Like horror movies of the 70s and 80s, this book is unfortunately an hour and ten minutes of buildup and then only ten minutes of the blood and gore you were looking forward to. And because of that, this book <i>dragged</i>.

It started with a lot of potential, the park scene an exciting intrigue of what was to come. But that promise barely paid off. Had I not been promised a director massacring his cast and crew with a cursed camera I would've DNF'd this before the halfway mark and a part of me wishes I had. I didn't want to pick this up after a certain point.

Sorry, but this squandered all of its promise and ended up just being so much dull buildup that not even the delightful references could save it.

the concept of a horror movie director finding a cursed camera is a great one and i really enjoyed the way it was executed here. but although this book has it’s darker elements (won’t mention specifics), there’s a major focus on moviemaking in general and the unfair judgement the horror genre gets compared to it’s counterparts. i appreciated the discussion on this since there’s a lot of unnecessary hate towards horror when sometimes there’s more to it than people will give credit for. i’m just a big fan of movies and everything that goes into making them, so i loved all the references to actual horror movies and their directors. but if you’re not into that you might be lost, or even find those sections not as interesting. i had such a fun time reading this one and it felt like it was written just to my tastes since horror is my favorite movie genre. the ending was really cool too, loved the way this story played out!

Meet the new Master of the horror novel.

A treatis of the horror movie genre
A love letter to the 80's that brought the slash film to campy glory

A director holds a vision, and he's found the one object that can bring their vision to life
but, it comes at a cost
An actress holds a desire for more, is she willing to pay the price.?

Reminded me of "Christine", but this author instead does not cheat with quick solutions.
A fun-filled ride and a great summer read

The tl;dr: A slow burn exploration of the horror genre, How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive tackles how far we are willing to go to escape the boxes society puts us in. When a horror director comes in possession of a haunted camera that kills the people it records, he discovers that he can finally make the artistic and elevated horror movie he has always dreamed of, and a young actress wonders if this could be her big "Final Girl" break. More contemplative than scary (and a bit plodding in the middle), this is a must-read for horror fans as a bit of a peak behind the curtain of how horror movies get made.

The full review:

How far would you go for perfection? When does a passion become an obsession? At what point do our desires overcome our moral compasses?

How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive follows an esteemed horror director looking to finally make his auteur-driven horror classic. When he finds a movie camera that kills anyone it is pointed at, perhaps this is the raw and authentic horror that he has been looking for....

In How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive, Craig DiLouie is less interested in making a horror book than he is in crafting a story about the horror genre. While this book is not without its scares, they are slow burns that explore the human condition, and the horrors that even good people are capable of. Don't go into this book expecting a bunch of jump scares and frights; despite the haunted murderous camera at the center of the book, this book is more about how the real horrors are all too human.

I think that most of us have probably had an interest or hobby that got a little too out of control. Your collection balloons over night; you start staying up through the night and even consider calling off of work; you start reviewing books and take on WAY too many requests. While (hopefully) not crossing the line into the illegal, many among us have become more than a tad self-destructive and let some of our interests spiral out of control.

So if we came into possession of a magical object, no matter how horrifying, that would allow us to achieve our dreams, a lot of us would not hesitate to use it. This is the horror that DiLouie explores in How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive. Even the most normal and stable among us can easily fall into temptation. In this novel it is not the demons or supernatural that are the enemies, the supernature is merely the means by which humans can unleash horrors onto the world.

Because DiLouie's goal is to trace one good person's descent, How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive is a slow moving book. The benefit ot its methodical pace is that DiLouie is able to track the small shifts in how the characaters act - whether it is the ambitious director or the aspiring Scream Queen, the character arcs in this book are utterly superb in their delicateness among the horrors. On the other hand, the glacial pace did start to try my patience a bit in the middle section of the book. The second act of the book works better in hindisight, but it is not the thriling momentum that I expected going into the book. I think that is more of a "me problem" and not going into the book with the right expectations, but I also cannot help but wonder whether How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive would have been better suited as a novella since the plot here is fairly direct.

