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Harmony, Indiana #2
Cinema of Shadows
Welcome to the Woodfield Movie Palace. The night the Titanic sank, it opened for business...and its builder died in his chair. In the 1950s, there was a fire; a balcony full of people burned to death. And years later, when it became the scene of one of Harmony, Indiana's most notorious murders, it closed for good. Abandoned, sealed, locked up tight...until now. Tonight, Professor Geoffrey Burke and his Parapsychology students have come to the Woodfield in search of evidence, hoping to find irrefutable proof of a haunting. Instead, they will discover that, in this theater, the terrors are not confined to the screen.
298 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2011
14 people are currently reading
966 people want to read
About the author
Michael West
31 books174 followersMichael West is the bestselling author of Cinema of Shadows, Spook House, The Wide Game, Skull Full of Kisses, and the critically-acclaimed Legacy of the Gods series. A graduate of Indiana University, West earned a degree in Telecommunications and Film Theory, and since that time, he has written a multitude of short stories, articles, and reviews for various on-line and print publications. He lives and works in the Indianapolis area with his wife, Stephanie, their two children, Kyle and Ryan, their daughter-in-law, Grace, and their dog, King Seesar.
His children are convinced that spirits move through the woods near their home.
West's short story "Goodnight," originally published in WICKED KARNIVAL #6, was named "Best Horror Short Story of 2005" in the P&E Readers Poll.
His children are convinced that spirits move through the woods near their home.
West's short story "Goodnight," originally published in WICKED KARNIVAL #6, was named "Best Horror Short Story of 2005" in the P&E Readers Poll.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
July 8, 2019
This one had a real cheesy B-movie vibe going on. I liked that about it. It was a little heavy on the cheese in parts, but a quick and entertaining read nonetheless.
August 31, 2014
My second novel set in Harmony, Indiana.
You ever watch ghost hunting shows on television and say to yourself, "Why can't they go to the Poltergeist house? I want to see stuff flying around, blood flowing from the walls, GHOSTS!" Yeah, so do I. So, I tried to imagine the most frightening haunting possible and make a team of paranormal investigators finally have to deal with it. I'm very proud of the result.
You ever watch ghost hunting shows on television and say to yourself, "Why can't they go to the Poltergeist house? I want to see stuff flying around, blood flowing from the walls, GHOSTS!" Yeah, so do I. So, I tried to imagine the most frightening haunting possible and make a team of paranormal investigators finally have to deal with it. I'm very proud of the result.
March 18, 2021
Cinema of Shadows is very cinematic in its disjointedness--to make the multitude of abrupt scene shifts work for me as I read along, it was helpful to imagine this as a movie with quick cuts designed to keep half a dozen characters in focus as they did different things. Unlike the screenplay it resembles, though, the writing also keeps us informed of those characters' thoughts and feelings, to some extent doing the job of the actors in the movie I keep visualizing. And the cinematic style is emphasized with a prologue titled "Previews of Coming Attractions" and an epilogue actually preceded by
Another reviewer distinguishes two sub-genres of horror novels--slow horror and fast horror--and I think all the horror stories I've enjoyed have been of the first kind, building up slowly and increasing the tension up to a final pay-off. Here we might have the second kind. Horrifying events are scattered through the first half of the book, via personal memories, history, and a few action scenes. Plans are carefully made, and then all hell breaks loose in the abandoned movie house of the book's title. In an hour or so it's all over, and that hour takes up the last third of the book.
There's a gently paced and sympathetic introduction to six main characters, all of whom I felt were well developed and likable and all of whom had memories of disturbing encounters with something supernatural. The main focus is on Kim Saunders, a student at Stanley University who has always been psychically sensitive; she attracts trapped souls of the departed who want her to set them free.
Kim and her roommate Tashima Ishmail are taking a parapsychology course taught by Geoffrey Burke, who is on a private quest to prove the reality of a demonic attack he suffered back in his native England. An abandoned movie house, deep in the woods north of the town of Harmony, Indiana, offers Burke his big opportunity, and he eagerly recruits four of his students--Kim, Tashima, Joss Giler, and Kevin Heiliger--to do a full-scale investigation of extrasensory phenomena there.
The tragic and violent history of the Woodfield Opera House, revived as the Woodfield Movie Palace, is outlined, and every one of those events has left souls trapped in the now-abandoned theater. You don't need to be told that Burke and his four students are going to get more than they bargained for !
For me, too much happens too fast in the theater. Yes, I do like a slow build-up; I wanted them to spend the whole weekend in the theater with their cameras and instruments, and this was more like "shock and awe." As befits a horror movie, some of the characters you like, both primary and secondary ones, turn out to be disposable--sacrificed to the story, or it wouldn't be horror.
Unlike the ghost stories you may be familiar with, the nonphysical entities in this novel attack people with considerable physical force. I wasn't really ready for that. One such attack early on sends Kevin to the emergency room, where Kim meets Dr. Tyler Bachman. Instant love, complete with multiple orgasms! I like a slow build-up in romances, too, but both Kim and Tyler were very sympathetic characters apart from that, and I guess the story just didn't leave them much time to make their connection. Oh well. You've been warned.
...AND NOW, FOR THOSE WHO REMAINED IN THEIR SEATS DURING THE CREDITS, WAITING...What credits, you ask? That's the acknowledgements page!
Another reviewer distinguishes two sub-genres of horror novels--slow horror and fast horror--and I think all the horror stories I've enjoyed have been of the first kind, building up slowly and increasing the tension up to a final pay-off. Here we might have the second kind. Horrifying events are scattered through the first half of the book, via personal memories, history, and a few action scenes. Plans are carefully made, and then all hell breaks loose in the abandoned movie house of the book's title. In an hour or so it's all over, and that hour takes up the last third of the book.
There's a gently paced and sympathetic introduction to six main characters, all of whom I felt were well developed and likable and all of whom had memories of disturbing encounters with something supernatural. The main focus is on Kim Saunders, a student at Stanley University who has always been psychically sensitive; she attracts trapped souls of the departed who want her to set them free.
Kim and her roommate Tashima Ishmail are taking a parapsychology course taught by Geoffrey Burke, who is on a private quest to prove the reality of a demonic attack he suffered back in his native England. An abandoned movie house, deep in the woods north of the town of Harmony, Indiana, offers Burke his big opportunity, and he eagerly recruits four of his students--Kim, Tashima, Joss Giler, and Kevin Heiliger--to do a full-scale investigation of extrasensory phenomena there.
The tragic and violent history of the Woodfield Opera House, revived as the Woodfield Movie Palace, is outlined, and every one of those events has left souls trapped in the now-abandoned theater. You don't need to be told that Burke and his four students are going to get more than they bargained for !
For me, too much happens too fast in the theater. Yes, I do like a slow build-up; I wanted them to spend the whole weekend in the theater with their cameras and instruments, and this was more like "shock and awe." As befits a horror movie, some of the characters you like, both primary and secondary ones, turn out to be disposable--sacrificed to the story, or it wouldn't be horror.
