So What Does this all Prove?

Throughout the evolution of special effects make-up, it’s clear that everyday someone, somewhere is making a milestone in the profession. Seeing these new ideas, applications, and executions of makeup allow for newer artists in the profession to take a stab at it.

It’s great to be able to look back and think about the absolutely terrifying scenes in Dead Silence, which were brought to life by Patrick Baxter, and think, “what can I do to have that same impact?” while making your own work. It’s awesome to be able to make a great recipe for blood when you’re in the middle of a make-up look that was invented by Dick Smith.  It’s the little things, but for a person who wants to learn SFX make-up, it’s everything.

Without all these amazing and talented artists in this field, haunts, minor productions, and other movies that we know today would not be the same. It’s with gratitude that we have these artists in our lives so that we can carry with the very same passions as they did, and create the next milestones in special effects make-up.

Rick Baker

One of the fathers of SFX make-up is hands down Rick Baker, who has done everything from horror, sci-fi, comedies, and even music videos. Baker is such well rounded, incredibly completed SFX artist that the Syfy show “Face Off” has taken him on many times to be a judge on certain episodes. 

Baker showed an incredible talent while working on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video in 1983. The overall look and application to the zombies mixed in with the idea of a music video was something that was brand new to audiences, and left them absolutely astonished. 

In 2015, Baker showed his talents of well rounded SFX skills in Maleficent, where a brand new idea of beautiful and bad-ass came hand in hand. Personally, this is one of my favorite works of art Baker has created.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2002)

The Ring (2002)

Squirm (1976)

Maleficent (2015)

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” (1980’s)

Planet of the Apes (2001)

The Wolfman (2010)

Star Wars Episode V (1980)

Star Stars Epsiode IV (1977) 

Justin Raleigh

In today’s 21st century world of horror and suspense, new groundbreaking ideas need to be made each and every day to keep audiences on their toes in this genre. This is where SFX make-up artist Justin Raleigh has seemed to shine the brightest. He is the creator behind the Insidious make-up throughout all 4 movies, along with that within The Conjuring. Within these two movie series, we are taken into a completely different eerie world with lack of saturation in color schemes. We also see these new and horrifying ghosts such as “The Man with Fire on his Face” and “The Man Who Cannot Breathe” in Insidious (3). 

Along with his tremendous work in the cinema world, Raleigh is also known for his incredible work in FX’s American Horror Story: Freak Show. Raleigh has taken TV audiences into a complete world of unusual, uncomfortable horror in a 45 minute show, turning Sarah Paulson into a two headed psycho.

Insidious: The Last key (2017)

Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)

Insidious 1 & 2 (2010 and 2012)

I Am Legend (2007)

AHS: Freak Show (2014)

The Conjuring (2013)

The Greatest Showman (2017)

John Chambers

John Chambers is a makeup artist that brought us into an entire world with his gorgeous make-up work in Planet of the Apes (1947). This was a whole new beginning for the movie franchise and would lead to other movies years later, using the same ideas and forms that Chambers did.

Chambers was also known for creating Spock’s famous pointy ears in Star Trek (1966).

Kevin Yeager

Kevin Yeager, one of my personal favorite SFX make-up artists, has transformed horror as we know it today. Two of his biggest accomplishments in the cinema world were bringing a demonic doll to life in Child’s Play, and creating a horrific burned monster that kills through dreams in Nightmare on Elm St.

Creating the makeup for Robert Englund to transform into Freddy Kreuger was a brutal task, but he managed, and showed the world what he was capable of with prosthetics and make-up. This was a look that no one had ever attempted or thought of, along with the way Chucky the doll was created. Both of these characters still make impacts on cinema today, which is why Kevin Yeager is one of the founding fathers of SFX make-up.

Sleepy Hallow (1999)

Nightmare on Elm St (1982)

Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)

Child’s Play (1988)

Cat in the Hat (2003)

Face Off (1997)

Patrick Baxter

Patrick Baxter is one of the top special effects makeup artists in movies and television today, who is always working on a new project. He has made incredible prosthetics and gory pieces that shock audiences and make them cringe. His work in the Saw movies has proven just that (come on, the jaw breaker? AH). 

Patrick Baxter is one of my all time favorite make-up artists, simply because of his work in Dead Silence, a movie with a curse of a ventriloquist who kills anyone who screams when you see her. The movie honestly to this day scares me, just because of how well the character Mary Shaw was created and her doll-like make-up.

 

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Dead Silence (2007)

Carrie (2013)

Evil Dead (2013)

SAW Movies (2005 – 2010)

Freddie VS Jason (2003)

Silent Hill (2006)

 

Dick Smith

Dick Smith had a 45 year long career in the special effects, where he brought many nightmares to real life. Dick Smith was known to have created one of the best well-known fake blood recipes, using cornstarch, a food preservative, food dye, and the most important ingredient; Kodak Photo-Flo. The (modified) recipe is still one of the biggest in the haunt and film industry.

Dick Smith was also the special effects artist that turned Linda Blair into a horrifying, demonic child for the 1973 movie “The Exorcist”. Smith was said to have used several layering pieces of the face prosthetic, which made this makeup come to life so perfectly. This movie still terrorizes audiences, and the makeup is absolutely timeless (ask your parents, trust me).

The Exocist (1973)

House on Haunted Hill (1999)

Death Becomes Her (1992)

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)

The Godfather (1972)

Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Miracle on 34th Street (1959)

 

 

 

Tom Savini

Tom Savini is a makeup artist from Pittsburg, PA, that started in the 70’s and 80’s, where big horror and sci-fi flicks were gaining popularity. Savini also directs, acts, and does student doubles along with his ongoing career in SFX. He actually teaches a special effects makeup class in Monessen, PA. 

Tom Savini brought a whole new level of horror to the film world. His sculpting techniques were something no one had seen before, and his gory creations were milestones for other special effects makeup artists. 

 

Friday the 13th (1980)

Friday the 13th (The Final Chapter) (1984)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)

Day of the Dead (1985) (Won Saturn Award in 1986)

Dead of Night (1974)

Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Django Unchained (2012)

 

 

What is Special Effects Makeup?

Special effects makeup is the technique of using prosthetics and makeup to change the physical appearance of a person. It can be done in hundreds of ways, such as molding latex, silicone, or foam prosthetics, body painting, eye contacts, and teeth molds. The art of SFX has been impacting the cinema industry for over 100 years, bringing new characters to life everyday. Normally, SFX makeup is seen in horror, sci-fi, dramas, and action movies. However, that doesn’t mean it stops there. SFX is also used in day to day television shows, such as Supernatural, Gotham, The Walking Dead, and even Grey’s Anatomy.