From strange mass events held all over the world like zombie walks and horror festivals, we’ve seen a number of movements that play with the macabre concept of the dead--and the undead.
On designer runways, we’re seeing a resurgence of Gothic fashion. In the realm of art, artists are increasingly using skulls, blood and gruesome imagery in their creations. In film, the ‘Twilight’ phenomenon has inspired a whole slew of vampire-related mania for individuals of all ages.
It’s no wonder we’ve become attuned to our mortality. Between natural catastrophes, terrorist attacks, war, and the economic crisis, many of the tenets of ‘normal’ and operational society have been broken. Death has traditionally been a taboo topic, but it is a universal phenomenon. Our global culture has evolved to embrace this taboo with a hefty dose of humor, perhaps to hedge against all of the chaos in our world.
Check out some more of the macabre innovations we’ve covered at Trend Hunter below.
50 Undead Obsessions
50
Full-Body Zombie Tattoos
Rick Zombie
49
Horror Body Painting
Beautiful Bodied Zombies
48
Vampire Photoshoots
The Twilight Zone in VMAN
47
Living Dead Bombshells
My Zombie Pinup Calendar Means Halloween All Year Long
46
Girly Gothic Art
Queenie's Pocket Full of Posiez
45
Designer Skeleton Watches
Marc Jacobs Skull Watch
44
Gothic Horror Fashion Shoots
Jean-Francois Campos for Flair magazine
43
Gothic Greetings
Alternative Christmas Cards By Night Moth
42
Morbid Musical Movies
Paris Hilton Goes Goth in Repo! The Genetic Opera
41
Face Made of Human Bodies
Who Do You Think You Are Ad
40
Zombies Against Consumerism
Zombiecon Encourages Amy Winehouse Costumes
39
Plasticized Human Bodies
Anatomy-Inspired 'Body Worlds' is Artistically Educational
38
Rebellious Toys
Pierced BeGoth Fashion Dolls with Tattoos Don't Conform to Barbie Beautiful
37
Gothic Avian Fashion
Alexander McQueen's Bird-Inspired Campaign
36
Recycled Zombie Dolls
Barbie of the Undead
35
Hoax Hacks
Skullphone Fakes Digital Billboard Hijack
34
Dead Bodytising
World First Aid Day
33
Skeleton-Inspired Transit
Bone Bikes
32
Anatomically-Correct Toys
Micro Schematic Lego Man
31
Fake Dead Seniors
Old Person's Home At The Saatchi Gallery
30
Social Networking For Goths
VampireFreaks.com
29
Fake Dead Rockstars
Faux Amy Winehouse Art Cadaver
28
Horror Stuffed Animals
Matt Kirkland's Dissected Toys
27
Pop Star Skulls
Dead Rebel Icon Artwork Series from Paul Insect Is Hauntingly Hip
26
Jewelry on Skeletons
Morbid Way to Sell That 'Diamonds are Forever'
25
Vampire-Themed Decor
Dripping Blood Tiles
24
Public Parties for the Undead
Organized Zombie Marches Take Over Streets in Spain
23
Pirate Bathrooms
Skull and Cross Bones Taps
22
Knitted Zombies
Crafts Get Creepy
21
Macabre USB Jewelry
Memory Skull Rings
20
Garden Zombies are the New Gnome
The Zombie of Montclaire Moors
19
Creepy-Chic Accessories
Skeleton Hand Hairclips
18
Zombie Portraits
Paint Yourself Dead
17
Caffeinated Zombies
Bonafide Noir ‘Intense Coffee' Campaign
16
Sculpted Skateboards
Corbusboard Gasmask, Skeleton and Artistic Aluminum Decks
15
Spinal Cord Jewelery
The Losselliani Skull Ring
14
Badass Ethereal Accessories
Skullerflies
13
Recreating Classic Horror Movies
Billy Bob Thornton As Freddy Krueger
12
Morbid Musical Belt Buckles
Human Skull MP3 Player
11
Rotting Skullptures
Macabre and Bizarre Cranial Art is Both Feminine and Freaky
10
