Halloween costumes inspired by locally shot films

On the hunt for an oh-so-clever Halloween costume? Don't fret.

Inspiration may literally be around the corner ... especially if you live in the North End where crews with Ben Affleck's "The Town" and other flicks like the indie "OxyMorons" and the Tom Cruise spy movie "Knight & Day" have taken over the streets.

Here are a few costume ideas--inspired by films currently in production and others already in theaters--pulled from the influx of made-in-Boston movie action:

"The Town": We've seen the Cambridge homeboy in a bevy of outfits while filming his Charlestown-based heist flick. How about a man in uniform? During his week-long shoot 'em up scene at Fenway Park, Affleck dressed up as a Boston Police officer and an EMS worker. Also, Jon Hamm from "Mad Men" whipped out a shotgun in character as a FBI agent on a mission.

There's one look, spotted in the scene currently being shot at the laundry-turned-bank set on Salem Street in the North End (pictured below), featuring a gun-toting nun on the run. A bank-robbing sister act? Now, that's scary.

"Shutter Island": Sure, the release date for Martin Scorsese's made-in-Massachusetts film, "Shutter Island," starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo, has been moved from October to Feb. 19, 2010. But DiCaprio's fedora-wearing protagonist is the perfect '50s-inspired gumshoe costume idea.

Seriously, what happened to patient 67? Grab a straitjacket and tease your hair for a look pulled directly from the Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane.

"Bride Wars": Here comes the bride ... of Frankenstein? Give that tired old wedding dress new life with a costume inspired by the characters in the locally shot bridezilla flick.

"Surrogates": OK, the made-in-Boston sci-fi movie "Surrogates," starring Bruce Willis, may have been a box-office dud, but it should be easy to dress up as a synthetic sexpot. Time to whip out the aluminum foil.

"Paul Blart: Mall Cop": Who knew that the goofball antics of a misfit security guard and his cast of mall-rat pals would segue … or is it Segway … its way into slacker infamy? Security guard gear and a Segway. It's a no-brainer.

"Whip It": OK, first-time director Drew Barrymore didn't film her roller derby chick flick in Boston, but she did roll into town to promote it and, along with "Whip It" co-star Jimmy Fallon, she won us over in the pro-Red Sox flick "Fever Pitch." Also, Newton's Ari Graynor stars as Eva Destruction. Go for a tight green vest and pleated skirt, dust off those roller skates and, voila, you're a Hurl Scout.

"Zookeeper": Sport a khaki jacket with plenty of pockets, find a pith helmet, perch a stuffed animal on your shoulder and carry a PETA friendly dart gun, and you're Kevin James' character Griffin in the Adam Sandler-produced flick "Zookeeper."

--"The Town" photos by Ryan Miner, Beantown Photo