Thank You, Wes Craven

I'm a bit late posting this - I wrote it a few days after he passed away on August 30 - but I wanted to share my thoughts on what Wes Craven's films have meant to me.

Meeting Wes Craven at a screening of 'Wes Craven's New Nightmare' at the Arclight Hollywood, October 2003.

The first time I saw Wes Craven's 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' was in 1992, over seven years after its release.  I was 13 years old, nearing the end of 8th grade, and, having grown up in a household where such films were strictly forbidden, it was one of the first horror films I had ever seen.  Of course, like any other child of the eighties, I had heard of Freddy Krueger and knew what he looked like - the sweater, the hat, the glove - but, knowing little else, I thought of the 'Nightmare' series as mindless slasher films. However, it was a quiet Sunday afternoon, I was home alone, and the film was airing on basic cable.  

From the beginning, I was hooked.  While I had little to no expectations, the film turned out to be a carefully constructed, terrifying and surreal exploration of dreams, full of strong characters, suspenseful moments, and an array of plot twists.  The opening nightmare sequence, featuring the 15 year-old Tina (Amanda Wyss) being stalked through a cavernous boiler room, had me hiding next the TV, peering around to see when Freddy would jump out next.   Assuming that Tina was the main character, I was shocked when she met a gruesome demise only 20 minutes into the film, and her best friend Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) assumed the lead role.  Nancy proved to be a strong, resourceful character, and I followed her journey with bated breath as she desperately tried to figure out why her dreams had become deadly and how she could face the terrifying monster that wanted to destroy her.

The film was exactly what I needed at the time.  Full of teenage angst, I latched on to the theme of inter-generational conflict (in addition to Freddy Krueger himself, every adult character in the film serves to makes things worse for the teenage protagonists) and admired the perseverance, inner strength, and self-reliance of Nancy.  Freddy Krueger, played brilliantly by Robert Englund, was a terrifying creation and an alluring anti-hero with glimpses of the humor that would come to define the character in the sequels.   As a young teenager struggling to figure out my own identity, it was a welcome feeling to have something that truly resonated with me, something for which I had a genuine enthusiasm.

And embrace it I did.  Before long, I was a full-on Freddy fanatic.  My bedroom was filled with posters, magazines, books, memorabilia, and VHS tapes of the films (that I had to hide and watch when my parents were away).  I went to the library and devoured as much information on the films as I could, including film theory and behind-the-scenes stories.  When Wes Craven returned to write and direct another 'Nightmare' film, 'Wes Craven's New Nightmare,' in 1994, I counted down the days until its release, dragged friends to the theater, and was completely enthralled by his latest masterpiece, literally sitting on the edge of my seat through the last act of the film.  

Although my teenage angst is long gone, I've continued to embrace that fandom in the decades since.  In college, I had a 'Nightmare on Elm Street' website (back in the days of Geocities) that connected me to other fans around the world.  I immersed myself in film history and film theory courses as an undergraduate, often using them as a springboard to research and write about the 'Nightmare' films.  I moved to Los Angeles after college and started attending film screenings, speaker events, and fan conventions related to the series and horror films in general, making new friends in the process.  I even appeared on a game show as a "Nightmare on Elm Street Expert."  Although I ultimately decided to pursue a career in the non-profit sector, I spent years writing horror screenplays in my spare time.  When I interviewed for admission to the MBA program I attended, my interviewer asked me, "If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be?"  My answer: Wes Craven.

Though we will never have that lunch together, I was incredibly fortunate to see him on a handful of occasions in Los Angeles when he made public appearances.  The first time, in April 2001, he was giving a speech at Cal State Fullerton; a friend who was a student there invited me to attend the event with her.  Eager to say something that would leave an impression, I approached him after his speech and said, "Your films have really inspired me and changed my life."  He responded with, "Wow, I hope it was in a good way!"

And while my current situation might not seem to reflect it -- I now live in upstate New York and work in university administration -- his work really did change my life.  His films gave me something to latch on to, something in which to find inspiration and excitement, and a way to connect with new people.  And so I thank you, Wes Craven, for all that and more.