Unlike the ghost stories you may be familiar with, the nonphysical entities in this novel attack people with considerable physical force. I wasn't really ready for that. One such attack early on sends Kevin to the emergency room, where Kim meets Dr. Tyler Bachman. Instant love, complete with multiple orgasms! I like a slow build-up in romances, too, but both Kim and Tyler were very sympathetic characters apart from that, and I guess the story just didn't leave them much time to make their connection. Oh well. You've been warned.
December 21, 2011
You know how sometimes huge blockbuster movies get raves from fans but get poo pooed by the critics because it's idk not artsy fartsy enough. Well I've always thought those critics over look the obvious that sometimes you want an escape in fact most times when people go to the movies they go solely for entertainments sake. That's really okay to just go and enjoy, I wish they would learn that.
This book reminds me of that. It's not one I'll ever reread but I enjoyed myself and that is really the point.
Cinema Of Shadows by Michael West is about a small group of characters mostly a Professor Burke and a group of Parapsychology students. The story revolves around and leads to a dramatic showdown at the Woodfield Movie Palace. An abandoned theater that while open saw many a death.The students and their professor are for lack of a better term ghost hunters. Yes just like the TV show. The search for truth, for proof of a haunting leads them to Woodfield Movie Palace and the terrors that lie within.
Michael West clearly lets him imagination run wild and that's great, his writing is enjoyable and easy to read. I love his Battlestar Galactica reference when a character calls someone a fucking toaster. Ah how I loved this.
I would recommend Cinema Of Shadows to anyone looking for a fun, entertaining read with characters that are well written and enjoyable. With some chills and thrills it's sure to please. I'd personally recommend it in winter, when your curled up under a blanket, when the lights are low, when the wind is howling. At least you hope it's the wind, better check though just to be sure.
This book reminds me of that. It's not one I'll ever reread but I enjoyed myself and that is really the point.
Cinema Of Shadows by Michael West is about a small group of characters mostly a Professor Burke and a group of Parapsychology students. The story revolves around and leads to a dramatic showdown at the Woodfield Movie Palace. An abandoned theater that while open saw many a death.The students and their professor are for lack of a better term ghost hunters. Yes just like the TV show. The search for truth, for proof of a haunting leads them to Woodfield Movie Palace and the terrors that lie within.
Michael West clearly lets him imagination run wild and that's great, his writing is enjoyable and easy to read. I love his Battlestar Galactica reference when a character calls someone a fucking toaster. Ah how I loved this.
I would recommend Cinema Of Shadows to anyone looking for a fun, entertaining read with characters that are well written and enjoyable. With some chills and thrills it's sure to please. I'd personally recommend it in winter, when your curled up under a blanket, when the lights are low, when the wind is howling. At least you hope it's the wind, better check though just to be sure.
February 1, 2013
It's always such a delight to discover a new horror author that actually impresses. And with this book, Michael West certainly does. How can you not enjoy a haunted movie theatre story? It's such a great setting. Throw in great action, likeable characters, geniunely cinematic boombastic effects, kickass art not just cover but also surprising the reader twice throughout the book and a awesomely appropriate (post credit) ending and you got a terrific horror story that's a quick and fun read. Highly recommended for all genre fans.
July 27, 2012
At the risk of sounding too squee, let me preface with this: I absolutely loved this book. Over the last few years I've found myself increasingly bored with straight horror novels. Perhaps it's my perceptions as a writer (picking out storytelling elements and good things gone cliché automatically instead of gleefully falling for them) or the by-the-numbers or just-like-Stephen-King styles that are prevalent. Regardless I find myself looking for something just plain different.
Cinema of Shadows isn't actually different. It's the tale of a group of college kids who are part of a paranormal investigations class (what college has that class? I want to go!) who are investigating the Woodfield Movie Palace. The Woodfield began as a live performance theater in the 20s, then a single theater movie place. Then it degraded into a porn theater before the last owner shot his fiance and himself in the ticket booth.
It goes without saying that the Woodfield is very, very haunted, and maliciously so. The kids are in for a world of trouble, especially since one of them is a natural channel, drawing trapped spirits to her for liberation.
In many ways, great ways, Cinema of Shadows is a typical horror novel. It's clear West loves the genre, but also understands some of its failings. He manages make the book a ton of fun by playing on reader expectations and turning them over. The lead females can be in distress, without having to be saved and they can be saved without being weak and useless. Likewise the males can be tough guys, but still get into trouble and need a little help themselves.
Cinema of Shadows was fun to read, hard to put down though I had strong suspicions where it was going. Definitely recommended, especially by those who miss having a little fun and humor with their ghosts and gore.
Contains: sex, violence, language
Cinema of Shadows isn't actually different. It's the tale of a group of college kids who are part of a paranormal investigations class (what college has that class? I want to go!) who are investigating the Woodfield Movie Palace. The Woodfield began as a live performance theater in the 20s, then a single theater movie place. Then it degraded into a porn theater before the last owner shot his fiance and himself in the ticket booth.
It goes without saying that the Woodfield is very, very haunted, and maliciously so. The kids are in for a world of trouble, especially since one of them is a natural channel, drawing trapped spirits to her for liberation.
In many ways, great ways, Cinema of Shadows is a typical horror novel. It's clear West loves the genre, but also understands some of its failings. He manages make the book a ton of fun by playing on reader expectations and turning them over. The lead females can be in distress, without having to be saved and they can be saved without being weak and useless. Likewise the males can be tough guys, but still get into trouble and need a little help themselves.
Cinema of Shadows was fun to read, hard to put down though I had strong suspicions where it was going. Definitely recommended, especially by those who miss having a little fun and humor with their ghosts and gore.
Contains: sex, violence, language
December 3, 2013
"Cinema Of Shadows" by Michael West held my attention until the last page. There were lots of different elements at play, incidents in the main characters' pasts that intermingled towards the close of the story, and I always love that. It shows that the author had a structure for the story, a multifaceted plan, even if he himself didn't know where the plot might end.
It's the story of Kim Saunders and Tashima Ishmail, college roommates and best friends, both with disturbing memories in their history. Kim and Tashima need to fulfill a college credit for Psychology, but they can't stand another second of learning about Freud, so they take Dr. Burke's Parapsychology unit instead. When a group of students is assembled to go on a ghost study at the abandoned Woodfield Cinema, we begin to realize these students were all chosen for a reason. They've all encountered something dark in their past.
The Woodfield opens its doors to visitors, but doesn't like to let them leave. Its history is stained with murder, suicide, and tragedy. Can Kim, who is just beginning to know herself as a woman, confront her past and channel the energy of her youth in order to face her fears?
Although I really enjoyed this book, I do have one complaint. It follows the status quo with the Christianity versus demons thing. As an agnostic, I can't help but wonder how they battled demons before the death of Christ. Certainly not with crucifixes, but hey... that's another story for another day, perhaps? I bet Michael could write it. His skill is obvious, and the pages seem to turn on their own. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
It's the story of Kim Saunders and Tashima Ishmail, college roommates and best friends, both with disturbing memories in their history. Kim and Tashima need to fulfill a college credit for Psychology, but they can't stand another second of learning about Freud, so they take Dr. Burke's Parapsychology unit instead. When a group of students is assembled to go on a ghost study at the abandoned Woodfield Cinema, we begin to realize these students were all chosen for a reason. They've all encountered something dark in their past.
