Creepy Castles & Menacing Mansions

Today’s blog is one I’ve been hanging onto for a while. Among the broad range of matte art subject matter one has always appealed to me – that being the ‘haunted house’ or gothic mansion as depicted in traditional matte art. While some classics are represented here in ‘glass shot’ form a number of equally chilling classic gothic homestead settings from films such as Robert Wise’s classic spine tingler THE HAUNTING (1963), Richard Matheson’s excellent LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE (1973), Peter Medak’s THE CHANGELING (1979) and Kubrick’s THE SHINING (1980) don’t make it as those wonderful settings were either actual locations, or as in the case of the excellent George C.Scott frightfest THE CHANGELING, a full size purpose built exterior façade. Some effectively menacing more recent demonic street addresses such as the under rated remake of HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1999) I’ve deliberately not included as the digital realm falls outside the scope (and interest) of this blog.

…Read the Full Article @ Matte Shot

This blog is intended as a tribute to the ingenuity of the traditional matte painter where movie magic was created entirely by hand. Some of the shots will amaze in their grandeur and epic quality while others will surprise in their ‘invisibility’ to even the sophisticated viewer. I hope this collection will serve as an appreciation of the artform and both casual visitors and those with a specialist interest may benefit, enjoy and be amazed at skills largely unknown today

NZPete

I have gone further back into the archives of Matte Shot – A Tribute to Golden Era Special FX to feature even more articles from this great site, so  I hope you enjoy this wonderful journey we’re on together.

PJ Max