INSPIRATIONAL

PRACTITIONERS
POPPY REYNARD

ALFRED HITCHCOCK
1899-1980

Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was an English film director, who pioneered many elements
of the suspense and psychological thriller genre films. He had a successful career in
British cinema with both silent films and early talkies and became named as England's
best director.
I have looked at some of Hitchcocks work and seen that in his movies he doesnt
explicitly exhibit graphic violence, blood, gore etc. to his viewers. He euphemistically
connotes it. An example of this is when he only shows the blood running down the
plughole in the film Psycho this is rather than showing the full stabbing scene.

Many of his films were under the genre (psychological) which is why I found him
important to research relating to my genre.
He was also known to appear in most of his films, almost as if making himself an icon or
brand image so that his audience and viewers could know who he is through appearing
in his films.

STANLEY KUBRICK
1928-1999

Stanley Kubrick was an American director and screenplay writer mostly for directing
The Shining (1980). It was also a psychological horror/thriller.

He is commonly referred to as one of the greatest and most influential directors in

cinematic history. His films, which are typically adaptations of novels or short
stories, cover a wide range of genres; recognised for their realism, dark humour etc.

Similarly to Alfred Hitchcock his films were less graphic.

WES CRAVEN
1939-2015

Wes Craven was an American film director, writer, producer and actor. In particularly, the
genre of horror, particularly slasher films. His impact on the genre was considered
prolific and influential.

directed all four films in the Scream series (which I have further researched into) and two
films in the Hills Have Eyes series.
I find this director very interesting as he chooses to use a variety of different ways to try
and portray the theme/genre of horror. It also had a common exploration of the nature of
reality. A Nightmare on Elm Street, for example, dealt with the consequences of dreams
in real life. Also in In Scream, the characters frequently reference horror films similar to
their situations, and at one point Billy Loomis, one of the characters in the film, tells his
girlfriend that life is just a big movie.
Like in his Scream movies I want to try and incorporate the idea that the protagonist is
always unidentified. I think this is an effective way to keep viewers and audiences
connected throughout the films.

TOBE HOOPER
BORN 1943

Tobe Hooper is also an American film director, screenwriter, and producer best
known for his work in the horror film genre. One of his best well known films is The
Texas Chain Saw Massacre. He directed it in 1974 and then directed The Texas
Chainsaw Massacre 2 in 1986.
I found him inspiring as this film was one of the most influential films ever made
so therefore wanted to look into him more so I could use some of the techniques he
did in my work.