Popular culture has embraced the iconography, from the mask in Wes Craven's Scream films to the Munch-inspired alien villains The Silence in Doctor Who.

BBC: Munch's The Scream... and the appeal of anguished art

There was more praise for the writer on Twitter with directors Ron Howard, Wes Craven, Cameron Crowe and Darren Aronofsky leading the mass outpour of affection.

BBC: Roger Ebert: Tributes paid to celebrated film critic

Last summer I found myself sitting on a sidewalk, in the middle of the night, watching Wes Craven film the latest installment of Scream 4.

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Director Wes Craven says he was first drawn to the howling ghost-face mask that became the star of his "Scream" movies because it reminded him of the Munch image, one of his favorite artworks.

WSJ: 'The Scream' by Edvard Munch

Wes Craven's back, Neve Campbell and Courteney.

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