Mike Spatola Interview | Predator 2, Terminator 2, Return of the Living Dead & Practical FX Magic 👽💀🎬

Mike Spatola Interview | Predator 2, Terminator 2, Return of the Living Dead & Practical FX Magic 👽💀🎬

From The Good, The Bad, and The Sequel by Doug and Jamie

July 17, 2026 · 1h 11m · Season 1 · Episode 425

About this episode

Mike Spatola discusses his career in practical effects and shares behind-the-scenes stories from iconic films and TV shows.

Next week, we're diving into the urban jungle of Predator 2 — but this week, we're joined by New Jersey native and legendary special effects artist Mike Spatola ! Mike has had an incredible career in practical effects, makeup, and filmmaking, with credits spanning some of the most beloved genre films and TV shows ever made. From zombies and cyborgs to creatures and monsters, Mike has truly seen it all. In this episode, we talk about: 👽 Working on Predator 2 and helping bring one of cinema's greatest monsters to life 💀 Behind-the-scenes stories from Return of the Living Dead and the magic of practical zombie effects 🤖 His experiences during the groundbreaking production of Terminator 2: Judgment Day 📺 Working on iconic television shows like Tales from the Crypt and other genre favorites 🎨 The artistry and craftsmanship behind practical effects before CGI took over Hollywood 👽 His time interacting with the legends of SFX Makeup like Rick Baker, Dick Smith, and Stan Winston 🎬 Growing up loving movies and turning that passion into an incredible career 📚 His new book and preserving stories from a fascinating era of filmmaking 📸 How photography became another creative outlet…

People in this episode

Hosts: Doug, Jamie

Guest: Mike Spatola

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Predator 2, Return of the Living Dead, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Tales from the Crypt

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