15 Greatest Horror Directors Of All Time

Notable films: Re-Animator, From Beyond, Dagon

Whereas Roger Corman drew his inspiration from the tales of Edgar Allen Poe, Stuart Gordon turned to another great literary figure for his tales of the weird and disturbing, H. P. Lovecraft.

Few filmmakers have managed to do Lovecraft justice on the big screen, but Gordon's contribution to horror nails Lovecraft's blend of esoteric knowledge and the hidden monsters which lurk beneath the surface perfectly. The cult classic Re-Animator injected a much-needed dose of humour into the video nasties of the 1980s, while his 2001 movie Dagon, loosely adapted from the excellent short story The Shadow Over Innsmouth, remains one of the most twisted and atmospheric horror films of all time.

Gordon often worked with the excellent Brian Yazna, who produced Re-Animator and deserves an honourable mention for his own contribution to 80s horror, the wonderfully perverse and satirical Society.