Earlier this year, we posted the Top Ten Practical FX in Horror, which was a fantastic list that highlighted 10 examples of amazing practical FX work from various horror movies. However, since it only focused on those particular scenes, I wanted to take it one step further and look at entire movies that have incredible practical FX from beginning to end! These are movies that dedicated themselves to creating something visceral, real, and tangible, something that audiences could almost feel themselves when they watched it.
Below is a list I’ve compiled that I feel shows off amazing examples of practical FX. Please note that I’ve left off John Carpenter’s The Thing because that’s just too easy. That movie is pretty much the reason why lists like these exist. We all know it, we all agree, so let’s give some other movies a chance to shine, shall we?
Go on through and let me know what you think in the comments!
The Fly
Let’s go ahead and get started with one of the greatest remakes of all time. Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis’ roles were played with fantastic seriousness, the excitement of Brundle’s discovery leading into the uncertainty of its uses followed by the terror of its mistakes. It’s a stunning film that every horror fan needs to see at least once.
Goldblum’s transformation throughout the film into “Brundlefly” is nothing short of brilliant. We really feel like he is becoming less and less human with each day that passes as more of his humanity sheds away into something more insect-like. It all culminates in the horrifying and revolting climax where Brundle literally sheds his skin to reveal the fly underneath.
