Re-Imagining Re-Animator
Assignment: Take a horror movie of your choice, re-envision two costumes and an set/environment. I selected Re-Animator (1985) as my subject.
My goals for the project were:
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Take larger inspiration from the original H.P. Lovecraft short story
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Enhance the juxaposition between Dan Cain and Herbert West through color and shape
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Change the color of the Reagent from neon green to gold and incorporate that color into the characters/costumes
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Utilize a larger scale set to add more space to the final conflict - from a basement lab to a old farmhouse as was written in the original text
Creating the Costumes
I first complete a series of sketches to compare the shape and forms between both characters. Since Dan and Herbert are supposed to be opposites, I wanted to exaggerate their shapes while maintaining realistic proportions. I wanted Dan to be a soft and cozy presence, something for the audience to connect with. In contrast, I wanted Herbert to be slick and sharp, like his personality.
Next, I complete color tests for both Dan and Herbert. I knew I wanted to include yellow/gold in both costumes. For Dan, I used warm browns with lots of texture. Once again in contrast, I wanted Herbert to be cool purples both to contrast Dan and the Reagent that he constantly interacts with.
Dan's Final Design
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Preppy in aesthetic but not rich in form
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Leaned into the jock stereotype to contrast Herbert's nerd stereotype
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Old clothes that have been heavily worn and weathered (lots of texture)
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Warmer browns to compliment Herbert's cool purples
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Blonde Hair to add yellow/gold to upper body as a compliment to Herbert's glasses
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Wanted him to fit within the environment of the farmhouse significantly more than Herbert
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Wearing a Miskatonic sweatshirt, the name of the school where Herbert and Dan meet
Herbert's Final Design
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Rich and sleek but not ostentatious
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New clothes that are well maintained
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Cool Purples and darker values to contrast the warmth of Dan
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Yellow-lensed glasses with side shields to add a more iconic costume piece than compared to the original
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I want him to feel foreign in the small farming town to subtly stand apart
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University of Zurich Three-Quarter Zip, the name of the school where West was studying under Dr. Hans Gruber