**3-Star Review: *The Cutting Room* edited by Ellen Datlow**

*The Cutting Room*, edited by Ellen Datlow, is a horror anthology centered around themes of film and media, featuring stories by authors like Peter Straub, Kim Newman, Genevieve Valentine, and David Morrell. Each story explores the dark side of cinema, celebrity, and the haunting consequences of media obsession, with a mix of supernatural elements and psychological horror.

The anthology offers a creative premise that plays on the eerie potential of film as a medium, and several stories succeed in delivering a chilling, atmospheric experience. Datlow’s selection brings together a range of voices and styles, creating a varied reading experience that will appeal to fans of horror and dark fiction. Standout stories bring originality and a fresh perspective, often capturing the unsettling aspects of fame and the macabre power of storytelling.

However, like many anthologies, *The Cutting Room* is somewhat uneven. Some stories feel weaker or too abstract, lacking the impact or clarity to leave a strong impression. Additionally, readers hoping for a cohesive theme may find the diversity of styles and tones jarring.

Overall, *The Cutting Room* is a mixed bag, with some gems that horror fans will appreciate, though the anthology may lack the consistency to be memorable as a whole.

The editor Ellen Datlow has long been an indicator that the anthology you are about to read is going to be a good one. She has been editing in the speculative fiction industry for many years. The Cutting Room is a great example of why she is so good at her job.
Not only does this book contain a great array of stories, it's the way the stories fit together that also complements the overall reading experience. I'm one of those readers who prefer to start at the beginning with an anthology or a collection and work my way through from front to back. I do this because I think there is usually some thought about which stories go in which order and I want to take advantage of the editor's thought process behind this.
The theme of The Cutting Room is film. It's a rather tenuous theme, but that's to the advantage of the book, as it means there's a variety to the stories that prevents them being too similar. This anthology contains some of my favourite writers - Dennis Etchison, Peter Straub, David Morrell, Gemma Files, Nicholas Royle, Joel Lane, Gary McMahon - so it was not likely to disappoint.
It's fair to say that there are some great tales included (not all of them horror). This is one I could recommended without a second's hesitation.

I downloaded this years ago and no longer have access to this title, I am sorry but I no longer intend to review it. Thank you.