Benjamin Leatherman
Audio By Carbonatix
This year’s Mad Monster Party Arizona was ghouls gone wild. Hordes of Valley horror fans invaded the Renaissance Glendale Phoenix Hotel for three days of frights, fun and fandom during the annual horror and sci-fi convention.
Memorable moments during the con included appearances by horror icons like Brad Dourif of “Child’s Play” fame and “The Exorcist” legend Linda Blair and a concert by “ghoulish rock ‘n’ roll” band The Phantom A.D.
Another highlight? The local cosplayers who showed up to Mad Monster Party Arizona 2025 ready to slay.
Horror-inspired costumes were in abundance all three days of the con. It was a blood-soaked, cosplay-filled fright fest. And fans loved every scream-worthy second. Freddy Krueger clones were everywhere, thanks to horror legend Robert Englund being at the event in the flesh. There were also numerous versions of Jason Voorhees lurking about in honor of actor Kane Hodder’s appearance at Mad Monster.
Cosplaying Jason Voorhees from the 1989 “Friday the 13th” video game on the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Benjamin Leatherman
Elsewhere, cosplayers portrayed characters from such horror flicks as “Jaws,” “Heart Eyes” and “Saw.” Others dressed up in costumes inspired by “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” the Netflix series “Squid Game” or mockumentary vampire show “What We Do in the Shadows.”
Some attendees got creative with their costumes, like one cosplayer who wore a body suit to re-create Buffalo Bill’s infamous and iconic dance to the Q Lazzarus song “Goodbye Horses” from “The Silence of the Lambs.” (Yes, that scene.)
Another Mad Monster Party Arizona attendee came as a female version of Pinhead from the “Hellraiser” series and dressed up her dog in a canine version of the iconic character.
Cosplay version of the insidious puppets from the “Puppet Master” series.
Benjamin Leatherman
Members of local charity cosplay group Return of the Giving Dead dressed up as the evil playthings from the ’80s cult classic horror film “Puppet Master,” including Tunneler, Torch and Six Shooter.
Kids even got to participate in the cosplay fun at Mad Monster Party Arizona, becoming characters like Edward Scissorhands or a mashup of Jason with Wolverine from “The X-Men.”
Here’s a look at all the freaky, frightening and fun cosplay we encountered at Mad Monster Party Arizona 2025.
The titular character from Tim Burton’s 2005 animated film “Corpse Bride.”
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Claire Corcoran of Tucson in a Bride of Frankenstein costume that was a real scream.
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When Jason met Freddy.
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This local Mandalorian cosplayer “wanted to get gory” for Mad Monster Party Arizona. Mission accomplished.
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Cue up “Goodbye Horses” for this excellent cosplay of Buffalo Bill and Hannibal Lecter from “The Silence of the Lambs.”
Benjamin Leatherman
A costume version of Bob from “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
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Horror fan and artist Luis Darko of Glendale dressed as Regan MacNeil from “The Exorcist” in honor of actress Linda Blair’s appearance at Mad Monster Party Arizona.
Benjamin Leatherman
A Valley family came to Mad Monster Party Arizona dressed as characters from “It,” “Terrifier” and “House of 1,000 Corpses.”
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Gabriel Roman of Guadalupe in a costumed inspired by Papa Emeritus IV from metal band Ghost.
Benjamin Leatherman
One of the many Jason Voorhees costumes we encountered at Mad Monster Party Arizona 2025.
Benjamin Leatherman
This Pinhead cosplayer brought her Pinhead pup to Mad Monster Party.
Benjamin Leatherman
Tarman from 1985’s “The Return of the Living Dead.”
Benjamin Leatherman
Characters from the horror video game “Silent Hill.”
Benjamin Leatherman
The Headless Horseman rode into Mad Monster Party Arizona.
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This father and daughter came to the con as Frankenstein’s monster and author Mary Shelley.
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Tucson residents George Modine, left, Tiffany Pierce, upper center, Eli Flanagan, lower center, and Cooper Modine, right.
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Bill Gullett of Mesa described his costume as “the Gorton’s Fisherman having a bad day.”
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Cosplaying Amanda Young in Jigsaw’s “reverse bear trap” from the original “Saw.”
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Cosplaying the villain from the recent slasher flick “Heart Eyes.”
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Two younger attendees as characters from “Squid Games.”
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Now, let’s see Paul Allen’s costume.
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One of the creepy creatures populating local haunted house Terror in Tolleson.
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A younger Mad Monster attendee as Edward Scissorhands.
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Doctor Gonzo will give you a mad case of coulrophobia.
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A mother and daughter cosplaying characters from “The Nightmate Before Christmas.”
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The devil made them do it.
Benjamin Leatherman
