#10 – Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel)

Starting us off is gorehound Eli Roth. It’s hard to believe that a second name one letter off from being ‘rot’ is coincidence, especially for someone whose debut feature film was about a flesh-eating disease.

 

#9 – George A. Romero (Night/Dawn/Day/Land/Diary/Survival of the Dead)

The granddaddy of the modern Zombie, Romero’s name invokes a serious authority, and the Italian origins provide a sense of mystery (unless you’re from Italy, then it’s pretty by the numbers). ‘Romero’ actually comes from the Italian word for ‘pilgrim’, drawing eerie parallels between the ragged, medieval supplicants who tramped across Europe in search of salvation and the single-minded procession of Romero’s undead, brain-hungry minions. Throwing in the single initial in the middle adds a touch of class that can’t be bested.

 

#8 – William Castle (House on Haunted Hill, The Tingler)

King of the Gimmicks William Castle is famous for cheesy antics like having fake skeletons propelled across the cinema during screenings, or having chairs vibrate, to get the audience to scream for their lives. Funny how someone with such hokey antics can have a name that draws images of Gothic edifices and suave beasts.

 

#7 – Wes Craven (Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street)

With a lusty word like ‘crave’ right there, Wes’ name was already destined to be in the exploitation business, but it’s the pointy edges of his letters that seal the deal. And let’s not forget that it is difficult to not say his name in a scary whisper.

 

#6 – Tom Six (Human Centipede)

That’s a number, not a name! Then when you factor in that controversial movie maker Mr. Six’s most famous films are about multiple people sewn together to make medical monstrosities, the number game becomes all the more terrifying.

 

#5 – John Carpenter (Halloween, They Live)

Now here’s a classy one that takes you right in the Biblical. And if the religion angle doesn’t give you the heebie-jeebies, it’s also fitting that the legendary filmmaker’s second name is craft-related, since his films are known for their immense control of image and timing, making audiences jump out of their seats for decades now.

 

#4 – David Cronenberg (The Fly, Naked Lunch)

With a name like Cronenberg, you never were going to direct period dramas starring Keira Knightl- wait, what? He did? Oh, well, I guess the Canadian filmmaker has shocked and confused us with films like Videodrome and Scanners for long enough that he has earned a chance at other avenues – and it’s only right for the towering Emperor of body horror to have a name that means ‘crowned mountain’.

 

#3 – Dario Argento (Suspiria, Inferno)

Italian for silver, here is another filmmaker whose name makes you imagine scowling, serious men whose mission in life is to terrify. Dario used jazz-infused music and bright red blood to do this successfully for the better part of two decades (and less successfully for another two).

 

#2 – The Butcher Brothers (The Hamiltons, The Thompsons)

This might count as cheating, since not only are these fellas’ names not Butcher, but they aren’t even brothers! I mean, come on! But when you have a name like The Butcher Brothers, you know what you’re in store for. And it ain’t a romcom. But how can a name like this not be number one? Well, because that honour belongs to…

 

#1 – Rob Zombie (House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects, The Lords of Salem)

Because of course.

 

Which nominatively determined horror directors have we missed out? Let us know below!