Customer Reviews

Nightmare USA: The Untold Story of the Exploitation Independents

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Price:
I've talked to many people that feel the price is a bit steep and I agree the book isn't cheap. It is however 500 pages filled with interviews, pictures (everywhere), and essays. Think Arnold Schwarzenegger's The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding : The Bible of Bodybuilding, Fully Updated and Revised size wise but about horror films. I mean the book is no joke and there could be an exploitation horror film made about a serial killer who uses this heavy book as his weapon, that's how big it is. I felt the price was well worth it as a horror fan and film lover in general.

For those of you who aren't the biggest readers:
Basically, all you have to do is read section I The Exploitation Independents which is the history of American independent exploitation films during 1970-85 and goes from page 11-48. After you start reading you'll want to keep going and after that it's basically a reference book with essays and reviews, so you could read up on a particular film. What I'd do is either read up on a film I found prior to watching it or after I watched it to learn more.

THE BOOK:
Stephen Thrower appears to know film even though he made a rule to not include reviews on classics, foreign, and studio made films, he still makes tons of compare and contrast references to classics and mentions great directors such as Bergman and Fellini. I highly recommend this book to horror and film fans, my friends in everyday life not so much but I think my horror Amazon friends will love it, specifically reviewer Clint Bronson. Clint has crazy knowledge on horror and from my readings of his reviews 1970s imparticular which, after much thought, is the best decade for horror hands down. Be sure to check out Clint's reviews as well.

Section I- As I mentioned details the history of the exploitation film from 1970-85
Here is how Thrower breaks down section I and the history, this was a great read.
The roots and the Godfather of gore H.G Lewis.
Romero and the Modern Horror Pantheon
Critical Responses to Exploitation Cinema
Drive in Massacres
42nd Street Monsters
Serial Killers
Psycho-Killer, Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Slashers- J'adore
When Blood Is Not Enough
Torture
R ape
It Came from the Stars/Swamp/Bushes/Caves
Things That Go Bump in the Night - One of my favorite avenues of horror being the ghost story. Thrower is honest in this area saying a bigger budget with good acting helps this area of horror.
Art of Perversity-Horror and Incoherence
Decline-Carpenter, Hooper, Romero, Craven
Hollywood Trash

Section II
Essays on Films and Filmmakers
This goes from 73-373 and like I said at this point it's a reference book. You can skip around read films that interest you and as you see others go back to the book and read up.

Section III
Reviews
118 Additional reviews. These are done in a shorter format then the essays above.

Section IV
Appendices and Index
Including an exploitation independent checklist Horror, 1970-85
A Bibliography
Index

I actually learned about this book in a non horror magazine Film Comment which gave it very high praise as well.

If anyone wants to know if a particular director or film they like is talked about in the book feel free to ask.

When I opened the box, I had no idea how massive this book is. I've only scratched the surface of this behemoth, but I can honestly saw this has to be the most impressive, informative, and visually stunning book relating to exploitation/horror/sci-fi I've ever seen and I own close to 100 books related to genre/horror/transgressive/subversive cinema. I've always considered FAB Press and Harvey Fenton's output to be top shelf, but this is by far their greatest output. Stephen Thrower reviews/interviews and facts are truly intellectual. Just to have page after page, image after image of such obscure films, which I love, such as Last House on Dead End Street, Let's Scare Jessica to Death, Messiah of Evil, Death Bed: The Bed that Eats, The Nail Gun Massacre, The Slayer is such a delight as you won't find such details relating those mentioned films or any of the other films covered in this masterpiece. I would have paid $200 for this book and for $50 it's the best money you'll ever spend on a film book.

To invest 50+ dollars on a film book these days with the easy access of oodles of film information on the internet, it better knock your socks off. Thrower's new book does that and more. I would rate this up there with my two dogeared Psychotronic guides by Michael Weldon, which is high praise indeed. Congrats to Stephen Thrower for what must have been a true labor of love that fans like me can appreciate..

Being somewhat obsessed with the period and films covered in this mammoth tome I can unreservedly say that reading this was a religious experience for me. The amount of research gone into this project is extraordinary and the enthusiasm author Thrower has for forgotten gems like THE CANDY SNATCHERS, DEATH BED, BOARDING HOUSE and others is truly infectious. Not since Mike Weldon's original PSYCHOTRONIC came out in the early 80s have I been this giddy about a movie book.

Part 2 is announced in the back of the book which means the good times keep coming.

I've written a longer, more extensive review for Film Threat, but I'm going to do another one here because I believe this book belongs on the shelves of every horror/exploitation fan, film buff and film journalist. Yes, it is expensive, but it's also a 500+ page oversized hardcover with color and black and white photos (many from filmmakers' personal collections), movie reviews and interviews (many with directors who have never spoken about their films publicly before). As I said in my previous review, this is probably the best film book of the decade.

If exploitation films are your cup of tea, you need this book. Period. At some point this should become some sort of mandatory college text book, as it is not only a history in filmmaking that is rarely covered by more "serious" journalists, it's also a crash course on filmmaking.

Once you read this incredible book, which will cause you arms to fall off if you try to do it in one sitting, you'll be thrilled to know it's only the first volume (the second one, according to the author, is scheduled for 2010). And you thought things couldn't get any better.

Simply put, you aren't a fan of exploitation/horror if you don't have this book in your library.

Nightmare U.S.A. is an extremely informative and well written book. The author keeps it fun throughout by putting a sense of love into his work. I found, as I read through this hefty tome, a true feeling of 'being there' watching the films that are presented. I'm looking forward to the next installment. All in all, a wonderful read for those interested in the study of exploitation films.

I read about Nightmare, USA: The Untold Story of the Exploitation Independents by Stephen Thrower online on several discussion forums. I had not heard of the book before, but was intrigued by the subject. Though expensive it is worth every penny. With long interviews of filmmakers, restrospectives of their work, detailed reviews of the movies and extensive use of pictures, many unseen before, this is a great add to anyone's film library. The subjects chosen have rarely been profiled or even discussed before, though many of the films are cult classics.
At over 500 pages and weighing almost five pounds this is an excellent book that will fill many hours with great reading.

I bought this book without having seen it and having only heard reviews of it. WOW! I was NOT disappointed. If you are a fan of drive-in and grindhouse movies you owe it to yourself to pick up this book. As a graphic designer, I am equally impressed with the number of great "never before seen" photos included. I've heard rumors of a volume 2... If there is, I will buy that without hesitation as well. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

If you're a fan of this particular genre, then this is a must have book.
There's nothing new I can add that the previous reviewers have already said. I didn't know that any book can dwarf "Crystal Lake Memories" but this one sure does. I can't wait for Vol 2.

This book is 8 pounds of all you wanna know about exploitation movies.i cant beleave how big this book is.If you consider yourself a horror freak and you love to learn every thing about those movies..... get this book !!