Sneaking in more before the wrap up! Happy release day to this horror gem.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy
THE OCTOBER FILM HAUNT – Michael Wehunt (Releasing September 30th, 2025)
Book Description:
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.
My Thoughts: 3.5/5 stars
Jorie Stroud and her friends launched their blog, October Film Haunt, and became instant sensations. Their audience couldn’t get enough of their stories and experiences of being on film locations for their favorite horror movies. One cult classic, Proof of Demons, brought it all to an abrupt halt. Tragedy followed after publishing their Proof of Demons post and that was the end of it.
Now, a decade later, Jorie and her son live a quiet, horror-free life. That is until VHS tapes linked to Proof of Demons start showing up. Strange notes and videos, and the unsettling realization that she needs to confront her past to save her family.
The atmosphere of this book. So creepy, so unsettling, and the type that gives you a shiver up your spine. The paranoia and the growing sense of dread were consuming at parts. I love when horror authors can do that. While I can, and do, read horror all year, these are exactly what I need as the weather cools and the trees change.
We get pieces from reddit threads, the October Film Haunt blog posts, excerpts from the Wikipedia Proof of Demons page, and I will forever love these inclusions for storytelling. This helped create a larger picture of this horror film and the overall effect it had on the fans, those involved, and the absolute obsession some diehard fans have for the director. It truly blows my mind how far fans will go for those they idolize.
There were some flow issues for me and a minor lull in the story, but I feel like that was more of a me thing as many other readers didn’t have the same issue. I need more recommendations for some Michael Wehunt books, now!
Jessicamap Reviews 