The Woodfield opens its doors to visitors, but doesn't like to let them leave. Its history is stained with murder, suicide, and tragedy. Can Kim, who is just beginning to know herself as a woman, confront her past and channel the energy of her youth in order to face her fears?
Although I really enjoyed this book, I do have one complaint. It follows the status quo with the Christianity versus demons thing. As an agnostic, I can't help but wonder how they battled demons before the death of Christ. Certainly not with crucifixes, but hey... that's another story for another day, perhaps? I bet Michael could write it. His skill is obvious, and the pages seem to turn on their own. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
July 15, 2012
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t much care for fast-paced horror. I grew up with the door-stopper tomes of Stephen King and Clive Barker. I like the way they slowly unfold a story and reveal the terror to come. (Slowly I turn, step by step, inch by inch). That being said, Cinema of Shadows is very much a fast-paced horror story that I very much enjoyed.
Cinema is a story much in the vein of The Mangler with a touch of Rose Red. It’s got demons, ghosts and psychics. It’s got a parapsychology instructor eager for proof. And it’s got a great setting, well-rounded characters and plenty of scares. West does some interesting things with the trapped-ghost sub-genre, but overall, the book didn’t strike me as overly original. Even the ending in the epilogue (delivered after the “credits” movie-style) is fairly predictable. But you know what? The reader doesn’t care (at least, this reader didn’t). Even knowing the tropes West employs (and some of the ones he subverts), I couldn’t put this one down.
I will say that the story’s pace does harm it somewhat, in my opinion. For example, one character faces some really weird stuff completely contrary to his rational world view. In a King novel, he’d argue with himself for chapters before finally settling on the supernatural once he ran out of options. A bit of that happens in Cinema of Shadows, but the acceptance comes a bit to readily in my opinion. But that’s a minor point in an otherwise fantastic story.
Cinema is a story much in the vein of The Mangler with a touch of Rose Red. It’s got demons, ghosts and psychics. It’s got a parapsychology instructor eager for proof. And it’s got a great setting, well-rounded characters and plenty of scares. West does some interesting things with the trapped-ghost sub-genre, but overall, the book didn’t strike me as overly original. Even the ending in the epilogue (delivered after the “credits” movie-style) is fairly predictable. But you know what? The reader doesn’t care (at least, this reader didn’t). Even knowing the tropes West employs (and some of the ones he subverts), I couldn’t put this one down.
I will say that the story’s pace does harm it somewhat, in my opinion. For example, one character faces some really weird stuff completely contrary to his rational world view. In a King novel, he’d argue with himself for chapters before finally settling on the supernatural once he ran out of options. A bit of that happens in Cinema of Shadows, but the acceptance comes a bit to readily in my opinion. But that’s a minor point in an otherwise fantastic story.
December 5, 2012
Have you ever wanted to go on a ghost hunt? If so, read this novel first for some excellent practical suggestions—no smoking for a start. And if not, enjoy this ghost-hunting tale for the vicarious thrill of a truly scary encounter with the ghosts of a crumbling cinema.
“If this place isn’t haunted, it sure is dressed for the part,” muses one protagonist, and the Woodfield Movie Palace truly is—sumptuously classic, haunted with history, fallen into decay, and destined for demolition. Professor Burke and his parapsychology students are looking for genuine proof of a genuine haunting, expecting maybe the victims of a tragic fire, or a woman murdered by her lover, to come and speak to them. But each of the characters has his or her own experience with horror in the past, and the hand that binds the spirits doesn’t plan to be confined.
Backstory is well-timed, adding depth to characters the reader already cares about. Romance has just the right level of happenstance and human depth. And the horror creeps up on the reader, scary, double-edged and well-focused, serving the story well.
Harmony Indiana sounds like a town that will haunt the horror shelves for years to come, and Michael West is a writer to enjoy. For young adult upwards, Cinema of Shadows is highly recommended.
Disclosure: I bought this ebook on a deal and I’m really glad I found it.
“If this place isn’t haunted, it sure is dressed for the part,” muses one protagonist, and the Woodfield Movie Palace truly is—sumptuously classic, haunted with history, fallen into decay, and destined for demolition. Professor Burke and his parapsychology students are looking for genuine proof of a genuine haunting, expecting maybe the victims of a tragic fire, or a woman murdered by her lover, to come and speak to them. But each of the characters has his or her own experience with horror in the past, and the hand that binds the spirits doesn’t plan to be confined.
Backstory is well-timed, adding depth to characters the reader already cares about. Romance has just the right level of happenstance and human depth. And the horror creeps up on the reader, scary, double-edged and well-focused, serving the story well.
Harmony Indiana sounds like a town that will haunt the horror shelves for years to come, and Michael West is a writer to enjoy. For young adult upwards, Cinema of Shadows is highly recommended.
Disclosure: I bought this ebook on a deal and I’m really glad I found it.
October 12, 2011
Cinema of Shadows is an excellent little horror novel rooted deeply in the style of Stephen King and the notion of "the bad place." The Woodfield Movie Palace is one of those places, a cursed structure where echoes of the horrors that went before still ring through to those who are listening. But more than the past lives there. An evil stalks the men and women who enter the Woodfield, ever seeking to add their souls to its growing tally of death.
Cinema of Shadows has everything you are looking for in a horror novel. Strong characters, an interesting location with a detailed history, chills and frights, unexpected twists and even a little true love. I love the paranormal investigation aspects, and having dabbled in that before, can testify to the accuracy of its portrayal. My only complaint is that the book felt a little short. Of course, that could be because I read it in all of two sittings. Buy the book. You won't regret it.
Brett J. Talley
Author of the award winning That Which Should Not Be
Cinema of Shadows has everything you are looking for in a horror novel. Strong characters, an interesting location with a detailed history, chills and frights, unexpected twists and even a little true love. I love the paranormal investigation aspects, and having dabbled in that before, can testify to the accuracy of its portrayal. My only complaint is that the book felt a little short. Of course, that could be because I read it in all of two sittings. Buy the book. You won't regret it.
Brett J. Talley
Author of the award winning That Which Should Not Be
August 22, 2011
Cinema of Shadows is not a "good" read, it's a Great read! As always, Michael West draws the reader in, effortlessly. His characters are easy to connect with and the storyline never stops moving.
This book centers around a haunted movie theater, and a group of individuals investigating it. There's history, emotion, terror, action, sex, and violence. He makes the unbelievable, believable! What more could you ask for in a book?
I definitely recommend this book.
This book centers around a haunted movie theater, and a group of individuals investigating it. There's history, emotion, terror, action, sex, and violence. He makes the unbelievable, believable! What more could you ask for in a book?
I definitely recommend this book.
