Why, Oh Why, Did Someone Invent CGI?

-->

I recently watched a TED Talk by Don Levy called A Cinematic Journey Through Visual Effects.  I found the talk to be informative, but I am still in the group who is not a fan of visual effects.

Let me say that a different way, I am not a fan of visual effects or computer generated images (CGI) when it comes to horror movies.  I understand that CGI is helpful when creating different worlds for fantasy films like Lord of the Rings or Gladiator, two movies I didn't care for by the way, but what kind of world are they creating for horror films?  You need a killer and a weapon, its not that hard.  

Look at some of the best horror films from the good old days, Halloween (1978) – no CGI, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) – no CGI and The Evil Dead (1981) – no CGI.  Now let’s look at the remakes of these films, Halloween (2007) – CGI and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) – CGI.  I’m not saying that these were bad movies, I actually liked them both, but I think I was have loved them if they would have went the old school route of all practical effects.  

Now let’s look at Evil Dead (2013).  I kind of have a bone to pick with Fede Alvarez, the director of the film.  He stated in an interview that there wasn’t any CGI in the movie.  I read that and got really excited.  I was counting the days until the movie came out and rushed to the theater to see it.  Once the film started playing only a few minutes in, there it was, the dreaded CGI.  I was disappointed to say the least, why go tell the world that there isn’t CGI in the movie and there it is in the first few minutes.  To his credit and the credit of the film, there are only a few spots of CGI and all of the gore and violence are done with practical effects.     

I am just sick and tired of filmmakers thinking they have to use visual effects in horror films.  Oh it saves us money or it’s faster to do it in post-production.  I say skip a day of filet mignon at the crafty table and get some practical effects in there.