David Cronenberg is one of the most interesting filmmakers ever, his films have thrilled and repelled audiences in equal measure. Patrick Chapman’s book looks at all his films up to Maps to the Stars (2014) as well as covering various exhibitions and shorts he may have been involved with.

Chapman gives each film a three-part overview: background, story, and comment. There is also an informative intro detailing the various production companies, producers, and cast for each picture as well as filming dates, budget, and UK, US, and Candian release dates. These small details can be intriguing for avid fans and are a welcome addition. In the background sections, various bits of trivia are revealed (Sissy Spacek being the preferred choice for Rabid, for example) and much more. The synopsis includes spoilers, so if you haven’t seen any particular film (c’mon, where have you been?), then tread carefully here. In analysing the movies, Chapman makes some very interesting points and doesn’t patronise the reader nor go too deep into the philosophies of the stories. His writing style is accessible and makes for an interesting read.

The book’s layout is a little unusual. Rather than having a defined inset border, the text is laid out rather close to the page edges. It’s an interesting design choice but it doesn’t take anything away from the reading enjoyment, and allows for more text to be included in the page count.

For a handy catch-all insight into the genius of the master of body horror, this is a great read.