Dune's Spider Monster Explained By VFX Artists (It's Worse Than You Thought)

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Actual VFX artists explain how the horrific spider monster from Dunewas created and the truth behind its existence, which is about as unsettling as one would expect. As one of the most iconic sci-fi novels of all time, Frank Herbert's Dune has seen its fair share of adaptations. And yet, its most successful only just arrived last year, thanks to director Denis Villeneuve. The most recent version of Dune arrived in theaters and on HBO Max last fall, making a splash with positive reviews and what was at the time Warner Bros.' best box office grosses in over a year. Now, Dune is up for an impressive 10 Oscars.

Dune, which tells the story of chosen one Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his journey on the desert planet of Arrakis, has been considered unadaptable for so long because of the scope of Herbert's world. Though others have tried, Villeneuve is the only director to successfully bring settings like Arrakis to life, and that's partially through his incredible vision for each element that comprises the Dune universe. His film features stunning sets, carefully rendered costumes, and, somewhat distressingly, very unique creatures. One such creature is the humanoid spider monster that's glimpsed during a key scene at House Harkonnen; it is a pet for Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård), and it sparked disturbed fascination among audiences because of its unsettling construction.

Related: Dune Secretly Revealed House Atreides' Key Weakness: How It Impacts Part 2

Now the mystery of this spider-human thing has been demystified a bit. Popular VFX channel the Corridor Crew recently sat down with VFX animator Robyn Luckham, one of the many minds behind Dune's animation. Luckham touched upon Harkonnen's terrifying pet