OH…THE HORROR!

The horror genre is often celebrated for its use of practical effects, combining ghoulish makeup and grotesque prosthetics with sound and editing to elicit fear in an uneasy audience.

Digital effects, however, are as important as any other element in creating scary stories on-screen, and studios like Rodeo FX and Mr. X have become masters of the art. 3D World has gathered top artists from these studios to discuss the role VFX plays in horror, the challenges it presents and their latest projects.

Thomas Montminy-Brodeur oversaw Rodeo FX’s work on the killer alligator film Crawl, and discusses his approach to VFX in horror cinema. Mr. X reveal how they conjured nightmarish imagery for Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, the supernatural chiller directed by André Øvredal and produced by Guillermo del Toro, and helped to create the titular location for Stephen King adaptation, Pet Sematary.

ENHANCING THE HORROR

“VFX is definitely something important in horror,” says Thomas Montminy-Brodeur, VFX supervisor at Rodeo. “It’s the perfect tool to exaggerate the visual and to immerse people in their own fears.” From visualising blood and horrific injuries to creating mood in an environment, digital techniques play a varied role in the genre. “Horror is more than just visual,” adds Montminy-Brodeur, “it’s a feeling of immersion that you want to give to the viewer.”

Cristian Camaroschi, CG supervisor at Mr. X, explains that the role of VFX in horror cinema is far bigger than viewers might realise: “Most prosthetics, well made as they may be, can often be hard to manoeuvre in. Therefore the audience can feel like they are watching an actor in a suit. What starts as a small digital enhancement often turns into a full replacement of the practical element in many shots.”