In "How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive," a famous 80s movie director aims to make his scariest slasher film yet with the help of a cursed camera.

This book starts slow and is dragged down by lengthy descriptions of the filmmaking process. However, when the scares finally start, they're worth the wait. The ending is satisfying, and like any good slasher film, leaves the door open for a potential sequel.

All in all, it's an enjoyable horror story. Check it out if you're interested in the movie-making process.

Thank you to Redhook and NetGalley for sending me an advance copy for review consideration

I have mixed feelings about the horror genre in film (I LOVE horror books though). I have never been deep into slasher flicks as how many ways can we murder someone gets a bit old. However, since I adore horror books I wanted to read this one and I was left feeling a little annoyed.

The book is too long. There is a lot of film-making jargon that is not well explained and took away from the book (like dailies provoking calls for script changes - why is that and who cares??). I appreciated this book is literally How to Make a Horror Movie but give some definitions to the lay people in the audience.

All of the characters are sort of meh, the main character is the cursed camera used to make said movie. I wanted more background with that and the haunted part of it.

I struggled to finish this, although I made myself because I kept hoping for something redeeming about it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Redhook for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not 100% sure about my feelings for this book. I thought the premise was great, and I was very intrigued by the beginning. However, it was very slow and I felt it more or less did read like a how-to novel. It's one that I think would probably translate well to being made into a movie. The middle was pretty slow and while I don't normally mind a slow build, it just didn't have enough tension to make me keep turning the pages. It did build up to a kind of epic ending that I enjoyed, but I don't think the ending made up for the slowness of the rest of the book.
I liked the horrendous death scenes of the many characters who perished during the writing of this story. Some deaths gave Final Destination vibes and I was here for it.
I liked some of it and didn't like others, but I will definitely keep reading books by this author.

Another great read by Craig DiLouie. Had a different feel from my previous read of his, Episode Thirteen. Rather than a haunting, spooky and, at times, terrifying feeling, this had a comic element that brought some lightness to the overall plot.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
It took me a while to get through the first 60% of this book. It was a very slow start which diminished enjoyment. I think some of this booked could have been edited down. However, I flew through the action packed ending! I really enjoyed the authors writing and would absolutely read from him again. I preferred reading Sallys perspective but liked that we had more than one POV to carry us through the story. I would definitely recommend this book to horror fans, movies or books! My rating is between a 2.75 and 3, just because how rough the beginning was for me to get through. Overall, enjoyed more than I thought I would.

This cover and synopsis literally felt like it was made for me! While I felt lukewarm about Episode Thirteen, I was eager to give this one a shot. I love cursed objects and final girls in horror and DiLouie is no stranger to horror tropes. This almost read as a love letter to the movie genre and it had a very strong start. The kill scenes were serving Final Destination vibes and I was absolutely here for it. I do feel that things took a dive after the first 25% and I had trouble staying invested in the story. Things certainly ended with a bang, though.

Overall, if you’re a fan of horror movies and liked DiLouie’s previous release, this is worth checking out.

I was not the biggest fan of this book. I feel as though the characters were all very annoying and selfish, and I didn't feel bad for any of them in the end. I also don't understand Max's motivations; he went from semi-normal and passionate about movies to being evil. The first 75% of the book felt like a lot of build-up for a quick scene at the end that felt rushed. I did like the lore surrounding the camera, but I wish we got to learn more about it and the book that Arthur used.

Thank you Redhook Books for the ARC!

Thank you Redhook Books and NetGalley for this ARC. Cursed film stories are always a favorite of mine and Mr. DiLouie delivers. An obsession, some gore, some shocking and chilling scenes, all made for an entertaining ride. Check this out when it publishes June 18, 2024!

A fictional horror novel that cleverly blends a meta-narrative on horror movie production with a gripping survival story. The book revolves around a group of filmmakers who decide to make a low-budget horror movie. As they delve deeper into the production, the lines between reality and the film they are making, begin to blur. The story explores the challenges and darkly comedic mishaps of indie filmmaking, while also incorporating genuine horror elements as the cast and crew begin to experience terrifying incidents that mirror their script. This novel is a thrilling take on the horror genre, providing insights into the world of film production, and it raises the stakes by having the filmmakers' own horror creation come to life.

