A review by zoeferry
Horror Movie: A Novel by Paul Tremblay

challenging mysterious slow-paced

3.0

“Horror Movie” by Paul Tremblay tells the story of the lone survivor of a low-budget horror film that never made it to post-production. Despite the film’s failure, releasing a few eerie scenes and its leaked script helped it gain a cult following. The narrative alternates between the original production’s chaotic events and the present-day effort to reboot the film. Our narrator, known only as “Thin Kid,” takes us through his fractured memories of the production, where the boundaries between reality and fiction dissolve in unsettling ways.

While I appreciate Tremblay’s ambition in crafting a slow-burning, psychological exploration of trauma, the pacing sometimes left the story feeling flat. The unreliable narrator is skillfully constructed, keeping readers off balance and constantly questioning what’s real. However, the plot often felt predictable, with a twist I saw coming relatively early. Although the book succeeds in creating an unnerving atmosphere, it lacks the kind of tension and unpredictability that would make it stand out in the horror genre. It’s not a bad read, but I wouldn’t rush to recommend it, especially to seasoned horror fans looking for a more surprising or impactful narrative.