Supernatural’s Eye Scoop Scene Surprises VFX Experts 17 Years Later

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17 years after its initial broadcast, a timeless episode of the long-running Supernatural series on The CW still garners praise from VFX experts. This series, known for its focus on brothers Sam (played by Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (portrayed by Jensen Ackles), as they pursued supernatural and malevolent entities, ended in 2020. The standout episode from season 3, titled “Time Is on My Side,” tells a chilling tale of a sinister doctor in search of immortality. In this episode, he harvested organs from innocent victims, with an unsettling scene showcasing his attempt to remove Sam’s eyes.

In the latest Corridor Crew video titled “VFX Artists React to Bad and Great CGi“, they critically evaluated the eyeball-removal scene from Supernatural. Wren, expressing his expectations for subpar visual effects, commented, “I was prepared to witness some mediocre VFX, but when I saw it, I was genuinely surprised.” He found the quality of the effect remarkable for a production in 2008.

Regarding the discussion about the eye, some doubted its authenticity. Jordan suggested it might have been manipulated by “controlling the eye socket” and using either “projected footage or just rotoscoped footage.” However, they eventually admitted that it could have been a genuine eye. To create the illusion, the movements were adjusted. Niko complimented the VFX team, appreciating their work considering the show’s limited budget. Here are his comments:

During a conversation about an eye, some people wondered if it was real or not. Jordan proposed that it could have been made to look real by controlling the eye socket and using either projected footage or rotoscoped footage. Later on, they admitted that it might have been a real eye. To give the illusion, the movements were changed slightly. Niko commended the VFX team for their impressive work, considering the show’s budget constraints. Here are his comments:

In the TV series they were filming, instead of constructing additional set pieces, they instructed me to place an object on a table for shooting scenes with various angles. They then asked me to keep my eye slightly open wider for better shots. To add a touch of realism, they used a rough 3D model of a scoop and applied some digital effects in After Effects to make it appear as though my eyeball was being removed. I found this VFX technique to be both impressively creative and clever.

What This Means For Supernatural

The Show Features A Lot Of Effects

In the chilling scene from “Supernatural,” Sam was strapped to a table with his eyes kept open artificially, creating one of the most unsettling moments in that particular episode. The terror heightened when Dr. Benton brought out the spoon-like instrument, often referred to as the scoop. This scene, despite being filled with special and practical visual effects in the show, stood out significantly because of the intricate use of CGI for the eye sequence. According to Wren, “the scoop is CG,” meaning it was computer-generated, and some parts of the eye may have been real while others were digitally enhanced for a more convincing effect.

As the fifteenth episode of Supernatural’s third season unfolds, one of Benton’s victims, having lost his liver, arrives at a hospital. Although the operation and its gruesome aftermath are not depicted on-screen, the scene is undeniably intense. The episode features several stunning visual effects, such as the emergence of Benton, an individual who has lived for more than a century and whose face is held together by stitches. Additionally, there’s a chilling sequence involving a doctor extracting a still-pounding heart from a jogger.

Our Take On The Eyeball Scoop Scene In Supernatural

One Of The Most Memorable Parts Of The Episode

The eye-removal scene in that episode stands out vividly, as seen by the Corridor Crew’s response and their appreciation of it. It’s fascinating to learn about the behind-the-scenes work on the visual effects (VFX) and how Supernatural was able to create such a striking moment despite its limited TV budget. Even though this episode first aired 17 years ago, the special effects appear superior to some other scenes from the series’ history, leading one to ponder which other moments have aged as gracefully.

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2025-04-20 22:38