Nightmare USA

Nightmare USA is a comprehensive examination of American exploitation and horror films from the 1970s and 1980s. The 528-page volume includes extensive interviews with directors, actors, and crew members who worked in independent genre cinema during this period. The book catalogs hundreds of low-budget horror films, providing production details, release information, and cultural context for each entry. Thrower conducted over 200 new interviews specifically for this project, documenting previously unrecorded stories from the exploitation film industry. Each film entry contains promotional materials, behind-the-scenes photographs, and poster art, many of which had not been published before this book's release. The text explores the business side of exploitation cinema, including distribution methods, regional theater circuits, and marketing strategies. The book positions these independent horror films as reflections of cultural anxieties and social changes in late 20th century America. Through its analysis of low-budget horror cinema, Nightmare USA traces shifts in American attitudes toward violence, sexuality, and institutional authority during a transformative era.

Readers value the book's deep research into exploitation films and extensive interviews with directors and actors. Many note the high-quality photos and movie stills that document rare, forgotten films. Reviews highlight Thrower's detailed analysis of production histories and cultural context. Readers liked: - Comprehensive coverage of obscure horror/exploitation films - Behind-the-scenes stories and filmmaker interviews - Large format with clear film stills and promotional materials - Balance of critical analysis and historical documentation Readers disliked: - High price point ($70-100 typical cost) - Heavy weight makes it difficult to read casually - Some found the writing dense and academic in tone Ratings: Goodreads: 4.59/5 (108 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (156 ratings) "The definitive book on American exploitation cinema" - Amazon reviewer "Worth every penny for serious film fans" - Goodreads review "Sometimes gets too deep in the weeds with production details" - Letterboxd user

Regional Horror Films, 1958-1990 by Brian Albright A documentation of regional American exploitation filmmaking through interviews with directors, producers, and actors who worked in local independent horror productions.

Grindhouse: Cultural Exchange on 42nd Street by David Church An examination of New York's exploitation theater culture and the films that defined the grindhouse era of American cinema.

American Grindhouse: The Story of an American Institution by Eddie Muller and Daniel Faris A chronicle of exploitation cinema's evolution from the 1920s through the 1980s with focus on the theaters, filmmakers, and cultural impact.

Killing for Culture by David Kerekes An investigation of death on film through examination of mondo movies, shockumentaries, and horror films from the exploitation era.

Gods in Spandex by Christopher Curry A deep dive into regional independent superhero films and other genre productions made outside the Hollywood system during the 1960s-1980s.

🎬 The book covers over 200 American exploitation and horror films from 1970-1985, diving deep into previously undocumented productions and featuring exclusive interviews with directors, actors, and crew members. 🎯 Author Stephen Thrower spent 15 years researching and writing this massive volume, traveling across America to track down obscure filmmakers and gather firsthand accounts. 📚 At 528 pages with over 1,000 rare photographs and promotional materials, Nightmare USA is one of the most comprehensive works ever published on regional American horror cinema. 🎥 Many of the films discussed were shot on shoestring budgets outside the Hollywood system, in locations ranging from Florida swamps to Midwest farmlands, representing a truly independent American film movement. 🏆 The book has become highly collectible since its initial 2007 publication, with first editions sometimes selling for hundreds of dollars due to its detailed coverage of cult horror films and extensive visual documentation.