John Carl Buechler, a multifaceted creative force, was born in Belleville, Illinois, and went on to achieve superstardom in the make-up effects industry. As a polymath, he made a name for himself as an accomplished writer, producer, director, and special effects artist.
Buechler's passion for special effects began early, and he eventually founded his own company, Mechanical Imageries Inc., to create special effects for a handful of motion pictures in the science fiction and horror/fantasy genre. His work in make-up effects earned him recognition as a master of his craft, with Roger Corman, the legendary director of New World Pictures, referring to him as "the best in the business."
As a director, Buechler made his debut with the anthology fantasy film The Dungeonmaster (1984),followed by Troll (1986),which became a major success during its theatrical release. He continued to work with Charles Band's Empire Pictures, producing dozens of films, including Cellar Dweller (1987).
Buechler's directorial efforts led him to helm the seventh sequel to the iconic Friday the 13th (1980),Friday the 13th: The New Blood (1988),for Paramount Pictures. Although initially skeptical about directing the film, he delivered a box-office success.
In later years, Buechler continued to work in special effects and directed many films that were released straight to video. He once quoted, "if you can pull a performance out of a piece of latex, you can do it with actors...."
Sadly, John Carl Buechler passed away on March 18, 2019, leaving behind a legacy of innovative and groundbreaking work in the world of filmmaking.
