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Joey Leonard's Last Horror Movie Marathon
In Clifton Heights NY, Showbiz Video, the last video rental store in the Adirondacks, is finally closing its doors for good. Though cinephile and store manager Joey Leonard has anticipated this moment for years, he's still crippled by the loss. The store's now-deceased owner has willed him the entirety of the store's horror movies, and all Joey wants to do is drown his sorrows in booze and escape into a familiar, comforting a weekend horror movie marathon.
However, among the tapes willed to him, he finds a strange home recording which he initially passes off as a low-budget "found footage" movie. As he repeatedly watches it, however, it works an insidious change over him, fracturing his perception of reality and revealing to him a blasted and terrifying version of the world he knows.
So, get comfy on the couch, pour yourself a drink, and pour another one for Joey, too.
It's very likely this will be his last horror movie marathon.
However, among the tapes willed to him, he finds a strange home recording which he initially passes off as a low-budget "found footage" movie. As he repeatedly watches it, however, it works an insidious change over him, fracturing his perception of reality and revealing to him a blasted and terrifying version of the world he knows.
So, get comfy on the couch, pour yourself a drink, and pour another one for Joey, too.
It's very likely this will be his last horror movie marathon.
133 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2023
5 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Lucia
100 books366 followersKevin Lucia is the ebook and trade paperback editor at Cemetery Dance Publications. His short fiction has been published in many venues, most notably with Clive Barker, David Morell, Peter Straub, Bentley Little, and Robert McCammon.
His first short story collection, Things Slip Through, was published by Crystal Lake Publishing in November, 2013. He's followed that with the collections Through A Mirror, Darkly, Devourer of Souls, Things You Need, October Nights, and the novellas Mystery Road, A Night at Old Webb, and The Night Road.
His first short story collection, Things Slip Through, was published by Crystal Lake Publishing in November, 2013. He's followed that with the collections Through A Mirror, Darkly, Devourer of Souls, Things You Need, October Nights, and the novellas Mystery Road, A Night at Old Webb, and The Night Road.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 8, 2023
Full review available at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
For those of you who have never watched a movie on a video tape, here’s how it used to work:
You went to the video store. The movie you wanted to watch has been rented by someone else, so you go through everything else they have. You discover some movies you never knew existed, rent them and regret it. Most of the time. The older movies got these distorted lines and sometimes you missed a pivotal moment because of this. Now, gents, most of the time it was the moments of nudity that you really wanted to see, and whether it was from being paused too much (which was a trick if you had an older model VCR, because it didn’t pause immediately, but that half a second it went on was usually too far to see what you wanted to see, so you had to rewind and try again until you got it right) or just good old-fashioned wear and tear. And, if you watched a LOT of movies, you’ve learned the trick by now to unscrew the top of the VCR and use a tissue or piece of toilet paper to try to clean the “heads”. Sometimes it helped and sometimes it didn’t.
But, every now and then, you would discover that diamond in the rough, the one that made all the bad shit you had to sit through seem worthwhile. For me, the one that comes to mind immediately, is IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS.
Oh, how I miss those days, where we still had to work for our entertainment.
So this story is about Joey Leonard, who managed the last video rental store in the Adirondacks. Since becoming single, he had these movie marathons over the weekends, where he would watch too many movies and drink too much booze.
With all the horror movies of the closed store in his possession, he discovers a strange home-recording.
Hmm…this does sound like THE RING, doesn’t it?
Well, things go off the rails from there, as you might expect. But this is not a remake of THE RING at all, so things start happening to Joey. Is it the booze, though?
The start of the story felt a little slow for my personal taste, but the direction it went was not what I expected. And while this is still a horror story, it had more of a BLACK MIRROR/TWILIGHT ZONE/OUTER LIMITS feel toward the end.
Kudos for that cover – got my attention immediately – and a story that I can recommend to the more patient horror reader, who doesn’t rely on a lot of gore.
