diff --git a/legacy_tasks.py b/legacy_tasks.py
index fe86a77..7c440ee 100644
--- a/legacy_tasks.py
+++ b/legacy_tasks.py
@@ -912,13 +912,48 @@ def execute_recipe(self, recipe_sexp: str, input_hashes: Dict[str, str], run_id:
                     logger.info(f"SEQUENCE step {step.step_id}: {len(input_paths)} clips -> {content_cid[:16]}...")
                     continue
 
-                # Get executor for this step type
-                executor = get_executor(step.node_type)
-                if not executor:
-                    # Try effect executor
+                # Handle EFFECT nodes
+                if step.node_type.upper() == "EFFECT":
                     effect_name = step.config.get("effect")
-                    if effect_name:
-                        executor = get_executor(f"effect:{effect_name}")
+                    if not effect_name:
+                        raise ValueError(f"EFFECT node missing 'effect' in config: {step.config}")
+
+                    executor = get_executor(f"effect:{effect_name}")
+                    if not executor:
+                        raise ValueError(f"No executor for effect: {effect_name}")
+
+                    if len(input_paths) != 1:
+                        raise ValueError(f"EFFECT expects 1 input, got {len(input_paths)}")
+
+                    output_dir = CACHE_DIR / "nodes" / step.cache_id
+                    output_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+                    output_path = output_dir / "output.mkv"
+
+                    logger.info(f"EFFECT: Running {effect_name} on input")
+                    result_path = executor.execute(step.config, input_paths, output_path)
+
+                    cached, content_cid = cache_manager.put(
+                        result_path,
+                        node_type="EFFECT",
+                        node_id=step.cache_id,
+                    )
+
+                    step_results[step.step_id] = {
+                        "status": "executed",
+                        "path": str(result_path),
+                        "cache_id": step.cache_id,
+                        "cid": content_cid,
+                        "effect": effect_name,
+                    }
+                    cache_id_to_path[step.cache_id] = result_path
+                    total_executed += 1
+                    logger.info(f"EFFECT step {step.step_id}: {effect_name} -> {content_cid[:16]}...")
+                    continue
+
+                # Fallback: try to get executor for unknown node types
+                executor = get_executor(step.node_type.upper())
+                if not executor:
+                    executor = get_executor(step.node_type)
 
                 if not executor:
                     raise ValueError(f"No executor for node type: {step.node_type}")