Tag Archives: Rick Baker

I Don’t Collect Toys… I Don’t Collect Toys…

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That is a mantra that I can repeat over and over and over until I’ve lost my voice, but it still won’t change the fact that I see something like this announced and I feel like a little kid again. I know I’ve even said this many times before, but who would have ever thought that we would have a Octaman action figure!?!?! Seriously? But in the past year or two, I’ve gotten a Beast of Blood figure and one from Humanoids from the Deep! And now, thanks to Monstarz Toys, next month you’ll be able to have not only your own Octaman figure, but in 3 different variants: the regular version, a Radioactive Glow version, or a Metachrosis Camouflage version.

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Bob Burns – Rest in Peace

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Bob Burns was the ultimate fan of the sci-fi and horror genre. He was an author, actor, makeup man, consultant, historian, and more importantly, a collector and archivist. He knew the importance of these items, from the original Time Machine from the 1960s film to the armature from the original King Kong, not to mention masks from a young 16-year-old Rick Baker to pieces from both Alien and Aliens, and so much more. And the best part, he looked at this stuff like the same little 10=year-old that is inside of all of fans, with a sense of wonder and fascination.

He worked with Paul Blaisdell on films like It Conquered the World (1956) and Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957), but in the early ’60s, they created a short-lived magazine called Fantastic Monsters of the Films.

He would often appear in a gorilla costume, usually billed as Kogar, but also was a Gorilla named Tracy in the 1975 Saturday morning show The Ghost Busters.

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Greg Cannom – Rest in Peace

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Back in the ’80s, it was a time when the makeup effects artists were treated like celebrities. Sometimes we’d go to a movie because of who did the special effects more than who was in it! Names like Tom Savini, Rick Baker, Rob Bottin, and countless others help create the monsters and makeup that made the 80s and beyond so much entertaining. One of those names was Greg Cannom, who we lost yesterday at the age of 74.

From his very beginning assisting Rick Baker on films like It Lives Again (1978), The Incredible Melting Man (1977), to going on his own path, continuing to create some amazing work. He had been nominated 14 times for an Oscar, winning 7 times, mainly for non-horror characters like in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) and Mr. Doubtfire (1993), but he also won for Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), which is still one of my favorite versions of the Stoker novel. Over the years, he had worked on films like The Lost Boys (1987), Blade (1998), and even turning Ozzy Osbourne into a werewolf for his 1983’s Bark at the Moon album cover!

I had the honor to meet him at the Monsterpalooza convention back in 2019, and it was indeed an honor, and I thanked him for the many, many hours of entertainment his work had given me, and countless other fans. Upon hearing the news of his passing, Rick Baker said “His work will be remembered long after his passing.” I couldn’t agree more. That is the one positive mark of working in the film industry, that you will live on through your amazing work. Rest in Peace, Mr. Cannom. Gone, but not forgotten.

William Friedkin – Rest in Peace

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It’s hard to go on any social media today and not see the news of the passing of director William Friedkin, at the age of 87. While he made plenty of films, it really was only two that gave him the notoriety that he carried with him for the rest of his career, the first being The French Connection (1971) and, of course, The Exorcist (1973). On the later, one can argue about his tactics on set (and one should), but the end results that ended up on film are just incredible, giving us, without question, one of the scariest films of all time. It is a film that still holds up today and can still pack the same slap to the face, has he had done to Father William O’ Malley, playing Father Dyer, right before the scene where he gives Karras his Last Rites.

Because of The Exorcist, Friedkin will never be forgotten in the minds of not only horror fans, but movie fans in general. He was able to create one powerful film, obviously with the help of many talented actors, makeup artists, technicians, and everyone else involved in that film. But without his craziness leading the charge, who knows if it would have been as effective.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Friedkin. Thank you for the nightmares.

Book Review: Making a Monster

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Making a Monster: The Creation of Screen Characters by The Great Makeup Artists
By Al Taylor & Sue Roy
Published by Crown Publishers, Inc., 1980. 278 pages.

In today’s world of horror fandom, everyone knows the names of Tom Savini, Rick Baker, Rob Bottin, and a dozen other names. In the ’80s, the films really made these people stars, and deservedly so! There were plenty of films I wanted to see simply based on who had done the makeup effect in it. They were sometimes more important to us fans than who starred in it or who even directed it. But what about the artists that came before them? Names like William Tuttle, Ben Nye Sr., John Chambers, or Phil Leaky? These are some of the few that took those first steps into helping filmmakers bring their ideas and imagination to life on screen.

