Screams and Nightmares: The Films of Wes Craven

Writer, producer, and director Wes Craven has successfully tapped into the horror vein for over thirty years, serving up scary, funny, hip thrillers that demand a second look. His films have been both critical and commercial successes, most notably Nightmare on Elm Street, which spawned a series of sequels and made Craven (and hiscreation, Freddy Kruger) an international sensation. But Craven's films have also become classics in a field that he continues to reinvent—the horror genre is still reeling from the impact of his most recent project, the brilliant Scream series.

With Screams and Nightmares, author Brian J. Robb covers 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 third installment of the Scream series—Craven's foray into writing novels, and his numerous television projects.

With a full filmography and more than 200 photographs, many from the director's own collection (including a detailed overview of Craven's television work), Screams and Nightmares is quite simply the only book of its kind.

"Dripping with fascinating details ...this is a treat for anyone interested in horror films, makeup, and special effects."—Washington Post

"Craven's rise from English teacher to Hollywood heavyweight is fascinating."—Entertainment Weekly