Sean S. Cunningham is an American film director, producer, and writer known for directing influential horror films. He graduated from college with a master's degree and got his start managing theaters. Cunningham is best known for creating the popular and iconic film "Friday the 13th". He directed several other horror films and his style often included suspenseful scenes, jumpy moments, and an absence of sound to heighten fear. Cunningham was inspired to make "Friday the 13th" by documentaries he had seen, aiming to capture the essence of what viewers expect from the horror genre.