dark charcoal eyeshadow around your eyes so your skin blends seamlessly into the black eye holes of the mask. If you take the mask off, style your hair in messy, shoulder-length brown waves.
The Grabber for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as Finney Shaw holding a dusty black rotary phone.
- group
- Combine with other Blumhouse horror icons like Michael Myers, the Purge killers, or M3GAN.
- kids
- A scaled-down version using a kid-friendly plastic mask and a miniature top hat.
- Plus size
- Look for relaxed-fit or pleated charcoal trousers and an oversized dark button-down shirt for a comfortable fit.
Tips
- The mask's eye holes can restrict peripheral vision, so take it off or slide it up when walking in dark areas.
- Use black makeup around your eyes to prevent your skin from showing through the mask's wide eye cutouts.
- Thrift stores are excellent resources for finding the perfect faded, textured 1970s-style shirts and trousers.
The Grabber costume FAQ
- What kind of mask does The Grabber wear?
- He wears a pale gray, textured devil mask designed by legendary makeup artist Tom Savini. The mask is split horizontally, allowing him to wear the top half (grinning), the bottom half (frowning), or both together.
- Can I make The Grabber mask at home?
- Yes, you can modify a cheap plastic devil mask by sanding it down, painting it with textured gray and white acrylics, and adding dark washes to highlight the creepy grin and horn details.
- What clothes does The Grabber wear?
- He wears a 1970s-style outfit consisting of a black long-sleeve turtleneck under a dark plum or charcoal short-sleeve shirt, dark trousers, a black belt, a black top hat, and sometimes aviator sunglasses.
Did you know? The Grabber's terrifying masks were designed by legendary special effects makeup artist Tom Savini, who is famous for his work on classic horror films like Friday the 13th and Dawn of the Dead.