4 STARS
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
For those of you who have never watched a movie on a video tape, here’s how it used to work:
You went to the video store. The movie you wanted to watch has been rented by someone else, so you go through everything else they have. You discover some movies you never knew existed, rent them and regret it. Most of the time. The older movies got these distorted lines and sometimes you missed a pivotal moment because of this. Now, gents, most of the time it was the moments of nudity that you really wanted to see, and whether it was from being paused too much (which was a trick if you had an older model VCR, because it didn’t pause immediately, but that half a second it went on was usually too far to see what you wanted to see, so you had to rewind and try again until you got it right) or just good old-fashioned wear and tear. And, if you watched a LOT of movies, you’ve learned the trick by now to unscrew the top of the VCR and use a tissue or piece of toilet paper to try to clean the “heads”. Sometimes it helped and sometimes it didn’t.
But, every now and then, you would discover that diamond in the rough, the one that made all the bad shit you had to sit through seem worthwhile. For me, the one that comes to mind immediately, is IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS.
Oh, how I miss those days, where we still had to work for our entertainment.
So this story is about Joey Leonard, who managed the last video rental store in the Adirondacks. Since becoming single, he had these movie marathons over the weekends, where he would watch too many movies and drink too much booze.
With all the horror movies of the closed store in his possession, he discovers a strange home-recording.
Hmm…this does sound like THE RING, doesn’t it?
Well, things go off the rails from there, as you might expect. But this is not a remake of THE RING at all, so things start happening to Joey. Is it the booze, though?
The start of the story felt a little slow for my personal taste, but the direction it went was not what I expected. And while this is still a horror story, it had more of a BLACK MIRROR/TWILIGHT ZONE/OUTER LIMITS feel toward the end.
Kudos for that cover – got my attention immediately – and a story that I can recommend to the more patient horror reader, who doesn’t rely on a lot of gore.
4 STARS
September 7, 2023
I think I enjoyed the nostalgia as much as I enjoyed the plot. This is a book that brought back a lot of great memories of Saturday mornings spent in the horror section of the video store picking out movies.
But alas, the store managed by Joey Leonard is going the way of all the others, closing its doors forever. Joey has been given the store's entire horror collection and intends to settle in for a marathon and some heavy drinking. He finds something strange in his tote full of movies. A store bought blank tape on which someone has recorded something unexpected. Once Joey starts watching it he can't stop, and it brings on terrifying consequences.
This was a fast paced cosmic horror with an ending I never saw coming. At the start of the book it had me wishing I still had my old VCR but now I feel safer that we have parted ways.
Be careful what you watch, and always be kind, rewind!
My thanks to Kevin Lucia for the review copy.
But alas, the store managed by Joey Leonard is going the way of all the others, closing its doors forever. Joey has been given the store's entire horror collection and intends to settle in for a marathon and some heavy drinking. He finds something strange in his tote full of movies. A store bought blank tape on which someone has recorded something unexpected. Once Joey starts watching it he can't stop, and it brings on terrifying consequences.
This was a fast paced cosmic horror with an ending I never saw coming. At the start of the book it had me wishing I still had my old VCR but now I feel safer that we have parted ways.
Be careful what you watch, and always be kind, rewind!
My thanks to Kevin Lucia for the review copy.
February 21, 2023
I was fortunate to receive an advance review copy of Kevin Lucia’s new Clifton Heights novella, ‘Joey Leonard’s Last Horror Movie Marathon,’ or - ‘Everything you've wanted to know about cursed VHS tapes but were afraid to ask’! Books such as this make reviewing a delight! And how can it be otherwise, when you got a story that hits all the right spots, creeps you out, draws you in, and lets you finish it in one sitting? I cannot recommend it highly enough: it starts with a video store closing down, and develops into a suspenseful tale of cosmic horror, reaching an explosive ending typical of Lucia’s Clifton Heights stories. By the time I realized what was really going on, things had gotten so dark that I had to keep reading to the end. The plot had a lot of surprises, the descriptions of Joey Leonard’s finding and viewing the cursed VHS tape were vivid and, frankly, quite scary, and everything pertaining to the protagonist -Joey’s movie marathons, his drinking problem, his relationship with his ex, Beth- felt deeply thought out, realistic, and, sometimes, emotionally heavy. This is quite an achievement for a novella of 170 pages!
