If you’re a fan of classic horror movies, you’ve likely heard of the 1981 film “An American Werewolf in London.” This movie is known for its groundbreaking special effects, which were created by makeup artist Rick Baker.
However, there has been some confusion in recent years about whether or not Baker actually worked on the film. Let’s take a closer look at the question: Did Rick Baker do American Werewolf in London?
The Beginnings of Rick Baker’s Career
Before we delve into the question at hand, let’s take a quick look at Rick Baker’s career. Baker started working in special effects makeup when he was just a teenager. He began creating masks and prosthetics for low-budget horror movies and eventually caught the attention of Hollywood filmmakers.
Baker’s breakout moment came with his work on the 1976 version of “King Kong.” He created a full-body gorilla suit that was so realistic it earned him an Academy Award for Best Makeup – the first time this award had ever been given.
After “King Kong,” Baker went on to work on many other iconic films, including “Star Wars,” “The Thing,” and “Men in Black.”
The Making of American Werewolf in London
Now let’s turn our attention to “An American Werewolf in London.” This film was directed by John Landis and tells the story of two American tourists who are attacked by a werewolf while hiking in England. One of them dies, while the other transforms into a werewolf himself.
The movie was groundbreaking for its time because it featured a transformation scene that showed the character slowly morphing from human to wolf. This scene was created using practical effects rather than computer-generated imagery (CGI), which was still in its infancy at that time.
Did Rick Baker Work on American Werewolf?
So did Rick Baker have anything to do with the special effects in “An American Werewolf in London”? The answer is yes – and no.
Baker was originally hired to work on the movie, but he had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. The special effects were ultimately created by a team led by makeup artist Chris Walas.
However, there is no doubt that Baker’s influence can be seen in the final product. Walas has said in interviews that he consulted with Baker extensively during the making of the film and even used some of Baker’s designs as inspiration for his own work.
The Legacy of American Werewolf
Regardless of who created the special effects for “An American Werewolf in London,” there is no denying that they changed the face of horror movies forever. The transformation scene in particular has been hailed as a masterpiece of practical effects and continues to be studied by filmmakers today.
Rick Baker went on to have an incredible career after “An American Werewolf in London,” creating memorable characters and creatures for countless movies. His impact on the world of special effects makeup cannot be overstated.
The Bottom Line
So, did Rick Baker do American Werewolf in London? While he did not create the special effects himself, his influence can be felt throughout the movie. The groundbreaking work done by Chris Walas and his team – with input from Baker – paved the way for future generations of filmmakers to push the boundaries of what is possible with practical effects.