From Publishers Weekly
A severed hand reaches across the red cover of this paperback, and the images in Vinther's book get progressively more gruesome from there. A European special effects expert, Vinther clearly specializes in the fare of horror and science fiction films-his how-to book is devoted to explaining the tricks behind making life-like imitations of body parts, monsters and bloody wounds. For those readers who wonder how to portray a mangled face or a chopped-off finger, Vinther's is a work without peer-but they must be ready to stomach the book's more than 300 gory color images. The author certainly knows his business, running his private company SPFX, which handles these unique demands for film producers. Each sub-genre ("gouged eye," "blown-off limbs," etc.) requires a certain recipe of materials, which Vinther enthusiastically share. The latter third of the book branches off from generic wounds, and touches on the makeup required for classic monsters, including Dracula, Freddie Kruger and the Terminator. The illustrations are rather gruesome, but for the Halloween amateur or the Hollywood professional, this book is a veritable King James Bible of the macabre.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
From bullet holes to severed fingers, from slashed throats to wounds and burns, Special Effects is a complete easy-to-use guide to creating horrifying make-up. As storylines become more sensational and technology more sophisticated, special effects have become an increasingly important element of both film and theater production. Janus Vinther provides fully illustrated, step-by-step instruction for creating grotesque and horrifying effects. There is also a chapter on specialized character make-up, covering familiar figures such as Dracula and the Terminator. Illustrated throughout in gory full color, Special Effects for Film and Theatre describes both techniques and materials. It will be an essential tool for those involved in film and theater make-up or design, and for anyone out to make Halloween a very special evening.
