Boy this did NOT go in the direction I was expecting and that ending was absolutely buck wild, in the best way. I went in expecting a short, gross story about extreme horror and came out with some musings on morality??

If you like extreme horror and books about snuff films, you'll like this one. However, be warned that it is gory and might not be for everyone.

(Rounded up from 3.5)

This fast-paced novella is a nasty piece of work. Glitz covered grime, it does a great job at showing deep horror bonafides while also subtly poking fun at the obsessive horror movie nerds that will probably make up a good part of its audience, (and no doubt authors, too). The writing felt similarly pointed and smart, with a propulsive pace and enough detail to paint a scene and tell a bigger story but most of the other fat trimmed away. The main character was great, complicated and incredibly real, the kind of person desperate for attention and recognition but unable to acknowledge it, teetering on the edge between auteur and incel, the potentially to land in one or the other due to the winds of circumstance.

The plotting was great throughout, moving the story forward, with snide thoughts and asides doing a lot of story and character work in place of exposition dumps. Sometimes everything felt a little abrupt, though that seems more like story than plotting. I thought the story was good, it was a mean little exploration of what morals someone might sacrifice for their shot at glory, wrapped in a snuff film. The brief bursts of gore were violent and graphic and queasy, just the right amount of sleaze. I would not have minded if there was a little more development in the story. Felt like the main character had all other depths he could have explored. The way the ending twisted and turned was fun, but there was nothing in the story that set up for any of that, not really, until the final act, which felt rushed. I was fine with where it ended up, even though it actually feels way more conservative than I would have personally wanted it to go, but I would have liked more mystery and enigma building up to that ending, something that made everything that happened feel earned instead of just a twisty surprise.

Fast-paced, fun, bloody, and just a little sleazy, what else do you want?

I want to thank the authors, the publisher Dead Sky Publishing | Death’s Head Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to both authors, the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC. I love the novella length, the perfect reading length. You get to experience an enriched story that maintains your focus. At Midnight We Possess the Damned fits the bill. I don't want to disclose too much of the plot but let me say the story shifted gears several times that caught me by surprise. It works as a straight up horror novella with some apocalyptic overtones. Highly recommended.

Secretive Satanic Covens? Check.
Snuff films? Check.
Curtis Silwa and the Guardian Angels? Check.

Nick Cato and Andre Duza’s collaborative novella At Midnight We Possess the Damned traffics in some great mythical 80s legends. Big thanks to Dead Sky Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this wild ride of a book. When I saw the cover and read the description, I knew that this was a book I really wanted to read. I wasn’t disappointed, and I hope that more people will get to read this At Midnight We Possess the Damned. Cato and Duza are able to use some of these urban legends to advance the story, but they also take these legends to new places and the narrative takes some inventive and entertaining strides to advance the plot. Ultimately, though, this is a book for horror movie obsessives. The story focuses on Gary McKay, an aspiring genre director who is looking for inspiration and financial backing for his new film after his short film was recently rejected from a NY film festival. Where else can an aspiring horror movie director find ideas but from the underground snuff film circuit. Gary’s quest for inspiration leads him to meet up with a mysterious man in a storage center in Brooklyn, notably where the scenery “melted from shiny-happy to hold-onto-your-purse sketchy”. I really enjoyed Cato and Duza’s descriptions of people, scenes, and the gore and violence. It wasn’t overly descriptive, but oftentimes funny and rooted in a kind of realism and relatability that appealed to me. In addition, I really liked Gary. He’s an artist who loves horror movies and is inspired by some of the greats. That was another appealing aspect of this book—the various horror movie references throughout the book. Whether it was the frequent Fulci name drops or using an alias Lee Revok as an homage to Cronenberg, this book has some excellent references for horror fans. Although I’m not sure exactly what a snuff film collector would ask for and how someone would initiate this process, Cato and Duza provide a great set-up that seems both mysterious and cryptic. I wasn’t exactly sure how Gary was able to afford to splurge on the viewing, but Cato and Duza create an interesting story about how these films are made, and this particular story about a priest was both shocking and intriguing. Gary’s interest leads him to an opportunity to direct his own snuff film and work with the “talent” in these films. There’s not much description of the films contents, but I loved the titles- Burning Man, Eaten Alive (maybe a Hooper reference), Pin Cushion, and Skin Deep. Just the suggestions of these titles was enough to make my imagination go off on a flight, and I loved how Gary added these artistic touches to the films that lacked them in the beginning of the book. While Gary is developing his directing credits, a global virus is quickly moving across the Atlantic, beginning to infect Americans and shutting businesses and other social events down. Cato and Duza played with our pandemic experiences in an entertaining way, creating a new virus that will serve an important purpose later in the book’s plot. I won’t give any other details away, but I really liked what Cato and Duza did with this current event and how they used it to advance the story. They not only took this more recent event, but also took the legends like snuff films and Satanic cults to appeal to readers, but also used these tropes in inventive ways that challenged my assumptions. While some of the events are a little unbelievable, I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. It was easy and fun to read, and the chapters left me in suspense wanting to find out more about what was going to happen. I loved the use of the snuff film and satanist plot lines—they created a kind of air of mystery and familiarity, but these elements were also used to further the story in a creative way. I can’t wait to check out other books by Cato and Duza; I was especially excited to see the other books about films that Cato has written, and if they are anything like this book, reading them should be a wild ride. Highly recommended!

