Wesley Earl Craven, otherwise known as Wes Craven to many, is said to be “synonymous with genre bending and innovative horror”. Having unfortunately passed away a decade ago, his legacy and prolific filmography still remains prominent and highly respected.
Having directed two dozen films, some of Craven’s most loved works include the Scream and A Nightmare on Elm Street franchises. Redefining the slasher genre, Craven’s 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street introduced cinema and the global audience to one of the most recognisable on-screen serial killers – Freddy Krueger! Known for his burnt face and bladed glove, the character design (and really the film in general) has always been able to entice and thrill both new viewers and re-watchers. With a high rating of 7.4 on IMDb and a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, top critic Peter Bradshaw at Guardian described Wes Craven’s horror as “imperfect but entertaining”.
Shining a light onto my favourite franchise, Wes Craven’s Scream is a classic depiction of horror blended with satire. Released in 1996, this beginning film continued and popularised a trend of self-awareness within the genre. This awareness, supported by an average viewer rating of 4 on Letterboxd, was well received by fans globally – including myself – across the last 3 decades and became a high demand in Craven’s future Scream projects. Introducing another iconic villain known most commonly as Ghostface, Wes Craven’s ability to create an evil which is recognisable and trademarked contemporarily is both fascinating and highly credited to his talents as a director.
If you are looking for a bit of horror now that Halloween season has arrived, or even a good laugh with your friends, then Wes Craven is the director for you! With genres ranging from horror to psychological thriller and mystery, I’d argue Craven’s work is for everyone. His timeless films are the perfect background for this autumn!
