How Fake Rats and Zombie Masks Sparked a Film Company's Rise to Fame

Anthrotek is a creative company based in Newmarket, Suffolk, that specializes in making realistic prosthetics, animatronics, and synthetic skin for movies, hospitals, and even special events like Christmas shows. The company was co-founded by Nazmus Tareque and Dr Raoul Peltier, who both have a passion for film prosthetics. Their workshop is filled with silicon rats, fake body parts, and organs, all designed to look as real as possible. Nazmus Tareque says that working in this field is both creative and enjoyable, and he is proud of the work they do.

The company’s big break came when they were asked to create a zombie mask for the movie 28 Years Later, which is part of the famous 28 Days Later franchise. The original film, released in 2002, is well-known for its story about a zombie virus outbreak in London. Anthrotek’s involvement in the new film, directed by Danny Boyle, gave the company a huge boost in popularity and helped them grow quickly, even though they had only been in business for a year. Nazmus Tareque explained that working with Danny Boyle was a turning point for the company, and he was especially excited because 28 Days Later is one of his favorite movies.

Anthrotek’s expertise goes beyond the film industry. They have combined their knowledge of movie prosthetics with medical technology, creating products for hospitals and laboratories. For example, they make silicon rats for lab testing and realistic fake skin for medical training. One of the co-founders, Dr Raoul Peltier, has a background in polymer chemistry, which helps them create high-quality silicon prosthetics that can be molded and painted to look like real skin. The company also collaborates with award-winning make-up artists, such as David Malinowski, who has won both BAFTA and Oscar awards. Anthrotek’s work has been featured in the Thursford Christmas Spectacular and in medical products like injectable pharmaceuticals and epi-pens. The company is excited about the future and looks forward to working on more creative projects in both the film and medical industries.