Who needs CGI? Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most effective instances where an actor was made-up to embody horror characters.
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most effective instances
00:10where an actor was made up to embody horror characters.
00:13Animatronic creatures will be saved for another day.
00:21Number 20.
00:22The Yautja – Predator Franchise
00:24Performing in the Yautja getup for the original Predator film allegedly didn't agree with
00:28future action hero Jean-Claude Van Damme.
00:30The kickboxer star was in the original film before being let go by mercurial producer
00:34Joel Silver.
00:35It would be Kevin Peter Hall that wound up replacing Van Damme, bringing with him an
00:43impressive height of 7 foot and 2 inches.
00:46This allowed the Yautja to be physically imposing, while Hall did his best to act through all
00:50of the prosthetic makeup.
00:56The end results speak for themselves, really, since Hall reprised his role in the 1990 sequel.
01:00Other actors such as Ian White and Brian A. Prince picked up the mantle from that point.
01:14Number 19.
01:15The Deadites in Evil Ash – The Evil Dead Franchise
01:18Bruce Campbell's legendary charisma tends to run hand-in-hand with the legacy of the
01:22Evil Dead franchise.
01:27That said, it's easy to forget how the first film utilized terrifying makeup and gratuitous
01:31gore to kick the franchise off back in 1981.
01:34The Deadites that appeared in both The Evil Dead and its more comedic sequel, Evil Dead
01:382, are very well actualized, despite all budgetary constraints.
01:46The Deadite Henrietta from this latter film was effectively gross, while the evil Ash
01:50from Army of Darkness does a great job at showcasing a ghoulish side of Campbell.
01:54The less constrictive facial makeup also allowed for the actor to give Evil Ash more humor
01:58and quirkiness to his personality.
02:08Number 18.
02:09Pennywise – It Franchise
02:11Viewers of a certain age will likely remember where they were the first time Tim Curry's
02:15Pennywise scared them half to death.
02:27Curry first brought this supernatural Stephen King entity to the small screen back in 1990,
02:32while Bill Skarsgård helped update Pennywise for a new generation.
02:35This dancing clown looks less like a traditional circus performer and more like nightmare fuel
02:40from the New Metal era.
02:41Both iterations feature outstanding practical makeup, with Skarsgård's Pennywise being
02:45combined with CGI for certain shots.
02:53In the meantime, those with caloraphobia, or a fear of clowns, are pretty much guaranteed
03:04to have a bad time anytime, every time, with Pennywise.
03:19Number 17.
03:20Crawlers – The Descent Franchise
03:22It would have been very easy for the production crew behind 2005's The Descent to make the
03:26subterranean Crawlers 100% CGI.
03:29Yet it's horror fans that remain thankful for this film's decision to largely avoid
03:33this route.
03:40Instead, The Descent utilizes an array of talented actors to bring these blind killing
03:48machines to monstrous life.
03:50A cast of ten actors and four in the sequel dons some convincingly grotesque makeup to
03:55play the Crawlers.
03:59It isn't just the visuals that make these mutants frightening, however, but also the
04:02physicality that went into play as the Crawlers stalk and kill.
04:05Meanwhile, their pointed ears, darkened eyes, and flat noses go a long way into making The
04:09Descent a true underground nightmare.
04:22Number 16.
04:23Lawrence Talbot – aka The Wolfman
04:26It's one of the most influential monster designs of all time, that of Lawrence Talbot
04:30as the titular Wolfman.
04:32Interestingly, we actually don't see a full man-to-wolf facial transformation until the
04:361943 sequel, Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman.
04:47The OG from 1941 instead features a transition scene viewpoint from Talbot's feet into
04:52a fully transformed lycanthrope.
05:01The ending does feature a reverse dissolve as the Wolfman expires into the form of Talbot,
05:05but does all the trivia really matter when the beast looks this cool?
05:09Jack Pierce's makeup work for Lon Chaney Jr. is the stuff of legend, embodying the
05:13beast and man in everything that has made fans howling mad for werewolves.
05:23Number 15.
05:24Bub and the Zombies – Day of the Dead
05:26George Romero's Dead trilogy helped revolutionize horror cinema.
05:29The original's deathly, serious tone and corpse-munching zombies were heavy-duty stuff
05:34back in 1968.
05:40Meanwhile, 1978's Dawn of the Dead upped the ante in terms of visceral violence and
05:50new gray-green shamblers getting their steps in at the Monroeville Mall.
06:03None of these zombies possessed as much personality, however, as Bub from 1985's Day of the Dead.
06:08One subplot of this film involves research that's attempting to revive lost memories
06:13within the minds of the undead.
06:15Bub's makeup intentionally downplays his danger, since the experiments have made him comparatively
06:19docile and more human.
06:21He even manages to get ultimate revenge upon the film's ruthless antagonist, Captain Rhodes.
06:35Number 14.
06:36Assimilated Outpost Crew – The Thing
06:38There's no denying that the assimilative alien species that runs rampant throughout Antarctic
06:42Outpost Number 31 is a generational bit of monster-making.
