I'm not going to even pretend that I understood what was going on or going to happen in this one for about the first two-thirds of the story. I mean, I knew it wasn't going to be good. But--maybe it's a testament to how my mind isn't... broken in a way Tremblay's seems to be. I kid... Kind of. 

This is one of those, that you want to go in completely blind. Having any of it spoiled would just ruin the shock. The... Horror. It's name is absolutely appropriate. The horror of this story goes beyond simple monsters hiding in a proverbial closet. No, this story encapsulates horror in a way that any true great horror writer does--in the exposing the horror that can be humanity. People are what true evil can look like. 

This wasn't the kind of story that kept me from sleeping at night. It was more the kind of story that, as I was reading, was just... Jarring. Appalling. And artistic in its own right. 

My first Tremblay novel and I'm not sure I've got the measure of his stories. A definite enjoyable read, if you can call it that. I'm excited to try another.

This was easily one of the most disturbing books I have read recently. It wasn't "scary", but it was deeply unsettling. Then the end came and IT WAS scary. Very scary.
Basic plot points: The "thin kid", an only survivor of a cursed movie is invited to join in on a remake.
Things get weird, then they get weirder, then they get super weird.

Tremblay does an excellent job at creating a very unsettling atmosphere for the reader, as well as all the characters. No jump scares in this book, but a profound sense of unease that creeps its way to the ending crescendo.

Would recommend to anyone that is tired of light horror or thriller and ready to feel unsettled in a way they have never felt before.

This is one weird book, the kind that deserves a bit of serious contemplation after all is said and done, a true example of what some people like to call elevated horror. Horror Movie is only my second Paul Tremblay book, the first being The Pallbearer's Club, and this story has similar vibes. It cleverly tells the story of a young group of post college age adults who set out to make a low budget horror film, and our narrator is the man behind the movie monster mask thirty years later. He's only known to us as The Thin Kid.

The Thin Kid is our narrator for reasons. He's about to embark on a journey to make a "reboot" of a film that was never officially completed but had become a cult hit from leaked footage online. So what we get is three different narratives; our kid retelling the past during the shoot, then him revealing bits of the present and where the major players of the movie are now (including himself), then finally the horror movie itself as written in the form of the screenplay.

It's a slow and creepy unraveling of events as told by an unreliable narrator, and it's full of triggering topics including suicide, body horror (as in Pallbearers Club), bullying and ostracizing. Thematically, it touches on identifying the monster behind the mask, how those monsters just might be a reflection of ourselves in some ways, or how we as a society just might be responsible for creating the things that we fear.

It can get confusing with all the story jumping from the Then to the Now, plus a screenplay that feels like it would get thrown in the DNF heap if it was an actual real live submission (I've read a lot of screenplays, so I'm a little biased on this point). BUT this was a low budget horror shoot from a young writer character, so in that context, I need to give the script part of it some leeway. The plot twists show up through the last half of the book, and man are they some crazy, confounding and heartbreaking plot twists.

I want to thank Mr. Tremblay and Harper Collins for approving ARC access via NetGalley

This is a weird horror story that goes back and forth between the past and the present to tell the story of a group of young adults filming a horror movie about "the Thin Man." The story is odd, violent, gruesome, and surprising, but I didn't find it terribly scary. Still, it is an entertaining read.

My review is linked below. Listen to me discuss it on this week's Little Cuts episode of Scarred for Life. Loved how dark and nasty the book was. It truly felt like a book about a cursed object; one in which we're watching a train wreck happening in real time. It's probably Tremblay's darkest novel and it was a joy to read.

A unique perspective and a creepy cast. This one will linger. I enjoyed the choppy nature of the format once I figured out how the timelines were working. It became a fascinating glimpse into art house films and horror development. The trick is the underlying, real life horror also occurring. The story wasn’t necessarily frightening, but rather contemplative and creepy.

Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow, and author Paul Tremblay for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

After reading this book I think I can confidently say I am not a fan of Paul Tremblay. This was my first book I've read by him and will more than likely be my last. I'm so glad this was a moderately short book because I was bored throughout the entire thing. I don't think I have an aversion to books that revolve around movies and scripts but I just might after reading this. The only reason I'm giving it two stars instead of one is because the last chapter did peak my interest, just in time for the book to end. Could be because it meant the book was over for me or it could be because it was actually interesting, who knows but I really didn't like this at all.

A lean, mean terror machine of a book. A perfect balance of showing and telling and leaving just enough between the lines to cultivate true fear of the narrators whose hands we have taken as we follow them into the darkness. Tremblay's scariest book since A Head Full of Ghosts.

Horror Movie is a highly original horror novel that builds tension slowly. Normally I prefer something a bit more fast paced but the slow burn of this horror novel really worked. I enjoyed this one immensely.

In a way, this reminded me of an adult version of Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask, and that’s a good thing! Big fan of Paul Tremblay, and though this wasn’t my favorite story of his, I did love the writing and was curious to see how it all wrapped up.

Ty to Netgalley for the ARC!

This is the second book I have read by the author, the first being Head Full of Ghosts. Just like that work, I was a little underwhelmed by the scares. I did read this book in one afternoon, so it is a very quick read and obviously held me captivated.

