Sage Nestler's Blog, page 4

Guest Interview: Author and Sensitivity Reader Zin E Rocklyn

Happy Thursday, Everyone!

I am excited to share with you a guest interview I had with Zin E Rocklyn – horror author and sensitivity reader! She is passionate about the importance of Black Queer voices being heard – especially in the horror genre – and offers sensitivity reading for authors on the following topics:

Black WomanhoodDepressionC/PTSDAnxietyAddictionMental IllnessDestitutionSex WorkIsolationHorrorThe WeirdContact Zin to learn more about her services and pricing!

Link: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:qhr6wtwvdelxj673bhaseb3b

Email: teri.m.clarke@gmail.com

Interview with Zin

1) You have such a strong and powerful presence, and I love the various topics you are able to provide sensitivity reading for.  Can you tell me a bit about what made you want to do sensitivity reading?  Also, which of the topics are you most passionate about?

Honestly? I got tired of the tired tropes and stereotypes I kept seeing of Black people and Black Queer people, so I decided to do something about it. I found out about sensitivity readings on Twitter (refuse to call it that letter) and I offered my services in a tweet. It took off from there!

2) How do your personal experiences influence your own writing?

I tend to exorcise my own demons through writing and nothing covers inner demons like horror! I believe the more real you are about your experiences, the more impactful and important the work. And it reaches the right audience. I’ve always wanted to make a difference somehow and writing has always been my voice.

3) What are your thoughts on authors writing about topics or characters with conditions or identities that they don’t have personal experience with?

Writing outside of one’s experience is an ever-expanding practice for the imagination. I think it’s healthy and important to be genuinely curious about our fellow man because our differences is what strengthens our community (imagine a group with only hunters, wouldn’t work). But that curiosity needs to come with respect, not the desire to mould the perspective into our vision or minimize it. Having said that, while important, it can be dangerous to write without having the proper education and humility to ask for support and feedback. And not just from your friends! Friends are great but they also tread lightly, no matter how blunt they may seem. No one wants to tread on someone’s dream (if they do, get rid of them) so it becomes touchy. That’s why hiring someone who doesn’t know you personally but who also respects the craft is best.

4) Horror, for me, has been such a safe haven – both in reading and writing.  What are some of your favorite horror subgenres?

I love gothic horror and how insidious it is. And supernatural and faery tales because the Veil intrigues me.

5) Why are you drawn to writing horror?

I love how expansive horror is. It can blend seamlessly into other genres because so much of what we experience is horrific; politics, pregnancy, car accidents, near-death experiences, hell, even parents and parenting can be traumatic. Horror is a cathartic way of exploring and dealing with those traumas.

A Note on Sensitivity Reading

Sensitivity reading is so incredibly important for authors, especially when you are writing about a topic that you do not have personal experience with. Zin’s personal experiences and expertise in the listed areas make her an important resource in the writing world. She is such a gem, and I hope that you will consider her for any sensitivity reading you might require as a writer!

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ARC Review: A Symphony of Cults

Cult Following

The Extreme Sects That Capture Our Imaginations – and Take Over Our Lives

by J.W. Ocker

Synopsis

Have you ever wondered how ordinary people end up enmeshed in extreme cults? Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about history’s most notorious cults—and the psychology of the people who join them—is packed into this accessible, engaging volume. Walk in the footsteps of those who were lured into such sinister groups as:

Branch Davidians: This cult was waiting out the apocalypse when the FBI infamously raided their compound in Waco, Texas.Los Narcosatánicos: This group of drug traffickers in 1980s Mexico committed human sacrifice and believed their leader had magic powers.Breatharianism: Breatharians believe that humans can live on air alone, and their founder claimed to have gone without food for seventeen years.NXIVM: This twenty-first-century cult attracted Hollywood actresses and engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor, and racketeering under the guise of personal development seminars.Heaven’s Gate: The Heaven’s Gate UFO cult ended in the suicide of thirty-nine members who believed they would ascent to a spaceship after death.

In this fascinating collection, weird history expert J. W. Ocker sheds light on the terrifying attraction of cults, demonstrating the elasticity of belief, the desperateness of belonging, and the tragedy of trust.

