Roy Knyrim
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Roy Knyrim (born 1966/1967) is an American film director and special effects makeup artist. He directed '' Demons at the Door'' (2004), '' Cemetery Gates'' (2006), ''
Night Skies ''Night Skies'' is an unproduced science fiction horror film that was in development in the late 1970s. Steven Spielberg conceived the idea after ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind''. Instead, material developed at the time was used in ''Pol ...
'' (2007), and '' Death Racers'' (2008). His credits as a special effects and makeup artist include
the fourth ''The Fourth'' () is a 1972 Soviet drama film directed by Aleksandr Stolper. The film tells the story of an American journalist who has to make a difficult choice: publicize the plans of supporters of the war after having lost all his life's ben ...
, fifth, and sixth films in the ''Children of the Corn'' film series, as well as '' A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child'' (1989), '' Gods and Monsters'' (1998), ''
2001 Maniacs ''2001 Maniacs'' is a 2005 American comedy horror film directed by Tim Sullivan and starring Robert Englund, Lin Shaye, Jay Gillespie, Dylan Edrington, and Matthew Carey. It is a remake of the 1964 film '' Two Thousand Maniacs!'' written and di ...
'' (2005), and ''
Death House ''Death House'' is a 2017 American horror film written by Gunnar Hansen, who has a cameo in the film, and directed by Harrison Smith. The film features an ensemble cast of horror icons including Kane Hodder, Barbara Crampton, Bill Moseley, Dee W ...
'' (2017). He also provided
miniature model A scale model is a physical model that is similarity (geometry), geometrically similar to an object (known as the ''prototype''). Scale models are generally smaller than large prototypes such as vehicles, buildings, or people; but may be lar ...
s for such films as ''
The Abyss ''The Abyss'' is a 1989 American science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron and starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn. When an American submarine sinks in the Caribbean, a US search and recovery tea ...
'' (1989), '' Tremors'', ''
Darkman ''Darkman'' is a 1990 American superhero horror film directed and co-written by Sam Raimi. The film stars Liam Neeson as scientist Peyton Westlake, who is brutally attacked, disfigured, and left for dead by ruthless mobster Robert Durant ( La ...
'' (both 1990), and '' Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare'' (1991). Knyrim heads the special effects workshop SOTA FX (State of the Art Effects).


Early life and education

Knyrim was born in
Hilton, New York Hilton is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 6,027 at the 2020 census. The community was named for the Rev. Charles A. Hilton and is entirely within the town of Parma. History In 1805, Jonathon Underwood cam ...
. He began creating special makeup and creature effects in his second grade of elementary school, and filmed them using
super 8 film Super 8 mm film is a motion-picture film format released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement over the older "Double" or "Regular" 8 mm home movie format. The formal name for Super 8 is 8-mm Type S, distinguishing it from the ...
. He has stated, "Mostly I did those in my basement. ''
Friday the 13th Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day in Western superstition. It occurs when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday, which happens at least once every year but can occur up to three times in the same year ...
'' was a big influence, but I made up my own stuff. They were a lot of slash, a lot of splat. A couple of them were pretty good – but most of them were garbage. I was in a hurry to do them and get them developed so I could look at them and show them." Knyrim graduated from
Hilton High School Hilton High School is part of the student Hilton Central School District, a public school system based in Hilton, a suburb of Rochester, New York. Hilton High School offers an International Baccalaureate Diploma, and the school has made ''News ...
in 1985.


Career

Knyrim's early credits as an effects artist include the
Troma Entertainment Troma Entertainment is an American independent film production company, production and film distributor, distribution company founded by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz (producer), Michael Herz in 1974. They are the longest running independent film ...
films ''
The Toxic Avenger Part II ''The Toxic Avenger Part II'' is a 1989 American superhero splatter-comedy film released by Troma Entertainment. It is the second installment of ''The Toxic Avenger'' franchise. It was directed by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz and features T ...
'' and '' The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie'', both released in 1989. After moving to southern California, Knyrim, along with Jerry Macaluso and Patrick Tantalo, founded the special effects workshop and production company SOTA FX (State of the Art Effects). With SOTA FX, Knyrim has provided special effects makeup on a number of films, including the 1998 film '' Gods and Monsters'', as well as the television series ''
Weird Science Weird Science may refer to: * ''Weird Science'' (film), a 1985 film directed by John Hughes ** ''Weird Science'' (TV series), a television series based on the film ** "Weird Science" (song), the theme song to the film and the TV series by Oingo ...
''. Knyrim directed the 2004
direct-to-video Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, television series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strat ...
horror film '' Demons at the Door'', which features music by the American
hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...
duo
Insane Clown Posse Insane Clown Posse, often abbreviated as ICP, is an American hip hop duo. Formed in Detroit in 1989, ICP's best-known lineup consists of rappers Violent J (Joseph Bruce) and Shaggy 2 Dope (originally 2 Dope; Joseph Utsler). Insan ...
. According to ''
Fangoria ''Fangoria'' is an internationally distributed American horror film fan magazine, in publication since 1979. It is published four times a year by Fangoria Publishing, LLC and is edited by Phil Nobile Jr. The magazine was originally released i ...
'', by May 2006, during the production of the Knyrim-directed horror film '' Cemetery Gates'', he had "a slew of Insane Clown Posse videos under his belt". Following the release of ''Cemetery Gates'' later that year, Knyrim went on to direct the 2007 science-fiction horror film ''
Night Skies ''Night Skies'' is an unproduced science fiction horror film that was in development in the late 1970s. Steven Spielberg conceived the idea after ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind''. Instead, material developed at the time was used in ''Pol ...
'' and the 2008 action film '' Death Racers'', the latter of which features Insane Clown Posse in acting roles. Knyrim is co-directing the upcoming
horror comedy Comedy horror (also called horror comedy) is a literary, television and film genre that combines elements of comedy and horror fiction. Comedy horror has been described as having three types: "black comedy, parody and spoof." Comedy horror can a ...
film ''Sorority of the Damned'' alongside Joe Davison, who will also star in the film.


Selected filmography


Film


As director/writer


As special and visual effects/makeup artist


Television


Music videos

* "
Boogieman The bogeyman (; also spelled or known as bogyman, bogy, bogey, and, in US English, also boogeyman) is a mythical creature typically used to frighten children into good behavior. Bogeymen have no specific appearances, and conceptions vary drasti ...
" by
Twiztid Twiztid is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan, known for both their horror-themed lyrics and rock-influenced sound. Formed in 1997, Twiztid is composed of rappers Jamie "Madrox" Spaniolo and Paul "Monoxide" Methric. Spaniolo and M ...
, 2015


References


Bibliography

* * * *


External links

*
SOTA FX Studio
on
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Knyrim, Roy Film directors from New York (state) American make-up artists American horror film directors American special effects people 1960s births Living people