Sean S.Cunningham, a filmmaker with a penchant for starting films quickly and efficiently, much like William Girdler, Oliver Hellman, or Ed Wood, began his career in Hollywood. Hailing from New York, Cunningham's extensive knowledge of directing films led him to the West Coast, where he started his career around the same time as Wes Craven.
Cunningham's early work included producing and financing Craven's film "The Last House on the Left" (1972),a groundbreaking horror film that shocked audiences with its graphic content. Cunningham's own directorial efforts, such as "Case of the Full Moon Murders" (1973) and "Manny's Orphans" (1978),showcased his ability to blend comedy and horror.
However, Cunningham's most notable achievement was the creation of the iconic horror franchise "Friday the 13th" (1980). This film, which starred Betsy Palmer and was a massive success, has spawned numerous sequels and remains one of the most popular horror films in history. Despite his success with "Friday the 13th," Cunningham's subsequent films, such as "A Stranger Is Watching" (1982) and "Spring Break" (1983),failed to replicate the same level of success.
Cunningham's later work included producing films like "House" (1985) and its sequels, as well as "My Boyfriend's Back" (1993) and "Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday" (1993). He also ventured into underwater horror with "DeepStar Six" (1989) and "Jason X" (2001),the latter of which served as a follow-up to the "Friday the 13th" franchise.