Thank you Kevin Lucia for the chance to read ‘Joey Leonard’s Last Horror Movie Marathon’ and provide my honest feedback.
Thank you Kevin Lucia for the chance to read ‘Joey Leonard’s Last Horror Movie Marathon’ and provide my honest feedback.
March 17, 2023
“He collected dangerous things because he, for whatever reason, had a difficult time ‘feeling alive.’”
Joey Leonard feels like he has lost everything. After twenty years of working at Showbiz Video, the store is finally closing its doors forever and Joey is losing the only job he ever had, the job that caused him to lose his fiancé.
What do you do when your life has revolved around movies and you find yourself with nothing but free time? It’s horror movie marathon time. Relive the favorites, the classics, and all the movies you know by heart…until you come across something that shouldn’t be there, something different. Slide Numero Vitae in the VCR and prepared to be entranced.
JLLHMM is nostalgia for the horror movie fan but extensive knowledge is not needed to enjoy this book that dabbles in weird psychological horror mixed with frustration, anger and the uncertainties that life throws at us.
Welcome to Clifton Heights, a town right out of Tales From the Crypt. It is in the same ranks as The Gulp, Juniper, Goblin, Black Wells and Derry. Learn of these towns and beware.
Joey Leonard feels like he has lost everything. After twenty years of working at Showbiz Video, the store is finally closing its doors forever and Joey is losing the only job he ever had, the job that caused him to lose his fiancé.
What do you do when your life has revolved around movies and you find yourself with nothing but free time? It’s horror movie marathon time. Relive the favorites, the classics, and all the movies you know by heart…until you come across something that shouldn’t be there, something different. Slide Numero Vitae in the VCR and prepared to be entranced.
JLLHMM is nostalgia for the horror movie fan but extensive knowledge is not needed to enjoy this book that dabbles in weird psychological horror mixed with frustration, anger and the uncertainties that life throws at us.
Welcome to Clifton Heights, a town right out of Tales From the Crypt. It is in the same ranks as The Gulp, Juniper, Goblin, Black Wells and Derry. Learn of these towns and beware.
February 22, 2023
Joey Leonard loves movies. When his video rental workplace closes, he receives a tote bag of VHS horror movies from his former boss. one VHS among the lot is unknown to him and curiosity gets the better of Joey. Should have stuck with classic horror movies Joey!
THAT ENDING!!!!!!!??!!
Astonishing novella from Kevin Lucia. I rarely give 5 stars, so honestly, the fact I did, speaks volumes. Flowing prose, visual story telling and a really likeable protagonist who's just a little down on his luck. We've all had a bad day, week, month, so we can all relate to Joey. I read a piece where the author talked about Joey's issues with alcohol and how they almost mirrored his own. He has since stopped drinking and I think that's very poignant. I'm excited to see more from Kevin. He has such talent and it's definitely going to take him places. One to watch for sure!
THAT ENDING!!!!!!!??!!
Astonishing novella from Kevin Lucia. I rarely give 5 stars, so honestly, the fact I did, speaks volumes. Flowing prose, visual story telling and a really likeable protagonist who's just a little down on his luck. We've all had a bad day, week, month, so we can all relate to Joey. I read a piece where the author talked about Joey's issues with alcohol and how they almost mirrored his own. He has since stopped drinking and I think that's very poignant. I'm excited to see more from Kevin. He has such talent and it's definitely going to take him places. One to watch for sure!
February 28, 2023
FIVE STARS! This novel is so good! Fresh and intelligent horror. Not since Ring have I encountered a cursed video tape this frightening, but this one makes more sense.
