Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the ARC, I greatly appreciate the honour of reading this book ahead of publication.

I enjoyed this book because the characters were recognizable and the unseen evil was palpable. It celebrates the voodoo that is the found footage movie genre and what is truly monstrous: the unseen horror or the people that feed it.
This book keeps you on edge as the protagonist is dragged back into her old life and old mistakes. I look forward to searching out more of Michael Wehunt's work because he displays a care for his art both on and off the page. A worthwhile writer is one who fully embraces his prose.

I’m so freaking tired of cancer as a sub plot in horror books. It’s unnecessary and immediately makes me stop the book. It’s exploiting people who have cancer and the family members that have to watch them die. ME INCLUDED. I hated this.

Thank you so much to Michael Wehunt and St. Martin's Press for this copy to read and review. I really, really liked the premise and story in this book. It was spooky and very tense during the reading, which I love in a book. I do think that it could have been shortened a lot. I can't quite put my finger on what it was, but I definitely felt the want to skip over some parts to just get to the meat of the chapters. I did like the characters a lot, and I felt like there was more to them than I could tell at first. I really think this could have been a great read, but it sorta dragged on a bit. I would def give it another shot with other books by this author because the base of the book was phenomenal, the execution just lacked a bit. I'm glad I had the chance to get introduced to the author though and will for sure give him another chance in the future. Thank you!

I was so graciously given an ARC of this title.

I LOVED the idea of the book, but I felt like the book kinda dragged, and the pace wasn't consistent. It probably could have cut out some filler, which would have helped with those issues. Book felt a little long.

3.75 Stars rounded to 4 – A Slow-Burn Horror with Cult Classic Vibes

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The October Film Haunt. This one is definitely not for readers looking for a fast-paced thriller—but in this case, I found the slow pace worked in its favor. The tension simmers just beneath the surface, creating an eerie, unsettling atmosphere that lingers long after each chapter.

Reading this felt like diving into a cult classic—there’s something nostalgic and unsettling about the tone that really worked for me. The premise itself felt fresh and intriguing, especially with the added layer of how quickly things can spread and escalate in the age of the internet. That modern twist gave the story a bit of urgency, even as the plot unfolded gradually.

That said, I did find parts of the story a bit predictable, which slightly undercut the uniqueness of the concept. Still, I enjoyed the ride. It was immersive, creepy, and had moments that stuck with me.

Overall, if you’re willing to sit with a story that takes its time building dread, The October Film Haunt is worth the read.

The October Film Haunt has a killer premise, if you're a fan of books like "Experimental Film" by Gemma Files - its main character is desperately trying to keep her horrifying past buried, but her relationship to a strange indie film of yesteryear is illuminated when a mysterious video tape arrives. There are aspects of this book that work very well - it's deeply unsettling and truly frightening, in parts - but a stronger edit could have brought out the plot more: its pacing veers back and forth between "atmospheric and appropriately slow" to "glacial".

First off, 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. Also, I appreciate all of the hard work that the author poured into this story.

That being said, I have to admit that this book was not enjoyable for me. There were moments when I thought to myself, “ok...it’s gaining traction, I’ll stick with it”, but it always seemed to just putter out. It felt like the author was grasping at straws by trying to incorporate so many different types of horror elements or name dropping, neither of which leant much to the narrative. There was a constant jumping back and forth between characters and timelines which led me to general confusion. I was hoping all of it was a ploy of the author to lend a surprise a-ha ending, but no. To be honest, I’m still confused as to what I read. This was apparently adapted from a short story of Wehunt’s, and I’m thinking it either should have been left alone or more time should have been dedicated to it to ensure it was more well-rounded and thought out.

My experience with this book made me want to give up reading for a bit; it was truly exhausting. If it wasn’t for the fact that I wanted to give it a fair review I would have DNF’d towards the beginning.

