It’s been a while since the molds were cracked open for the last time on the Syfy stage. Honestly, thinking back to Face Off Season 13, it feels like the end of an era because, well, it actually was. Subtitled Battle Royale, this season wasn't just another round of "make a monster." It was the series finale. Syfy decided to go out with a bang by bringing back the heavy hitters—All-Stars from previous seasons—and forcing them into a head-to-head format that felt way more aggressive than the usual "everyone work in the lab together" vibe.
If you’ve followed the show since the early days of 2011, you know the drill. McKenzie Westmore hosts, Michael Westmore mentors, and Glenn Hetrick, Ve Neill, and Neville Page decide who goes home. But Season 13 felt different. The stakes were higher. The talent was already proven. There was no room for "learning curves" or rookie mistakes.
The Battle Royale Format and Why it Changed Everything
Usually, Face Off is a bit of a slow burn. You get to know the artists, they help each other out, and someone eventually gets the "Kicked out of the lab" talk. Battle Royale threw that out. From the jump, artists were paired up in direct competition.
Winning a battle didn't just mean safety; it often meant a massive advantage or even a say in how the next round went. It felt a bit like a sports tournament. It was intense. Some fans loved the drama, while others missed the collaborative spirit that made the show feel like a "happy family" of weirdos.
Who Actually Competed?
The roster was basically a "Who's Who" of the show's history. We had:
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- Matt Valentine (Season 2)
- Walter Welsh (Season 10)
- Jordan Patton (Season 9)
- Derek Garcia (Season 3)
- Melanie "Mel" Licata (Season 10)
- Damien Zimmerman (Season 7)
Plus others like Graham Schofield, Kevon Ward, Yvonne Cox, and Kelly Harris. Most of these people were already finalists or high-placers in their original seasons. You weren't watching people struggle to mix silicone; you were watching masters try to out-sculpt each other under a ticking clock.
The Most Memorable Challenges of Face Off Season 13
Some of the prompts this year were genuinely unhinged in the best way. Take the "Aztec Aliens" challenge. The artists had to take ancient gods like Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca and reimagine them as extraterrestrial visitors. It’s exactly the kind of "History Channel at 3 AM" vibe that makes for great creature design.
Then there was the "Death Dealers" episode. They used Tarot cards as the foundation for their designs. It wasn't just about the visual; it was about the storytelling. Matt Valentine, who eventually took the whole thing, was always scary-good at the conceptual side. His Tarot look had this eerie, polished finish that really separated him from the pack.
The Underwater Sea Monster Test
One of the coolest—and most stressful—challenges was the "Maritime Monsters." They weren't just making a static makeup. The final looks had to be submerged in water to see how they held up. If you know anything about special effects makeup, you know that water is the enemy. Glue dissolves. Paint runs. Foam latex becomes a heavy sponge.
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Watching Jordan Patton and Matt Valentine navigate that was like watching a masterclass in material science. Jordan’s sea monster was a standout, showing why he was a frontrunner until the very last second.
That Massive Finale: Through the Looking Glass
The finale was a two-parter called "Through the Looking Glass." It wasn't just a spotlight challenge; it was a full-on production. The three finalists—Matt, Walter, and Jordan—had to create three distinct characters for a short film based on a "lost chapter" of Lewis Carroll’s world.
Matt Valentine went with a "Grasshopper" character that basically broke the internet (or at least the Reddit forums) at the time. It was whimsical but technically flawless. Walter Welsh, who is a powerhouse of a sculptor, struggled a bit with the sheer volume of work. He had to do three characters in a day because of some logistics issues, and it showed in the "Lollipop Ballerina," which the judges felt was a bit heavy-handed.
In the end, Matt Valentine was crowned the champion. He won the FIAT 500 and the $100,000, but more importantly, he became the ultimate winner of the final season of one of the best reality shows ever made.
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Why We Still Talk About This Season
Honestly? It's because there hasn't been anything like it since. Face Off was a show about craft. It wasn't about people screaming at each other in a house; it was about people screaming at a mold that wouldn't open. It showed the blue-collar side of Hollywood magic.
Season 13 wrapped up that legacy. It reminded us that even with the rise of CGI, there is something deeply unsettling and beautiful about a physical creature standing in front of a camera.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re feeling nostalgic for Face Off Season 13 or special effects in general, here’s how to dive back in:
- Watch the Short Films: Many of the finale films, including the "Through the Looking Glass" segments, are floating around YouTube. They give a much better sense of how the makeups actually moved.
- Check Out the Artists' Portfolios: Most of these folks, especially Matt Valentine and Jordan Patton, have massive presences on Instagram. They’re still working in the industry, doing everything from haunt attractions to major motion pictures.
- Explore the Westmore Legacy: If you want to understand the "math" behind the makeup, look up Michael Westmore’s books on the craft. They are the Bible for FX artists.
- Petition for a Revival: Fans are still active on social media trying to get a streamer like Netflix or Shudder to pick up the format. Stranger things have happened.
The show might be over, but the work these artists put out in that final "Battle Royale" remains some of the best ever captured on television.