And the ENDING! Holy cow I never saw it coming. I'll be thinking about this one for a long, long time and look forward to all future writings of Kevin Lucia's!
And the ENDING! Holy cow I never saw it coming. I'll be thinking about this one for a long, long time and look forward to all future writings of Kevin Lucia's!
March 1, 2023
Joey is the Manager of the last video shop in town and today is the last day. He closes up the shop, goes home and in his movie room dedicated to horror films he looks through the horror videos the shop owner left to him in his will. He finds a home video amongst the titles and thinks it’s a found footage/ homemade film project until the world around him transforms, people change in front of him and Joey slips into a new reality.
This is such a fun fast paced horror. Joey is such a normal guy, he likes his job in the shop and is lost when it closes down, he loved and lost Beth but she is still his friend, he loves horror movies, enjoys movie marathons and drinks himself into oblivion. I liked him. The horror and suspense builds so well with a shocking ending, the story is so well rounded and complete considering this is a novella. Everything is tied up by the end, a perfect slice of cosmic horror!
June 12, 2023
Super entertaining horror novella. I did not expect that ending! Very thought provoking.
March 4, 2023
I received a copy for an honest review
Joey is closing down the video store he's managed for years and finds a videotape among the owners stuff which creates horror.
So. GOOD! I loved this book so much and found the ending so satisfying and the best way it could have ended. Joey was a likeable character and I rooted for him. This is a good, quick read! I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the ending especially, it was bleak but needed to end that way.
Joey is closing down the video store he's managed for years and finds a videotape among the owners stuff which creates horror.
So. GOOD! I loved this book so much and found the ending so satisfying and the best way it could have ended. Joey was a likeable character and I rooted for him. This is a good, quick read! I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the ending especially, it was bleak but needed to end that way.
March 4, 2023
This is my first foray into this writer’s world. This book was quite scary. Because Joey was depressed and thinking his life had no meaning, it was easy for him to susceptible to the video tape. Once he watched whatever he saw it was over for him. Not a very good idea to view anything from the dark web. Obviously some things are not meant to be explored. I was totally freaked out by the ending. I did not see that coming. I have no desire to check out the dark web!
March 3, 2023
I loved the main character Joey I wanted to read so much more and was sad when the book in my opinion abruptly ended because I really did love the character and writing I would definitely check out more books by this author
March 3, 2023
Be kind and rewind! Oh this on just reminded me of days of video shops! Joey looses his beloved job at his local video store due to the owner passing. He inherits some films from the shop, beware of the one that looks homemade! Great cosmic short! And yer I agree I didn’t predict the ending!
February 27, 2023
Thank you so much Kevin Lucia for so graciously giving me an advanced copy!
This one right here is a must have! The main character Joey is so relatable that he draws you into his world with him. It was a page turning faced paced wtf and I had so much fun while it lasted. The spider-dog-snake-thing is one of the best things I have read in a long time. I couldn't help but laugh everytime it was mentioned 🤣. Only gripe I have is it's over!! Thank you for the ride and want to go again! That ending had me seriously contemplating existence!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This one right here is a must have! The main character Joey is so relatable that he draws you into his world with him. It was a page turning faced paced wtf and I had so much fun while it lasted. The spider-dog-snake-thing is one of the best things I have read in a long time. I couldn't help but laugh everytime it was mentioned 🤣. Only gripe I have is it's over!! Thank you for the ride and want to go again! That ending had me seriously contemplating existence!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 10, 2023
Everyone has nostalgic moments that pop up occasionally. This book hit one of my most fond memories from our local mom and pop video store. I remember going every weekend with my mom to get horror movies for a marathon. However, I thankfully did not rent a movie like Joey inherited when his employer passed away leaving the store's entire horror collection in his possession. Poor Joey has lost everything at this point and decides to have a horror marathon using the movies from the video store. What happens next is a wild ride with an ending I never saw coming. To say I enjoyed this story is an understatement. I felt like I was on an adventure with each chapter. I would definitely recommend this book!
