Wes Craven created the sub-genre of torture porn with his first film THE LAST HOUSE ON LEFT, he revitalized the slasher sub-genre with SCREAM, he created an iconic figure in Freddy Krueger, he also helped create the city people terrorized by murderous hillbilly sub-genre with THE HILLS HAVE EYES. He made a decent comic book flick in SWAMP THING and also made the enjoyable horror cult films DEADLY FRIEND and THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR.
Craven knew how to frame a scary scene so the shock came at exactly the right time. He was also a genius at pacing - how to properly plan a horror movie so there are not too many minutes of exposition in a row diluting the scares.
THE LAST HOUSE ON LEFT is an example of something else he excelled at- Atmosphere. It's a genuinely unpleasant film but there is a twisted artistry there. The feeling is a kind of existential helplessness when confronted with evil. No need for jump scares, the realm the film exists in is hellish on its own. Craven also introduced a handling of gory wild violence that was very matter of fact and whose effect is still being felt today.
He understood the commercial potential of the modern horror film as good or better than any modern horror movie director.
Most interesting Craven trivia - he directed porno films before he got into film directing.
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