While they’re not necessary to tell a good story, most memorable and compellinghorrormovies feature brilliant visual effects. Some of the mostclassic black-and-white horror movies that still hold up todaydo so because of their smart and unforgettable use of practical effects and blocking. The best effects make fantastic and horrifying scenarios believable despite the impossibility of experiencing anything similar in real life. Mutilated bodies, rotting faces, gory stabbings and impalings, freakish monsters, creepy beings, and more extreme visuals of violence characterize the genre as it is.
Manyhorror movies have monsters that are actually nightmare fuel, and their designs are possible due to the committed work by visual effects specialists. While practical effects continue to give ushorror movie moments that make us audibly gasp, in today’s age, computer generated special effects are commonly found in big-budget horror blockbusters. Some of these special effects are stunning enough to justify sitting through poorly written or even boring horror movies. However, there’s occasionally a horror movie so bad that even great visual effects can’t save them.
Alien Resurrection
Cast
Alien Resurrection is the fourth installment in the Alien franchise, featuring Sigourney Weaver as a cloned version of Ellen Ripley. Set 200 years after her death, the film follows a team of scientists who resurrect Ripley, leading to unforeseen consequences and a battle to prevent aliens from reaching Earth.
TheAlienmovies depict the unique experience of humans being attacked by aliens and used to spawn more of their kind. They’re mostly known for introducing the action hero Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver, amovie character who helped reshape genre expectations. After two movies featuring her, David Fincher’s directorial debut, the disappointing third film in the franchise, didn’t feature Ripley and the franchise was seemingly moving in a direction beyond her role in the story, only for her to be brought back in the fourth film,Alien Resurrection.
Alien Resurrectionstars Sigourney Weaver as a clone of her iconic character, who has been infused with some of the xenomorph queen’s DNA, making her stronger and faster against any threats. She also shares a psychological link with xenomorphs, making her sympathetic to their cause. The film hasa poorly developed plot riddled with badly written dialogue, but its visual effects are memorable, albeit not enough to justify watching it again. The xenomorph queen, who has developed a uterus, gives birth to a baby xenomorph in one of the most memorable scenes in the franchise.
The Fly II
The Fly II follows Martin Brundle, the son of scientist Seth Brundle and a human/fly hybrid. Raised within Bartok Industries, Martin grows up under the company’s observation as his mutant genetics begin to manifest, exploring the consequences of his inherited transformation.
David Cronenberg’sThe Flyis one of thebest R-rated 1980s movies worth rewatching foreverbecause of its emotional and melancholic narrative woven through the use of body horror. Its protagonist, Dr. Brundle, is a scientist who accidentally splices the DNA of a fly into his own genetic makeup and goes through a harrowing body-melting experience as a result.The Flyis a complete story without any loose ends, but its success garnered interest in a sequel to the film.
Apart from John Getz, none of the actors from the previous film are inThe Fly II.
The Fly IIis one of the most disappointing sequels in movie history, following up with a story about Brundle’s biological son who is born as a larva. The barely existent plot and the goofiness ofThe Fly IIfeel ill-conceived given the tone of the first movie. However, the sequel is superior in one way. The visual effects are even more gory and disgusting, with the epitome being a scene wherea security guard’s face starts melting, and he claws it off. His whines suggest he survives for a while before dying, and watching that will make viewers queasy.
Spookies
Spookies is a horror film released in 1986, involving a group of travelers who become trapped in a mysterious house. They encounter various horrors as a sorcerer within requires sacrifices to grant eternal life to his bride.
Spookiesis the quintessential bad movie with great special effects. It is a silly and goofy take on monster horror movies, delivering more gags per minute than screams. While horror comedy movies aren’t rare and are often delightful,Spookieshas an incoherent plot that detracts from the experience of watching brilliantly designed monsters on screen. The messy storycannot be saved by how amazing some of the visual effects are.
Of all the memorable moments that stand out inSpookies, the farting zombies make the biggest impression. They’re designed to look terrifying, but they fart constantly while walking slowly towards their targets, making it impossible to take them seriously. However, that was possibly intentional because the film often plays out like a spoof of the genre. Regardless, the design of the buff and muscular zombie creatures deserves recognition.
