History Creator / WesCraven

Wesley Earl 'Wes' [[MeaningfulName Craven]] (born August 2, 1939 - August 30, 2015) was an American film director, producer and writer, and was the creator of many iconic and genre-defining horror films. He was probably best known for his creation of Freddy Krueger, the dream-haunting villain introduced in ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984''. He also found great success a decade later with the movie ''Film/{{Scream 1996}}'', a {{deconstruction}} of the [[SlasherMovie slasher sub-genre]] that launched a [[FollowTheLeader slew of late 90's imitation horror films]].

Additionally, he directed a number of of episodes of ''Series/TheTwilightZone'' in the 80's and, quite bizarrely, the {{biopic}} ''Film/MusicOfTheHeart'' (his only PG rated movie). Craven joked that he went "from violence to violins" in directing a movie about a music educator played by Creator/MerylStreep.

* PostModernism: ''Film/WesCravensNewNightmare'' and the ''Franchise/{{Scream}}'' movies take this UpToEleven.

[[AC: Notable Films:]]

* ''Deadly Blessing'' (1981)

* ''Film/{{Cursed 2005}}'' (2005)

'''Wesley Earl 'Wes' [[MeaningfulName Craven]]''' (born August 2, 1939 - August 30, 2015) was an American film director, producer and writer, and was the creator of many iconic and genre-defining horror films. He was probably best known for his creation of Freddy Krueger, the dream-haunting villain introduced in ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984''. He also found great success a decade later with the movie ''Film/{{Scream 1996}}'', a {{deconstruction}} of the [[SlasherMovie slasher sub-genre]] that launched a [[FollowTheLeader slew of late 90's imitation horror films]].

* ''Film/{{Scream 2}}''(1997)

* ''Film/{{Scream 2}}''

* ''Film/7{Scream 2}}''

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Craven was raised by a Baptist family and was reportedly a target for bullies (including one with [[NamesTheSame the same name]] as his most famous creation). After leaving home, he gained an education in English Literature, Psychology, and Writing; he then married, and started a family. His marriage ended after five years, and his children left with his ex-wife. He moved to New York, and eventually directed ''Film/TheLastHouseOnTheLeft'', followed five years later by ''Film/TheHillsHaveEyes''. The success of these movies made him a seminal name in horror cinema.

* ''Film/TheHillsHaveEyes'' (1977), and its original sequel (1985).

* ''[[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' (1984) and its sixth sequel, ''Film/WesCravensNewNightmare'' (1994)[[note]]Although he didn't direct the second sequel, he did co-write it[[/note]].

* ''[[Film/{{Scream 1996}} Scream]]'' (1996), and [[Franchise/{{Scream}} all of its respective sequels.]]

Additionally, he directed a lot of episodes of ''Series/TheTwilightZone'' in the 80's and, quite bizarrely, the {{biopic}} ''Film/MusicOfTheHeart'' (his only PG rated movie). Craven joked that he went "from violence to violins" in directing a movie about a music educator played by Creator/MerylStreep.

He sadly passed away via brain cancer. He was 76. May he rest in peace.

* ''[[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' (1984) and its sixth sequel, ''Film/WesCravensNewNightmare'' (1994)[[note]]Although he didn't direct the second sequel, he did co-write it[[\note.]]

* ''[[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' (1984) and its sixth sequel, ''Film/WesCravensNewNightmare'' (1994)[note]Although he didn't direct the second sequel, he did co-write it[/note.]

* ''[[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' (1984) and its sixth sequel, ''Film/WesCravensNewNightmare'' (1994)[[note]]Although he didn't direct the second sequel, he did co-write it[[/note.]]

* ''[[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' (1984) and its sixth sequel, ''Film/WesCravensNewNightmare'' (1994)[[note]]Although he didn't direct the second sequel, he did co-write it[[/note.

Wesley Earl [[MeaningfulName Craven]] (born August 2, 1939 - August 30, 2015) was an American film director, producer and writer, and was the creator of many iconic and genre-defining horror films. He was probably best known for his creation of Freddy Krueger, the dream-haunting villain introduced in ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984''. He also found great success a decade later with the movie ''Film/{{Scream 1996}}'', a {{deconstruction}} of the [[SlasherMovie slasher sub-genre]] that launched a [[FollowTheLeader slew of late 90's imitation horror films]].

He tragically passed away via brain cancer. He was 76. May he rest in peace.

Additionally, he directed a lot of episodes of ''Series/TheTwilightZone'' in the 80's and, quite bizarrely, the {{biopic}} ''Film/MusicOfTheHeart''. Craven joked that he went "from violence to violins" in directing a movie about a music educator played by Creator/MerylStreep.

He has tragically passed away via brain cancer. He was 76. May he rest in peace.

* ''[[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' (1984) and its sixth sequel, ''Film/WesCravensNewNightmare'' (1994).

Wesley Earl [[MeaningfulName Craven]] (born August 2, 1939-August 30, 2015) was an American film director, producer and writer, and was the creator of many iconic and genre-defining horror films. He was probably best known for his creation of Freddy Krueger, the dream-haunting villain introduced in ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984''. He also found great success a decade later with the movie ''Film/{{Scream 1996}}'', a {{deconstruction}} of the [[SlasherMovie slasher sub-genre]] that launched a [[FollowTheLeader slew of late 90's imitation horror films]].

Wesley Earl [[MeaningfulName Craven]] (born August 2, 1939) is an American film director, producer and writer, and is the creator of many iconic and genre-defining horror films. He is probably best known for his creation of Freddy Krueger, the dream-haunting villain introduced in ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984''. He also found great success a decade later with the movie ''Film/{{Scream 1996}}'', a {{deconstruction}} of the [[SlasherMovie slasher sub-genre]] that launched a [[FollowTheLeader slew of late 90's imitation horror films]].

* RapeAsDrama: His characters tend to either be raped, are implied to be raped, are raped as a backstory, or are rapists themselves.

* ''Film/{{They}}'' (2002)

* ''[[Film/{{Scream 1996}} Scream]]'' (1996), and [[Franchise/Scream all of its respective sequels.]]

* ''[[Film/{{Scream 1996}} Scream]]'' (1996), and all of its respective sequels.

Additionally, he directed a lot of episodes of ''Series/TheTwilightZone'' in the 80's and, quite bizarrely, the {{biopic}} ''MusicOfTheHeart''. Craven joked that he went "from violence to violins" in directing a movie about a music educator played by MerylStreep.

!Common Tropes in Craven's Work Include:

* {{Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep}} - On ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984'', ''Film/ThePeopleUnderTheStairs'' and ''Film/MySoulToTake''.

* ShoutOut: ''Film/TheLastHouseOnTheLeft'' is a loose retelling (with a SettingUpdate) of Creator/IngmarBergman's ''The Virgin Spring''.
** In one scene during ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984'', Creator/SamRaimi's ''[[Film/TheEvilDead1987 The Evil Dead]]'' is playing on a TV in the background, which itself is a ShoutOut to Sam Raimi putting a poster of Craven's ''The Hills Have Eyes'' in the background of ''The Evil Dead''.

* ''Film/MusicOfTheHeart'' (1999) (his only PG-rated movie to date)

** In one scene during ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984'', Creator/SamRaimi's ''The Franchise/EvilDead'' is playing on a TV in the background, which itself is a ShoutOut to Sam Raimi putting a poster of Craven's ''The Hills Have Eyes'' in the background of ''The Evil Dead''.