Book Review - Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay (2024)

 

Horror Movie

by Paul Tremblay

Published by William Morrow

Publish Date: June 11, 2024

Plot Synopsis:

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 fanbase. 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.

Review:

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book.

I had never read any of Tremblay's titles prior to this one, so I went in with an open mind and high hopes.  Several of my friends have read him and liked him, so I figured his latest offering would be a great place to start.

I'm glad I listened to my friends; Horror Movie is a hell of a book, and I will even go so far as to state it's one of the best books I've read this year.  It even jumps in front of Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle, I book I absolutely loved!  Tremblay has a surefire hit on his hands with this book, and I highly recommend giving it a look.

Horror Movie sinks its celluloid-tinged fangs into the reader from the start, and just like a defective VHS player eating tape, it never lets go.  The story is riveting, and I knew I was going to tear through the book in just a few days so I could find out what was happening.  Sure enough, I finished the book in four days, almost a record time for me.

Horror Movie is written very well and flows at a nice pace.  I love how it flips between the real world and the movie script of the titular film; this is an extremely inventive way to tell the story, and it works perfectly here.  Tremblay does a masterful job of telling the story while building suspense for the climax.

And WOW, what an ending!  Tremblay ends his book with a bang, and the last sentence is still rattling around in my brain.  I never saw it coming, and it wasn't a cheap or cop-out ending like some books throw at you.  

Horror Movie is a welcome and original entry into the slew of horror novels that have already been published this year.  Original and entertaining, it's a book that deserves a spot in your personal collection, and I wager it is one you will reread after a time.

The book is available now in a variety of formats.

Scott

The Guyver Comes to 4K UHD on June 25!

 

I cannot tell you how excited I am for this release!!  I've been a fan of The Guyver series for years, starting way back in the VHS era...and seeing it get the 4K treatment is something I didn't think I'd ever witness.  And the fact it is being released by the fine folks at Unearthed Films is just icing on the cake!

If you're not familiar with The Guyver, it started off as an anime series based on the long-running manga series 'Bio Booster Armor Guyver' written by Yoshiki Takaya.  The live-action film (above) was released just a couple of years after the anime ended.  

The Guyver itself is a bio-armor that fuses with its host to create a bio-mechanized warrior with immense strength and speed, along with some unique weapons and powers.  It's like an adult version of Power Rangers but on steroids with a shot of heroin.  

Here's an official plot synopsis of the live-action film:

In this thrill-a-minute action adventure, Sean Barker (Jack Armstrong) is a college student who discovers the "Guyver", an alien mechanical device that merges with his own body, turning him into a super-powerful cyborg fighting machine. The device belongs to Chronos, an evil corporation run by human mutants that metamorphize into monstrous soldiers called "Zoanoids". Chronos badly wants the Guyver back and sends a gang of Zoanoids to kidnap Sean's girlfriend, Mizuki (Vivian Wu). Sean rescues Mizuki with the help of Max Reed (Mark Hamill), a CIA agent determined to keep the device from falling into the hands of Chronos. However, the rescue attempt is not completely successful, thereby triggering a series of epic battles between the forces of good and evil.

Check out the trailer here:

The film boasts a long list of recognizable talent as well, including:

DIRECTORS: 

Screaming Mad George (Predator, The Abyss, Big Trouble in Little China, The Bogus Man)

Steve Wang (Drive, Planet of the Apes, Bill & Ted Face the Music, Hellboy)

PRODUCER: 

Brian Yuzna (Re-Animator, From Beyond, Faust, Dolls)

WRITERS: 

Jon Purdy, Yoshiki Takaya

MUSIC: 

Matthew Morse

STARS: 

-Jack Armstrong (The Tick, Student Bodies, 28 Days)

-David Gale (Re-Animator, Bride of Re-Animator)

-Mark Hamill (Star Wars, Batman Animated Series, The Oblongs, Happy Tree Friends, The Boondocks, Brickleberry, Child's Play)

-Jimmie Walker (Good Times, Airplane!, Going Bananas)

-Linnea Quigley (Return of the Living Dead, Night of the Demons, Silent Night, Deadly Night, Graduation Day)

-Michael Berryman (Weird Science, The Devil's Rejects, The Hills Have Eyes, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)

-Jeffrey Combs (The Frighteners, Re-Animator, House on Haunted Hill, Contagion, Cellar Dweller)

-Vivian Wu (The Last Emperor, The Joy Luck Club, Tales from the Crypt)

If your interest isn't piqued by now, then you must not be human!!

