Once hailed as one of the most original and sophisticated of the new generation of horror filmmakers that came to prominence during the 1970s, Cronenberg went on to transcend the limitations of his somewhat disreputable genre. By the 90s, after helming the critically lauded features Dead Ringers (1988) and Naked Lunch (1991), he had attained the status of one of the most intelligent and interesting contemporary auteurs working in English language films. Cronenberg began building his reputation with a series of vivid explorations of biological terror and sexual dread. He shed the label of "exploitation direction" by de-emphasizing his trademark graphic and revolting special effects to concentrate instead on theme and character.