While some of the artsy crowd might vote for Cronenberg, I would have to give John Carpenter the nod. All 3 are excellent (Werewolf in London was a freakin scream), but I believe Carpenter's films have had a greater impact on modern filmmaking.

That, and I always thought Kurt Russell was pretty hunky for an older guy.

That being said, I thought Cigarette Burns sucked a high hard one. Yuck.