"All Hallow's Eve" is a special time for BDSMers. It's an opportunity to "strut our stuff" in public. If you've always wanted to go out in your collar being led by your owner -- but never felt you could risk it -- Halloween is the perfect time. Nobody needs to know you're just out for a walk, instead of heading to a party!

Many leatherfolk are also fetishists of one sort or another, and Halloween parties are a perfect opportunity to mingle without giving away our secrets. A former play partner and I, both into latex, went to a "vanilla" Halloween party the year Batman Returns hit the streets. We spent months researching the outfits and pulling together our best imitations, constructed almost entirely of rubber. It was great being able to "mix" with other costumed folk who had no idea just how much we were enjoying ourselves! My friend grinned from ear to ear as she strode around on her five inch stilettos, bullwhip wrapped over her shoulder and around her rubberized waist... and I had a ball watching her.

Plus we had the added bonus of winning the "Most Authentic Costumes" award for the night!

It Happened One Halloween

Special things can happen on Halloween. In the hopes of inspiring you, here is a fond memory from a fellow BDSMer...

Halloween is the greatest night of all for D/s practitioners. One of the best nights of my life came at a Halloween party in college. It was not a scene party, but when (1970's) and where I went to college, there was great acceptance of alternative lifestyles, so Halloween was a night for scenes, transvestites, and revelry.

My Mistress dressed as herself -- thigh-high leather boots, black pantyhose, a black leotard (I love that look -- simple and elegant!), a whip on her belt, and a handcuff key on a chain necklace. Of course a Domme's costume can't be complete without a slave. Her award-winning costume included... me, as her slave.

She placed me in a leather neck-to-wrist harness, which secured my hands behind my back to the collar locked around my neck. I also wore a locking cock and ball cuff under my black pants, which was a constant reminder that, while others might think we were merely in costumes, she really did own me. My Mistress led me around all night by a chain attached to the collar, as I kept my head bowed. It made for an interesting time dancing together, and when I was thirsty, she would hold a cup for me to drink from. We circulated around the party and she talked with friends, but my speaking was limited to "Yes, Mistress," and "Thank you, Mistress."

She always got a sexual charge from exercising power over me, and was even more excited by this public display of her power. Perhaps some people saw through our costumes and could tell from my attitude and bowed head that she really owned me and that I worshiped her. She had a huge smile on her face that night, and every other time she recalled that night.

It was the most public we ever were in our relationship. Twenty years later, I'm still aroused by the memory of that incredible Halloween night.

-- LifeJoy

Don't Forget The Movies!

What would Halloween be without a scary movie or two? Here are some recommendations from fellow BDSMers...

A kinky mad scientist, Dr. Edward Pretorius, invents a machine that stimulates the pineal gland allowing people to see some nasty creatures with big teeth that occupy our space in another dimension. Unfortunately it allows the creatures to see us, too, and they decide they'd like to play... no safe words allowed!

During the investigation of the Doctor's disappearance, a straight-laced female shrink discovers Pretorius' play room. It will warm your heart and soul as she begins to koo softly while caressing the black leather she finds in the room. As she re-dresses into the leatherwear she is transformed into a sultry leather nymph, first attempting to seduce the Doctor's assistant in Top mode, and then seamlessly switching to a teasing submissive to entice the erotic desires of a macho guard. Soon she is considering joining her kinky new mentor Pretorious, now in cahoots with the carnivorous creatures from beyond, who explains to her that "the most sensuous experience on Earth is entering another person's mind..."

Film critic Roger Ebert's 1986 review in the Chicago Sun-Times gave it two and a half stars... and as he said, "When was the last time you saw a blond psychiatrist in leather battling with a giant slime-worm from another dimension? Every movie should have at least one!" Ebert gave it two and a half stars, I give it four crops up. Search for it at your local video store.

-- Magick One, Chicago

Another one for your cheap but fun rental list is "Waxwork" starring Zach Galligan, Patrick Macnee, and Christopher Bradley.

The premise is that there are various wax tableaux that contain the spirits of some of history's most evil folks, including everybody's favorite Marquis. The scene where the goody-two-shoes girlfriend submits to his lash is exquisite.

Best quote: "What's the matter, boy? Are you upset that she had her first orgasm at the end of my whip?"

-- RJ

I loved both of these movies when I first saw them. To the list of good movies for Halloween I would add "The Dunwich Horror" with Dean Stockwell. The scene where he uses the woman for a book rest was very interesting for me. I saw it a long time ago before I was interested in D/s but now that I think about it... what nicer book rest could you have!

-- Mr. E

Don't let Halloween slip by. Engage your imagination and see what you can dream up... then go out and have some special fun!

The movie links in the column above are from the Internet Movie Database. Try their search function to see if you can find other movies appropriate for Halloween BDSM fun.