Extreme horror is not for everyone but I love the genre. But it needs to have a bit of finesse to it to be good. Extreme horror that is used only to create emotions and without doing something for the plot is not my cup of tea.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

At Midnight We Possess the Damned is undoubtedly a bizarre and unique book that I approached with curiosity, but ultimately left me with mixed feelings. I wasn't fully prepared for the splatterpunk vibe that permeates the entire story, and this took me by surprise. For readers who enjoy extreme, graphic horror, this might be right up your alley, but for me, the excessive gore felt more gratuitous than meaningful.

The premise of the book initially grabbed my attention, and it definitely held my interest as the story unfolded. The characters and the setting are intriguing in their own right, and the narrative itself is bold and unsettling. The writing is visceral, with scenes that are both bizarre and intense, which definitely creates a certain kind of atmosphere. The world-building is rich, and the twisted, dark nature of the plot definitely evokes strong emotions.

However, the extreme violence and gore, which seem to be used simply for shock value, ultimately detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book. While I understand that splatterpunk often thrives on pushing the boundaries of horror, I found that in this case, the graphic depictions of violence overshadowed the story itself. Gore for gore's sake is something I usually don’t enjoy, and it felt like it was used to fuel the shock factor rather than adding any real depth to the narrative or characters.

That said, At Midnight We Possess the Damned is still an engaging read for those who enjoy this subgenre of horror. The twisted and surreal elements are certainly attention-grabbing, and the author’s ability to craft an intense atmosphere is evident. If you’re a fan of splatterpunk or horror that doesn’t shy away from pushing the boundaries, you’ll likely find this book to be an interesting experience.

Basic brutal horror. Definitely fun to read through if you are into the more extreme ends of horror fiction but it doesn't really do much new.

This was a WILD ride! I love to go into a book without any knowledge of what's to come, and the surprises this one had in store made that choice all worth it! I definitely DID NOT see that ending coming!! This book has some intense and graphic themes/imagery, but if you can stomach it, it's worth it! An entertaining read front to back, no doubt!

This is a horrific novel about how Gary, who is not doing well in life, ends up doing snuff films. The book is short but jumps straight into the horror, and Gary's reactions to what he was doing were just as horrific as the murders themselves.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

A short novella that will give you nightmares, this is the story of Gary. He’s a failed movie director who is now working as an office drone but is still obsessed with horror movies. Due to its low page count, the excitement starts right away, with Gary going to see a snuff film. This is only the beginning and the plot has a lot of action, different settings and non-stop twists. I wasn’t expecting the direction the story took. My problem was directly related to that twist and I don’t want to give anything away because it’s an effective turn, but I didn’t like, root for or emphasize with Gary in any way. Someone who goes to such lengths and spends so much money to watch a snuff film is a bad person in my book (actually, anyone who willingly watches such a movie is no good). Even if the “talent” is someone I wouldn’t go out of my way to save, who other than a psychopath would want to see them killed? So normally I’d be OK with a story about someone like that, but the big reveal adds something that, to me, contradicted Gary’s character and there was no time for him to redeem himself. The content of the films themselves was creative and not for the faint of heart.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Dead Sky Publishing | Death's Head Press.

If you were offered a life changing amount of money but you had to edit some down right disturbing footage. Would you? This book honestly reminded me of legion mixed with night crawler but the gore of that movie where the dudes are on vacation and rich people torture people. Oh yes Hostel! The gore was honestly very tastefully done it wasn’t revolting in any way. This is a novella so the main character isn’t crazy flushed out but he does his job. I’m honestly interested in another book about what he chooses to do with his talent now.

Thanks to NetGalley, Death's head press and Dead Sky Publishing and the authors for the arc!

This book hit the itch I needed to scratch. This is definitely extreme horror and gore done really well. The cover is sick too.

The writing style pulls you in and the descriptions are placed in sparingly but are incredibly demented. This is very creative gore and I am here for it. The attention to detail was awesome.

I didn't love the weird fake news bit and using the word "tweaker" to describe a houseless individual dependent on drugs, but I believe this was done to villainize the protagonist, so it worked. This book covers the Satanic Panic a bit as well, which was interesting to see play out.

The one thing I did not enjoy was the COVID virus being a theme throughout the book. I just wanted some gore splatter and am a bit fatigued by COVID. I quite literally have COVID currently, so this just takes me out of the story. Initially it contributed to the plot, but now it's on almost every 5 pages and it becomes a lot. However, it is part of the villain's personality.

