Since the advent of special effects, modern movies have been able to bring monsters, ghosts, and even dinosaurs to life. Arguably the first horror movie to use heavy effects was “Nosferatu” in 1922. Older movies, however, had to rely entirely on practical effects like prosthetics, makeup, and optical illusions. As technology advances, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish the lines between what is real and what is computer generated; in some cases, it is almost impossible. However, the best special effects aren’t always the best when it comes to Halloween horror movies. The less technically advanced ones often look even scarier than the computer generated images that appear real to the untrained eye.
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” is a prime example of a scary, effects-heavy movie that came out shortly after Halloween. From the scene where Freddy Krueger’s scarred face is pressed against the wallpaper to the infamous blood geyser scene, “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is packed with terrifying 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 filmmakers 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. Although “Sleepy Hollow” was released two weeks after Halloween, this movie truly embodies the spirit of Halloween. After all, Halloween is a night filled with ghosts and spirits, and “Sleepy Hollow” is about the headless ghost of a Hessian horseman and forensic scientist trying to put an end to his reign of terror. “Sleepy Hollow” has many impressive and terrifying offerings, but arguably the bleakest of all is the hollow tree filled with human heads. The tree, which bleeds if its bark is cut, opens like a portal to the underworld and unleashes the hideous Headless Horseman on the nearby village.
In the midst of brutal Halloween movies filled with bloodthirsty monsters, “Let the Right One In” is a rare example of a beautiful and moving movie about the most bloodthirsty monster of all. Released a few days before Halloween in Sweden, “Let the Right One In” is a low-key film about a vampire boy named Eli and his only friend, a bullied human boy named Oskar. Although “Let the Right One In” uses special effects sparingly, they are used masterfully during the few scenes in which they appear. Special effects transform Eli from a sad girl to a relentless killing machine who suffers dire consequences when she is exposed to sunlight or when she enters a house uninvited.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” might just be the quintessential Halloween movie for adults and kids alike. It was released just before Halloween in 1993 and quickly became a cult classic. Jack Skellington, the fearsome king of Halloweentown, is bored with his job and sets out to rule Christmas with classic and dangerous Halloween tricks. Every character, prop and setting 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 that the lovable characters in “The Nightmare Before Christmas” aren’t real.
While many other Halloween movies have great special effects, 2013’s “Carrie” is arguably the best of all. Sophisticated computer technology brings to life the main character’s terrifying telekinetic powers as she takes revenge on the classmates who have 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 coiling tongues of fire representing the Hell to which Carrie’s abusive mother is sure her daughter is doomed, “Carrie” is packed with fantastic on-screen visionaries that will impress even the most discerning movie buff. . 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 furies are truly something to behold thanks to trailers for modern technology. The team of talented team members who created the special effects used in “Carrie” went above and beyond to make sure that this movie had some of the best effects of any Halloween movie in history.