However, the simple plot gives DiLouie not only the time to examine human nature, but also the business of horror itself. There have been many satires of the horror genre lately, including the works of Chuck Tingle and Grady Hendrix, but none have done it with the depth and careful consideration that DiLouie offers in How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive. This is not a general satire of the genre, but a look at how the creative pursuits of horror - a desire to experiment, elevate, and challenge the conventions of horror - clashes with the movie industry. The business of horror is to please the masses, the lowest common denominator slashers that don't take themselves too seriously and aren't too scary. These films are profitable, but they are unsatisfying for those producing them. Any attempts to do more is met with derision or even outright hostility by those who control the purse strings.

And so aspiring auteurs, actors, and other creatives are left to their own devices - including a haunted film camera.

DiLouie is also quite interested in the archetypes of horror, in particular the duality of the "Bad Girl" and the "Final Girl". These might seem like simple storytelling tropes, but they are both rooted in and influential of the way that we categorize women in the real world. The Scream franchise has satirized these stereotypes, but DiLouie tackles these questions a bit more seriously. One of the main characters has always been classfied as the Bad Girl, but she is ready to exert main character energy and ascend to Final Girl status. But how does one do that when society expects nothing of her except all of the negative stereotypes?

Together, a director and actress develop and grow - for better and for worse - all leading up to a violent, bloody, and thrilling conclusion. As readers we know what is going on and what to expect, as we are helpless as we see the terrors unfold.

If you like your horrors contemplative and methodocial with a few thrilling scares (and a balls to the wall climax), give How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive a look.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the references to classic horror and the commentary on the genre as a whole. The writing was engaging and I liked the structure of the book with the different title cards and quotes from famous horror directors. I thought the characters were interesting and well fleshed out and I liked following both Max and Sally’s POVs. I thought the story itself was unique and inventive and I liked how it all came together at the end. I also liked how self aware the book was without being too overly meta or satirical. There were some great discussions about grief throughout the book as well that I really appreciated. I highly recommend this book for readers who like morally corrupt and complex characters, filmmaking/film production, and especially for fans of the horror genre as a whole.

Content warnings: violence, death, animal death, grief

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review!*

The premise of How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive is a dream for a film nerds and 80s horror fans. There is a lot to love here if you fall into either camp. I felt like a good portion of this book is like a love letter to 80s slashers as well as filmmaking in general. However, I felt like this book spent more time diving into that aspect of the story than I personally would have enjoyed. It's not bad by any means, it simply takes up a good chunk of the book.

There are some truly gruesome and flinch-worthy moments. Certainly no shortage of horror and it does end strongly.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc!

Do you love suspenseful books? Are you a fan of independent horror films? Then this book is for you!

I will admit that it took me a few chapters to become invested, but once things started connecting and the action started, I couldn't put this book down.

This author delivers old school horror with a modern twist, and it's awesome!

Thank you Net Galley and publishers for allowing me to read an arc in return for an honest review.

I really don't read alot of horror. Cause "Horror isn't horror unless it's real" It gets too scary, and I chicken out, but the premise of this one got me hooked. Movie director creates the ultimate horror movie by using a cursed film camera. He wants to step outside the genre's norms and have actual people dying. The camera turns these scenes into gruesome and paranormal deaths. Altogether it really wasn't scary. It reminded me more of final destination or scream movies. More horror comedy than actual spooky. I liked reading all the behind the scenes on how a movie gets made and produced. The deaths really don't happen until the last 100 pages and they aren't that horrifying. All in all this was an enjoyable read in a genre that I don't really pick up.

Thank you to NetGalley, Craig DiLouie and Redhook Books for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Binged this one and totally understood why everyone was raving about it! It’s a nice mixture of twisty, gory and slow paced learning about the main characters and why they are doing what they are doing.