Army of the Dead
From director Zach Snyder, Army of the Dead combines the zombie apocalypse and heist genres in an exciting twist on the classic action film. Approached to retrieve $200 million dollars from a casino vault in the now zombie-ridden Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries embarks on the mission, unaware of what dangers await them inside the quarantined city limits.
It may be anunpopular opinion to have about such a famous movie, but Zack Snyder’s cut ofJustice League, while an improvement over its theatrical cut, is still a subpar film. Longer than it needs to be with a slew of artistic shots and an overburdening use of slow motion, it barely builds more story with its extended runtime. It would be possible to argue that the Snyder Cut was an exception if this weren’t literally his trademark. His movies post-DCEU,Army of the Deadand theRebel Moonmovies have similarly extended runtimes with poorly written characters.
The VFX team inserted her into the film in post-production.
The CGI artists and visual effects specialists did an incredible job onArmy of the Deadand would have received more recognition and adoration if the film was better. Chris D’Elia had been cast as one of the secondary characters before Snyder decidedhe needed to be recast in light of the sexual misconduct allegationsagainst him. COVID made it impossible to reshoot, and Notaro couldn’t exactly recreate D’Elia’s actions, so the VFX team inserted her into the film in post-production. They did such a seamless job that it’s impossible to tell she wasn’t originally in the shots.
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge follows Jesse Walsh after his family moves into the home of a Freddy Krueger survivor. Jesse’s nightmares and violent urges worsen as Freddy seeks a host for his vendetta, pushing Jesse and his girlfriend, Lisa, to uncover the truth.
Freddy Krueger knows how to make an entrance and keep audiences and characters on the edge of their seats in anticipation before he strikes a fatal blow and everyone erupts into screams. His murder of Tina inA Nightmare on Elm Streetis ahorror movie scene that changed millennials' lives as kids. The entire film is filled with innovative use of his uncanny ability to track down prey through their dreams and deliver gory deaths to them.
So, it’s naturally disappointing that the sequel failed to live up to the standards set by Wes Craven with the first film. The narrative is messy and lacks the sharp wit of the previous movie. However,A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revengedeserves some acknowledgment for its fantastic visual effects. The scene whereFreddy bursts through his first victim after his face is seen through his bellyfeatures perhaps the best use of special effects in the entire franchise.
Virus
Virus is a sci-fi horror film directed by John Bruno. The narrative follows a group of survivors on a ship that encounters an alien life form, which takes control of the vessel’s technology. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Sutherland, and William Baldwin, the film explores themes of survival and the confrontation between human ingenuity and extraterrestrial threats.
Jamie Lee Curtis broke out onto the horror scene withHalloween, ahorror movie that will always be a classic. She became a horror movie icon and an action hero to watch after delivering a compelling performance as the final girl, Laurie Strode. So, it’s no surprise that when visual effects specialist John Bruno decided to direct a feature film, his only solo directing credit, he wanted Jamie Lee Curtis as the female lead.
Virushad the potential to become anAlien-like franchise with another strong female character leading it. It was even launched with a toy franchise on the side. Unfortunately, the source material’s weaknesses in plot and characterization weren’t improved upon enough. Despite being a forgotten mess,Virusclearly showcases the director’s prior experience and knowledge of practical visual effects. When Donald Sutherland, as the captain, joins the Intelligence and turns into a cyborg, it’s a shocking transformation made believable by brilliant cinematography and special effects.
Lifeforce
Lifeforce is a science fiction horror film directed by Tobe Hooper. The story follows a crew of astronauts who discover a derelict spaceship containing humanoid creatures in suspended animation. Upon returning to Earth, they unwittingly unleash a malevolent alien force that threatens to drain the lifeforce of humanity. Starring Steve Railsback, Mathilda May, and Peter Firth, the film combines elements of space exploration with supernatural terror.
Few directors have influenced the horror genre like Tobe Hooper. He directed the iconicTexas Chain Saw Massacreand its sequel, ahorror movie that gets a lot of flackbut has enough remarkable and lovable aspects. He has never shied away from experimentation, and the best example is his attempt at a vampire film,Lifeforce. Partly set in outer space, the film follows vampires who came to earth on a spaceship sent to study Halley’s comet and wreak havoc in London when they land.