Overall Rating

4/5

Quick Take

I am a big fan of J.W. Ocker’s The United States of Cryptids, so I was very honored when I was offered an advanced reading copy of Cult Following!  This book came out on September 10, 2024, and it is an excellent resource. 

Tell Me More

The book is divided by types of beliefs (including the search for truth, protection, purpose, salvation, and betterment) while providing short histories for a wide range of cults that have existed over time.  I enjoyed reading Ocker’s introduction and epilogue, especially his mention of how due to tough personal circumstances, he was able to understand the allure of cults and the promises they suggest.  He did an excellent job of explaining that people don’t set out to join “cults,” they tend to seek communities where they will feel accepted and important, and the development of cults are built on that premise. They generally rely on the trust of their followers, while using and abusing it.

While I knew about quite a few of the cults presented, I was happy to see the addition of cults that aren’t as well known.  This provided a great selection of new information and made me want to look further into many of them.  Ocker did well to not include filler, and focused on the necessary information for each group.

However, I do have to bring this up.  It felt that for some of the cults, instead of providing unbiased information, there was a “mocking” tone that bothered me.  While those of us who are not a part of cults may find them silly or ridiculous, those who were involved have a completely different experience.  This brings me to the Branch Davidians.  I feel that I need to bring this up considering they are the first cult mentioned in the synopsis.

If you have known me for any amount of time, you may know how passionate I am about the tragedy that occurred at Waco.  Back in 2020, I had the honor of interviewing David Thibodeau – the author of the book that inspired the limited series – which led me to getting to talk to the remaining survivors, attend their yearly memorials for the lives of those who were lost, write a piece on the PTSD that they still live with, and connect with Clive Doyle before his passing in 2022.  In no way do I condone the actions of David Karesh, but I do have a problem with the political aspects of the siege itself, and the lies that have been told due to government involvement.  The book that was referenced in the back of Cult Following on Waco (Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and a Legacy of Rage) is not a reliable resource and was heavily influenced by government bias.  I am including slides here featuring both David and Clive’s books as suggested reading instead, because they were there, and I tend to trust the survivors of such tragedies over the stories the media tells. Clive’s book is hard to track down, but a lot of his story is on the survivor’s website, listed below.

 Overall, this is a great resource for learning the basic facts on a plethora of different cults, and why it can be so easy to become a part of them.  Ocker presented the information well and in a concise manner.  I would just advise everyone to take the information on each cult with a grain of salt and urge you to pursue your own research before making assumptions. Misinformation runs rampant when it comes to cults in general.

*Thank you to Quirk Books for the ARC!

Resources on Waco

Link to David’s Book

Link to Clive’s Book

The Official Website by the Survivors: https://www.wacosurvivors.com/

My Interview with David: https://themighty.com/topic/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/interview-waco-survivor-david-thibodeau-ptsd/

My Article on PTSD and Waco: https://themighty.com/topic/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/how-the-siege-at-waco-caused-28-years-of-ptsd/

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Author Spotlight: Gray O’Dell

This week’s author spotlight is on Gray O’Dell! They are one of the staff writers for my eZine, A Bite of Pride, through my indie publishing house Pride with a Bite. They are such an excellent talent, and I am so excited to share them with you!

Author Bio

Gray O’Dell is an acclaimed horror author celebrated for their gripping short stories and novellas that delve into the darkest forests, cemeteries, and graveyards. A lifelong bibliophile, Gray’s passion for storytelling ignited at a young age, fueled by their voracious reading habit that spanned a diverse range of genres. However, it was the eerie allure of horror that captivated Gray’s imagination, compelling them to explore the genre’s chilling depths.

The Glass Princess

Gray’s recent project, The Glass Princess, is a gothic ghost story and can be read on Inkitt!

You can find them here: 

Website: thatonehorrorreader.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/authorgraysonodell

Inkitt: Inkitt.com/grayodell

Facebook: Facebook.com/authorgraysonodell

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Book Tour: Man Made Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers Review & Author Interview

Man Made Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers Synopsis

Tsalagi should never have to live on human blood, but sometimes things just happen to sixteen-year-old girls.

Following one extended Cherokee family across the centuries, from the tribe’s homelands in Georgia in the 1830s to World War I, the Vietnam War, our own present, and well into the future, each story delivers a slice of a particular time period.

