Like modern Frankensteins, special effects wizards create life out of raw material, art and complex machinery, from slavering werewolves to robots and zombies!

This fascinating documentary, looking at the visionaries responsible for some of cinema’s most fearsome and thrilling onscreen monsters, from King Kong climbing the Empire State through to the astonishing trickery of Terminator 2, is a treat for creature feature fans and film aficionados alike.

Rick Baker (Oscar-winning make up genius, An American Werewolf in London)
Joe Dante (Director, Gremlin, The ‘Burbs)
Guillermo del Toro (Director, Hellboy, Pacific Rim, Pan’s Labyrinth)
Greg Nicotero (Special effects master, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Walking Dead, Kill Bill, Evil Dead 2)
Steve Johnson (Creature designer, The Abyss)
Gilles Penso/Alexandre Poncet (Directors, Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan)

From King Kong to Avatar, from Star Wars to Lord of the Rings, movie creatures have never been as popular as they are today! Yet the art of creating monsters for the big screen is as old as cinema itself... From early experiments with apes and dinosaurs to the birth of special make-up effects, from the pinnacle of animatronics to the digital revolution, CREATURE DESIGNERS: THE FRANKENSTEIN COMPLEX explores a century of human imagination, cinematic thrills and wonders.

Based on interviews of all the greatest artists in the genre and hours of exclusive footage from classics like Gremlins, The Abyss, Terminator 2, Jurassic Park, Starship Troopers, Spider-Man 2 ..., the documentary focuses on the stunning relationship between the creatures and their makers: like modern Frankensteins, special effects wizards create life out of raw material, art and complex machinery.

An absolute treat for horror fans, and those interested in the nuts and bolts of film special effects, Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex is an absorbing, affectionate documentary on the often unsung behind-the-scenes heroes who create the beloved beasts that have thrilled audiences since Frankenstein’s monster first appeared onscreen.

Dedicated to special effects stop motion legend Ray Harryhausen, and taking an in-depth look at superstar special effects and makeup mavericks including Willis O’Brien (King Kong), Dick Smith (The Exorcist) Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London) and Rob Bottin (The Howling), the film is a loving tribute to the charm of ‘practical effects’ over CGI, as well as a fascinating, in-depth exploration of what it takes to bring a cinematic monster to life and win a place in the hearts of devoted film fans.

Directed by noted genre film journalists Alexandre Poncet and Gilles Penso, the documentary looks at the origins of special effects work in films such as King Kong, right through to the astonishing, Oscar-winning magic conjured up by the likes of Stan Winston (Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park) and Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London, Men in Black), which has taken special effects from B-movie hokum into the must-have component of the Hollywood blockbuster.

Dismissing the notion that CGI has, or will, kill practical effects, Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex is a heartening ode to cinema’s passionate master craftsmen past and present, for whom every onscreen creation is akin to creating life, ‘the closest thing for a man to giving birth’!

"An absorbing study of the evolution of a film-making niche" Andrew Pulver, The Guardian

"A wealth of pure craftsmanship and magic" Ain't It Cool

"An unmissable celebration of the craft" 5/5 Horror Channel

"A fascinating look into a side of filmmaking rarely granted the prominence it deserves" 8/10 Starburst

Soundtrack
Designing the Opening Credits
A conversation with John Landis & Joe Dante
A conversation with Steve Johnson & John Vulich
Stills Gallery
Guillermo Del Toro Masterclass

© FRENETICARTS 2015. Distributed by STUDIOCANAL LIMITED