Wes Craven: Overrated? - Blu-ray Forum

bruce_pullen · 01-26-2009, 05:25 PM

Question: Is Wes Craven a genius or hack? Was he dependent on screenplays for greatness? Your thoughts and Craven pics.

ScarredLungs · 01-26-2009, 05:27 PM

The only movie i have seen of his, that i know of, is Red Eye. I enjoyed that movie. Based off my limited expereince with him, i'd say he is a good director.
I would really need to see more of his movies to be able to produce a more accurate judgement though.

(Fe)Man · 01-26-2009, 05:35 PM

Nightmare on Elm Street was genius. It's a shame hacks got to the sequels and made Freddy campy. Freddy had the potential to be someone to haunt people's thoughts.

Last House on the Left was raw and could make squirm in your seats.

The People Under the Stairs was uniquely fascinating and I still love it to this day.

Scream spelled his downfall.

He had his moments so I won't call him a hack and genius is a hard thought to sell.

bruce_pullen · 01-26-2009, 05:36 PM

Some would say his success: depended on great scripts rather than direction?

Your thoughts? Yes, No?

bruce_pullen · 01-26-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (Fe)Man

Nightmare on Elm Street was genius. It's a shame hacks got to the sequels and made Freddy campy. Freddy had the potential to be someone to haunt people's thoughts.

Last House on the Left was raw and could make squirm in your seats.

The People Under the Stairs was uniquely fascinating and I still love it to this day.

Scream spelled his downfall.

He had his moments so I won't call him a hack and genius is a hard thought to sell.

In between than?

fatediesel · 01-26-2009, 05:41 PM

Are you starting threads with every big horror director of the 70s? As for Craven, I wouldn't say he's overrated because he was a big force behind some of the big horror series like Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream, not to mention the original Hills have Eyes and the underrated Shocker (which appears to be headed for a remake). He has allowed his name to be on some pretty bad stuff, but I he still has a great legacy.

fatediesel · 01-26-2009, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce_pullen

Some would say his success: depended on great scripts rather than direction?

Your thoughts? Yes, No?

Considering he has been a writer on almost all his scripts I would say they go hand in hand. I do wonder what his thought process was when he decided to direct Music of the Heart.

statikcat · 01-26-2009, 05:51 PM

It seems like his older stuff was good and newer stuff (Red Eye, etc) is terrible in comparison. Don't forget garbage like Cursed also. He has done some classics so he sits in the middle with me.

bruce_pullen · 01-26-2009, 05:59 PM

Craven wrote for his early films, not his later output.

Let me rephrase: Is Craven a writer who directs, or a director who occasionally writes?

bruce_pullen · 01-26-2009, 06:08 PM

Note: Is Craven an auteur?

assydingo · 01-26-2009, 06:12 PM

Nightmare on Elm Street, Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, and New Nightmare are classics to me.

Gamma_Winstead · 01-26-2009, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (Fe)Man

Scream spelled his downfall.

Scream is an excellent slasher film!

Lyle_JP · 01-26-2009, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gamma626

Scream is an excellent slasher film!

Only if you have a taste for deconstructionism. To me, few things exemplify the suck of the 90's more than Kevin Williamson and his annoyingly hyper self-aware dialog and characters. Scream 3 is the only palatable one of the bunch because (thankfully) he didn't write it.

OtisBDriftwood · 01-26-2009, 06:38 PM

I don't think you can call the man responsible for creating one of the biggest horror icons of our time "overrated". Sure, he's put his name on some pretty bad stuff, but he has also created some great horror movies. Some people may not like Scream, but it revitalized the horror genre.

bruce_pullen · 01-26-2009, 06:40 PM

And Consistancy?

Agent Smith · 01-26-2009, 06:50 PM

The Last House on the Left made a lasting impression on me. It is certainly on the short list of the most disturbing movies I've ever seen. I can't believe someone had the fortitude to remake it.

That being said, I'm leaning more toward a director who writes.

Belloche · 01-26-2009, 06:50 PM

I'm a huge fan of A Nightmare on Elm Street. Other than that I'm not too impressed with his body of work. I really hated Last House on the Left.

assydingo · 01-26-2009, 06:53 PM

LHotL was pretty good considering the budget and being his first film.

JamesKurtovich · 01-26-2009, 06:56 PM

I like Wes, but that werewolf movie he did a couple years back was just horrid.

