Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Unfortunately, this was not for me. I read about 100 pages but couldn’t get into the story. The pacing was too slow for me. I encourage others to pick it up, as I could see people who love movies / horror movies enjoying this.

With a title like, "Horror Movie", I was expecting more....horror. Paul Tremlay's latest novel is more of a slow-burn read although it picks up and pays off well in the end. I favor slow-burn for the most part. When I read, I want to be hooked and immersed in the story that I'm reading and excited about the rules and characters that are presented in the world that the author created. And I want to get to the meat of it right away. Horror Movie kept me engaged in the characters and the story so I was surprised that I kept reading. I found comfort in reading this novel. It was like an old movie that I've seen hundreds of times but I've never set out to watch it. Movies that you just stumble upon while changing channels in a hotel room and you end up watching the entire movie, even through you didn't plan on it because it was familiar and good and you are glad you stumbled upon this gem. That is how I felt reading Horror Movie. I never read it, but the characters felt familiar in some way.

I was ready to read about something that was going to scare me deep down to my bones or something that felt like an old slasher movie with a growing body count from a psycho serial killer. In the end, I wasn't scared and the story didn't meet my slasher film expectations but I still enjoyed every moment from beginning to end. Maybe Horror Movie isn't the best title for this novel. Skip past the name of the novel, skip past the cover art for this book (the VHS tape make this feel like this is The Ring or... VHS) and just ready it because you know it was written by Paul Tremblay and you know it is going to be a great read.

I want to thank Paul Tremblay, William Morrow, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange of my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I have enjoyed all of this author’s books. I would love to see this book adapted to film like another of his books.

I wish I read this sooner! "Horror Movie" by Paul Tremblay is a spectacular and modern telling of a teen slasher. Nostalgic horror for fans of "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre", "Evil Dead" and the like.

Tremblay writes a quick paced story following the creation of 'Horror Movie', the passion movie that was made by a motley crew of college graduates but never seen. Garnering a cult following in present day 'Horror Movie' is finally in the works to be "rebooted".

Written partly a screen play, partly from the past, and partly in present time, "Horror Movie" creates a 3-D experience for the reader. We are in the movie, we are equally playing all parts-- the slasher and the slashed. It's a perfect blend of suspense, off-screen slashing, and horror. I highly recommend "Horror Movie" to current devotees to the horror genre as well as newbies to the horror genre.

Thank you Paul Tremblay for writing this book, thank you William Morrow, and thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Tremblay's "Horror Movie" is a deliciously meta mindfuck, serving up a fever dream of celluloid nightmares and Hollywood hubris. We dive into the eerie mythos of a never-finished student film through "The Thin Kid's" selective memories, watching as this barely-seen flick somehow spawns a rabid cult following. Tremblay nails the sweet spot between spooky urban legend vibes and the nitty-gritty of indie filmmaking, all while poking at the weirdness of memory and perception. His take on fan culture - think horror cons and "cursed" film lore - feels spot-on, asking some uncomfortable questions about fame, tragedy as commodity, and the often messed-up relationship between creators and fans. All this to say...it took me a long time to finally fall into the rhythm of this story, And by the time I did--it was over! And speaking of the finale: while the ending may prove divisive, it's very quintessential Tremblay - challenging and thought-provoking. Ultimate, this book was trying to do some really interesting things, and I recognize and admire that, but at the end of the day, there was something missing for me, something vague--but somehow important when it comes to how satisfying a story is--that I can't quite put my finger on or articulate, but I know when it's missing. This, too, is part of the classic Tremblay experience.

This one just didn’t work for me. It was difficult for me to get into Paul Tremblay’s writing. I almost DNF’d three or four times. I did enjoy the script that was interspersed throughout the book, however, it did take me some time to understand what was going on. I ended up getting into it, but by then the pay off was too late.

This was a story about the void- it’s always watching and always hungry.

As a huge fan of cult classic horror films- this book was absolutely up my alley. This was an exploration of the lines between what define a story vs a film & the ways in which we are consumed by art if it’s done well enough. Bonus points for the things @paulgtremblay always does- please continue to keep the scary moments for the parts where I’m least expecting them, bc I’ve been lulled into false security.

Thanks you so much @netgalley & @williammorrowbooks for the eArc!

Candidly, I did not enjoy this book. I felt like the writing was not for me. I felt that the writing ruined the delivery of the store. And I felt that it was such an interesting premise as well.

