“Oh you wanna play psycho k!ller? Can I be the helpless victim?”
I loveeeee scream so naturally I was crazy excited to be able to arc read this and I loved every minute of it! I loved the insight to how scream came to be!

Good and Informative Book About My Childhood Favourite Horror Movie. If you are a Fan of Movies and the inner workings of Scream, this is the book for you. It's short comprehensive and also has some interesting tidbits from the whole franchise. A Great Read

The perfect book for fans of the Scream franchise.

An oral history of the making and behind the scenes of the Scream franchise from the creatives that were apart of it. The six Scream films are covered through quotes taken from older and brand new interviews. Quotes ranging from Kevin Williamson, Neve Campbell, Parker Posey, David Arquette and many more.

As a huge Scream fan myself there was a lot of information I wasn’t aware of while reading this. Die-hard “Scream” fans might be familiar with a lot of the information but there’s a good amount of new insight that makes for an enlightening experience.

I do wish the book had some more behind the scenes of the production of the film but I enjoyed the glorification of the franchise through the voices of those who have been a part of it.

Also the cover is amazing and makes for great display in n a horror fans library.

“My name is ‘Scream.’ I’m your favorite scary movie’s scary movie.”

Throughout this book, you hear stories from EVERYONE (actors, writers, directors, crew, etc.) about what a labor of love working on the “Scream” franchise was. Even the people who got burned from studio execs still have an admiration for the series. “Your Favorite Scary Movie” also felt like a labor of love. Ashley Cullins perfectly captures the definitive and extensive history of the “Scream” franchise in what feels like a love-letter of sorts. But, it didn’t feel biased either. Cullins beautifully manages to capture and report on the love (and hardships) that were integral to the building of the franchise.

“Scream” is incredibly important to me and I consider it one of my favorite niche topics of interest, so I was worried this book wouldn’t have much new lore to offer. But, even for the most die-hard “Scream” fans (I’m looking at you r/Scream users), you will learn something new in this book. It is packed with exclusive interviews from almost everyone you could think of and is the ultimate deep-dive on the series, starting from the inception to now (including some insight into “Scream 7”). So, if you somehow know EVERYTHING, this book was just as comforting as it was insightful.

If you aren’t a fan of “Scream,” this book may not be for you. But, if you have even the slightest interest in the movies or have only seen just the first movie this book IS for you (also, if you just like learning about the ins and outs of filmmaking, this book has tons of insights on that).

Ugh, I loved this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me a free ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Full review is posted on Goodreads, A mini review will be posted on my Instagram at the end of the month in my monthly wrap-up. Full review will be posted to Instagram a month prior to publication.

As an ardent and devoted fan of the Scream franchise, the thrill I felt upon receiving this eARC was immeasurable! This book transcends the typical dry, documentary-style narrative; it flows with a deep-seated passion for the franchise and an unwavering reverence for the legendary Wes Craven, the visionary director who brought these iconic films to life (with a bit of encouragement from his assistant along the way). It offers an intimate glimpse into the brilliant mind behind the gripping script and the unforgettable voice of Ghostface, weaving together the stories of those who contributed to the series, revealing the complexities of the characters that audiences have both adored and despised.

Delving into the rich tapestry of Wes Craven’s life and career, the book is filled with heartfelt anecdotes shared by cast and crew members who fondly recall their experiences with the filmmaker. Cullins artfully intertwines the backstories and triumphs of both Craven and writer Kevin Williamson, granting readers a captivating perspective on the evolution of horror filmmaking across generations. The first half of the book focuses on Craven's immense influence on Williamson, which takes on an even more fascinating significance considering that Williamson eventually stepped into the director’s role for the latest installment three decades later.

This narrative also sheds light on the formidable challenges Williamson faced, such as battling a school board that initially denied him permission to film on their property. His clever way of expressing his frustrations — subtly revealed in the end credits of Scream 1 — is both bold and humorous. Additionally, the book details the intense negotiations with the MPAA, as Craven navigated the treacherous waters of censorship and the threat of an NC-17 rating, consistently fighting to maintain the visceral authenticity of his work.

Williamson’s brilliance as a writer and storyteller shines through, leaving me in awe that he conjured the original Scream story in a mere three days! Fueled by the early influences of cinematic history, like Jaws and John Carpenter's Halloween, he reveals how the reactions of audiences to horror movies ignited his passion for becoming a screenwriter and director. Williamson even shares the intricate process behind crafting his first one-act play, which centers around a babysitter receiving an eerie phone call, cleverly navigating the realm of horror tropes.

