Monster Squad: Celebrating the Artists Behind Cinema's Most Memorable Creatures

by Heather A. Wixson

For Monster Celebrating the Artists Behind Cinema's Most Memorable Creatures, journalist Heather Wixson turns the spotlight on twenty special effects pioneers and artists who helped shape the landscape of modern horror and sci-fi cinema throughout the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and beyond. Featuring in-depth interviews with the legendary and visionary creators who share their personal journeys through Hollywood, Monster Squad is a tribute to those who toiled endlessly to help make the impossible possible in so many of our favorite movies, and to all the "Monster Kids" out there who still believe in the magic of practical effects in film to this very day. Featuring several hundred behind-the-scenes photos, and crafted from over 75 hours of interviews, Monster Squad includes comprehensive discussions with Jennifer Aspinall, Gabe Bartalos, Michèle Burke, John Dykstra, Mike Elizalde, Tony Gardner, Alec Gillis, John Goodwin, Kevin Haney, Steve Johnson, Bob Keen, Rick Lazzarini, David Martí, Todd Masters, Bart Mixon, John Rosengrant, Phil Tippett, Brian Wade, Steve Wang, and Tom Woodruff, Jr. About the Heather A. Wixson was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, until she followed her dreams and moved to Los Angeles in 2009. A ten-year veteran entertainment journalist, Wixson fell in love with the world of genre cinema at a very early age, and has spent the last decade carvingout a career as a professional writer and supporter of preserving the history of horror and sci-fi cinema. Throughout her career, she has contributed to various online outlets, including Terror Tube, Dread Central, FEARnet, and is currently the Managing Editor for Daily Dead, the website she's called home since 2013.

Genres: Film

444 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2017

Reviews

[Horror DNA · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a kid I, fell in love with movies and knew early on that I needed to work in this field in some capacity. My early calling was towards special make-up effects as I became obsessed with monsters. Growing up in the 1980s, there was a plethora of creature features and slasher films to capture my attention. I pored through the pages of genre magazines like Fangoria and Famous Monsters of Filmland for clues as to how these things were brought to life. It was here that I discovered information on legendary artists Dick Smith (The Exorcist), Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London), Stan Winston (Aliens) and Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead). I stumbled across Dick Smith's Do-It-Yourself Monster Make-Up Handbook and began practicing his lessons at every opportunity. Even as my pursuits shifted over the years, I maintain a love for the make-up industry and follow the work of many artists to this day. When I heard about Heather A. Wixson’s Monster Squad: Celebrating the Artists Behind Cinema’s Most Memorable Creatures, I was intrigued.

What would be the format of this book? Would there be anecdotes from the set or details as to how specific effects were accomplished? Most surprising is the roster of interview subjects, twenty in all. Many of the names I had heard of, but nearly half I had not. I knew going in that some of these people could fill the pages of an entire book on their own so, again, I was curious as to what the author’s approach would be. Wixson tackles the material head on by simply allowing the participants to tell their stories in their own words. Many start with memories of childhood interests in magic while others reflect on early filmmaking experiments with Super8 cameras. Everyone appears to have caught the bug at an early age, spending hundreds of hours practicing their craft before making the move to Los Angeles to pursue their Hollywood dreams.

You can read ZigZag's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Emilio Amaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that's worth reading for anybody who has love and appreciation for movies. Each chapter is an interview with a makeup artist or member of a special effects team who has a legendary body of work adding their own unique artistry to movie magic. Page after page you're hearing about someone who worked on a film that you've seen once, maybe even countless repeated viewings that entertained you and changed your life for the better.

Monster Squad is a thrilling read that sheds a light on the people who've worked long hours in the film industry creating something that has caused your jaw to drop and a rush of endorphins. While reading this book you'll no doubt come across someone who was responsible for a cinematic work of art featured in one of your all time favorite films and an artist who may have even inspired you to do something creative.

[Lindsey.parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brb got a whole bunch of new-to-me movies to watch.