Horror Film School is a feature in which talent in front of and behind the camera share the ins and outs of creating the biggest onscreen scares.

“Totally Killer” costume designer Patricia J. Henderson had a unique job dressing the cast of the horror-comedy.

In the film, Jamie (Kiernan Shipka) travels back in time to save her mother’s high school clique from a serial killer.

at odds with ancient technology, a lack of politically correct sensibilities and dated fashion sense.

Although the film opens in the modern day, Jamie spends much of her time in 1987,

But even though the film has plenty of jokes, it was crucial to Henderson that the ’80s fashion not be too over the top.

There’s a fine line between creating character and having someone become a caricature,” she says.

“I strive to not cross that line. I’m going to date myself here, but I lived it and a lot of the references that I pulled came right from my high school yearbooks.”

Henderson detailed her strategy for dressing the ’80s-chic cast for Variety,

as well as how she was able to perfectly outfit the film’s Sweet Sixteen Killer, along with sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes art of her process.