10 Wes Craven cult films
The legendary horror film director Wes Craven died on August 31, at age 76. Here are 10 of his films.
Nightmare on Elm Street
Wes Craven redefined horror in 1984 with his classic "Nightmare on Elm Street," set in suburban Ohio. A group of teenagers (including then-unknown Johnny Depp) gets stalked in their dreams by the razor-fingered Freddy Kruger. The indelible character was turned into a never-ending franchise, including a remake in 2010. Here are more films by the legendary director who died on August 31, 2015.
The Last House on the Left
Born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 2, 1939 to a staunch Baptist family, Wes Craven studied philosophy and writing. Under pseudonyms he began making pornography movies. The first feature film under Craven's own name was "The Last House on the Left" (1972), inspired by Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman. This graphic horror film cost $87,000, was censored in many countries, and became a hit.
The Hills Have Eyes
A suburban family gets stranded in a desert in Nevada - and becomes the target of a family of savages. A ripped "Jaws" poster appears in a scene of this 1977 exploitation cult movie, initiating something new among horror film directors, who began to refer to each other in their films.
Deadly Blessing
"Deadly Blessing," for fans of vintage horror, starred Ernest Borgnine and then little known Sharon Stone. For this 1981 movie, Borgnine, an Academy Award winner, received a nomination for a Razzie award in the catagory "Worst Supporting Actor." Panned by critics, the movie nevertheless held out distinct promise that "Craven will soon be in the front rank of horror filmmakers," wrote "Time Out."
Swamp Thing
The 1982 science fiction film "Swamp Thing" was based on the famous DC comics. Light years away from modern digital effects now used in filmmaking, it features a monster in a rubber suit.
Shocker
With this story of a serial killer on the loose in a Los Angeles suburb, Wes Craven hoped to establish a new franchise with "Shocker" (1989). The film was poorly received, but the soundtrack features an all-star list, including original contributions by musicians such as Alice Cooper, Megadeth, Kiss's Paul Stanley and Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee.
Wes Craven Presents: Dracula 2000
Don't get fooled by the label: Wes Craven was the executive producer for this action horror film directed by Patrick Lussier, in which Bram Stoker's Dracula resurrects in the year 2000. The film failed at the box office, but two more direct-to-video sequels were produced.
Music of the Heart
Wes Craven rarely ventured outside the horror-thriller genre. An exception is his 1999 drama "Music of the Heart." It tells the story of Roberta Guaspari, the co-founder of the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music. Guaspari was depicted by Meryl Streep, who earned an Oscar nomination for the role. The film also marked the screen debut of singer Gloria Estefan.
Red Eye
Borrowing on the relentless pace of the "24" series, this 2005 crime thriller stars Rachel McAdams. On a red-eye flight to Miami, the character gets entangled in the plot of a terrorist played by Cillian Murphy.
Scream
Wes Craven's return to fame came with the hugely popular "Scream" series. He made three films during the 1990s and a fourth in 2011. The first movie starred Drew Barrymore, pictured here. It told the story of a US high school attacked by Ghostface, a killer inspired by Edvard Munch's "The Scream." The films brought over $600 million at the box office.