Tim Burton: A Child’s Garden of Nightmares

Tim Burton, the cinematic genius behind Batman, Sleepy Hollow, Ed Wood, Mars Attacks!, and Edward Scissorhands, is a product of 1960s “monster culture,” including DC Comics’ Batman, over-the-top movie posters, and Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. Once a lonely teenager who found solace in horror flicks and cheesy Chiller Theater matinees, Burton relentlessly mines this history in his films, imbuing juvenile fantasy with emotional depth. This definitive study of Burton’s career tracks his life and work. Articles and interviews span his years as a malcontent animator at Walt Disney Studios through his creation of the pop-gothic aesthetic that marks all of his work. The book also features commentary by the editor on the origins of Burton’s ideas, a thorough analysis of each of his films, and images from the movies.