CHERRYGARCIA · 01-26-2009, 07:41 PM

The
People
Under
The
Stairs

01-26-2009, 05:25 PM	#1
bruce_pullen Special Member Member since:Dec 2008	Wes Craven: Overrated? Question: Is Wes Craven a genius or hack? Was he dependent on screenplays for greatness? Your thoughts and Craven pics.

01-26-2009, 05:59 PM	#9
bruce_pullen Special Member Member since:Dec 2008	Clarification. Craven wrote for his early films, not his later output. Let me rephrase: Is Craven a writer who directs, or a director who occasionally writes?

01-26-2009, 06:08 PM	#10
bruce_pullen Special Member Member since:Dec 2008	Note. Note: Is Craven an auteur?

01-26-2009, 06:40 PM	#15
bruce_pullen Special Member Member since:Dec 2008	Question. And Consistancy?

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01-26-2009, 05:27 PM	#2
ScarredLungs Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Utah 4K collection:65 Blu-ray collection:1433 Prime collection:1 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:4	The only movie i have seen of his, that i know of, is Red Eye. I enjoyed that movie. Based off my limited expereince with him, i'd say he is a good director. I would really need to see more of his movies to be able to produce a more accurate judgement though.

01-26-2009, 05:35 PM	#3
(Fe)Man Senior Member Member since:Oct 2008 4K collection:43 Blu-ray collection:630 DVD collection:111	Nightmare on Elm Street was genius. It's a shame hacks got to the sequels and made Freddy campy. Freddy had the potential to be someone to haunt people's thoughts. Last House on the Left was raw and could make squirm in your seats. The People Under the Stairs was uniquely fascinating and I still love it to this day. Scream spelled his downfall. He had his moments so I won't call him a hack and genius is a hard thought to sell.

01-26-2009, 05:36 PM	#4
bruce_pullen Special Member Member since:Dec 2008	Some would say his success: depended on great scripts rather than direction? Your thoughts? Yes, No?

01-26-2009, 05:41 PM	#6
fatediesel Blu-ray Count Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Iowa Blu-ray collection:410 Trading Score:47	Are you starting threads with every big horror director of the 70s? As for Craven, I wouldn't say he's overrated because he was a big force behind some of the big horror series like Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream, not to mention the original Hills have Eyes and the underrated Shocker (which appears to be headed for a remake). He has allowed his name to be on some pretty bad stuff, but I he still has a great legacy.

01-26-2009, 05:51 PM	#8
statikcat Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Washington, DC Blu-ray collection:67	It seems like his older stuff was good and newer stuff (Red Eye, etc) is terrible in comparison. Don't forget garbage like Cursed also. He has done some classics so he sits in the middle with me.

01-26-2009, 06:12 PM	#11
assydingo Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Oct 2008 Blu-ray collection:483 DVD collection:12 Trading Score:3	Nightmare on Elm Street, Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, and New Nightmare are classics to me.

01-26-2009, 06:38 PM	#14
OtisBDriftwood Active Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:New Jersey Blu-ray collection:147 Trading Score:152	I don't think you can call the man responsible for creating one of the biggest horror icons of our time "overrated". Sure, he's put his name on some pretty bad stuff, but he has also created some great horror movies. Some people may not like Scream, but it revitalized the horror genre.

01-26-2009, 06:50 PM	#16
Agent Smith Member Member since:Sep 2008 Location:West Palm Beach, FL Blu-ray collection:21	The Last House on the Left made a lasting impression on me. It is certainly on the short list of the most disturbing movies I've ever seen. I can't believe someone had the fortitude to remake it. That being said, I'm leaning more toward a director who writes.

01-26-2009, 06:50 PM	#17
Belloche Blu-ray Guru Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Nova Scotia, Canada Blu-ray collection:403 DVD collection:11 Trading Score:3	I'm a huge fan of A Nightmare on Elm Street. Other than that I'm not too impressed with his body of work. I really hated Last House on the Left.

01-26-2009, 06:53 PM	#18
assydingo Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Oct 2008 Blu-ray collection:483 DVD collection:12 Trading Score:3	LHotL was pretty good considering the budget and being his first film.

01-26-2009, 06:56 PM	#19
JamesKurtovich Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Alaska Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:229 Blu-ray reviews:4 Trading Score:2	I like Wes, but that werewolf movie he did a couple years back was just horrid.

01-26-2009, 07:41 PM	#20
CHERRYGARCIA Expert Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Queens, NY 4K collection:216 Blu-ray collection:629 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:41	The People Under The Stairs

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