The Limited Collector's Edition contents include:

DISC O1: FEATURE (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)

NEW 4K restoration of the original R-rated 35mm camera negative by Unearthed Films presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio in HDR

NEW Commentary with co-directors Screaming Mad George and Steve Wang, moderated by Dom O’Brien, the author of Budget Biomorphs: The Making of The Guyver Films

NEW Commentary with actor/SFX artist Evil Ted Smith and creature shop lab tech / miniature supervisor Wyatt Weed

DISC 02: FEATURE & EXTRAS (BLU-RAY)

NEW Commentary with co-directors Screaming Mad George and Steve Wang, moderated by Dom O’Brien, the author of Budget Biomorphs: The Making of The Guyver Films

NEW Commentary with actor/SFX artist Evil Ted Smith and creature shop lab tech / miniature supervisor Wyatt Weed

NEW Interview with producer Brian Yuzna

NEW Interview with co-director Screaming Mad George

NEW Suit Tests with commentary by co-directors Screaming Mad George and Steve Wang

NEW Outtakes with commentary by co-directors Screaming Mad George and Steve Wang

NEW Gag Reel with commentary by co-directors Screaming Mad George and Steve Wang

NEW Production & Artwork Gallery

Alternate Title Sequence

Trailers

DISC 03: SOUNDTRACK (COMPACT DISC)

Also includes a Collector’s Booklet!

Make a note to grab your copy of this crazy flick on 4K in two weeks...it's like nothing you've ever seen before.

Scott

Movie Review - Madame Web (2024)

Madame Web

Directed by S. J. Clarkson

Released by Sony Pictures

Year of Production: 2024

DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: April 30, 2024

Plot Synopsis:

In a switch from the typical genre, Madame Web tells the standalone origin story of one of Marvel publishing's most enigmatic heroines. The suspense-driven thriller stars Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb, a paramedic in Manhattan who develops the power to see the future... and realizes she can use that insight to change it. Forced to confront revelations about her past, she forges a relationship with three young women bound for powerful destinies...if they can all survive a deadly present.

Trailer:

Review:

When I first saw the trailer for Madame Web, I was intrigued; it didn't seem like an actual superhero movie to me, but more of a comic book thriller.  I tucked it away into the back of my mind, thinking I might check it out when it came on video and went on about my life.

But when the movie released and people started hating on it, I became even more interested.  Reviews were downright VICIOUS.  The brutality with which folks were slaughtering this movie was almost epic.  Honestly, I was kinda shocked.  But the hype was enough to engage me even more.  I knew it was going to be a must-see.

I pride myself on having unique tastes when it comes to movies and books, and many times my opinions clash with the popular majority.  So I knew I had to give Madame Web a look, even it did turn out to be a trainwreck.

I watched the movie last night, and although it is lackluster in several areas, I don't think it warrants the hate that has been doled out upon it.  Now don't get me wrong:  this is not a great movie.  It's barely even a good movie...but it is entertaining enough to hold the viewer's attention for two hours despite its flaws (which are many).

The casting of Dakota Johnson is an odd choice; she doesn't seem very vested in the role and even confessed she had never seen a Marvel movie prior to making this one.  She also doesn't quite seem to capture the emotional range needed for the character.  Honestly, I've never considered her to be a great actress, and her performance in this role solidifies my stance.

Also, the villain is not very menacing...as in, he is not fleshed out enough to really be scared of his intentions.  This is forgivable to an extent, but a few more scenes with him might have helped solidify his "badness".  

Still, despite the glaring flaws, Madame Web is somewhat entertaining, albeit a weird choice for a movie (she's not an exciting superhero in the comics, and that pretty much translates to the big screen).  I didn't hate the movie, nor was I confused or bored...there's just not much to it overall.  

This is definitely one of those "you need to watch it to make your own decision" type of films.  Will I watch this one again?  Not unless there's a recut or Director's Cut or something...and even then, I'm not sure.  Am I disappointed I watched it?  Naw...but I won't be mulling it over in my head much after I publish this review.

Scott

Inside the Indie Horror World by Kevin J. Kennedy is FREE on Amazon Kindle for a limited time!

Check this out!

Courtesy of publisher Kevin J. Kennedy, you can now download a free Kindle copy of Inside the Indie Horror World for a limited time.  This unique look behind the scenes of the indie horror publishing world has some great insights, some written by authors I've reviewed in the past such as John Everson and Brian Moreland.  

