This is a strong 2.5, I don't think it would be fair on my end to rate down, so i'm rating up to a 3. A lot of the things people weren't that fond of I actually liked. I liked the non-linear story telling of it going from present to past, and also the screen play parts as well. I didn't particularly find this story scary, at times I actually found it quite dull (there were meandering parts that kind of lead to a dead end that make you wonder why it was even in the book), I was more curious at the fact that the movie they were trying to shoot was called "Horror Movie," it didn't seem like a horror movie? But I guess slashers are technically a type of horror movie. I will give it credit though, there was one, maybeeee two parts that actually made me a bit queasy, that really doesn't happen with books I read including books with more blood and gore stuff.

**Spoilers ahead**
I would say don't get hooked by the book blurb of "Horror Movie is an obsessive, psychologically chilling, and suspenseful twist on the “cursed film” that breathlessly builds to an unforgettable, mind-bending conclusion." There really wasn't a twist to the cursed film genre, heck, there wasn't EVEN a cursed film if you think about it since the movie was never even finished. The cast didn't even really die off in any "cursed" ways. The ending wasn't really mind bending, but more head scratch inducing. Did it reach the only inevitable conclusion? I guess? But I still don't quite understand it.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishing for a review copy. All opinions are my own.

Paul Tremblay's novels are always a must read for me, and this was no exception. The main character's , "The Thin Kid," perspective dominated the narrative, and he was beyond creepy; the plot was not. I expected more of this one, but the scary aspect just wasn't there.

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!

I'm not sure how I feel about this book.
It's unsettling, confusing, and horrific in great ways. A filmmaker wants to do an "homage" of a cult film, a lost film that people talk about in the shadows, and manages to get one of the original actors... the only yet living actor from a bunch of college age adults. The original film shoot went so wrong, but the new crew, years later, thinks they can actually do it right this time.
The story jumps between the original film set, a handful of film-school kids, a cursed set where something goes terribly wrong, and the 'present' day where they're trying to recreate the original film of which only bits and pieces of scenes remain. We get snippits of the past, of what happened on that set, of what's happened between then and now... and all ominous dread in between. The last third of the book is a *ride*. I don't think I'd re-read this one again, but I'd recommend it for anyone wanting to hang out on a kind of disturbing & cursed film set.

Creepy, mysterious, and genuinely unsettling. The abandoned school is the perfect atmospheric backdrop. This one will stay with me.

I’m between 4 and 4.5 stars

What a strange, meta, haunting book. I especially love Cleo’s voice in the screenplay segments. I usually don’t love time jumps/dual timelines and when “something horrible happened” but the MC refuses to reveal it for ages for no clear reason, but it works well here. The ending/reveal (the first ending) is so horrible, so sickening, I almost couldn’t read it, which was an interesting and sort of new type of fear for a horror book, a new type of dread. And then the second/true ending…!

I definitely want to read more Tremblay books.

I will note that there was at least one comment about a woman that I *think* was meant to convey that the narrator is kind of a dick but I don’t think it worked fully (describing a woman as being in “the darkening forest of her 40s”). It just reminded me, oh right, this author is a man.
I also think it could’ve been gayer.

But overall it was really good!

Thanks to Netgalley for the e-ARC! I obviously read it a lot later than I meant to, and it’s out now.

2⭐

Unfortunately, this is a DNF for me. I made it past halfway which is why I am giving the 2-star rating.

Overall, I felt like this book was EXTREMEMLY slow. To the point of rambling and odd formats. If anything, the kindle/physical book is much better than the audio. The audio was hard to understand, scratchy, and not entertaining. While the idea of this sounded intriguing and creepy, I felt like it focused too much on character driven actions then plot driven actions. Which just did not work for me. It took away from the story.

Big thanks to the author, Netgalley, and William Morrow for the #gifted copy!

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay is a chilling, multilayered psychological thriller that revisits the infamous 1993 cult horror film “Horror Movie,” which was never officially released due to its disturbing content and mysterious tragedies on set. The novel alternates between past and present timelines, following the enigmatic actor known as the Thin Kid—the only surviving cast member—as he is drawn back into a reboot decades later. Tremblay blurs the lines between reality and fiction, memory and delusion, weaving a haunting narrative that explores human cruelty, trauma, and the dark nature of evil.

