Every once in a while, a filmmaker emerges who takes their genre in a new way. Quentin Tarantino compelled fans to take another look at independent cinema. During the production of his “Dark Knight” trilogy, Christopher Nolan elevated superhero films to a new level of prestige. Wes Craven, on the other hand, did it twice.
“Nightmare on Elm Street” introduced the world to Freddy Krueger, a terrifying character that has become synonymous with the slasher genre. After “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare,” he began making films that reflected the horror genre. However, the sequel was only a stepping stone to “Scream,” which would become a classic horror film of the 1990s.
Many of Craven’s films would be strong contenders on a list of the top five horror films of all time. As for the man himself, he would have an eclectic list of notable horror films that have endured the test of time.
Wes Craven’s favourites include Frankenstein, The Exorcist, and others. Wes Craven would likely answer two questions if you asked him, “What’s your favourite scary movie?” A few things are likely to come out of his mouth first. His selections may be too numerous to choose just one favourite. He’s been around the block a few times because he’s a horror expert by nature. Not to say he hasn’t made some excellent choices. In 2007, he disclosed to The Wall Street Journal his all-time top picks.
Everyone would agree that the director’s choices are classics, on par with “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Scream.” First, it’s Boris Karloff as Frankenstein in 1931’s classic rendition. Second, ‘The Bad Seed’ launched a big cinematic tradition of frightened young children. Children do not have to be innocent, says Craven, who goes on to describe the film’s nihilistic undertones.
“The Exorcist,” “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” and “Alien” are all excellent picks from Craven. Craven doesn’t specify which film he prefers, but it’s hard to determine which is the finest. To those who wish to expand their understanding of the horror genre in general but haven’t seen all of these films, the task is straightforward.
