In January 2022, Scream will be making its way to theatres, marking the first time a cinematic entry in the slasher franchise will be directed by someone other than Wes Craven. The filmmaker made his debut in the early '70s and played a significant role in shaping horror for the next few decades.Throughout his long and storied career, Craven directed some of the most unsettling, entertaining, and downright terrifying films of all time, along with a few less acclaimed projects. It remains to be seen whether 2022's Scream proves to be a worthwhile continuation of the icon's legacy; in the meantime, those looking to revisit the director's crowning achievements in inspiring nightmares should check out Wes Craven's best horror movies.Note: Although infrequent, Wes Craven did work on a couple of non-horror films. 2005's Red Eye and 1999's Music of the Heart rank among the director's stronger movies, and Craven's segment in 2006's Paris, je t'aime is quite amusing.
10 Deadly Friend (1986)
Deadly Friend is a case of what could have been as the film reportedly went through a number of changes following a poorly received test screening. A teenage genius implants a robot chip into the brain of a girl suffering from brain damage, a move that saves her life but also turns her into a slasher villain.
Deadly Friend does not do much with its interesting setup, relying mostly on gore rather than character development. While disappointing, the horror film is mildly entertaining and a perfectly adequate way to kill a few hours.
9 Swamp Thing (1982)
A few decades before DC released and immediately took away a Swamp Thing adaptation, Wes Craven tried his hand at the story. Dated as its effects are nowadays, 1982's Swamp Thing is surprisingly charming and effective. As long as somebody does not go in expecting anything similar to modern superhero flicks, Swamp Thing gets by on atmosphere, decent acting, and a healthy blend of action and horror.
Swamp Thing works because it feels like a Wes Craven movie, albeit one where the "monster" is a sympathetic figure.
8 Scream 2 (1997)
Scream was such a runaway success that a sequel was inevitable, and Wes Craven certainly struck while the iron was hot. At times, Scream 2 comes across as a retread of its predecessor, delivering the same type of humor, kills, and pacing. However, what sets Scream 2 apart is that it takes direct aim at horror movie sequels while also adding a meta element to the narrative courtesy of an in-universe movie based on the events of the first film.
Scream 2 might not feel as fresh as the original entry but it has the same strengths. Consequently, anyone who enjoys 1996's Scream is likely to love the sequel.
7 The Serpent And The Rainbow (1988)
A fascinating look into voodoo, The Serpent and the Rainbow takes inspiration from history in crafting a story about apparent zombies, mysticism, and oppression. Elevated by a strong performance by Bill Pullman, this forgotten horror flick showcases Craven's impeccable talent for presenting fantastical elements in a tangible and believable way.
The latter is aided by the fact the film was partially shot on location in Haiti, giving an air of legitimacy to the production. While not one of his scariest projects, The Serpent and the Rainbow is nevertheless among Wes Craven's best films.
6 Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994)
After mostly stepping away from the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise following the first film, Wes Craven returned to steady the ship in 1994. In many ways, Wes Craven's New Nightmare serves as a precursor to the meta-infused Scream, albeit one that strikes a more serious tone.
This version of Freddy is an entity of pure fear, a being dragged from the film world into reality. While packed with not-so-subtle winks to the franchise's history and production, Wes Craven's New Nightmare does not fool around when it comes to its horror sequences, delivering plenty of suspense, gore, and vicious kills.
5 The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
While it went on to produce some less than amazing sequels and remakes, the original The Hills Have Eyes is a masterclass in exploitation horror. When the Carter family experience car trouble in the middle of nowhere, they find themselves in a battle for survival against a group of outcasts who are known to eat human flesh.
As they are pushed to their brink, the Carters show that they are more than capable of matching the viciousness shown by the film's resident "others," blurring the line between the familiar and alien.
4 Last House On The Left (1972)
Wes Craven made his directional debut with Last House on the Left, a horror film that is still as uncomfortable to watch now as it was roughly half a century ago. An exploitation movie about a very human type of evil, Last House on the Left unflinchingly presents a violent, sadistic tragedy and the bloody revenge that follows.
Compared to some of Craven's later flicks, Last House on the Left has a more grounded and naturalistic tone. On the one hand, this makes the film less rewatchable than some of Craven's more mainstream projects; conversely, Last House on the Left might be the director's scariest movie.
3 Scream (1996)
Slashers hit something of a rough patch during the '90s, and Wes Craven's Scream helped pull the genre out of its rut. Unapologetically self-aware, Scream mocks the conventions and tropes of the horror genre while simultaneously delivering an overabundance of creative kills, memorable scares, and likable characters. It is a satire that does not forget to be scary.
Scream is also a compelling whodunit, crafting genuine intrigue around the identity of the Ghostface killer and concluding on a satisfying reveal.
2 The People Under The Stairs (1991)
The People Under the Stairs can be a polarizing watch since, at times, the movie struggles to balance its horror and comedy. Desperate for cash, Fool agrees to help a local thug rob the house of a wealthy couple, a decision that backfires when they learn their targets are anything but ordinary.
Packed with social commentary and absurdist humor, The People Under the Stairs' racial themes are still relevant today, even if the film's messaging can be a touch clunky at times. This horror flick is built on the performances of Fool and its two villains, all of who are among Wes Craven's greatest characters.
1 A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
Wes Craven created something special with A Nightmare on Elm Street. Slasher movies dominated the '80s, and Freddy Krueger's debut has stood the test of time better than most. Unlike the comedic villain found in later entries, 1984's Krueger is an incredibly intimidating killer with a penchant for theatrics.
A Nightmare on Elm Street is atmospheric, imaginative, endlessly rewatchable, and boasts a few of the most iconic death scenes in cinematic history. It is a horror masterpiece with few peers.