4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.
Today’s director is the great Wes Craven!
4 Shots From 4 Wes Craven Films
The Last House On The Left (1972, dir by Wes Craven, DP: Victor Hurwitz)
The Hills Have Eyes (1977, dir by Wes Craven, DP: Eric Saarinen)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, dir. by Wes Craven, DP: Jacques Haitkin)
The People Under The Stairs (1991, dir by Wes Craven, DP: Sandi Sissel)
4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!
This October, I’m going to be doing something a little bit different with my contribution to 4 (or more) Shots From 4 (or more) Films. I’m going to be taking a little chronological tour of the history of horror cinema, moving from decade to decade.
Today, we take a look at 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993!
8 Shots From 8 Horror Films: 1990 — 1993
Troll 2 (1990, dir by Claudio Fragasso, DP: Giancarlo Ferrando)
It (1990, dir by Tommy Lee Wallace, DP: Richard Lieterman)
Frankenstein Unbound (1990, dir by Roger Corman, DP: Armando Nannuzzi)
The People Under The Stairs (1991, dir by Wes Craven, DP: Sandi Sissel)
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992, dir by David Lynch, DP: Ron Garcia)
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992, dir by Francis Ford Coppola, DP: Michael Ballhaus)
Witchboard 2: The Devil’s Doorway (1993, dir by Kevin S. Tenney, DP: David Lewis)
Cronos (1993, dir by Guillermo Del Toro, DP: Guillermo Navarro)
4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!
83 years ago today, Wes Craven was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Craven started his career as an academic, teaching high school English. However, realizing that there was more money to be made in the film industry, Craven changed careers. By his own admission, he started his career directing “hardcore, X-rated films” under a pseudonym and it has been rumored that he was a member of the crew of the first “porno chic” film, Deep Throat. Eventually, Craven broke into the mainstream with some of the most influential and often controversial horror films ever made. From being denounced for the original Last House On The Left to changing the face of horror with A Nightmare on Elm Street to becoming something of a revered statesman and a beloved pop cultural institution with the Scream franchise, Wes Craven had a truly fascinating career.
In honor his films and legacy, it’s time for….
4 Shots from 4 Wes Craven Films
The Hills Have Eyes (1977, dir by Wes Craven, DP: Eric Saarinen)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, dir. by Wes Craven, DP: Jacques Haitkin)
Deadly Friend (1986, dir by Wes Craven, DP: Philip H. Lathrop)
The People Under The Stairs (1991, dir by Wes Craven, DP: Sandi Sissel)
4 (or more) Shots From 4 (or more) Films is just what it says it is, 4 (or more) shots from 4 (or more) of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 (or more) Shots From 4 (or more) Films lets the visuals do the talking.
Today would have been Wes Craven’s 82nd birthday. I have to admit that I was shocked to be reminded that Craven was 76 years old when he tragically passed away in 2015. I always assumed that he was much younger, perhaps in his late 50s. Perhaps that’s because Craven himself always seemed so energetic and enthusiastic about both horror and cinema. He was one of the best ambassadors that the horror genre could have asked for.
Today, in honor of Wes Craven, we present to you….
6 Shots From 6 Wes Craven Films
The Hills Have Eyes (1977, dir by Wes Craven, DP: Eric Saarinen)
Swamp Thing (dir by Wes Craven, DP: Robbie Greenberg)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, dir by Wes Craven, DP: Jacques Haitkin)
The People Under The Stairs (1991, dir by Wes Craven, DP: Sandi Sissel)
New Nightmare (1994, dir by Wes Craven, DP: Mark Irwin)
As for me, I’m going to share an anecdote and then, I’m going to pay tribute to Wes with a six trailer salute.
First, the anecdote. I can still remember the first time that I ever watched Last House On The Left. It was a film that I had mixed feelings about. On the one hand, as a horror lover, I could not help but be impressed by the terrifying performances of Fred Lincoln and David Hess. I could not help but by moved by the way Hess’s haunting song, Now You’re All Alone, was used in the film. And, as low-budget and exploitive as the film may have been, I could see that Wes Craven was more interested in critiquing sadism than in celebrating it.
At the same time, it was still an unpleasant film for me, as a woman, to watch and the addition of some clumsy humor pretty much confirmed that Craven was still finding his way as a filmmaker. It was one of those films that I knew, as a horror fan, I had to watch but I wouldn’t say that I enjoyed it.
However, that night, I did end up watching the movie twice. I watched it a second time so that I could listen to the commentary from Wes Craven and producer Sean S. Cunningham. And — oh my God — both of these guys were so funny and charming! Craven, especially, seemed to enjoy pointing out scenes that didn’t quite work and the frequently awkward dialogue that he had written. Craven and Cunningham both came across as being two of the nicest guys in the world and it was indeed an experience to hear them cheerfully talking while these absolutely vile images were flickering by onscreen.
And really, that taught me an important lesson and it’s one that I remember to this day. Whenever I hear some judgmental know-it-all claiming that only a sick person could direct or write a horror movie, I remember that charming Wes Craven audio commentary.
And now, here are six trailers for six of Wes Craven’s films.
Through the Shattered Lens 