Throughout the course of Gunn’s filmography, practical effects have always played a large part. After cutting his teeth in the world of low-budget horror with Troma Entertainment, Gunn’s directorial debut came in the form of the beloved “Slither.” While there were plenty of digital effects throughout, most of the practical effects were made by the legendary Todd Masters, known for his work on films like “Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight,” “Look Who’s Talking,” “Legion,” and even “White Chicks.” Michael Rooker’s transformation in “Slither” is one of the greatest instances of practical effects in horror post-2000, and had they gone the CGI route, it probably wouldn’t have been nearly as powerful. It’s likely due to his low-budget roots, but practical effects have almost become Gunn’s calling card, with even his low-budget film “Super” featuring the director in a small role as Demonswill, clad in head-to-toe red body paint and devilish prosthetics.

Now that he’s working in bigger budget superhero fare, Gunn has always included practical effects whenever possible. “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Suicide Squad,” and “Peacemaker” are all better because Gunn chooses to marry practical effects with the digital, instead of relying on one or the other. He’s a master of combining the two art forms, and all of his films are better because of it. 

Congratulations to Legacy Effects on their well-earned record-breaking. The May 23, 2023 release of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” truly can’t get here fast enough.