Macabre Eco-Sculptures
Recycled Kitchen Utensil Skull
9
Glamorous Morbidity
Amy Sarkisian's Glitzy, Bejeweled Skulls
8
Advertising with Zombies
Zune's Piece of Me, Piece of You
7
Fascination with Macabre
Cephalogo Super Skull
6
Scary Sounds
Skull Speakers
5
Glass Bone Skeletons
The Melli Ink Skeletal Sculpture Is Some Pretty Glassy Art
4
Gruesome Toys
The 'Dismember-Me' Zombie Doll
3
Skeletal Packaging
Pandor Absinthe
2
Open Source Content
Star in Your Own Horror Movie with Kaltura
1
European Fright Conventions
Weekend of Horrors
Related Ideas
Comedic Horror Cosmetics
The NYX x Beetlejuice Collab Shares Bold Colors for Fantastical Looks
Dark Musical-Film-Inspired Capsules
H&M Debuts a Wicked Collection Influenced by the Land of OZ
Halloween-Ready Animatronic Line-Ups
HalloweenCostumes.com Debuted Its 2024 Halloween Animatronics
Halloween-Inspired Pizza Menus
Pizza Hut Taiwan Introduces New Spooky Menu Items
Immersive 3D Fashion Exhibits
Portal:M x Virtual Fashion Exhibition Host a Phygital Experience
Next-Gen Graphic Attire
Serenity Trends’ Graphic Clothing Offers a Futuristic Aesthetic
Cult Film-Inspired Fashion Collections
Rodarte Draws Inspiration from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Spooky Movie-Themed Polishes
Sally Hansen and Warner Bros Debut a New Beetlejuice Nail Collection
Vampire Film Makeup Lines
Colourpop's Twilight Makeup Offers Looks for Team Edward and Team Jacob
Deep Sea Funerals
Mondial Boasts Another Way to Scatter the Ashes of Loved Ones
Thematic Super-Villain-Inspired Makeup Campaigns
NYX Launches the 'Who Stole Halloween?' Campaign
Dark Aesthetic Floral Bouquets
UrbanStems Launched its 'Kill Them with Kindness Campaign'
AI Post-Apocalyptic Cities
Top10Casinos Explores the Future, Inspired by the Dune Universe
Vampire Slayer Makeup Collections
Vampyre Cosmetics’ Buffy the Vampire Collab is Uniquely Eerie
Distorted Burger Campaigns
Burger King's A.I.LLOWEEN Features Unsettling People Eating Burgers
Witty Toy-Brand Horror Posters
LEGO Presents a Range of Playful Horror Posters for the Season
Crackled Holiday-Inspired Shoes
Nike Debuts the Dunk Low and Air Force 1 in 'Halloween' Iterations
Cult Anime-Inspired Fashion Collections
UNIQLO UT's Collaborates with the Jujutsu Kaisen Anime
Fridge-Decorating Social Trends
Bed Bath & Beyond Participated in 'Fridgescaping' Trend
Spooky TV Series Dolls
Mattel Released a New Wednesday Addams Collection
Coffin-Shaped Ice Cream Tubs
The Alchemist by JDO Satisfies Consumers' Desire for the Unexpected
Spooky Charming Pet Portraits
Crown & Paw Unveils Spooky Halloween Collection to Showcase Pets
Makeup Water Brand Collections
Liquid Death Teams Up with e.l.f. Cosmetics for Corpse Paint Makeup
Provocative Spread Pop-Ups
The Marmite Dark Room Entices Gen Z to Experience an Iconic Spread
Spooky Candle Collections
Goose Creek Candle Company Taps Beetlejuice in Its New Capsule
Horror-Comedy Film Experiences
The Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Afterlife Experience is Full of Haunts
Luxuriously Immersive Spooky Experiences
The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Presents Eerie Events
Resurrected Used Smartphones
Think Tank Team Makes Artifacts with Project Afterlife
Horror Film-Inspired Footwear
A New Collection of Horrific Crocs Celebrates Halloween Ahead
Horror-Inspired Holiday Capsules
HUGO x Tim Burton Debut The Nightmare Before Christmas Merch
