Horror Movie meets the scope and emotion of Stephen King in this heart-pounding, magnetic tour de force about a woman pulled into a cult horror film that is determined to have a sequel, by critically acclaimed author Michael Wehunt.

Ten years ago, Jorie Stroud was the rising star of the October Film Haunt – a trio of horror enthusiasts who camped out at the filming locations of their favorite scary movies, sharing their love through their popular blog. But after a night in the graveyard from Proof of Demons – perhaps the most chilling cult film ever made, directed by the enigmatic Hélène Enriquez – everything unraveled.

Now, Jorie has built an isolated life with her young son in Vermont. In the devastating wake of her viral, truth-stretching Proof of Demons blog entry — hysteria, internet backlash, and the death of a young woman — Jorie has put it all, along with her intense love for the horror genre, behind her.

Until a videotape arrives in the mail. Jorie fears someone might be filming her. And the “Rickies” – Enriquez obsessives who would do anything for the reclusive director – begin to cross lines in shocking ways. It seems Hélène Enriquez is making a new kind of sequel…and Jorie is her final girl.

As the dangers grow even more unexpected and strange, Jorie must search for answers before the Proof of the movie’s title finds her and takes everything she loves.

This riveting and layered horror novel unleashes supernatural terror in a world where truth can be manipulated, and nothing is as it seems. Beautiful and horrifying, with an unforgettable cast of characters, The October Film Haunt will shock and delight readers all the way to its breathless final page.

I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I am a horror junkie. I love most all of it (except cannibalism and extreme body horror). And not just movies. I’m a sucker for a good urban legend, Creepy Pasta threads, No Sleep stories, unsolved mysteries… I want it all. And this book feels like someone scooped all of that up, shook it together, and poured it onto the page. It’s creepy and immersive, and for the most part, I had a lot of fun with it.

The setup is perfect for any true horror fan. Years ago, Jorie Stroud was part of a group of horror enthusiasts who called themselves the October Film Haunt. They tracked down filming locations from their favorite movies and documented their adventures online, basically living the dream for anyone obsessed with the genre. That dream shattered after a night in a graveyard tied to Proof of Demons, a mythical underground horror film with a cult following. A blog post went viral, things spiraled, and a young woman ended up dead. Jorie walked away, built a quiet life in Vermont with her son, and tried to leave all things horror in the past.

Of course, horror never really lets you go. A videotape shows up in the mail. Shadows of the past creep back in. And the “Rickies” —devotees of enigmatic director Hélène Enriquez, who directed Proof of Demons—won’t leave her alone. The more Jorie tries to pull back, the clearer it becomes that she’s being pulled into a sequel she never signed up for. And this time, she’s the final girl.

What makes the book shine is its atmosphere. Wehunt layers dread into every page. Even when the action slows, that prickling unease never goes away. You can almost hear the VHS static and feel the eyes watching you. It’s not just jump scares on paper; it’s that gnawing sense that Jorie is in danger, and some of it might pour over into your life if you don’t stop reading.

The story plays with several horror tropes at once. Found footage, slashers, cursed films, cults, and urban legends all make an appearance. This works, but then after a while it veers into “too many toys in the sandbox” territory (more on that later).

Character-wise, Jorie works as a lead because she’s flawed, guilt-ridden, and not always likable. She isn’t a cardboard cutout final girl; she’s someone trying to keep her head above water while the past drags her under. The side characters are vivid too, from the obsessive horror fans who toe the line between endearing and terrifying, to the looming presence of Enriquez herself. I’ll admit, I clocked the big bad fairly early on, but the journey there was still fun to experience.

Now, I listened to most of this on audio, which added another layer of creep. The production includes sound effects and warped voices that startled me and had me looking over my shoulder more than once. Zura Johnson’s narration felt alive and eerie, while Tim Lounibos’s delivery sometimes came across a little robotic. Not deal-breaking, but noticeable. Still, the overall production absolutely enhanced the vibe.

If I have one gripe, it’s the ending. The last couple of chapters felt overdone and confusing, almost like too much was crammed in at once. The tension that had been so carefully built ended in a bit of a frenzy. It didn’t ruin the book for me, but it kept me from rating it higher.

Even with that stumble, I had a blast with this one. It’s tailor-made for readers who geek out on horror movies and urban legends, or those who stay up late reading Creepy Pastas and No Sleep stories—basically anyone who loves to be freaked out. If that’s you, you’ll feel right at home here.