September 5, 2012
A fun read, especially if you are a fan of horror movies. The plot is completely derivative and mixes numerous story threads and scenes (I think deliberately) from famous books and movies. I found it fun to "name the movie or book" as each scene transpired. There really isn't anything original here, and West keeps the story light, but I still enjoyed it because I could sense that the writer has a deep affection for the movies that I have enjoyed over the years.
July 17, 2014
A very well written short little novel. I loved the story premise, and it's execution...though formulaic and predictable, it was so well done and tightly written that I found myself reading it in one sitting.
The book actually made me feel like I was watching a movie of it. That is how vivid the pictures in my head were. Some very scary scenes, too.
The book actually made me feel like I was watching a movie of it. That is how vivid the pictures in my head were. Some very scary scenes, too.
September 4, 2011
Horror is not a genre I normally read, but downloaded this one after several recommendations and could not put it down. The character development was particularly good. I really cared about what would happen to them. A great read.
June 30, 2012
This has to be the best Horror book I have read in forever!!! Way surpasses King and Koontz. I loved every minute of it. This would make an awesome movie!!! Id buy it!! :)
October 22, 2017
Ooh. what better setting for a haunting than a derelict movie theatre. Woodfield Movie Palace hasn’t projected a film onto it’s large screen in many many years. Dust motes float in abandoned rooms. Birds and critters make nests in it’s empty shell. And something else moves about in its darkest places. This is its home. It will never leave. So you best stay away or it will make you pay. And the price for admission is death.
I’ll admit that spectacular cover was the first reason I chose to read these book. It being a paranormal investigation plot just added to my interest. And I’ve read another series by this author and knew the writing would be solid, with genuine characters.
At first, it felt like many other books with this idea. A team goes into a building purported to be haunted and all kinds of nasty stuff starts happening. But this is where Michael builds his own idea, giving background filler to suggest how and why it might be truly haunted. As to who or what is doing it, you don’t know that until you get close to the end.
There’s a mixed bag of characters for the paranormal investigation team. The snarky gal, the over emoting jock, the lost girl with an unwanted ability, a few others for the casualty list, and one with a hidden agenda. Michael shines at bringing them to life. He even throws in a bit of romance. It’s almost insta love, but I felt it was more like two lonely people being in the right place at the right time. It could happen.
And then there’s the town of Harmony, Indiana. The place where it all goes down. This is the second book in the Harmony series. Each stands alone. The setting is the same but the characters and stories are different. Kind of like Stephen King and Derry, Maine. Harmony could have been built on bad ground. I wonder if the author will eventually explain why so many horrible things happen there.
This isn’t a fast moving story. The action is spread out. Those in between times are just as good. I like getting to know some of the history of the theatre and becoming more knowledgeable about the characters. I need to connect to them somewhat in order to care what happens to them. things start moving fast when it gets crazy and dark. I’d suggest you sit back, enjoy the ride, but don’t let your guard down. If you do, that’s when Michael will put the boo on you.
I’ll admit that spectacular cover was the first reason I chose to read these book. It being a paranormal investigation plot just added to my interest. And I’ve read another series by this author and knew the writing would be solid, with genuine characters.
At first, it felt like many other books with this idea. A team goes into a building purported to be haunted and all kinds of nasty stuff starts happening. But this is where Michael builds his own idea, giving background filler to suggest how and why it might be truly haunted. As to who or what is doing it, you don’t know that until you get close to the end.
There’s a mixed bag of characters for the paranormal investigation team. The snarky gal, the over emoting jock, the lost girl with an unwanted ability, a few others for the casualty list, and one with a hidden agenda. Michael shines at bringing them to life. He even throws in a bit of romance. It’s almost insta love, but I felt it was more like two lonely people being in the right place at the right time. It could happen.
And then there’s the town of Harmony, Indiana. The place where it all goes down. This is the second book in the Harmony series. Each stands alone. The setting is the same but the characters and stories are different. Kind of like Stephen King and Derry, Maine. Harmony could have been built on bad ground. I wonder if the author will eventually explain why so many horrible things happen there.
This isn’t a fast moving story. The action is spread out. Those in between times are just as good. I like getting to know some of the history of the theatre and becoming more knowledgeable about the characters. I need to connect to them somewhat in order to care what happens to them. things start moving fast when it gets crazy and dark. I’d suggest you sit back, enjoy the ride, but don’t let your guard down. If you do, that’s when Michael will put the boo on you.
February 22, 2021
I really liked this story. I don't want to give any spoilers away but I did like how the characters tied into each other. My only real issue was the romance between Kim/Tyler, while I like them together, it still seemed a little forced and I don't fully understand how they fell so hard for each other. She also mentioned a traumatic ex-boyfriend, but we don't get more information or reason for that being brought up. The story was pretty intense though and I enjoyed it otherwise.
November 5, 2011
Cinema is a triumph—incredibly satisfying, offering the scares you hope for with an attention to detail, history, and a set of characters you like and root for, even knowing not everyone makes it through to the end.
And the movies. The book is a celebration of Michael’s love of movies.
The book begins with a couple of prologues, first about our main character Kim Saunders, then with a significant flashback within the Woodfield—the movie palace in which the bulk of the story takes place.
Michael takes us back to Harmony, Indiana, the setting of The Wide Game (which I awarded the coveted 10/10 Arjays). He’s taking us from high school to college, where follow Ms. Kim Saunders and her group of friends—her roommate Tashima, and Joss and Kevin. The four have been grouped into a “team” of wanna-be investigators all trying to earn a semester’s credit of paranormal research under the leadership of the infamous and very British Professor Geoffrey Burke.
Kim is chosen to communicate with the spirits. It’s clear from the start she has a talent in finding rapport with the other side. When she addresses them, things “happen.” Her friends don’t know (but the reader is let in) of her mysterious past and the encounters that have allowed this to happen.
Following a partly botched haunted house episode, Kim is taken to the emergency room and treated by Doctor Tyler Bachman. It’s hardly five minutes later that “Doctor Bachman” has discharged her, asks her out, and he becomes “Tyler” for the rest of the novel, and the budding romance falls into place.
Professor Burke has been offered the unique opportunity to investigate the soon-to-be-demolished Woodview Movie Palace for the weekend, and he recruits the student team most aggressively to join him. Everything clicks into place pretty fast, and soon the team is setting up at the movie palace, learning its ghastly history, uncovering its secrets, upsetting the spirits, and getting into all sorts of trouble.
At 278 pages the book moves fast, yet never feels rushed. For me, comparisons to The Wide Game are inevitable, so, compared to The Wide Game, the situation is simpler, more straightforward. While The Wide Game protracted the reveal, Cinema is about getting to the scares and whipping the plot along.
The book, about a movie palace, shows a distinct love for movies, and “unspools” like a movie. Lines that will read as throwaway detail to some will have film students nodding their head at the in-joke. For example, when Kim and Tyler take a late-night stroll, Michael makes a point to mention that the sidewalk glistened wet from a recent rain. Those familiar with cinema techniques know that cement photographs better when wet and is often hosed down prior to filming.