Here's the book's official synopsis courtesy of the publisher:

Join your favorite Indie Horror Authors for some tales about their adventures navigating the industry. The highs, the lows and everything in between. Some of them give some tips and advice and others share their funny and embarrassing stories. This is not a ‘How To’ book, but there are many great lessons inside if you are looking to write or boost where you are at the moment. If you simply want to find out a little more about what goes on behind the closed doors of the horror book world, you have come to the right place.

Click the link below to grab your free copy now!

Inside the Indie Horror World Amazon link

SB

Horror Novels I've Read in 2024

 Reading horror never gets old for me.

You would think, after reading the genre for 40 years, that things would start to get stale after a while.  I'm happy to report that, despite a couple of misfires here and there, the majority of my horror reading over the years has been mostly positive.  

This year, I've had more opportunities to read than in decades past, and I've taken full advantage of the fact.  The fifth month of the year is ending, and I've already been able to cross off 10 books from my reading list.  I've compiled them here along with my opinion of each. 

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

Mallory Quinn is fresh out of rehab when she takes a job as a babysitter for Ted and Caroline Maxwell. She is to look after their five-year-old son, Teddy.

Mallory immediately loves it. She has her own living space, goes out for nightly runs, and has the stability she craves. And she sincerely bonds with Teddy, a sweet, shy boy who is never without his sketchbook and pencil. His drawings are the usual fare: trees, rabbits, balloons. But one day, he draws something different: a man in a forest, dragging a woman’s lifeless body.

Then, Teddy’s artwork becomes increasingly sinister, and his stick figures quickly evolve into lifelike sketches well beyond the ability of any five-year-old. Mallory begins to wonder if these are glimpses of a long-unsolved murder, perhaps relayed by a supernatural force.

Knowing just how crazy it all sounds, Mallory nevertheless sets out to decipher the images and save Teddy before it’s too late.

Hidden Pictures was a nice surprise; it's not excellent, but it's good. I thought I knew where the story was taking me, but I was only partially right.  My sole complaint is that the "big reveal" was not quite as revelatory as I would have liked.

Nightmare Man by J. K. Markert

Blackwood mansion looms, surrounded by nightmare pines, atop the hill over the small town of Crooked Tree. Ben Bookman, bestselling novelist and heir to the Blackwood estate, spent a weekend at the ancestral home to finish writing his latest horror novel, The Scarecrow. Now, on the eve of the book’s release, the terrible story within begins to unfold in real life.

Detective Mills arrives at the scene of a gruesome murder: a family butchered and bundled inside cocoons stitched from corn husks, and hung from the rafters of a barn, eerily mirroring the opening of Bookman’s latest novel. When another family is killed in a similar manner, Mills, along with his daughter, rookie detective Samantha Blue, is determined to find the link to the book—and the killer—before the story reaches its chilling climax.

As the series of “Scarecrow crimes” continues to mirror the book, Ben quickly becomes the prime suspect. He can’t remember much from the night he finished writing the novel, but he knows he wrote it in The Atrium, his grandfather’s forbidden room full of numbered books. Thousands of books. Books without words.

As Ben digs deep into Blackwood’s history he learns he may have triggered a release of something trapped long ago—and it won’t stop with the horrors buried within the pages of his book.

Nightmare Man is a hell of a good horror novel.  It starts off with a bang and never lets up.  It is a great read, and I would LOVE to see what it would look like on the big screen.  Brutal and engaging stuff.  Highly recommended.

This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer

This trip is going to be Dylan’s big break. Her geologist friend Clay has discovered an untouched cliff face in the Kentucky wilderness, and she is going to be the first person to climb it. Together with Clay, his research assistant Sylvia, and Dylan’s boyfriend Luke, Dylan is going to document her achievement on Instagram and finally cement her place as the next rising star in rock climbing.

Seven months later, three bodies are discovered in the trees just off the highway. All are in various states of decay: one a stark, white skeleton; the second emptied of its organs; and the third a mutilated corpse with the tongue, eyes, ears, and fingers removed.

But Dylan is still missing—and no trace of her, dead or alive, has been discovered.

Were the climbers murdered? Did they succumb to cannibalism? Or are their impossible bodies the work of an even more sinister force?

This dread-inducing debut builds to a bloodcurdling climax, and will leave you shocked by the final twist.

