“What’s your favorite scary movie?”

If you are a fan of Scream then you will definitely enjoy the book. Cullins writes and accumulates the interviews in a way that flows effortlessly and reads as just one big conversation and the reader is listening in. Speaking from an extreme Scream fan I did know quite a few facts about production, but there were some shocking ones I did not know- especially in regard to Wes. Ultimately, this is a love letter to Wes, the Scream franchise, horror, and the cast and crew along the way. Props to Cullins on the first debut book.

I’ll start by admitting that the Scream series will always be a favorite of mine. I’m still in shock that I talked my wife into joining me for the first movie and remember worrying that we’d be leaving ten minutes into the start! I’ve seen each of the six films several times and am eagerly awaiting Scream 7, due in 2026. There was no question that I would want to read this book.

Ashley Cullins is also clearly a big fan of the franchise. Her first book, Your Favorite Scary Movie, demonstrates this from start to finish. It is full of behind-the-scenes stories of each of the movies based on interviews she had with almost everyone involved. She talks lovingly of the creators of Scream, specifically Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson, and describes the on set camaraderie of the cast and crew. You truly get a flavor of Wes Craven’s love of the Scream franchise and learn about the good guy/father figure he was to everyone involved.

While I had heard many of the basic things discussed concerning the six released and one upcoming movie, there was much to learn that I found fascinating, including discussion of crazy credits, height issues with certain of the killers, an embedded toast to Wes Craven in the fifth movie, etc. My favorite cast member stories, none of which I had heard before, involved Matthew Lillard, Hayden Panettiere, Jack Quaid, and Skeet Ulrich. I don’t want to spoil any of them here!

This book is perfect for anyone who has enjoyed the franchise or just simply loves stories of Hollywood productions.

Thanks to Dutton Books and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read Your Favorite Scary Movie. The above opinions are my own.

So let me upfront about this part: I'm a massive fan of Scream-- the movie, the franchise, etc. Massive. Huge. As in, I saw the original more than 25 times in the theater when it first came out (I think the number is 27, but who can be sure so many years later...). The point is, as a massive pop culture nerd-fan of Scream, I was very excited for this book.

Here's the best thing about this book: Cullins interviews everyone she can get her hands on, including the major cast, writers, directors, producers, and Williamson himself. She also brings in excerpts from Wes Craven interviews to round out his voice (may he Rest In Peace). Loved this. Loved hearing from them and learning from them. There's a treasure-trove of knowledge here and Cullins does it right.

So why the 4 stars (really probably 4 1/2 stars)? It's a bit too sentimental and occasionally (briefly) repetitive or just slightly off. There were a few pages throughout that I would just quickly skim through - not because I knew the material but because it just seemed extraneous. It's a weird thing to put your finger on, I know -- but the important thing is that those were the outliers and there was far, far, far more done right and wonderful here worth celebrating.

As I said before, overall Cullins gets it right and this book is highly recommended.

This was cool!!!! The girlies LOVE summerween and scream is absolutely at the top of that list
I’ve never read a book with this format before.
Really enjoyed it, will be sharing to my bookstagram as I’ve got a lot of spooky girlies on there
Thank you for the ARC

Thank you Penguin Group Dutton and Netgalley for an ARC of Your Favorite Scary Movie. Scream is one of my favorite movies of all time and a great franchise that is still going strong. This book gives all the behind-the-scenes details on all of the films, interview with cast and writers, and fun information I haven't heard before. It is obvious Ashley is a huge fan in the way that this was written. You can tell she put her heart into it as much as Williamson, Craven and the cast. If you are a fan of the Scream franchise or curious about film in general this is a must read!

When I got the email that I was accepted to read this ARC I was jumping up and down with joy. I absolutely LOVE the Scream franchise so to say it made my day is an understatement. It made my month! Possibly my year!
This book is honestly just perfect. We get a deep dive into all seven Scream films & get to read about what happened behind the scenes we also hear stories from the actors, directors, writers & the crew.
This book is perfect for fellow Scream franchise lovers.
This is definitely a love letter to the Scream franchise and I just have to thank Ashley Cullins for writing this for all the fellow lovers of the franchise I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend everyone keep their eyes peeled in August for the release.

By the way.. Also the cover ? HELLO ?! When this book comes out I’m buying the physical just so I can display it on my shelf because my goddess I’m in love.

Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Group Dutton for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

" Movies don't create psychos, movies make psychos more creative. "

while I'm not big on nonfiction, as a die hard Scream & horror fan I knew I had to get my hands on this! I rewatch the entire franchise every year. ghostface, in my opinion, is the best horror icon in the game & he will always hold a special place in my heart so I was super excited when I got approved for the arc!

this is not just a love letter to the scream franchise it's ✨THE✨ Love Letter to scream, to the legacy of Wes Craven & a tribute to a franchise that revived a dying genre. this is a deep dive into the franchise with interviews from the actors in front of the camera & the crew behind the camera (directors, writers, producers etc), behind the scenes details, & the journey of how Scream came to be.

Ashley Cullins really poured love into this. Wes Craven has been involved with a lot of big horror films. Scream, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Hills Have Eyes, The Last House on the Left etc... a lot of these are my comfort or "guilty pleasure" movies that I always find myself gravitating towards. Wes Craven will forever be an icon in the horror genre & I loved learning more about him & seeing how much he was loved & adored.

if you're a scream fan, this is a must read!

Prefacing this with: I am bias as heck because I am a HUGE horror fan. I LOVED THIS BOOK haha.

This exceeded my expectations, and covered almost every possible angle and beloved person in the franchise. Cullins did a solid for Wes Craven with this one. More importantly, "Your Favorite Scary Movie" gave me new appreciation for the processes that went into making Scream. Although Jason will always be my #1 guy (sorry Ghostface), I think reading this novel pushed up the Scream franchise, and especially first movie, in my favourites list. Cullins paces the novel well, giving the time the first movie is deserved, while covering the rest of the films and their intricacies. The brilliance of Ghostface as a villain, the detail that went into the expansions, and the way set felt with Craven all contribute to an oral history that keeps you wanting to know more.

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton/Plume for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

“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!