Haunting Fine Jewelry Capsules
The Fabergé x Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Collection is Uniquely Eerie
Horror-Themed Cabins
Unique Stays Club Boasts a Terrifically Terrifying Airbnb
Historic Fashion Try-Ons
The Design Museum's London Fashion Exhibition Integrates AR Mirrors
Coagulating Lip Oils
Makeup A Muder's Kiss of Death Lip Oils Create a Blood-Stained Effect
Chilling Filmic Scents
Heretic Parfum Nosferatu Celebrates the Release of Robert Eggers’ New Film
Horror-Themed Overnight Experiences
The Warner Bros Icons of Horror Sees Iconic Wax Figures
AR Monster Wines
19 Crimes & Universal Monsters Created Limited-Edition Halloween Wines
Esports Apparel Partnerships
Team Liquid Partnered with Viz Media on Death Note Apparel Line
Immersive Halloween-Themed VR Experiences
Zero Latency VR Offers Suspenseful 'Halloween Thrills'
Halloween-Themed Alcohol Bottles
Bacardi's Limited Edition Bottle Will Light Up Your Night
Monster-Themed Ice Creams
The Baskin-Robbins Okashina Okashina Halloween Celebration is Spooky
Horror Film-Inspired Cookbooks
The Death for Dinner Cookbook by Zach Neil Has 60 Recipes
Spooky Cartoon Beauty Capsules
Mad Beauty Unveils a Beetlejuice-Inspired Collection
Pop Art Legend-Honoring Dolls
Mattel Creations Celebrates Keiichi Tanaami with Whimsical Designs
AR Glow-in-the-Dark Wines
19 Crimes and Universal Products & Experiences Debuted a Halloween Wine
Halloween-Inspired Tea Lines
VAHDAM India Releases Halloween-Themed Products for Spooky Season
Water Digital Wallet Loyalty Cards
Liquid Death Has Introduced the Liquid Death Country Club
Lengthy Halloween-Inspired Events
Michaels Has Launched Its 100 Days to Halloween Campaign
Immersive Hybrid Billboards
Meta's Halloween Thrillboards Tease Immersive Meta Quest 3 Experiences
Luxe Fall-Centric Fashion Capsules
mfpen Unveils its Latest Capsule for the FW23 Season
Slasher-Inspired Energy Products
G Fuel Debuted the Hack ‘n Slash Collector’s Box for Halloween
Post-Apocalyptic Aluminum Furniture
Students at HEAD Genève Create 2084, Diorama of the Future
Artisanal Halloween Chocolates
The Norman Love Confections 2024 Halloween Collection is Flavorful
Erie Halloween Pop-Ups
Black Lagoon Unveils Eerie 2023 Pop-Up Locations for Halloween Thrills
Extinct Flora Fragrances
Future Society Makes Unique Fragrances from Extinct Flowers
Communication-Based Immersive Exhibitions
Intuit Mailchimp and Design Museum Present Email is Dead
Fashionable Zombie Dolls
Zombaes Critter Chaos Dolls Have Spooky Mix-and-Match Features
Unique Long-Lasting Costumes
Love Khaos Creates Eco-Conscious Rave & Festival Wear
Vintage Americana Fall-Ready Fashion
Universal Works Unveils Far From Memphis for FW23
Forward-Thinking Wedding Pop-Ups
Anthropologie Weddings x Pinterest Shares Emerging Styles
Spooky Pastel-Hued Halloween Decor
Michaels Sweet & Spooky Halloween Decor Collection is Playful
Grungy Movie-Inspired Cosmetics
Half Magic Beauty Created a New Makeup Set for the Movie MaXXXine
Pop Culture Bars
Basic is Building a Sports Bar for Pop Culture Fans
Provocative Pre-Fall Fashion
Natasha Zinko Unveils the BACK 2 CAMP Capsule for Pre-Fall
Exquisite Fashion Capsules
The Erdem Spring 2025 Ready-To-Wear Collection is Eye-Catching
Halloween-Themed Sock Collections
Stance's New Legends of Horror Sock Collection is Festive
Festive Cafe Limited Merchandise