I was provided a copy of this amazing book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was provided a copy of this amazing book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 12, 2023
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
Oh, this was a fun little slice of cosmic horror! Joey Leonard is about to have a really bad weekend. When the video store he's given 20 years of his life to closes, he finds a homemade tape in a bin of horror movies. I really loved the homage to 80s and 90s B-movie horror, which is my favorite. Any book that gives a shout-out to The Suckling is okay in my book. 4.25 stars.
Oh, this was a fun little slice of cosmic horror! Joey Leonard is about to have a really bad weekend. When the video store he's given 20 years of his life to closes, he finds a homemade tape in a bin of horror movies. I really loved the homage to 80s and 90s B-movie horror, which is my favorite. Any book that gives a shout-out to The Suckling is okay in my book. 4.25 stars.
October 18, 2024
Ich fand diesen Kurzroman sehr substanzlos. Von den mysteriösen Number Stations hatte ich zuvor nie gehört, trotzdem: Mehr als eine Kurzgeschichte gibt das Material, wie Kevin Lucia es verwendet, nicht her. So habe ich während der zweiten Hälfte mehrfach daran gedacht, dass Buch nicht zu Ende zu lesen. Neben der Handlungs- und Ideenarmut hat mich auch der trunksüchtige Protagonist nicht überzeugt und auch den Schreibstil fand ich sehr durchschnittlich.
1 ½ Sterne.
1 ½ Sterne.
October 12, 2025
Dark tale. Not at all the ending I was expecting!
April 15, 2023
I really enjoyed this title! The concept of how this character was affected by the video he watched was creepy, very interesting, and made me look up a bunch of articles that had to do with the "weapon" used in this book. Parts of this title made me think of the movie The Ring, the Edward Lee book City Infernal, and the Silent Hill video games. I would definitely recommend this read and look forward to reading more titles by this author in the future.
June 5, 2025
I saw this on a Bookstagram post highlighting indie horror books that needed more attention. Unfortunately it fell flat for me. It just seemed very basic - guy watches a strange unmarked videocassette and starts having horrifying visions. (Another recent read,
Scanlines
by Todd Keisling, fulfilled this premise much better.) I think there's a lot the author could have done with the Adirondacks setting and the video rental store nostalgia that could have elevated the story a bit more.
The ending worked very well, however.
The ending worked very well, however.
April 2, 2023
Read this book in one sitting! It was such a fun read. Highly recommend
December 23, 2024
This was a fun, little read. The pages kept on turning as the story showed no signs of slowing down. I would have rated it higher, but something about this book left me wanting more. I can't put my finger on what, though. That being said, as an avid horror fan, I felt seen and validated within this story. I'm looking forward to reading more of Kevin Lucia's work.
Deux. Siete. Roku. Ēk.
Deux. Siete. Roku. Ēk.
June 18, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up for GR. Those who like meta horror books that include 80s horror movie references, could really enjoy this story! I had a blast with it, and the ending was pretty hard-hitting! I am excited to read lots more by Kevin Lucia in the future!
April 9, 2023
This book was very fast-paced although I feel like we spent the first half of the book setting up the premise, only for the development and conclusion to come very quickly. From when Joey watched that "found footage" video to the end, it felt a little rushed. And I will say... I was expecting the ending. I thought for a while it was going in a different direction (which would have been a nice surprise) but alas it did end up going in the direction I had thought it was headed towards.
Despite that, this story was an easy one to get into and still enjoyable. Definitely gave a me a good bit of nostalgia for video rental stores. As a pre-teen/teen my friends and I used to go to rent a horror movie every Friday night to watch together. There's something to be said about browsing the aisles, checking out new releases, and for the most part watching stuff based off of the description on the back of the VHS sleeve, because there weren't a bunch of online reviews on stuff. This will be appreciated by those of us who have rented videos before streaming platforms took over.
