First, I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martins Press for offering me an advanced digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
This book was very tough for me to even get to the half way point and I forced myself to read that far. The book was extremely slow and confusing.

I think the concept was a great idea. I love found footage horror films and the nostalgia horror films. Sadly the execution didn't work for me. I was often bored trying to get through what i did read. Some parts were intriguing, but I can’t say I recommend this one.

I DNFed this book. I wanted to like this book so badly, but I’ve been trying to read it for weeks and I’m not even halfway through. The writing style isn’t bad, but the book is incredibly slow. There’s such a long buildup and I don’t really see when it’s going to get more interesting. I feel like a lot of people will enjoy the pace and style but personally it wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel connected to the characters at all. When I went back to read it after a week I forgot who everyone was because I didn’t care.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins for letting me read this ARC. I DNFed this book, I really wanted to like it but it was very slow. I spent almost three weeks because it took me a while to get through it. I had to re-read previous passages a few times to understand what was happening in the story.

A big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book before it was published.

Unfortunately, for me, this was a dnf. I wanted to like it, but I couldn't seem to stay engaged. The writing style was good, but the story just didn't hook me. I sincerely hope that others find enjoyment in reading it!!

DNF at page 101. I was so excited for this one! The cover is fantastic, the description sounds great, but it’s just.. not doing it for me. I love the idea of this book but it’s just a slog to get through and I find myself just really not caring about any of it. Maybe I’ll try it again later but Its taken over a month to get to this point. It’s been very difficult get into and I find myself barely getting through a page or two before setting it down again.

I’m sure this is for some people, I’m just not one of them.

Firstly, I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for provided me with a digital ARC copy.

Let’s start with what I liked.
The atmosphere and the mounting sense of dread and something being wrong is fantastic. I love the idea of a cursed film and just the vibes of the first 50% were perfect. It’s a bit slower paced but I think that really works in its favor. I kinda fell asleep reading it one night and fell right into one of the worst nightmares I’ve had in a while (lights on, wake up my husband, get the dog on the bed, the whole nine yards!). The book does a fantastic job of creating a nearly tangible feeling of being in a horror movie. The “villain” of the book is truly a villain in that you are completely repulsed by then and really really hate them by the end.

What I didn’t like.
This book was really close to being 6 stars, blow my mind good, but it just couldn’t quite get it there. It was a little long and I feel like it could have been about 100 pages shorter. After the first half I kinda just started to feel more meh about it and I can’t really put my finger on why. It definitely got pretty confusing at the end and I really had trouble keeping up with what was going on. However, this could very well could just be a me thing and it may just not be favorite style.

Overall I absolutely think it is worth a read, especially if you are a fan of Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay, or if you are a general horror devotee like Jorie. The story is a great exploration of how grief and guilt haunt us, how social media can seep into our lives and affect the real world, and the nature of belief and if demons are creatures from hell, or if we are the ones creating them all along.

OMG that packaging for this book is so cool! I love how it looked like a video cassette tape. I’m dating myself but I loved watching VHS movies as a kid, so many fond memories. Okay onto the actual content of the book. So…this book had amazing potential but it didn’t live up to it and the book felt confusing at time. I loved the cult aspect and how real the creepy some scenes felt. It really did give me goosebumps and I just couldn’t put this one down. However, then I got to the ending and I felt let down. Overall this wasn’t my favorite read, but I would definitely read another book by this author in the future.

3.5 stars rounded

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an E-ARC of The October Film Haunt by Michael Wehunt in exchange for an honest review.

If you like scary-movie references and a cult filming and stalking a mom named after Laurie Strode, then have you ever tried this one?

I wasn’t a fan of the repetitive writing, predictable storyline, bitter characters, or the execution of both story and characters. However, the cult tactics, purpose, and descriptions were eminent and interesting enough to continue reading.

The concept intrigued me but the execution was flawed. Jorie, the main character, wasn't interesting and I didn't care for her..

Jorie, is obsessed with horror films, so much so, that she and her friends participate in film haunts- going to the places they were filmed to see how real they are, hoping for entities to prove themselves real- and when Jorie and her friends Beth and Colin go to the set of Proof of Demons, Jorie writes of her encounter with the Pine Arch Creature. Her blog is a sensation, she writes a screenplay, she’s set in motion to be a top name in the horror business until a girl named Hannah is buried alive and dies- a product of her belief in the story Jorie told in her blog.

