One of the greatest aspects in the early days of horror cinema were its special effects. Moviegoers that were in love with gore and viscera went to see how films could portray life-like carnage on the screen. As technology went on, these tricks became more elaborate and more detailed. Then, something changed when the use of computer generated imagery arrived on the scene. Practical effects for makeup and blood were replaced with CGI effects that could be done easily and cheaply in post-production.
Nevertheless, horror fans still love those practical effects. It’s a throwback to the earlier days of horror when a ragtag group of filmmakers were being innovative and experimenting in new ways to deliver scares and gore in the best means possible. In a way, practical effects in horror have risen as a sort of new genre where fans can really appreciate the care and craft filmmakers take to develop these effects without CGI.
That doesn’t mean CGI can’t still have a place. For some aspects of a story, CGI is simply unavoidable. This is in regards to giant monsters, ghosts, and other supernatural elements where the computer can deliver the most lifelike effects as opposed to something practical — a method either too costly or needing technology that simply doesn’t exist. A good merger of practical and CGI is the Starz series Ash vs. Evil Dead. This show is definitely a love letter to the Evil Dead series of old that thrived on over-the-top effects. Genre lovers crave what this show has to offer and yet it also doesn’t shy away from using CGI when necessary. Because the show deals with supernatural creatures, CGI can display the wonder and threats that come along in the story. However, it also doesn’t shy away from getting down and dirty with practical effects whenever possible.
Ash vs. Evil Dead is now streaming on Netflix
One of the greatest aspects in the early days of horror cinema were its special effects. Moviegoers that were inCOMICONRead More