We’ve come a long way in the world of CGI, haven’t we? From the hilariously fake ‘flying cow’ in Twister to the truly bizarre creatures in Stephen King’s Sleepwalkers, the evolution is clear. Yet, despite the advancements, some CGI moments still manage to pull us right out of the story. Let’s dive into ten startling times CGI didn’t quite hit the mark in TV and movie scenes.
10. Keeping a Beloved Character on Screen
When the beloved actor Paul Walker tragically passed away during the filming of Furious 7, filmmakers faced a tough decision: How could they honor his legacy and keep Brian O’Connor alive on screen? They hired a digital effects studio that masterfully combined 350 CGI shots of Walker with distant shots of his brother. For the most part, it worked seamlessly.
However, a few scenes stand out upon a second viewing. In one particular scene overlooking Los Angeles, as Brian turns his face, the CGI becomes noticeably apparent. And at the film’s emotional conclusion, when Brian stops next to Dom before their farewell drive, the character almost seems to ‘glow’ inside the car. It’s a touching tribute, but the technology wasn’t quite invisible.
9. Cartoonish Horror
The CW’s Supernatural wrapped up its impressive 15-season run in 2020, becoming the longest-running American fantasy TV series. Throughout its run, Sam and Dean Winchester battled all sorts of monsters, demons, and ghosts.
But during the 7th season, the introduction of the Leviathan was meant to be a terrifying moment. Instead, the CGI fell flat. The creature’s sharp teeth and forked tongue resulted in a cartoonish effect, eliciting laughter rather than fear. It’s a prime example of when ambition exceeds execution.
8. 007 Surfing a Tidal Wave
Die Another Day, marking the 40th anniversary of the James Bond franchise, became the highest-grossing 007 film at the time, despite mixed reviews. Some fans consider it the weakest entry, and the over-the-top CGI didn’t help. The scene where Pierce Brosnan’s 007 surfs a tidal wave is particularly jarring.
Bond, escaping in a rocket car on a collapsing glacier, uses a piece of the car as a surfboard to ride the wave. He even employs the car’s parachute to navigate the wave. The whole sequence, riddled with strange-looking ice chunks and unrealistic physics, just doesn’t hold up.
7. Terrible Horror Movie Reveal
The horror movie Mama has its genuinely terrifying moments. The film sets a bleak tone with a father taking his two young daughters into the woods, only to be stopped by a shadowy figure that kills him. Years later, as the children are found, many chilling scenes unfold.
The shadowy figure, called ‘Mama’ by the children, remains mostly hidden. However, when she’s finally revealed, the bad CGI undermines the suspense. The moment, meant to be terrifying, falls flat, showing that sometimes less is more.
6. The Hulkbuster
Even the mighty Marvel franchise isn’t immune to CGI mishaps. From Captain Marvel’s ‘floating Goose’ to Bucky’s awkward fall from a train in Captain America: The First Avenger, blunders happen.
One of the most notable examples occurs in Avengers: Infinity War. During the Wakanda fight scene, Bruce Banner uses the Hulkbuster suit, which looks impressive until the suit opens and Banner’s head pops out. His head appears disproportionately small, making it seem like he’s floating above the suit. It’s a distracting detail in an otherwise epic battle.
5. Is That a Real Bear?
TV shows often grapple with smaller budgets for special effects. This sometimes results in blurry helicopters in Grey’s Anatomy and obviously fake explosions. Such budgetary constraints can lead to unintentionally comical moments.
In Station 19, the characters frequently face fires, but they’ve also encountered tigers and bears. While the CGI tiger wasn’t great, the bears sparked considerable criticism. The special effects were so unconvincing that they became a talking point, highlighting the challenges of creating realistic animals on a TV budget.
4. The Problem with Ageing
The remake of IT had its ups and downs. However, one of the significant issues filmmakers faced was Finn Wolfhard’s growth spurt between films. This led to the de-aging of his character, Richie Tozier, in the second film.
The result? Unsettling viewing. His skin appears unnaturally smooth, and his airbrushed cheeks create a strange combination. It demonstrates the difficulty of digitally manipulating actors’ appearances without veering into the uncanny valley.
3. Oh Deer
The post-apocalyptic TV show The Walking Dead isn’t known for its strong CGI effects, but fans often overlook the cheesiness. That is, until one particular episode. During a scene where Rick Grimes needs a distraction from a horde of zombies, he spots a deer.
The deer looks like it wandered out of a bad dream. It appeared almost translucent with a weirdly elongated body. The scene became a meme, showcasing how a single poorly rendered element can detract from an otherwise engaging show.
2. Technology Gone Wrong
If there’s a universally hated movie, it might be Cats. Despite starring big Hollywood names, it received brutal reviews. Critics particularly targeted the special effects, which left the ‘cats’ looking bizarre.
The sloppy ‘digital fur technology’ became a major point of contention, with viewers fixating on the cat-people’s human feet and various gaffes. Some even argued that the musical itself wasn’t great, making the movie unnecessary. It’s a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of ambitious CGI projects.
1. Chucky Baby
During the coronavirus lockdowns, using real babies for TV show scenes became challenging. However, the solution in some shows proved to be quite disturbing. Fans of Bull were excited for the show’s fifth season, only to be freaked out by Jason Bull’s CGI baby girl, Astrid.
The baby resembled a creepy Chucky doll, sparking a flood of memes on Twitter. Viewers described the CGI baby as a zombie, quipping that it sounded like a cat. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best approach is to avoid CGI altogether, especially when it comes to babies.
From glowing faces to cartoonish monsters, these CGI moments serve as reminders that even with technological advancements, visual effects can sometimes miss the mark. They underscore the importance of balancing ambition with execution to keep viewers immersed in the story.
What do you think? Which of these CGI fails made you cringe the most? Leave your comment below!
