While PDN (Photo District News) is an excellent source of photography related information, they have only just begun dabbling in high-end digital cinema. They just recently finished off their list of 'Photo Gear of the Year,' and on that list happens to be the RED SCARLET -- which was actually introduced in November 2011 but didn't start finding its way into the hands of users until December 2011 and well into 2012. It's an interesting choice, for sure, but I'm sure part of it has to do with cost (it's still half the price of EPIC), and the other part is that you can pull great still images from the video.
While calling the 4K-shooting Red Scarlet-X a mere "video camera," is like calling a Lamborghini just a "car," this digital cinema machine presented one of the best options for photographers interested in crossing over into serious filmmaking. Capable of producing mind-blowing 4K video that will put that 1080p you shot with your HD-DSLR to shame, the Red Scarlet-X offers the imaging power to make the leap from shooting HD clips to creating gorgeous feature films. Meanwhile, the free Redcine Pro software lets you easily pull high-resolution stills from the video, if you find you still need those. But believe us, after shooting video that's four times the resolution of HD with this rad-looking, small and rugged camera, you just may put still photography in the rearview mirror.
I don't think anyone is going to be putting photography in the rearview mirror anytime soon, but I'm inclined to think it will start happening sooner or later based on some thoughts from a recent Canon 1D C post. Of course, their reasoning doesn't factor in usability, which is certainly a consideration, but in terms of sheer image quality flexibility, there wasn't anything in this price range coming out in 2012 that could really match it. Yes you can argue 4K RAW has its downsides, like file sizes, but these R3D files are extremely versatile. This is also a good excuse to share a recent SCARLET video that caught my eye, produced with help from Vid-Atlantic:
This next year could be another interesting one for cameras. We've got the F5 and the F55 coming out, but it's also very possible we could see something brand new from a company that's never made a camera before. Many have talked about GoPro possibly producing a large sensor camera, and they've certainly got part of the camera building process in place already. I think the biggest thing for most people will be whether any of the camera companies besides Blackmagic start producing real video cameras in the $1,500-$3,000 range. Sony has started doing this, but their offerings haven't been any better than DSLR quality -- so the only reason to move up would be a form factor consideration. I think DSLR filmmaking will begin to slowly be replaced by large sensor video cameras at many levels, but they will still probably hang around for years to come, especially when cameras like the GH2 and GH3 are so cheap and still produce fantastic results. That type of value is hard to beat, and the next highest quality camera in the price range besides the BMCC is the FS100, which may see a replacement or a price drop in 2013.
Could be another interesting year -- but what do you think will happen in 2013? Do you think the new Dragon sensor, if released earlier in 2013, will become the high-end camera of choice, or do you think Arri will continue it's dominance? How about at the low-end -- what do you think will happen there? Do you think Blackmagic will secure much of the low-end digital cinema or might another company come along -- whether they currently make a large sensor camera or not -- and steal some of the thunder?
As indie filmmakers—especially in the genre space—sometimes we have to find creative ways to visually show off some crazy stuff. Heads exploding? Body transformation to bugs? Extraterrestrial predators disrespecting your boundaries and popping out of chest cavities?
You name it, we conceive it.
One of the great joys of movie making is conceiving how to pull off all this crazy stuff in creative and visually exciting ways. Some of the greatest horror directors in history have made a name for themself by mastering the craft of intricate, believable practical effects moments of all time (eh-hmmm, David Cronenburg). Well made practical effects aren't just cool to watch, they're also an art unto themself, with professional special effects artists dedicating their entire careers to designing crazy set pieces for our viewing pleasure.
Practical effects (SFX) also typically hold up much better than digital effects (VFX) allowing us to revisit and still immersing us into the a world created decades ago. That's pretty cool.
Below, we've compiled a top 10 list of some of the most impactful special effects in horror history. While this list is certainly not definitive, it was carefully thought out by which movies have been the most influential or impactful in our current moviegoing zeitgeist. Some are 80s classics you'd expect, others are modern special effects masterpieces that have instantly found themself in the cannon. We try to keep it interesting!