Alongside each story, Cherokee artist and language technologist Jeff Edwards delivers illustrations that incorporate Cherokee syllabary.

Book Review

Overall Rating: 5/5

Spooky Rating: 4/5

“There are plenty of bad men to feed on and that is what I decided to do. Greed and avarice have no mercy. I became merciless too.”

This book took my breath away.

Not only is it stunning, but having all of the stories connected through a family line and taking place in different time periods was brilliant. It covers heavy historical events and how they impacted indigenous folks while also throwing in classic horror elements.

This is not an easy read. It made me so angry and heartbroken, and it requires a lot of effort from the reader. The author incorporated the Cherokee language, and I had to refer to the glossary many times throughout my reading. I personally found this to be a beautiful and essential addition, but some readers might find it difficult to follow.

Jeff Edwards’ artwork was impeccable and complimented each story well. For young adult horror, this collection went hard, and it quite literally changed me. I am not indigenous, but I have always been very passionate about indigenous rights. I specialized in Navajo issues when I was in college in Arizona, which only increased my passion. I loved having the honor of interviewing Andrea about young adult horror and the importance of indigenous voices in general, but especially within the horror genre. I am so blessed to have been given the opportunity to share this book with you all, as it should be essential reading.

An Interview with Author Andrea L. RogersWhat made you want to venture into writing horror for young readers?

I loved horror when I was a kid, but when my own children were growing up I didn’t see anything for them with people who looked like my family or weren’t stereotypes or misappropriation of Native beliefs corrupted for scares. And, unfortunately, the history of our peoples is horrific, so it is a hard story to tell because it is built for horror. So how do you not?

It took a long time before I felt ready to write horror that existed in what I considered an authentic space, that used Western horror tropes and characters in a way that Native people could enjoy and not feel like they had read trauma porn. Yes, we have been targeted for extinction and we have to respond to that, but we aren’t defined by it.

I didn’t see a lot of stories like the ones I wanted to write out there and I knew kids wanted them, I wanted them. So, I wrote them.

How do you feel young adult horror differs from horror for adults?

Ideally, I feel like a young adult author centers the reader and tries to do no harm.

Why do you think it is important that young readers read horror?

Horror is in conversation with the world. It gives you a place where you can be scared, but then close the book. You can’t do that with the world, or at least it’s very hard. Horror helps you come up with survival strategies. Native people have had to do that for a long time. Those lessons in our stories, that’s how we remember, honor, and adapt.

How has your identity as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation impacted your horror writing?

I think the loss of language is horrific. It’s terrifying. I try to get that across in my work and remind readers we have to learn to speak now. There is no future without a present that privileges our culture through the language.

What do you hope readers will take away from Man Made Monsters ? 

I want brown girls to know their survival is what matters. The world is better off with you. I also believe Indigenous ways of interacting with the world are better for the planet and people, so I hope people will consider that in whatever way works for them and their families. I want people to know that we, Indigenous people, are still here.

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LIMITED RELEASE – Grizzly: A Charity Anthology

Happy Sunday, Horror Fiends!

I am excited to share with you a limited release anthology called Grizzly: A Charity Anthology. My story The Hardest Word is included in this anthology alongside so many other talented authors! It is only available until September 10 and all proceeds go to support Take Back the Night.

Synopsis

Boys will be boys.
Bears will be bears…

Brace yourself for twenty mixed-genre tales, all tied together with a neat bear- shaped bow that your mother would be proud of. Guaranteed to make you ‘smile more often’ and rage like it’s ‘that time of the month’.

Written by femme SA survivors for all SA survivors, Grizzly is the charity anthology that aims to give back and bite back.

Sometimes, when you can’t find the strength to roar, a growl will do.

BUY NOW

My full review of all of the stories and poems included will be up soon! It is such an eclectic collection and very diverse genre-wise. So much passion went into each piece in this collection, and it is such a sensitive but essential read.

I hope that you take the time to check Grizzly: A Charity Anthology out and support the cause!