I'm a big fan of a particular micro-genre in horror, the cursed film. That's exactly the premise behind How to Make a Horror Movie & Survive so it seemed perfect for me. I enjoyed reading the gory, and sometimes campy, deaths the made it to the page. My problems with the novel came with the pacing of the actual book itself. Did it make me bored to tears at times? Yes. Did I still read to know the ending? Yes. I'm not one of those readers that can just skip to the end of the book. I need to read it all if the ending is what I want to know. Even with the bored I faced throughout a good portion of the novel, I still want to dive into DiLouie's backlist. It won't stop me from looking at any of his future books as well.

Thank you to Redhook and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

I really liked the way this one began. It was dark and intriguing and I was very curious to see how it would all play out. However, about third of the way in, things started to slow up significantly for me and my interest began waning. Unfortunately, that trend never reversed itself, and ultimately I had to call this one... I am not a cinephile. I am not a massive horror movies of the '80s fan. I get the major references, but don't have a deep-seated love for movies or moviemaking - and I think that's where this one lost me. There is a lot of detail here on the movie process, and it just didn't engage me. The horror parts of the story were cool and intriguing - at first. But it quickly became a rather repetitive game of "use the camera, bury the camera" and that was the most disappointing part for me. I just wasn't the right reader for this one...

Overall:
3.5/5. In summary, Max is an obsessed horror director determined to create the most grotesque and horrifying movie ever, so no audience will ever laugh in the face of horror again. He goes to extreme lengths to make his dream If Wishes Could Kill become the ultimate horror movie.

Review:
I would not call this book a scary or horrifying book. This was book teeming with love of the classic horror films and the slasher culture. I enjoyed the whole premise of the story and thought it was unique. I was annoyed at times by Max's arrogance and Sally’s sole goal of being the “final girl” material, but I understand that this played into an overall theme of obsession to achieve the two characters’ ultimate goals. There were parts within the story that were slow, so it waned my interest in the story. Overall, the ending was very explosive and satisfying.

Thank you to Netgalley and Redhook Books for providing me with a eARC in exchange for a review!

Ever wondered what it’s like to read a book that feels more like a DIY manual? Well, "How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive" certainly delivers on that front. The "How to" in the title isn't just for show—it's a big part of the experience.

Max Maury should be living the dream. Picture this: he's a renowned horror director. Actors adore him. Hollywood can't get enough of him. He’s raking in the cash. But here’s the kicker—it’s the 80s, and Max is stuck making cheap slasher flicks for bloodthirsty fans who don’t care about true horror artistry. And to make things worse, his sleazy producer won’t bankroll any of his new, innovative ideas.

Enter Sally Priest, who aspires to be the ultimate Final Girl. She’s confident she can land the lead role, even if she’s only had bit parts so far. When she meets Max at his latest wrap party, she’s determined to show off her scream queen skills.

Then things get spooky. Max stumbles upon an old camera that once captured a real-life Hollywood horror. Despite a creepy warning and the camera’s eerie wailing, Max decides he must use it for his next film. But by the time he realizes the camera’s true malevolence, he's already hell-bent on making the scariest movie ever. And whether she likes it or not, Sally’s destined to be the Final Girl.

The premise Craig dreamed up is definitely intriguing and unique. However, the execution left much to be desired. I found myself bored and disconnected from the unfolding events. Given the genre, I expected a slow build followed by a thrilling sprint to the finish. Sadly, this book didn’t deliver that rush. 3 stars for the concept and the ending that pulled it through.

Thanks to NetGalley and Redhook Books for giving me the chance to read and review this ARC.

I want to start off by saying that this is a talented author who clearly respects and admires the horror genre. His novels are adored by his fans, and he has a huge following. That being said, I don't think he is for me. This is the second of his I have read, and although I didn't hate, I didn't love it either. I couldn't really connect to the characters, nor did I like them. The plot was, however, original, and again, the level of respect and admiration for the horror genre was clearly there. This just didn't pull me in or keep me there. If you are a horror fan, please still give this a try because this is just my personal preference. Separating this from my personal preference and rating this in an unbiased view, I give this four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Redhook Books, for this ARC.

