With the tragic death of the late director Wes Craven in 2015, the horror genre has lost one of its most passionate and talented directors. From A A Nightmare on Elm Street To scream Craven has terrified audiences with his unique stories that perfectly blend horror, drama and comedy. His dedication to his films solidified Craven as one of the most iconic horror directors in film history.

Wes has made many other great films besides his involvement in scream Franchise as part of his long career as a director. Some of his films even differ from his usual horror style. He still shone in the director’s chair, demonstrating his individual approach and demonstrating his talents as an interesting director.

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10 “Death Friend” (1986)

Christy Swanson as Samantha in Deadly Friend (1986)

Rotten Tomatoes: 20%

deadly friend was criminally underrated when it was released in 1986 as it featured a unique dark premise with many disturbing moments and shockingly bloody deaths. The film is about a teenager named Paul (Matthew Labyorto) when he tries to stop his love for Samantha (Christy Swanson), from a murderous rage after he was implanted with a robotic microchip.

Although the film feels funny at times due to a few cheap effects and questionable acting, it still retains elements of horror and leaves the viewer wondering how this bloody conflict will end. Christy Swanson’s performance as the tragic antagonist is a highlight, as she flawlessly switches between the cute girl next door and the bloodthirsty zombie next door, making empathy impossible for her.

9 “Swamp Thing” (1982)

Adrienne Barbeau as Alice in Swamp Thing (1982)

Rotten Tomatoes: 60%

Craven contributed to the early superhero genre with this action-horror film that entertains viewers with impressive practical effects and a fun, campy atmosphere. The story follows the titular character, Alec Holland, also known as Swamp Thing (Ray Wise) as he battles the evil scientists in his quest to avenge his ugly transformation.

With the tone of a B-movie and a meager budget of around $2 million, Craven made Swamp Thing funny action movie full of gunfights and explosions. While some of the effects are admittedly cheap by today’s standards, Swamp Thing’s appearance still looks visually impressive considering the film’s budget, as its design fits well with its comic book counterpart and looks both beautiful and a little intimidating.

8 “Last House on the Left” (1972)

Still from Wes Craven's The Last House on the Left (1972)

Rotten Tomatoes: 63%

Craven made his directorial debut with this hard-to-see ’70s film about revenge and murder. When two girls are mistreated by a gang of outlaws, the parents of one of the girls plan to kill the trio after they unknowingly take refuge in the family’s home that night.

The violence in this film is unsettling and doesn’t shy away from its intention to shock and horrify viewers, but not so alarm them that they take their eyes off the screen. Craven’s first forays into horror are present throughout the film, as the viewer sees his early film-making techniques with unique close-ups and apt angles meant to disturb, but not necessarily repel, the audience, which fits with the infamous film’s controversial theme.

7 “Music of the Heart” (1999)

Meryl Streep helps a student play the violin in Music of the Heart.

Rotten Tomatoes: 63%

Craven ended the 20th century with this powerful true story about a caring schoolteacher named Roberta (Meryl Streep) as she struggled with her school board in an attempt to educate and inspire the lives of her struggling students from the inner city.

This is a touching story about how not to lose hope and never back down in the face of adversity. Streep plays the lead role well, and it’s nice to see her and her class succeed in the final concert scene. This film is a great example of how Craven can make great films that don’t have to be in the horror genre.

6 “The Serpent and the Rainbow” (1988)

kite-and-rainbow
Image via Universal Pictures

Rotten tomatoes: 64%

In this surreal horror thriller Bill Pullman plays a scientist named Dennis Alan who goes on a dangerous fairy tale adventure to find a mysterious Haitian medical powder that supposedly brings the dead back to life.

At its core, the film is more of a character-driven conspiracy thriller than a simple horror film. It focuses more on the themes of mortality, controversies over natural and modern medicine, and political corruption as Alan moves through history fighting internal unrest and a sinister bureaucrat intent on using him as an enslaved man. It’s one of Craven’s most thought-provoking and underrated films, and one that’s certainly enjoyable, even if the story feels a bit too weird at times.

5 “The Hills Have Eyes” (1977)

Publicity still from Wes Craven's The Hill Has Eyes (1977)

Rotten Tomatoes: 67%

The hills have eyesbecame a box office success early in Craven’s career as it made him popular in the horror genre and proved he could take on more significant directorial roles. The story follows a struggling family desperately trying to survive a deadly fight after they are pursued by psychopathic cannibals on their journey through the Californian desert.

The film contains many of the shocking and controversial violence that Craven was previously known for in his early work. The violence makes viewers feel uncomfortable and unsettled and forces them to take care of the family while trying to cope with their situation. It’s a violent film that highlights Kraven’s strengths and foreshadows his later attempts at more famous and terrifying films.

4 “People under the stairs” (1991)

Rotten Tomatoes: 70%

Craven made an attempt at black comedy with this quirky horror film full of wacky characters and suspenseful tone. It follows a young city boy named Fool (Brandon Quintin Adams) as he is caught in a deadly situation and forced to become a hero after breaking into a wealthy couple’s dysfunctional home.

The film combines elements of black comedy and horror, as well as sensitive topics such as child abuse, religion and racism. It’s a layered film with moments that make the viewer laugh, fear, or even feel uncomfortable. Whatever film audiences see, it is undoubtedly one of the most unique Craven films.

3 Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

Robert England as Demon Freddy in The New Nightmare (1994)
Image via New Line Cinema

Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

Two years before the release of the first scream film, Kraven tested the possibilities of incorporating self-awareness into his horror films in this standalone sequelA Nightmare on Elm Street row. The film follows the actress Heather Langenkamp playing a fictional version of herself as she battles a demonic spirit that has taken the form of Freddy Krueger.

This film acts as a warm-up to Kraven’s later slasher series, which focuses on the characters in a terrifying situation that nods to past horror films. It doesn’t move away from a few good fears, and updates to Freddy’s demonic appearance make him terrifying. It’s a worthy piece of credit for the original Kraven film, and it’s a shame he didn’t return to direct the series after that film.

2 ‘Red Eye’ (2005)

Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy sit next to each other on a plane in Red Eye.

Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

In this suspenseful high-rise thriller, Kraven demonstrates his ability to keep viewers on their toes, creating an immersive experience full of tense chase scenes and thrilling acting performances. Rachel McAdams plays a woman taken hostage in an air flight and forced to submit to a political assassination by a mysterious kidnapper played by Cillian Murphy.

The film has many traits from the director’s previous work. Including suspenseful dialogue, a plot centered around a murder plot, and the inclusion of a final climax in which the main character runs through an empty house pursued by an angry knife-wielding killer. While not technically a horror film, the film still feels like an homage to Craven’s other work and highlights his talent for holding viewers’ attention.

1 “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)

Robert Englund's Freddy Krueger
Image via New Line Cinema

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

A Nightmare on Elm StreetThis is one of the most recognizable and beloved Wes Craven films. With a creative background and a talented cast, including an already established horror icon. Robert Englund like Freddy Krueger, the film has spawned many sequels, spin-offs, remakes and has become a staple of pop culture.

This is a movie that scarred a whole generation and made them afraid to sleep at night. It became so popular that the film was later selected for preservation in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. This film shows that Craven will go down in history as one of the greatest horror directors of all time.