Much love,

Ashley Nestler, MSW

CEO of The Horror Maven

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ARC Review: Motherhood Horror but Make it Psychological and Gothic

Ghost Mother by Kelly Dwyer Synopsis

Ghost Mother is a mesmerizing psychological ghost story that blurs the thin line between reality and delusion. 

Lilly Bly desperately wants to have a baby. She is struggling with infertility and bad spending habits when her husband, Jack, gets a new job that moves them from Chicago to a small town in Wisconsin. Impractical Lilly falls in love with a decrepit mansion well out of their price range—she is convinced that she will finally get pregnant and have a baby in this house—and Jack reluctantly agrees to buy the wreck. But when Lilly learns that her dream house was the site of a gruesome triple homicide/suicide in the 1950s, she begins to experience strange occurrences that soon lead her to believe the house is haunted. Are her ghostly encounters real, or is this a cascading mental breakdown? As Lilly learns more about the deaths and her visions become increasingly vivid, her relationship with Jack deteriorates, leading to a dramatic and irreversible climax.

Perfect for fans of classic, gothic horror fiction, like Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw and Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, as well as contemporary suspense and horror fiction by everyone from Stephen King to Ruth Ware.  

Release Date

8/6/2024

Overall Rating

4/5

Spooky Rating

3/5

Quick Take

Ghost Mother by Kelly Dwyer is many things at once. It explores pregnancy loss in all forms, infertility, and trauma, while pairing it with a gothic haunted house and psychological horror. Lilly Bly is such a wonderful unreliable narrator and unhinged woman, and I still don’t know what was real or not. That sense of insecurity about the truth is absolutely delectable in horror novels, and I ate it up!

Tell Me More

There are some books that come along and hit you straight in the chest, Ghost Mother did just that.  

Ghost Mother is a novel that comes packing. It is a lot, but in the best way! It combines motherhood horror, psychological horror, and classic gothic themes with an unhinged female narrator, Lilly, who is extremely unreliable. But it also focuses on heavy topics such as abortion, miscarriage, infertility, trauma, shopping addiction, suicide, murder, and so much more.  

When I have read motherhood horror before, I found that many of them tend to mirror Rosemary’s Baby, and there is not a ton of variation.  But Kelly Dwyer broke the subgenre by incorporating a haunted house story and murder mystery while exploring all sides of motherhood and pregnancy.  It is one of the only books that I have read that openly discusses abortion in a way that is not preachy or opinionated and respects the loss that many people feel after having an abortion.  As a survivor of an unwanted abortion myself and having had to mourn in silence for so many years, this was extremely therapeutic for me.  Miscarriage is also openly discussed, and I loved how Dwyer highlighted these aspects of pregnancy in such a blatant way without sugarcoating any of it.  It was painful and uncomfortable, but so cathartic. Based on how much it impacted me, I have a feeling it will do the same for many others.  Just be sure to check the content warnings, because there is some graphic imagery of lost fetuses that may be triggering for some readers.

The haunting aspect of the story, and the concept of being a “ghost mother” were explored in a few different ways, such as being a mother to ghost children, which I found fascinating.  The haunting imagery and backstory reminded me a lot of Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly, which I loved, and the history of the tragedy that occurred in the house filled my gothic horror loving heart. 

However, I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 because there were so many concepts involved, and they weren’t all fully developed (I would have loved to have seen more of the circus past of the house explored.)  This, paired with the unreliable aspect of Lilly’s narrative, made it hard to follow at times.  However, the ending floored me, and even though I still am unsure what was truth or fiction, it was interesting to see a “happy ending” end up being so bizarre. This redefined exactly what it means to have a “happy ending,” and how different that is for everyone.

It is so hard to fully summarize my thoughts on this novel as I have so many, but all I can say is read it for yourself and see how it impacts you. It is unlike any other motherhood horror novel I have read, and I was so happy to experience such a refreshing take. I can’t wait to read more of Dwyer’s work!

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Thank you to author Kelly Dwyer and Union Square & Co. for the ARC.

New Release: A 15-Minute Read That Infiltrates Your Psyche

S tay on the Line by Clay McLeod Chapman with Illustrations by Trevor HendersonSynopsis

After a small coastal town is devastated by a hurricane, the survivors gravitate toward a long out-of-service payphone in hopes of talking out their grief and saying goodbye to loved ones, only for it to begin ringing on its own. As more townspeople answer the call, friends and family believed to have been lost to the storm begin searching for a way back home.