Please enjoy, as well as check out some accompanying education on how some of these moments were conceived and translated to the big screen, as well as some complimentary double feature pairings for your viewing pleasure.
Editor's note: These are in no particular order. Sue me.
'Videodrome'
Oh man. Videodrome.
It wouldn't be a SFX best of list without nodding to the grandfather body horror himself David Cronenburg. In most cases when you watch one of his films you can expect to see some sort of body deformation or head explode in some of the most gnarly, creative set pieces put to screen.
It was a tough choice which of his babies to elect for the list, but I chose Videodrome simply because I think out of everything I've seen it got under my skin the most. I mean, between a TV becoming flesh and James Woods literally inserting a VHS tape into his torso, Videodrome has it all, baby!
As special make up effects artist Rick Baker says it best when he states "we have to do some pretty disgusting things in this movie".
See also: The Fly (one of my all time faves and a masterclass in SFX in its own right)
'Terrifier' (Franchise)
Jumping from classics to modern, the Terrifier franchise has made a name for itself for itself for its shameless gonzo splattercore ethos. With Terrifier 3 opening this weekend and tracking to blow out tentpole Joker: Folie a Deux, is safe to say that Art the clown has earned his keep amongst the big leagues of slasher fam.
Considering Terrifier originally made a name for itself precisely for its over-the-top practical effects, I feel like it's earned its keep amongst the big wigs of culturally relevant SFX icons.
See also: In a Violent Nature (another modern slasher with a shameless love of practical kills)
'Evil Dead II'
Sam Raimi made waves in the independent horror space with his certified classic, Evil Dead. If that wasn't enough, he did it again with the sort of remake, sort of reimagining of Evil Dead, Evil Dead II.
Writers Raimi and Scott Spiegel have famously said their approach to their sequel was essentially "what if we did the first one but bigger and funnier", and they certainly achieved that in spades. And what comes with bigger and funnier? More practical effects, baby. Between Ash fighting his hand and and claymation deadites, the in-camera master work still inspires filmmakers to this day.
It's groovy. It's just really groovy.
See also: Evil Dead (2013) (Fede Alverez went full-blown practical for his brutal remake and it elevates it to arguably the scariest Evil Dead ever made)
'The Substance'
The Substance
Mubi
Need I say more than "Monstro Elisasue"?
I will, because Coralie Fargeat certainly doesn't hold back leading up to her tortured creation. Between the procedural body horror of Margaret Qualley crawling out of Demi Moore's back to an unfortunate dream sequence with a chicken leg, The Substance is a no-holds-bared practical body horror masterpiece.
For more on the making of Monstro Elisasue, check out Vulture's super cool SFX breakdown here.
See also: Society (this arguably deserves it's own spot for it's flesh blending orgy scene, but we'll leave it here to pair for some nice "satirical comedy in body horror" tidiness)
'Re-Animimator'
Re-Animator is one of those movies that when I watched it for the first time I couldn't stop thinking about it for weeks. What starts as an innocently campy Lovecraft adaptation quickly escalates to arguably one of the most fucked up movie I've ever seen.
I wouldn't consider Re-Animator one of my favorite movies ever, but it's certifiably one of the craziest. Putting some of these set pieces into words is a little out of my comfort zone, so I'll let you see for yourself if you haven't already. That being said, it makes the list for its impeccably well-executed use of practical effects for lingering fear.
One of the best arguments for the dead staying dead there is.
See also: Color Out of Space (a great Lovecraft double feature. A family that rides together gets their flesh stuck together)
'The Blob' (1988)
The Blob is, dare I say, a perfect movie. Practical effects are more or less the catalyst of this remake to a (also very good) classic, but elevates specifically with its heavy reliance on practical guck.
If you still want to go into a phone booth or hospital after checking this out... Good luck, bub.
