8 True Stories That Reveal How Iconic Monsters Were Brought to Life

Movie monsters have captivated audiences for decades, both on the screen and in real life. It's a part of our childhood to be woken up in the middle of the night, as Dracula with blood-shedding fangs or Frankenstein’s Monster's dead body climbs into our nightmares. Undoubtedly, these entities have become icons. But have you ever wondered how these monsters are created? How did the filmmakers come up with the ideas for their designs, and what inspired their terrifying features?
So buckle up, and come along on this thrilling ride to unfold the fascinating behind-the-scenes stories of 8 iconic movie creatures. From the classic Dracula to the otherworldly creature in Alien, we will delve into the minds of the creative geniuses who brought these beasts to life. These real-life facts are sure to be just as captivating as the on-screen creatures themselves!

#1 The Creature from the Black Lagoon

Source: Universal Pictures

Milicent Patrick designed the costume for the "Gill-Man" in The Creature from the Black Lagoon, but famed make-up artist Bud Westmore was furious at the way she was receiving credit over him in the industry trades. He complained to Universal execs, which ultimately ruined Patrick's career and she never worked again.

#2 Alien

Source: 20th Century Fox

Surrealist designer H.R. Giger used condoms and bones to create the alien that terrorizes Ellen Ripley in the film Alien. Nigerian art student Bolaji Badejo wore the final product, which required a custom swing between takes to accommodate his ungainly tail.

#3 Dracula

Source: Universal Pictures

Bela Lugosi, who had already played Dracula on stage, signed on for the 1931 movie and did makeup on himself. He refused to wear the traditional fangs, but agreed to a hairpiece on his receding hairline. This has been the legendary Dracula look for years before Twilight.
When Lugosi passed away in 1956, he was buried in a version of his Dracula costume.

#4 King Kong

Source: RKO Pictures

When tasked with creating a fictional ape for the film King Kong, producer David O. Selznick enlisted stop-motion expert Willis O'Brien to create an 18-inch model of what would become Kong. Full-sized props like a monkey hand and head, and groundbreaking use of miniature rear projection definitely bolstered the illusion.

#5 The Phantom of the Opera

Source: Universal Pictures

Lon Chaney, Sr., famous for doing his own makeup, played the Phantom in the 1925 film. He used cotton and collodion to create exaggerated cheekbones, black paint for his nostrils, and a set of serrated false teeth. His nose was contorted with fish skin and wires.

#6 Frankenstein’s Monster

Source: Universal Pictures

Jack Pierce, known for his work on The Mummy and Wolf Man, transformed Boris Karloff into Frankenstein's Monster by using green greasepaint, black-painted fingernails, and stiffened eyelids. Then the costume department added final touches, and the camera crew filmed Karloff from a low angle to make him appear more menacing.

#7 Godzilla

Source: TOHO.co

The first Godzilla film got the inspiration from Japan's tragic experiences with hydrogen bomb tests, with Godzilla (stands for nuclear threats) destroys everything on its way. To create this terrifying creature , producer Tomoyuki Tanaka asked director Ishiro Honda and special effects expert Eiji Tsuburaya to outfit one of their technicians in a latex dinosaur suit with bamboo spars.
They shot these scenes at double speed, then slowed down to create the forceful stomps that terrified moviegoers. This movie's hype set the bar for the 29 Godzilla creations that followed.

#8 The Fly

Source: 20th Century Fox

In The Fly, creature effects artist Chris Walas used elaborate prosthetics and makeup to transform Seth Brundle into a fly-hybrid creature. This process took up to five hours each day. Walas oversaw a fleet of puppets, rigs, and also dollies to create the illusion of flight. Innovative techniques, including plates and springs inside the creature's head, earned Walas an Oscar in 1987.