This book highlights 25 different makeup artists that help create and elevate the industry to where it is today. Way before CGI or even basic special makeup effects, these guys were designing, developing, and even creating the makeup and techniques that helped advance the industry, some of which are still be used today. By reading this book, you will learn the important history of this crucial part of the filmmaking world that is so important to us horror fans. The ones covered in this volume are the forefathers and need to be remembered for what they help give us today. Even if you’re not a makeup artist, this is a lesson needed for any fan of the fantastic elements of cinema, bringing imagination and dreams to life on the big screen.

Learn of the Legends

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For fans of the horror movie genre, as well as science fiction, fantasy, action, crime, dramas, and every single other genre out there, makeup effects have been around since the beginning of the art form. Turning actors into someone different, whether it be into someone older, a different gender, or something that doesn’t exist in our reality, it was the job of the makeup artist to make that transformation happen. In the beginning, sometimes it was the actor themselves that did it, especially ones like Lon Chaney who constantly turned himself into different characters. Eventually, the craft was taken on by individuals that not only carried on the art form, but created techniques and the makeup products themselves, advancing the artform even more. They allowed writers and directors to show filmgoers something they’ve never seen before onscreen. And a century later, these talented people are still doing it. Now, thanks to authors Howard Berger and Marshall Julius, you’ll be able to learn even more about them!

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Friday Favorites: Dick Smith Remembered

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Dicksmith 1 (1)

For this Friday Favorites, we’re going to do something a little different. On this day in 1922, Richard Emerson Smith was born, in Larchmont, New York, and would grow up to become one of the greatest makeup artist of all time. When it comes to the horror genre, while he did work on a few, it was nowhere near as many as some of his contemporaries or the next generation of artists, such as Rick Baker, Stan Winston, or Tom Savini. But the ones he did work on, literally changed movie history. For the longest time, I thought 44-year old Max Von Sydow was a much older man because of the old age makeup Smith did on him for The Exorcist (1973). Not only did he do the character makeup for Marlon Brando in The Godfather (1972), but also the realistic bullet hits as well. Continue reading →

2019 Year End Review: Part 1 – A Look Back

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Look Back Banner

End of another year. Another decade. I know one thing for sure that this last decade will not be remembered as one that didn’t produce any good horror movies! Just look at 2014 and you’ll find a ton of amazing films, from here in the US to around the world. As a horror fan, I feel pretty blessed with these last ten years of terror. Let’s hope the ’20s bring us another long list of great cinema.

I had thought that this would be a personal low when it came to films watched, only because it didn’t feel like I had watched that many. In fact, there were a couple of months were I only got to a handful of films. With my book coming out, doing another retrospective for HorrorHound, and the usual holidays, it takes time away from being able to sit and watch movies. But once the tally was done, it turns out that I had watched more in 2019 than I did since 2013! The final number was 236, with almost half of them, a total of 115, being first time viewings. There were a few trips to the drive-ins, some movie marathons, a couple of Turkey Days, and other mini-marathons with friends or just by myself. And I intend to do it all over this year! Really going to try and hit 250 viewings in 2020. Continue reading →

Holiday Shopping Ideas

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Book Cover Art 22819With Axe-mas right around the corner, I’m sure everyone is starting to compile their own wish list or thinking about what to get others. I’m going to give a few suggestions to help not only find a great gift, but to also help increase the knowledge for the person receiving it, as well as maybe showing support for those out there that are putting their blood, sweat, tears, and talent into their work. We need to show our support for them, to let them know what they are doing is worth it.

For those out there that are looking for the special gift for the horror obsessed fan in their life, or to add it to your own personal list, let me start with a shameless plug and humbly suggest picking up a copy of my book, Discover the Horror? While it is available on Amazon, if you order it directly from me, you’ll get it personally signed to you, or whoever you request. How cool would it be to surprise your special someone with a personalized autograph copy? You can read what some people have thought about it on Amazon or some of the reviews I’ve posted on the link to the right.

But…this isn’t just about my book, but the countless titles out there that would make wonderful gifts to any horror fan. Here are some examples. Continue reading →

Midway’s Dusk to Dawn Horrorfest

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Midway sunset cropped

At the recent Flashback Weekend, they announced the date for this year’s Dusk to Dawn Horrorfest and 3 out of the 4 features they will be screening. And as always, it is one you are not going to want to miss.

Taking place on Saturday, Sept. 21st, they will be screening undoubtedly one of the scariest films ever made, The Exorcist (1973). I know the first time I watched this was on TV in the severely edited version and it still kept me awake at night. It is a film that still packs a punch and has not lost any of its effectiveness to creep into the audiences’ psyche. With great performances from Jason Miller, Max Von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Linda Blair, and of course, Ellen Burstyn, who gives a performance that I think is one of the reason this movie is so powerful, since we are living through her character. Not to mention the incredible makeup effects by Dick Smith (and his young assistant Rick Baker). Seeing this one the big screen will really be a religious experience! Continue reading →