Today, we’re honoring the memory of legendary film director Wes Craven. Craven, who would’ve turned 77 years old today, was a deeply influential director of horror films like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream.
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Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Crave was raised by his parents Caroline and Paul in a strict religious home. Having studied English and Psychology in college, the director initially enjoyed a career in academics before he began making short movies. Craven eventually turned his career over, and some of his first work was through uncredited editing. However, that would all change when Craven directed what would become his best known film in 1984, A Nightmare on Elm Street.
The iconic horror franchise has last through the decades, continually inspiring new talent as viewers stumble upon the slasher film. Craven created the film on a tight budget of just $1.8 million and has since gone on to gross over $25 million at the U.S. box office. Met with rave reviews, several sequels and television series has since been spun off from the original film.
Craven is also revered for his work on all four Scream films, and he also stands as the director for the two films in the Hills Have Eyes franchise. Other works of his include The Last House on the Left, Red Eye, and Vampire in Brooklyn. Craven also did work on films outside of the horror genre albeit infrequently. He was involved with Music of the Heart and Paris, je t’aime.
For now, Craven’s legacy has solidified his reputation as one of the most influential horror directors of all-time. Sadly, Craven passed last August at age 76 from his home in Los Angeles.
Rest in peace, Mr. Craven. Thank you for all that you’ve left behind.
