Farewell to Wes – Dread Central Writer John Squires
I don’t specifically remember the first time I laid eyes on Freddy Krueger, heard him crack a joke, or watched him brutally kill a pretty-looking teenager, but to say that he was a small part of my childhood would be, well, a huge understatement. All kids have heroes, whether they’re sports players or astronauts. My hero, growing up, happened to be a burnt-faced serial killer.
My lifelong love affair with all things horror can be traced directly back to A Nightmare on Elm Street and its many sequels, which were a veritable feast for my developing imagination. Though my local video store had a massive wall of horror VHS tapes to choose from, I rarely left with the ones that didn’t have Freddy plastered on the cover. Because I knew, even at a very young age, that there was something special about the franchise, and the villain who called it home.
I would of course eventually realize that Wes Craven was the man responsible for creating Freddy Krueger, and once I finally allowed myself to watch something other than the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, I began delving into the rest of his work. The Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes, The Serpent and the Rainbow, and The People Under the Stairs soon became favorites, and I found a brand new horror icon to dress up as when Craven revitalized the landscape of 1990s horror with Scream.
You could say that Wes Craven was an ever-present figure in my life, introducing me to the world of horror cinema as a child and continuing to remind me, throughout the last couple decades, why I became such a huge fan in the first place. While many filmmakers who get their start in horror eventually leave the genre behind, Craven is one of the few who always stayed true to himself, directing and producing horror movies well into his 70s with the same enthusiasm as he did in his 30s. And though 2011’s Scream 4 unfortunately ended up being his final film as a director, he never stopped doing right by us fans – producing the recent TV series “Scream” as well as two upcoming horror movies.
Whether the cameras were rolling or not, Craven’s love for the horror genre showed through on an almost daily basis. On both Twitter and Instagram, he kept in touch with his fans and was always happy to talk about the movies we hold so near and dear, sharing behind-the-scenes photos, telling stories, and even happily spreading around artwork inspired by those films. I can’t tell you how many friends of mine nearly exploded from excitement when Craven followed them on social media, which just goes to show how important he was to us all. And I always got the sense that we were as important to him as he was to us.
Horror wouldn’t be the same without Wes Craven. My life wouldn’t be the same without Wes Craven. And I’m reminded this week, as I sit here typing this, that you don’t need to have a personal relationship with someone to be completely heartbroken when they pass away. I never met Wes Craven; in fact I never even spoke directly to him, but his influence on my life will continue to be felt for as long as I live. I don’t honestly know that I’d be a horror fan today if it weren’t for Freddy Krueger holding my hand at a young age and showing me how much fun being scared could be, and what I’m really saying when I type that is I don’t know if I’d be who I am today if it weren’t for Wes Craven.
So thank you, Wes. Thank you so much for letting us hang around in your brain for so many years. I think I speak for everyone in the horror community when I say that we will continue deriving joy from doing so for many years to come. Your life’s work will never be forgotten, nor will it ever fail to inspire, entertain, and terrify.
— John Squires
With the tragic passing of Wes Craven, literally everyone in the industry has been reeling and expressing love for the man and his work. Several people have been writing in to Dread Central to ask if it would be cool to post their thoughts. So this Farewell to Wes feature will be their opportunity to share their feelings and their thoughts with you, the horror community.
Some will be long, some will be short, but all are important and will be featured with love and caring. It’s our honor to be able to do this for the man who gave us so very much.
Categorized:News
