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FX Master Rob Bottin, Where in the World is He?

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Not everyone talks about Rob Bottin (pron. Bo-teen) as much as they should. Other artists who came out of the golden age of practical effects, Rick Baker, Tom Savini, and the late Stan Winston are canonized in the world of movie makeup, but Bottin never seems to get the attention he deserves anymore. And he deserves a lot.

He is one of the most talented creators to emerge from that era when scares relied more on manipulating tangible materials rather than source code; when people said “the money is on the screen,” they were talking about the practical effects and not the star’s salary.

Figuring out how to create living fantasies from storyboard to screen meant solving a multitude of problems back in the day, it was a task that only a few in the business could do, Bottin being one of them.

Today’s special make-up effects artists seemingly have to compromise between what they can feel in their hands and what computer software can fill in for them. Movies and television shows are finding talented FX alchemists who use an alloy forged from latex and CGI.

Bottin didn’t have Movie Maker back then, because he was one.

Where is he now though? Does he believe in digital assistance?

The hirsute genius is still young. According to many sources, he is only 61-years-old; he just celebrated a birthday on April 1.

Some say Bottin is a recluse who doesn’t care much for social media or granting interviews. His last project according to IMDb was on Game of Thrones in 2014.

He wasn’t always this isolated. That’s because his high-profile projects back in the early 80s were of interest to genre journalists and industry peers who lived in awe of his special kind of talent, one that pushed envelopes by giving moviegoers something on-screen they had never seen before. This was never so evident as in his work for John Carpenter’s The Thing.

Just as Leonardo Da Vinci was mythologized for his Mona Lisa, Bottin’s skill on The Thing remains an industry masterwork, something legendary.

Always humble Bottin said in an interview for Fangoria back in 1982 that he’s really not the one responsible for creating the scares, instead he gives that honor to the writers and directors.

“The story is scary, and then the monster is just the period at the end of the sentence,” he said. “In other words, if The Thing is scary, it’s not the monsters that are scary, it’s the way John (Carpenter) builds suspense.”

Rob Bottin and his creation for "The Thing"

Rob Bottin and his creation for “The Thing”

As the story goes, due to his penchant for perfectionism and detail, Bottin would sadly suffer from exhaustion and other health issues after The Thing wrapped which is a testament to his dedication to the craft.

In another interview, Eric Brevig, Total Recall‘s visual effects supervisor who worked with Bottin on that film, says he rarely needed correction, it was one and done.

“One great thing about Rob’s work was that it didn’t need post fixing,” Brevig told FXGuide back in 2015. “He just worked with the tools he had until it looked great, and it was essentially an insert shoot when it was photographed. So we didn’t have a lot of hands-on participation in terms of what he was doing, except that we both collaborated where we would take it.”

For those who don’t know, Bottin is also the man responsible for the effects in classics such as The Fog (1980), Maniac (1980), Robocop, Se7en–the list goes on. In fact, the record of his artistry in film is so long and revered you should check out his IMDb profile, there are too many to list here.

You would think with such a large catalog of work he would be more in the public eye. But even though he is austere, his monsters are forever burned into celluloid so even if he never shows his face in public again, that’s where you can always find him.

Rob Bottin and his creation for "RoboCop"

So in honor of the man who made some of the scariest and most realistic prosthetics in horror film history, we are going to showcase some of his most notable works below. These are only a few but they represent a cross section of his talent that, if you were lucky enough to see first-hand, gave you nightmares. They are indelible in the archives of horror movie history.

And Mr. Bottin if you are reading this, we hope you are well and considering coming back to the silver screen with more ideas for a new generation of filmmakers and horror fans.

As a side note, for people who are fans of Rob Bottin, you can check out a Facebook page set up by a fan named Devon who noticed the artist and his work were missing from social media.

“I made this page back in 2010 because I wanted to give you, Rob’s fans, and myself (also a huge fan) an outlet or a place to share and revel in his work,” writes Devon. “I did this because I noticed there where all these pages for all the people: artists, creators, directors, etc – that had worked with him; but, not a single one for Rob. Ever since the beginning this page was only ever meant to be a fan page. Never did I think it would grow to be this big. For that, I’d like to say ‘Thank you’; hopefully, with your help perhaps we can get him to share a little bit more of his life with us. I know I would like that, but until that day – just a heads up, I am not the Rob Bottin. “

Below are some scenes in which Rob contributed, some are trailers, some are NSFW and many contain spoilers:

The Thing (1980)

The Fog (1980)

Pirhana (1978)

The Howling (1981)

RoboCop (1987)

Se7en (1995)

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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