This was my least favorite book of the year (so far).  I initially started reading this book because I used to climb, and that's one of the foundations of the plot.  But the "shocking final twist" wasn't really that shocking.  I saw it coming way before (about halfway through the book).  My other complaint is that there's no explanation for what happens; I understand vague endings and how they can make certain books even more menacing...but that doesn't work here.  

Breed by Chase Novak

Alex and Leslie Twisden lead charmed lives-fabulous jobs, a luxurious town house on Manhattan's Upper East Side, a passionate marriage. What they don't have is a child, and as they try one infertility treatment after the next, yearning turns into obsession. As a last-ditch attempt to make their dream of parenthood come true, Alex and Leslie travel deep into Slovenia, where they submit to a painful and terrifying procedure that finally gives them what they so fervently desire . . . but with awful consequences.

Ten years later, cosseted and adored but living in a house of secrets, the twins Adam and Alice find themselves locked into their rooms every night, with sounds coming from their parents' bedroom getting progressively louder, more violent, and more disturbing.

Driven to a desperate search for answers, Adam and Alice set out on a quest to learn the true nature of the man and woman who raised them. Their discovery will upend everything they thought they knew about their parents and will reveal a threat so horrible that it must be escaped, at any cost.

This was a minor dud for me.  Although the premise sounds interesting, the execution kinda dragged.  The book is about 80 pages longer than it should have been, and my interested tapered off here and there.  Still, I enjoyed it for the most part as a whole.

Deep Freeze by Michael C. Grumley    

The accident came quickly. With no warning. In the dead of night, a precipitous plunge into a freezing river trapped everyone inside the bus. It was then that Army veteran John Reiff’s life came to an end. Extinguished in the sudden rush of frigid water.

There was no expectation of survival. None. Let alone waking up beneath blinding hospital lights. Struggling to move, or see, or even breathe. But the doctors assure him that everything is normal. That things will improve. And yet, he has a strange feeling that there's something they're not telling him.

As Reiff's mind and body gradually recover, he becomes certain that the doctors are lying to him. One by one, puzzle pieces are slowly falling into place, and he soon realizes that things are not at all what they seem. Critical information is being kept from him. Secrets. Supposedly for his own good. But who is doing this? Why? And the most important question: can he keep himself alive long enough to uncover the truth?

More science fiction than horror, it still merited a read, and I liked it.  The pacing reminds me of Blake Crouch's "Dark Matter", as does the suspense as the story unfolds.  I recently found out this is the first of a series, but I'm not sure how many books the series will contain.

A Cold Place for Dying by Kristopher Triana

It's Christmas Eve. Having lost his wife, Joe Whitaker is spending the day hunting deer with bow and arrow. Wanting to free himself from the everyday world, he even leaves his phone in his truck. But his peace is soon interrupted by Nicole, a frantic woman running barefoot through the snow. She claims she was kidnapped and managed to escape, but now, the man who imprisoned her is on her tail.

Joe wants to help Nicole, but when he comes across the man pursuing her, he's told Nicole is delusional. The man says he isn't Nicole's kidnapper—he’s her husband. As a snowstorm bares down, Joe finds himself in a deadly triangle with a mysterious man and a panicked woman, not knowing who to trust.

If he makes the wrong choice, it might just cost him his life.

This is a novella that should be turned into a movie.  The plot sounds like it's ripped straight from M. Night Shyamalan's imagination, meaning there's a twist in there somewhere.  And when the twist is revealed, it doesn't disappoint.  I had no idea which way this story was going to go, and I had a fun time navigating it.  Recommended.

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

From beloved internet icon Chuck Tingle, Camp Damascus is a searing and earnest horror debut about the demons the queer community faces in America, the price of keeping secrets, and finding the courage to burn it all down.

Welcome to Neverton, Montana: home to a God-fearing community with a heart of gold.

Nestled high up in the mountains is Camp Damascus, the self-proclaimed “most effective” gay conversion camp in the country. Here, a life free from sin awaits. But the secret behind that success is anything but holy.

And they’ll scare you straight to hell.

This book is one of my top favorites for this year so far.  I'd never read anything by Tingle before, but I will definitely watch for his upcoming work.  The plot of the story is original and the pacing is perfect.  Not to mention, it has a sorta' twist that you might see coming but it is still satisfying as it unfolds.  High recommended.

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

Nobody has a “normal” family, but Vesper Wright’s is truly...something else. Vesper left home at eighteen and never looked back—mostly because she was told that leaving the staunchly religious community she grew up in meant she couldn’t return. But then an envelope arrives on her doorstep.

