The widespread horror genre is crawling with an assortment of incredibly talented filmmakers who have helped to establish the genre’s legacy and laid the foundation for its eventual success. Names like John Carpenter and Sam Raimi are often included in the continuing discussion, but one horror director in particular has proven himself as a revolutionary and formidable force in the spooky catalog — and that would be Wes Craven. As the mastermind behind the Scream and A Nightmare on Elm Street franchises, Craven has played a crucial role in shaping the triumph of the horror genre as a whole.
Throughout his illustrious career, Craven has been responsible for directing a plethora of unforgettable feature films, which have maintained in the hearts and minds of horror fanatics. Despite passing away in 2015, Craven’s incredible horror history continues to be celebrated and remembered — especially in regards to paying homage to him in new installments in the updated Scream franchise.
So, let’s examine the 10 best Wes Craven horror movies, ranked.
10. The Last House on the Left
As Craven’s very first feature film, it only makes sense that the exploitation horror be mentioned on this list. Without a doubt, The Last House on the Left is a terrifying film rooted in grief, tension, and the ability to render an audience completely speechless. Despite the film itself being over 50 years old, its incomparable influence will undoubtedly reign over the horror genre for another five decades.
9. Scream 4
As the final Scream project directed by Craven, Scream 4 was everything that horror fanatics could have ever asked for in regard to Craven’s unmatchable touch. In the same vein as the rest of the franchise’s films, the series’ fourth installment is equal parts slasher spectacle and meta-infused cinematic treasure that is a divine love letter to Craven’s hard work in the franchise.
8. The Hills Have Eyes
Another one of Craven’s ‘70s classics centers around a merciless band of mutilated family members who purposely target tourists in the desert. Along with its top-tier horror and absolute intensity, the film does equally boast an assortment of controversial topics that have often been discussed in the community over the years. Nevertheless, Craven’s classic has become an established hit in the genre, and even spawned a rebooted franchise.
7. Summer of Fear
Interestingly enough, one of Craven’s greatest horror contributions is actually from a made-for-TV movie. As the first TV movie that Craven signed on for, Summer of Fear perfectly encapsulates Craven’s clear-cut vision of impending doom and heart-stopping intensity. As to be expected, Craven keeps the momentum sky-high until the closing minutes, simply reminding the cinematic realm of horror that he is a force to be reckoned with.
6. Cursed
Jumping into some of Craven’s less mainstream movies, it would be a major disservice to his incredible filmmaking to not include Cursed on this list. Following in the same vein as his other films, Craven juxtaposes humor with terror by teaming up with Kevin Williamson once again. Only this time around, the duo embarked on a journey of telling a tale about two siblings who attempt to escape a vengeful werewolf in Los Angeles.
5. The People Under the Stairs
As if the title alone wouldn’t completely terrify audiences, then Craven’s warped premise definitely had strong enough legs to stand on to present an otherworldly perception of fear. Like the plethora of Craven’s other knockout hits, Craven indulges in mixing horror and dark comedy to cook up the perfect recipe for disaster and a realm of dumb fun. It’s incredibly outdated, of course, but horror fans will find solace in knowing that Jordan Peele plans to craft a spine-tingling remake.
4. Scream 2
Sinking our teeth into Craven’s undisputed classics, horror’s most favorable sequel undoubtedly deserves a spot in the top five. Capitalizing on the success of Craven’s ‘96 original, which saw him collaborate with screenwriter Kevin Williamson, the accomplished director returned to deliver a follow-up that is unequivocally worthy of being echoed in the same sentiment as the original. In fact, a large portion of the horror fandom actually prefers the second film compared to the first. Go figure.
3. Wes Craven’s New Nightmare
Without a doubt, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare feels like an absolute fever dream. With his eyes on the prize of delivering a meta-filled horror extravaganza in the same vein as Scream, which he would direct just two years later, Craven returned to the franchise with a major splash. In doing so, the acclaimed director created one of the most bizarre and enthralling films in the series — which horror fans have surely come to adore as the years have passed.
2. Scream
Cracking into the top two, it goes without saying that Scream is sitting near the top for several important reasons. By crafting the slasher extravaganza, Craven and Williamson successfully reinvented and reinvigorated the slasher subgenre while adding particular elements of comedy and satire into the mix. This genius collaboration worked wonders, of course, and a blossoming franchise chock-full of worthy entries was born.
1. A Nightmare on Elm Street
Without question, iconic horror villain Freddy Krueger is undeniably Wes Craven’s greatest brainchild. With a pioneering of visual effects and a fast-talking baddie at the center, A Nightmare on Elm Street rose to prominence as not only the best horror flick of the ‘80s, but arguably the greatest of all time. Its success eventually launched a worldwide franchise and quickly etched Craven’s name into the annals of time as one of the best directors in the scope of the genre.
