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Wes Craven

Aug 30, 2015#1

ThatNickGuy

http://comicbook.com/2015/08/31/legendary-filmmaker-wes-craven-dead-ad-76/

A representative for legendary filmmaker Wes Craven, creator of dozens of films including Scream and A Nightmare on Elm Street, has confirmed that he passed away following a battle with brain cancer. He was 76.

Born in Ohio, Craven earned an undergraduate degree in English and Psychology from Wheaton College in Illinois and a master's degree in Philosophy and Writing from Johns Hopkins University. He became one of the most prominent voices in horror, with a public persona to rival even his own professional accomplishments, and was sometimes compared to the similarly-charismatic Stan Lee.

Some of his other films include The Hills Have Eyes, The Last House on the Left, The Serpent and the Rainbow, The People Under the Stairs, Vampire in Brooklyn, Cursed, Red Eye and My Soul to Take. From a comic book perspective, he helmed Swamp Thing with Heather Locklear and Ray Wise.

Craven's Scream is currently a hit series on MTV; he was originally slated to direct the pilot, but withdrew.

Welp, I'll be watching the original, first Nightmare tomorrow after work.

Aug 30, 2015#2

bhamv3

Aw damn... I'm not a fan of horror movies, but this guy was a giant in his field. Sorry to see him go.

Aug 30, 2015#3

ThatNickGuy

He's leaving behind a hell of a legacy. Along with John Carpenter, he basically reinvented the horror genre. And helped birth the slasher subgenre. Freddy is arguably the top of the slasher pyramid.

Also, I always found it funny that for a guy that reinvented the horror genre and made some of the greatest horror flicks of all time, he always came across as such a genuinely nice, approachable, easy going guy.

Aug 30, 2015#4

Hailey Knight

Damn, that sucks.

A friend of mine is a big fan, but she's overseas right now. Probably won't find out until she gets home in two weeks.

Aug 30, 2015#5

Yoshimickster

Well, that news sure brings the tears. Watching Nightmare on Elmstreet uncensored was a damned right of passage for me, one I wouldn't have had to cross if he didn't make that film. I salute you sir Craven, your work shall shine on throughout every dark night.

Aug 30, 2015#6

Celt Z

Wow, he was a king of the horror genre. Sad loss.

Aug 30, 2015#7

Dave

Well this one is a surprise. And sucks.

Aug 31, 2015#8

Ravenpoe

I've told this story before, but Nightmare on Elm Street was the very first horror movie I ever saw. At an age where I was way too young to see them... my Aunt had let me watch it when I was around 6. And it gave me nightmares.

My mom ended up having me watch a making of documentary, so I could see how the effects were done, and how Freddy wasn't real. It worked, I loved scary movies after that and was never afraid, because even in my young mind I knew they were just make believe, but that documentary also inspired a long standing fascination with cinema.

He was a master of his craft. He will be missed.

Aug 31, 2015#9

PatrThom

ThatNickGuy said:
I always found it funny that for a guy that reinvented the horror genre and made some of the greatest horror flicks of all time, he always came across as such a genuinely nice, approachable, easy going guy.

I don't find that surprising at all.

--Patrick

Aug 31, 2015#10

Celt Z

Ravenpoe said:
My mom ended up having me watch a making of documentary, so I could see how the effects were done, and how Freddy wasn't real. It worked, I loved scary movies after that and was never afraid, because even in my young mind I knew they were just make believe, but that documentary also inspired a long standing fascination with cinema.

My parents did the same thing when "Thriller" came out, because they knew I loved Michael Jackson and they would be no way to avoid seeing the video. I was 3 1/2 and never scared of it, and had similar results to you when I started watching scary movies when I got older.

Aug 31, 2015#11

fade

My parents let me watch way too many horror movies when I was a kid. I used to be a horror nut, but I haven't watched many as an adult. No one will watch them with me, and it's not as fun to watch alone.

Aug 31, 2015#12

Mathias

As a kid, I used to think every creak heard while walking up the stairs to our third floor apartment was Freddy behind me, and I'd proceed to run up as fast as I could in terror.

Wes Craven, you sir were the stuff of 80's children's nightmares. Fond memories of horror movie marathons are flooding back. Godspeed, sir.

Aug 31, 2015#13

Bowielee

I grew up on his movies. I've always been a big Wes Craven fan. A New Nightmare is one of the finest pieces of meta fiction ever.

Aug 31, 2015#14

ThatNickGuy

Bowielee said:
I grew up on his movies. I've always been a big Wes Craven fan. A New Nightmare is one of the finest pieces of meta fiction ever.

Not that I don't think New Nightmare is good (it is), but I think Adaptation tops it in meta-fiction.

Sep 1, 2015#15

Bowielee

ThatNickGuy said:
Not that I don't think New Nightmare is good (it is), but I think Adaptation tops it in meta-fiction.

I didn't say it was the best.

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