The Odyssey spoilers follow.
Christopher Nolan prefers using real-life effects instead of relying on computer animation whenever possible, and a recent scene from his new film, The Odyssey, shows just how far he’s willing to go to achieve that.
About halfway through the movie, Matt Damon’s character, Odysseus, and his sailors journey to the underworld – depicted as a vast, dark sandy plain – to consult with ghosts and seek guidance on their path back home.
He talks with Elliot Page’s character, Sinon, and Benny Safdie’s Agamemnon, but soon the angry ghosts try to rip Odysseus and his crew apart. They barely manage to escape.
Nolan depicted the shades emerging from the ground in a strikingly realistic way – he actually had actors buried alive to achieve the effect!
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In an interview with IGN, Damon discussed how the director skillfully and safely filmed the scene, bringing it to life effectively.
Damon wondered how someone could actually pull that off, watching as things began to emerge from the ground. He thought to himself, ‘How will he manage it?’
The stunt performers were covered in material, but they could still breathe using hidden snorkels. Each performer also had a dedicated safety person monitoring them. As soon as the first person was covered, a timer started, giving us only a few minutes to complete the entire stunt sequence.
Stunt performers can move and push themselves up from the sand, but even a small amount of extra sand – just an inch or so – can completely stop them from moving.
What really struck me was how they managed to pull off these amazing visuals while also keeping everything safe on set. And the best part? It wasn’t done with a ton of CGI – it was all practical effects, filmed right there in camera!
The Odyssey is available to watch in cinemas now.
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2026-07-27 12:50