Terror in the Desert

<p> Set in the American Southwest desert terror films combine elements from horror film noir and road movies to tell stories of isolation and violence. For more than half a century these diverse and troubling films have eluded critical classification and analysis. Highlighting pioneering filmmakers and bizarre production stories the author traces the genre's origins and development from cult exploitation (<I>The Hills Have Eyes The Hitcher</I>) to crowd-pleasing franchises (<I>Tremors From Dusk Till Dawn</I>) to quirky auteurist fare (<I>Natural Born Killers Lost Highway</I>) to more recent releases (<I>Bone Tomahawk Nocturnal Animals</I>). Rare stills promotional materials and a filmography are included.</p>