The Soul of Wes Craven

by Joseph Maddrey, Jonathan Craven (foreword)

You know him as the Sultan of Slash, the Guru of Gore, and the Father of Freddy. Now get to know the real person behind some of the most iconic horror movies of our time. With his latest book, Author Joseph Maddrey presents a revealing look at the life, career, and soul of filmmaking auteur Wes Craven. Featuring new interviews with the friends, family, and colleagues who knew him best, The Soul of Wes Craven offers fans insight into the master of horror like never before.

THE SOUL OF WES CRAVEN

Over eighty new interviews - all exclusive to this bookNever before seen photos from Wes’s life and careerChapters on Wes's alter egos Thomas Sparrow & Abe SnakeA history of his poetry, short stories, and articlesCoverage of his various forays into televisionNew details on lost, canceled, and abandoned projectsPreviously untold stories of his studio strugglesFresh insights into Wes’s creative influencesAn index of attributed scripts (and where to find them!)A list of Wes’s favorite books, music, and moviesAn Afterword by Jonathan Craven
“Finally, the Bible is written for the cult of Wes Craven! … The reason Wes Craven is often overlooked and taken for granted is because this book didn’t exist. Now it does, and we have no more excuses."
- Grady Hendrix, author of Paperbacks from Hell and The Final Girl Support Group

“The Soul of Wes Craven reveals not only the soul but the brilliant mind that Wes Craven possessed. From his very humble upbringing to his death from brain cancer, we get a rare glimpse into the wide-ranging influences that made Wes Craven a visionary filmmaker. Illuminating and touching, I learned even more about the man who changed my life by casting me as Nancy Thompson in A Nightmare on Elm Street. This intimate, well-researched look into his life expands my appreciation of the maestro.”
- Heather Langenkamp, star of A Nightmare on Elm Street and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare

“As a screenwriter working with Wes Craven, I knew I had entered a magical world but I barely knew what a profound and remarkable man I was getting to know. Joseph Maddrey’s book allows us to discover the brilliance, the painful journey and the triumph of an extraordinary life. You will be as lucky to meet Wes in these pages as I was in real life.”
- Bruce Joel Rubin, screenwriter of Deadly Friend, Ghost, and Jacob’s Ladder

“Overwhelmingly and understandably identified as a master of horror, Wes Craven was widely viewed as a filmmaker lurking behind a Halloween fright mask. With his incredibly detailed and engagingly written The Soul of Wes Craven, Joseph Maddrey brilliantly peers behind that mask to reveal the true face, heart and, yes, soul, of a deceptively complex and influential writer and director. Anyone seeking a comprehensive and genuine understanding of the life and work of Wesley Earl Craven from Cleveland, Ohio, will find this book as insightful and intriguing as it is invaluable.”
- Mark Dawidziak, author of A Mystery of The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe and Everything I Need to Know I Learned in The Twilig

Genres: Horror, Biography

515 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 6, 2024

Reviews

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid three stars. I read it because it had good reviews, and because I loved the behind-the-scenes book that I recently finished about the “Scream” franchise. That one made me more interested in Wes as a director, because various actors from his casts spoke so highly of his gentle temperament on set and his philosophy regarding horror. (Overcoming darkness, etc.)

I know this was mainly a biography, but I do wish that it had gone a little more in depth about Craven’s creative approach and how he worked with actors. That stuff is touched upon a little bit through direct quotes, but I think I was expecting a deeper dive. There were some interesting stories here and there, such as the the real-life encounter that partially inspired Freddy that was actually pretty scary. (I also like that he was partially based on a real-life bully that Craven had to deal with.)

Also of interest was Craven’s struggle with his very religious upbringing and how that played a role in his creative decisions down the line. It was very strange that he essentially got caught up in a cult for a year of his life after leaving the church and he got super involved in the adult film industry for a while, early in his career.

