Such a great book. Couldn't stop reading it. Thank you for my advance reader copy. Can't wait to look up other books from this author.

First thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley and the Author for an Advanced Copy

This book is like watching a horror movie you know is cursed but pressing play anyway because, hey, what’s the worst that could happen? (Spoiler: plenty.) The October Film Haunt throws you into the world of a forgotten cult horror film that refuses to stay forgotten, mixing supernatural dread with just enough real-world paranoia to make you question your own reflection. It creeps up on you in that slow, insidious way—like when you hear a noise at night and try to convince yourself it’s definitely just the house settling.

Wehunt’s characters feel real, like actual people you’ve met—maybe even people you’ve had movie debates with. They’re drawn out in a way that makes the story hit harder, making every unsettling moment feel more personal. And the horror film references? Chef’s kiss. If you’re a horror fan, it’s like finding all your favorite weird, obscure movie conversations wrapped into one book. It really shows that Wehunt loves the genre and I really dig that.

That said, there are a few moments where the demons say some truly nasty things—stuff that could definitely offend, especially for Christian readers. The horror is visceral and the POV work is excellent, but some of those lines could have been dialed back without losing any of the impact (the “horrible” things can be said without being used as “shock”). Still, if you like your horror with creeping dread, obsessive film deep dives, and the lingering feeling that your TV might be watching you, this one’s a blast, I had fun with it. Just, uh, maybe follow it up with something lighthearted. Or at least make sure your screen doesn’t flicker weirdly before you turn it off.

Okay DNF@ 40%. I was very excited to start this book because two of my favorite authors had blurbs that made it sound phenomenal. I am so disappointed. The writing style is not for me at all. It felt almost pretentious? I was so bored and a premise that should be good just fell extremely flat for me. The characters felt so one dimensional and I feel like the mixed media feeling was done very poorly. Maybe that will be changed for the actual book.. hopefully. For instance- the Wikipedia article and plot part was so boring and way too long. Didn’t feel like a wiki page at all. Maybe this book just needed a better editor? Funny because she is an editor. Can she edit this book? Anyways, truly not a book for me.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The October Film Haunt by Michael Wehunt
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Thriller/Horror
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: September 30, 2025

🔪 Multiple POV
📱 Social Media/Bloggers
📍 Set in Vermont

I didn't love this one. I found my mind wandering in the chapters that were written as blog posts, I think? There are a LOT of mentions of social media (ie. blogs, X/Twitter, Reddit, etc.) which is fine, but I know a lot of readers have mixed feelings about it. It's very slow and this genre is best when it's fast-paced and exciting.

DNF @ 35%, mainly for this passage:

"She mused to him that the Christian God was essentially a demon himself or itself, as she preferred- and that only a musty cobbled-together book claimed otherwise. If it existed, God was as likely to tremble the planchette on a Ouija board as any spirit."

Thank you so much for the digital review copy, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley.

⚠️ mild gore, demons and occult, grief, mild domestic abuse (not explicit), doxxing, drug overdose

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. It has a great premise, but the execution is severely lacking. My advice is to give this book a major edit before publication so that it flows better. There’s a good story in here…it just needs some work.

Thanks for the opportunity to read!

Jorie became a cult horror icon after launching The October Film Haunt, a website where she and her two best friends visited the filming locations of classic horror movies and documented their terrifying experiences. But everything ended in tragedy when Jorie stretched the truth about staying overnight in the graveyard from Proof of Demons, a legendary film directed by the elusive and unsettling Hélène Enriquez. A fatal accident that could have been avoided shattered the group—and the project—forever.

Now, ten years later, Jorie is living quietly in Vermont, raising her son and cut off from the only friend who survived. But when mysterious notes and videotapes start arriving, all linked to Proof of Demons, she realizes that someone—or something—wants to pull her back in. Desperate to protect herself and her child, Jorie reaches out to the past she tried to forget.

All signs point to Hélène Enriquez resurfacing, ready to make a new film—one where Jorie is cast as the ultimate final girl.

This book is scary, twisted, and utterly fresh—a horror-thriller that digs into obsession, urban legends, and the terrifying power of film itself. A must-read for fans of atmospheric horror and psychological suspense.

#MichaelWehunt #TheOctoberFilmHaunt #StMartinsPress