It's scary how easy it is to recreate for Halloween the thoroughly creepy look of The Joker, from Batman blockbuster "The Dark Knight."

MORE: View a audio slideshow on how to look like The Joker.

You don't need professional special-effects tools, but you'll get the most realistic look if you buy rigid collodian, an adhesive sold in costume shops, says Cristina Bartolucci of the cosmetics brand DuWop, who explains how to get the look:

* First, use the collodian to draw about a two-inch line out from the corners of the mouth. Pinch the corners of the mouth and hold until the adhesive dries; they'll look like gashes.

* Using white grease paint, cover the entire face and use a heavy hand. One trick Bartolucci learned on the set of "Die Hard: With a Vengeance": scrunch your face as if you're going to get hit when applying the all-over face makeup. When you relax, the lines will show up, adding drama.

* For the eyes, take black mascara, cover the lashes, close the eyes and smudge the black all over the under-eye area.

* Then use a fat, waterproof black liner all around the eye socket -- even the inner rims. The waterproof part is important, because it will leave more residue and look even more authentic as the day wears on.

* For the lips, use a deep-red lip gloss that smears well and isn't too sticky. AP