I could barely stomach this book, so I'm giving it 4 stars even with the things I didn't love, because there's a good chance they were done intentionally.. This scratched an itch and I feel quite evil and disturbed now. Super unconventional but accessible horror book.

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME- if this book isn’t on your radar, you need to check it out!

“The video you are about to see is real, and will be seen by your eyes and the eyes of three more people at a later date. This video will then be destroyed.”

A run down amateur film student gets an opportunity to break back into the movie world when he’s offered a well paying gig. The catch- he’ll be directing snuff films. Soon he’s caught up in a world of trouble, with forces for good and evil playing tug of war with his mind, body, and soul.

This story totally caught me by surprise- I was thinking it would be your basic splatterpunk, or extreme horror (nothing wrong with that), but the plot just became more and more twisted and intriguing. I could not believe the ending and what became of our main character Gary; it was FUCKING wild!!!!

I’ve been seeing a lot of red room/dark web/ snuff film stories in the horror world lately, and I appreciate each author’s take on this disgusting and gruesome topic. However, Duza & Cato spin this plot on its head- totally throwing readers off the scent of what they think is going on. It’s so well written and was an enthralling treat of a tale to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and Dead Sky Publishing/ Death’s Head Press for a copy.

This horror story is not for the faint. It's gruesome, disturbing. Be warned.

How does one become a director of snuff films? Read on and you'll find out. And you'll also have nightmares.

Well-written. Suspenseful. Horror/thriller.

This was an interesting book. Enjoyed the story, the pacing, and the characters. Read it in one sitting, as I had to know what happened next. #AtMidnightWePossessTheDamned #NetGalley

"on the ride back to his apartment, Gary felt as if he murdered that priest himself. Now that he had seen a genuine snuff film, he wasn't sure if it was such a good idea. There was a major difference between watching cheap-looking zombies in Italian films eat people as fake blood splashed across the screen, and listening to a man plead for his life as two masked assailants slowly butchered him, right on the altar where Gary assumed he performed Sunday services."


From dream come true to worst nightmare. Certified horrorphile Gary Mcckay is about to gamble his soul. He has a thing for the 80s, particularly related to horror cinema.
When his film entry got rejected, things started to get a turn from crazy interesting to downright nasty and horrendous.
Shit started when he bought a snuff film of a priest (child molester) being murdered from a man he soon will know as 'thirty-six'. Soon, he will get to witness unalive sessions of these selected 'talents' by being offered a job (5 thousand dollars to direct each snuff film). Will he partake? Will he continue to take his obsession further? Is declining even an option without dire consequences?
Like a moth to a flame, we will witness how he gets lured further down the rabbit hell-hole by this mysterious man named 36.


Fastpaced...gruesome...atrocious...
demented - the cunning antagonist reminded me a bit of Leland Gaunt from Needful Things and some setting/scenarios I kinda imagine like Hell-bound heart when surrounded by Pinhead and his team of Cenobites.

Thanks to NetGalley, Death's head press and Dead Sky Publishing for the arc 🖤

This was an enjoyable read, a well-crafted novella blending the urban legend of snuff films with supernatural and religious horror. It starts rather tamely, with the world facing a pandemic with very uncomfortable and embarrassing symptoms, but the action and the suspense escalate pretty fast; before you know it, you're already deep into demonic rituals and satanic cults. The main character, an ambitious filmmaker wannabe, is obviously flawed, fetishizes gore and horror, and soon finds himself directing snuff films. Although he's given plenty of reasons to regret his choice, especially when he realizes who he's working for, the money and the promise of making his own film lure him deeper into the world of his mysterious benefactor. At some point, he can no longer go on, and then things get really bad for him - and for everyone else as well, as the end of the world seems to have arrived. The ending was very surprising, taking into account the revelation about the protagonist, and it seems to leave space open for a sequel.

In this book we follow Gary a down on his luck film maker doing whatever it takes to pursue his love for the craft. This story hits the gas and never lets up till the final page. Plenty of bloody gory scenes occur as Gary gets a job as a director of snuff films and his life begins to unravel. This is horror done in all the right ways.

This book started strong, and even though I'm not the biggest fan of gory stuff it remained promissing, even with the subtle hints at paranormal activities and satanic rituals. I wouldn't have minded the whole "satanic cult killers" not even "sacrifice evil souls to please Satan and bring forth the end of the world". But, unfortunately, none of those things happened.
Our morally corrupted protagonist found himself wishing to destroy his evil boss, even though it was clear that he was CORRUPTED from the very beggining. He could have spiraled deeper into those nasty ideals of his. We could have found him slowlly getting POSSESSED by the evil spirits that plague his work... Many things could have happened, and unfortunately none did in terms of shocking twists or unconvecional endings. I would have killed to see the book end when Gary showered after his last film with Dany, not because he felt dirty but because he felt calm and ready to start again.
Touching something as important as a human's corrupted nature just to end the easy way: repentance and the opening of a new path takes quite a lot from this book.
Despite all of that, the book was still good enough to make me feel the horror behind the scenes.