Rick Baker Shares Video of Unused Puppet for ‘The Wolfman’

I’m not sure there’s anyone who knows more about making werewolves for the screen than special makeup effects designer Rick Baker. The man has worked on everything from An American Werewolf in London to the Werewolf TV series, Wolf, the cursed production of, er, Cursed, and even Michael Jackson’s Thriller video (not technically a werewolf, but still). Among his filmography is the work he did for the 2010 remake of The Wolfman. And today, Baker has just shared footage of an unused puppet that would’ve made that film a lot better.

Taking to IG this afternoon, the monster maker shared footage of a puppet that was supposed to be used for the film’s transformation scene, but was scrapped in place of digital effects. The footage is simply stunning, and demonstrates how truly gifted Baker is at creating movie monsters…especially werewolves.

Said Baker, “While looking for something else on my computer I came across this video that I shot of me alone playing with a puppet head we made for the Wolfman transformation. I wish they would have allowed us to do some practical stuff for the transformation.“

In Joe Johnston‘s The Wolfman, Benicio del Toro plays the titular character. Upon returning to his ancestral home, where his father (Anthony Hopkins) still resides, he’s bitten by a wolf. Soon after, bodies begin piling up, with del Toro’s character believing he’s to blame.

Though the film features incredible makeup effects from Baker–the werewolves look amazing–for some odd reason, practical effects weren’t used during the film’s pivotal transformation scene. As a result, it’s the one effects moment of the movie that looks utterly horrendous. And I do not get it.

Every werewolf lover knows, the transformation scene is where a werewolf movie makes its money. An American Werewolf in London, The Howling…they each set a bar that’s never been topped, but it’s fun to watch others try. And if anyone could’ve done it, it would’ve been Baker. Why anyone would rather not use his work in such an important moment is beyond me.

Either way, The Wolfman is what it is, a solid remake with excellent creature makeup and grisly gore…but, as demonstrated by Baker’s video, it could’ve been even better.

Check it out here, and join with me in howling for studios to finally recognize that, when possible, practical effects are always the better route.

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