In a remarkable career that spanned more than forty years, writer, producer, and director Wes Craven successfully tapped into the horror vein to create scary, funny, cutting-edge thrillers that have become classics in the genre. His films have been both critical and commercial successes, most notably A Nightmare on Elm Street, which spawned a series of sequels and made Craven (and his creation, Freddy Krueger) an international sensation. He then created a second indelible horror movie series with Scream. In Screams & Nightmares, Brian J. Robb examines Craven's entire career, from his low-budget beginnings to his most recent box office hits, from the banned thriller The Last House on the Left and the cult classic The Hills Have Eyes to the outrageous Shocker and The People Under the Stairs. Through exclusive interviews with Craven, Robb provides in-depth accounts of the making of each of the films—including the final instalments of the Scream series—Craven's foray into writing novels, and his numerous television projects, charting the rich tapestry of his life and career until his death in 2015.
"'Brian J Robb focuses on the films, including the obscure ones. He writes engagingly and with detail . . . As Craven once said, "I'm a person who understands how people are afraid." And Robb understands how he transferred that fear to the screen'"
The Times
"'definitive . . . info-packed and exceptionally well written . . . there is no writer better qualified to chronicle the life and work of a remarkable talent'"
The Dark Side
"'a remarkably addictive and easy-to-read guide to Craven's work, piling in juicy snippets and lesser-known background . . . a comprehensive picture of Craven and his output'"
