Those of us old enough to remember a time when film wasn’t clogged with computer generated special effects love to harp on the glory days of practical work. Those times were dramatically different. The special effects stood as an element of cinema with major intrigue, and true talents like Jack Pierce, Dick Smith, Giannetto De Rossi, Rick Baker, Rob Bottin, and Tom Savini – to name just a few – had audiences on the edge of their seats, anticipating the aesthetic horrors in wait.
In 2015 we know exactly what’s headed our way when the trailer for the next big blockbuster rolls for the very first time. And that’s not to imply that all CGI makes for miserable visuals, as that’s certainly not the case. It’s just that the top notch work offered forth from pictures like Jurassic Park, District 9, Terminator 2 and the Hellboy flicks (for example) is a very, very rare thing. At the end of the day, computers generally fail to give us the tangibility that practical special effects produce.
Related Story: 10 Modern Horror Films With Awesome Practical Effects Part 2
But practical work hasn’t disappeared entirely… yet. There are still pictures being produced that feature some stunning craftsmanship and awe inspiring makeup. In fact, there are a number of fairly recent pieces that boast jaw-dropping artistry created without extensive computer use. You want a few recommendations? We’ve got 10 for you!
The Evil Dead: The sheer brutality of this surprisingly gratifying remake borders on astonishing. Especially when you consider the fact that film was treated to a respectable theatrical release. Some of the muliation scenes are quite jarring, and while there are obviously some digital splashes in the film, the abundance of practical work commands respect. Especially for us older timers.
Late Phases: The werewolf designs featured in Adrián García Bogliano’s Late Phases hasn’t been universally cherished, but they’re damn solid all the same. The attention to detail in the faces – and odd but cool distinction between male and female monsters – is really impressive, as Robert Kurtzman and his crew at Creature Corps turn in some fine work. For a film with fairly controlled effects, Late Phases still manages to leave an impression.
30 Days of Night: 30 Days of Night boasts an awesome blend of practical and digital effects. In fact, if you’re going to utilize visual effects to enhance practical, this is just about the perfect example of how to get it done. The scenery looks stunning, as do numerous high octane sequences. But the beauty lies in the more depressing moments, like the two flabbergastingly awesome decapitation scenes, and the graphic destruction unleashed by Barrow’s invading vampires.
Slither: Monster movie with a steady stream of awesome creatures and stomach turning action sequences? That’s Slither. There are plenty of awesome creature designs and nauseating eye candy that’s sure to leave any gore hound quite pleased. And an awful lot of that nastiness is practical. Gotta love it!
Exists: Exists lands on this list for one primary reason: the greatest bigfoot getup ever put together and filmed. Eduardo Sanchez, who gifted us the game changing found footage flick, The Blair Witch Project delivers another top notch FF feature, and unlike TBWP, we get to see loads of action packed mayhem and awe inspiring monsters. If you’ve lost faith in bigfoot films, Exists may just be the one that changes your mind. And even if it doesn’t, you’ll respect the suit, trust in that.
Turistas: A xenophobic torture porn shocker with popping visuals, Turistas doesn’t feel all too original, or as special as it probably could have. You’ve seen this film before, many times. However the gore is astoundingly horrific, and that’s something you don’t necessarily see in commercial flicks nowadays. In terms of outright nastiness, this may be the most intense feature on the list. There’s also a quality cast attached and a kickass director (John Stockwell, who you’ll remember as Dennis from the John Carpenter classic, Christine) behind the camera, which means that if the story fails to captivate you, you’ve still got a few key strengths that should hold your attention.
Jeepers Creepers: Like Exists, the practical beauty of Jeepers Creepers comes – for the most part – from the titular Creeper. He’s a perfectly pieced together monstrosity that has tricks up his scaly skin and a hunger for human flesh. Director Victor Salva capitalizes on genius lighting techniques to enhance the effect of his monster, and these days most love it enough to brand it a modern day classic.
Hell Fire: There’s no doubt that Hell Fire is the “cheapest” of the pics to land on this list. It’s a micro film through and through, and for a few minutes it really feels like it. And then a sudden shift slaps viewers in the face, and some wildly spirited practical work shocks the shit right out of us. It’s doubtful that any of us are foreign to jolting genre fare, but the ambitious little pictures that pull off the unexpected still stand as welcomed surprises. Marc Fratto has a small but impressive film on his hands, and if you haven’t caught it yet, you’re missing out.
John Dies at the End: Once again Robert Kurtzman comes through to liven up the party. John Dies at the End is an awesome adaptation of the equally awesome David Wong novel of the same name. It’s packed full of strange and psychadelic imagery, including a handful of head-turning beasts put together by Kurtzman himself. Iconic horror stud Don Coscarelli directs this one, and it just so happens to be one of his finest.
Altered: Another Eduardo Sanchez production makes the list based on the simple fact that not only are the special effects awesome and hand-crafted, the movie as a whole is a genuine sleeper. It’s a damn entertaining alien/monster flick with a heap of tension, a disconcerting antagonist and even some entrails to chew on. If you’re eager to see what Sanchez can do when not focused on the found footage model, this is the selection for you.