Rick Baker retiring: after four decades in the film business, one of the most powerful talents in visual effects is walking away.
You wanna see the difference, watch AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON. Then watch its lackluster sequel, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN PARIS. I’m not talking about the overall quality of the films, although there is certainly a wide disparity there, but the quality of special effects. The latter was done with chintzy CGI computer effects. The former was the work, some might say the masterpiece, of make-up artist Rick Baker, the man who also created the werewolves for the original THE HOWLING and the lesser known, short-lived TV series WEREWOLF, which in my opinion boasted one of the best designs ever for a werewolf on screen.
Mr. Baker puts some of the blame for his decision on the increasing use of CGI in Hollywood, feeling there is no longer a place for his kind of work in films. (He’s wrong about that. True fans still clamor for practical effects, especially in Horror movies.) CGI has been both blessing and curse to us. For every JURASSIC PARK, there has been a cartoonish mess like MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN, where the overall film was weakened by its lousy effects, and (admittedly enjoyable) fluff like SHARKNADO. Come back to us, Rick! We need you now more than ever!