This novelette features several new illustrations by Trevor Henderson.

Release Date

July 30, 2024

Shortwave Publishing

Overall Rating

5/5

Spooky Rating

3/5

Quick Take

Clay McLeod Chapman is quickly becoming one of my favorite horror authors! Stay on the Line is a chapbook that he created with Trevor Henderson and is at most a 15-minute read; however, every single word is intentional, there is no space for any kind of filler, and the concept was utterly brilliant. Twilight Zone fans rejoice! This one’s for you.

Tell Me More

“Your voice. I don’t even need to be on the line to hear you now. You’re in my head.”
—

For such a short piece of fiction (at around only 50 pages), I was impressed by how Stay on the Line packed a punch not only in horror but in grief. The concept reminded me a lot of one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes, “Long Distance Call.” For those who haven’t seen it, I won’t spoil it for you, but it involves a young boy who is gifted a toy phone from his grandmother for his birthday and is able to communicate with her after she dies.

The novelette focuses on a small town that is deeply impacted by a hurricane, and one of the only things that remains is an out-of-service payphone. The people of the town begin using the phone as a way to verbalize their grief over their lost loved ones… but then the phone begins ringing on its own.

Clay perfectly married feelings of grief with an intense sense of dread. The story is perfectly paced and slowly escalates before crash landing and leaving the reader in a tailspin. It was a beautiful and scary take on how we experience grief and how letting go can be intensely painful. But how sometimes, we will do whatever we can to hang on, even to our own detriment. The story also highlighted the cost of grief and how our vulnerability during the process can be manipulated – a truly scary thought, and reality, in itself.

The illustrations were spectacular, and reminiscent of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, which I thoroughly enjoyed. They are black and white and get bleaker as the story progresses. If ever there was a perfect chapbook, this is it.

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Book Review: A Concept That Could Have been Ingenius…But Wasn’t

The Z Word by Lyndsay King-Miller Synopsis

Packed with action, humor, sex, and big gay feelings, The Z Word is the queer Zombieland you didn’t know you needed.

Chaotic bisexual Wendy is trying to find her place in the queer community of San Lazaro, Arizona, after a bad breakup—which is particularly difficult because her ex is hooking up with some of her friends. And when the people around them start turning into violent, terrifying mindless husks, well, that makes things harder. Especially since the infection seems to be spreading.

Now, Wendy and her friends and frenemies—drag queen Logan, silver fox Beau, sword lesbian Aurelia and her wife Sam, mysterious pizza delivery stoner Sunshine, and, oh yeah, Wendy’s ex-girlfriend Leah—have to team up to stay alive, save Pride, and track the zombie outbreak to its shocking source. Hopefully without killing each other first.

The Z Word is a propulsive, funny, emotional horror debut about a found family coming together to fight corporate greed, political corruption, gay drama, and zombies.

Overall Rating

2/5

Spooky Rating

1/5

Quick Take

The Z Word by Lyndsay King-Miller is a book that has such a great concept but is overshadowed with unlikeable characters, lack of ingenuity, and forgettable events. I honestly wish that I would have not finished it. If not for the presence of one well-crafted character, it would have been a one star read.

Tell Me More

Friends… this one was just not it.

Going in, I knew that The Z Word was going to be comedic horror. Even though it’s not usually my jam, I was okay with it due to the LGBTQIA+ focus, which we all know I love. However, what I got instead was a book filled with unlikeable characters, many of whom were caricatures of LGBTQIA+ folx, a generic zombie concept that brought nothing new to this horror niche and unnecessary and misplaced graphic sex scenes.

Wendy is one of the most unlikable characters I’ve read in recent years. She doesn’t seem to own up to a mistake she made that caused her to lose her girlfriend and all of her friends, but complains the entire time about how they left her. The book is heavily focused on sex and filled with more graphic sex scenes than horror scenes, which was deeply disappointing. Sex scenes have their place, such as in erotic horror or a separate genre like dark romance, but the scenes in this book were just filler and detracted from the horror elements, which were few and far between. I honestly barely remember any of the horror elements because they were so overshadowed by the side romances, flings, and hookups that were happening. When it came time to describe the zombies and the “twist” that made the entire apocalypse happen, I just didn’t care anymore.