A Horror Movie has almost wrapped up filming when a tragedy strikes. Years later after three scenes from the movie are released, horror fans create enough buzz that the studios think it is time to remake this movie. The man who played “The Thin Kid” in the original has been appearing at conventions and keeping the fans clamoring for more. As the last surviving cast member he has been asked to help with the remake by giving insight to the secrets behind the screenplay as well as reprising his original role in a few scenes. Memories resurface as filming begins making for a tense, unsettling and jaw dropping finale.

This is a tough one for me to review. First of all I loved the writing style. Switching between the past and present helped build a lot of tension and dread. Sprinkled throughout the past and present storyline were sections of the original movie script giving insight and details which also added to the tension. This unconventional style really worked although it was a slow build. Gradually, Tremblay just kept chipping away at my psyche making me feel more uncomfortable, and uneasy as the story progressed. The ending was an unexpected shock and left me with more questions than answers. I want to know more about the origin of the mask, the motivation for the original script and the original characters back stories. This was well written, a good premise but left me wanting more.

3 ⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

With a book with this title, I was expecting something way more than what I read. This lacked a spooky, horror element and lacked excitement. Also I listened to part of this book and had to switch to the print version because the audio was really annoying with the screenplay set up and all the noises associated with that.

If you loved, “The Cabin at the End of the World,” then you’re in for a treat. This is a gripping read that will resonate with fans of psychological thrillers and horror fiction alike, blending elements of suspense with an exploration of the human psyche and the haunting power of nostalgia.

This book dives into the unsettling world of guerrilla filmmaking, where a small group of young filmmakers created a notorious and disturbing horror film over four intense weeks in June 1993. Despite only three scenes being released, the film has garnered a cult-like following, prompting Hollywood to consider a high-budget reboot three decades later.

The novel blurs the boundaries between past and present, reality and fantasy, as the protagonist confronts his own demons while grappling with the demands of remaking a film that once led to tragedy. The story unfolds with a palpable sense of suspense and psychological depth, exploring themes of obsession, artistic integrity, and the cost of revisiting traumatic memories.

Through vivid storytelling, the author captures the dark allure of the horror genre and the complexities of the entertainment industry. The protagonist's journey is both compelling and haunting, offering us a glimpse into the shadows of filmmaking and the sacrifices made for cinematic artistry.

Thanks #NetGalley for my advance copy of this book. #HorrorMovieBook

I am a longtime fan of horror books and movies. I started out reading Stephen King books in junior high, in my bedroom late at night while everyone else was asleep. It’s always been my favorite genre. So I was a little surprised at my reaction to Horror Movie. I don’t usually get shocked or scared, but this book was so disturbing and unsettling, it really shook me to my core. I was hooked and horrified right from the beginning, and I could tell that this wasn’t going to be typical horror.

Horror Movie is the story of a group of novice filmmakers - teenagers - in 1993 and the movie that haunts their lives. The story is told by the actor that played Thin Kid, who is also the only surviving member of the shoot. The movie was never released, which is big clue that something was very wrong about this movie. However, a few scenes were eventually released online and consequently, it’s got quite a cult following.

From Tremblay. “I just happened to have this idea based on how dangerous The Texas Chain Saw Massacre set was, and wondered what if something really horrible had happened that stopped that movie being made.”

That’s really the only description you need to realize that this book is going to be darker and more horrific than possibly anything you’ve ever read. Personally, that makes me want to read it even more, but this won’t be for everyone. There are several deeply unsettling moments in Horror Movie, and at the core it’s about people acting horribly just because they can. And that might be the most frightening thing of all.

I loved it and highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys dark horror.

4.5 stars for Horror Movie and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC!

A of all: what the fuck, Paul.

Horror Movie follows a non-linear timeline of the making of an indie horror movie in the 90s and the aftermath of nearly everyone involved. I could be wrong, but getting to the end and realizing I didn't learn the narrator's name was almost as chilling as what happened in the trailer.

I really like the idea of "what makes a monster" being a theme in the novel, both in the movie the kids are making and the life the Thin Kid actor is living in the present day. People look at him and want him to be the scary kid he portrayed in the movie, but he's just an aging actor with bad jokes. They let their guard down around him.

The reveal about what happened to Cleo was shocking and I wasn't expecting it to be that graphic. I'm glad we got little snippets about the immediate aftermath and what happened to the rest of the cast and crew.

All in all, the ending was a little out of nowhere and I'll have to read the last 10% again to fully get it all, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's just another one of Tremblay's masterpieces.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this book. I was sucked right into the story and didn't want to put it down, but the timeline jumping was a bit rough.

A slow burn and sometimes a little lost in the time frame of the story line, I felt they blended together without any notice.

This was such an incredible piece of 90s nostalgia mixed with horror. The writing was beautiful and I loved every second of it.

Creepy and surreal, a commentary on fear, death and becoming.

When a horror film becomes real in ways you’ll never imagine, the heightened tension a taut string around your soul, you’ll journey through what pretends to be mundanity while peeking through your fingers. With characters that slither off the page and a setting with teeth, this literary foray into our collective obsession with fright seethes and titillates. I think you’ll love the disturbing imagery, stressful set up, and constrained mania.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.