The VFX studio provided 250 shots, including guiding the ship ‘The Demeter’ through a terrifying CG storm, and adding whitewater, mist and fog to achieve frightening realism; the movie is now in theaters.
The Last Voyage of the Demeter tells the terrifying story of the merchant ship Demeter, chartered to carry private cargo — 50 unmarked wooden crates — from Carpathia to London. Strange events befall the doomed crew as they attempt to survive the ocean voyage. Bringing terror and realism to the movie entailed extensive visual effects – RISE FX delivered a range of CG effects, delivering about 250 shots over the production's duration.
In the film, based on a chilling chapter from Bram Stoker’s classic novel “Dracula,” strange events befall the doomed crew as they attempt to survive the ocean voyage, stalked each night by a merciless presence onboard. When the Demeter finally arrives off the shores of England, it is a charred, derelict wreck… and there is no trace of the crew.
The RISE FX team consisted of 60 artists working simultaneously on the project, with more than 100 contributing over its duration. Working in Houdini, some R&D was required; the studio shared, “We had to deal with all different types of ocean surfaces and also a lot of interaction with the ship.”
According to the studio, its team’s biggest challenges were the full CG shots in which the Demeter gets caught in a terrifying storm. The key was to optimize and combine all the different layers, including the ocean itself and the whitewater on top, which then diffuses in a lightweight mist layer. Additional droplets, fog, rain, and a wetmap around the ship's hull were used to achieve maximum realism.
The team was also tasked with completely replacing the “burning vampires,” as the existing plates lacked proper makeup and interactive light. Combining the burned version of the actor with the performance and effects in Houdini, realistic blistering skin and flames were created. In addition, as the clothing of the burning characters ignited, a simulation of the cloth dissolving into ash and fire was also required.
Watch the breakdown reel:
The Last Voyage of the Demeter stars Corey Hawkins; Aisling Franciosi; Liam; David Dastmalchian; Jon Jon Briones; Stefan Kapicic; Nikolai Nikolaeff; and Javier Botet.
From DreamWorks Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, and Phoenix Pictures, the film is directed by André Øvredal, from a script by Bragi F. Schut, Stefan Ruzowitzky, and Zak Olkewicz. It is based on the chapter “The Captain’s Log” of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”
Also check out The Last Voyage of the Demeter - Official Trailer:
Source: RISE FX
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
