How coding and CGI have transformed horror films: A Halloween special
Publication date: October 31, 2024
Horror films have always been about pushing boundaries — whether that’s scaring audiences with monsters, exploring the unknown, or showcasing the latest in film technology. Behind the jump scares and the creepy creatures, there’s a long history of innovation that has helped bring these nightmares to life. As we celebrate Halloween, let’s take a journey through the history of horror effects, from the earliest practical techniques to the rise of CGI and visual effects (VFX) — and how coding has played an essential role in transforming the genre.
The early days: practical and special effects
Before computers took over, filmmakers relied on practical effects to make audiences believe in the impossible. In the early 20th century, horror classics like Nosferatu (1922) and Frankenstein (1931) used makeup, puppetry and clever camera tricks to create memorable monsters. Directors and effects artists had to get creative, using prosthetics, costumes, and lighting. These practical effects became the backbone of horror, especially in ‘creature features’ of the 1950s, such as Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954).
As the genre grew, so did the ambition of filmmakers. Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) showcased how editing and sound could enhance tension, while The Exorcist (1973) relied on advanced mechanical effects to make heads spin and levitation seem real. These innovations created unforgettable moments, but they were limited by what could be physically built or filmed. Even with the help of optical effects — such as double exposures and matte paintings — filmmakers longed for new tools to push the boundaries further.
The birth of CGI in horror: The 90s
By the 1990s, technology was evolving rapidly, and computer-generated imagery (CGI) emerged as a game-changer. CGI made it possible to create visuals that were impossible with practical effects alone. Although CGI had been around for some time, films like Jurassic Park (1993) marked a turning point for cinema as a whole. The dinosaurs in Jurassic Park felt real in a way that models and animatronics couldn’t quite achieve.
The influence of CGI quickly spread to the horror genre. CGI was used to create entire worlds, from haunted houses to apocalyptic wastelands. For the first time, filmmakers had the power to manipulate anything on screen digitally, freeing them from the limitations of practical sets and makeup.
One of the most famous horror films to embrace CGI was The Mummy (1999). Though a mixture of CGI and practical effects, it showed how the two techniques could work hand-in-hand. The CGI used to animate the Mummy, with its sandstorms and gruesome transformations, left a lasting impact on the genre, proving that CGI could be just as terrifying as traditional effects.
VFX and the rise of digital horror
While CGI opened the door, visual effects (VFX) have taken things to new heights in the past two decades. VFX refers to any process that manipulates on-screen imagery after filming, often using sophisticated software and coding to create visual magic. This transformation has allowed filmmakers to push the limits of what’s possible on screen, especially in horror, where creating realistic monsters, ghosts and terrifying atmospheres is essential.
In recent years, films like The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) and Nope (2022) have harnessed the power of VFX to deliver spine-chilling visuals. Nope used extensive VFX to create surreal environments and an unnerving creature design. Similarly, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It relied on visual effects to enhance the supernatural elements, from creepy possessions to ghostly apparitions.
The 2023 release of Evil Dead Rise also showcases how far VFX has come in amplifying gore and fear. The film features highly detailed effects that combine both practical and digital techniques, creating horrific and hyper-realistic scenes that leave audiences on edge.
Today, VFX in horror allows filmmakers to manipulate everything from creature movements to atmospheric elements, such as fog or lighting, creating hyper-realistic environments that heighten suspense and terror.
The role of coding in modern horror
Behind every incredible VFX shot in a horror film, there’s a lot of coding at work. Visual effects artists use programming languages like Python, C++, and Java to write the scripts that control how digital effects behave. Software such as Autodesk Maya, Houdini, and Adobe After Effects are some of the most commonly used tools, and they are heavily dependent on code to render realistic, high-quality effects.
Coding allows VFX teams to simulate natural phenomena—like wind, water, and fire—that are crucial to the atmospheric horror we see on screen. It also enables them to animate creatures in ways that would be impossible or prohibitively expensive with practical effects.
In the world of horror games — like Resident Evil and Silent Hill — coding goes even further. It’s not just about creating visuals; it’s about building entire interactive worlds where players experience fear first-hand. Developers use programming languages to create realistic environments, build AI for enemies, and implement game mechanics that keep players on the edge of their seats.
Coding the future of fear
As technology continues to advance, the future of horror films and games will rely even more on coding. Virtual reality (VR) is already making waves, allowing viewers to step directly into the terrifying world of a horror story. VR horror experiences like Resident Evil 7 or The Exorcist: Legion VR immerse players in their environments, relying on sophisticated coding to track movements and reactions in real-time.
What’s exciting about these developments is that coding is at the heart of it all. Whether you’re crafting the next CGI monster, designing a haunted VR experience, or programming AI to predict an audience’s fear, coding is the engine that drives these innovations.
This Halloween, when you watch a creepy creature on screen or play a terrifying game, take a moment to appreciate the coding that makes it all possible. Coding isn’t just for building apps or solving problems; it’s also the key to creating new worlds, scaring audiences, and shaping the future of entertainment.
