Edgy, weird and truly interesting. If you like good books and horror movies, this will be a solid choice. I can recommend this despite a few pacing issues.

As a huge fan of horror movies and the making behind them, Horror Movie was a fun and terrifying read for any readers who love terrifying lost media and analog horror.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC :)

This was between 3 and 4 starts for me.

The story is told between a "Then" and "Now" perspective.

"Then" takes place in 1993, when a group of 4 teenagers decide to make a horror film that ultimately becomes a cult favorite for being cursed, based on the events that happen throughout the filming process. The original movie was actually never released except for a few clips years later on YouTube, which of course makes the horror fans feral for it.

"Now" is present day, when a 'reboot' is being made of the film. The Now is told via the style of an audiobook written by the only surviving member of the original cast to tell the story of making the re-boot version.

Much of the "Then" is told via the movie script.

Still with me?

It is a little difficult to follow, but I think that is intentional on the author's part. There is a sense of blurred lines between what is reality and what is happening in the movie, coupled with the fact that our narrator is a little unreliable.

I think I expected this to be a little more like a "haunted" movie set, but what I got instead was far more disturbing--in a good way, if you can call it that. I was defnitely interested in what was going on, though it was a bit of a slow burn. There are some really unsettling scenes that kind of haunted me, for sure.

The ENDING--yeesh.

Overall I enjoyed this one but I think that my fave of Tremblay's is still "Head Full of Ghosts" (to be fair, that is a tough metric to beat since that is also one of my all time favorite books).

Definitely recommend for fans of psychological horror.

delightfully fun and creepy, effectively telling a story within a story within a story, keeping the reader on their toes and at times disoriented. horror on every level from the screenplay, to the original filming, to the "real world" after the film, and the set of the reboot.

Do you ever read a synopsis and think ‘Was this book literally written for me?’ Because that’s exactly what I thought before hitting the request button on this one. My only experience with Tremblay has been his short story collection, The Beast You Are. While I can’t deny he has an incredibly unique writing style and mind, it wasn’t my favorite. Combined with some mixed reviews on some of his other titles from some trusted reviewers, I decided to wait until one of his books really spoke to me. And here we are!

Horror Movie is Tremblay’s nod to the cursed object/film trope. The story is written as a memoir/audiobook by the last surviving cast member who played the role of ‘The Thin Kid.’ Despite being filmed as an art house flick that was never released, the movie has developed a cult following and has been green lit for a Hollywood reboot. The reader is toggled between dual timelines: the present and June 1993. There were also parts of the original screenplay at the end of each ‘Then’ chapter, which was probably my favorite aspect of the book.

I found this completely engrossing. I loved the timely reveals, the unlikable characters that you weren’t sure whether to hate or root for, and the overall bleakness of the novel while still maintaining humor due to the delivery from the narrator. I’m still debating how I felt about the end, though? I definitely didn’t see it coming, which is a plus in my book.

Overall, highly recommend if you like horror books with dual timelines and centered around movies.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for allowing me to read "Horror Movie" ahead of its release. Paul Tremblay is one of my favorite authors and his stuff is an auto-buy for me. In fact, I pre-ordered this one right after I finished, in part because I loved it, but also, man, those sprayed edges!

Beyond those edges is a cursed production, an elaborate suicide, a decent into madness, a demon-powered transformation, or none of these. Or all of them. Once again, Tremblay has crafted a disturbing, surreal journey occupied by tragically flawed characters that may or may not by lying to us, to themselves, or, most likely, both.

I loved the pacing of this one. It switches between a couple of "Then"s, a "Now," and in between is bits of a screenplay that is our road map to the inevitable. I found this highly effective and was eager to see how the characters would diverge or stick to the paths laid for them.

It will be interesting to see how "Horror Movie" will be received when it's released. I feel like there will be an even split between love it/hate it. For me, this one was 4.5 stars, rounded up.

[I received a review copy of this book from Netgalley.]

Between 3 and 4 stars.

My first foray into Paul Tremblay was The Beast You Are: Stories and frankly, I really didn't like it. But I had heard much better things about Tremblay's novels, which is why I requested Tremblay's newest book, as someone with an interest in horror movies and a desire to check out Tremblay's longform writing.

Horror Movie is a horror novel about a fictional horror movie told under the guise of the reader listening to an audiobook from one of the horror movie's actors who explores the past experiences filming the original horror movie and the new experiences preparing for and filming the reboot, all interspersed with script pages from said fictional horror movie.

Still with me?