A New Range of Dunkin' Merchandise Prepares for Halloween
Fall-Centric Vintage-Inspired Apparel
Florence Black Presents a New Capsule for FW23
Actor-Supported High Jewelry Campaigns
BULGARI Debuts Zendaya & Anne Hathaway for Eternally Reborn
Anti-Doomscrolling Robots
NABS & Amplify Created the DoomScroller for World Mental Health Day
Spooky Scream King Spirits
Macabre Spirits Tequila is Backed by Actor Matthew Lillard
Oversized Winter Fashion Collections
Fear of God's American Symphony Collection Has Dropped
Inclusive Bewitching Capsules
Unique Vintage Introduced a Hocus Pocus Apparel Collection
Eerie Film-Inspired Apps
The 'Welcome To The Afterlife Generator' Transforms Selfies
Spooky Film-Celebrating Cases
Velvet Caviar Releases its Beetlejuice Tech Collaboration
Culturally Celebratory Whiskeys
Macallan's Distil Your World Mexico Celebrates Day of the Dead
Elegant Fall-Centric Fashion Capsules
16Arlington Unveils the Minimal Wake Collection for FW23
Mummy-Inspired halloween tacos
Jack in the Box has a new Mummy Wrapped Monster Taco for Halloween
Pink-Hued Macaroni Bowls
Malibu Mac and Cheese Blends Champagne with Three Cheeses
Gothic Poet-Themed Pop-Ups
This Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy is an Exclusive Cocktail Event
Spooky Series-Inspired Makeup
The Hard Candy x Wednesday Collection is Limited-Edition
Jamaican Folklore-Inspired Fall Fashion
Nicholas Daley Unveils the Anasi Rhythm Capsule for FW24
Macabre Bloody Blackened Pizzas
The Domino's Japan Blood Halloween Pizza Has the Devil's Crust
Unsettling Mystery Action Games
Blumhouse Games' 'Fear the Spotlight' is an Engaging Eerie Story
Ancient Mythology-Inspired Fall Fashion
Endless Joy Presents its Capsule for the FW23 Season
Bloody Promotional Game Campaigns
Gaming Franchise Diablo Wants Fans to Donate Blood For a PC
Haunting Gaming Adventures
The New Hauntii XBOX Game Is Super Mario Inspired
Spooky Halloween Giveaways
Spirit Halloween Halfway to Halloween Giveaway at Lizzie Borden House
Mobile Escape Rooms
Phone Escape: Hopeless Takes Mobile Entertainment to New Dimensions
Thematic Outdoor Lights Experiences
The New York Botanical Garden Hosts a Tim Burton Light Trail
Digital Fashion Teasers
Fabricant, the Digital Fashion House, Debuts a Teaser for Its New Line
Year-Round Horror-Inspired Experiences
Universal Horror Unleashed Will Open in as Vegas in 2025
Cult Movies-Inspired Graphic Streetwear
Place+Faces Presents the Film Club Collection
Haunting Cold Brew Coffees
Grim Reaper Coffee Company's RTD Cold Brew Will "Wake the Soul"
Spooky Holiday Cosmetics
This wet n wild Beauty x Disney Collaboration is Arriving for Halloween
Brand Staple-Highlighting Luxe Fashion
Kiko Kostadinov Drops the New Rathbone/Newman Capsule
Miniature Deadstock Denim-Dressed Models
Material Exchange Builds a Cheeky and Creative Display
Halloween-Themed Care Sets
Lush's Limited-Edition Bewitched Gift Set Features Five Spooky Items
Color-Changing Lip Glosses
Colourpop Created a Transformative Gloss in a Unique Hue
Undead Easter Treats
The Sugar Plum Chocolate Zombie Bunny is Handcrafted
Spooky Sparkly Nail Polishes
The Lights Lacquer Book of Hexes Polish Collection is Shimmering
Movie-Inspired Halloween Menus
Burger King Unveils the Haunting Addams Family-Inspired Menu
Horror Anthology Board Games
Skybound Creepshow: The Suspense-Building Game is Story-Driven
Halloween-Themed QSR Meal Containers