When it comes to horror movies, I am with Max on this. The "pure" form of horror movies is a bit lost now a days. There does not have to always be a huge body count within the first ten minutes of the movie. Let the suspense build up.

Where are the horror movies that send chills up your spine and not make you laugh when someone is getting k!lled. This is why I could understand Max's reasoning for him wanting to produce his style of horror movie even if he knew that everyone would d!e.

"Horror has to be personal. Psychological horror with a splash of fear of the unknown is where it's at."

How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive

It’s the 1980’s and horror movies are at all time high. Director Max Maury has just premiered his third installment and it’s a major success.

Only he feels like he’s selling out to basic tropes and wants to make something truly scary. At the premiere party he finds footage of a tragic accident that happened on the set of , Mary’s Birthday, a movie that never saw the light of day.

Insert a very drunk Sally Priest and introduces herself to Max. She tells him to make the horror movie he’s always wanted to.

Max decides to go to the an Estate sale. The Estate of the director of Mary’s Birthday. There he buys the very camera that witnessed the tragic accident, with a cryptic warning in tow.

As Max decides to make a new movie, dream movie, accidents start to happen. Is it the coincidence or is something more sinister storing.

I read the majority of this (the final 60% or so) while waiting in a hospital for my wife to have a procedure done. This book took me away from my worries, immersing me in a horror-soaked landscape where a magical? cursed? haunted? camera offers a movie director the chance to make "real horror."

Some readers may find the details about the movie biz to be a bit tiresome, but those details offer the motivations and complications for the main characters.

Drop into this story, let it take you away from whatever is troubling you—which is any good novel's great strength—and let the horrors in this story relieve you of your own.

Horror is only horror when it's real—but the horror genre is the only way we can cope with the everyday horrors that are no less traumatic and deadly than all the deaths the best (and the worst) horror books and movies can offer.

Craig DiLouie does it again. Episode Thirteen was one of my favorite books of last year and while How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive was not quite as good, it absolutely delivered on the key points of the story.

While I loved the plot and was excited to jump into another DiLouie novel, I struggled with the pace a little on this one. It started off strong and introduced us to all of the most important pieces of the story but lost its way a bit in the middle with all of the film talk. Despite the middle lagging a bit, the last 25% had me glued to my seat until I finished it.

As someone who has only ever dabbled in the horror genre (from films to novels) I can say this book made me feel the way any good horror movie should during the climax; engaged, curious, and a little nauseous. While I'm not usually one for a lot of gore, I appreciated the details of each death and could easily visual the scenes are they came together. The one death I found the most anticlimactic though was Max's. I thought we were vanquishing the Big Bad? Instead, it left me wanting more.

All in all, while the characters were largely unlikeable, I enjoyed my time with them and their story. DiLouie clearly has a love for classic 80s slasher and it was nice to see his version of the Final Girl taking down the monster.

Thank you to Netgalley for a review copy.

This book wasn't quite what I thought it would be (not a complaint, just a surprise). Instead of something dark and spooky, it's more of a horror comedy.

It has all of the elements of a horror story (final girl, I'm talking about you) but it's not actually scary.

Some portions of the book were written for film makers or lovers of the art of film making and the average reader might get bogged down with the technical aspects of the novel.

DiLouie is a talented writer and I'm certain this book will find it's home with horrordy (is that a word? it should be) lovers, especially the ones who have a keen interest in the art of film making itself.

I highly enjoyed the Final Girl trope as well as the cursed object. growing up watching 80s slasher movies, I had a feeling this book would be right up my alley, and it did not disappoint. Max is a horror movie director at the top of his game, and he wants to shoot a film dedicated to the horror of life. They find an old camera that captured the death of the cast members of its last movie. Sally, a "bad girl" who wants to be "final girl" and Max both tell the story from dual POVs. The camera has some deadly intentions and gives Max the movie he wanted. The creepie, terrifying vibes that came from this novel are absolutely worth the read. I love a cursed object trope and watching the events unfold with the camera were haunting! I definitely recommend this book to horror lovers.