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Last night, Wes Craven, the director of classic horror films such as The Hills Have Eyes, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Scream, died at the age of 76 after a long battle with brain cancer. The prolific director was responsible for four decades’ worth of nightmares, launching two widely successful horror franchises as well as producing numerous independent films. Though he tried his hand at non-horror fare (particularly the Meryl Streep-starring inspirational teacher flick, Music From the Heart), Craven’s influence on the horror genre is unmistakable. Here’s a rundown of his scariest films – and where to stream them.

'The Last House on the Left' (1972)

Craven wrote, edited, and directed this still-controversial exploitation film, making his feature-film debut. A pair of recent escaped prisoners and their psychopathic female friend happen upon two teenage girls on their way to a concert. After raping and murdering the girls, they continue on their way — only to find comfort in their parents’ home after disguising as traveling salesmen. But once the girls’ parents discover their true identity, all hell breaks loose. (More surprising than its twist ending: it was inspired by an Ingmar Bergman film, The Virgin Spring.) [Where to stream The Last House on the Left]

'The Hills Have Eyes' (1977)

Craven followed up his debut with an equally maniacal exploitation film about an all-American family that’s attacked during their cross-state tour of Nevada by a pack of wild, savage cannibals living in the desert and affected by nuclear testing. Like Craven’s first film, it was slapped with an X-rating — but that didn’t keep it from becoming a cult classic, spawning both a sequel and a remake. [Where to stream The Hills Have Eyes]

'Swamp Thing' (1982)

OK, maybe this one isn’t necessarily “scary,” but did you forget that Craven happened to try his hand at a DC Comics franchise with this 1982 big-screen adaptation of the tale of a scientist who is turned into a mutant monster? It may not be Craven’s most memorable film, but it does prove the director’s versatility and ability to go from small-budget exploitation films to, well, big-budget exploitation films. [Where to stream Swamp Thing]

'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984)

Craven is most known for introducing the world to one of horror’s most ruthless villains: Freddy Krueger, the undead pedophile who haunts the dreams of teenagers in order to exact revenge on their parents — and to get his kicks killing them while they’re unconscious, of course. Not only did Craven reignite the slasher genre in an incredibly inventive (and not to mention still terrifying) way, he did so while giving Johnny Depp his very first film role. [Where to stream A Nightmare on Elm Street]

'The Serpent and the Rainbow' (1988)

Bill Pullman stars as a young American anthropologist who heads to Haiti in order to investigate the local folklore of zombies — or, at the very least, a drug that renders someone in a severe catatonic state long enough for them to be buried in a proper funeral. Based on a non-fiction book exploring Haitian Voodoo and zombies, the film marks Craven’s attempt to stick to his genre roots while also dipping his toe into realistic storytelling. [Where to stream The Serpent and the Rainbow]

'The People Under the Stairs' (1991)

Two teenagers break into the Los Angeles home of their family’s landlords to exact revenge on their imminent eviction. What they discover is quite gruesome: the inbred children of the brother and sister landlords, who are trapped in the house’s basement and resort to cannibalism to stay alive. [Where to stream The People Under the Stairs]

'Wes Craven's New Nightmare' (1994)

While Craven chose not to directed the first sequel in the Elm Street franchise (the hilariously campy A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge), he did return to the franchise twice. He directed the third installment (subtitle: The Dream Warriors) and what was perhaps the most interesting film in the series: Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, which allowed Freddy Krueger to slice open the screen and cause madness and mayhem in the real world by terrorizing original Elm Street star Heather Langenkamp and Craven himself. [Where to stream Wes Craven’s New Nightmare]

'Scream' (1996)

Great genre directors may get lucky with one popular movie franchise under their belts. But Craven managed to prove his ability to stretch the slasher genre to its extremes with the post-modern horror classic, Scream. This time around, Craven didn’t explore teenage peril through the supernatural — instead, it was the everyday horrors of obsessive movie fandom that brought fear into the hearts of Sidney Prescott and her crew. Craven was even so bold as to one-up Hitchcock, killing off one of his stars in the film’s opening sequence. [Where to stream Scream]

'Scream 2' (1997)

While Scream might be one of the most perfectly self-referential horror movies ever made, Scream 2 is certainly the best self-referential horror movie sequels. While the last two installments of the Scream franchise were a little forced, Scream 2, which hit theaters a year after its predecessor, stuck true to the original’s roots and only upped the ante by setting it within the conceit of a copycat killer provoked by the original film’s events. [Where to stream Scream 2]

'Red Eye' (2005)

Craven’s 2005 film is a cheeky, pulse-racing thriller that throws its audiences for a variety of loops from the first reel, where our lovely protagonist played by Rachel McAdams has a genuine meet-cute with the charming Cillian Murphy on an airplane. The romance wears off quickly, however, when he reveals that he needs her to assist in his plot to assassinate a government official. [Where to stream Red Eye]

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