The novel’s innovative structure, blending screenplay excerpts with narrative prose, heightens the immersive and unsettling experience. Tremblay’s storytelling is both intelligent and deeply atmospheric, delivering suspense not just through violence but psychological complexity. While some readers may find its slow, ambiguous pacing challenging, fans of cerebral horror and metafiction will appreciate its depth and the provocative questions it raises about memory, suffering, and the nature of horror itself.

Horror Movie is a superb, thought-provoking addition to Tremblay’s oeuvre—perfect for readers who want a horror novel that strays from tradition and lingers in the mind long after the last page.

This is one of the most unsettling books I’ve ever read and I’m here for it. Horror Movie is a book that you know is not going to end well. We know from page 1 that the past timeline of the making of the original never finished movie ends in tragedy and there’s this unsettling feeling that’s grows that makes you just know that the “present” narration is going to end poorly too. And the screenplay that’s interspersed throughout is wild! What an effed up “movie.” This book is creepy, and compelling and you just can’t put it down. If you like slashers and/or indie/low budget horror you def need to check this one out

Interesting and gory in all the best of ways. I devoured this one - and am always tempted to go through it via audio since others have said to me that the experience is even better and reads more like an interactive radio drama oe found footage interview (which is sorta perfection).

I typically give authors two chances and this was Tremblay's second chance (the first being <i>The Pallbearers Club</i>) and unfortunately, I must give him up. Once again, I find myself reading about a man waxing poetic about an incident in his youth and oh, it might lead to something creepy! But it was all slow and dull and the "horror" doesn't come until the end, and even that was a bit of a let down. It was a quick read, though, so I powered through, hoping to find something I liked. As far as the novel goes, there's not much there, which is disappointing. The core of the story is very interesting and I love the idea of a movie with deadly secrets behind the scenes, but this wasn't it for me.

This thriller delivers relentless suspense and expertly crafted twists that keep you hooked from start to finish. The characters are nuanced and compelling, adding real emotional depth to the high-stakes plot. The pacing is tight and relentless, making it impossible to put down. A thrilling, unforgettable ride that will satisfy any suspense lover.

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay is a mind-bending dive into the blurred lines between reality and fiction. The story follows an unnamed narrator, the sole survivor of a 1993 indie horror film, Horror Movie, which gained a cult following despite only releasing a few scenes. Years later, a Hollywood remake is in the works, and the narrator is drawn back into the chaos of his past. As he revisits the original film’s events, the boundaries between his memories and the film’s narrative begin to collapse, leading to a haunting exploration of identity, trauma, and the nature of horror itself.

Tremblay masterfully intertwines the original film’s screenplay with the present-day narrative, creating a layered and immersive experience. The unreliable narration and fragmented storytelling keep readers on edge, questioning what is real and what is imagined. The novel delves deep into themes of memory, guilt, and the human propensity for cruelty, offering a chilling commentary on the darker aspects of the human psyche. 

While some readers may find the pacing slow or the narrative style challenging, those who appreciate psychological horror and metafiction will find Horror Movie to be a compelling and thought-provoking read. It’s a novel that lingers long after the final page, leaving readers to ponder the nature of horror and the stories we tell ourselves.

Horror Movie is an unforgettable and deeply disturbing novel that speaks to your teenage self. I can’t shake the images planted in my brain by Tremblay, which have clawed their way into my thoughts. I’m frequently reminded of this novel by everyday things, such as a scary mask in my child’s room, or the tiny infant mittens styled as little dino claws. It will be months before I stop thinking about the abandoned school and what happened in those classrooms.

