"The Hills Have Eyes" (1977)

From Scream to The Last House on the Left, Wes Craven is undoubtedly a horror film rockstar.  Seriously, he is a terrific director, and has he ever made a movie that wasn't even mildly entertaining?  Nah, I didn't think so, either.  The Hills Have Eyes is one of Craven's earlier films, and it centers on a family who, amidst a road trip, accidentally crash into a dessert.  While they think they are alone, they actually are being stalked by a family of deranged cannibals, and soon the chaos and violence begin.....

(Photo Credit)

Watch The Hills Have Eyes by renting it from Netflix, or buy it directly from Amazon.  Also, make sure to check out the trailer below:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EWNav9lhCPA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

P.S. While most casting sessions look at an actor's, y'know, acting abilities, apparently one of the strongest reasons for hiring an actor was his or her ability to cry on cue.

P.S.S. Remember Dee Wallace, the actress in E.T. and The Howling?  She actually was in this movie, too-- can you say "scream queen"?

"The Last House on the Left" (1972)

Oh, Wes Craven-- the simple utterance of his name sends shivers down many horror fans' spines.  He's responsible for classics like A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream, and, my personal favorite, The Last House on the Left.  The Last House on the Left was Craven's first venture into feature films, and its content is somewhat darker than his other flicks.  Two teenage girls meet up at their parents' summer homes and are soon stalked by a group of vicious criminals.  Besides robbing them, they take them into the woods and proceed to brutally rape, hunt them down, and murder them.  However, their car breaks down right in front one of the girl's summer house, and her Daddy Dearest, who happens to be a physician (translation: knows lots of ways to make you suffer), soon realizes who the supposed "guests" are.  Pretty soon, the line becomes blurred between who the victims and the killers are....

(Photo Credit)

Watch The Last House on the Left instantly on Netflix, or purchase it from Amazon directly.  While you're waiting, amuse yourself by watching the following trailer:



P.S. Due to the graphic nature of the rape scene (it truly is the most realistic and horrifying one I've ever seen), it has been banned many times in numerous countries.  The UK originally gave it an X rating until Craven had to drastically edit out the worse bits.

P.S.S. Director Wes Craven tends to name a lot of his villians some version of "Krug" (i.e. Freddy Krueger and the main bad dude in this flick).  This name belongs to his high school bully, who you bet is really, really regretting beating up on creative, talented, and rich kids....

"A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984)

A Nightmare on Elm Street isn't just one of Wes Craven's first horror movies, or Johnny Depp's introduction into cinema.  Instead, it is a pioneer in the genre known as "slasher films."  What makes this film so frightening is that, as opposed to other slashers of the day such as Halloween and Friday the 13th, is that it has a supernatural twist.  Years ago, Freddy Kreuger, a pedophile/child murderer, was burned alive by disgruntled parents who feared for their children's safety.  As the children become teenagers, Freddy, adorned in an ugly striped sweater and metal claws reminiscent of X-Men's Wolverine, haunts their dreams, killing them both while asleep and in real life.

(Photo Credit)

Rent A Nightmare on Elm Street on Netflix, or buy it on Amazon.  Regardless, if you consider yourself a horror fan, you must add this classic to your collection.  Check out the following trailer for a sneak preview:



P.S. Unlike other famous film killers, like Jason or Michael Meyers, Freddy Krueger is not simply a large, silent monster.  Instead, he is dark, demented, and somewhat funny.  Originally, Freddy was supposed to follow the others' examples, but actor Robert Englund successfully created a novel character.

P.S.S. Freddy Krueger was named after Wes Craven's schoolyard bully.  He apparently tormented him relentlessly during their shared paper routes.  Talk about poetic justice....