While often a simple chase scene is the scariest part of a horror movie, fans are always interested to see the special or practical effects that are in most films. The 1958 Alfred Hitchcock film Vertigo used the first instance of CGI, according to NFI, and the 1973 movie Westworld combined live action and CGI. More filmmakers began using practical effects as well: amazing make-up to make creatures look particularly terrifying, along with masks and scary sounds like explosions.
From a classic John Carpenter movie to Ari Aster's acclaimed 2019 release, there are many special and practical effects in scary films that Reddit fans are praising.
The Thing's Creature (1982)
Redditor BadgerDuck13 named a few movies with great special effects, mentioning that The Thing is one that has "come to mind right away."
The creature in the beloved horror movie shape shifts, which would be creepy enough, but its defining feature is how it copies another being and then takes on everything about it. The movie does an incredible job of creating a gross-looking monster who seems like it absolutely can't be stopped.
The Gore In Dead Alive (1992)
Dead Alive, which is also called Braindead, is known as being an extremely bloody movie. While fans of the genre are used to slashers where the body count seems to increase constantly and there can be some gruesome scenes, Redditor Princess-Know-it-all said, "No movie can compete with the level of (im)practical gore."
While most zombie films will include gore, Dead Alive/Braindead has some incredibly memorable attack scenes.
The Kills In A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
Freddy Krueger's kills are scary, memorable, and ones that fans still think about, and that's all thanks to the effects in this classic 1984 horror movie.
Redditor f34rd3m1c said of A Nightmare On Elm Street, "The effects used, especially those in kills, are probably the most creative ones in slasher films." No one will ever forget watching Freddy put Tina on the ceiling in the first movie.
The Big Scene In An American Werewolf In London (1981)
An American Werewolf In London is a perfect example of a hilarious and terrifying movie, telling the story of Jack Goodman and David Kessler who travel to England and find a werewolf there. Horror fans often note the effects used in this story.
Redditor Jw5x5 mentioned the "transformation scene" as being particularly epic and unforgettable. It's definitely amazing watching David turn into a werewolf and this set the bar high for other werewolf stories.
The Vibe Of Midsommar (2019)
Redditor JadenRuffle wrote that Midsommar "doesn’t get enough credit for its effects" and called them "brutal and trippy."
Midsommar has a scary movie soundtrack and the entire setting just works, including the effects when Dani travels to a Swedish festival, takes mushrooms, and has a horrible time. In one particularly frightening scene, a man's lungs are on the outside, and audiences can hear what the lungs still sound like.
The Creature In Pumpkinhead (1988)
Redditor dark-thanos posted that Pumpkinhead has some amazing effects, writing, "that creature is Stan Winston's best work."
Horror fans have seen every type of possible villain, from regular people dressing up as Ghostface to Jason Voorhees in his hockey mask, Michael Myers with his freaky white mask, and Freddy Krueger with his striped sweater and clawed hands. In the 1988 movie, Pumpkinhead is a horrible monster who starts targeting teenagers, and even just the name of this villain is enough to freak audiences out.
The Baby In Eraserhead (1997)
David Lynch's surreal movie Eraserhead is one of his most beloved movies, and one character in particular stands out to anyone who has watched it: the infant.
Redditor hacknance said that the effects in Eraserhead are "underrated" and "The baby looks so real." The baby in this movie has a face like a snake, which is incredibly creepy and tough to forget, hammering home the surreal nature of this story.
The Setting Of A Nightmare On Elm Street: Dream Warriors (1987)
A Nightmare On Elm Street: Dream Warriors has some incredible effects, maybe even more so than the rest of the films in the franchise. When fans look back on these beloved slashers, they remember how unique and interesting the setting is.
Redditor LemoLuke mentioned some of the movie's effects, including the "giant Freddy snake beast, the horrifyingly gruesome puppet kill, the iconic TV set death." While fans were introduced to Nancy Thompson and Freddy Krueger in the first movie, it's Dream Warriors that nails the creative tone of the franchise.
The Unique Creature In The Blob (1958)
There are several horror movie monsters created using effects, and Redditor KaijuK42 posted that The Blob is an "absolute master-craft in practical monster and gore effects."
The main characters Jane and Steve are horrified to find this weird and scary creature, and this movie's impact has lasted for several decades now, as horror fans appreciate what The Blob looks like. There's definitely a reason why this creature is one of the most famous from science-fiction/horror film history.
The Monsters In Krampus (2015)
Krampus takes the idea of a lovely family Christmas celebration and turns it on its head, as Krampus is a creature who is out to ruin the holiday season.
Redditor Kyle_Sugarman loves the "excellent practical effects for its monsters" in this 2015 movie. Krampus has many parts that stand out, from hooves and claws to an outfit that is comprised of a lot of different fabric.