The rain of hate falls on Jorie, and she abandons the October Film Haunt and all that came from it- she disappears from the internet, has a son, and tries to move on from the guilt of the high schooler’s death.

10 years later she receives an envelope containing what seems to be a remake of Proof of Demons, and what transpires after this will be the juggernaut that thrusts Jorie back into the world of horror she’s left behind, and this time, the demon might just be real.

As much as I loved the premise and idea of this book, I had a really hard time staying in it. It took me about a week to finish it because I had such a hard time through the first half of the book. I would say this is definitely a slow burn, but not one that holds onto your attention. Once I got to around 50% and the first murder, it started to pick up and I was able to get through the second half. The switching POVs were interesting but sometimes confusing, and there were times when I felt like I didn’t know what was happening- sometimes that’s great, but in this book, it was less like impending dread and more like feeling lost on the premise. The book is definitely heavy, but the film aspect made it hard to resonate with.

The ending felt like I ran face first into a wall, and I’m sure it was meant to. I just overall felt like this was a fiery car crash of a a book with a great premise and dreadful atmosphere. I feel kind of on the fence about it. Makes me wonder if it ended the way it did to leave room for its own sequel much like that of the plot.

2.75 stars rounded up to 3.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the privilege of reading this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: September 30th, 2025


Synopsis:

Horror Movie meets the scope and emotion of Stephen King in this heart-pounding, magnetic tour de force about a woman pulled into a cult horror film that is determined to have a sequel, by critically acclaimed author Michael Wehunt.

Ten years ago, Jorie Stroud was the rising star of the October Film Haunt – a trio of horror enthusiasts who camped out at the filming locations of their favorite scary movies, sharing their love through their popular blog. But after a night in the graveyard from Proof of Demons – perhaps the most chilling cult film ever made, directed by the enigmatic Hélène Enriquez – everything unraveled.

Now, Jorie has built an isolated life with her young son in Vermont. In the devastating wake of her viral, truth-stretching Proof of Demons blog entry — hysteria, internet backlash, and the death of a young woman — Jorie has put it all, along with her intense love for the horror genre, behind her.

Until a videotape arrives in the mail. Jorie fears someone might be filming her. And the “Rickies” – Enriquez obsessives who would do anything for the reclusive director – begin to cross lines in shocking ways. It seems Hélène Enriquez is making a new kind of sequel…and Jorie is her final girl.

As the dangers grow even more unexpected and strange, Jorie must search for answers before the Proof of the movie’s title finds her and takes everything she loves.

This riveting and layered horror novel unleashes supernatural terror in a world where truth can be manipulated, and nothing is as it seems. Beautiful and horrifying, with an unforgettable cast of characters, The October Film Haunt will shock and delight readers all the way to its breathless final page.

Review:

This book presents an eerie and immersive dive into the lasting grip of cult horror cinema, obsession, and the blurred lines between reality and fiction. At its heart is Jorie Stroud, once a passionate horror enthusiast whose blog propelled her to online fame—until one fateful night at a haunted filming location changed everything. A decade later, she’s distanced herself from that world, raising her son in seclusion. But when a cryptic videotape lands in her possession and unsettling figures from the past resurface, Jorie finds herself ensnared in a chilling sequel she never agreed to star in.

I seriously loved this book! It feels like it’s real—real places, real stories, real sightings, real groups, real people—well one of these things is at least true! We have a super fun surprise guest in this book, that if you know him, will make your horror heart squeal. As for everything else, it’s not real, but I actually looked stuff up thinking some of it was going to be!

I seriously loved this book! It feels like it’s real—real places, real stories, real sightings, real groups, real people—well one of these things is at least true! We have a super fun surprise guest in this book, that if you know him, will make your horror heart squeal. As for everything else, it’s not real, but I actually looked stuff up thinking some of it was going to be!

The October Film Haunt was a three-person group of horror enthusiasts who would camp at famous horror movie locations, blogging about it. They started gaining some serious notoriety. Proof of Demons is a cult classic horror film, seemingly more like a guide to summoning a creature than a fictional movie. This started people believing it. After a blog post about this film by OFH member Jorie results in the death of a teen, Jorie gives it all up. Beth, Colin and Jorie disband. Jorie, now living with her son in rural VT and ten years later, is sent a chilling VHS tape. This starts a string of unnerving events and it seems like Jorie is an unwilling participant in the Proof of Demons sequel.

