10 Horror Monster Movies With Amazing Special Effects

Early in production for Bram Stoker's Dracula, Francis Ford Coppola decided to use old cinematic visuals to emulate the story's time period. When the SFX team told Coppola his vision was impossible without digital technology, the Godfather director had them fired and replaced with a new crew, led by his own son, Roman.

Coppola's actions may have been harsh, but you can't argue with the results. The visual team created eye-watering effects by utilising reverse-footage, forced perspective, multiple exposures, miniatures, and matte paintings. Excluding one optical effect, every special effect was created on-set.

The opening, where Dracula's beloved falls from the window, was achieved with a doll, and the green mist in Mina's room was achieved through mirrors and double exposure. Also, let's not forget about the Prince of Darkness himself. 

Throughout the movie, Dracula is depicted as a mortal, a wolf, an elder, a demon, and a bat creature, which were all devised by a legion of sculptors and makeup artists. The prosthetics for the titular vampire's demonic forms are so detailed, it boggles the mind how modern CGI struggles to look half as convincing.

Even though Dracula's multiple designs are superb, it's refreshing how the SFX crew put in as much effort in every other visual, no matter how minor.