Editorial Content for Horror Movie
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Reviewer (text)
To classify Paul Tremblay’s books as “horror” completely diminishes what he does. His work clearly rises to the level of classic fiction and crosses many genres in doing so. His latest novel, HORROR MOVIE, takes the premise of the “cursed” horror film to new heights in a story that is constantly engaging, frightening and at times disturbingly real.
In 1993, a group of young independent filmmakers got together to create a low-budget chiller of a flick called Horror Movie. It was met with tragedy and more than a few absurdly odd occurrences that included a filmed murder. Only three scenes ever got released to the public, and the movie was buried for good.
"HORROR MOVIE is a completely genre-defying read that comes across as pure meta --- so real and possible that all of the thrills going through your body as you read it come from the structure that Tremblay has created."
Three decades later, a Hollywood producer is pushing for a Horror Movie reboot. It would include a large budget and an attempt to remain faithful to the original script, even utilizing the actor who portrayed the killer, oddly named “The Thin Kid.”
Throughout the book, Tremblay splices in the pages of the original screenplay in real time. This gives readers the opportunity to follow along in the same manner as the actor playing “The Thin Kid,” who is not given the entire script up front, allowing him to remain in the moment while shooting. Filming is mostly done at a long-abandoned high school, and we watch in abject horror as “The Thin Kid” morphs into something horrific --- all seemingly caused by a haunted mask given to him by the screenwriter, Cleo, that transforms him into a mindless killer.
In the present day, Marlee is the filmmaker running the show, and “The Thin Kid” is more than taken aback when asked not only to be in the reboot but to reprise some of his character’s scenes. This is more than surreal; it is downright terrifying for him as he is one of the few who remembers what actually happened during the original shoot. Horror Movie remains popular at annual conventions due to the cursed tag that has been hung on it. The other three actors are dead, and one of them was killed while the movie was being made.
While reading the screenplay portions of the novel, it becomes apparent that the mask “The Thin Kid” was given may have actual supernatural properties as he physically begins to change during the filming. His mind is also impacted, which plays a big role in the tragedy that shut down Horror Movie. Tremblay keeps the creep factor at an unsettlingly high level, and readers will have no idea where they will be taken with each passing chapter.
HORROR MOVIE is a completely genre-defying novel that comes across as pure meta --- so real and possible that all of the thrills going through your body as you read it come from the structure that Tremblay has created. It is an uncomfortable and claustrophobic read. And like all great horror movies, you have to experience it straight through to the end no matter how frightened you may be.
Teaser
In June 1993, a group of young guerilla filmmakers spent four weeks making Horror Movie, a notorious, disturbing, art-house horror flick. Only three of the film’s scenes were ever released to the public, but Horror Movie has nevertheless grown a rabid fan base. 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. Still, 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?
Promo
In June 1993, a group of young guerilla filmmakers spent four weeks making Horror Movie, a notorious, disturbing, art-house horror flick. Only three of the film’s scenes were ever released to the public, but Horror Movie has nevertheless grown a rabid fan base. 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. Still, 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?
About the Book
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 fan base. 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.
Audiobook available, read by various narrators
