Years later, Landis and Baker revolutionized cinematic monster makeup in the ‘80s classic “An American Werewolf in London,” inventing new techniques to depict all the gory details (bubbling skin, growing hairs) of a werewolf in transformation. The 1973 film is also noteworthy for the start of the longtime collaboration between Landis and special effects makeup wizard Rick Baker. Landis’ debut film, “Schlock,” combines both genres, spoofing early monster and sci-fi movies in a wacky tale of a piano-playing ape man (played by Landis) who falls in love with a beautiful blind girl in the California suburbs. Dante has a new DVD compilation “Trailers From Hell: Volume 2,” based on the Web series of the same name, featuring promos of exploitation, horror and other cinema classics with commentaries from leading screenwriters, directors and producers.Īlthough Landis is often cited for his comedies “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” “The Blues Brothers” and “Trading Places,” his career is equally noteworthy for its pioneering work in horror. Landis’ book “Monsters in the Movies: 100 Years of Cinematic Nightmares” (DK Adult, 2011) explores the evolution of cinematic creatures throughout Hollywood history. The two get together this Saturday to present and sign copies of their new horror-related releases. Franchises such as “Saw” and “Paranormal Activity” continue to redefine the horror genre while setting records at the box office.ĭirectors John Landis and Joe Dante know about horror: Their respective films “An American Werewolf in London” and “Gremlins” are classics of the genre (even if they do have elements of humor). The three-minute film from French cinema pioneer Georges Méliès, “The Haunted Castle,” hit screens in 1896 with celluloid skeletons, ghosts, witches and even the devil himself, and our appetite for thrills hasn’t abated since. From the earliest days of cinema, audiences have loved to be scared.
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