One of the most accomplished special effects makeup artists, Steve Johnson, doesn’t get the credit he deserves, but this documentary, while being brutally honest, highlights his superb work.

Director Nick Taylor begins his doc with Johnson feeling quite bitter about the way the film world doesn’t utilise practical effects as much as they used to. A promised job with Fright Night director Tom Holland has fallen through. He’s had many more highs, though – quite literally too.

Johnson chronologically recounts his entry into the makeup business, from his passion at an early age to working with Rob Bottin and Rick Baker on the classics The Howling and An American Werewolf in London, respectively. This led to him getting the jobs on Fright Night and Ghostbusters.

One particularly interesting section involves his work on Predator. It’s not the version that eventually hit the screen, but he’s engrossing when telling the story of his tribulations.

The downside of his life isn’t shied away from. The drugs, the annoyances (although times like clashing with James Cameron on The Abyss work out well in the end), and the bad business decisions are all fascinating and told in a very personable manner, albeit with an air of resignation.

Taylor puts together the numerous interviews with Johnson and those involved with his various ventures so that his story moves along at great pace. The tragedy of his career slump – caused by the onset of CGI and his ballooning drug problem – isn’t presented in a self-pitying way, but could be seen as a cautionary tale.

Rubberhead: The Life & Monsters of Steve Johnson is a love letter to practical special effect makeup artistry as well as Johnson’s life itself and carries with it a wicked sense of humour, just like the subject.

RUBBERHEAD: THE LIFE & MONSTERS OF STEVE JOHNSON screened at Fantasia International Film Festival and will be at Tubi FrightFest on August 28th and August 30th.