Wes Craven

Writer · Cast · Director

Born

August 2, 1939 · Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Died

August 30, 2015

Birth name

Wesley Earl Craven

“Horror films don't create fear. They release it.” American screenwriter, novelist, film director, and creator of iconic characters such as Freddy Krueger and Ghostface, he is considered, along with David Cronenberg and John Carpenter, as one of the fundamental filmmakers to understand today's horror films. Recognized for being the creator of the sagas "Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984-present) and "Scream" (1996-present), reinventing and reconstructing the youth horror genre premiere after premiere. Director of several cult classics such as "The Last House on the Left" (1972), "The Hills Have Eyes" (1977), "The People Under the Stairs" (1991), and the psychological thriller "Red Eye" (2005). He was famous for launching to stardom currently recognized figures such as Johnny Depp and Sharon Stone and for having an extensive list of awards and nominations in his career, gaining a reputation as a groundbreaker and innovator of the horror genre.