McDonald's Boo Buckets are Back in Several New Styles
Functional Militaristic Fall Apparel
maharishi Presents its New Campaign for the FW23 Season
Hybrid Horror Video Games
Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele Announced OD at the 2023 Game Awards
Grotesque Halloween Pizzas
Aoki’s Pizza's Zombino of Hell is a Haunting, Spicy Pizza
Red-Accented Artist Exhibitions
The Art of Richard MacDonald Gallery Presents the RED Collection
Cult-Favorite Horror Film Celebrations
MPI Media & MoMA Celebrate The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Philosopher-Neighbouring Burial Plots
Consumers Can Buy the Burial Plot Next to Karl Marx's Tomb
Mexican Holiday-Inspired Subscription Boxes
Hemper Pays Tribute to Día De Los Muertos
Halloween Carbonated Drink Packaging
Tango and 7UP's Two-Litre Packs Get a Spooky Redesign
Luxe Culinary Experiences
W Toronto's Limited-Time Tasting Menu Boasts a Blend of Flavors
Fantastical Tale-Inspired Fall Fashion
HERESY Unveils the Ground Work Collection for FW23
Seasonal Halloween Lifestyle Products
Bath & Body Works is Debuting its Halloween Collection Early
Contemporary Classic Horror Games
Still Wakes the Deep Immerses Players in a Scary Game
Social Media Star Brands
Toddy Smith Introduces His GothicMochas Clothing Brand
Fan Scream Symphonies
FX's Symphony of Screams Captures Real Screams to Promote Grotesquerie
Niche Subgenre Aggregators
Dark Akademia is a Curated Platform for Everything Aesthetic
Spooky Beer Challenges
For Halloween, Samuel Adams is Tapping into the Fear of an Empty Beer Glass
Horror Franchise-Themed Games
A Paranormal Activity Game is Currently in the Works
Macabre Cinnamon Roll Treats
The CINNAHOLIC Cemetery Box Offers Free-From Seasonal Treats
Spooky Longevity Tinctures
Apothékary Crafted an Exclusive Herbal Tincture for Agatha All Along
Director-Celebrating Artful Exhibitions
London's Design Museum Hosts the World of Tim Burton
Nature-Inspired Collections
arcana Boasts a Series of Thoughtful Gifts for the Holidays
Community-Honoring Eerie Graphic Merchandise
Boiler Room Presents its New Capsule for FW23
Unconventional Foodie Magazines
Food& Magazine Explores the Weird and Wonderful World of Food
Spooky Popcorn Snack Kits
The Popcorn Kitchen Scary Eyes Home Popping Kit Has Chocolate Eyeballs
Research Artful Experimental Projects
Foscarini Forms the HABITUS Art Project with a Team
Failed Digital Product Databases
Dead Product Marketplace is a Graveyard for Abandoned Projects
Hotel-Led Vintage Markets
The MOB Hôtel Hosted a Vintage Market, an Eco Conference and Workshops
Human Physio-Themed Lamps
Taras Yoom Designs the Dif Lamp with Physiological Themes
Festive Día de Muertos-Dolls
Mattel Creations Transforms Barbie and Ken into Festive Designs
Retro Survival Horror Games
Crow Country is a Newly Immersive Modern Horror Game
Frightening Cinema Festivals
UK FrightFest is Expanding its Special Halloween Event in London
Monster-Detailed Custom Meal Boxes
McDonald's Brings Back the Boo Buckets for Halloween
Filmmaker-Honoring Design Exhibitions
The World of Tim Burton to Arrive at the Design Museum
Efficient Fact Generators
Facts Generator Can Produce Interesting Facts About Any Subject
Slaugherhouse-Transformed Unique Museums
Cave Bureau Creates the Anthropocene Museum 9.0
Celebratory Tex-Mex Meal Kits
The Old El Paso Day of the Dead Packs Celebrate the Mexican Holiday