Written By Teddy Grzybowski
Halloween may have come and gone, but many of us are still watching our favorite horror movies. As you’re watching, do you ever wonder how all those gory and gruesome effects are made? That’s the art of special effects—or SFX. But how did special effects start? And who are the people who made it what it is today?
The Beginnings
To find where this art form comes from, we have to go back to the late 1800s and the founding father of special effects, George Méliès. He invented many camera tricks and effects still used today. For example, he created the jump cut, a camera trick that makes something appear or change suddenly. While it looks simple now, in the days of black-and-white film it was pure magic.
Méliès also developed the split-screen technique, which allowed two people to appear on screen at the same time, and double exposure, which he used to create the first ghost ever seen in film. George Méliès was the first to take the world of effects in cinema seriously.
SFX Makeup
Some effects can’t be done with camera tricks alone. That’s where special effects makeup comes in. This art uses prosthetics, makeup, animatronics, and other materials to create realistic illusions on camera.
One of the earliest and most iconic examples is Frankenstein (1931). Makeup artist Jack Pierce transformed actor Boris Karloff into the towering monster we all recognize today. Pierce also created classic looks for The Mummy (1932) and The Wolf Man (1941).
Another famous monster is Godzilla. In 1954, Eiji Tsuburaya led Toho Studios in Japan, creating the suit worn by actor Haruo Nakajima. Tsuburaya also used miniatures to make the destruction of cities look real.
Fans of werewolves may know the incredible transformation in An American Werewolf in London (1981), created by the legendary Rick Baker. Known for his realistic creature designs, Baker has won seven Academy Awards for Best Makeup.
Legend of SFX
One of the undisputed legends of special effects in horror is Tom Savini—arguably the best SFX artist in the genre. Savini worked on countless classics such as Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Creepshow, Maniac, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Friday the 13th, and many more.
He became known for his gory realism, inspired by his experience as a combat photographer in Vietnam. The things he saw there gave him a firsthand understanding of how to make realistic effects on screen.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Savini later opened a special effects school in his hometown. As a teen, he practiced makeup on himself and friends, later combining his love for acting and effects. Even while in Vietnam, he continued experimenting—once turning himself into a “monster” to scare locals. Savini earned the nickname “The Sultan of Splatter,” marking him as one of the greatest makeup artists of all time.
So this Halloween season, when you watch a horror movie, pay attention to the blood, guts, and monsters—and remember the amazing time, creativity, and hard work that go into the art of special effects.
The SAMS Salmon 