Wes Craven, a master of the horror and suspense genres, constantly challenged his fans and faithful filmgoers to push the boundaries of the real and the imaginary. With his passing this weekend at 76, Craven leaves behind a rich legacy of films that have opened the way for generations of horror fans, writers and filmmakers. Today we're sharing some of Wes Craven's deepest dreams and most terrifying nightmares, including:
A Nightmare on Elm Street is arguably Craven's most famous film, the debut of the undying nightmare that is Freddy Krueger. Craven's knack for adding surreal horror to the safe, intimate spaces of a suburban home creates a subtle tension that pervades an otherwise gore-soaked film. A truly creepy slasher that has spawned generations of imitators, A Nightmare on Elm Street is a masterpiece of horror that's changed the way we look at dreams. It's also notable for introducing a young Johnny Depp to Hollywood.
The highly successful Scream franchise is a bloody dissection of modern horror tropes, at once funny, fraught and genuinely compelling. A brilliantly self-aware film, Scream knows that audiences love a good slasher and works hard to make even the most tongue-in-cheek moments terrifying. Despite being a horror movie about horror movies, Scream doesn't fall into the trap of being too self-referential and has plenty of twists that will keep you jumping.
Red Eye is a taut, minimalist thriller that keeps the tension high without dousing the audience with buckets of blood. Cillian Murphy steals the screen as a smooth, sharply violent terrorist bent on assassination, while Rachel McAdams sells the terror of being trapped on a crowded airplane with a killer. Both actors give great physical performances that really make you feel the terror.
Share your favorite scares in the comments and help a new generation discover a master of horror!
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