The intimate portraits of Wes Craven, the crew, the actors, and all those behind the scenes humanized them for me in a profound way. It might sound odd, but movies, for me, exist in a mythical realm that feels unreachable; as the audience, we are privileged observers of the immense labor and creativity that go into their creation. From modest beginnings to becoming a household name in horror, the Scream franchise has captivated countless generations, spanning over four decades and showing no signs of waning any time soon. It’s remarkable to witness its timelessness, as it continues to attract both vintage horror aficionados and a brand-new wave of fans inspired by the masked icon’s allure. (“They are intrinsically sexy. But yes, Ghostface makes people horny. If there is any quote that deserves to be immortalized in the book, let it be that.”)

I had no idea how bad I needed this until I read it.

First of all, A+ on the cover! I am good and truly obsessed.

As a millennial who grew up absolutely obsessed with Scream, crushed on Skeet Ulrich, and wanted Rose McGowan's wardrobe... This book brought me back and has me anticipating the newest installment with some of the original characters returning.
This was such a well written book packed with everything you need to know about your favorite scary movie, and so much nostalgia.

I'm not a horror movie fan at all. I'm really squeamish, jumpy, and get scared easily. That said, the mystery aspect of the Scream franchise has always sort of fascinated me. I've seen the first movie and parts of the other ones - always with a hand ready to cover my eyes. This book was a fun, interesting read. I enjoyed learning about how the movies were made and all the behind the scenes parts. It was a little repetitive at times but a really entertaining book overall.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

As a certified slasher film addict, this book was everything I didn’t know I needed. A deep dive into all seven Scream films? Yes, please. Reading the behind-the-scenes history of one of my favorite franchises felt like the ultimate nostalgia trip. I laughed, I gasped, I paused every few chapters just to rewatch scenes and scream-text my horror friends.

Ashley Cullins poured pure love into these pages—a love letter to Wes, to horror fans, and to the chaotic brilliance that is Ghostface. It felt like flipping through the ultimate horror yearbook, packed with trivia, memories, and so many “oh my god I forgot about that!” moments.

Thank you for this ARC!

If Scream is a love letter to the horror genre, then this book is a love letter to Scream. The author wrote the book equivalent of a comfy documentary. This book read like a labor of love - a gift from one fan to another. Scream is my favorite movie (of any genre) - for me, it's that comfort watch I throw on when I can't think of anything else to watch. This book was able to give me some of the same nostalgic feelings that I get when I go to a convention or see Scream merch. I'll definitely be buying a physical copy to add to my collection when it comes out in August.

I absolutely love the original scream movie. ghostface is iconic. so when I saw this book on netgalley I had to request it and it did not disappoint! we get to walk through each of the 6 movies and what went on behind the scenes to bring us the movies we know and love. I will say I do think it was a bit long winded and repetitive but overall I had a fantastic time!

I usually don't read non-fiction but this book caught my eye with its Hollywood theme of a popular movie franchise. I enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look into the industry and what it took to get the movie produced. Very well written by an insider with knowledge of all the players.

I LOVE the Scream movies! They’ve been my favorites since I was about 11 years old! I love the cast interviews and the nostalgia of the genre but I was hoping There would be more new insights to the movie and the choices they made. All in all if you like the movies you’ll enjoy reading this!

dnfed at 30% because this was just a compilation of interviews with no new insights on the movies themselves. I was hoping for more behind-the-scenes of like how the iconic mask was chosen, not the pretty typical events that lead up to a movie being made

Like the author, Scream has been my favorite movie for as long as I can remember and I am a die-hard fan of the franchise and the horror genre in general. It was clearly written for horror lovers. This book was such a fun, insightful experience, and felt like nerding out with a friend who happened to have connections to the industry. I loved getting so many behind the scenes looks at the creation of the film, especially quotes and interviews from those involved. I also appreciated that the author followed the franchise from its conception to its impact on culture and the horror genre and the future of the franchise and the genre as a whole.

As a millennial horror fan, Scream was a big part of my introduction into the genre. It was different than everything that came before it, and it's the bar I hold up a lot of other horror films against. Your Favorite Scary Movie is a must-read for fans of the franchise with deep dives into the production of the films through interviews with cast and crew. Cullins breaks up the franchise chronologically, using interviews to paint a picture of what brought the films to life.

I was so excited to receive this book in an advanced reader copy! Thank you to netgalley for proving me to read this book!

I am a huge Scream and Ghostface fan so this was so cool to read

This was such an amazing read! All the behind the scenes moments and cast interviews were so interesting. a if you love the scream franchise you're gonna love this book. Plus the cover is so cute !! I just wish there were pictures because I kept clicking out of the book to look up pictures and videos to go with the scenes.

As a fan of scary movies, I loved this book. It was fun to see quotes and behind the scenes of Scream. Definitely made me want to watch the movies. Well done!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I love the Scream movies and this book was awesome!! I loved learning behind the scenes and the impact the franchise has had on the cinema. Anyone who loves the Scream movies should check this out.

as a horror genre fan, and a lover of the scream franchise this was a really great read! a lot of fun information i didnt know and a nice ode to wes craven.
thank you netgalley and publisher!