*3.5⭐️
Max is a horror movie producer that is the mastermind behind a blockbuster horror movie franchise. He is a deeply unhappy man & feels like a sell out. He wants to create something out of the mainstream, something that makes people feel real horror and loss. No one seems to support his vision in the plastic world of Hollywood.
Sally is an up and coming horror movie b-list actress.that has a dream of being a final girl. She is trying to create a path for herself while keeping true to who she is, despite an overbearing mother that constantly disapproves of her decisions.
Max and Sally unite to create a whole new take on the horror genre, after Max.is called to an old film camera at the estate sale of a deceased horror movie mogul. He feels like it speaks to him, and will change his life into one of meaning. It turns out said movie camera is completely possessed and is responsible for great evil. The concept reminded me of one of my favorite old shows, The Friday the 13th.series, in which a group of sleuths use an old antique shop as a cover to take back and hide haunted objects from doing harm.
My favorite part of this story was that the camera was it's own character. I had a really fun time with this, as I watched despicable characters get picked off in creative and over the top ways. I am not a huge slasher genre movie watcher (I prefer supernatural and psychological horror, and adored Episode 13), but I loved the passion & intimate knowledge I felt from Dilouie's writing. This is absolutely a love letter to the slasher genre, while also pointing out how problematic it can be.
The setting .was the cherry on top as the back drop to it's grisly scenes. I will absolutely continue to pick up Craig Dilouie's imaginative novels!

How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive by Craig DiLouie was one of my most anticipated books of the year because the premise sounded so self aware and campy but I didn’t like this book very much unfortunately.

I am a huge fan of horror books but I’m also a huge fan of horror movies and what goes into making them and the lore behind them so this should have been a new favorite of mine. I think it was the pacing that brought it down for me. It took so long for things to start happening that I found myself getting bored with it.

I almost dnfed this a few times while reading but continued on just because my hopes were so high. The characters were pretty boring to me. I think if the filming of the movie in this book would have started around the halfway point, I could have loved this a lot more. I do think the overall concept is interesting and I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy this. It just wasn’t a book that worked for me.

I do enjoy this author and plan to read more from him in the future, this was unfortunately just not my favorite.

I'm a horror movie lover and a horror book lover .. but damn .. THIS IS NOT AT ALL HORROR. Not scary whatsoever, not even an inch.

This book was insanely long winded and dragged on FOREVER. I'm so sorry, but I was simply bored to tears, to the point I actually wanted to cry each time I picked it up. I honestly should have DNF'd and I strongly considered doing that at 60-65%, but there is that damn voice on your shoulder whispering "but it might get better ... it might end with a BANG" .. unfortunately NO, this was not the case.

The whole book talks about the techniques, ideas, efforts and the art of creating the perfect horror movie. They don't actually start making the movie till about 70% in, then its BAM BAM BAM , movie, the end.

The characters are the most flat and one-dimensional characters I think I've ever read about. The best character is for sure the dog.

If I could describe this book in one word it would be SNOOZEFEST .. is that one word? xD

I give this book 2 stars, which I feel is generous, but I made it through !

This book started off with a gripping premise and a promising first act. It hooks you in with its intriguing setup and creative writing style. However, as the story progresses, the momentum falters. The middle section drags, losing its initial intensity and excitement that captivated me in the beginning. The plot seemed to meander without much direction, leading to a flat and unmemorable midsection. By the time I reached the end, I was left feeling unsatisfied. The conclusion lacked the punch and resolution I had hoped for.

Despite these shortcomings, I really enjoyed the authors ability to create a vivid and immersive atmosphere. While this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me, I’m open to exploring more of his work in the future.

If I'm being honest this book was not at all what I was expecting.

What I was expecting was a horror novel but this...isn't that. Not really, anyways.

Yes, there is a possessed camera, a horror director trying to make the most terrifying horror movie of all time, a final girl, and plenty of dead bodies but it never delivered any chills. In fact, there was almost a horror comedy vibe to it. Kind of like the Scary Movie franchise.

For me the fatal flaw of this book is all the ins and outs of movie making. So many technical details that had me bored to tears. If you're a cinephile then this will probably be a heck of a lot more interesting to you than it was for me.

