Since the advent of special effects, modern movies have been able
to bring monsters, ghosts, and even dinosaurs to life. The first horror
movie that used heavy effects was, arguably, "Nosferatu" in 1922.
However, older movies had to rely entirely on practical effects such as
prosthetics, makeup, and optical illusions. As technology progresses,
it's becoming more and more difficult to distinguish the lines between
what is real and what is computer generated; in some cases, it's nearly
impossible. However, the best special effects are not always better when
it comes to Halloween horror movies. The ones that are technically less
advanced often look even more terrifying than the computer-generated
images that appear real to the untrained eye.
"A Nightmare on Elm
Street" is an excellent example of a terrifying effects-heavy film that
was released shortly after Halloween. From the scene in which Freddy
Krueger's scarred face presses against the wallpaper to the infamous
blood geyser scene, "A Nightmare on Elm Street" is packed with
frightening special effects. "A Nightmare on Elm Street" was made in
1984, but the effects used in the film still hold up to modern standards
even though they were created without the technology moviemakers have
at their disposal today. Distorted camera angles and bizarre dream
sequences add to the spooky atmosphere of "A Nightmare on Elm Street"
even when Freddy Krueger isn't onscreen.
"Sleepy Hollow" was
another great horror movie packed with special effects. Even though
"Sleepy Hollow" was released two weeks after Halloween, this movie truly
embodies the spirit of All Hallows' Eve. After all, Halloween is a
night full of ghosts and spirits, and "Sleepy Hollow" is about the
headless ghost of a Hessian horseman and the forensic scientist who is
trying to put an end to his reign of terror. "Sleepy Hollow" has plenty
of impressive and frightening offerings, but the most grim of all is
arguably the hollow tree filled with human heads. The tree, which bleeds
if its bark is cut, opens up as a portal to the underworld and
unleashes the horrible headless horseman on the nearby village.
In
the midst of brutal Halloween films packed with bloodthirsty monsters,
"Let the Right One In" is a rare example of a touching, beautiful movie
about the most bloodthirsty monster of all. Released just days before
Halloween in Sweden, "Let the Right One In" is an understated film about
a child vampire named Eli and her only friend, a bullied human boy
named Oskar. Even though "Let the Right One In" uses special effects
sparingly, they're used masterfully during the handful of scenes in
which they appear. Special effects transform Eli from a sad little girl
to a relentless killing machine who suffers from terrible consequences
when exposed to sunlight or when she enters a home without being
invited.
"The Nightmare Before Christmas" might be the
quintessential Halloween film for adults and children alike. It was
released right before Halloween in 1993 and quickly became a cult
classic. Jack Skellington, the frightful king of Halloweentown, is bored
with his job and sets out to take over Christmas with classic and
dangerous Halloween tricks. Every character, prop, and set in "The
Nightmare Before Christmas" was meticulously animated and filmed using
stop-motion technology. Thanks to the masterful use of practical and
special effects, it's easy to forget the lovable characters in "The
Nightmare Before Christmas" aren't real.
Although many other
Halloween movies have excellent special effects, 2013's "Carrie" is
arguably the greatest of them all. Sophisticated computer technology
brings the titular character's terrifying telekinetic powers to life as
she enacts revenge against the classmates who've tortured her. "Carrie"
is a prime example of how far modern technology can go to create special
effects that are indistinguishable from reality. From flying knives to
deadly explosions and curling tongues of flames that represent the Hell
Carrie's abusive mother is certain her daughter is doomed to, "Carrie"
is packed with plenty of fantastic on-screen visionaries that will
impress even the pickiest moviegoer. At its heart, "Carrie" is a movie
about a bullied teenager who just wants to find her place in the world,
but it's still a classic horror story, and Carrie's destructive rages
are truly something to behold thanks to the advances of modern
technology. The team of talented crew members who created the special
effects used in "Carrie" went above and beyond to make sure this movie
would have some of the best effects of any Halloween film in history.
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