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