Now that's stage fright! X Factor contestants pull out all the stops in spooktastic Halloween special

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It might be Fright Night on the X Factor, but the acts were hoping for anything but a vocal horror show.

Gifty Louise put in a powerful performance to open the programme, singing Fifth Harmony's I'm In Love With A Monster.

Performing in a 1920's-style jazz-era blonde wig and a red trouser suit which exposed her tum, she had the audience clapping along.

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Happy Halloween: It might be Fright Night on the X Factor, but the acts were hoping for anything but a vocal horror show

Finishing in a shower of golden confetti, she certainly impressed the judges.

Louis said: 'Every week you bring something different. Simon, I don't know this song, it's a bit of a risk for me.'

Sharon gushed: 'Gifty you are so sassy, so fantastic. I've been watching you progress, and you never put a step wrong. I don't know the song, but I know now I love the song. 

Nicole said: 'I fricking, sorry I'm not supposed to say that word. I love the tone. I love the  style. You've grown so much, become so much more confident on that stage.'

Sing it! Performing in a 1920's-style jazz-era blonde wig and a red trouser suit which exposed her tum, she had the audience clapping along

A star in the making: Finishing in a shower of golden confetti, she certainly impressed the judges

A job well done: The judges were effusive in their praise for Gifty

Simon added: 'It's not a risk. It's doing something different, Louis.'

The Irish judge hit back at Simon's fangs, saying: 'What's wrong with your teeth? Have you got new teeth?' 

Matt Terry opted for a more classic song choice, performing Nina Simone's I Put A Spell On You with a stripped-back stage set.

After the strong performance, Louis labelled him 'a class act'.

Big voice: Matt Terry opted for a more classic song choice, performing Nina Simone's I Put A Spell On You with a stripped-back stage set

Destined for big things: After the strong performance, Louis labelled him 'a class act'

Sharon said: 'I agree with you, Louis. I really do.'

Simon added: 'Matt, for me this is your best performance in the whole competition,' before becoming troubled by his fake teeth.

'I've got to take these out,' said Simon. 'I can't though.' 

'Scary, in a good way': 'Woman of the moment Honey G performed the title song from Men In Black'

Being herself: Honey stayed true to her style rather than turn to fancy dress

Nicole chipped in: 'It's like a grill for a vampire.' 

In a vote to find out which judge gave viewers the heebie jeebies, Simon, unsurprisingly, came in first.

Louis transformed into a gory surgeon, blood-soaked and clad all in white, to introduce Five After Midnight, who performed Michael Jackson's Thriller.

He's looked better: Louis transformed into a gory surgeon, blood-soaked and clad all in white, to introduce Five After Midnight

Better than last week: The group put their own spin on Jackson's Thriller

Dead cool: The boys were zombified for their MJ spectacle

Sharon said: 'Unbelievable. It wasn't cheesy. It came so natural to you.'

Simon chimed: 'It was a fangtastic performance. It was fun, I love the choreography. A million times better than last week.'

While Louis gushed: 'That's one of the best things I've seen on X Factor. You are stars and must make the final.'

Rap star: Starting outside the studio, the rapper from North Weezy didn't disappoint with her lively routine

On the dark side: Ryan Lawrie was desperate to improve on his recent performances, and turned to Backstreet Boys classic Everybody

That's better: Louis called Ryan's performance his best yet

Feeling pumped: An artist carved the judges' likenesses into pumpkins

Woman of the moment Honey G performed the title song from Men In Black. Starting outside the studio, the rapper from North Weezy didn't disappoint with her lively routine.  

Nicole was full of praise, saying: 'That was scary, but in a really good way.' 

She then joked: 'I just wish you had a little more confidence.'

Simon said: 'You started with everyone hating you, probably including me. That was like the Honey G concert.'

Passionate: Emily Middlemas broke down in tears following her emotional rendtiion of Radiohead's Creep

Fragile: Dressed as a cracked porcelain doll, Emily was greeted by unanimous praise from the judges

Too much: The weight of the song overwhelmed the Scottish singer

While Sharon said: 'Honey, you make people happy you make people smile. You are scary because everybody's gonna' want you in the final.

Ryan Lawrie was desperate to improve on his recent performances, and turned to Backstreet Boys classic Everybody to do so, with a bevy of Zombie dancers.

And it worked, with Louis saying: 'What a transformation from last week. That was your best performance yet.'

Gotcha! Rylan Clark-Neal crept up on Nicole as she introduced Ryan to the stage

Making an entrance: Dermot O'Leary took to the stage with his usual high level of showmanship

Sharon agreed, saying: 'Now, you have personality, you've got a great strength up there. Before, you were a bit like a wet noodle.'

Even Simon was impressed, adding: 'I admire you for what you've done this week. The vocals were a bit dodgy this week, but as a performance compared to last week it was a thousand times better.'

Sam Lavery took on Bonnie Hart's classic power ballad A Total Eclipse of The Heart, showing off her big vocals.

Nicole said: 'That was my favourite performance of yours, ever.' 

Spine-tingling: Sam Lavery took on Bonnie Hart classic power ballad A Total Eclipse of The Heart showing off her big vocals

It's not you, it's me: Sam's mentor Simon wasn't as thrilled, saying: 'I don't think I did a good enough job for you this week'

But Sam's mentor Simon wasn't as thrilled, saying: 'I don't think I did a good enough job for you this week.

'If anyone listening is thinking it wasn't good enough, that's my fault. I think with the talent you've got we should be doing better.'

Finnish talent Saara Aalto shone in all her quirky glory as she delivered Lady Gaga's Bad Romance. 

Quirky: Finnish talent Saara Aalto shone in all her quirky glory as she delivered Lady Gaga's Bad Romance

Vocal explosion: Simon described Saara's voice as 'dynamite'

Simon enthused: 'Now you've become someone we look forward to seeing. Your voice is dynamite. Now you've got to put your own twist on things.'

Four Of Diamonds took on former X Factor contestant Ella Henderson's Ghost and had the audience on their feet.

'I'm making myself sick because I'm being so nice tonight,' said Sharon. 'Your stage presence is getting so much better. You're vocals have always been good but tonight they were great.'

Bringing the fire: Four Of Diamonds took on former X Factor contestant Ella Henderson's Ghost and had the audience on their feet

Emily Middlemas broke down in tears following her emotional rendition of Radiohead's Creep.

Dressed as a cracked porcelain doll, Emily was greeted by unanimous praise from the judges. 

Sharon enthused: 'That was magnificent. You sang with such emotion, with such heart. 

And Simon said the performance would define her career.

Giving it their all: The girls left everything on the stage