Much has been said about the scares in other reviews, and I won’t go on about that except to confirm that if that’s what you’re looking for, Cinema is full of scares, surprise reveals and action sequences. I want to take a moment to praise Michael on his characters and his ability make the reader care and root for each one, even the throwaway ones. (The stripper, Michael—how could you do that to the stripper? Like her life wasn’t tough enough?)
I’d like to also mention the Catholic Christian emphasis in both Cinema and The Wide Game. For several decades it seems to have become out of vogue to create horror stories in which the power of God and the name of Jesus Christ can affect the outcome of supernatural encounters. (The crucifix, in modern vampire fiction, is waved around more like a can of mace than a symbol of spiritual presence). Modern American spirituality tends to be removed or minimized from “mainstream” horror fiction and only handled (or mishandled in my opinion) in “Christian horror” fiction. Not so in Michael’s work.
Cinema offers us a group of sexually experimenting college kids, prone to use “bad” language, but some of which have a strong faith, and fall back on that faith in hopes to affect the outcome of the tale. As a result, Cinema becomes one of a few unacknowledged Christian Fiction horror novels, with Christian characters most American Christians would understand and relate to, but will never be found in a Christian Bookstore. For me, and I suspect for others, Cinema and The Wide Game fill a gap in secular storytelling, and I applaud Michael and Seventh Star Press for making that stand.
Bottom line: Highly recommended for those who love action-oriented cinematic paranormal fiction.
Full review at this blog: http://rjsullivanfiction.wordpress.co...
And the movies. The book is a celebration of Michael’s love of movies.
The book begins with a couple of prologues, first about our main character Kim Saunders, then with a significant flashback within the Woodfield—the movie palace in which the bulk of the story takes place.
Michael takes us back to Harmony, Indiana, the setting of The Wide Game (which I awarded the coveted 10/10 Arjays). He’s taking us from high school to college, where follow Ms. Kim Saunders and her group of friends—her roommate Tashima, and Joss and Kevin. The four have been grouped into a “team” of wanna-be investigators all trying to earn a semester’s credit of paranormal research under the leadership of the infamous and very British Professor Geoffrey Burke.
Kim is chosen to communicate with the spirits. It’s clear from the start she has a talent in finding rapport with the other side. When she addresses them, things “happen.” Her friends don’t know (but the reader is let in) of her mysterious past and the encounters that have allowed this to happen.
Following a partly botched haunted house episode, Kim is taken to the emergency room and treated by Doctor Tyler Bachman. It’s hardly five minutes later that “Doctor Bachman” has discharged her, asks her out, and he becomes “Tyler” for the rest of the novel, and the budding romance falls into place.
Professor Burke has been offered the unique opportunity to investigate the soon-to-be-demolished Woodview Movie Palace for the weekend, and he recruits the student team most aggressively to join him. Everything clicks into place pretty fast, and soon the team is setting up at the movie palace, learning its ghastly history, uncovering its secrets, upsetting the spirits, and getting into all sorts of trouble.
At 278 pages the book moves fast, yet never feels rushed. For me, comparisons to The Wide Game are inevitable, so, compared to The Wide Game, the situation is simpler, more straightforward. While The Wide Game protracted the reveal, Cinema is about getting to the scares and whipping the plot along.
The book, about a movie palace, shows a distinct love for movies, and “unspools” like a movie. Lines that will read as throwaway detail to some will have film students nodding their head at the in-joke. For example, when Kim and Tyler take a late-night stroll, Michael makes a point to mention that the sidewalk glistened wet from a recent rain. Those familiar with cinema techniques know that cement photographs better when wet and is often hosed down prior to filming.
Much has been said about the scares in other reviews, and I won’t go on about that except to confirm that if that’s what you’re looking for, Cinema is full of scares, surprise reveals and action sequences. I want to take a moment to praise Michael on his characters and his ability make the reader care and root for each one, even the throwaway ones. (The stripper, Michael—how could you do that to the stripper? Like her life wasn’t tough enough?)
I’d like to also mention the Catholic Christian emphasis in both Cinema and The Wide Game. For several decades it seems to have become out of vogue to create horror stories in which the power of God and the name of Jesus Christ can affect the outcome of supernatural encounters. (The crucifix, in modern vampire fiction, is waved around more like a can of mace than a symbol of spiritual presence). Modern American spirituality tends to be removed or minimized from “mainstream” horror fiction and only handled (or mishandled in my opinion) in “Christian horror” fiction. Not so in Michael’s work.
Cinema offers us a group of sexually experimenting college kids, prone to use “bad” language, but some of which have a strong faith, and fall back on that faith in hopes to affect the outcome of the tale. As a result, Cinema becomes one of a few unacknowledged Christian Fiction horror novels, with Christian characters most American Christians would understand and relate to, but will never be found in a Christian Bookstore. For me, and I suspect for others, Cinema and The Wide Game fill a gap in secular storytelling, and I applaud Michael and Seventh Star Press for making that stand.
Bottom line: Highly recommended for those who love action-oriented cinematic paranormal fiction.
Full review at this blog: http://rjsullivanfiction.wordpress.co...
November 15, 2011
Cinema Of Shadows is a Horror Thriller.
When Kimberly Saunders was born, her mother thought there was something wrong with her, she was positive that Kim could speak with ghosts. As Kim grows she has an event which occurs on a covered bridge that leaves her dreams filled with nightmares.
Present day, Kim is attending college and she and her roommate Tashima Ismail are attending a Parapsychology course. They, along with their classmates Kevin and Joss, are preparing a haunting for their class credit. They are at a house of a family who was murdered by the father, a little girl's spirit is trapped in the house and when they begin their experiment, they don't expect much. However, Kim can hear the spirits talking and before they can look at their footage, one of them hurts Kevin and the group rush off to the ER.
Professor Geoffrey Burke is fascinated by the group's results and has a bigger quest for them to tackle. Professor Burke wants the group of sensitives to explore the Woodfield Movie Palace that has a history of paranormal activity. The history behind the movie house is fraught with death and murder and it is believed by everyone, that the souls of those are trapped within the walls.
Professor Burke was attacked as a child by a "demon" and he has spent his whole life proving that an afterlife does exist while on the hunt for the one who scarred him. Kim is afraid of what she will find behind the doors of the theatre, but comes to the realization that maybe she can help the trapped souls escape from their earthly hell. Along the way, Kim meets Dr. Tyler Bachman and the two begin to fall in love but Tyler isn't sure if Kim is mentally stable and every fibre in his body tells him to run before its too late.
As the group comes together at the theatre, they must have their wits about them in order to survive the evil the permeates the theatre. Will Kim have the strength to free the souls or will the demon's feed of her life energy for the rest of eternity?
I thought this was a great book. I loved the creepy aspect that the story builds up to. I loved how the people interacted with each other and the ghostly back stories that each person shared was enjoyable to read. The characters each had their own persona's and one has no problem telling each of them apart as you read.
