If you're into artsy horror films or creature features, this book might be for you. However, it wasn't what I expected. I was hoping for a haunted movie set kind of horror, but it was different. There were no ghosts.

Did I enjoy it? Well, it was engrossing but left me unsettled. The story took time to get into due to its format, but I was hooked almost by the halfway mark. I knew there wouldn't be a happy ending, yet I couldn't stop reading.

The format is unusual, switching between the past and present, with sections of the screenplay in each chapter. And I think that might've been a huge hindrance for my enjoyment with book since I am not a fan of that kind of formats.

Now, let's talk about the screenplay. The scenes described in the book are haunting, which was great. Fans of slasher horror might find it tame, but I haven't enjoyed gory films since I was a child.

The ending wasn't a surprise given what we learn about the protagonist's "tattoos." But I wasn't prepared for it. And the contrast between meditation and the horrifying events in the book was unsettling. It made me realize why I struggled with it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for semding the arc!

I couldn’t get into this book. I was soooooo beyond bored. I thought the plot would’ve been really cool. But this was a DNF for me.

I know this first line isn't going to be the most quotable line in a review but here it is anyway:
This is a total mindf*ck of a novel! And it is now my favorite Paul Tremblay book.

I finished reading this about 3 weeks ago and I still don't know what to say about it, other than that I absolutely LOVED it.

I am not going to talk about the plot, because the synopsis and many other reviews have already done that. Here, I'm going to focus on how it made me feel.

Confused. Elated. Shocked. Horrified. Nearly everything in this book is unreliable. In fact, my mind is still trying to work its way through this labyrinth of unreliability. The core group of people here, young actors and playwrights, (all devoted to making this film that ultimately is never released), were spellbinding. What happens to them as the film is being made, and then later in life, felt so exceptionally REAL to this reader. Perhaps that was the scariest thing about it?

Is this the journey of a young actor who is somehow changed by the very film he helped to create? Is the journey of the playwright who felt such a strong need to get the film made? Is this the tale of how a group of people can somehow feed off of each other, in the end creating something that is greater than the sum of its parts? The answers to all of these questions is YES.

So yeah, a mindf*ck for sure. It might end up being my favorite novel of the year. It's still early in 2024 , and if you know how much I read, you know that's really saying something.

If you are a fan of unreliability in your horror novels, look no further my horror-loving reading friends, because this is the epitome of unreliability!

My highest recommendation!

*ARC from publisher.*

Horror Movie is about group of independent filmmakers making a horror movie which was never released due to mysterious events on set. Only three leaked scenes have fueled its cult classic status over the years. Now, three decades later, a Hollywood reboot is in progress, with the sole surviving cast member, who harbors dark secrets from the original production, agreeing to participate on the condition of reprising his role as The Thin Kid, the film's monster.The narrative unfolds with elements of found footage and an autobiographical tone from an unreliable narrator, who shapes our understanding of events, having authored a book on the subject. The unsettling ambiance permeates through glimpses of the script and set anecdotes, leaving readers on edge.The original script of 'Horror Movie' delves into themes of peer pressure and isolation, particularly evident in The Thin Kid's descent into madness as he faces ostracism. The narrative also delves into the dangers of method acting and the narrator's obsession with his villainous role, which continues to define his identity decades later. This book was so well written, captivating and so unique!

5⭐️

In 1993, a group of indie film makers spent a month making 'Horror Movie.' And due to what happened on the set, the movie was never released. Over the years, only three scenes from the movie have ever been leaked on line and the movie has reached cult classic status because it was so secretive.

Thirty years later, a reboot of the movie is in the works with a Hollywood budge to match. The new producers have approached the only surviving cast member left and asked for his participation on set. As the only one who knows of all the dark secrets surrounding the original film, he agrees with one request: he gets to revive his role as the films monster, The Thin Kid.

This was wild. I liked the way this was told; if felt like part found footage and part autobiographical from an unreliable narrator. A lot of the information about what happened was given to us by our unnamed narrator who has now written his own book on the topic and so everything was skewed through his view of it. But regardless of if was the clips of the script or stories from the set, the whole scenario just left me feeling very on edge.

The script of Horror Movie itself I think said a lot about peer pressure and loneliness and the more the Thin Kid was ostracized the more unhinged he got. This also said a lot about method acting and losing yourself to a role. I think the power of playing the villain really went to the narrator's head and even thirty years later his entire personality still surrounds the movie that never came out. All in all this was very unsettling and I loved it!

