If you haven’t seen Amazon Studios’ horror-comedy film, Totally Killer, yet, you are missing out on a little gem that slays. Literally. The film, directed by Nahnatchka Khan and starring Sabrina’s Kiernan Shipka, is a perfect blend of Back to the Future and Scream. The film debuted on Prime Video on October 6, 2023.
Totally Killer is a time-traveling thriller that revolves around Jamie (Shipka), whose mother, Pam (Julie Bowen), faces terror from the resurgence of the ‘Sweet Sixteen Killer.’ The story follows Jamie, her friend Amelia (Kelcey Mawema), and the teenage version of her mom (Olivia Holt), as they travel back in time 35 years to prevent the killer’s murderous spree.
Los Angeles and B.C.-based visual effects boutique, VFX Legion provided over 170 effects, seamlessly integrating with practical footage. The effects included multiple green screens, crowd duplication, dynamics, extensions, enhanced camera movement, rig removal, tracking, painting, and composition. CG knife blades, digital removal of blood-filled prosthetics, and enhanced wounds were part of the visceral effects that heightened the horror experience. Take a look at the breakdown reel below:
REELated:
Artists at Legion contributed to creating the authentic look and nostalgic vibe of the 1980s by digitally deleting and replacing objects captured by the camera that were out of place in that era. The workload increased significantly after shooting schedules were rearranged due to pandemic-related challenges, requiring Legion to scale up its team to meet the demands.
Blake Anderson, VFX supervisor at Legion, led the production, overseeing the international team of artists. VFX producer Antonio Gallardo managed the project while ensuring it utilized British Columbia’s substantial tax incentives. CEO and co-founder James David Hattin, based in Burbank, worked closely with director Nahnatchka Khan to understand her vision.
VFX Legion has a strong history with Blumhouse, specializing in thrillers, and has worked on various television shows and movies in the genre. The company’s recent collaborations with Blumhouse include films like The Passenger, Black Phone, and original Amazon productions like Nocturne, Black Box, Evil Eye, Bingo Hell, The Manor, Madres, Black as Night, and A House on the Bayou for the horror anthology ‘Welcome to Blumhouse.’
CREDITS:
- Title: Totally Killer
- Genre: Horror, Comedy / Feature Film
- Director: Nahnatchka Khan
- Release Date: October 6, 2023
- Production Companies: Blumhouse Television, Amazon MGM Studios
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