Thank You For Scaring the Hell Out Me, Mr. Craven

As many of you already know, a few nights ago the horror community was dealt a great blow. Sunday evening genre legend Wes Craven passed away after a hard fought battle with brain cancer. He left behind with him a cache of movies that have not only influenced, but consistently changed the way we make and view horror cinema. There are few filmmakers who possess the talent to so radically chang the way something is perceived and Mr. Craven has done it multiple times throughout his career

Right out of the gate he turned heads by making one of the most brutal and unforgiving horror movies I have ever seen, The Last House on the Left. As a vicious rape/revenge story this movie is not easy to watch, and it isn't meant to be. Craven showed from the first step that he had the power to terrify his audience and he would continue to do so for over forty years. He then went on to create not only one of the most successful movie franchises but also one of, if not the, most iconic movie villains of all-time. In 1984 his most successful and influential film, A Nightmare on Elm Street, rocked the movie world and forever changed the landscape of horror movies. His mangled dream slaying monster, known to the world as Freddy Krueger invaded the dreams of the young and old and left a lasting impression on multiple generations. 

The franchise would go on to make way too many movies, but in 1994 Craven returned to the world he created and notched the first step in his next transformation of the genre. New Nightmare took a known brand and turned it on its head when he had Krueger leave the screen and enter the "real world". This was the first time he would implement his "meta" form of filmmaking and add a new level of creativity to the genre. He would hone this skill to the best of his abilities in 1996 however, with the release of Scream. The meta, self-aware, tongue-in-cheek, yet still scary as hell movie was a phenomenon. When this movie was released it took over the world; you couldn't walk into a Wal-Mart for half a decade without seeing a Ghostface mask within twenty feet of you. His inventive and clever new style of filmmaking would go on to change and influence the genre to this day. In fact, the last Director's credit the legend is credited for is Scream 4, the final film of the series.

 With a career like that it is no wonder there are thousands of articles pouring out all over the internet from people offering their condolences and sharing why this man was such a huge part of their lives. For me, his movies were a crucial component of my ever growing love and passion for the genre. As a kid, I couldn't watch horror movies. I just could not handle them, I did not have a lot of nerves and was not much of a fan of being scared. It was when I first saw Scream and other movies like it that I began to realize that there is so much to enjoy and love with this genre. Craven's work made me realize that it wasn't just about being scared, it's about why you are scared and what that fear does to you. This film had a direct impact on me and would push me head first into the genre I know call my favorite.

Since then, as it has been nearly twenty years since the release of the first Scream film, I have slowly been making my way through his filmography and have continued to be impressed with the work he did. Even some of his lesser, more unique films like The Serpent & the Rainbow or The People Under the Stairs have their own type of brilliance and charm to them. If you want to know where something is going, you have to look back at where it has been and if you look back on Wes Craven's entire career it's clear just how much his work influenced the entire horror genre and helped shape it into what it is now.

There are only so many people who understand the genre this well and are able to manipulate it in the ways he had done. He was like a father to the modern age of horror filmmakers and film geeks, all of whom praise some aspect of his prolific career and we are now sadly without him. He found a way to tap into the collective conscience of the world and literally scare the hell out of us all through multiple films. He is responsible for two of the most successful franchises of all-time and with them, two of the most iconic killers of all-time. Through Freddy Krueger and Ghostface his legacy and his name will live on for generations.

Artists have the ability to emotionally touch their audiences through their work without ever meeting them, this is an incredible ability. Wes Craven became a figurative family member to horror fanatics and after hearing some personal stories from people who have met him, this is no surprise. For someone who could create some of the most twisted and terrifying horror movies he was clearly the kindest person. From what I have read he was never afraid to engage a fan or chat up a film writer, he loved the world he lived in and the people who supported him. I may have never got the chance to meet him myself, but I feel like I've been able to pick his brain just enough through his incredible body of work.

So instead of mourning his loss this week, let's celebrate his life by watching and consuming as much of his work as possible. Watch the Scream or Elm Street series, pop in Scream Factory's new blu-ray release of The People Under the Stairs. Whatever it is that you want to do to honor this man's life, do it. It is weird to think we are now living in a post-Wes Craven world and as sad as that sounds, we will always have his movies to keep him alive. Thank you, Mr. Craven for scaring the hell out of me all of these years and for helping shape me into the person I am today. For that, I am forever grateful to you and your incredible work.

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!