Defined the modern slasher formula with 'Halloween' (1978), establishing the masked killer archetype and influencing countless films in the genre.
Wes Craven USACreated iconic slasher franchises like 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' and 'Scream,' masterfully blending horror with meta-commentary on the genre itself.
Phil Cunningham USAPioneered the slasher template with 'Friday the 13th' (1980), establishing camp settings and the relentless killer trope that defined 1980s horror cinema.