It takes a lot of people to make a horror movie…producers, screenwriters, designers, editors, actors…but the one job that takes on the greatest importance is director. It’s the director who is credited with being the visionary of a film crew, the one most responsible for the overall artistry and creativity of a movie. That’s why horror fans are always interested to discover new and talented young directors…ones who can take a sometimes tired genre and create something surprising and exciting. Here are a few fan and critic favorites.
Mike Flanagan
Fittingly for a horror director, Flanagan was born in Salem Massachusetts. He has directed (not to mention edited and written or co-written) several recent critically acclaimed horror films, including Oculus, Hush, Absentia, Before I Wake, and Ouija: Origin of Evil. Next up is an adaptation of Stephen King’s Gerald’s Game.
Karyn Kusama
Kusama directed 2009’s horror comedy Jennifer’s Body. While that film’s reception was mixed, the reviews and fan reactions to 2015’s chilling The Invitation have been overwhelmingly positive. Next up…the highly anticipated horror anthology movie XX (featuring work by Kusama and other female directors) due out in February 2017.
Robert Eggers
The writer-director of The Witch got his start as a theatrical production and costume designer before making the switch to film, which definitely explains the memorable visuals of the movie. Horror fans will be excited to hear that his next project will be a remake of the classic 1922 horror movie Nosferatu.
Lucky McKee
Horror fans have been keeping an eye on Lucky McKee for a while now. Previous films include The Woman, The Woods, All Cheerleaders Die, and the unique cult favorite May. Up next…Misfortune.
Adam Wingard
This horror director has been prolific since he directed his first horror short at age 19. He has gone on to direct several notable recent horror films, including You’re Next and Blair Witch. More horror projects in the works include Death Note, to be released in 2017, and the recently announced I Saw the Devil.
Jennifer Kent
An Australian actress who turned to directing after being inspired by the controversial director Lars von Trier, Kent’s first full-length horror film, The Babadook, generated a huge amount of attention and praise. Film fans are looking forward to the release of 2017’s The Nightingale, a dark drama set in remote Tasmania in the early 1800s.
Images via IMDb.
