Top Five Horror Film Directors

Top Five Horror Film Directors

My top ten favourite Scary Movie characters was the most read article on my blog. For that I thank everyone who read it. Its stuff like that, which makes doing this blog worthwhile. Over the next week I’ll do a few lists all horror movie related, culminating in a top ten Horror films list on Halloween.  One because, I like it when my blog does well. Two, lists are always pretty fun and three, Halloween is definitely one of my favourite times of years, so I like to celebrate the time to scare. Over the next week I’ll do a few lists, culminating in a top ten Horror films list on Halloween. 

So today’s list goes to the men behind the camera. The top five Horror Movie directors. 

Honourable Mention: Ok, so it was so hard for me to get it down to a top five, but just missing out on the top five lists is: 

The Director: George A. Romero. Known For: Dawn of the Dead (1985), Night of the Living Dead (1968) and The Crazies (1973)

Why he missed out: OK, so I think I’ll get a lot of stick for this omission, but I’m prepared to take it. Yes, the man did pretty much invent Zombies and I do love Zombies. I had to look at how many films I love of the director in question.  While Night of the Living Dead is fantastic and the original Dawn of the Dead is great, the other guys on the list have more films I prefer. Also, for me Romero’s reputation is going down the toilet a bit for every copout Zombie film he makes. I swear, in a few years we’re going to have ‘Afternoon of the Dead’, and ‘Elevenses with the Dead’. 

Ok, so now you know who just missed out, let’s get on with the list. 

Number Five Rob Zombie. Known For: House of 1000 corpses (2003), The Devils Rejects (2005) and The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009)

Why he’s on the list: I know what you’re screaming at the screen right now. How on earth could I put Rob Zombie on a list that George A. Romero missed out on? Am I Right? Well for me Rob Zombie has one of the most distinctive voices out of any filmmaker, regardless what genre. I’m sure I’m not the only person who hears of a new film looking for a director and says ‘I’d love to see Rob Zombie’s take on that’. Because, like him or hate him, the man is defiantly a visionary. Also, the two Halloween remakes aside, he’s a pretty talented director. 

Number Four: John Carpenter Known For: The Thing (1982), Christine (1983), and Halloween (1978)

Why he’s on the list: Just beating his Halloween predecessor, John Carpenter slots in at number four. Undeniably, one of the four fathers of horror and a cult figure when it comes to scare flicks. However, I have to admit, the Halloween series isn’t one of my favourites.  I do have to respect the franchise though. On the other hand, Christine and The Thing are great movies full of suspense and scare and are two of my personal favourite scary films. If a guy can make one of the sexiest cars ever seem scary, he deserves his place in the list. 

Number Three: Sam Raimi Known For: The Evil Dead (1981) Army of Darkness (1992) and Drag me to Hell (2009).

Why he’s on the list: I’m not going to say he’s the most cult horror film director of all time (we can wait for number one on the list for that prize) but he’s definitely up there. The Evil Dead’s are cult classics that have definitely kept Bruce Campbell’s movie career alive a lot longer than it should. Like every other director on this list, Raimi has such a unique voice when it comes to horror as he is able to blend the gory with the funny, to make a horror movie that is as comic as it is scary. 

Number Two: Wes Craven Known For: The Hills Have Eyes (1977) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and Scream (1996)

Why he’s on the list: Like Carpenter, Wes Craven is one of the staples of modern horror and definitely a master of his craft. I don’t know any film director who has managed to have three successful film franchises (Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream and The Hills Have Eyes). First starting as tense gore specialist with Nightmare on Elm Street, Craven has been able to adapt over time and grown into a satirical horror film maker, able to make fun of the conventions he once created. However, also like Carpenter, Craven has made some duds as stinkers Scream Four and Red Eye have proven. 

And our Winner is: 

Number One: David Cronenberg Known For: The Fly (1986), Videodrome (1983) and Scanners (1981)

Why he’s on the list: Not just one of the best horror movie directors, Mr Cronenberg is one of the best movie directors. Much like Raimi, Cronenberg has given us a unique blend of quirky comedy, with over the top gore, mixed with suspense with a seasoning of political connotations. For me, Videodrome is one of the most underrated horror movies of all time and if you haven’t seen it, I implore you to do so. Cronenberg has also taken his horror roots and applied them to his latest movies, Ala A History of Violence. What’s more, David Cronenberg has got more great horror films than any other director on the list, while some of the others have made some stinkers, Cronenberg really hasn’t. So it’s consistency that is the key of making David Cronenberg my favourite horror film director. 

What do you guys think? Do I make sense? Or do you disagree totally? Feel free to get in contact and let me know. 

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Until next time, go to the movies.

Daniel Morris.