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directorpurry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Confinement, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Vomit, Cultural appropriation, and Self harm
Minor: Police brutality
nadiajohnsonbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I feel like I need to debrief this book with a therapist.
I am a complete sucker for anything with a found-footage flavor, and the paranormal-investigators-locked-in-a-house trope is one of my favorites, so this book was a must read. These paranormal investigators were technically not locked in, at least not physically, but the vibe was 100% right.
The crew of a ghost hunting show called "Fade to Black" is filming their thirteenth episode at a hundred-year-old mansion that was converted into a paranormal research facility called the Foundation House in the early 1970s. The research undertaken there seems to have been a combination of midcentury CIA psy-ops/MK Ultra shit and the sort of run-of-the-mill parapsychological research occasionally undertaken by American universities (and shown in the CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY FILM Ghostbusters).
The team is led by husband and wife duo Matt, a true believer, and Claire, a rational skeptic with a physics doctorate. They are joined by cameraman Jake, cop-turned-ghost-tech-guru Kevin, and Vanessa, a young Black actress and single mom who was pushed by the network as to provide a little energy and diversity but has impressed everyone with her commitment to the bit.
The Foundation House isn't like their typical haunted investigation in that it gives them nothing to work with in terms of phenomena. Not even the creepy sounds of an old house settling or a draft that might move some dust around. Add to that some simmering, unspoken personal drama, and this episode is starting to seem like it's not worth the effort.
But when things get weird, they get SO FUCKING WEIRD, and a generic bit of dubious paranormal television turns into something much greater than any of them bargained for.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes podcasts like the White Vault and the Black Tapes, books like Hell House and I Found Puppets Living in My Apartment Walls, and movies like V/H/S, Noroi: the Curse, and Gonjiam Haunted Asylum. It would also be a great pick for someone who wants something like House of Leaves, but more approachable.
DiLouie definitely captures both the horror and charm of the found footage genre.
I am a complete sucker for anything with a found-footage flavor, and the paranormal-investigators-locked-in-a-house trope is one of my favorites, so this book was a must read. These paranormal investigators were technically not locked in, at least not physically, but the vibe was 100% right.
The crew of a ghost hunting show called "Fade to Black" is filming their thirteenth episode at a hundred-year-old mansion that was converted into a paranormal research facility called the Foundation House in the early 1970s. The research undertaken there seems to have been a combination of midcentury CIA psy-ops/MK Ultra shit and the sort of run-of-the-mill parapsychological research occasionally undertaken by American universities (and shown in the CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY FILM Ghostbusters).
The team is led by husband and wife duo Matt, a true believer, and Claire, a rational skeptic with a physics doctorate. They are joined by cameraman Jake, cop-turned-ghost-tech-guru Kevin, and Vanessa, a young Black actress and single mom who was pushed by the network as to provide a little energy and diversity but has impressed everyone with her commitment to the bit.
The Foundation House isn't like their typical haunted investigation in that it gives them nothing to work with in terms of phenomena. Not even the creepy sounds of an old house settling or a draft that might move some dust around. Add to that some simmering, unspoken personal drama, and this episode is starting to seem like it's not worth the effort.
But when things get weird, they get SO FUCKING WEIRD, and a generic bit of dubious paranormal television turns into something much greater than any of them bargained for.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes podcasts like the White Vault and the Black Tapes, books like Hell House and I Found Puppets Living in My Apartment Walls, and movies like V/H/S, Noroi: the Curse, and Gonjiam Haunted Asylum. It would also be a great pick for someone who wants something like House of Leaves, but more approachable.
DiLouie definitely captures both the horror and charm of the found footage genre.
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Gun violence, and Vomit
chris_reads's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Child abuse, and Gun violence
Moderate: Blood, Police brutality, and Death
Minor: Gore, Torture, Self harm, Vomit, Cultural appropriation, and Injury/Injury detail
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