Despite that, this story was an easy one to get into and still enjoyable. Definitely gave a me a good bit of nostalgia for video rental stores. As a pre-teen/teen my friends and I used to go to rent a horror movie every Friday night to watch together. There's something to be said about browsing the aisles, checking out new releases, and for the most part watching stuff based off of the description on the back of the VHS sleeve, because there weren't a bunch of online reviews on stuff. This will be appreciated by those of us who have rented videos before streaming platforms took over.
July 15, 2023
This was a quick and fun read! Joey was having the toughest time and was just really down. He was so relatable and a very likable character. I would love to shut myself up in my house and just binge watch horror movies. Best therapy ever. Unfortunately, between the booze and the creepy video, things weren’t so cozy for Joey.
This was a solid 4 stars until I got to the last quarter of the book. Then it was bumped up to 5 stars. It was creepy and kept me guessing until the end. Loved it!
This was a solid 4 stars until I got to the last quarter of the book. Then it was bumped up to 5 stars. It was creepy and kept me guessing until the end. Loved it!
January 10, 2024
2.5 stars
I love this author's writing, and especially his stories that take place in Clifton Heights. However, this particular novella just seemed to be missing something, in my opinion. It didn't feel like horror, but the sense of depression was prevalent. As a novella, there was a lot of repetitious phrases, scenes, that just seemed to be filling in a story that was too thin to begin with.
I love this author's writing, and especially his stories that take place in Clifton Heights. However, this particular novella just seemed to be missing something, in my opinion. It didn't feel like horror, but the sense of depression was prevalent. As a novella, there was a lot of repetitious phrases, scenes, that just seemed to be filling in a story that was too thin to begin with.
May 25, 2023
This was such a fun book, full of nostalgic horror movie references and trippy scifi theories. This book completely exceeded expectations on what I thought it would be about, and took me in a completely different direction. Absolutely one of my new favorite horror novellas.
September 1, 2023
Review coming soon!
August 14, 2023
What can I say about this book? It was incredible. It's the perfect read for long summer days and short winter days. The book may only have 133 pages, but it carries an absolute punch. One word will scream as you read it, nostalgia, nostalgia, nostalgia.
In Clifton Heights, NY, exists the last video rental store called Showbiz Video. Unfortunately for its store manager Joey Leonard, the thrill is short-lived. The store must close, and he doesn't know what to do with his life. The store's deceased owner has given Joey all the horror movie inventory. Now he will go home and drown his sorrows with booze and a horror movie marathon. There's a VHS that captures his attention, and he thinks it's a low-budget movie, but the more he plays it, the more sinister things get. Me being a horror lover, from books and movies, this is definitely a new favorite in my library.
In Clifton Heights, NY, exists the last video rental store called Showbiz Video. Unfortunately for its store manager Joey Leonard, the thrill is short-lived. The store must close, and he doesn't know what to do with his life. The store's deceased owner has given Joey all the horror movie inventory. Now he will go home and drown his sorrows with booze and a horror movie marathon. There's a VHS that captures his attention, and he thinks it's a low-budget movie, but the more he plays it, the more sinister things get. Me being a horror lover, from books and movies, this is definitely a new favorite in my library.
March 1, 2023
𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐢𝐳 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨. 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦.
The best books are the ones that hit you on a personal level. Like Joey, I'm nearing the end of my career. I thought I would be excited by the prospect of retirement and the idea of starting something new, but I'm starting to realize just how much of my identity is wrapped up in my career. When I'm not an English teacher anymore, what exactly will I be? So in addition to being entertaining, this book forced me to think about some topics I've been avoiding.
The first thing I loved about this novella was that it was steeped in nostalgia. If you're old enough to remember video stores, you know the thrill of racing to the new release wall to grab the last VHS copy available. When the mom and pop stores and then the big chains started to close down, a big part of our lives went with it.