However, there was one bright light in this novel (the reason I gave this book two stars instead of one), and that was the nonbinary pizza delivery driver: Sunshine. Sunshine shows up a few times, but not nearly enough! They become a wielding zombie fighter/pizza delivery driver and if the author had ditched the entire cast of characters and focused solely on Sunshine and their adventures, it would have been a much more exciting and horrific experience.

Unfortunately, I don’t recommend this one. If not for the LGBTQIA+ focus, it would be completely unremarkable. If you need some go-to recommendations for queer horror, please see Night’s Edge by Liz Kerin, Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle, and Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White.

*Thank you to Quirk Books for the review copy.

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ARC Review: The Bible for Living a Gothic Lifestyle

Gothic Life: The Essential Guide to Macabre Style by Aurelio Voltaire Synopsis

The New York Times–dubbed “Martha Stewart for Macabre Homemakers,” Aurelio Voltaire, presents the definitive guide to revamping your sanctuary to match your eerie vibe.  

Are you ready to embrace your dark side? In Gothic Life, Aurelio Voltaire shows you how to do just that, using the expertise honed as founder and host of the show Gothic Homemaking and years of stop-motion animation work to take you on a journey to goth-hood. From DIY design projects to helpful haunted hosting tips and tricks, with this step-by-step reference, you’ll transform your domain to capture your spooky essence with lessons   The history and mindset of goths, including gothic icons from Vincent Price to Tim Burton to Wednesday Addams Enchanting home décor, making use of spooky color palettes (beyond black!) and all the bats and gargoyles your gothic heart could want A gothic dinner party menu featuring the likes of squid ink linguini and charcoal ice cream Holiday and party prep to celebrate Halloween and beyond Whether you are looking for new ways to express your inner goth year-round or seeking brilliantly haunting ideas for your next Halloween bash, Gothic Life reveals the secrets to unleashing your inner goth and transforming the mundane to the macabre.

Release Date

August 20, 2024

Overall Rating

5/5

Quick Take

Gothic Life: The Essential Guide to Macabre Style by Aurelio Voltaire is required reading for all fans of the macabre. It is a beautiful and fun book that is perfect for guiding you on how to live a spooky life year-round, no matter your personal eerie style.

Tell Me More

When I say that I about screamed when this book arrived on my porch, I’m not kidding. Voltaire is iconic (if you haven’t listened to his music or seen his YouTube channel, do it NOW!)

Gothic Life is basically the bible for macabre style. I found that a lot of it was for beginners – meaning that if you already live a full-out gothic life, and your home is a complete lair, you may not get a lot out of this book. However, for someone like me who is super eclectic (my house is equal parts Halloween, horror, Disney, and rainbows – as is my style) this book gave me some excellent ideas and insights.

I loved how the book wasn’t pretentious at all. Voltaire highlights his style, his suggestions on color schemes and their meanings, while also incorporating fun projects and recipes for year-round celebrations. My favorite parts were the ideas for Summerween, Halloween, and Creepy Christmas. But I also thoroughly enjoyed the section that highlighted other creators, their styles, and a peek into their own homes.

There is also a portion of the book where he dives into the history of classic icons, like Elvira and Vincent Price, and includes destinations for gothic vacations – as well as tips on how to do gothic “staycations” should you not be able to travel.

All of the included recipes were immediately sober-friendly, with suggestions on adding booze if you wish, which was lovely to see. His note on taxidermy and being against trophy hunting and ethically sourcing artifacts for taxidermy gave me so much respect for him as well.

Gothic Life is very well-rounded. It gives you ideas on creating a spooky home while incorporating other ways to live the macabre lifestyle – including hosting themed parties and giving you insight into the world of gothic life. Even if you aren’t devoted to creating a macabre lifestyle but enjoy the ambiance, this book is a true treat to flip through. Voltaire emphasizes that there is no “wrong” way to live a gothic life, and the feeling of inclusivity makes this book so well-rounded. I can’t praise it enough.

