history of special makeup effects

‘Mythology, Modern as well as Ancient, has influenced’ a countless of popular fantasies and conceptions into the human thought. Some are popular and happy characters that have entertained and become part of our life, while others have drawn on our dark thoughts and hidden fears, which has resulted to draw people out of curiosity and the desire to see the unknown.

Horror Characters

The world of spirits and demons offers the makeup artists the greatest scope for imagination. Motion pictures have expanded the scope and depth of the horror style of entertainment far beyond what had been possible in the past.

Studios had formed makeup areas that were mainly concerned with beautifying performers by the 1930s, until Jack Pierce of Universal Studios was given the opportunity to create a Monster for the film ‘Frankenstein’. The makeups of early ‘horror’ were created with old time materials. For example, the film ‘Frankenstein’ was created using makeup with a headpiece made from cloth, cotton batting, spirit gum, and collodion, while the same effect was later created in the 1940s with latex.