The Frighteners [1996]

1996

This film was Weta's first big Hollywood outing, but still done in a Kiwi filmmaking style. The Workshop worked on the film for over a year, conceptualizing and creating the various creatures, make-up and gore effects that were used to support the huge amount of digital effects.

This film had some neat stuff in it and Weta got to work with some amazing cast including Michael J Fox, R. Lee Ermey and especially Jeffrey Combs, who played Agent Damers. However, they were pleased when they completed work on the film as the project was a long haul of fairly technical filming work. Weta finished the project off with the miniatures shoot, which was a real blast! The reduced crew, helmed by Peter Jackson, got the work knocked out quickly and with a great deal of improvisation. John Baster and Mary Maclachlan, Weta's two senior miniature builders, employed their considerable expertise to make a little go a very long way.