Joe Rover

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Stone & Sky by Z.S. Diamanti

Ohuhu’s new PAINT markers? – NOT what I expected via Jazza on YouTube 

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Warning! Lite spoilers ahead.

Horror Movie: A Novel by Paul Tremblay was definitely something. What that something is I’m still trying to figure out. 

It doesn’t come with the typical gore and jumpscare every five minutes that you’d expect from a horror story.  There’s not many deaths and most of them aren’t your typical horror story deaths. The story isn’t “on the edge of your seat” horror, but you know something is wrong. Something is lurking; something is hiding under the bed or is about to step into the doorway.

The addition of the script made the story even more unusual. So did the fact that the script wasn’t written in normal screenplay format. It had the normal location info and dialogue, but it read more like a novel than a screenplay.

If you listen to the audiobook, you are treated to a “cast” reading with various other audiobook narrators. The script sections include the “bloopers” with the narrator repeating lines, flubbing words, or dialogue being repeated by another narrator. Sometimes one narrator would say the line then another would act it. Sometimes music and sound effects played. And you can hear them turning the page. It gave the story a “found footage” feeling.

The novel followed typical horror movie formats. You never see the Thin Kid’s face. You never know his name. Even outside of the movie, he is “I.” Other than being tall and thin, you don’t get his description or name. 

The novel also follows the rising flow of terror. You start out with some lite scares. You know the type; you hear a noise, but it turns out to be a cat, and you laugh. Then it gets to the end and you’re wondering if you’ll sleep at night…stupid empty archway.

It even has “the narrator is the only survivor” trope, but how he came to be the only survivor is unexpected.

The real horror of the story isn’t the slasher-gore but the idea of how far people will go for their movie, story, game, YouTube channel, or art. Also, how far we’ll go for friendship or acceptance. 

I give Horror Movie a 4.7/5 for twisting the horror story expectations into something new while also not going so far as to make it unfamiliar. I saw the ending coming from the beginning (I’m sure most readers did), but trope twists, like how the narrator became the only survivor, make the novel something more than just a typical horror story; it’s definitely something. Is it something new or orginal? Is it something that keeps you awake with feelings of dread? Is it something you gasp in fear than move on to the next read? Hmm, you decide.

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Until the next wormhole…thanks for reading!

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