Showbiz Video, the last video rental store in the Adirondacks, is finally closing its doors for good. Store manager Joey Leonard has anticipated this moment for years, but he's still shaken and dazed by the loss. The store's owner has died, and he has willed Joey all of the store's horror movies, his favorite, and all Joey wants to do is drink and withdraw from the barrenness of the real world and escape into the comfort of his beloved movies. But Joey finds a videotape in the collection that's not like the rest, and when he puts it in the VCR, he's shocked to see that it's clearly homemade. He hears a strange series of numbers, some spoken in different languages, and he is spooked enough to eject the tape.
But it's too late. Because the sinister message of the tape has already slithered into Joey's psyche, altering his perception of the world and the people in it. Can Joey combat this evil, or has he truly indulged in his last ever horror movie marathon?
I am so grateful to the author for an early copy. I will be checking out his backlist for sure!
The best books are the ones that hit you on a personal level. Like Joey, I'm nearing the end of my career. I thought I would be excited by the prospect of retirement and the idea of starting something new, but I'm starting to realize just how much of my identity is wrapped up in my career. When I'm not an English teacher anymore, what exactly will I be? So in addition to being entertaining, this book forced me to think about some topics I've been avoiding.
The first thing I loved about this novella was that it was steeped in nostalgia. If you're old enough to remember video stores, you know the thrill of racing to the new release wall to grab the last VHS copy available. When the mom and pop stores and then the big chains started to close down, a big part of our lives went with it.
Showbiz Video, the last video rental store in the Adirondacks, is finally closing its doors for good. Store manager Joey Leonard has anticipated this moment for years, but he's still shaken and dazed by the loss. The store's owner has died, and he has willed Joey all of the store's horror movies, his favorite, and all Joey wants to do is drink and withdraw from the barrenness of the real world and escape into the comfort of his beloved movies. But Joey finds a videotape in the collection that's not like the rest, and when he puts it in the VCR, he's shocked to see that it's clearly homemade. He hears a strange series of numbers, some spoken in different languages, and he is spooked enough to eject the tape.
But it's too late. Because the sinister message of the tape has already slithered into Joey's psyche, altering his perception of the world and the people in it. Can Joey combat this evil, or has he truly indulged in his last ever horror movie marathon?
I am so grateful to the author for an early copy. I will be checking out his backlist for sure!
August 31, 2023
Welcome to Clifton Heights, NY - a hellhole that thankfully only exists in the mind of Kevin Lucia. This place makes Stephen King's Derry look like Disney World.
In this latest installment, we find Joey Leonard, basically a non-motivated slacker who just lost his job at the video store (for those people born after 2000, go ask your parents what VHS tapes were - bet they may even still have one or two) after the owner dies. He receives a tote of tapes - all horror - as his "inheritance".
Joey is a movie buff to the 'N'th degree so he immediately goes through the collection, only to find a non-commercial tape. With a stiff drink, and a woe-is-me attitude, he slips it into his VCR. What happens next is reminiscent of THE RING, only with an ending that hits hard.
I was lucky enough to sit in on a reading of this at the 2023 Scare That Care. When Kevin started reading, I knew I had to move it to the top of my TBR.
While I've enjoyed everything Kevin has written to date, I think this little novella may just be my favorite of his so far. His homage to B-rated horror movies was great, and you could tell that He had a lot of fun writing this one.
In this latest installment, we find Joey Leonard, basically a non-motivated slacker who just lost his job at the video store (for those people born after 2000, go ask your parents what VHS tapes were - bet they may even still have one or two) after the owner dies. He receives a tote of tapes - all horror - as his "inheritance".
Joey is a movie buff to the 'N'th degree so he immediately goes through the collection, only to find a non-commercial tape. With a stiff drink, and a woe-is-me attitude, he slips it into his VCR. What happens next is reminiscent of THE RING, only with an ending that hits hard.
I was lucky enough to sit in on a reading of this at the 2023 Scare That Care. When Kevin started reading, I knew I had to move it to the top of my TBR.
While I've enjoyed everything Kevin has written to date, I think this little novella may just be my favorite of his so far. His homage to B-rated horror movies was great, and you could tell that He had a lot of fun writing this one.
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