Reviews

Horror Movie: A Novel by Paul Tremblay

scarletranger's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was an amazing listening experience. The writing flows like a long awaited tell-all memoir, and the twist at the end was so eerily foreshadowed that suspense ran through every minute. Every actor played their role to perfection, and the added sound effects and music made Horror Movie's in-book scenes feel all too real. This is one thriller that will keep your attention from start to finish.

halligomez's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

destinyyyzz's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

!! I Received an Advanced Copy From the Publisher on Netgalley !!

I started reading this 2 days before the release and I have a lot of thoughts that I will try to fit into a review...starting off I was a little confused from the first chapter but as the book went on it started to make more sense.

I'm sure that it was intended but by the end of the book I still had no idea what the motivations of the characters were to make them do what they did to Thin Kid and the whole script kind of feels confusing. I know that Cleo said that it was unconventional but it kind of felt unfinished and messy.

A lot of the time I was wondering why some chapters were included as it felt like they brought nothing to the story and a lot of the time they were forgotten by the characters as if it never happened. One thing I do love is the arrogant brash MC, I love when characters stand up for themselves and are also a little bit of an a-hole (lol)

And I have to admit a lot of the story did leave me anticipating more but it felt like every time we were getting somewhere we started to backtrack.

In the end, it is very Stephen King-ish writing (which is one of my fave authors) and I was (half) entertained by all of the events but it all felt pointless by the end and there was too much filler for my tiny brain to process. Not a bad book but not one of my favorites.

psainz2's review

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

mllecath's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

whatyoutolkienabout's review

5.0

I have to say this was my first Tremblay and I do not think it will be my last. For me I particularly enjoyed how the author deconstructs the genre of the slasher and rebuilds in a way that is new but with enough familiarity to give that extra layer of uncanny. I particularly liked the inclusion of the screen play sections that were a bit reminiscent of The Last Final Girl by Stephan Graham Jones.

In Horror Movie Tremblay does two things, for me at least, he provides an emotive horror novel but also explores the idea of ‘fandom’ or in this case cult like status that some movies (not always horror) can attain and how it makes those things take on a life of their own.

I don’t want to give too much of the plot away but I have to say that I really enjoyed this one and as someone new to Tremblay I found this a brilliant starting point and will certainly be reading more of their work. If you enjoy horror with a bit of realism to it and that explores several layers then this is for you.


As always thank you to Titan Books for the copy to review. My review is honest and truthful.

pawswithprose's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kaylee2222's review

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 

𝙼𝚢 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎:
I'm a sucker for unsettling, atmospheric horror that plays with expectations and lingers in your thoughts long after your done reading, so I loved this book! Paul Tremblay exemplifies that brand of horror and this novel is a masterclass. The creeping tension builds through out but it entangled me in a way few other novels had, because not only did I find myself making guesses at what was really happening and what was to come, the rather meta narrative called me out on it in such a compelling way. The varying timelines and screenplay format which could easily be tiresome in the hands of other authors, was constantly engaging. As with other works of his, the finale is at once satisfying and left me haunted with possibilities long after.

𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚘𝚙𝚜𝚒𝚜:
In 1993 group of young filmmakers set out to make an unconventional horror film. Only three scenes are ever released, yet it grows a rabid fanbase.
Years later the only surviving member of the original production is asked to return for the remake. As fiction and reality and as the past and present blur, he unmasks the long buried secrets of the bizarre and tragic events of the original "cursed" production.

Thank you @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for access to the eARC in exchange for this honest review.

I also ordered a physical copy and I'm so excited to receive it. I got the @barnesandnoble exclusive signed edition that was part of they're Midday Mystery Virtual Event and it looks fantastic 🖤

 

carolinerosereads's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

cs_the_librarian's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5