1. David Lynch

One of the greatest directors with a signature style is David Lynch. In my opinion Lynch is truly a modern day artist. He incorporates magic realism, surrealism, and subconscious, dreamlike concepts into his work. He also regularly introduces a woman character with a fractured identity. Some of Lynch’s must sees include The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks.

2. Quentin Tarantino

Tarantino films pack a punch. They're bursting with raw energy and are as edgy as walking though a room filled with corners. Every single time I think about a Tarantino film, I immediately think of the songs associated with it. This is largely due to Tarantino’s creative process; he develops a scene around a song – GENIUS. Check out Pulp Fiction, Dusk til Dawn and Reservoir Dogs.

3. Alfred Hitchcock

Hitchcock was the pioneer of the suspense and thriller genres. His approach to filming was detailed and methodical. Hitchcock factored in absolutely every element while producing a film. He even turned his attention to the detail in each of his film posters. I heard he expected his actors to wear sexy lingerie while filming because he believed it would enhance their performances! Signature Hitchcock starts with Psycho, The Birds, and Vertigo.

4. Wes Craven

Craven is an unusual addition to the mix, but he is one worth mentioning. His directing career started in porn and gradually he transitioned across to the horror genre. His films tend to overlap the concepts of dreams (or fantasies) with reality. Check out his early work including, The Hills have Eyes (‘70s version), Nightmare on Elm Street and The Rainbow Serpent. It is likely you will be rolling over the couch laughing as opposed to sitting behind it in fear. Just remember, these movies truly terrified people back in the day!

5. Tony Kaye

Kaye has only directed a few films, but you know what they say – it’s quality over quantity. Kaye’s films are confronting and challenge controversial social themes. His leading characters tend to be filled with self-hatred and regret. Films are usually in black and white and regularly have flashbacks. His approach adds to the tone of the film and builds on character depth. Watch American History X and Lake of Fire. They will make your skin crawl at times, but they are worth it.

6. Stanley Kubrick

Kubrick transferred his eye for detail in still photography across to motion film. He used a lot of unusual camera techniques to engage the audience and capture a mood. Kubrick demanded perfection and pushed actors to the edge. I personally believe his earlier work was his best. Check out cult classics like A Clockwork Orange and The Shining.

7. Sofia Coppola

Coppola uses a lot of non-verbal techniques to build on character depth. To emphasize a characters loneliness, she films her lead walking down long hallways or standing on the outside a window looking in. Coppola regularly casts former child actors as leads, and I’m not sure why; maybe it helps build on nostalgia or perhaps she thinks they can convey loneliness. Check out films like Lost in Translation, The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antoinette.

I intentionally excluded well-known blockbuster directors like Martin Scorsese, Mel Brooks, and Steven Spielberg from this list. I would love to hear what you think... who is a director you know of that has a signature style? What other movies have these directors filmed that are worth checking out?