Tremblay's prose here is much more engaging than it was in his short stories, and I felt compelled to finish the book in a few reading sessions. There were a lot of fascinating passages about time, connection, film making, artistry, pushing ourselves and not knowing when to stop, and even the horror movie genre and resulting fandoms, particularly niche fandoms for cult films.

The screenplay sections were, though not exactly realistic, fascinating and made me wish we could "see" the movie being filmed in some way. Although the film in question feels more like something that might get made in the 1970s than the 1990s.

Truthfully, the audiobook conceit seems pointless in retrospect and makes things more muddled and not in a "ohh, unreliable narrator" way but a "wait, didn't he... wasn't this supposed to... then why are we..." frustrating sort of way. Maybe I'm missing the symbolism as to why it was written as an "audiobook" specifically.

The ending didn't work for me. While the ending was technically not out of left field as there were small hints that something wasn't entirely right, it felt more like a twist for shock value than an organic ending to the story.

Much like the protagonist's desire to end the fictional horror movie a scene early, I wish the book had ended earlier, too. ... Maybe that's the point of it? Or I'm reaching in order justify being disappointed by the ending.

Despite my misgivings about the ending, I did overall enjoy the book and will likely check out some of Tremblay's other novel-length work in the future, since I think his writing style and story ideas work much better as novels than short story format.

I did not expect to encounter a book of the year candidate so early...but here I am declaring just that after having just finished Paul Tremblay's latest--HORROR MOVIE.
The story is centered predominantly around four teenagers who come together to create a low-budget, artsy, pretentious horror film in 1993. It is also told from the present-day perspective, as the cult-classic status of the unreleased film is drawing interest from major studios for a reboot/remake.
There is a cursed-film trope here that Tremblay skillfully weaves into the novel--a subtle tapestry that is both chilling, original, and unfamiliar.
There is obviously a tremendous amount of love and respect to the horror film genre, as well. The atmosphere evokes an Ari Aster-esque, surrealist/absurdist nightmare--one that seems to intensify with the slow-burning, mind-fucking plot. It recalls some of the nostalgia of the found footage horror masterpiece "The Blair Witch Project," and some of the slashers like "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and "Halloween." I think most surprisingly, there is an element of Jack Ketchum's depraved novel "The Girl Next Door," inherently buried into the DNA of this piece--and if you've read that one before, you know how complicit it makes the reader feel in acts of barbaric and pitch-black evil. How it forces you to confront an exalted state that transcends fear and horror altogether--and yet leaves you blinking into the face of a hollow and cruel abyss.
HORROR MOVIE will absolutely NOT be for everyone. There is an anxiety and a bleakness here that is both sublime and unsettling. It is a twisted narrative that pulls you in with a rusty chain--and it lingers in your memory, long after you've turned the final page.
The writing is smart and it will cut you with its truths, making room for the dark to slither in.
Make no mistake: Paul Tremblay's latest is mind-bending, dread-inducing, and ultimately shattering. It is his darkest offering yet and, in my opinion, destined to become a modern classic.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the previous Paul Tremblay books I’ve read and this one did not disappoint!

In 1993 four college kids set out to make an artsy horror film one of them has written. Only a few scenes are ever released, but this “cursed” film still has a huge cult following. Years later, a reboot of the movie is being mad and the grown up “thin kid” from the original is asked to be in it.

This book switches back and forth from then and now, and has parts of the original screenplay. It’s creepy, dark and weird in the best ways. Very unsettling, you don’t know whether to feel bad for or dislike the “thin kid”. If you need something totally different and dark, but still fun-this is a great book!

And now…..

Back to my regularly scheduled dramatic rants on my love for blood, guts, gore, twist, shrills and maybe even a little 90s throwback?

Well, lookey on over here for a book that checks off every box on my twisty little soul sucking list.

Drumroll…

Horror Movie

Yes, I am repeating this read because it feeds my soul . It’s beyond disturbing, twisted, dark and has given me nightmares since the first time I read it . This is one of those books everyone says they can handle and then the minute they conclude they find their hands shaking in fear . I won’t lie to you. There was no “walks around the neighborhood” for months after this one .

So although you may call yourself a psychological thriller lover please proceed with caution, this is not the book for anyone looking for a boy meets girl and maybe gets annoyed and disappears for a bit kind of thing .

The dual timelines and 90s flash backs were the icing on the cake (this chick is 90s slasher movie obsessed!)

Thank you to Paul Tremblay, William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for an honest review.

Horror Movie releases June 11, 2024

Check out this teaser :

A chilling twist on the “cursed film” genre from the bestselling author of The Pallbearers Club and The Cabin at the End of the World.