Inside is an invitation to the wedding of Vesper’s beloved cousin Rosie. It’s to be hosted at the family farm. Have they made an exception to the rule? It wouldn’t be the first time Vesper’s been given special treatment. Is the invite a sweet gesture? An olive branch? A trap? Doesn’t matter. Something inside her insists she go to the wedding. Even if it means returning to the toxic environment she escaped. Even if it means reuniting with her mother, Constance, a former horror film star and forever ice queen.

When Vesper’s homecoming exhumes a terrifying secret, she’s forced to reckon with her family’s beliefs and her own crisis of faith in this deliciously sinister novel that explores the way family ties can bind us as we struggle to find our place in the world.

Here's another one that I really enjoyed.  This book takes a familiar trope and sorta turns it on its head.  I didn't foresee how the story was going to play out, and I found that fact both refreshing and satisfying.  The character development is outstanding, and the ending is nice and tight.  Recommended.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

“Are you happy with your life?”

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the kidnapper knocks him unconscious.

Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.

Before a man he’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.”

In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college professor but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.

Is it this life or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how will Jason make it back to the family he loves?

From the bestselling author Blake Crouch, Dark Matter is a mind-bending thriller about choices, paths not taken, and how far we’ll go to claim the lives we dream of.

This was technically a re-read for me because I tore through it a couple of years ago.  But when I learned it was turned into a series that premiered on Apple TV, I wanted to give the book another look before I watched the show.  It was just as excellent the second time around.  Crouch is one of my favorite authors (his Wayward Pines trilogy is a MUST READ series!), and he had not disappointed me with anything thus far.  Highly recommended.

The CreepyPasta Collection by MrCreepyPasta

A terrifying, thrilling collection of must-read horror stories chock-full of nightmarish supernatural beings and the murderously disturbed that are sure to keep you up all night long.


There are stories that scare you. And then there are the dark and disturbing creepypasta stories that will leave you seriously freaked out. The Creepypasta Collection is an unsettling anthology of terror, full of nightmares and dangerous creatures—from unearthly supernatural beings to the murderously disturbed. So, lock the doors, check under the bed, turn up the lights, and get ready for an unforgettable, up-all-night journey into the heart of darkness.

While technically not a novel, this collection of terrifying short stories is worthy of your attention regardless.  I had no idea what CreepyPasta was until my kids explained the term to me years ago; according to Google, it means:  "Creepypasta is a term for horror-related legends or images that are shared online and intended to scare or discomfort readers." And boy oh boy, these stories don't disappoint.  There's plenty here to make you uncomfortable...in a good way.  Recommended.

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall

Naomi Shaw used to believe in magic. Twenty-two years ago, she and her two best friends, Cassidy and Olivia, spent the summer roaming the woods, imagining a world of ceremony and wonder. They called it the Goddess Game. The summer ended suddenly when Naomi was attacked. Miraculously, she survived her seventeen stab wounds and lived to identify the man who had hurt her. The girls’ testimony put away a serial killer, wanted for murdering six women. They were heroes.

And they were liars.

For decades, the friends have kept a secret worth killing for. But now Olivia wants to tell, and Naomi sets out to find out what really happened in the woods―no matter how dangerous the truth turns out to be.

I'd classify this as more of a thriller than horror, but it's still a great read.  It's a twisty-turny story that makes you think you know where it's going...and then it shifts gears and throws you off.  I really enjoy books like that when they are done well, and this book pulls it off just fine.  Recommended.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

My only problem right now is what to read next!  Any suggestions?

How is your reading going?  Have you read any of the titles above, and if so, what did you think?  Or do any of these sounds interesting enough to go on your reading list?  Drop me a line!

SB

Texas Frightmare 2024

Readers of my old site will recall I loved attending Texas Frightmare Weekend (TFW), a yearly horror convention held in Dallas, TX.  This year is the 13th year I've been able to attend, and it was just as great as previous years.  Also, this year's con was held in a new venue (technically, this is the second year at the new venue...I was unable to attend last year), and it was an awesome upgrade.  

Attendees wait in line to get in to the new venue...reminds me of ComicCon!

This year, I focused more on buying loot than I did autographs...although I did have to snag a couple of important ones.  The is a living legend, filmmaker Joe Dante!

    Meeting the legendary Joe Dante!  Of course I had him sign a Gremlins pic for me.