This latest from Paul Tremblay is slow-burn horror, with a simmering creep factor and explorations of the darker parts of the human psyche.

The story unfolds in past and present. The past follows a group of friends who reunite to shoot a low-budget horror film in an abandoned high school. The present follows a key cast member of that shoot, who is the last remaining one alive following a series of tragedies that befall the others, as he collaborates on an upcoming 'remake' of the horror film, which was never actually completed and released but ended up having a cult following regardless due to the mystery surrounding the shoot. In addition, portions of the original screenplay are weaved into the narrative.

For me, these portions of the screenplay were one of the most interesting elements, along with the past story of the original shoot. There's one part of the screenplay, in Chapter 16, which I thought was genius in its exploration of the uncertainties and fears we all have deep within us around the unknown and our own mortality.

This book is not traditional horror, but rather more an exploration of what underpins the horror genre and why it resonates with us. It is unsettling and intellectually engaging -- a must-read for fans of Tremblay.

Thank you for William Morrow for the ARC!

I am quite stunned by this book. I enjoy Paul Tremblay’s writing but this has to be my favorite so far. Without spoilers of course, this book did not go the way I thought it would. I enjoyed the jumps in time in this book, and I normally find them confusing, Very well written and kept me engaged from the beginning.

I've enjoyed Tremblay's horror books (and movies) in the past. This one was a bit too graphic and disturbing for me. Admittedly this built up during the book in a surprising way (but you really had an inkling all along). But won't he surprised if this also sees the big screen.

I struggled through this book. Maybe it was the writing style/narrator. The main character was very pompous and full of himself. I couldn’t relate and didn’t enjoy reading this.

I tried twice to get into this book but I just couldn't. It was so odd and I disliked the writing style. I finally gave up. I am still giving it 3 stars as so many people loved everything about it. It wasn't for me but I am one person! I'd still recommend it to other Horror Fans though. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is such a weird book. I always like how tremblay plays with the format of his books. This book has pieces of the script throughout. I don’t know. It was good. It was ok. It wasn’t great. It was missing chunks. It felt unfinished, but I also feel like that is on purpose.

This creepy novel is told from the main POV of the actor who played the “Thin Man” in an unreleased horror movie from the ‘90s. The storyline skips around quite a bit, from the past to current time, and even from real life to the movie script.

I really loved the premise of this book, but I got bogged down in the movie production details. I also felt that so much was left unexplained. I really didn’t feel a connection with any of the characters, either.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tremblay is a master and this may be his best yet. Cult horror is not a subject for the squeamish, but layer in the concept of not/belonging, and making art, and the end product is a nuanced and terrifying work. This is a strong addition to the "cursed film" subgenre of horror that feels much more personal and painful, and less strictly plot-driven, than other recent "cursed film" books like Silver Nitrate or Burn the Negative. This is a great answer to "What would you do for art?"

I didn't normally read horror, but this book has me reacting to see what would happen next. This horror novel is fast paced and the characters are interesting enough to keep you engaged. I loved the story within the story and I really appreciated the different firms that the book took on. It's part audiobook, part screenplay, part poem, and it's all engaging. It was definitely a great read. Thank you, #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for honest opinion. #HorrorMovie 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Honestly, this book is arduous. It took SO LONG for me to finish this little 213 page books when I can finish a novel 2-3 times that size in just a couple sittings if I am into it. I wasn't into this one. It's my own fault, though, because I went into thinking it would be a different kind of book. I wanted it to be a completely different story. It is a slow burn, but also predictable. I'm giving it 3 stars because it is very well written and probably a great horror story for some.... Just not the right horror story for me.

Tremblay is one of my favorite authors and this latest book of his reminds me if Scream became a movie, and the BG of what it takes to make a horror movie. Such a fun ride.

This is a mashup of a cursed movie trope and a take on monstrosity. The cursed movie didn't feel all that cursed, mostly from the format where there is a remake and the story of the original that was never finished. I found the take on monstrosity a bit confusing - think method acting like Heath Ledger and the Joker plus some magical realism body horror? I've been struggling with how to explain it, and this is where I've landed. It was interesting, but never felt resolved, possibly because the "big reveal" wasn't a revelation? It was where that train was headed the whole time and so just came with an "oh, we're there" feeling.

That said, the ride was a fun slasher / monster flick and perfect for a not scary but campy, somewhat light read.