I've read many reviews of this book, but I didn't agree with most of them and it took listening to the audio book to understand why. This isn't a book for everyone and if you are the type of person who likes to try and dream of a way House of Leaves could suddenly and magically become an audiobook (impossible) for you to enjoy in another medium, then this book is for you. Somehow this book has absolutely nothing and everything to do with the themes of House of Leaves. This book is an audiobook about a movie that is being made about a movie that was made but never seen by the world. Doesn't that sound a little bit similar... but that isn't even the best similarity since in this book is an audiobook about a movie being made about a movie that wasn't seen about how a person can lose themselves and turn into a monster while becoming the literal monster the entire time. Honestly, I put off writing this review for months and months because I just couldn't not have any spoilers and truly discuss this piece which I have suggested to so many (I even had the audiobook as my pick for book club this month with the young adult/teens at my library).
When the book begins you are seeing the world through the lens of our main character - the Thin Boy, Weird Guy, and he's meeting with a random producer who wants to make Horror Movie into a movie. Horror Movie was a movie originally made June 9, 1993 by Valentina and Cleo and our main character was the "villian/monster" known as The Thin Kid. This might seem almost normal, but the original Horror Movie was never released. Valentina released the script Cleo wrote and three scenes, even though they did film the entire movie. It became a cult sensation from those three clips and now it is being made into a big production that plans to stay completely faithful to the original, even having our main character play his original character during part of the production.
The book jumps around in timeline constantly. We jump from 1991, 1993, the days before the youtube videos, and present day in the present production. We get to see everything through the eyes of our main character and through the screenplay and the movie scenes we get to experience. These jumps can be jarring when you are desperate for the next chapter or next scene, but they also somehow manage to keep you invested. Each chapter builds tension, then cuts away, then builds, and then cuts away until by the end of this rather short book you are on the edge of your seat and emotionally wrung out.
By the time we reach the end, almost every reader is going to know the "twist" because you've been led towards it from the start - from the very first introduction of the main character when he makes an off hand comment about living in LA but not fully being a monster. It's a cute throwaway line that sticks with you on the next go through. Some of the foreshadowing is gentle and subtle and some is direct and blunt, but still has you questioning if it can really go the way you think.
I can't say what the author intended with this work. I am not so pretentious as to suggest I know the message and will now explain it to you, but I will say that by the end I loved that I wasn't sure how much monster I was for reading all the horror I love and watching all the gruesome films I enjoy. It was wonderful to finish this book and to look at myself just a little differently than I did in the beginning.
I rarely suggest experiencing a book in audio over physical, but this book is such a beautiful experience in audio format and I can't help but think it was just a little more fun having this in my ear while going through my rainy day patterns. No matter how you enjoy this book, just enjoy it and then think about on how much monster you may be.

This author is just love his writing! Anything he writes is a must read!

This had Blair Witch vibes!

This was a great and fun read! Kudos again to the author for a great book! Kept you engaged and not sure what to expect

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review

This was a fun throw back horror story that felt like promotion of Blair Witch Project come to life. As someone who loves horror and also loves 90s/00s movies, this felt like such a fun throw back that kept me on my toes, unsure of what direction it was going in.

Ai wanted to love this but I think I’m too dumb and not artsy enough! I think I went in thinking it would be more scary and I think it was more art, and I do think it has its place, but I wish it had been marketed a bit different! I think I will return to it when Im in a different mood.

Horror Movie is a chilling, meta-horror novel that blends screenplay excerpts with a haunting narrative. Paul Tremblay masterfully unravels the mystery behind a cursed 1993 indie film through the eyes of its lone surviving cast member. Dark, layered, and psychologically gripping, this is a bold, innovative take on horror that lingers long after the final page.

"Horror Movie" by Paul Tremblay has a bit of a clunky narrative but once you get the pacing down it should be on every horror flick lover's bookshelf. The emotional rollercoaster this book drives you through is intense!

Are monsters created?

At the center of Horror Movie, we have this question in the back of our minds lingering like a sharp claw caressing the walls of our sanity, begging to be torn down. It is eerie, confusing, and oh so deliciously unreliable. I was completely FLOORED by the ending, and I audibly gasped.

I may have to revisit this one in the future. I listened to the audiobook which added an unsettling atmosphere with its ambience and full cast narration we only hear during the "then" timeline.

This is my first Paul Tremblay book (I KNOW) and it definitely won't be my last!