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for providing this ARC to me!

First, a thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC! I really enjoyed this one. It was the first book Ive read by Paul Tremblay and I really liked his writing. I loved how some sections of the novel were written in a screenplay format and the multiple timelines kept the story moving at a quick pace. Id recommend this book to anyone who loves horror movies! TW: suicide

Everything you could possibly want in a horror novel! As a lover of both a film and print horror stories, I can honestly say that this one will stay with me for a long freaking time. I'd love to see the story's screenplay realized, but at the same time, I hope this is never adapted. How could you possibly convey all the nuances and script asides into film? Couldn't be done. The strength of this novel lies in its straightforward and unflinching examination of the evolution of monsters- the ones we create and the ones we fear to acknowledge in ourselves. I thought this was perfection and I hope the advance copy I just read is the same one that makes it onto the shelves.

HUGE thanks to NetGalley for making this advance copy available to this horror-loving librarian :)

I was not a huge fan of this book. I felt as though I kept waiting for something big and shocking to happen and then suddenly it was over. I think all the characters acted like bratty teenagers even though they were supposed to be in their 20s and older. I wish the author went more into the mask and why it had this effect over the characters, why it was in the abandoned school, etc. I did enjoy reading Cleo's script, but felt that her script was incredibly wordy. There was stuff in the script that they never could've conveyed properly on screen, so it just felt like a wink-nudge to us as readers. I'm still unsure of what exactly happened between Valentina and the main character (does he have a name? I might've missed it) when he went to her house before she died. I don't enjoy having so many unanswered questions, but I've never read Tremblay before, so maybe this is just his style. All in all, I'd give it a 1.5 (rounded up to 2 for Netgalley).

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC!

My brain is still trying to process this novel. Paul Tremblay’s writing is so gripping, I was so engrossed by the story and could not stop reading. Told from the perspective of the only surviving cast member who played “The Thin Kid,” the story alternates between “then” and “now” with bits of the screenplay from the original Horror Movie. Tremblay is really successful in building tension throughout and creating this sense of dread surrounding the horror film.

The pacing of this story really worked for me, and I felt the story flowed very well. The suspense and dread continued to grow as I kept getting deeper into the story. “The Thin Kid” actor is isolated from the cast and crew in and outside of filming, which is at the request of the filmmaker. This is supposed to allow the actor to experience what his character is experiencing. Horror Movie has left me thinking about the limits of the mind and how people are shaped through their experiences.

I was hoping the story would play into the cursed film a little more, but the direction it took was still amazing. This was a great reading experience for me and would definitely recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay. He is an auto buy author for me, but this book left me feeling like something was missing. I love books with creepy movies and cursed films. I liked the flip between the past and present. The description of the movies and the Thin Kid felt like old school 80s movies. I felt like the present day story was lacking and wanted more of that story. The ending did pack a punch.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Paul Tremblay's AMAZING 2024 release Horror Movie.

Let me tell you run, do not walk, to your computer and pre-order this book now! If you love horror books, horror movies, horror podcasts, and the 1990's, you are going to love absolutely everything about this novel.

And if you pre-order, your copy will have red stained edges!

Listen to me talk about Horror Movie on Episode 9 of my podcast The Books and the Bees podcast

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed Tremblay's previous books and I really liked Night Film and Rough Cut so I was excited for another horror story about cursed films. The book switches between the past of making the film, scenes from the script and the current day life of the main protagonist and only main surviving cast member. The context between reality and the film is a little confusing....which is the entire point. Are the accidents on set truly accidents or just done for better filmmaking? Are the rumors about the movie true or lies or somewhere in between?

The lines get blurred and I got sucked into the story. Even though the protagonist is not likeable at all I still found myself rooting for him.

There is not a lot of action or gore, its mostly psychological suspense and the reality blurring done to great effect. Recommended for fans of psych horror.

My very favorite thing about Paul Tremblay books is that they used to not work for me. Cabin at the End of the World, Disappearance at Devil's Rock, and A Head Full of Ghosts are the three I've read, and for each one: I read it once and didn't like it. Then a couple years later I'd be curious and pick it up again and fall head over heels in love with it. Horror Movie is the same but different in that I already liked it the first time, but I can see where and why I'll adore it in reread. I don't know what the hell I read, to be honest, but it made me feel bad (in that good bleak horror novel way I like) and I think it'll haunt me until I pick it up again.

