Horror and sci-fi flicks are notorious for using incredibly designed creatures. Sure, CGI can do anything now, but a lot of the most iconic creatures were built the old-school way: a real human being stuffed into layers of rubber, foam, and prosthetics. Therefore, all the slime, teeth, spikes, and other elaborate details created by the costume department are merely illusions, concealing the actual actors who perform the hard work.
Occasionally they’re surprisingly charming. Occasionally they’re weirdly handsome. Many times, they’re Doug Jones.
Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th) — Kane Hodder
Jason is basically the ultimate “silent but deadly” horror villain: he says nothing, brings a machete, and ruins everyone’s weekend. Several blokes have played him over the years, but Kane Hodder became one of the most famous Jasons thanks to his physicality and that signature, heavy menace. He even brought Jason to the gaming world with motion capture work.
The Werewolf (An American Werewolf in London) — David Naughton
An American Werewolf in London introduced us to a transformation that remains a benchmark in practical effects, long before werewolves became sleek, sexy, and suspiciously airbrushed puppies. David Naughton did more than just “turn into a wolf”—he endured hours of makeup and appliances to sell the agony and body horror of it all. That’s probably the reason people remember that scene decades later.
Silver Surfer (Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer) — Doug Jones
A lot of people assume the Silver Surfer is pure CGI because, well, he’s a shiny chrome space guy on a freaking surfboard, duh! But in reality, it’s just Doug Jones doing his thing. He’s basically Hollywood’s secret weapon for “tall, otherworldly, and oddly graceful” creatures. His body movement gave the character that eerie calm and fluidity, while Laurence Fishburne provided the voice.
The Amphibian Man (The Shape of Water) — Doug Jones (again)
Yes, Doug Jones probably deserves his own list, but maybe another day. In The Shape of Water, he played the Amphibian Man inside a full-body suit that was equal parts impressive and miserable. Creature suits look amazing on camera, but they’re also basically wearable prisons—insanely cool, but atrocious when it comes to releasing bodily fluids.
Dren (Splice) — Delphine Chanéac
Splice is one of those movies that makes you feel things you don’t want to be feeling, but it’s so fascinating that you can’t look away. Dren is unsettling because she’s “almost human.” That “almost” is the important part here. Delphine Chanéac gave Dren that eerie, delicate presence that’s both strange and mesmerizing. The design works because it’s not a full monster mask; it’s small tweaks that make a familiar face suddenly feel alien.
Pennywise (IT, 2017) — Bill Skarsgård
Bill Skarsgård looks like he could be on a moody fashion campaign, not lurking in sewers offering children balloon-based bad decisions. That’s part of what makes his Pennywise so unsettling: the face underneath is normal enough that your brain keeps trying to “fix” it. Add the voice, the dead-eyed stare, and the unnatural movements, and suddenly you’re afraid of clowns again.
Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 2003) — Andrew Bryniarski
Leatherface is a walking menace: built like a brick wall, loud, and absolutely terrifying when he sets his eyes on a victim. Bryniarski brought sheer size and intimidation to the 2003 remake because sometimes the scariest special effect is simply casting someone who looks like he could bench-press your car. When you combine the mask, the body language, and the chainsaw, it becomes an immersive cinematic experience.
The Xenomorph (Alien) — Bolaji Badejo
The Xenomorph isn’t scary just because it looks like a hellish peepee-head-shaped cat; it’s scary because it feels real and merciless. That eerie, insect-like grace came from Bolaji Badejo, whose height and slender frame helped sell the creature’s unnatural silhouette. Inside that biomechanical suit, he gave the Xenomorph a stalking, predatory presence that’s still the blueprint for “perfect movie monster” today.
The Creeper (Jeepers Creepers) — Jonathan Breck
The Creeper is one of those over-the-top monsters that’s just almost too uncomfortable to look at, with his weird flayed face, creepy posture, and the overall “bad juju” vibe. Jonathan Breck is, in real life, just a normal-looking actor, which is honestly funnier because it means someone who could play a friendly neighbor also spent his workday being a winged nightmare that ruins road trips.
The Pale Man (Pan’s Labyrinth) — Doug Jones (last one, I swear)
If you’ve seen Pan’s Labyrinth, you remember the Pale Man. You may forget where you put your keys, but you won’t forget that creature, even if you only saw it for a second. Doug Jones performed the Pale Man under heavy prosthetics, bringing slow, deliberate movement to something that already looked like a living warning sign. And just for fun, here’s another fun fact: Jones also played the Faun in the same film because Guillermo del Toro really loves to put this man in all sorts of dope costumes.
