The Horror Genre - Directors

There are many great directors who have made horror films, but there are some who work consistently within the genre, developing their own recognisable auteur style as they do so. These include older directors from the silent and classical hollywood eras such as James Whale and Alfred Hitchcock, directors from the video nasty era of the 1970s and 1980s such as Wes Craven, John Carpenter and Brian De Palma, and modern horror auteurs such as James Wan, Jordan Peele, Osgood Perkins and Ari Aster.

James Whale

James Whale was a prolific horror film director during the early sound era of cinema and was contracted to Universal Pictures (a company renowned for making films from the genre) on a five-year deal during the 1930s. 

Famous horror films directed by Whale include 'Frankenstein' (1931), 'The Invisible Man' (1933) and 'Bride of Frankenstein' (1935). 

Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock was typically associated with working in the thriller genre, but a number of his most famous films most certainly belong to the horror genre. 

Hitchcock's horror films include 'Psycho' (1960) and 'The Birds' (1963).

Wes Craven

Wes Craven worked almost exclusively within the horror genre, and is particularly recognised for his work in the slasher film sub-genre. He is credited with repeatedly revolutionising or updating the horror genre and creating some of the genre's most iconic franchises (such as 'Scream') and monsters (such as Freddie Krueger). 

Craven's most famous films from the genre include 'The Last House on the Left' (1972), 'The Hills Have Eyes' (1977), 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984) and 'Scream' (1996).

John Carpenter

John Carpenter has made many iconic films across a range of genres, but he is probably most well known for the horror films he has directed, many of which can be considered to be groundbreaking films within the genre, films which have influenced the style and themes within horror. 

Carpenter's most famous horror films included 'Halloween' (1978), 'The Fog' (1980), 'The Thing' (1982), 'Christine' (1983), 'Vampires' (1998) and 'The Ward' (2010).

Brian De Palma

Brian De Palma is another director who has worked successfully across a number of genres, but one who has contributed to the horror genre with films which are recognised as significant movies within the genre, particularly those made in the 1970s. 

De Palma's most famous horror films include 'Sisters' (1972), 'Obsession' (1976), 'Carrie' (1976), 'The Fury' (1978) and 'Raising Cain' (1992).

James Wan

James Wan is a modern auteur who works predominantly in the horror genre as both a director and producer. Wan has created some of the biggest contemporary horror franchises on the back of the success of his feature film debut 'Saw' (2004). 

Wan's most important and influential horror movies include 'Saw' (2004), 'Dead Silence' (2007), 'Insidious' (2010), 'The Conjuring' (2013), 'Annabelle' (2014) and 'Malignant' (2021).

Jordan Peele

Jordan Peele is another good example of a modern auteur who works predominantly within the horror genre as a director and scriptwriter (writing the 2021 remake of 'Candyman'). 

Important horror films that Peele has directed include 'Get Out' (2017), 'Us' (2019) and 'Nope' (2022).

Osgood Perkins

Osgood Perkins is a contemporary filmmaker and scriptwriter who has written and directed films predominantly within the horror genre. At this stage I think it is likely that I will choose Perkins to be the director of my horror film. 

Important films from the horror genre directed by Perkins include 'The Blackcoat's Daughter' (2015), 'The Girl in the Photographs' (2015), 'I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House' (2016), 'Gretel & Hansel' (2020), 'Longlegs' (2024) and 'The Monkey' (2025).

Ari Aster

Ari Aster has only directed a handful of films, but both of his horror films have won critical claim. One, in particular, has definitely made me consider working in the folk horror sub-genre.

Aster's horror films include 'Hereditary' (2018) and 'Midsommar' (2019).