Steve Johnson Created Movie Icons Like Slimer in ’Ghostbusters’ Before Flaming Out on Drugs. A New Doc Traces His Art and Recovery

By William Earl

William Earl

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Director Nick Taylor spent years admiring the work of special effects artist Steve Johnson in a way that went beyond basic curiosity.

“He was someone who had a very special place in my heart, because I grew up as a lonely misfit horror fan,” Taylor says. “I didn’t have a lot of friends who were into the weird horror stuff that I was into, so I always felt like a bit of an outcast. When I saw ‘Scare Tactics with Steve and Linnea’ on TV, I saw this cool, handsome, very successful guy who’s into all of the weird stuff that I was into. It validated me … ‘Oh, I’m not such a misfit.’ There’s this cool guy who’s got a gorgeous wife who’s super successful in Hollywood, making some of the best movies, and he makes his living making werewolves and vampires and blood and all this cool stuff that I love. It made me feel less alone.”

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