06:45However, we're highlighting the makeup work on human actors here, specifically some
06:54of the semi-absorbed Outpost crew.
06:56The Palmer Thing is a disgusting mixture of creature design and stunt work, while the
07:00Bennings Thing isn't allowed to finish assimilation.
07:08As a result, we see the meteorologist with mangled hands and a howering expression on
07:12its face.
07:13In some cases, Gary is gruesomely killed by Blair Thing, in a scene that utilizes some
07:17wince-inducing rubber effects to simulate Blair Thing's powerful grip.
07:22It's a great example of how special effects, performance, direction, and screenwriting
07:28can all come together in a near-perfect fashion.
07:31Number 13.
07:32Count Dracula – Bram Stoker's Dracula
07:34There was some serious blood-sucking history prior to the release of Bram Stoker's Dracula
07:38in 1992.
07:40Dracula, after all, is a character that's been played by such icons as Sir Christopher
07:44Lee and Bela Lugosi.
07:46Gary Oldman seemed more than game to lay his creative stamp on the character, however an
07:49effort that was bolstered by some grandiose and over-the-top makeup.
08:03Oldman takes on multiple looks throughout the film, from warrior and lover to a demonic
08:07menace.
08:08It's the latter iteration that feels the most dramatic, almost leaning into camp as
08:12the makeup allows Oldman to disappear into the role.
08:21The scene between Dracula and Jonathan Harker stands out in particular, as does Dracula's
08:26climactic demise at the end of the film.
08:28Number 12.
08:29Uruk-hai and Orcs – The Lord of the Rings franchise
08:32Fans had waited a long time for J.R.R.
08:34Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle-earth to once again hit silver screens back in the
08:382000s.
08:39It had been years since Ralph Bakshi and Rankin and Bass' animated adaptations and The Fellowship
08:44of the Ring promised high adventure and serious movie-making.
08:54It succeeded on both counts while also delivering fan-pleasing makeup effects for its assorted
08:58bestiary.
08:59The Uruk-hai and Orcs in the film were largely delivered in a practical manner, and this
09:03dedication to realism allowed their true monstrous forms to be unleashed.
09:15The night camp scene from the extended cut of The Two Towers is a particularly great
09:18showcase of how scary real, practical monsters can be presented on screen.
09:34Number 11.
09:35Count Orlok – Nosferatu – A Symphony of Horror
09:38It speaks volumes that a film made over a hundred years ago can still retain such a
09:41frightening power.
09:45Nosferatu, A Symphony of Horror, has been remade a number of times over the years, most
09:54notably with Klaus Kinski in 1979 and recently in 2024 by director Robert Eggers.
10:03The makeup for each version is outstanding, highlighting Count Orlok's emaciated yet
10:07intimidating presence.
10:08The long fingers, hunched gait, and pale skin all combine to elicit nightmares, but the
10:13original performance by Max Schreck is tough to beat.
10:16The actor's slow and deliberate walk drives viewers to madness, while that first Orlok
10:21reveal is perfectly framed and expertly photographed.
10:30Number 10.
10:31Slither – James Gunn's now-cult film harkens back to some old-school 80s gross-out practical
10:36magic.
10:37Poor Grant ends up in the wrong town at the wrong time as a bunch of alien slugs decide
10:41to take over the world.
10:47Grant ends up being the first victim infected by the slugs, as he slowly becomes a tentacled
10:52monster and infects everyone else.
11:01The Emmy-winning makeup team of Todd Masters and Dan Riebert took home a Saturn Award for
11:05their repulsively fantastic work here.
11:07Just don't watch without a barf bag.
11:12Number 9.
11:13Eric, the Phantom of the Opera – The Phantom of the Opera
11:24You can't have a makeup effects list like this without mentioning Lon Chaney, father
11:27of the Wolfman star.
11:29Nicknamed the Man of a Thousand Faces, Chaney was famous for creating his own makeup effects
11:33and transforming his face into many creatures and monsters with very little makeup or prosthetics.
11:42His most famous performance after being completely unrecognizable as the Hunchback of Notre Dame
11:47two years earlier was as the tragic and terrifying Phantom.
11:51Although the character is remembered for his broken mask, Chaney gave him new life when
11:54Eric's frightening face is revealed.
11:56It especially took audiences by surprise, considering that his hideous face was kept
12:00a huge secret until the film's premiere.
12:07Number 8.
12:08Darkness – Legend The legendary Tim Curry is no stranger to
12:17heavy makeup, as we know from his performance in Stephen King's It, but he's practically
12:20unrecognizable as the Lord of Darkness in this overlooked fantasy film from Ridley Scott.
12:25His goal is to bring eternal darkness to the world by killing off all the unicorns, but
12:29all he succeeds in doing is bringing eternal nightmares to his viewers.
12:41It took over five hours to apply Curry's makeup, and that dedication really shows.
