DNF @ 28%

gave it 58 pages but ultimately I’m too bored to bother to continue. the premise is super intriguing but to be frank I’m finding the writing to be kinda amateur compared to other books I’ve read this year, plus the chapters that are formatted like a screenplay are simply not good. I’ve taken multiple classes on screenplay writing and have dabbled in writing them myself and the screenplay in here is written poorly. I can’t tell if it’s written that way on purpose and frankly I just don’t care enough to find out.

I don't have much to say other than this book was so good. It was every bit of what I wanted out of Paul Tremblay to do as a follow up to The Pallbearers Club. It was creepy but held a good writing style and pace throughout. I want to reread this book with the audiobook as I have heard great things about it. I love mixed media in my books. Just a great read.

In 1993, a group of independent filmmakers set out to make a horror movie. What followed was the film never being completed and only three scenes from the movie being released to the public. The mystery and tragedy that occurred on the set of the film titled, "Horror Movie," caused a cult like fascination with the public about what really did happen during the making of the film. Now, years later there is only one original cast member left of the making of the original movie - the man who played the mysterious character known as "the Thin Kid" - and they plan to make a big budget "reboot."

I found this book very interesting. I thought the way the author changed timelines, but also including "real" pieces of the script in between sequences was very clever. Part of me was on the edge of my seat for most of the book, but I also feel as though I never fully got to the point where I was scared or terrorized. Taking on this trope of the "cursed film" was something that I feel does not happen very often in the literary world and it was great to see the author blend film with the literary.

Thank you to NetGalley, Paul Tremblay and William Morrow for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I had quite high expectations for this one and unfortunately for me, it fell short. I found the way it was formatted was difficult to read on kindle and I just didn’t connect with the characters. I liked the ending but that’s about it. It’s not a bad book, just too difficult for me to follow.

The premise was super interesting but the book was too much of a slow burn for me. The characters weren't relatable or likable and it didn't seem to really hit hard on the horror elements it promised. It was just ok which is disappointing since I expected much more.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book. This was a bizarre book for sure, from how the kids made the movie to how it evolved, to how it's being remade. There were some interesting moments for sure. For me this book ebbed and flowed; some parts I couldn't tear myself away from, while others were ho-hum. And the synopsis is spot on-the ending is a bit of a mind bender! Overall I'd say this book was good; it was different which I like but not sure I'd read again.

Paul Tremblay's **"Horror Movie"** has been eagerly anticipated by fans of his previous work, but unfortunately, this novel falls short of expectations. Despite the promising premise, the execution left me disappointed and at times, downright bored.

**Challenges with the Story:**

- **Lack of Character Development:** One of the most significant issues with the book is the characterization. The characters feel shallow and one-dimensional, making it hard to connect with or care about them. Their motivations are unclear, and their actions often seem arbitrary, which detracts from the story’s potential impact.

- **Tedious Pacing:** The novel suffers from a sluggish pace. The narrative feels like it's dragging on, with little progress in the plot, making the reading experience feel endless. Despite its intriguing setup, the story often seems to go nowhere, leading to frustration.

- **Overused Trope:** The "lost horror movie" concept is one that's been explored frequently in the genre. Unfortunately, "Horror Movie" doesn't bring anything new to the table, making it feel like a rehash of familiar themes without a fresh perspective.

- **Script Format:** The use of a script format throughout parts of the novel is more distracting than innovative. It interrupts the flow of the story and makes it difficult to understand the narrative's purpose or direction.

- **Confusing Storyline:** At points, the story becomes jumbled, leaving the reader unsure about what is happening or why. The lack of clarity in the plot and character motivations further muddles the experience.

**Overall Impression:**

While Paul Tremblay has proven his storytelling prowess in previous works like **"Survivor Song,"** "Horror Movie" misses the mark. The novel fails to provide the character depth, engaging pacing, or innovative twists needed to elevate the overused cursed film trope. This book may find an audience among die-hard Tremblay fans, but it lacks the compelling elements that make a story truly memorable.

In summary, **"Horror Movie"** earns a 2.5 to 3-star rating. It is a novel that may appeal to those already invested in Tremblay's style but might leave others wondering about its point and wishing for more substance and originality.

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay is a masterful and riveting exploration of fear that redefines the horror genre. Tremblay's innovative narrative and chilling prose create an incredibly immersive and unsettling experience, keeping readers on edge from start to finish. The novel’s intricate plot and psychological depth elevate it to a new level of terror, showcasing Tremblay’s unparalleled skill in crafting suspense. This book is a tour de force of horror fiction, solidifying Tremblay’s status as a leading voice in the genre.

I finally got around to reading this one by Paul Tremblay. I felt the plot was a little interesting but also stretched. Not as much horror as I would hope

Another great book by author Paul Tremblay that will leave you thinking about the book long after you've put it down.

