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mistimacabre's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
etakloknok's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
raforall's review
4.0
Review Appears in my April 2020 Library Journal column and on the blog: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=horror-column-reviews-april-2020
Three Words That Describe This Book: inclusive, full range of horror, shared frame
Draft Review:
Datlow returns with yet another excellent compilation of today’s best horror practitioners representing the full range of diversity within the genre, asking eighteen authors for brand new tales of terror framed by a connection to visual media. Library shelf mainstays like Kelley Armstrong, Josh Malerman and Richard Kadrey collide with promising newcomers like Cassandra Khaw and A.C. Wise, each taking their turn delving into the darkness hiding just below the surface of the frights we all love to watch. For example, Usman T. Malik explores our obsession with reality TV, presenting a serial killer who wants his execution live streamed, while Gemma Files uses interview transcripts and emails to tell the horrifying “true” story behind a cult horror actress, and ending with a novella by John Langan that begins as an innocent email conversation between two writers and their possible collaboration on a vampire tale that slowly, and satisfyingly, unravels as something far more sinister.
Verdict: With its unique frame and stories of varying appeal, this anthology will be enticing to those who enjoy the genre in a variety of formats. Also, be prepared for readers to request more tales by the authors they encounter in this anthology.
Three Words That Describe This Book: inclusive, full range of horror, shared frame
Draft Review:
Datlow returns with yet another excellent compilation of today’s best horror practitioners representing the full range of diversity within the genre, asking eighteen authors for brand new tales of terror framed by a connection to visual media. Library shelf mainstays like Kelley Armstrong, Josh Malerman and Richard Kadrey collide with promising newcomers like Cassandra Khaw and A.C. Wise, each taking their turn delving into the darkness hiding just below the surface of the frights we all love to watch. For example, Usman T. Malik explores our obsession with reality TV, presenting a serial killer who wants his execution live streamed, while Gemma Files uses interview transcripts and emails to tell the horrifying “true” story behind a cult horror actress, and ending with a novella by John Langan that begins as an innocent email conversation between two writers and their possible collaboration on a vampire tale that slowly, and satisfyingly, unravels as something far more sinister.
Verdict: With its unique frame and stories of varying appeal, this anthology will be enticing to those who enjoy the genre in a variety of formats. Also, be prepared for readers to request more tales by the authors they encounter in this anthology.
bobmetal's review
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
billerdakotah's review
2.0
2.5. This book was neither good nor bad, but rather unmemorable. Honestly I’m not sure if it’s because I read the book as an audio book or the stories included weren’t that scary to me, but either way it’s completely forgettable. I probably only remember one story out of the like 23...
jackyinthebox's review
4.0
Some stories were better than others, but that's always the way it goes with anthologies. "Drunk Physics" and "Exhalation #10" were the stand outs for me though.
chipubtri's review against another edition
I had to return to the library but I would check it out again (it was the max amount of times I could renew too, I wanted to finish it)
spookyshima's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
patch_xcx's review
3.5
3.5/5 stars
a good anthology of horror stories related to film, some of which were really creepy and unnerving. here's a list of the stories that really stood out to me:
drunk physics by kelley armstrong
exhalation #10 by ac wise
scream queen by nathan ballingrud
snuff in six scenes by richard kadrey
lords of the matinee by stephen graham jones
a ben evans film by josh malerman
cut frame by gemma files
many mouths to make a meal by garth nix
garth nix's story was more of fantasy thriller, but which i'd really love to see expanded into a one-off novel or series because of its lore and characters. some of the stories though were either bland, confusing, or just really slow. all in all would love to read more stories like these!
a good anthology of horror stories related to film, some of which were really creepy and unnerving. here's a list of the stories that really stood out to me:
drunk physics by kelley armstrong
exhalation #10 by ac wise
scream queen by nathan ballingrud
snuff in six scenes by richard kadrey
lords of the matinee by stephen graham jones
a ben evans film by josh malerman
cut frame by gemma files
many mouths to make a meal by garth nix
garth nix's story was more of fantasy thriller, but which i'd really love to see expanded into a one-off novel or series because of its lore and characters. some of the stories though were either bland, confusing, or just really slow. all in all would love to read more stories like these!