Halloween comes early to 'Dancing with the Stars'; Week 7 dance-by-dance recap

LOS ANGELES -- Halloween starts early this week with a "spooktacular" edition of "Dancing with the Stars."

Eight remaining couples perform a routine on their own, to scary-themed songs. I'm quite sure this is the first time we've heard Marilyn Manson on the show. Plus, it's time for the team dance. They're divided into two groups: Team #Nightmare and Team #WhoYouGonnaCall.

Here's a recap of the night's scores, from highest to lowest:

Bindi Irwin - 30 out of 30; plus 28 for team dance - 58 total

Another week, another perfect score for Bindi. She's taken to dancing like a duck to water. Argentine tango? Sure! Bring it on, Derek! She has no trouble with the dance steps; her issue is with being scary. No way can this bright ray of sunshine be a threatening vampire. Bindi decides while she can't be scary she can be fierce. It looks a little like she's in pain with her "tough face" but it works better than smiley-faced Bindi. Carrie Ann Inaba hailed her as the Queen of Darkness (and that's a good thing), Julianne Hough thought she had content, technique and intensity, and Bruno Tonioli said the dance looked like a master class of spell biding magic.

Carlos PenaVega - 28 out of 30; plus 28 for team dance - 56 total

Carlos thinks he was over scored by the judges last week. When has anyone ever said that? He wants the high points but he wants to feel like he's earned them. Witney has choreographed a tough paso doble, a style Carlos says he feels is the hardest to learn. And there's a cape! Witney pushes and says she won't simplify the routine and he fights to learn it. And does. Bruno loved the "Phantom of the Opera" theme and thought the cape work was masterful, Carrie Ann said even with a phantom mask over half his face he still excelled, and Julianne's words were short and simple...nailed it!

Hayes Grier - 26 out of 30; plus 30 for team dance - 56 total

Hayes was also upset with last week's performance and scores. He knows the competition is tight and the only way to go now is up. They have the slow waltz, and the 15-year-old is a little intimidated by the maturity needed for the dance. Emma's advice: think like a dancer. She's coaching him with all the right moves and words and manages to keep up his spirit. He channels "Teen Wolf" for his character and stays in animal-mode the whole time. Bruno thought it was enchanting, Carrie Ann praised his improvement, and Julianne called him a leading man.

Andy Grammer - 26 out of 30; plus 30 for team dance - 56 total

His perfect score from last week has fueled Andy's competitive fire. He wants to show that perfect score wasn't a fluke. This time around Allison transforms him into a "bad ass vampire" for the paso doble, complete with Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People" song. She really pushes him during rehearsal and while he's a bit frustrated with the dance he also wants to surprise people with his new abilities. Bruno liked that he went "full out" but thought he lost it in the shoulders, Carrie Ann and Julianne saw the same thing but thought it worked for the "weirdness" of the routine.

Alexa PenaVega - 27 out of 30; plus 28 for team dance - 55 total

Alexa was very upset after being "in jeopardy" last week. She's putting a lot of pressure on herself; luckily Mark Ballas has been around the block and he was able to talk her off the ledge. They threw themselves into heavy duty rehearsal schedule, and while there were more tears, but Alexa persevered. They did the paso doble to the theme of Edward Scissorhands (yes, Mark danced with scissor hands). Carrie Ann felt like Alexa finally quit thinking and just danced, Julianne liked it but wants a little more consistency, and Bruno was thrilled with the way Mark captured Tim Burton's magic while not losing the essence of the paso doble.

Nick Carter - 24 out of 30; plus 30 for team dance - 54 total

Nick has the right attitude about this being a competition. He knows that if the judges don't give him constructive criticism, and if he doesn't take those comments to heart, he won't get any better. He has to fit a quick trip to New York with the Backstreet Boys but learns some of the moves from Sharna via his phone. The couple transforms into Frankenstein and his bride for their intense Argentine tango. Julianne praised his attitude and commitment, but told him he needs to do the booty tuck, Bruno liked how much he was able to immerse himself into the interpretation, and Carrie Ann was happy he took her critique from the previous week and he stayed in character the whole time.

Tamar Braxton - 24 out of 30; plus 30 for team dance - 54 total

The perfect score Tamar got last week has her really feeling like a contender. Val encourages her to go full out with every rehearsal and hopes that will push her even further. Val choreographs a clever foxtrot to a Doors classic, "People are Strange." Julianne likes people who show a lot of confidence, but did think the couple has trouble when they are in hold, and Bruno and Carrie Ann agreed.

Alek Skarlatos - 25 out of 30; plus 28 for team dance - 53 total

Alek thought he was under scored last week and was mad at the judges. Lindsay doesn't like his attitude and brings in Artem to help show just what Alek was doing wrong. Having a guy's point of view seemed to help Alek and he dove into learning the Viennese waltz. Julianne thanked him for bringing the "old" Alek back, Bruno thought he was a dynamic and present leading man, and Carrie Ann thought maybe their scores fueled him into getting mad and trying a little harder.

Group dances

Team #Nightmare is Nick, Tamar, Andy and Hayes. Their routine to Tim Burton's "A Nightmare Before Christmas" theme earned a much deserved perfect 30.

Team #WhoYouGonnaCall is Bindi, Alexa, Carlos and Alek. Their fun "Ghostbusters" themed dance is close to perfect, but not quite, and gets a 28.

SPOILER ALERT

In jeopardy this week: Hayes, Tamar and Alexa.

Eliminated: Hayes Grier.