Similarly, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET and his creation of Freddy Kreuger sent millions to their local cineplexes and created a franchise for New Line Cinema with six sequels to date. Craven wrote and directed the last, 10th-anniversary outing, called WES CRAVEN'S NEW NIGHTMARE, which invented a new style of self-referential horror that blossomed for the next decade.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Craven holds a Master's degree in philosophy and writing from Johns Hopkins University. Craven left a secure job in academia to follow his passion for cinema. On a shoestring budget, he wrote, directed and edited his first film, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, which generated enormous controversy and attention and helped launch the resurgence of fright films in the 70s that put horror back on the map. He then went on to write, direct and edit the critically acclaimed 1977 cult classic THE HILLS HAVE EYES. Other notable titles include SHOCKER, THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS, CURSED, THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW, DEADLY FRIEND, SWAMP THING and VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN. In 1999, Craven directed Meryl Streep in MUSIC OF THE HEART, for which she received an Academy Award Nomination.

Craven recently helmed the hit thriller RED-EYE for DreamWorks starring Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy.

For television, Craven helped create and produce the series Nightmare Cafe for NBC. He directed the telefilms Night Visions, A Stranger in the House, Invitation to Hell, Chiller, and Casebusters." He also directed seven episodes of the 1980's revival of The Twilight Zone.

In 1999, Craven published his first novel, The Fountain Society, for Simon and Schuster Press. In 2005, Craven, along with such notable filmmakers as Alexander Payne, the Coen Brothers, Walter Salles and Gus Van Sant, wrote and directed a five-minute love story for the film PARIS, JE T'AIME segment 20 arrondissement, starring Emily Mortimer and Rufus Sewell.

Finally, Craven is working on a major project for Las Vegas named Magick Macabre, a scary, funny and compelling show of illusions featuring Irish magician Joe Daly, and co-produced by John McCulgan of Riverdance fame. It will be Craven's first work for the stage, and, as he says with a wry smile, hopefully not his last.