Hooper’s work on the film has found recent cult love from those who appreciate its visual effects, but the movie’s lack of a coherent plot makes it difficult to enjoy. There are simply too many narrative threads, and only a few of them reward a viewer’s attention. However, the special effects are commendable, particularly the interior of the spaceship and the space vampires. The film uses animatronics to bring the vampires to life, but they look so realistic that it’seasy to mistake them for actorswith extremely horrifying makeup.
Hollow Man
Hollow Man is a science fiction film directed by Paul Verhoeven, starring Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Caine, a scientist who discovers the secret to invisibility. The narrative follows Caine’s descent into madness as he abuses his newfound power, leading to a dangerous and suspenseful sequence of events. Released in 2000, the film explores themes of unchecked ambition and ethical boundaries within the realm of scientific discovery.
Paul Verhoeven is known for witty, dark, and sleazy thrillers with social commentary and a message hiding underneath the exterior of action movie shenanigans. However, his interpretation of H.G. Wells' novelThe Invisible Manwas met with disappointing reviews as it failed to capture the audience’s imaginations. Thenovel’s themes seem lost in translationas the movie descends into hyper-violent chaos soon, and sensationalized violence in a tasteless manner.
Hollow Manis one ofKevin Bacon’s horror movieswhere he plays the protagonist. Depicting his invisibility was an obvious challenge for the creative team, but they proved up to the task. New CGI technology was developed just to render the complex nature of his invisibility and make it seem believable. While the film uses novel ways to outline him, it’s the act of turning invisible that compels a viewer with an interest in special effects, and the work done to bring the invisibility to life deserves acknowledgment, even if the film is a messy disappointment.
Resident Evil: Retribution
Resident Evil: Retribution is the fifth installment in the Resident Evil film series, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. Milla Jovovich reprises her role as Alice, who is once again caught in the battle against the Umbrella Corporation and its legion of undead soldiers. As Alice navigates through a complex web of shifting environments, she uncovers new allies and enemies, pushing the fight for survival to new heights.
Paul W.S. Anderson has made a few underrated sci-fi movies, fromDeath RacetoAlien V Predator, but he’ll always be most famous for the fiveResident Evilmovies he made. The hugely popular horror game franchise was long overdue for a movie adaptation, but Anderson didn’t deliver. While the first film’s world-building and action set pieces make it worth the watch, the lack of plot in the later movies don’t justify sitting through the film franchise.
The stunts and the cinematography create a visual feast for audiences.
Resident Evil: Retributionis the perfect example of whythe franchise failed to find mainstream success. Some of the best sci-fi action movies in the history of the genre feature slick stunts, engaging visual design, and cheesy dialogue. However, they also focus on creating a meaningful narrative with characters people can care for. Anderson’s movie lacks that, but delivers on the visual effects front. The stunts and the cinematography create a visual feast for audiences, especially with the iconic brain monster from the games, recreated to perfection.
Hellraiser 3: Hell on Earth
Hellraiser 3: Hell On Earth is a supernatural horror film that continues the story of Pinhead and the Cenobites, as they are summoned to Earth through a puzzle box. The film follows a nightclub owner who unknowingly unleashes the Cenobites, leading to a series of gruesome and terrifying events.
When Pinhead was first introduced inHellraiser, he delivered one of themost gruesome 1980s horror movie deathswhen he rips apart the protagonist by attaching hooks into him. Pinhead had the potential to become an iconic character and join the upper echelon of horror movie villains with the likes of Michael Myers and Freddy Krueger. However, he soon became an uninteresting excuse for filmmakers to show off gory visuals. Pinhead returns as a slasher villain inHellraiser III: Hell On Earth, but he fails to be compelling.
A convoluted backstory that is explored in an unnecessary exposition-heavy scene in the film distracts from the horror. Moreover, thehorrormovie is more obsessed with the visceral moments than creating a narrative, further frustrating viewers. However, the visual effects deserve acclaim because the cenobites are at their most terrifying inHellraiser III: Hell On Earth. The scariest of them is the cenobite with a camera in his head, who uses the shutter to launch deadly attacks. The camera jutting out of the fleshy, sealed face is the stuff of nightmares.
