Top 10 Impressive Costumes & Makeup Effects in Guillermo del Toro Movies

Top 10 Impressive Guillermo del Toro Costumes & Makeup Effects

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at the most impressive makeup effects and costumes from Guillermo del Toro’s directorial outings.

#10: Luke Goss as Jared Nomak“Blade II” (2002)

Some vampires in the “Blade” universe can blend in with humans. Jared Nomak sticks out like a sore stake, with veins stretched across his pale skin and red rings running around his rage-filled eyes. Nomak is patient zero of a mutant virus that affects humans and vampires alike, turning them into Reapers. Several Reapers appear throughout the film, but Nomak is the bloodthirstiest vampire in the room. A mix of digital and practical effects would be used when Nomak opens his mouth wide. Even when not sticking his tongue out, Luke Goss conveys a chilling charisma behind the makeup. He has the presence of a modern Count Orlok, roaming the streets under a hoodie before revealing a vengeful face to his prey.

#9: Brian Steele as Mr. Wink

“Hellboy II: The Golden Army” (2008)

Luke Goss also portrayed the sinister Prince Nuada Silverlance in “Hellboy II,” but his troll henchman, Mr. Wink, is the sequel’s most physically imposing villain. While del Toro drew inspiration from Mike Mignola’s comics, Wink was an original creation, named after Selma Blair’s one-eyed dog. Mario Torres would perfect Wink’s design, creating a giant, ape-like beast with elephant-esque tusks and a retractable metal fist. Actor Brian Steele played four trolls in the film, although Wink was the trickiest to execute. Steele wore a nearly 130-pound suit that had to be put on in several pieces. Animatronics would also be employed for Wink’s head and hand during certain shots, while CG filled in the rest. It took a village to make this one character a reality.

#8: Federico Luppi as Jesús Gris

“Cronos” (1992)

Del Toro’s feature directorial debut encompasses many of the hallmarks he’d become known for, including sympathetic monsters. The late Federico Luppi played Jesús Gris, an antique salesman who stumbles upon a device that can grant youth and immortality. This turns out to be more of a curse than a blessing after Gris is sent over a cliff in a car. He survives, but his humanity peels away along with his marble-colored skin. While Gris’ rebirth evokes Frankenstein, he also exhibits vampiric traits, such as a hunger for blood and an aversion to sunlight. This all foreshadowed things to come in del Toro’s filmography. Gris remains one of his most memorable protagonists, burned into our subconscious with haunting prosthetics and a snappy backwards suit.

#7: Junio Valverde as Santi“The Devil’s Backbone” (2001)

This gothic film centers on Fernando Tielve’s Carlos, who arrives at an orphanage amid the Spanish Civil War. Carlos is told about Santi, another young boy who vanished. Slowly unraveling the details of Santi’s grisly disappearance, Carlos eventually confronts the ghostly child face-to-face. Del Toro felt that Santi should resemble a broken doll that was abandoned in the attic, giving him skin like crumbling porcelain and a cracked skull. Blood flows from that crack, hinting at how Santi met his end. DDT Studios brought del Toro’s vision to life along with actor Junio Valverde. The outcome was an eerie ghost who’s been drained of his innocence, but there’s still a person behind those wide eyes, seeking retribution and closure.

#6: Doug Jones as the Angel of Death

“Hellboy II: The Golden Army” (2008)

A frequent collaborator with del Toro, Doug Jones draped himself in prosthetics to play three characters in the “Hellboy” sequel. While the Angel of Death is in just one scene, she leaves a lasting impression. At least we think the angel’s a she based on the script, although Jones said “she’s not totally a woman either.” In any case, this character manages to be simultaneously angelic and demonic, finding a balance between heaven and hell. Although there are no eyes atop the angel’s corpse-like head, the animatronic wings give off an all-seeing ambiance. Jones believed the angel was once beautiful, but withered with age. The angel isn’t aware of this, though, still moving elegantly. Even when prolonging someone’s life, the angel lingers like Death’s shadow.

#5: Doug Jones as the Faun

“Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006)

Del Toro knew he couldn’t make “Pan’s Labyrinth” without Jones, who portrays the Faun that befriends young Ofelia. Pablo Adán dubbed his voice, but Jones delivers another feat of physical acting under the costume and Oscar-winning makeup. Although initially meant to be 50% man and 50% goat, the latter ultimately took precedence. The Faun practically blends into the Earth like a walking tree. The character stemmed from the lucid dreams that del Toro had as a child. Likewise, we’re left guessing if the Faun is a product of Ofelia’s imagination. If he’s real, is the Faun truly there to help Ofelia or to deceive her? The creature’s design adds to the mystery, coming off as creepy yet comforting, much like the moonlight he basks in.

#4: Ron Perlman as Hellboy“Hellboy” (2004) & “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” (2008)

Comic book movie casting doesn’t get much better than Ron Perlman as Hellboy. Yet, many studios opposed the idea, with other names like ​​Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson being floated around. Del Toro knew Perlman was perfect, though, not only because they’d worked together before. Perlman is an actor who knows how to emote behind layers of makeup, drawing us to Hellboy’s soulful eyes rather than his red skin or his Right Hand of Doom. That said, the makeup and costuming are phenomenal. Perlman sat in the makeup chair daily for four hours, or six if Hellboy was shirtless. Unlike some other actors who’ve played Hellboy, Perlman never seemed like an actor in a suit, becoming one with the ensemble.

#3: Jacob Elordi as the Creature

“Frankenstein” (2025)

It feels like del Toro’s entire career has been building toward him adapting Mary Shelley’s classic novel. Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” lives up to its promise on a visual level, with Jacob Elordi’s Creature perhaps being the most jaw-dropping sight. Originally, Andrew Garfield was cast as the Creature, with del Toro and makeup artist Mike Hill spending nine months getting the design down. When Garfield had to drop out because of scheduling conflicts, they only had nine weeks to come up with a new look suited to Elordi’s tall build. The 6’5’’ actor provided the ideal canvas for the makeup team to create a wholly unique monster that stands out from the iconic Universal version. It’s a flawless fusion of performance and crafts that roars alive.

#2: Doug Jones as The Amphibian Man

“The Shape of Water” (2017)

Not many actors can say that they’ve played two amphibious men under del Toro’s direction. In fact, Doug Jones is the only one. He portrayed the intellectual Abe Sapien in the “Hellboy” movies, lending his own voice in the sequel. Jones later took center stage alongside Sally Hawkins in “The Shape of Water,” a romance that echoes “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” Physically, this Amphibian Man appears and behaves more animalistically than Abe Sapien. Looking past the suit comprised of latex rubber, silicone, and ​​animatronics, you’ll find a graceful, gentle soul with the capacity to love. You also may find him strangely sexy, with lead designer Mike Hill giving the creature “kissable” lips and, at del Toro’s insistence, “a nice butt.”

#1: Doug Jones as the Pale Man“Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006)

Where most of del Toro’s monsters are emphatic, the Pale Man is pure nightmare fuel, both in terms of design and performance. Like the Faun, Jones also plays the Pale Man, leading some to wonder if the two are connected. Either way, few moments in cinema are more terrifying than when the Pale Man awakens, inserting his eyes into his claws - an idea reminiscent of the tenome from Japanese folklore. Initially, the creature was going to have eyes on his face, but del Toro suggested removing them. For the body, del Toro described the creature as a man who lost a ton of weight, giving him sagging skin. The Pale Man doesn’t move fast, but with every step he takes, we fall deeper into dread.

Which costume and makeup effects impressed you the most? Let us know in the comments.