13 / 15
Rick
Baker
CREATING MONSTERS IS A LABOUR OF LOVE FOR THIS
OSCAR-WINNING MAKEUP EFFECTS ARTIST.
Baker assisted the legendary Dick Smith on
The Exorcist
, before
graduating to
Star Wars
, Michael Jackson’s
Thriller
, and winning his
first Academy Award for
An American Werewolf in London
.
IT’S ALIVE
“There’s only one thing wrong with the Davis
baby – It’s Alive!” Baker unleashed every
parent’s worst nightmare with his mutant baby
creation for Larry Cohen’s creepy cult classic.
THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN
A young Baker honed his craft on this low
budget 1977 creature feature, achieving
incredible results with little money and
even less time.
THE FUNHOUSE
The snot-drooling mutant of Tobe Hooper’s
carnival slasher flick remains one of
Baker’s most terrifying creations – another
great, unsung monster.
AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON
Baker’s groundbreaking transformation
sequence made Oscar voters finally
acknowledge the genius of special effects
makeup, with an inaugural win in the category.
MEN IN BLACK
Baker’s alien creations – especially Edgar
the Bug (above) – managed to upstage the
human cast, and that includes the
irrepressible Will Smith.
THE WOLFMAN
Benicio del Toro became Benicio del Lobo
after a long haul in Baker’s makeup chair.
His Oscar-winning FX are the best thing
about this toothless remake.