There seem to be a lot of books out or coming out that deal with demons and film. Here’s another and one that is okay. Not superb, but also not terrible. I’ve come to expect super scary, slow-burn, horror from Tremblay and here it’s really just the slow-burn. The scary stuff? Not so scary. Fans of Tremblay’s work will definitely enjoy, but I would send people to his earlier work to start reading him.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for a copy of this book for review.
I was really expecting something that was creepy and intense. This was not that. I apparently just did not get it. Sorry.

This was my first Paul Tremblay book and I was very excited, as I've heard only good things! The way this book was written was very different, which made it intriguing. It is told in varying timelines, all with the movie script for "Horror Movie" woven in between. Due to the changing timelines and the script being within the story, I found myself struggling with knowing when something was 'real' or when it was part of the movie. It impacted my view of the narrator substantially and while I initially found him trustworthy, as the story went on, it was evident he was not a reliable narrator. This story made me very uncomfortable for numerous reasons and some of the horror was quite gross (I love horror, but have a weak stomach for some things). I feel my discomfort was Paul's goal with this, along with the meshing of the movie and real life. I did not see the ending coming, both of the movie and of the narrator's story. I will definitely be recommending this to my horror loving friends!

Rating: 1.96 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 2.5/5
-Cover: 3/5
-Story: 1.75/5
-Writing: 3/5
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
-Horror: 1/5
-Mystery: 2.5/5
-Thriller: 0/5
Type: Ebook/AB
Worth?: Eh

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

I am glad I waited until after the book was published to pick it up. Listening to the AB while reading kind of helped the overall experience.

Kind of sad this is the first book I read by him since it was such a disappointment. It was more gore than horror. (I find the two on separate ends.) I had been waiting for this curse film kind of thing or something more in general. What we got was a lack luster story about (view spoiler) And then to top it all off it was just sad and depressing. (view spoiler) Parading that about while calling this a horror is not something I would do.

Overall I was just sad. Sad for a character and for the fact that the whole book was just a flop.

Overall, this book was enjoyable. However, I feel the pace was too slow, especially for a relatively short book. The screenplay in the middle of the book I feel distracts from the story that the narrator is trying to tell.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely worth a read! It could have been that I read this one immediately after the new Peter Swanson & Riley Sager titles. But I was expecting it to be a five star read! Don't get me wrong, I really liked it! But probably should have read it further away from two of my favorite authors. But your horror and thriller fans should definitely give it a read!

Description:
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.

But at what cost?

Horror Movie is an obsessive, psychologically chilling, and suspenseful feat of storytelling genius that builds inexorably to an unforgettable, mind-bending conclusion.

I really wanted to love this book, but it fell short for me. I enjoyed the read, for the most part, but I struggled getting through it and found it didn’t fully meet my expectations.

Back in the 90s, a group of young and hungry filmmakers created an indie horror film that they wanted to change the genre. Except, the film never came out. Years later a few scenes and the screenplay were released to the world, and the fan base grew with them. Now a new group of people are trying to remake the original, and the sole survivor of the original production is here for his insight and perspective. Except as more is revealed, the urban legends around the original production seem less and less like just "stories."

As a huge horror movie fan and fan of Tremblay's other works, I wanted to love this more. The book flips back and forth in time between the original production and various pre-production elements of the new movie, allowing the reader to slowly put the pieces together of what may have happened in the 90s until it is finally shown. Tremblay did an excellent job placing the reader in the various meetings, fan conventions, and film sets that make up the story. The book also includes the screenplay of the original movie, which was a fun break from the other chapters. The issue for me is that it didn't come all the way together for me. Some of the scares in the screenplay or tension in the past and present scenes was well done in isolation but the ending made me realize that my expectations for the book and its potential insights on horror and cult films were not really what Tremblay was going for. I would recommend this to fans of his other works and it was a fun ride (especially if you can swing the audiobook for the screenplay sections), but it did not work for me.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley who provided me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the first half of the book. The second half was kind of disappointing and anticlimactic. The ending didn't really live up to what I wanted for the characters. The book was fun and I liked the breaking the fourth wall aspect.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!

A fantastically fun, meta book! You are pulled in, tied down, and forced to peel back the layers of insanity that Paul Tremblay has masterfully crafted. The man keeps putting out hits like he's Taylor Swift and I am here for it. Not to be that person but M. Night made a movie off of Tremblay's storytelling for a reason! Now you do have the choice to read Horror Movie the conventual way or through the audiobook and I highly recommend you take the audiobook route, the cast of narrators did a brilliant job of really bringing you into the story, giving you the feeling that you were the one looking through the mask. But like all reviews should be this isn't a perfect shiny book, there are some flaws which aren't a big deal unless you are super picky about certain things. For example, sometimes the pacing in between chapters can be a little slow. There will be something dark and unsettling followed by a lot of inner dialogue and story explaining when I wanted to get back to the guts of the story. Other than that I hope you decide to pick this one up and buckle in for quite the ride! Happy Reading! x