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.