See also: The Stuff (a perfect double feature. Blobs and stuff? give me a better pairing)
'The Thing' (1982)
If this list was ranked in a particular order, The Thing just might take the cake for all-time best. The above video's title says it all—the effects are insane, and the amount of work and artistry that went into building this world is a masterclass in how to utilize practical effects to elevate your movie to elite status.
On top of that, it's also an amazing movie taking the idea of "hell is other people" to elegant shape-shifting extremes.
See also: They Live (while not crazy on practical effects, the creature design itself earns its keep as a great Carpenter practical effect-heavy paring. Plus, it rules—bubble gum or no)
'Nightmare on Elm Street'
No one does practical effects quite like Freddy.
Outright, Freddy Krueger's character design is one of the most iconic looks out of any slasher villain—can we think of a better example of a slasher villain with a classically distinguished look that isn't wearing a mask?
On top of that, Nightmare on Elm Street has the genius advantage of dream logic, where pretty much anything the filmmaker's mind thinks of (in this case our guy Wes Craven) goes. It's a playground of creativity the entire franchise utilizes in beautiful fashion, but the first is so good it set the standard for how to use practical effects to make a long-lasting classic with some of the most intricate practical set pieces out there.
Hell, Wes designed an entire rotating set to pull of a scene where he rains blood on his final girl in her bedroom. If that's not bad ass filmmaking, I don't know what is. Even despite the near of an electrician's worst nightmare (if you don't know what I mean, see above).
See also: Texas Chainsaw Massacre (considering Leatherface and Freddy Krueger are boys that match each others freak too well, this pairing goes without saying. Texas Chainsaw also happens to stand as one of the scariest movies ever made thanks to the practical flair Tobe Hooper added to the Sawyer family's entire space)
'Sleepaway Camp'
Sleepaway Camp
UFDC
Sleepaway Camp is one of those horror movies that got lost in the shuffle in the slasher boom and is rightfully getting more attention as time goes on. Crazy twist ending aside (that is also one of the best jump scares of all time), Sleepaway Camp is a movie that wears its affection for horror via practical effects on its sleeve. We love it for that.
If you're looking to know more about how it all came together, check out this awesome breakdown.
If you're reading this, Angela, please don't come after me next time I go camping.
See also: Pieces (a lesser known slasher that puts the "gnarly" in gnarly)
The 'Alien' Franchise
Alien
film-grab.com
The Alien franchise is one of the most consistently well-made, expertly crafted franchises out there—and much of that is due (and thanks) to the reliance on practical effects. The world building, the horror, everything. Alien is an all time classic, and the quality of H.R. Geiger's concepts made real by practical effects goes to show its lasting impression.
See also: Event Horizon
Honorable Mentions
Look, there's a lot of good stuff out there—we can't hit them all.
Sometimes, for the sake of organizing an intuitive top 10 list, you have to make some tough choices and leave out some gems. Whether they have a wild head explosion or elegant, practical depiction building of hell itself, here are some great examples of expert practical effects that are more than worth your time.
Without further ado...
Possession: Are we going to talk about the demonic tentacle monster in the room?
Pans Labyrinth
House of the Devil: Maybe a stretch but with the Greta head shot and blood moon ritual it earns it.
X Trilogy
Scanners: The ultimate head blow up
Talk to Me: When they say smash up heads, they mean it
Antrum
Maniac
Eraserhead
Oddity
Abagail
Barbarian
Friday the 13ths
The House That Jack Built
American Werewolf in London
Night Breed
Love Lies Bleeding:Two words: "Dave Franco"
High Tension
From Beyond: The ultimate practical effect face
Comment with any we forgot to mention... Or else (we might even add it to the honorable mentions list)!
While PDN (Photo District News) is an excellent source of photography related information, they have only just begun dabbling in high-end digital cinema. They just recently finished off their list of 'Photo Gear of the Year,' and on that list happens to be the RED SCARLET -- which was actually introduced in November 2011 but didn't start finding its way into the hands of users until December 2011 and well into 2012. It's an interesting choice, for sure, but I'm sure part of it has to do with cost (it's still half the price of EPIC), and the other part is that you can pull great still images from the video.
