From VHS to CGI: How SFX and VFX Makeup Still Slay the Screen

 From VHS to CGI: How SFX and VFX Makeup Still Slay the Screen

If you grew up rewinding VHS tapes to rewatch The Terminator or Beetlejuice, you’ve already been spellbound by the gritty charm of SFX makeup. Gen X knows the thrill of practical effects the gooey prosthetics, animatronics, and airbrushed monsters that made 80s and 90s cinema unforgettable. But today, those latex masks have teamed up with digital wizardry to create a whole new breed of movie magic. Back then, movie magic wasn’t just digital it was sculpted, painted, and splattered in real time. Today, that magic has evolved, blending old-school artistry with cutting-edge tech to create unforgettable cinematic experiences.

 Inspired by Netflix’s Wednesday Season 2 and Gen X’s love for movie magic

As Wednesday Season 2 drops on Netflix, fans are diving back into the eerie halls of Nevermore Academy and the FX game is stronger than ever. From porcelain doll murder mysteries to psychic nightmares, the new season blends SFX makeup and VFX wizardry to create a world that’s both nostalgic and cutting-edge. Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Addams returns with darker vibes, and the FX team has leveled up. Expect prosthetic transformations, haunting dream sequences, and digital enhancements that elevate every scene. It’s a perfect showcase of how tactile effects and digital artistry can coexist and it’s exactly what Gen X filmmakers have been championing for decades. 

Whether you're in Nairobi or New York, this season proves that FX makeup is more than just decoration it’s storytelling in motion.

 SFX vs VFX: What’s the Deal?

• SFX (Special Effects Makeup) Think prosthetic wounds, fake blood, creature masks, and aging transformations all done physically on set.
• VFX (Visual Effects) Digital enhancements added in post-production like de-aging actors, building alien worlds, or turning Nairobi into a futuristic skyline.

Together, they’re the heartbeat of modern filmmaking. SFX gives us texture and realism; VFX adds scale and spectacle.

Kenya’s Growing FX Scene

Kenya’s film industry is catching fire, and SFX/VFX makeup is part of the spark. Schools like Spectrum film school and studios like Janeson are offering top-tier SFX services from lifecasting and prosthetics to injury simulation and creature design. Local filmmakers are embracing these tools to tell bold, authentic stories that resonate both at home and abroad.

Events like the Kalasha International TV & Film Market are also fueling growth, giving Kenyan creatives a platform to pitch, network, and collaborate with global industry players.

The Art of Transformation

Back in the day, artists like Rick Baker and Tom Savini turned actors into monsters using latex, wax, and gallons of fake blood. Gen X watched in awe as characters morphed on screen no pixels required. That tactile magic still holds emotional weight. It’s raw, it’s real, and it reminds us of a time when creativity meant getting your hands dirty.

Today, artists blend SFX with VFX to push boundaries. In Kenya, this means combining traditional makeup with digital tools like 3D modeling and AR to create hybrid effects that wow audiences.

Why It Still Matters

In a world of polished CGI, practical effects offer something deeper emotion, nostalgia, and authenticity. Gen X filmmakers know this. They’re reviving old-school techniques and fusing them with new tech to create stories that feel grounded yet visionary.

Globally, films like Stranger Things and The Batman prove that the best effects come from collaboration between SFX and VFX teams. Locally, Kenyan filmmakers are using these tools to elevate storytelling, from horror shorts to Afro-futuristic epics.

If you’ve binged Wednesday on Netflix, you’ve seen how modern filmmaking blends eerie elegance with FX mastery. Jenna Ortega’s transformation into Wednesday Addams wasn’t just about attitude it was a perfect storm of SFX makeup and subtle VFX enhancements. From her “just-bitten” lips to the moody lighting and supernatural effects, the show is a masterclass in how old-school techniques meet digital finesse.

Hair and makeup designer Tara McDonald revealed that the team aimed for a “soft goth” look something believable, not costume-y. That’s the Gen X sweet spot: grounded realism with a touch of the fantastical. It’s the same vibe that made The Craft and Buffy the Vampire Slayer iconic.

In Kenya and beyond, filmmakers can take notes from Wednesday’s FX playbook:

• Use SFX makeup to build character depth and emotional texture.
• Layer in VFX to amplify mood, mystery, and supernatural elements.
• Keep it authentic audiences connect more with grounded visuals than over-polished CGI

Whether you’re crafting a Nairobi noir thriller or a global fantasy epic, the FX fusion seen in Wednesday proves that the best stories are told with both pigment and pixels. If Wednesday Season 2 has you itching to create your own eerie transformations or cinematic dreamscapes, there’s no better place to start than Spectrum Film School East Africa’s leading hub for film education.

Located in Nairobi, Spectrum Film School offers Certificate, Diploma, and Online Courses in everything from SFX/VFX makeup to film production, directing, and screenwriting. Whether you're a Gen X creative reigniting your passion or a young visionary ready to break into the industry, this is where imagination meets mastery.