The Thing Tops 20 Greatest Horror Effects, Beating Alien and An American Werewolf in London
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 29
The Thing Tops 20 Greatest Horror Effects, Beating Alien and An American Werewolf in London
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 29
Summary
A new ranking names John Carpenter’s 1982 film The Thing the greatest horror-effects showcase, citing Rob Bottin’s grotesque practical creations and the spider-leg head sequence as unmatched.
The top three lean heavily on practical effects: Alien ranks No. 2 for its chestburster scene, while An American Werewolf in London takes No. 3 for Rick Baker’s agonizing transformation.
The 20-film list spans a century of horror craft, from The Phantom Carriage and Nosferatu in the 1920s to Ring in 1998, emphasizing in-camera tricks, makeup and animatronics over CGI.
Other high placements include Scanners at No. 4, Society at No. 5 and The Exorcist at No. 11, with the ranking framing horror as a genre where special effects often define a film’s lasting impact.