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Monster Effects the Focus of New Doc, ‘Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex’ (Trailer)
Heading to EFM in Berlin is a new doc that focuses on the world of creating monster effects.
Alexandre Poncet and Gilles Penso’s Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex, features the likes of Guillermo Del Toro, Joe Dante, and even John Landis.
Here’s the lengthy synopsis to go with the sales trailer sent to us by Fabien M.
“The success of Avatar, Jurassic World, the Planet of the Apes reboot or series like The Lord of the Rings has proved one thing: movie creatures have never been as popular as they are today.
Finding its roots in ancient folklore and mythology, the art of creating monsters for the big screen is on the other hand as old as cinema itself. From early experiments with apes and dinosaurs to the birth of special make-up effects, from the pinnacle of animatronics to the digital revolution, Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex explores a century of cinematic thrills and wonders. Most importantly, the feature film focuses on the relationship between the creatures and their makers: like modern Frankensteins, special effects wizards create life out of raw material, art and complex machinery.
For two and a half years, Gilles Penso and Alexandre Poncet have met all the greatest artists in the genre, visited dozens of studios and gathered hours of exclusive footage from classics like Gremlins, Ghostbusters, The Abyss, Terminator 2, Jurassic Park, Starship Troopers or Spider-Man 2. The result celebrates a world of human imagination and unparalleled artistry, but also shows how fragile traditional crafts have become, in the wake of futurist technologies.”
For me, I want the never-before-seen goodies. That’s the biggest selling point for me.
We have an exclusive first look at A Man in the Woods With an Axe, a blood-soaked, genre-twisting homage to 1980s slasher films.
Spanning four decades, A Man in the Woods With an Axe begins in the summer of 1987 before pushing into the modern era, weaving together timelines and perspectives in a way that builds both dread and intrigue.
Drawing inspiration from genre standouts like Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, Hatchet, and The Cabin in the Woods, the film blends visceral horror with moments of dark humor, creating a uniquely balanced experience that honors tradition while carving its own identity.
Writer-director Dillon Brown (Primal Darkness) aims to deliver everything fans crave from a slasher while boldly subverting expectations with a mid-film twist that redefines the story.
“This is an unapologetic love letter to the films that made me fall in love with horror,” Brown tells Bloody Disgusting. “But I didn’t just want to recreate that feeling; I wanted to challenge it. About halfway through, the film takes a turn that completely changes how you view not only this story, but the genre itself.”
Brown describes the vintage-inspired production as “far and away the bloodiest film I’ve ever made,” with practical effects helmed by Cody Ruch (The Mill, Pig Hill), an instructor at Tom Savini’s Special Make-Up Effects Program.
From Horror Dadz Productions, A Man in the Woods With an Axe is currently in production and targeting an early 2027 release.
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