Developed from an earlier short story, The October Film Haunt by Michael Wehunt blends occult and modern slasher themes to disturb and delight. Jorie Stroud has removed all things horror from her life following a tragedy she accidentally set in motion a decade ago; now she lives with her son in sleepy, backwater Vermont, scare-free until someone leaves an unsettling VHS tape in her mailbox. On it is what appears to be a remaking of (oc)cult film Proof of Demons, which was a catalyst for Jorie’s life falling to pieces years ago. Back then, a hardcore contingent of fans were convinced Proof of Demons contained instructions on how to open a doorway and summon a demon. Following the death of teenager, Hannah Kim, in a failed attempt at summoning such a demon, the film fell away from the public eye.

Jorie holds onto guilt for the death of Kim, as it was her blog The October Film Haunt that really ratcheded up the fervor around Proof of Demons and drew more acolytes to it. The blog was the brain-child of Jorie and two friends, Colin and Beth, all horror fanatics, who would camp out at iconic horror movie locations each October, and report back their experiences to their fanbase. So when this new tape arrives, with eerily familiar scenes, pacing and settings, Jorie fears Proof of Demons isn’t finished with her yet.

When described in the book, Proof of Demons sounds like one of those slow-paced horror films with lots of dragging silence that is tense and unknowable, as if something has been placed just out of reach of the audience, all of which builds the unease and the scare-factor. Reading The October Film Haunt feels a lot like watching that kind of movie. Very early on, you will get the feeling that something is not quite right. Something else is going on that no one has quite figured out yet.

Through multiple POVs and the occasional epistolary entry, The October Film Haunt is split into three ‘Tapes’ (or, sections), and it builds a slow and steady dread throughout. At times, scenes feel almost uncanny, as something not-quite-real tries to seep through into the world. The October Film Haunt captures the feeling of watching a deeply creepy and impenetrably weird horror movie perfectly. If you’ve enjoyed films like It Follows, or Hereditary, then this should be right up your alley.

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