It’s been a sad day for horror fans the world over, after news broke that legendary American director Wes Craven had passed away at the age of 76. Craven was reported to have died in his Los Angeles home on Sunday night after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
Craven was a major pioneer of the American slasher sub genre, particularly during it’s golden age of the 70s and 80s. Along with directors like John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper, he basically set the template for horror films that would follow, a template he would later satirize to great effect in the hugely successful Scream franchise.
His first feature film was The Last House on the Left, which he wrote, directed and edited in 1972, and was later backed up by The Hills Have Eyes in 1977 (both of which would later be remade with varying results). He would continue to cut his teeth on Schlocky B-movies such as Swamp Thing and Deadly Blessing, before the creation of his crowning achievement: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). That film’s iconic lead character Freddie Krueger (played by Robert Englund) frightened a whole generation of cinema-goers and instantly earned his place in the rogues gallery of horror films. Although it was a case of diminishing returns for the Nightmare sequels that would follow, the character of Freddie has never lost an ounce of his power.
RIP Wes Craven, my director, my friend. A brilliant, kind, gentle and very funny man. A sad day on Elm St and everywhere. I’ll miss him.
— Robert B. Englund (@RobertBEnglund) August 31, 2015
His second wave of success with Scream gave the horror genre a much needed adrenaline shot, and would spawn it’s own series of impersonators during the late 90s. With tongue placed firmly in cheek, Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson delivered a film that smartly deconstructed the horror genre, providing both serious laughs and genuine scares. He went on to direct all four entries in the Scream series, and executive produced the television series of the same name.
Craven was working right up until his death, and was set to direct a segment of the upcoming Ten Commandments mini-series he wrote for The Weinstein company. His final films as producer were Home, set to be released next year, and The Girl in the Photographs, which premieres at next months Toronto film festival.
It’s always sad to lose anyone from our beloved film community, but this news is particularly hard to swallow when you consider just how many directors have been influenced by Craven’s work. The Sam Raimi’s and James Wan’s of the world may never have picked up a camera if it weren’t for those old, worn out VHS copies of the Nightmare films. It’s days like these that unite horror fans, and remind them why they love the genre so much in the first place. It’s that universal feeling we get when our collective pants are scared off by a master of his craft. I can think of no more fitting tribute to the life of Wes Craven than to dust off any one of his horror classics, whether it be on VHS, DVD or streaming service, and simply sit back and marvel at the work of a horror genius.
Rest in peace Mr. Craven. May you haunt our nightmares for eternity.