SFX Saturdays: Werewolf Attack

If you're feeling creative, this wickedly cool sfx makeup technique could transform into a great costume Werewolves have always been of interest to me; I love seeing how they are portrayed in different ways through film. For example, there is Ginger Snaps, the cool, teenage type of werewolf mixed with femme fatale vibes. But there are also classic depictions of these beasts, such as An American Werewolf in London, a film that not only has one badass monster, but also a great amount of prosthetic and special effects makeup, created by makeup artist legend Rick Baker. In this piece, I’ll show you how to create makeup that looks like you’ve been attacked by a werewolf. You can make the wounds as big or as small as you desire and anywhere on your body. If you’re feeling creative, this could become a great costume. Add some dirt (fake, not real!) over your face and body, mess up your hair and put some leaves in for that dragged through the woods effect! And there you have the perfect Werewolf victim costume ready to go! For this sfx makeup look you’ll need: Scar Wax, I use Ben Nye but there are many alternatives available online Sculpting tools Vaseline Red, black and brown face paints or a bruise wheel Fake blood Spirit gum Face powder Makeup brushes An old toothbrush Step 1: Decide where you want the Werewolf scratch to be, then apply spirit gum over this area and allow to become tacky. When it is, roll your scar wax into three separate balls and flatten with your thumb, then simply press onto to the tacky area. Smooth it out with your fingers and Vaseline until it has blended nicely with your skin. Step 2: Powder over the area to take away any shine. Then, with the sculpting tools carve in rough diamond shapes. I scraped away some of the wax inside the shape to create a deeper wound. Then with eh carving tools again, start picking at the remaining wax inside the shape for texture. I picked at it and dragged the tool across to achieve this. Step 3: Paint the inside of the wounds red, and then in the deeper areas use the brown and a small amount of black paint to create depth. Then with your finger, lightly dab on red around the wound to make it look irritated. Step 4: Now for my favorite part...fake blood! Place blood on the inside of the wound and use your finger to spread it around the wound too. I then used an old toothbrush to flick on blood around the wound site. Your Werewolf look is now complete! With just four steps this look might seem intimidating, but it’s not at all. When I first started SFX, I never thought I could create something with this much texture and depth. But with patience and the right tools, anything is possible! This sfx makeup look is perfect for costumes, or just for pranking. This is an achievable look with added realism. Until next time, stay scary! Try other great sfx makeup looks: Sealed Lips Slimy Trypophobia Infection Nasty Third Degree Burn Torn Off Skin Sliced n' Stapled Gouged Eye