Wes Craven: Independent Filmmaking Royalty

 If you walk into this man’s home, you’ll hear a scream from the people under the stairs. You’ll run out thinking it was a nightmare, when you were just inside the last house on the left. Scream, People Under the Stairs, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Last House on the Left are a few of the titles that make up Wes Craven’s filmography.

About to turn 30, he took a risk and moved to California in pursuit of his new found passion, film-making. His earliest work goes back to writing and editing porn. Which no one from his family saw coming, since he was raised in a strict Baptist household. In 1972, Wes Craven released his first full-length film as a director, Last House on the Left. Last House on the Left follows 17-year-olds Mari and Phyllis as they’re kidnapped, degraded, and raped by escaped convicts. Phyllis eventually dies in an attempt to save her best friend. Mari, trying to escape, befriends the leader’s son by giving him a nickname and her necklace. He lets her runaway. Hope fills Mari’s eyes as she runs as fast as she can. The criminals catch up to her. They rape her, and carve their names into her chest. That little glimmer of hope she had disappears. 

The escaped convicts are ashamed of what they’ve done, they stare at their blood stained hands and give her space. Mari, extremely weak, manages to push herself off the ground, throws up, and says a prayer under her breath. She no longer tries to run, she walks towards the lake, and knows this is the end of the road for her. They shoot her. The water carries her body away. The escaped convicts take refuge in a lake house thanks to a married couple. The married couple turns out to be Mari’s parents. They manage to figure out what happened to their daughter and take vengeance into their own hands. 

I have an admiration for independent filmmakers, because they don’t have the big budget that Hollywood movies have, they can’t rely on stunning special effects, A-List celebrities, or worldwide promotion. Independent filmmakers have to make sure the storyline has a good flow, the acting is believable, and the editing shows continuity. The film, for me, is an example of how hard work does pay off. With a budget of $90,000, they were able to make a profit of $3.1 million at the box office.

            The story itself reminds me of something my Dad once said, that a person isn’t born bad, that it’s life and society that turns people a certain way. An upbringing filled with poverty led three people to find pleasure in causing others pain. A doctor and his wife mutilated three people in name of revenge. This story is filled with human beings being driven to unleash the darkest side of them. Last House on the Left shines a clean light into the dingy corners of the human psyche, which is what I believe a film should do. Now, I encourage you all to support independent films by visiting a film festival. And for my fellow filmmakers, keep writing! Keep directing! Keep going! Feel free to check out this short documentary on "The Last House on the Left."

The People Under the Stairs: How it Broke the Horror Movie Archetype

The People Under the Stairs broke the horror archetype on many different levels. The film had a child as the lead actor, the cast was predominantly black, and achieved a perfect blend of horror and comedy-all a rare thing in the horror genre. In addition to the villains being rich and White, it was scary how detached they were from real life, but then again, they won the natural lottery. As the story progresses, one can’t help but to bond with the lead character through a series of difficult choices. “[…] Daddy cut out the bad parts, and put the boys in the cellar, […]. They get flashlights and food of some kind. I suppose they're happy in their own way.” This dark tale tells the story of insane siblings who’ve stolen children, thrown some away in the cellar, and fed the rest to the people under the stairs. 

 

Real life problems are presented to this barely thirteen year old in the first act. Fool, our lead character, has a mother dying of cancer, his family’s about to be evicted, and they have nowhere to go. It’s interesting how the person that lost the natural lottery is the hero of this film, and the winners are placed as the villains. 

An opportunity to earn money to save his family arises; it goes against his moral standing, but what good are morals when your family’s starving? Finding yourself rooting for Fool is inevitable, which leaves the window open for fear to sneak in, making it impossible to fear for our young hero. 

 

The film itself managed to stand out when released for many reasons. It’s become a custom in scary movies to have barely any, if not, no Black people included in their production. Wes Craven noticed the unleveled playing field within the horror genre and reacted. This movie featured a mostly Black cast, and not only that, but the lead actor was Black. To quote one of the greatest sequels, “the horror genre is historically known for excluding the African American element.” – Which happens to be another Wes Craven film. While some scenes do seem farfetched, it works with the movie, even adding some humor to the story.  

 

            The People Under the Stairs comments on unfair housing policies. The children-stealing landlords charge tenants double the rent when late a day, and triple when late two days, and evicted on the third. The sole purpose of those rental claws is to get as much money as possible from low-income families, then push them out, making the building available for  “different” type of tenants. These morally depraved brother and sister aren’t so detached from modern days landlords in parts of cities labeled the “ghetto” part of town. If anything, this movie amplifies on the need for fair housing policies all over the country. Authority may be a dangerous thing when in the hands of certain people. 

The People Under the Stairs is a must watch! And like the song over the ending credits says, “Do the right thing!” 

 

Prevenge: Who Would Suspect a Pregnant Woman of Murder?

   “While people search for a purpose, I already got one.” This modern take on the horror genre portrays a pregnant woman committing murder in the name of revenge, hence the title. Prevenge is a well written story, accompanied by an amazing cast, and complimented by shots telling a story in a single frame. One of the best qualities of this film is how it delivers a different type of heroine. Who would suspect a middle class pregnant woman of murder? We’re able to dig deeper into the psychology behind each character through great use of foreshadowing. This movie not just delivers some gory, creepy scenes, but some good comedic moments, as well. Prevenge exemplifies on the difficult choices one has to make; life or death? Seek revenge, or sit at home angry? 

 

Each cast member has a moment to shine, and takes advantage of it, leaving us a good aftertaste with each scene. There are moments when one can’t stop to think, what lead actor would do that?!?! After looking up the movie on Wiki, it all made sense, the lead actress is also the writer and director- making it even more worthy of praise. The rest of the actors either make us sympathies with them, yet hate them to the point where we can’t wait for that knife to enter them - with that being said, thank you for the impeccable acting. Congratulations to the casting director for bringing together a talented assemble. The cast succeeds in delivering dark humor, eerie moments, and convincing performances.  

  The entire production team behind Prevenge produced a great new-age horror film. The story follows a woman seeking revenge for the death of her husband. There are moments where doubts emerge, but they’re quickly silenced by that little creepy voice inside her head. Throughout the movie, the lead character hears a voice urging her to continue with avenging her husband’s death. It’s understood that she believes the voice to be of her unborn child. She even avoids her sonograms because she fears what may be growing inside of her. This film interestingly turns the tables by making a person who society would perceive as vulnerable, into this horror film’s knife wielding psychopath.  

The director of photography, location scout, special make-up effects supervisor, all did a great job at pulling us into this story. This film could have been made as a dark comedy, but keeps the horror genre present at all time, either through blood on the floor, a creepy voice over, or eerie images. The foreshadowing in this movie is done very subtle. While Ruth, our pregnant murdering heroine, converses with a midwife, she’s told that the baby is in control now, to just give into it, if only the midwife knew she was green-lighting a murdering spree. 

A fan of the horror genre? Please watch this movie! You won’t regret it.