The story of how one Pittsburgh boy’s fascination with monsters drove him to the very top of the Hollywood food chain. In 1989, Greg Nicotero, much to his parents’ chagrin, quit medical school and headed for Hollywood to pursue a dream of making monsters. Together with gore masters Howard Berger and Robert Kurtzman, Nicotero went on to create KNB EFX Group, one of the most prolific makeup effects studios in the world. After twenty years as the “go to guy” for the world’s most successful horror/sci-fi films, Greg Nicotero is the first one directors like Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez call.
Practical Effects
KNB's creature work — where latex meets obsession.
Acting
Nicotero's charisma carries 94 minutes of talking heads.
Production
Behind-the-scenes chaos from Reservoir Dogs to Kill Bill.
Director
Donna Davies
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Nicotero's first Hollywood gig was Day of the Dead — he lied about having a union card and learned on the job while Romero screamed at him.
KNB's rise mirrors practical effects' last golden age before digital VFX dominance; this doc is essentially a eulogy disguised as a celebration.
US
CA
