Wes Craven(1939-2015)
- Writer
- Producer
- Director
Wes Craven
has become synonymous with genre bending and innovative horror,
challenging audiences with his bold vision.
Wesley Earl Craven was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Caroline (Miller) and Paul Eugene Craven. He had a midwestern suburban upbringing. His first feature film was The Last House on the Left (1972), which he wrote,
directed, and edited. Craven reinvented the youth horror genre
again in 1984 with the classic A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), a film he
wrote and directed. And though he did not direct any of its five
sequels, he deconstructed the genre a decade later, writing and
directing the audacious New Nightmare (1994), which was nominated
as Best Feature at the 1995 Independent Spirit Awards, and introduced
the concept of self-reflexive genre films to the world.
In 1996 Craven
reached a new level of success with the release of Scream (1996). The film,
which sparked the phenomenal trilogy, was the winner of MTV's 1996 Best
Movie Award and grossed more than $100 million domestically, as did
Scream 2 (1997). Between Scream 2 and Scream 3 (2000), Craven, offered the
opportunity to direct a non-genre film for Miramax, helmed Music of the Heart (1999), a film that earned Meryl Streep an Academy Award
nomination for Best Actress. That same year, in the midst of directing,
Craven completed his first novel, "The Fountain Society," published by
Simon & Shuster. Recent works include the 2005 psychological thriller Red Eye (2005), and a short rom-com segment for the ensemble product, Paris, I Love You (2006).
In later years, Craven also produced remakes of
two of his earlier films for his genre fans, The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
and The Last House on the Left (2009). Craven has always had an eye for
discovering fresh talent, something that contributes to the success of
his films. While casting A Nightmare on Elm Street, Craven discovered
the then unknown Johnny Depp. Craven later cast Sharon Stone in her
first starring role for his film Deadly Blessing. He even gave Bruce
Willis his first featured role in an episode of TV's mid-80's edition
of The Twilight Zone. In My Soul to Take (2010), Craven once again
brought together a cast of up-and-coming young teens, including Max
Thieriot, in whom he saw the spark of stardom. The film marked Craven's
first collaboration with wife and producer Iya Labunka, who also
produced with him the highly anticipated production of Scream 4.
Craven's Scream 4 (2011) reunited the director with
Dimension Films and Kevin Williamson, as well as with stars Neve
Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette, to re-boot the beloved
franchise. Craven again exhibited his knack for spotting important
talent, with a cast of young actors bringing us a totally new breed of
Woodsboro high schoolers, including Emma Robert and Hayden Pannetierre.
has become synonymous with genre bending and innovative horror,
challenging audiences with his bold vision.
Wesley Earl Craven was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Caroline (Miller) and Paul Eugene Craven. He had a midwestern suburban upbringing. His first feature film was The Last House on the Left (1972), which he wrote,
directed, and edited. Craven reinvented the youth horror genre
again in 1984 with the classic A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), a film he
wrote and directed. And though he did not direct any of its five
sequels, he deconstructed the genre a decade later, writing and
directing the audacious New Nightmare (1994), which was nominated
as Best Feature at the 1995 Independent Spirit Awards, and introduced
the concept of self-reflexive genre films to the world.
In 1996 Craven
reached a new level of success with the release of Scream (1996). The film,
which sparked the phenomenal trilogy, was the winner of MTV's 1996 Best
Movie Award and grossed more than $100 million domestically, as did
Scream 2 (1997). Between Scream 2 and Scream 3 (2000), Craven, offered the
opportunity to direct a non-genre film for Miramax, helmed Music of the Heart (1999), a film that earned Meryl Streep an Academy Award
nomination for Best Actress. That same year, in the midst of directing,
Craven completed his first novel, "The Fountain Society," published by
Simon & Shuster. Recent works include the 2005 psychological thriller Red Eye (2005), and a short rom-com segment for the ensemble product, Paris, I Love You (2006).
In later years, Craven also produced remakes of
two of his earlier films for his genre fans, The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
and The Last House on the Left (2009). Craven has always had an eye for
discovering fresh talent, something that contributes to the success of
his films. While casting A Nightmare on Elm Street, Craven discovered
the then unknown Johnny Depp. Craven later cast Sharon Stone in her
first starring role for his film Deadly Blessing. He even gave Bruce
Willis his first featured role in an episode of TV's mid-80's edition
of The Twilight Zone. In My Soul to Take (2010), Craven once again
brought together a cast of up-and-coming young teens, including Max
Thieriot, in whom he saw the spark of stardom. The film marked Craven's
first collaboration with wife and producer Iya Labunka, who also
produced with him the highly anticipated production of Scream 4.
Craven's Scream 4 (2011) reunited the director with
Dimension Films and Kevin Williamson, as well as with stars Neve
Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette, to re-boot the beloved
franchise. Craven again exhibited his knack for spotting important
talent, with a cast of young actors bringing us a totally new breed of
Woodsboro high schoolers, including Emma Robert and Hayden Pannetierre.