12:45Oscar-nominated for Best Makeup Effects, Legend now has a well-deserved cult following, and
12:49that's largely thanks to its unforgettable villain.
13:02Number 7.
13:03The Pale Man – Pan's Labyrinth Director Guillermo del Toro is a lover of
13:06practical makeup effects, as seen in his Hellboy movies.
13:10He also knows when to seamlessly mix in some CGI.
13:13The creatures he brings to life in this Spanish fantasy tale are breathtaking to say the least.
13:29Although Pan is incredible and the film's centerpiece, The Pale Man will give you nightmares
13:33and makes it impossible to believe that there is an actor under that makeup.
13:36But there is, and the actor behind both these creatures is none other than Doug Jones, a
13:40modern-day Lon Chaney and frequent collaborator of del Toro.
13:52Number 6.
13:53David Kessler – An American Werewolf in London This horror-comedy hybrid became the
13:57first film to ever win the Academy Award for Best Makeup.
14:05It was also the first of several wins for makeup effects master Rick Baker, who concocted
14:09quite possibly the most famous werewolf transformation ever to grace the silver screen.
14:14The film follows the unlucky David as a werewolf attacks him.
14:22His friend is left dead and David's left in a hairy situation.
14:25Although more of a dark comedy, the transformation scene was one of the most terrifying movie
14:29moments of the 80s.
14:30To this date, we're still left wondering how exactly they pulled it off.
14:43Number 5.
14:44Frankenstein's Monster – Frankenstein Just like Lon Chaney, one of the pioneers
14:48of earlier cinematic makeup effects was Jack Pierce.
14:51This special effects genius was nicknamed the Monster Maker, having been responsible
14:55for most of the creatures in Universal Studios' golden years of horror filmmaking.
15:08His most famous and most recognizable work was Frankenstein's Monster in the 1931 classic,
15:13transforming Boris Karloff into the stoic but deadly creature, Come Back from the Dead.
15:23Although a huge departure from the source material written by Mary Shelley, Pierce's
15:27makeup has ironically become the most iconic version of the famous literary monster.
15:38Number 4.
15:39Seth Brundle – Brundlefly – The Fly
15:49David Cronenberg's The Fly took a classic B-movie and turned it into a masterpiece of
15:53body horror.
15:54Jeff Goldblum plays Seth Brundle, a scientist who's working on a teleportation device.
15:59When Dr. Brundle tests it on himself and his DNA gets mixed with that of a fly that snuck
16:03into his machine, we watch in dread as he spends the entire film gruesomely and gradually
16:07transforming into a fly.
16:18The film received an Oscar for its makeup, awarded to the duo of Chris Whalis and longtime
16:22Cronenberg collaborator Stéphane Dupuy, who thought a fly could be so disgusting and empathetic
16:27at the same time.
16:33Number 3.
16:34Regan McNeil – The Exorcist
16:43The face that made multiple audience members faint upon its release, young Regan possessed
16:46by the demon Pazuzu, has become one of the most iconic images in horror film history
16:51– and perhaps cinematic history in general.
16:57Although this classic tale of demonic possession received many accolades, the makeup was largely
17:01overlooked.
17:02Many years later, Dick Smith, the genius behind The Exorcist makeup effects, as well as The
17:06Godfather, Taxi Driver, and Death Becomes Her, received an honorary Oscar for his varied
17:10body of work.
17:18Number 2.
17:19Freddy Krueger – A Nightmare on Elm Street Franchise
17:31What started as an idea in Wes Craven's mind became a reality in the hands of seasoned
17:34makeup effects specialist David Miller.
17:37In horror cinema, your story needs to be just as scary as your visuals, and Freddy Krueger
17:40is burned and scarred faces as terrifying and iconic as they get.
17:51After being the star of one of the most successful horror film franchises of all time, and first
17:55appearing in the 1984 original, it's sometimes hard to see actor Robert Englund's face without
17:59picturing the terrifying makeup that accompanied his most famous creation.
18:09Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
18:13about our latest videos.
18:14You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
18:19If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
18:25Number 1.
18:26Pinhead – Hellraiser Franchise
18:32If this list has proven one thing, it's that makeup effects artists do not often get
18:36the credit they deserve.
18:38Having learned his trade on the sets of Star Wars and Alien, though his model building
18:41went uncredited for those, Bob Keen built a name for himself after teaming up with horror
18:46legend Clive Barker for this gothic indie gem.
18:49His makeup creation was so effective that without his Pinhead makeup on, nobody recognized
18:53Doug Bradley at the film's post-production party.
19:01Although Keen's later work on Nightbreed deserves much praise, the image of Pinhead rising from
19:05his hellish slumber alongside his fellow demonic centibites will forever be burned
19:10into the minds of all filmgoers.
19:16Do you feel that practical effects are making a comeback?
19:19Let us know in the comments!
19:25Did you enjoy this video?
19:27Check out these other clips from WatchMojo, and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell
19:30to be notified about our latest videos.