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!

I enjoyed A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to read the ARC for Horror Movie. 3.5 ⭐️

The concept of the book was unique, and I really liked the transition between the movie script, then, and now. The screen play portion was very well written, and definitely had a lot of creepy/unsettling scenes (which I like). I was satisfied with how we find out the original movie ended and the big thing that happened on set is revealed (no spoilers). However, I wish it kind of just ended there. Kind of a spoiler ahead—
I don’t like creature features, so that’s why I didn’t love the entire ending of the book. They just aren’t my thing and that’s why I didn’t give the book 4 or 5 stars. Overall, the book was a fun read! I just don’t think it will work for everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review! Pub date 6-10-2024

I was so excited about a new book from Paul Tremblay after EATING UP A Head Full of Ghosts.
This story takes place in dual timelines. One takes place in 1993 when a friend approaches our MC, 'The Thin Kid', with a proposition to join her film production. The only catch is that she never reveals to him the plot-- she hopes that this will authenticate the horror story she is creating. 30 years later, after Horror Movie has become a cult classic despite only three of the scenes ever being released to the public, producers are shooting for a reboot. The only remaining cast member alive is The Thin Kid, and he is wary about the secrets that he wants to share about what happened on that set three decades ago.

If you enjoyed Mister Magic by Kiersten White, this felt similarly to that. Paul Tremblay is a great writer for this genre: he made me feel genuinely uneasy while reading, which can also be difficult to translate from the page. I will say that some of this fell flat for me by the end. The story was a little hard to follow at some parts which took me out of what could have been a very immersive, unnerving story. I loved the unique formatting and felt like he did the 'screenplay' portion really well. Maybe I was mostly confused by our MC and his motivations across the book. I think it was well-thought out when it comes to what happened with Cleo (no spoilers!). The ending felt somewhat unsatisfying at the end for some reason.
All in all, I love Paul Tremblay, but this was not my favorite of his. I wouldn't say DON'T try it, but I would recommend his other works first!

Went into this blind, but expecting a horror movie type hauntingly gory story. Didn’t love the format, the back & forth between time periods plus the “screenplay” added on. Felt very trippy getting through all that to the end only to see what is coming. Overall the writing was good if a bit chaotic.

Stephen Graham Jones' "My Heart is a Chainsaw" meets Blair Witch Project and an aging hipster narrator. I love a good monster in a movie/book, and this didn't disappoint.

I liked this but didn’t love it! I think fans of horror movies may love this for all the reasons I didn’t enjoy it so much. The premise of a “cursed horror movie” was really fun but ultimately this lost me at the ending. I saw the ending coming and kept hoping I’d be wrong but I wasn’t and I was just a tad disappointed in it. I did really enjoy the bits with the “script” dispersed in pieces through the book. I thought the author had a lot of great writing moments and I’d be interested in reading other works by them in the future!