10 Movie Scenes You Won't Believe Didn't Use CGI
5. Hocus Pocus - Those Were Real Moths In Billy's Mouth
This one is just bizarre, but it’s pretty impressive evidence as if any more were ever needed that character actor and Guillermo del Toro favourite Doug Jones is amongst the most committed thespians working in genre fare and long since deserves the long-awaited plaudits he’s now receiving.
The actor excels in High School Musical helmer and occasional Gilmore Girls director Kenny Ortega’s Halloween classic Hocus Pocus, where he plays the beleaguered and surprisingly friendly zombified husband of Better Midler’s villainous witch. As Billy, he endures all manner of mortifying dismemberments in the name of bloodless, cartoony kid movie fun, but the most impressive work the actor did is actually in the first moments of his onscreen appearance.
The script called for Billy to open his mouth for the first time in over a century, leaving a few stray moths to flutter out before he speaks—and Jones actually committed to the bit, holding live moths inside his pursed mouth in order to get the perfect take.