Many of Craven’s projects, both made and unreleased, are covered in great detail. At times I felt that a beginning to end summary of everything that happens in the films wasn’t necessary. Maybe for the projects that never saw the light of day, but not for the ones that are still available to watch and enjoy.

I was sad to read about how Craven spent so many years of his career just trying to get away from horror because his heart wasn’t in it. That took some of the magic away for me.

I also don’t appreciate the internet gaslighting me into thinking that I was the only one that didn’t like “Scream 4,” because according to this book it was a box office bomb. (I do have a deep appreciation for “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare” and think that movie was way ahead of its time, so I feel like maybe that makes up for it.)

This book is worth the read if you like Craven’s movies and you want more of an insight into the man himself. It wasn’t my favorite biography, but there were some good moments. The most relatable one by far was when I found out that Craven kept a placard in his office that said, “I hate writing but I love having written.”

Biggest TW: Animal harm, Drug use, Discussion of Rape in film, Racist/hate speech in film

[Steven West · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful, moving insight into Wes Craven's early life and career (particularly the period between his first two "legit" features) evolves into a fascinating account of creative frustrations and enduring regret about the many unfulfilled (non horror) projects as a result of being typecast in one genre.

[Dustin McNeill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and revealing, this is wonderfully thorough and surprisingly personal look at a master of horror. Highly recommend.

[Jim Nemeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is much good stuff here: the book is invaluable for the coverage of each of Craven’ films—both the well-known and the little (if at all) known, as well as the insights gained into the director through the numerous interviews. Photographs are plentiful, and many have never been seen before. I additionally appreciate the book’s complete review of Craven’s career—not just the films, but also a history of his poetry, short stories, and articles, ventures into television, as well as insights into Craven’s creative influences. Details on lost, canceled, and abandoned projects is particularly interesting.

Lessening my enthusiasm is the typical “dry chronological” style of the writing: this happened, then this…,” which led me many times with a feeling of having to slog through the pages rather than looking forward to doing so. But this may not be a problem for other readers. Additionally, the lack of a proper index is annoying. How is one expected to easily find a desired reference?

These nits aside, The Soul of Wes Craven is a worthy of attention and certainly fulfills the “Finally, the Bible is written for the cult of Wes Craven!” hype proclaimed on the back cover.

[Michael Baughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some biographers excel at excavating theretofore unknown factual details. Some identify key themes, plumb inner conflicts, and provide fascinating psychological insights into their subjects. And some rely on first-hand knowledge and familiarity to tell the kinds of stories that only an insider, or an excellent interviewer, could bring to the table. Maddrey is that rare talent who does all three. Pulling from reams of research and many hours of conversation, he not only presents a compelling portrait of a brilliant, flawed, and highly conflicted man, he also addresses with nuance and authority the uneasy place that horror in general (and Craven's work in particular) inhabits in our cultural landscape: both a visceral form of entertainment and a heady reflection of our times. Time and again, Craven attempted to break free from the genre, only to rediscover that he was among its finest progenitors. I read this slowly, with relish, and like only the best biographies can do, it left me every bit as taken with the man as I was with his work.

[Bryn Grover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more than just a biography. It is a more personalized look at the life and work of Wes Craven with insightful information, interviews, and in depth research. It is thoughtfully done and reveals layers of the master of horror.

[Elford Alley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deep and insightful look at the life and career of Wes Craven, a man who struggled with his position as a "master of horror" for much of his life. Five stars.

[Craig Jex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a huge Wes Craven fan having seen all his output, including the Abe Snake film he made (for completists sake). Most of the information contained in this book, I was already aware of from other books and interviews. Some of the chapters detailing his college years I found a bit dull, as I’m more interested in his filmmaking years but there were tidbits of information that showed what Craven was like as a person. The final chapters on his life were sad, and I was shocked to read how much physical ailments he struggled with in his later life, as he was very successful keeping that out of the news. All fans of Wes Craven should read this book as it contains new information about the great man. As per usual, Wes Craven came across as an intelligent, personable man who probably didn’t realise how much he was idolised by us horror fans.