makeup effects | Monster Zone

A sneak peek at a host of film zombies that are being created the old school way, which is just the way I like it!

A retro, practical-effects zombie! Woot!

THE TREADWELL BOTHERS is a low budget film that is in its preproduction stage and, hopefully, once finished it will find its way onto Amazon Prime. Maybe the movie will raise its rotting head on YouTube: I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. The two filmmakers behind this project, brothers David and Philip Fitzgerald, are currently trying out zombie makeup designs, doing lighting tests, and becoming accustomed to using their new camera – a Cannon Eos C300 mark II. Philip will be operating the camera and David will be making the zombies. Both brothers will be starring in the film, and Philip will be directing. David is the co-director and, though he is credited as David Fitzgerald for his makeup effects work, he will be using his stage name, William Fitzgerald, as his acting credit. Got all that? Cool, let’s move on…

The Fitzgerald brothers will play the titular TREADWELL BROTHERS

The plot will focus on characters dealing with a world that has just about managed to contain a zombie apocalypse. Society has fragmented, with pockets of survivors living in disparate communities. The protagonists are the Treadwell Brothers (played by the Fitzgerald brothers), who were ‘Cleaners’ during the war with the zombies. These Cleaners were operatives set up by the military, and they persevered even after the military’s capabilities had been degraded. Now, in this post-war world, the Treadwell Brothers continue to ply their trade, being paid in kind to keep stray zombies out of towns and other human settlements.

A shot from test footage taken of a zombie shambling near a disused railway — A shot from test footage taken of a zombie lurking near a disused railway

But there are other Cleaner teams out there, and one gang in particular has its own agenda. There’s also a twisted professor trying to create the perfect anti-zombie zombie, which he aims to use to destroy the other undead corpses… but the prof has begun tinkering with humans to perfect his super-zombie.

As the story progresses, the Brothers continue their debate regarding the origin of the zombie outbreak: one believes it’s some kind of biblical punishment, and the other says that it’s a man-made phenomena. Eventually, though, they will discover the outbreak’s true source…

But let’s focus on the zombie designs now, which are still in their preproduction stage…

There will be various ‘character’ zombies, including: Oiler Zombie, Mother Zombie, Baghead Zombie, Soldier Zombie, Hoodie Zombie, and Black Eyes Zombie.

This is the Oiler Zombie prior to painting. The finished version will be burnt on one side

David, who created the ghostly, bandaged demon-dog creature in the short film SQUEAK AND I’LL RUN TO YOU (2021), is building the zombies using various old school, retro techniques, including the direct-build method. He has taken inspiration from such makeup effects legends as Roy (TALES FROM THE CRYPT, THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES) Ashton and Jack (DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, WHITE ZOMBIE) Pierce, using materials like cotton batting (absorbent cotton pressed into pads or layers) that is impregnated with liquid latex to create dead skin. David says that one of his movie touchstones for this project is Fulci’s ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS (1979), and his Hoodie Zombie is inspired by Amando de Ossorio’s BLIND DEAD movies. He hopes the practical zombie effects will imbue THE TREADWELL BROTHERS with an Amicus vibe too.

CGI zombies, like those in WORLD WAR Z can be okay, but I prefer guys in zombie makeup and prosthetics! — CGI zombies, like the ones in WORLD WAR Z (2013), can be okay, but I prefer guys in zombie makeup/latex masks/prosthetics, just like the undead dude above!

So let’s feast our eyes on some zombie-tastic designs now!
(note: these are shots of in-progress creations, so the costumes haven’t been distressed and broken down yet, etc)

Early-stage Hoodie Zombie, when David was considering giving it a hanging jaw — Early-stage Hoodie Zombie, when David was considering giving it a very distinct hanging jaw

Then David decided to make the detached jaw effect more subtle and less grisly

Above: two shots of the later version of the Hoodie Zombie

Chest and ribs detail of a zombie, prior to painting

Cotton batting, impregnated with liquid latex, is used to create the zombies' dead skin — Cotton batting, impregnated with liquid latex, is used to create the zombies’ dead skin

The Soldier Zombie's skull-head was made from Carte Lana wool paper, then covered in rubber and cotton batting — The Soldier Zombie’s skull-head was made from Carte Lana wool paper, then covered in rubber and cotton batting

Carte Lana wool paper can be made to look very skull-like. Note that these teeth haven't been given aged detailing yet — Carte Lana wool paper can be made to look very skull-like. Note that these teeth haven’t been given aged detailing yet

Skin texture is sculpted into the cotton batting before it completely dries... — Skin texture is sculpted into the cotton batting before it completely dries…

This is a rough, early-stage 'clay sketch' for a background zombie — This is a rough, early-stage ‘clay sketch’ for a background zombie

Sculpt of the Soldier Zombie's gnarly hand — Sculpt of the Soldier Zombie’s gnarly hand

This very effective-looking zombie hand was created by gluing the latex moulding onto a glove!

A look at the liquid latex & cotton ‘skin’ used for the zombies

Above: two more shots of the Hoodie Zombie

So here’s hoping that the Fitzgerald brothers start filming their undead opus, so we’ll get a chance to watch their wonderfully old school zombies shambling across the screen!

A zombie on the loose: this looks like a job for THE TREADWELL BROTHERS!

Starring Don Scardino, Patricia Pearcy, R.A. Dow, Jean Sullivan and Peter MacLean. Written and directed by Jeff Lieberman. Produced by Samuel Z. Arkoff, Joseph Beruh, Edgar Lansbury and George Manasse.

Downed power lines in Georgia turn bloodworms into killer critters that begin to chow down on the local rednecks!

He's full of worms! — He’s full of worms!

SQUIRM is a cool example of the 70s trend for eco-horror/animal attack movies. The two young leads (Scardino & Pearcy) are likeable and, between the worm scenes, they try to figure out the identity of a missing skeleton in a SCOOBY-DOO-style mystery-solving fashion.

There are lots of shots of real bloodworms, which look gross when filmed close-up: they really do resemble mini-monsters! In this movie these worms scream too! Yes! Screaming worms! And they like to dangle from the shower as well!

They're in the shower! — They’re in the shower!

There’s some fine early makeup work by Rick Baker to look out for (and Rob Bottin was an uncredited assistant makeup artist on this production too). The ‘worm-face’ scene is great, revelling in shots of a character who has bloodworms crawling beneath the skin of his face! He yanks at the worms, trying to pull them out! These are really neat-looking practical effects! Rick Baker really shows here that he was a makeup effects expert worth keeping an eye on.

The ending is a nice merging of creepy house thriller & critter attack genres. It’s during this finale that the film comes up with its most impactful image; a man becoming submerged in a sea of worms that fill the room! If you don’t like worms you will not like this scene (or the movie)!

This is an enjoyable, wriggly, writhing, creepy-crawly, low budget, well-handled creatures-run-amok B movie that keeps you entertained throughout: it’s squirm-tastic!

Here are some posters…