I will say that DiLouie is a great writer and I have read and enjoyed his books in the past. His knowledge of horror movies and the genre itself is astounding and it's obvious that this is a book he holds near and dear to his heart but I do think reader enjoyment will vary. 3 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for my complimentary copy.

How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive
Craig DiLouie
🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥

If you enjoy campy 80s slashers this is THE book you need to immediately add to your endless TBR. DiLouie literally delivers it all!

Max Maurey should be on top of the world. He's a famous horror director. Actors love him. Hollywood needs him. He's making money hand over fist. But it's the 80s, and he's directing cheap slashers for audiences who only crave more blood, not real art. Not real horror. And Max's slimy producer refuses to fund any of his new ideas. When Max discovers an old camera that filmed a very real Hollywood horror, he knows that he has to use this camera for his next movie. The only problem is that it came with a cryptic warning and sometimes wails.

▪️classic horror movie throwbacks
▪️cursed objects
▪️stalkers
▪️final destination style kills
▪️a story within a story
▪️ominous "camp" settings

I loved the way DiLouie sets this story up! From the very first page you're thrust into the Hollywood from decades past and it unapologetically force feeds you all the classic horror tropes we've come to know and love (or hate) then tilts them upside down and smacks you with them. This is my new favorite book from him and could easily be in my top 5 reads for the year. His characters are easy to love and hate, the deaths are BRUTAL, and the entire premise feels raw and original. This is a slow burn of a book so prepare for something you're able to fully immerse yourself in before heads start rolling but the build-up was perfection!

Thanks to Craig DiLouie, Redhook, and Netgally for the ARC. Publication date is June 18th.

I liked this book! It had a lot of what I was hoping for; all the glamour and the behind the scenes of Hollywood film making, actors doing everything they can to make it, and directors pushing to ultimate limits. Although the pace was slow at times throughout the book, the details the author offered made up for it. There was good character building with Max and Sally, however I wanted a little more from Max.

The last 25% picked up a great deal and ended beautifully and just how I wanted.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Redhook Books for the ARC!

This book starts off a little fun but then it just stays slow and boring for a little too long. It would have benefited from being a little shorter. There is A definite fun factor here but it just stays going and going with not much happening.

This is going to be a quick, short review. It won't be long and drawn out like the book was. It took a month to get through this book and that's with only taking 2 days off to read another book. It felt like I would read for hours, the percentage wouldn't change, and the story went nowhere. The characters are all unlikable, from the director Max to the Bad Girl/Final Girl wannabe Sally. Max spends so much time trying to find a way to make a true horror movie that by the time he starts making the actual movie, we're 3/4 of the way into the book and suddenly have to rush the ending. The ending is expected, the epilogue like chapter was a little fun, but did nothing to redeem any character. There's a lot of technical talk about movie cameras and production that wasn't really necessary unless you're writing a book report and need a higher word count.

Overall the book was slow and boring, the ending was rushed. Spoiler or trigger warning, the dog does die but also doesn't (making it the best character in the whole book). There's a punk concert scene that was the best part, super fun and could have been completely cut from the book without losing anything. I'd give it 2.5 stars, rounded down to 2.

Max is a horror director in the 80's and he's just attended the premiere of the final film in his slasher trilogy.
Now he's ready to move on to bigger and...more terrifying things.
Wanting to make a TRUE horror film he finds himself at the estate sale for a recently deceased horror director where he purchases a camera that was used to film an incredibly tragic film years ago. Now Max is ready to follow where the camera takes him and capture something that will leave his mark on the world.
This was my first book by Craig DiLouie and I loved it.
Both scary and darkly hilarious, I couldn't put it down.
You can find my more indepth (yet still spoiler free) review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd9Nx96koyA.

I really enjoyed Craig DiLouie's previous horror novel, Episode Thirteen, but this one just didn't do it for me.

The writing was a little lazy and the plot moved very slowly, with almost nothing happening until the final few chapters. In terms of comparisons to horror movies, this was more Scary Movie than Scream.