I think the important thing about staying creative and staying sharp and original is not to look back too much.

People who are kind of at the cutting edge of life and survival, and being near the nitty-gritty, like my films, and I like that.

I came from a very strict background. [So if you want to make a scary movie] if you were raised as a fundamentalist, just pull all the skeletons out of your closet.

Something like Nightmare On Elm Street, to me, was kind of an examination of levels of consciousness and the pain of facing the truth, and how easy it is to fall asleep, or want to fall asleep.

As long as you keep the audience on the edge of their seats, either scare them or keep them guessing, you can put anything in there that you want.

Dad, girls don't fall down every time they run.

I make something I can look at and say, "That's a good piece of work, and there's some terrific directing and acting in it, and you should be proud of it."