Horror Movie is a horror novel about a man now in his fifties who played "The Thin Kid" in a movie that was filmed but never released after a tragedy happened on set. In his youth, the man had been almost entirely consumed by his role during the four weeks of shooting - he stayed alone in a trailer away from the crew, stayed silent while wearing the mask that was his character's primary feature, and suffered from several real injuries during the filming. Now, a film company wants to reboot Horror Movie, and have asked the man to be involved.

This is a novel that definitely committed to the bit: we are taken piece by piece through the main character's memories of the original filming and the deaths of all the other actors, just as the main character was only given his script the night before to prevent him from seeing the full picture from the beginning. Sometimes this slow feeding of information to the reader can get on my nerves, but I think it really worked here. The primary conflict of the narrative is rooted in the main character's trauma: as the Thin Kid, he is isolated and dehumanized during and outside of the filming, and I think the slow reveal of his experiences did a great job of building up tension and curiosity, propelling me forward even when the plot itself did not.

Probably due to the mysteries at the heart of the story, however, I felt disconnected from all of the characters. I understand the author's choice - we aren't supposed to trust any of the characters or their motives. I still stayed invested in the story and the mystery, and I wanted to know where it all was going to go, but I didn't really feel like I could root for anyone. There is only one character that shows any real sincerity or empathy, and we learn very early on that they will die sooner rather than later. Again, it was clear that this was intentionally done, and I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing, but it may be divisive with readers who want more of an emotional connection with the characters.

In all, I'll give Horror Movie an 8 out of 10. This is a well-written, well-executed horror novel about a group of young adults whose creative spirit destroys and re-writes their lives. I think readers who want a dark horror with an unsettling resolution will enjoy it. Readers who want something with a little more heart, however, should try something different.

This novel follows the man who played “The Thin Kid” in the cult classic movie “Horror Movie.” The funny thing is the movie was never fully released. Three scenes were uploaded to the internet and the movie took off. And now it’s getting a reboot! This book really plays tricks on your mind and how one person can truly become their character and take it too far. For readers of cursed object type of stories whether a book or a film.

This was my first time ever reading one of Paul Tremblay’s books! I’d heard really great things, but I wasn’t expecting to love it SO much. I usually prefer female authors, but I loved his writing style. Everything I could hope a horror book to be

Paul is a master of inhabiting very human moments, which is readily apparent with Horror Movie. I was just hit, over and over, with the realness of his depictions of what these kids were going through. It’s so relatable that it makes you identify with them, which puts you in their shoes, which is the last place you want to be.

Time for a review of a highly anticipated release for 2024!

The book follows the man who played "The Thin Kid" in the cult classic movie "Horror Movie." The funny thing is the movie was never fully released. Three scenes were uploaded to the internet and the movie took off. And now it's getting a reboot!
Some believe the movie is cursed. "The Thin Kid" is the only surviving cast member from the original small cast of the film.

There were many accidents and bizarre occurrences on set.

This book will mess with your mind. It bounces back and forth between the present-day filming of the new movie and the filming of the movies back in the 90's. We see how deeply

"The Thin Kid" got into his character, so much so that we're unsure if he's ever moved past his role... or if the role became him.

I will say it took me a little while to get into the flow of the book. It's told in a typical Tremblay way—a bit disjointed but worth the work in the end.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy a solid Hollywood/ cursed film type of read

As usual, Paul Tremblay gives us a peak into his deranged mind. Horror Movie has everything I want in a Horror Novel.
This one is up on top with A Head Full Of Ghost and The Cabin At The End Of The World. 5 stars without question. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now to be fair I have always loved this author and his work, and this was no exception! I loved the different time lines to see it all come to a twisty crazy ending! About a group of "friends" to decide to make a horror movie, low budget....what could go wrong you ask? Well, let me tell you enough intrigue to keep me hooked. I won't lie, this was a lot of build up and slow burn but it was never boring. What you think you know, you don't. If you love Tremblay's other works this one will sure to please! Solid 4 stars! Thank you NetGalley, Paul Tremblay and HarperCollins Publishers for a chance to read this! My views are my own!