Rest in Peace: Wes Craven
John Squires
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There are few filmmakers on this planet who have truly earned the moniker “master of horror,” and Wes Craven is without a doubt one of those talents. It is with the heaviest of hearts that we’re here tonight to break the extremely upsetting news that Craven has passed away.
It was way back in 1972 when Wes Craven instantly became a force to be reckoned with in the horror genre thanks to the exploitation film The Last House on the Left, which proved to be just one of many horror classics that Craven would bring into our lives in the decades to come.
Craven most famously revitalized the slasher sub-genre with 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street, giving rise to perhaps the most iconic villain in horror history. I’m of course referring to Freddy Krueger, whom he revisited in 1994 with the grounded-in-reality sequel New Nightmare.
Outside the world of Elm Street, Craven’s contributions to the horror genre are vast, including films like The Hills Have Eyes, Deadly Blessing, The Serpent and the Rainbow, Shocker, and The People Under the Stairs. With Scream, released in 1996, he kick-started the slasher movement once more.
THR reports that Craven died at his home in Los Angeles today after a battle with brain cancer. He turned 76 earlier this month.
Wes Craven’s impact on the horror genre simply cannot be overstated, and the heartbreak felt throughout the community right now is a reflection of that. All of us here at Dread Central extend our sincerest of condolences to Craven’s friends, family members, and constituents.
We promise we will do all we can in the coming days to honor one of the most influential and important figures in this wonderful genre’s history. The world of horror truly would not be what it is today without you, Mr. Craven. You will never be forgotten, and we are 100% sure of that.
Categorized:News