This book was a DNF for me. It was very slow to get going and even at the 20% mark I found it incredibly long and drawn out, with character interactions that felt dull and flat. After a month I found myself dreading even picking up the book. My motto has become "hey man, I don't know how much time I got left" and whatever time that might be, I don't want to spend it slogging through a bad book. So DNF it was.

This is a tough one to review! I really started off LOVING this book. It was giving Horror Movie vibes for sure. I made it about 24% before I started having issues with the book. The whole atmosphere and story seemed to veer off for its initial outcome. It became super slow and quite boring. I could not for the life of me find interest to continue despite putting it down and picking it up numerous times. Maybe the physical copy or audio would’ve been more enticing/ immersing but the blogger aspect was also a part I found no interest in.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Michael Wehunt’s “The October Film Haunt” is a chilling, atmospheric horror book that feels tailor-made for fans of haunted films, occult mysteries, and creeping dread. Wehunt spins an unsettling tale of obsession, guilt, and supernatural terror that lingers long after the last page.

The story centers on Jorie Stroud, once a rising star in the horror blogging community thanks to her group, the October Film Haunt. Along with friends Beth and Colin, Jorie traveled to famous horror film locations, documenting their findings online—until a fateful visit to the set of a cult horror movie, “Proof of Demons,” led to tragedy and the implosion of their group. Now, a decade later, Jorie lives quietly with her young son, trying to distance herself from her past. But when mysterious VHS tapes and ominous notes tied to “Proof of Demons” begin appearing at her doorstep, Jorie realizes she can't outrun the horror she helped unleash.

Wehunt masterfully builds an immersive, slow-burn atmosphere, expertly layering psychological and supernatural terror. The story drips with paranoia and dread, evoking that eerie, back-of-the-neck sensation that someone—or something—is always watching. The occult themes surrounding the fictional “Proof of Demons” film and the Pine Arch Creature are imaginative and truly hair-raising, blending the horrors of cult cinema with cosmic dread.

The structure of the story is also worth noting. Interspersed with Jorie's perspective are blog posts, wiki articles, emails, and forum threads, providing a “found footage” feel that enhances the immersive, multimedia horror experience. The pacing does tend to bog down in the middle, with stretches of repetitive introspection and meandering narrative that could have been tightened.

Still, when “The October Film Haunt” is firing on all cylinders, it's mesmerizing. The ending is intense, emotional, and deeply unsettling, tying together the horror of the past and present with an almost inevitable sense of doom. Jorie and her son’s bond adds emotional stakes that elevate the terror beyond the supernatural.

Overall, “The October Film Haunt” is a flawed but unforgettable horror novel that rewards patient readers with a rich, terrifying experience. With its love letter to cult horror, found footage aesthetic, and exploration of guilt and obsession, Wehunt crafts a story that’s uniquely unsettling and disturbingly resonant.

This book was rough for me! I made it a little over half way through and had to force myself to read that far. The book was VERY slow, confusing (lots of film talk that a non film student did not always understand lol) and hard to follow with the multiple view points. The meta piece of it was a little out there for me, an older horror fan, but others may enjoy that piece. I just did not want to pick this book up and felt getting through the first half was a chore when I prefer to read for enjoyment so I stopped.

I appreciate NetGally & St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. The opinions are my own.

This was, unfortunately, a DNF for me. I found it slow moving and a bit confusing. While I appreciated the atmospheric quality, it just wasn't for me. I have a feeling that I just don't have enough interest in movies for this one to work.

The story follows Jorie who was part of a group called “The October Film Haunt” where she and her two friends went and visited sites of horror films and wrote a blog about it. After a terrible accident Jorie gives up her life of horror and moves to Vermont where she lives with her son Oli. Then one day a video tape shows up that changes everything.

The concept was great. I am a fan of found footage horror films and the nod to other horror films felt very nostalgic for me. Unfortunately, the execution fell flat. I was often very bored trying to get through the book. Some parts were intriguing, but it didn’t always make sense and I really had to push myself to keep reading. That’s never the feeling I want when reading a book so I can’t say I recommend this one.

*Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

2

Setting: Vermont
Rep: n/a

I'm sorry, what was this?! when I started it I thought it had potential to be five star horror. it certainly has a lot of elements I usually love, but it went nowhere and did nothing and took FOREVER to do it. Goodreads, Netgalley and Amazon all claim this book is 336 pages but the only way that's true is if it is written in size 8 font because it was one hell of a slog, easily five hundred pages. The ending is infuriating and if you like things that make sense/have even the slightest semblance of resolution, you'll be majorly disappointed.

This was a super fun ride. A cult classic horror star who has fallen out of the limelight, pulled back in by an unseen/unknown villain. I loved that there was both reality based and supernatural horror throughout the book. It bends into many current societal elements like the additional anxiety caused by incessant filming of others and internet backlash. While the story is squarely current, it also does a lot of leaning into the classic horror vibes from 80s and 90s horrors.

This book keeps you guessing until the last second!

In her early twenties, Jorie and her two best friends formed the October Film Haunt, an online blog, where each October they set out to explore the set of an indie horror film. Under unfortunate circumstances the group falls apart and Jorie gives up the entire horror genre for ten years, until she is forced back into participation as a sequel of her last blog location is announced.

This novel includes a ton of different POVs but Jorie is heard the most. There are also blog posts included as chapters which I always enjoy! Social media is mentioned a lot which I don't mind, I found the jokes about them included super funny. Covid is mentioned as well, as the book is set in current day.

I'm not a horror movie buff by any means but read this book instead because I love horror literature. I was able to pick up on most of the references to movies just from common knowledge and didn't feel confused at all. The amount of explanation behind the structure of movie development world gave me a great grasp on what the characters were responsible for. I was honestly quaking in my boots reading this one, it gave me quite the scare. It had me looking behind my kindle to make sure a creature wasn't crouching there. It would be a great spooky Cctober read.

I would say that the first half of the book felt a lot quicker paced than the last half. The build up to the final scene had me expecting a little bit more. I also would have liked to see more from/about Agatha.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for letting me read this ARC!

This book has a creepy, dark undertone that is prominent throughout. However - I struggled very hard to get into it. I found myself wandering off thinking about other things while I was reading and then had to force myself to re-read what I had already read and, realizing I started doing this myself more and more, I finally had to admit defeat and give up this book.

The idea behind this is that it gives VHS / Blair Witch / Slenderman unsettling kind of vibe. Which I get, and I love because those movies are super creepy in their own right. But the story line just wasn’t grasping my attention. Thank you for the ability to review this book.

This was a delicious horror read. Chilling down to the marrow. It gave me Blair Witch vibes. And then the ending--BOOM! Masterful. Unsettling in the best way.

I was giving it 4 stars and then that ending 🤯. I am going to be mind blown for a few days. And i am thoroughly freaked the eff out.

Wehunt is notorious for writing ridiculously scary books, and he did not let me down with The October Film Haunt. You’ll be in a constant “what the hell am I reading?” state — but in the best way possible. It’s like The Ring meets The Blair Witch Project, and I am 100% here for it. I totally related to Jorie, the main character, whose love of scary movies and chasing that feeling of dread ends up pulling her into her own personal horror film. Creepy, smart, and unsettling in all the right ways.

The October Film Haunt by Michael Wehunt is a masterfully layered horror novel that blurs the line between obsession and reality, dragging readers into a chilling world where cult cinema and real-life terror collide. Jorie Stroud’s journey from beloved horror blogger to reluctant “final girl” is both emotionally compelling and deeply unsettling, as past sins and supernatural forces resurface with terrifying intensity. The atmosphere is thick with dread, and the eerie presence of the elusive director Hélène Enriquez adds an extra layer of menace. This book is a haunting meditation on fandom, fear, and the stories we choose to believe. Creepy, smart, and surprisingly moving, it delivers a slow-burn terror that lingers long after the final page.