The Scene: “The Beast” appears to Diane in the hallway.
How It Was Done: A 7×5 tank was built with 2 1/2 inch thick glass, which was then filled with water. The puppet, designed by John Bruno and Nilo Rodis, was then placed in the tank. To give the creature its thin look, an anamorphic lens was used to squeeze the image. It was then composited into the shot, while JoBeth Williams’ interaction required rotoscoping.
This, of course, was the second attempt. The original concept was to build the beast with a rig within its body and pump Cyalume glow juices throughout its “circulatory system.”
Craig Reardon on the initial attempt:
“It was wrongheaded only because it could operate in one or two axes of movement. Once the body parts were married to this complicated rig, the whole thing got to be like a washing machine with wings. They do anything but jettison the entire body! All that retained of my sculpture was the head.”
Even though a similar concept from Reardon was initially rejected, Rodis and Lorne Peterson later came up with the marionette that was used in the film. Weighing in at about 5 lbs. , the marionette’s skin was made of rubber and used plastic tubes for “bones.” It was operated by three men on a scaffolding.
