Fave Costume: Dr Ellie Sattler from "Jurassic Park"
We thought it would be fun to have Team Experience share favourite Halloween costumes with you. Here's the final entry from Ginny O'Keefe
It’s DOCTOR Ellie Sattler. She went to school and got a PhD in paleontology so you better put some respect on her full name!
Jurassic Park was the first film I remember seeing. It was on a constant loop throughout most of my childhood. As a kid I would re-enact the kitchen scene with the raptors by hiding in my kitchen cabinets and crawling on the floor hoping to be unseen by my mother who just wanted to make dinner in peace! I also saw the movie in theaters when it was re-released and in 3D back in 2013 for it’s 20th anniversary. Yes, I sobbed like baby because of the power of nostalgia. This movie has always been a huge part of my life and it helped unleash my imagination and creativity as a kid. So, of course I needed to honor it on the scariest night of the year. I just happened to honor it 26 years after its original release. A little late, but better late than never...
My favorite type of Halloween costumes that come from TV and film are the ones that are ultra-specific.
I knew that in order to make my costume amazing, I needed to take a frame from the movie and bring it to reality. I also needed to decide which character from the movie I would be. It made perfect sense that I would be Dr. Ellie Sattler. She’s smart, she’s brave, she rocks khaki shorts and LAURA DERN. Need I say more? We are in the middle of a renaissance with Laura Dern (Wild, The Last Jedi, Big Little Lies, Marriage Story) so what better way to honor and respect the Dern than with Halloween?\
Then I had to decide what scene to re-create from the film and it was obvious. Let’s do what may be the scariest (and goriest) scene in the entire film, all the while showing off Laura Dern’s acting range.
*SPOILERS FOR A 27 YEAR-OLD MOVIE YOU PROBABLY KNOW BY HEART*
The costume comes from the third act of the film when Ellie has restarted the power in the park in the bunker. She’s alone and still looking for Mr. Arnold (Samuel L. Jackson) who came to the bunker earlier to restart the park and hasn’t been seen since. After a close call with a raptor (who is one sneaky motherf**ker who likes to play games) Ellie falls back against a set of pipes and she feels someone’s arm rest on her shoulder in almost a comforting manner. She immediately relaxes and gasps, “Oh! Mr. Arnold!”.
She then turns around and the arm turns with her and stays propped on her shoulder. Unconnected to anything else. She realizes Mr. Arnold got spiked by the velociraptor and if she doesn’t get out of the control room shed, she’ll be next.
Thus, my costume was born!
In order to recreate this look you’ll need:
1. Long sleeved salmon button up (able to tie a knot at the front)
2. Purple tank top or t-shirt for underneath
3. A head set or walkie talkie of some kind (mine was a Britney Spears ear piece with a fake police radio at my hip)
4. Hiking boots
5. And the piece de resistance, a chopped off limb (poor Mr. Arnold!) with a nice watch attached at the wrist.
And done!
This was one of my favorite Halloween looks of all time and I hope Laura Dern sees it one day. Now all I have to do is wait for Jurassic World: Dominion in order to see what Ms. Sattler has been up to all this time.
More Fav Halloween Costumes from Team Experience:
Reader Comments (1)
Your commitment to the details is really what sells this. I love committed Halloween lewks