By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The man who worked on some of cinema’s most beloved creatures had his own dark side.
RUBBERHEAD: THE LIFE AND MONSTERS OF STEVE JOHNSON has its world premiere Thursday, July 23 at Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival, with an encore screening on Sunday, July 26. The documentary was directed by Nick Taylor and written by Joseph Krings and Taylor; in addition to Johnson, whose credits include AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, GHOSTBUSTERS, FRIGHT NIGHT, FREAKED and many others, it features appearances by John Landis, Linnea Quigley, Tom Holland, Bill Corso, Greg Cannom, Richard Edlund and more. The synopsis: “Known for his intense work ethic, perfectionism, and obsession with breaking new ground, Steve Johnson created iconic creatures and effects for some of the most beloved horror and sci-fi movies in cinema history. RUBBERHEAD is a humorous and heartfelt portrait of the life and times of one of Hollywood’s most prolific monster makers, as well as a historical journey through the golden age of special effects makeup.
“Steve shares endless, outrageous anecdotes about his freewheeling adventures in Hollywood, while also telling the inspirational but tragic story of his meteoric rise and subsequent fall. His drive and ambition led to some of cinema’s most groundbreaking effects and techniques, but also to heartbreaking acts of self-sabotage, divorce, and serious struggles with addiction. RUBBERHEAD is a captivating reflection on the game-changing practical FX glory days and a fascinating, entertaining, and moving story of an FX master whose greatest monster may have been himself.”