I read this alone and late at night, giving the read some extra nuances and I loved how the book made me feel. I was slightly scared as I continued to read, I have an over-active imagination and this book fed it nicely. I would love to see this in a movie, it would be a well worth the watch; I would love to see the special effects via the paranormal activity.
I would give Cinema Of Shadows a four stars out of five. I truly loved the read, but there were a few tidbits that weren't explained enough for me, like how the theatre became evil in the first place and how the "demon" is able to leave the theatre or what Robby's "other" story was that made him want to exorcise the demons from the place. None of these were properly explained and while none of these things hinder from the story, it still makes a reader wonder and I dislike when I have questions left unanswered from my reads.
If you love a good horror story then this will surely feed your need for the creep. This book is not for the faint of heart, it has moderate to heavy expletives and many aspects are graphic in nature. The artwork on the cover is commendable and truly works for the book.
When Kimberly Saunders was born, her mother thought there was something wrong with her, she was positive that Kim could speak with ghosts. As Kim grows she has an event which occurs on a covered bridge that leaves her dreams filled with nightmares.
Present day, Kim is attending college and she and her roommate Tashima Ismail are attending a Parapsychology course. They, along with their classmates Kevin and Joss, are preparing a haunting for their class credit. They are at a house of a family who was murdered by the father, a little girl's spirit is trapped in the house and when they begin their experiment, they don't expect much. However, Kim can hear the spirits talking and before they can look at their footage, one of them hurts Kevin and the group rush off to the ER.
Professor Geoffrey Burke is fascinated by the group's results and has a bigger quest for them to tackle. Professor Burke wants the group of sensitives to explore the Woodfield Movie Palace that has a history of paranormal activity. The history behind the movie house is fraught with death and murder and it is believed by everyone, that the souls of those are trapped within the walls.
Professor Burke was attacked as a child by a "demon" and he has spent his whole life proving that an afterlife does exist while on the hunt for the one who scarred him. Kim is afraid of what she will find behind the doors of the theatre, but comes to the realization that maybe she can help the trapped souls escape from their earthly hell. Along the way, Kim meets Dr. Tyler Bachman and the two begin to fall in love but Tyler isn't sure if Kim is mentally stable and every fibre in his body tells him to run before its too late.
As the group comes together at the theatre, they must have their wits about them in order to survive the evil the permeates the theatre. Will Kim have the strength to free the souls or will the demon's feed of her life energy for the rest of eternity?
I thought this was a great book. I loved the creepy aspect that the story builds up to. I loved how the people interacted with each other and the ghostly back stories that each person shared was enjoyable to read. The characters each had their own persona's and one has no problem telling each of them apart as you read.
I read this alone and late at night, giving the read some extra nuances and I loved how the book made me feel. I was slightly scared as I continued to read, I have an over-active imagination and this book fed it nicely. I would love to see this in a movie, it would be a well worth the watch; I would love to see the special effects via the paranormal activity.
I would give Cinema Of Shadows a four stars out of five. I truly loved the read, but there were a few tidbits that weren't explained enough for me, like how the theatre became evil in the first place and how the "demon" is able to leave the theatre or what Robby's "other" story was that made him want to exorcise the demons from the place. None of these were properly explained and while none of these things hinder from the story, it still makes a reader wonder and I dislike when I have questions left unanswered from my reads.
If you love a good horror story then this will surely feed your need for the creep. This book is not for the faint of heart, it has moderate to heavy expletives and many aspects are graphic in nature. The artwork on the cover is commendable and truly works for the book.
August 23, 2011
I've never really thought of movie theaters as scary places, though there was that Jim Carrey movie, The Majestic. That was pretty frightening--in an "I've wasted two hours of my life" sort of way. So, when Seventh Star Press approached me about reviewing this book, I was curious to see how Michael might turn a movie house into a horror house.
The Woodfield Movie Palace used to be a place of art of culture in the modest town of Harmony, Indiana, until tragedy upon tragedy reduced it to a porno theater, then scheduled for demolition. The man who built it died in his seat on the night it opened for business, was the site of a tragic balcony fire that killed several people, plus more than one murder within its walls. So, upon news that the place is going to be torn down, a parapsychology professor at the local university assembled a small team of his students to assist him in a paranormal investigation. After years of seeking a single event of documented paranormal activity, Professor Burke sees the Woodfield as his last and greatest chance to prove ghosts exist.
The lead character of the novel isn't Burke though, but Kim Saunders, who Burke suspects may be the key to his success given her ability to hear and see spirits while her classmates must rely on the scientific instruments they take with them on their "ghost hunts." Kim, however, has a past with apparitions ever since she was an infant, and it seems the last thing she wants to do is go on one more expedition, especially since she only took Burke's course for the easy credit. And, she now has a love interest with a young local doctor, who is having his own strange experiences with the supernatural.
The novel is chock-full of ghostly encounters, some harmless, but far more wind up treacherous--even fatal. Michael West does everything he can to ramp up the tension and the stakes in this book, which is the first time I can recall reading his work. He does a good job shaping the characters through their interactions with one another, though there was a bit more of the inner monologues from some characters than I would have liked. But when it came to the action, Michael didn't hold back, and it became really easy to imagine this rundown theater harboring some really sinister spirits. The place has a ton of backstory that is relayed in the narrative quite well.
Where the disappointment in the novel occurred for me came from my confusion over just what the limits of the spirits' abilities were. I was under the impression that it was the theater that was haunted, so if you wanted to see some ghostly action the characters needed to go in there, but on more than one occasion characters encountered paranormal activity outside the theater. Had that aspect of the novel been better explained, I could have rolled with the punches better, but it felt like a speed bump for me. That, and there was a character introduced late in the novel that wound up playing a surprisingly integral role in the climax, which struck me as a tacked on solution for the established characters.
Cinema of Shadows might not be the new Hell House, but it's a fun, bloody romp that has a great B-movie feel to it. The pacing really felt cinematic, and reminded me of the better Fangoria Fright Flicks that I've seen over the last couple years. Not perfect, but it's worth taking a chance on it if you love ghastly ghost stories.
The Woodfield Movie Palace used to be a place of art of culture in the modest town of Harmony, Indiana, until tragedy upon tragedy reduced it to a porno theater, then scheduled for demolition. The man who built it died in his seat on the night it opened for business, was the site of a tragic balcony fire that killed several people, plus more than one murder within its walls. So, upon news that the place is going to be torn down, a parapsychology professor at the local university assembled a small team of his students to assist him in a paranormal investigation. After years of seeking a single event of documented paranormal activity, Professor Burke sees the Woodfield as his last and greatest chance to prove ghosts exist.
The lead character of the novel isn't Burke though, but Kim Saunders, who Burke suspects may be the key to his success given her ability to hear and see spirits while her classmates must rely on the scientific instruments they take with them on their "ghost hunts." Kim, however, has a past with apparitions ever since she was an infant, and it seems the last thing she wants to do is go on one more expedition, especially since she only took Burke's course for the easy credit. And, she now has a love interest with a young local doctor, who is having his own strange experiences with the supernatural.
