Wes Craven was an American film director, writer, producer, and actor known for his work in the horror genre, particularly slasher films. He is best known for creating the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise featuring Freddy Krueger, directing the first film and Wes Craven's New Nightmare. Craven also directed all four films in the Scream series and co-created the Ghostface character. His films, such as The Hills Have Eyes and The People Under the Stairs, often explore the nature of reality and the lines between dreams and real life. Craven received several awards over his career, including multiple Saturn Awards and recognition at the Sitges and Gérardmer Film Festivals