Halloween isn’t Scary Without Makeup
How to make a great horror film?
An excellent horror movie is one that appeals to our emotions and quite literally gets a scare out of us. If after watching a horror film you don't find yourself looking over your shoulder then something went wrong. Horror films can be either gruesome, violent or depictions of reality. I’d say the latter is the scariest one as it takes elements of our “normal” lives and makes us feel completely unsafe and guarded.
There also has to be a built-up tension to create the most terrifying reveal whether it be the monster, a killing or a plot twist. Creating this chilling atmosphere that keeps us on our toes couldn’t be done without makeup, more specifically special effects makeup (sfx).
Special effects makeup is what turns actors into frightening, mutilated, supernatural creatures. Makeup artists have the talent of simulating injuries, aging processes, creating other worthy features and deformities, even bullet wounds or burns.
Not an easy task, a lot of latex, silicone rubber and lots of prosthetics, oh and fake blood goes into it.
This year, undoubtedly, Vecna takes the cake for terrifying sci-fi creature. The Stranger Things 4 villain, played by Jamie Bower, went under intense reconstruction at the hands of makeup artist Barrie Gower.
Gower’s devious works include the acclaimed series Game of Thrones and Chernobyl, characters he took inspiration from to create Hawkins psychokinetic monster. It took up to 8 hours to get Bower Vecna ready, plus Gower had to create multiple duplicates to be replaced each day of filming!
When it comes to characterization no one does it like Eryn Krueger Mekash, the mastermind behind the American Horror Story creepiest and scariest characters. A series that depends heavily on the characterization of its monsters and depictions of brutal violence, gruesome scenes and gore.
Eryn, an expert and multi-award winning makeup artist is fearless and a master at her craft. No surprise Ryan Murphy works with her in every single one of his projects.
Another Halloween classic is Beetlejuice directed by Tim Burton. Michale Kenton’s iconic role wouldn’t have been achieved without the genius of Ve Neil and her artistic vision. The artist behind Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands and Mrs. Doubtfire.
Getting the character right was a try and error sort of process, until she decided to crush green foam from a hobby store and plaster it to Ketaon’s skin giving the illusion it was growing out of his pores. It truly looks like Beetlejuice just crawled from underneath a rock.
No Halloween costume will ever be as iconic as Michael Myers’s mask. Now, 44 years later Christoper Nelson is in charge of recreating Myers’s death mask for the newest trilogy of the franchise.
A transcending symbol that utilizes both props and artistry to emphasize the character's gruesome nature.