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pinkmalady's review
dark
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
3.0
i really wish this book was good. the classic horror nerdery on display here is insane; this guy knows his stuff!! the commentary of the changing horror scene (classic horror is one of my primary special interests) is very well-informed and accurate to what was actually going on irl in the late 60s/early 70s. it just refused to focus on its coolest aspects.
i mostly wish warner and simon were actually interesting and not weird and creepy, especially simon moro. he is a racist, homophobic pedophile. if this book was about how shitty even the most talented people can be, it would've been ten times better. instead, it expects the reader to sympathize and idolize him. i cannot. like i physically cannot. when he started talking about how he felt the need to 'straighten-up' the film he's working on because one of his co-stars is gay, that was the final straw. it spat in the face of the queer history of the horror genre. then he did blackface, and i had to put the book down. i did finish it, and i did like most of the rest of the book.the way simon stages his own death is truly epic, i have to say, but basically everything else about him besides the description of some of the movies he did was just bad.
it handles its singular gay character homophobically. like this author is either straight as a pencil or so deep in the closet he's in narnia. #quincyadamsdeservedbetter
if hazel or quincy would've been the main character, this would've been ten times better. it could've dug into their trauma from being harassed(and in hazel's case, sexually preyed upon) by simon moro!! because he is an asshole and they are actually interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sidenote: i wish the raven movie described in this book were real so so so SOOO FUCKING BAD. it sounds so cool.
i mostly wish warner and simon were actually interesting and not weird and creepy, especially simon moro. he is a racist, homophobic pedophile. if this book was about how shitty even the most talented people can be, it would've been ten times better. instead, it expects the reader to sympathize and idolize him. i cannot. like i physically cannot. when he started talking about how he felt the need to 'straighten-up' the film he's working on because one of his co-stars is gay, that was the final straw. it spat in the face of the queer history of the horror genre. then he did blackface, and i had to put the book down. i did finish it, and i did like most of the rest of the book.
it handles its singular gay character homophobically. like this author is either straight as a pencil or so deep in the closet he's in narnia. #quincyadamsdeservedbetter
if hazel or quincy would've been the main character, this would've been ten times better. it could've dug into their trauma from being harassed
sidenote: i wish the raven movie described in this book were real so so so SOOO FUCKING BAD. it sounds so cool.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, and Homophobia
Minor: Death, Sexual harassment, and Domestic abuse
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