That’s really all I am going to say, because I don’t want to give anything away. But wow! This was so good and honestly unique, which is hard to accomplish these days. There is this other character who, as you’re going along, you’re not sure where he fits in exactly, but it all comes together. It’s a bit of a slow burn leading up to a heart racing ending, but the dread and tension mounting during that burn makes it impossible to put down. We get a mix of the supernatural, the occult, and just pure humanity being horrible. I really loved this reading experience—unique, fun, super creepy, believable—5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-ARC! Book releases 9/30/25.

I was pulled in by the premise and by the early pacing. 25% in, and I thought I could be reading one of the better horror novels of the year. Then, I ran headlong into an immovable brick wall. And that brick wall demolished every molecule of positive sentiment I had built, and turned me into a bitter, reluctant reader the rest of the way. I don’t know how long this book was (my version didn’t have a page count), but it felt like a 500 page slog. There could have easily been 100-200 pages edited out of this monster. There really is a good story buried somewhere below all this superfluity.

I think this story is unique, compelling and unnerving. It just needs all the boring filler, impenetrable prose and jarring perspective jumping dialed back… like a lot.

Profoundly mid. I was hoping for a bit more to it and like usual everything just ends up being a bit boring at least to me. If the plot sounds good to you at least be prepared to possibly underwhelmed.

I loved Wehunt's prior books, especially the collection Greener Pastures, and I have been looking forward to this novel for quite some time! I found it immersive and very imaginative, with quite a few memorable moments. It seems a novel written for true horror lovers and has some great insights into the horror lover's psyche. Enjoyed it and looking forward to his next!

This book was very anticipated for me, but ultimately fell flat. Its pacing was just too slow. I think if you enjoyed Paul Tremblay’s Horror Movie (I did not), then you’d like this one. The payoff didn’t work and I should’ve dnfed.

If you like a slow burn thriller and Creepy Pasta Vibes this book maybe for you.

I had high hopes for the book. While I did enjoy it. I learned a lot about my reading preferences while reading it.

No fault to the author I had thought it would be more of a Blair Witch Project vibe to it. I wanted the book to capture me and hold me. I was easily distracted while reading the novel.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read The October Film Haunt. These thoughts are my own and freely given.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for approving!

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. The premise of the novel was amazing, but I every time I picked it up, I immediately wanted to put it down. Maybe I will try this one out at a later time.

Michael Wehunt's "The October Film Haunt," was easily my most anticipated book since I first learned of its existence. Having been a massive fan of his collections, and particularly his lore, I was overjoyed to hear that he was turning one of my favorite of his stories into a full novel. It's hard to understate my level of excitement when I was able to obtain an ARC copy. I went into this book expecting big things....and I got them.

Wehunt has delivered what I think is one of the best tributes to horror fans I've ever read. It is a lovingly crafted, meta-horror narrative that shows respect for the history of the genre, in every medium, as well as a treat for people who are fans of his specific lore. This is a book littered with Easter eggs for you to find, and with every discovery, pulls you that much further into the mind-bending narrative he's crafting. You will feel all at once complicit, and victimized by the journey, and find yourself deliciously trapped by the end. I can honestly say my stomach fell out after turning the last page, because he got me. He really, really did.

I won't do a recap of the narrative, as the book's copy page can do that for you, but I will say that in choosing to tell the story the way he did, Wehunt re-invents the way a meta-narrative is constructed, and after this book's release, you'll never look at this particular mode of storytelling in quite the same way again. It is a book that boldly asks, many times, "do you want to belong?" and then has the sheer audacity of showing you exactly what that could mean.

I can't recommend this one enough to people who not only like horror, but who like it personal, visceral, and right up close, because this book is gonna get you, and it won't be letting you go. Check it out when it releases, for sure.

I'd like to thank St. Martin's Press for providing me an ARC.

I love books that use mixed media because it makes the reading experience so much more interesting and enjoyable. There were some really creepy scenes in this book, which made me feel like I was in some of my favorite horror movies. The premise of a book about horror movie lovers was perfect. I think what made this book less than five stars for me was the pacing. I think it was too slow at some points, which lost me at times.