The second is a legend in his own right, Sean S. Cunningham, the man responsible for Friday the 13th and Deepstar Six (as you can see in the picture below, I asked him to sign a poster from Deepstar Six...I absolutely LOVE underwater horror).

                                  Filmmaker Sean S. Cunningham

(If you have no clue what Deepstar Six is about, here is the trailer for the film)

TFW brings out all kinds of horror fans, including cosplayers, and this year's group did not disappoint.  I didn't get near as many pictures as I wanted to, but here's a decent taste.

In addition to loot, I brought home A LOT of great memories.  TFW is awesome in its own right, but experiencing it with friends is priceless.

    Hayes, Craig, and me...ready for the con!

    Taco, Hayes, Becky, and me...with the Dora backpack (if you know, you know!)

  Me and...a sketchy-looking Hayes!             

  Hanging out in Taco's room: Craig, Hayes, me, and author Brad Carter.

    Me, Craig, April, and Becky...ready to rock!

    Becky and April, two amazing wives who tolerate us enough to come to TFW!

TFW has become a community to me, and I have friends that I only see down there...but they are definitely "my people" and they're always glad to catch up!    

Although I am not a fan of the 5 hour trip down and back, I am glad Becky and I are able to share it with good friends...it definitely makes the miles go by faster.  This year was one of the best TFWs for me, and I can't wait to see what next year brings!

Ever been to Frightmare?  What about any other horror cons?  Drop me a line in the comments and let me know!

Scott

 

Book Review - Clowns vs. Spiders by Jeff Strand (2019)

Clowns vs. Spiders

by Jeff Strand

Published by (Independently published)

Publish Date:  September 19, 2019

Plot Synopsis:

Jaunty the Clown just wants to entertain families with lighthearted slapstick antics, but people think of clowns as terrifying, nightmarish creatures who hide in closets or under beds. When Jaunty, along with his fellow performers Guffaw, Wagon, Reginald The Pleasant Clown, and Bluehead are fired from the circus, they're told that the world just doesn't like clowns anymore.

Still, clowns have to eat. And since these clowns don't eat children, to make ends meet they're eventually forced to take a job in a popular haunted attraction, the Mountain of Terror. Instead of charming entertainers, they're now scary clowns. A zombie clown. A demon clown. A creepy doll clown.

But the town is about to discover something more frightening than clowns. Because on opening night, millions of oversized spiders emerge from a cave and begin their deadly invasion...

From Bram Stoker Award-nominated author Jeff Strand comes an insane mix of shameless silliness and grisly creepy-crawly horror. Clowns vs Spiders—who will win?

Review:

If you rolled your eyes when you read the book's title, let me start this review by urging you to push your initial assumption aside and give this book a read.  It is definitely worth it.

Just like its title suggests, CLOWNS VS. SPIDERS is a story about a group of circus clowns who must pit themselves against a cluster of ancient, voracious arachnids that have recently awakened in a nearby cave.  But how does a clown fight off countless dog-sized predators that can overtake their prey in poisonous-teeth-filled waves?  Hopefully with a dose of humor and a lot of bug spray!

Author Jeff Strand offers up an interesting premise here, and he executes it very well.  The story is tight and well-contained.  It is not filled with fluff, nor does it rely on its clever premise to carry it along.  

Instead, Strand gives the reader much to consider in regard to group dynamics when faced with an apocalyptic situation, and he even explores the age-old nature of clowns themselves.  If you are looking for Pennywise or Killjoy in this group of jesters, you will find neither; the clowns in CLOWNS VS. SPIDERS are pure, good-natured human beings who truly seek to entertain people.  This aspect alone makes the book worth reading.  When was the last time you read a story with clowns that weren't evil??

CLOWNS VS. SPIDERS is written well and flows at a nice pace.  Strand does a fantastic job of creating suspense and offering a load of thrills (as well as a nice helping or three of gory demises) in this entertaining jaunt.  It is campy sometimes, but it works here; at times, the book feels like a spider-filled version of Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

The characters are well fleshed-out and believable.  They are also likeable, which helps the reader empathize with them when things go bad.  It seems like too many horror movies and books these days are filled with detestable characters, which means the audience or reader roots for the monsters instead of the protagonist(s).  While that can be fun, I'd personally rather have main characters I actually enjoy and care about.

This book is a definite win for me.  If you are afraid of clowns, spiders or both, CLOWNS VS. SPIDERS  is sure to scare the living hell out of you...and you'll love every minute of it.

Scott