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Book Review: An Unexpectedly Thoughtful and Traumatizing Read

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay Synopsis

A chilling twist on the “cursed film” genre from the bestselling author of The Pallbearers Club and The Cabin at the End of the World.

In June 1993, a group of young guerilla filmmakers spent four weeks making Horror Movie, a notorious, disturbing, art-house horror flick.

The weird part? Only three of the film’s scenes were ever released to the public, but Horror Movie has nevertheless grown a rabid fanbase. Three decades later, Hollywood is pushing for a big budget reboot.

The man who played “The Thin Kid” is the only surviving cast member. He remembers all too well the secrets buried within the original screenplay, the bizarre events of the filming, and the dangerous crossed lines on set that resulted in tragedy. As memories flood back in, the boundaries between reality and film, past and present start to blur. But he’s going to help remake the film, even if it means navigating a world of cynical producers, egomaniacal directors, and surreal fan conventions — demons of the past be damned.

But at what cost? 

Horror Movie is an obsessive, psychologically chilling, and suspenseful twist on the “cursed film” that breathlessly builds to an unforgettable, mind-bending conclusion.

Overall Rating

5/5

Spooky Rating

3/5 initially – but it creeps up to 4/5 towards the end, and the more you think about the novel after reading it

Quick Take

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay is an atmospheric and cinematic horror novel that creeps, slowly worming its way into your brain and rewiring everything that you think you know. It is a reflection on the creation of art, cult fandom, and horror movies, and how once art has been created and released into the world – it becomes something else entirely. This one will make you work for it, but damn if it isn’t rewarding!

Tell Me More

Horror Movie is my third book by Paul Tremblay. The Cabin at the End of the World was my first, and I was in the minority that loved it.

Now, here is what I’ve come to learn about Tremblay’s books. I genuinely hope that this helps you if you have not read his work yet or have mixed feelings about it.

They are not horror novels that come out swinging. They are not going to throw machetes at you and hope something sticks, so to speak. What you have to understand about Tremblay’s writing is that the horror of it comes from what isn’t shown. Sure, there may be scenes that depict “classically” horrific things, but he’s not feeding those scenes to you. He is coaching your imagination, prodding it, and making it work for him. With Tremblay’s books, it’s always what you put into the story that you get out of it. He won’t be spoon feeding the story to you, your thoughts and perception will become his equal partner in how the story lands.

That, my friends, is why I think Tremblay’s books get mixed reviews. You either love them, or hate them, and there is rarely an in-between. It makes total sense to me that he and Stephen Graham Jones are friends, because their work tends to land the same way.

Horror Movie is basically a tale about the “Thin Kid,” a man who played this character in a cult horror movie that never was. We never learn his real name; he is referred to as the “Thin Kid” throughout. Only three scenes from the movie were ever released, but it created a cult fandom that leads to the optioning of a reboot in present time.

The book goes back and forth in time, and highlights scenes from the script of the movie that the book is about. It is through these scenes that we learn essentially what the “Thin Kid” was put through in the movie, how things went wrong, and most importantly, how either the role changed the man playing, he changed the role, or both. The “Thin Kid” is a deeply unknowable character. By him not having an actual name, and following his story throughout, we never really know if he is trustworthy. Even after finishing the book, I still think about him, and wonder who this man really was.

Horror Movie is a narrative about the creation of art, how fans possess it once it is released, and how it ultimately changes the creator and the consumer. But it is also about the horror community, its pros and cons, and all of the weirdness that comes with it.

All of the characters in the book are wholly “unknowable.” We know very little about all of them, and that adds to the ambiguous atmosphere that the book possesses. At no point in time were any of the characters trustworthy, and I think that that played on the idea that none of us are truly “knowable” or simply “good or bad.” We all make choices based on our own experiences and perceptions, and we are all ultimately changed and molded by the media we consume.

Is this a book that can go over your head if you aren’t careful? Absolutely. I am already planning on going back in and annotating to further try and comprehend it. I am as mesmerized by it as I am scared, and to me, that is a beautiful thing. Please just try it out. That’s all that I ask.

Bonus

Here’s a picture of me meeting Paul Tremblay a few weeks ago. He was in discussion with Stephen Graham Jones and Walter Chaw. It was such an interesting conversation on horror, the horror community, and the power of horror films and media!

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