3.5
It Came from the Multiplex
By Joshua Viola & Kevin J. Anderson &Publisher Description
Welcome to tonight's feature presentation, brought to you by an unholy alliance of our spellcasters at Hex Publishers and movie-mages at the Colorado Festival of Horror. Please be advised that all emergency exits have been locked for this special nostalgia-curdled premiere of death. From crinkling celluloid to ferocious flesh--from the silver screen to your hammering heart--behold as a swarm of werewolves, serial killers, Satanists, Elder Gods, aliens, ghosts, and unclassifiable monsters are loosed upon your auditorium. Relax, and allow our ushers to help with your buckets of popcorn--and blood; your ticket stubs--and severed limbs; your comfort candy--and body bags. Kick back and scream as you settle into a fate worse than Hell. Tonight's director's cut is guaranteed to slash you apart.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities30 Reviews
3.5
Anthony Solitro
Created 2 months agoShare
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“This was ok. Some of the stories were good, some were great and some just ok.
But the vibes of reading this in my downtown at my job at a 30 theatre megaplex largely unchanged since the 90s? Immaculate.”
JoAnna
Created 4 months agoShare
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Judy Brown
Created 4 months agoShare
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✨🦇gaycowboyvampire🦇✨
Created 5 months agoShare
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“Most of these stories were just okay. There are two which stick out as being super amazing and one that is literally just a bunch of racial slurs on every page (against Romani people). So trigger warning for that.
ALIEN PARASITES FROM OUTER SPACE - 2.5/5
Warren Hammond
Fun but ultimately kinda mid. Doesn't have much of the creature feature aspect that is covered in Return of The Alien Parasites From Outer Space. I wish this had been a little longer and had more bones to it. Sadly, there is most likely a limit to how long the author is allowed to write their story, so most of the rushed pacing and limited alien stuff is due to lack of room to breathe (word-count-wise).
RETURN OF THE ALIEN PARASITES FROM OUTER SPACE - 3/5
Angie Hodapp
Better then the first one in respect to the creature feature aspects. I like that there are parts that aren't in the theatre, and that the theatre is tied in but not necessarily the overwhelming focal point. Sets this story slightly apart. I like that the ending ties into the relationship between Scar-y Joe and the director with the MC and the jock kid (I am bad at remembering names sorry). Nice little callback and solid ending, though the alien fight had a level of predictability to it that feels like it will be forgettable in a month for me.
NEGATIVE CREEP - 2/5
Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
This is like a shittier Freddy Krueger story, except the killer doesn't really have anything interesting to it. No fun one-liners or gory death scenes. People just kinda drop dead and then the MC gets betrayed. It felt like it dragged in parts, which is impressive since it's so short. The only things I really thought were cool about it, is how the entity interacts with the teens and that there were a lot more locations which tied into the theme of the collection, but didn't just opt into a movie theatre only setting.
HELLULOID - 3/5
Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore
Reminds me of that episode of Angel where Cordelia finds the ghost guys body in the wall. It's basically that, but with less engaging characters.
RISE, YE VERMIN! - 4.5/5
Betty Rocksteady
Probably arguably the best story in this collection. It uses metaphor and symbolism really well instead of just cheesy gore with no substance. It was a nice break from the other stories and it also made me really care about two characters I'd only met for a couple pages. Super well done and will be checking out this authors other stuff.
THE CRONENBERG CONCERTO 2.5/5
Keith Ferrell
This feels a lot like it was written by a sixteen-year-old edge-lord. It's not badly written, but it's just a continuous name-dropping of horror movies and then you find out the guy who we've been following has been hacking off parts of himself at the movie theatre. Not really anything to write home about and I guessed what was going on pretty quick.
CREATURE FEATURE 2/5
Gary Jonas
Don't be late for work or you're gonna be literally fucked (by Cthulhu). Jk, very mid. I actually forgot what this story was about and had to go find it in the book to remind myself.
INVISIBLE 3/5
Mario Acevedo
Really solid story. Loved the writing done by the author. They built up really good atmosphere, making me feel the grit and sliminess of the MC. The ending was kinda predictable, but really well written and didn't bother me that much. Gonna check out this authors other stuff when I have time.
SCREEN HAUNT 4.5/5
Orrin Grey
Next to Rise Ye, Vermin! this is contender for the best short story in this collection. The author did a masterful job crafting this narrative. It feels really thought-through, creepy and you are asking questions at the end (which is always the mark of a good horror story).
THE DEVIL'S REEL 3/5
Sean Eads and Joshua Viola
Reminds me of the film The Church by Michele Soavi meets The Omen, just with less visual flair. Still, nothing to say to negative or positive. I do think it gets a little preachy near the end which isn't my cup of tea, but that's just my personal hang-ups.
ON THE ROCKS
K. Nicole Davis
I actually can't remember whether this story is the werewolf one, and I don't have the book to check. If it is then all I have to say is it was really bad and way to short (which may actually be a blessing).
COMING ATTRACTIONS - 3/5
Stephen Graham Jones
Three kids get themselves locked in a panel in a theatre bathroom and their ghosts trip tf out. Not bad, but not great. Just kinda mid, but well written.
LATE SLEEPERS 3.5/5
Steve Rasnic Tem
Really trippy and interesting. Not sure I captured all the nuances of the story, so I actually want to go back and re-read it. Which to me is the mark of a good story. Capturing your reader and giving them something to come back to is a really positive mark in this writers favour.
SPECIAL MAKEUP - negative a thousand/10
Kevin J. Anderson
HORRIBLE, GUTTED, ROTTED! Not in a good way either. This story is full of racial slurs against Romani people and uses the Magical Romani trope (a pretty racist trope). Please stop using the Magical Romani trope and start actually trying to be creative with your storytelling. Jesus Christ. I see why they stuck this at the end, my god.”
Jessi
Created 6 months agoShare
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