The novel is chock-full of ghostly encounters, some harmless, but far more wind up treacherous--even fatal. Michael West does everything he can to ramp up the tension and the stakes in this book, which is the first time I can recall reading his work. He does a good job shaping the characters through their interactions with one another, though there was a bit more of the inner monologues from some characters than I would have liked. But when it came to the action, Michael didn't hold back, and it became really easy to imagine this rundown theater harboring some really sinister spirits. The place has a ton of backstory that is relayed in the narrative quite well.
Where the disappointment in the novel occurred for me came from my confusion over just what the limits of the spirits' abilities were. I was under the impression that it was the theater that was haunted, so if you wanted to see some ghostly action the characters needed to go in there, but on more than one occasion characters encountered paranormal activity outside the theater. Had that aspect of the novel been better explained, I could have rolled with the punches better, but it felt like a speed bump for me. That, and there was a character introduced late in the novel that wound up playing a surprisingly integral role in the climax, which struck me as a tacked on solution for the established characters.
Cinema of Shadows might not be the new Hell House, but it's a fun, bloody romp that has a great B-movie feel to it. The pacing really felt cinematic, and reminded me of the better Fangoria Fright Flicks that I've seen over the last couple years. Not perfect, but it's worth taking a chance on it if you love ghastly ghost stories.
May 16, 2012
I received this book for review from the publisher. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.
When Kim Saunders was a baby, her mother was sure that she was developmentally delayed or autistic. Despite being assured by doctors that her beautiful daughter was absolutely normal, she still worried because it seemed that Kim was watching things that no one else could see.
The story then flashes-forward to when Kim is in college, and she is taking a Parapsychology course to fulfill her Psychology requirement. Professor Burke uses all types of specialized equipment in his investigations to identify paranormal activity, such as infrared thermal scanners to detect changes in temperature.
With the news that the Woodfield Movie Palace is slated for demolition, Professor Burke is keen to take his students there to investigate for paranormal activity. The old building has long been plagued with unusual occurrences and violent incidents, and there were claims of spectral activity made by both staff and patrons. Before the building is destroyed, Professor Burke wants to determine whether there is any truth to the rumors.
What happens at the Woodfield Movie Palace is straight out of a horror flick! Cinema of Shadows is delightfully creepy, and West has a way of writing that makes the hair stand up at the back of your neck. At a particularly eerie part in the story, I flipped the page and was faced with a ghastly illustration (courtesy of Matthew Perry) that startled me into dropping the book!
Some horror books are pretty gruesome and gory, but this book falls more into the “scary” category. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a book that gives you the creeps while reading! West is a new-to-me author, and I certainly plan to read more of his work!
MY RATING: 4 stars!! It was really good! You should put it on your TBR list! Thanks to Seventh Star Press for the review copy!
When Kim Saunders was a baby, her mother was sure that she was developmentally delayed or autistic. Despite being assured by doctors that her beautiful daughter was absolutely normal, she still worried because it seemed that Kim was watching things that no one else could see.
The story then flashes-forward to when Kim is in college, and she is taking a Parapsychology course to fulfill her Psychology requirement. Professor Burke uses all types of specialized equipment in his investigations to identify paranormal activity, such as infrared thermal scanners to detect changes in temperature.
With the news that the Woodfield Movie Palace is slated for demolition, Professor Burke is keen to take his students there to investigate for paranormal activity. The old building has long been plagued with unusual occurrences and violent incidents, and there were claims of spectral activity made by both staff and patrons. Before the building is destroyed, Professor Burke wants to determine whether there is any truth to the rumors.
What happens at the Woodfield Movie Palace is straight out of a horror flick! Cinema of Shadows is delightfully creepy, and West has a way of writing that makes the hair stand up at the back of your neck. At a particularly eerie part in the story, I flipped the page and was faced with a ghastly illustration (courtesy of Matthew Perry) that startled me into dropping the book!
Some horror books are pretty gruesome and gory, but this book falls more into the “scary” category. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a book that gives you the creeps while reading! West is a new-to-me author, and I certainly plan to read more of his work!
MY RATING: 4 stars!! It was really good! You should put it on your TBR list! Thanks to Seventh Star Press for the review copy!
November 15, 2011
With Cinema of Shadows, Michael West returns to the fictional town of New Harmony, Indiana to scar and scare inhabitants and readers alike. West doesn't do this in the typical sequel, trope riddled fashion. Instead he takes something that's become so overly done in recent years and manages to breath new life into it. Cinema of Shadows is truly an unforgettable ghost story, one that you'll be shoving into the hands of friends, family, enemies and strangers alike, insistent upon them reading it.
Although it's not a direct sequel to The Wide Game, readers will be happy to see the appearance of one or two familiar faces. And even though there are more unfamiliar faces than familiar, by the time you finish Cinema of Shadows they'll be as burned into your mind as Paul, Robby and Deidra were (See The Wide Game). Characters so real and close to you, that you may be tempted to pick up the phone to see if they want to go for a drink sometime.
And to add to all that, Seventh Star Press knocks it out of the park by offering beautifully chilling pictures inserted throughout the novel. Pictures so vivid that they send chills down the readers spine.
So, grab the closest pile of blankets and a flashlight, becauase you'll be up way past your bedtime; hiding under the blankets, reading on while West effortlessly chills you to your very marrow.
If you're a horror fan and you're looking for something new to satiate your hunger for all things Macabre, then do yourself a favor and grab a copy of Cinema of Shadows!
Although it's not a direct sequel to The Wide Game, readers will be happy to see the appearance of one or two familiar faces. And even though there are more unfamiliar faces than familiar, by the time you finish Cinema of Shadows they'll be as burned into your mind as Paul, Robby and Deidra were (See The Wide Game). Characters so real and close to you, that you may be tempted to pick up the phone to see if they want to go for a drink sometime.
And to add to all that, Seventh Star Press knocks it out of the park by offering beautifully chilling pictures inserted throughout the novel. Pictures so vivid that they send chills down the readers spine.
So, grab the closest pile of blankets and a flashlight, becauase you'll be up way past your bedtime; hiding under the blankets, reading on while West effortlessly chills you to your very marrow.
If you're a horror fan and you're looking for something new to satiate your hunger for all things Macabre, then do yourself a favor and grab a copy of Cinema of Shadows!
December 24, 2024
To set the mood, I was excited to read this one as I love horror stories. Especially one with blood, gore and ghosts. One Day I was sitting reading this book in my car and someone knocked on my window and I literally screamed. My first thought was that it is the little girl wanting me to take her home. This was a classic horror tale, It had all the elements to make it a horror story one I could enjoy.
One Thing I really enjoyed was the characters they were all interesting and engaging. It is hard to make characters in a horror novel interesting and get you to care about them because honestly you never know what is going to happen.
The Cinema itself was an awesome setting. I loved the description of the beautiful old grand theater the way a theater should be. It made me what to grab a camera and explore the place.
I love the adventure that the characters went through. I love the tale of Kim and Tyler it is so fluid and wonderful.
The author writes people well. Especially the wide range of characters that existed in this book. I really liked that Professor Burke had a reason to be interested in parapsychology, it made it more real and believable.