In June 1993, a group of young guerilla filmmakers spent four weeks making Horror Movie, a notorious, disturbing, art-house horror flick.

The weird part? Only three of the film’s scenes were ever released to the public, but Horror Movie has nevertheless grown a rabid fanbase. Three decades later, Hollywood is pushing for a big budget reboot.

The man who played “The Thin Kid” is the only surviving cast member. He remembers all too well the secrets buried within the original screenplay, the bizarre events of the filming, and the dangerous crossed lines on set that resulted in tragedy. As memories flood back in, the boundaries between reality and film, past and present start to blur. But he’s going to help remake the film, even if it means navigating a world of cynical producers, egomaniacal directors, and surreal fan conventions—demons of the past be damned.

I will likely end up in the minority here, but I was not a fan of this book. This is the first I’ve read by Tremblay, so I was quick to request the eARC. You’ll have to read other reviews to see if this is similar to his others, but I was not impressed.

I dig the idea. The concept is solid, and I enjoyed the way Tremblay wound the bits of story together. However, the only part I found enjoyable or scary was the “script” portion. The “then” portion added some nice background and foreshadowing to the script. The “now” sections did nothing for me.

My main complaint is that I needed more from the main character to care. He’s just a guy who works on a scary movie set for 5 weeks and lets it ruin the rest of his life. I can understand that this is “on purpose” because the character is the Thin Kid, but it makes everything (including his final hurrah) fall flat to me. This character maybe reads badly for me because he feels like a half-assed “I’m just like the joker” incel-bro.

For fans of Tremblay and slasher flicks, it’s a good pick. It’s also a pretty quick read, so it’s not too offensive to casual readers. It’s a great fit for some people, but it rubbed me the wrong way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review

This was really good, I'm glad I gave this a shot after Tremblay's much-recommended A Head Full of Ghosts was just middling for me - I just can't resist a book about a horror movie. While flipping back and forth between two timelines in this book we also get extensive parts of an unusually written screenplay that REALLY worked for me as a meditation on horror films. I think I still wanted a little...more from this book, though I can't tell you what I thought was missing, which is frustrating because there's a lot in here that I know I'm going to keep thinking about. Like, the scales!!!

I also wonder if the really Hollywood-y parts were influenced by Tremblay's experience seeing The Cabin at the End of the World adapted into Knock at the Cabin. If you liked Night Film by Marisha Pessl, Experimental Film by Gemma Files, or House of Leaves, you'll probably like this book. I do recommend it!

My thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC.

ARC provided by NetGalley

This was not my first Tremblay book. So, going in, I was aware that the story would likely be quite odd and a bit of a slow burn. Still, this book fell completely flat. The timeline was confusing, which I believe was purposeful, but still didn't earn the story any credits in my book. There was very little horror factor and what there was was far from shocking. The ending was vague, to say the least. Honestly, I would have given this one star if it wasn't for the author's prose, which was just good enough to keep me reading.

I have never read anything by this author before, but I will be watching out what else they publish! This book kept me on the edge of my seat all the way to the end.

I love anything by this author.
The atmospheric dread throughout was tangible - and I tore through this entire book in one sitting.

I loved the dual timeline between then and now; it kept me engaged from start to finish and I 100% recommend this to anyone who loves to read a creepy story!

Horror books based around the making of movies or “cursed” films are typically hit or miss (to me). Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay finds a perfect balance when mixing the story with the cursed movies original screenplay. With only having one narrator, the screenplay is like an unlocked door into Cleo’s head. The way he writes about how people perceive and talk about horror movies in general made me giddy because YES! That’s what I feel! The only part that fell short was the ending, and maybe that was the point. The lead up to the ending just makes the final few sentences seem kinda tame and level, but it did not take away from how much I enjoyed the rest of the book! He manages to build a tense and creepy atmosphere around the book that lasts almost the entire time.

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

Paul Tremblay isn’t afraid to take risks and HORROR MOVIE validates his talent for doing so. Fracturing a narrative of the present and the past with portions of a screenplay used to a disorienting portrait of masochistic tendencies, malaise and mortally wounded characters. All the while reflecting on how these behaviors and each personal interpretation of their shared experiences can create myth and monster.
A sinister and stirring work. One to remember.

The book was well written but I didn't enjoy it. This is no fault of Tremblay, I simply didn't like anything about this book. I don't enjoy reading scripts and this book didn't change my mind

What a fantastic novel. Tremblay never disappoints! The final scenes are compelling and the voice in this book is spot on! Loved it!