MovieChat Forums > The Howling (1981) Discussion > Transformations - CGI vs 80s effects

Transformations - CGI vs 80s effects

posted 16 years ago by lister_ashley
44 replies | jump to latest

Okay, this is kinda obvious from the thread title, but...

Which do you prefer? The old fashioned effects like in "The Howling" and "American Werewolf" or the new CGI effects as seen in "Underworld" and such?

Personally, I prefer the old fashioned ones. CGI is great and all, but when you can see someone ACTUALLY morphing into another creature, it clicks. You can imagine it's really happening. But with CGI, (good as it is) you can still tell that it's CGI, you know?

The CGI also seems a litle too... clean? Whereas the werewolf effects in The Howling seem a little disjointed and uncomfortable (which, being honest, if you were turning into a werewolf, it'd probably hurt).

What's your view? Your opinion would be much appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. (Thanks extra if you post)

"I'm just a sweet lost time lord from Transsexual, planet Gallifrey..." - DoctorsFavDalek

[–] WinstonNoCGI 12 years ago

Can't add much to the previous posts. Still I'd like to leave a comment:

Just read my nick and you'll guess my opinion.

I chose my nick long ago because I'm a great admirer of the makeup effects in The Howling. Couldn't sleep for weeks at night or enter the cellar after seeing it back those days when I was 15.

[–] sabretoothrulz 12 years ago

Definitly, absolutly, without ANY trace of a doubt the 80's practical effects! Or practicle effects (when they are used....which is barly ever it seems) these days haha. I have a pet hate for cgi and how freakin over-used it has become. Old fashioned effects all the way!

Ps. I thought underworld did a suprisingly solid job with the transformations, even if they where cgi. They did use practical effects in combination with cgi throughout the film for the werewolves, which brought me much delight haha. Actually, id say my favourite effects are when practical AND cgi effects are used in conjuction with each other, BUT you cant tell the difference :).

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] psychocosmic-1 12 years ago

The cgi effect transformations scenes I have seen so far, seems too hurried! In a matter of seconds the transformation is over, and it all went too slick! I love werewolf movies, and must say, probably the most exciting with werewolves are the transformations. When you see the lycanthrope gets halfways in to the change, the mix between human and animal, is very interesting! And, as in the Howling, saliva running from their mouths, and noices from their bones and muscles make you feel the transformation as well!

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Sodominion 12 years ago

The old-school special effects wins by default I guess. It is achievable in cgi but who would pay for an effect that would transform the movie from drama, action to horror. Old school werewolf horror movies don't really have a market these days...a transformation like AWIL or Howling would probably land the movie a NC-17. And no one would want to put so much money into that...the cgi would be costly. Plus we are talking about Life-of-Pi-esque quality to make it more believable. So I guess we'll have to wait a few more years.

[–] MsJackieO 11 years ago

80s practical effects all the way. CGI is great as an add-on, a background effect - not a foreground effect. Most films are bad when CGI is the star of the show. There's also no sense of wonderment and "holee sheet! How did they get that to crawl across the floor/transform/look how realistic that is!" with CGI because it's all fake. Even now, I look at still from The Thing and The Howling, and am amazed at the intricacy and detail and realism. These things were physically made with two hands. And the geniuses had to figure out not only how to make them transform but do so in real time and without spoiling the illusion.

[–] LadyMiraculous 11 years ago

80's effects- I hate it when CGI is used in horror movies, especially werewolf movies!

I WAS FROZEN TODAY!!!
[Formerly CosmosX9]

[–] xXRandomnessXx 10 years ago

80s special effect was all the rage in the movie industry which is why there were so many slasher films in that time. The audience believed it and it took guts to sit through the whole movie.

CGI today is used in pretty much every movie now which is probably why the majority of this board agrees with 80s special effects oppose to cgi.

I think that if production companies were to use both techniques, they would gather a strong wow factor from the audience because they actually committed themselves to bringing the movie & characters to LIFE.

Take Jurassic Park for instance, it's one of the best movie to portray animatronics working with cgi & it brought the creatures to life because of all the hard work that went into it being built.

[–] first-things-first 10 years ago

I like the old fashioned technique also. I recently watched a bit of the remake of The Wolfman, and it uses CGI, but it patterns the old school.

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