I would highly recommend this book to Older Teens and adults. I enjoyed this book greatly and look forward reading some more by this author. I am so glad that I read this book in October it set the mood for the whole month.
One Thing I really enjoyed was the characters they were all interesting and engaging. It is hard to make characters in a horror novel interesting and get you to care about them because honestly you never know what is going to happen.
The Cinema itself was an awesome setting. I loved the description of the beautiful old grand theater the way a theater should be. It made me what to grab a camera and explore the place.
I love the adventure that the characters went through. I love the tale of Kim and Tyler it is so fluid and wonderful.
The author writes people well. Especially the wide range of characters that existed in this book. I really liked that Professor Burke had a reason to be interested in parapsychology, it made it more real and believable.
I would highly recommend this book to Older Teens and adults. I enjoyed this book greatly and look forward reading some more by this author. I am so glad that I read this book in October it set the mood for the whole month.
October 12, 2011
Cinema of Shadows is an excellent little horror novel rooted deeply in the style of Stephen King and the notion of "the bad place." The Woodfield Movie Palace is one of those places, a cursed structure where echoes of the horrors that went before still ring through to those who are listening. But more than the past lives there. An evil stalks the men and women who enter the Woodfield, ever seeking to add their souls to its growing tally of death.
Cinema of Shadows has everything you are looking for in a horror novel. Strong characters, an interesting location with a detailed history, chills and frights, unexpected twists and even a little true love. I love the paranormal investigation aspects, and having dabbled in that before, can testify to the accuracy of its portrayal. My only complaint is that the book felt a little short. Of course, that could be because I read it in all of two sittings. Buy the book. You won't regret it.
Brett J. Talley
Author of the award winning That Which Should Not Be
Cinema of Shadows has everything you are looking for in a horror novel. Strong characters, an interesting location with a detailed history, chills and frights, unexpected twists and even a little true love. I love the paranormal investigation aspects, and having dabbled in that before, can testify to the accuracy of its portrayal. My only complaint is that the book felt a little short. Of course, that could be because I read it in all of two sittings. Buy the book. You won't regret it.
Brett J. Talley
Author of the award winning That Which Should Not Be
January 15, 2013
Cinema of Shadows by Michael West
Many of us go to the movie theatre to be frightened. The difference is this movie theater is terrifying and there is NO movie running. This novel is a first rate horror story.
Michael West creates realistic, likeable characters. I think that is what I like best about his books. I’m not a big fan of spooky stories but I like his and his characterizations are what make it likeable for me.
A professor and several volunteers decide to explore the paranormal aspects of a movie theatre with a sordid past. Each volunteer was chosen by the professor who is struggling to exorcise his personal demons. The volunteers were chosen due to their own experiences with some type of paranormal experience.
Dealing with one’s fears can be difficult anytime but when there is a real basis for those fears it can be overwhelming. The characters are likeable and are forced to face their personal demons. West does a great job building tension and terror.
As I said after the last Michael West book I read, Spook House, I’m not a fan of horror stories but I really liked this rendition.
I enjoyed the book.
Many of us go to the movie theatre to be frightened. The difference is this movie theater is terrifying and there is NO movie running. This novel is a first rate horror story.
Michael West creates realistic, likeable characters. I think that is what I like best about his books. I’m not a big fan of spooky stories but I like his and his characterizations are what make it likeable for me.
A professor and several volunteers decide to explore the paranormal aspects of a movie theatre with a sordid past. Each volunteer was chosen by the professor who is struggling to exorcise his personal demons. The volunteers were chosen due to their own experiences with some type of paranormal experience.
Dealing with one’s fears can be difficult anytime but when there is a real basis for those fears it can be overwhelming. The characters are likeable and are forced to face their personal demons. West does a great job building tension and terror.
As I said after the last Michael West book I read, Spook House, I’m not a fan of horror stories but I really liked this rendition.
I enjoyed the book.
November 13, 2011
A good little horror yarn that makes you think twice about the theaters you know and love. Michael West is good at conveying the emotions of his characters onto the page, as well as getting you to believe in an old movie house with a dark past.
If you love horror novels or are just in the mood for a good story, with believable characters, then this book is definitely for you.
The only real complaint is that the book is fairly short and once you reach the end, you wish there was more. Other than that, it's a very solid book and one I would recommend to others. It has a few minor spelling/editing mistakes, but that might be the fault of the editor and not the writer himself.
Anyhow, kudos! I will definitely seek out more from this author in the future.
If you love horror novels or are just in the mood for a good story, with believable characters, then this book is definitely for you.
The only real complaint is that the book is fairly short and once you reach the end, you wish there was more. Other than that, it's a very solid book and one I would recommend to others. It has a few minor spelling/editing mistakes, but that might be the fault of the editor and not the writer himself.
Anyhow, kudos! I will definitely seek out more from this author in the future.
January 3, 2012
Mr. West has delivered yet another great tale or terror. CINEMA OF SHADOWS snatched my interest from the very start, carrying me through a chilling story about an old theater called the Woodfield Movie Palace, a tomb harbored by ghosts. The characters are vivid, as believable as your next door neighbors. The villains uncoil like a snake and strike and sink their fangs into the flesh of the reader's imagination, releasing nightmares for the weak at heart. I would recommend this novel to any horror fan, sharing the same dread I felt turning each page.
March 29, 2014
e-book
Surprisingly a good read. It could have used a bit more fleshing out of the characters but it was a basic house/movie theatre possessed by ghosts/demons.
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.
Some might think this a spoiler...
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.
.
.
.
I loved the descriptions of the gargoyles/muse coming to life that I actually visualized it like one of those Ray Harryhausen stop-motion animation movies that I loved and adored from my childhood.
My only regret is that I felt the ending resolved a bit quick.
Oh! And make sure you stay through the credits for an epilogue.
Surprisingly a good read. It could have used a bit more fleshing out of the characters but it was a basic house/movie theatre possessed by ghosts/demons.
.
.
Some might think this a spoiler...
.
.
.
.
.
I loved the descriptions of the gargoyles/muse coming to life that I actually visualized it like one of those Ray Harryhausen stop-motion animation movies that I loved and adored from my childhood.
My only regret is that I felt the ending resolved a bit quick.
Oh! And make sure you stay through the credits for an epilogue.
April 29, 2013
I liked the book. It was nicely paced, but I agree with Jason about the characters. Not just Kim and Tyler but also Joss and Tashima. The characters makeup reminded me of some made for TV movie on the SciFy channel. I think this approach was intentional and the author was having fun with it. The focus was not necessarily on the characters but the demons and the props they faced. Their responses to those various encounters made the story work for me
November 15, 2019
Cinema of Shadows is a great continuation of the Harmony, Indiana series by Michael West. Again, West gives us characters that we want to follow along with and find out what happens to them. He draws us in right from the start and there is no question that something big is going on in this story. This story is fast paced without sacrificing character development or descriptive settings. I highly recommend this to any horror fan along with the entire Harmony, Indiana series.
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