Wes Craven

<p> Filmmaker Wes Craven has consistently and imaginatively scared movie audiences since the early 1970s. His films encompass a variety of styles elements and themes from the nihilistic existentialism of <I>The Last House on the Left</I> to the successful <I>A Nightmare on Elm Street</I> (which sent horror in a bold new direction) to the hallucinatory dreamscapes of <I>The Serpent and the Rainbow</I>. And in the nineties Craven returned with the <I>Scream</I> films which were simultaneously funny clever and scary films that overturned the horror cliches of the eighties.</p><p> The present work provides a history of Craven's film career since 1972 examining all the themes and techniques the filmmaker explored. For each film a synopsis cast and credits historical context and critical commentary are provided. Also covered in detail are Craven's forays into television including movies such as <I>Stranger in the House</I> and work on such series as <I>The New Twilight Zone</I>.</p>