Nerds That Geek Documentary Review – ‘Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

I will never forget the first time I watched George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. Not because of the lasting impact it would have upon me, since it is a big reason why I got into writing, and it is my favorite movie of all time. Oh no, I remember that first viewing simply due to the fact that the movie scared the ever-living hell out of me. In fact, I wasn’t able to sleep for weeks after watching that movie because every single time I closed my eyes, I saw those mottled blue hands rushing at me, or splashes of blood from the various body parts that came to pieces in that film. Because it is the special effects that stay with you long after that motion picture comes to an end, thanks to the incredible work of one man, Tom Savini.
 
Because Mister Savini truly brought nightmares to life in that motion picture, and many more to follow, to the point where his high-quality splatter and illusionary effects made him a household name. But you know that if you’re reading this, because Tom’s story in the special effects industry is common knowledge and countless others have similar stories to my own when it comes to their introduction to his work. But what we truly know little about, is Tom Savini the man. The guy who eats dinner like the rest of us and spends time with his family during the holidays just like we do and well, I would venture to say Tom has kept his private life, private, for various reasons. But with his illustrious career now cemented forever as one of the greatest in the industry, Tom has clearly decided that the time has come to open up about who he is as a person, by way of the stunning documentary, Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini.
 
Now, I said this documentary is stunning, for one reason and one reason alone; for this is truly an uncensored look into Tom Savini’s life and his career. The kind that offers up unique and powerful anecdotes and a fascinating look into what makes this kind and gentle man tick, and what motivated him to bring nightmares to life on the silver screen and I have to admit, that I was sucked into this documentary from the get-go. Because we get to learn about Tom’s childhood and upbringing and we even get to see the formative places where horror infected his veins and being able to see these places and learn about his early years makes for one fascinating tale, and everything that follows this introduction into Tom’s life is equally as intriguing, since this documentary works hard to keep its focus on Tom and his life experiences.
 
Which is a big deal, since so many documentaries focus more on the work and the reaction of the fans to said work. But this one continues to highlight every facet of Tom’s life once he’s thrust into the spotlight. Allowing for us to share in tender and joyful moments and some sorrowful ones as well as Tom gently explains the highs and the lows of his life and how difficult it was to deal with the tougher stuff while trying to accomplish wonders for the movie biz, and this is really the part that I appreciated the most about this documentary. Because this is the stuff that few behind the scenes featurettes ever show us; the human side of the people who work endless hours to entertain us in some form or fashion and it was quite refreshing to get Tom’s honest perspective on projects he struggled with and hear about how sometimes the work wasn’t easy when stuff was going on at home. If anything, that was supremely relatable since we’ve all had to go to work and get things done when we’re struggling and oddly enough, learning all of this allows for the viewer to see Tom Savini in a new light.
 
Because now you see him for who he really is, a good man who wants nothing more than to bring joy into the hearts of others with a simple sleight of hand (that might also involve a severed hand), and who really is good to his fans and in the end, I think it is best to call Tom’s story, inspirational. For one quickly comes to learn that nothing really ever brought Tom down. No matter how big the task, or how difficult the situation, Mister Savini stayed the course and only worried about the moment and what he could control, and there’s something supremely powerful and uplifting about that, since we too could and should approach the day more in that manner. If anything, this documentary is a must-see in my book for both horror fans and fans of film alike. For this is just a down home story about a talented man who got his shot and made the most of it, and brought happiness to so many, along the way.

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