Bad Movie Night

by Patrick Lacey

Welcome to So Bad, So Good, YouTube’s most successful channel dedicated to trash cinema. This week, we’ll be watching and discussing the elusive horror flick Creepies. Some say the film is cursed, that its cast members died in unusual ways. Others claim the writers, producers, and directors have gone into hiding because of the movie’s macabre reputation. Countless viewers have experienced flashbacks to scenes within the film, as if they themselves were characters. But surely those are just rumors, right? Let’s fire up the VCR and find out. Grab some popcorn, crack open a cold one, and ignore the scratching in the walls.

Genres: Horror, Novella, Horror Thriller

120 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2023

About the author

Patrick Lacey was born and raised in a haunted house. He currently spends his nights and weekends writing about things that make the general public uncomfortable. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, his oversized cat, and his muse, who is likely trying to kill him.

Twitter: @patlacey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.lace...
Blogspot: http://patrickclacey.wordpress.com/

Reviews

[Alex (The Bookubus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come for the cursed film story, stay for the personal trauma journey. Bad Movie Night follows the experience and aftermath of watching a supposedly cursed film, the ensuing investigation to find out more about it and the downward spiral of the main character. Effective writing and storytelling hooked me in right from the beginning and kept me intrigued throughout. I thought this was going to be 'just' a fun romp about 80s horror film nostalgia but there was so much more to this story. This was my first time reading Patrick Lacey and I look forward to reading more!

Thank you to the author for providing a copy for review.

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a bad movie night? Count me in.

A small group of friends have turned their love of horror movies into a semi-famous YouTube channel. When a bootleg copy of an obscure film mysteriously appears in the studio it's like a dream come true. They can't wait to watch, and film an episode about it. So what if it's rumored to be cursed? It's only a movie right?

I'll be honest with you, I had a moment of doubt when I opened this book and found it written in second person. I can count on one hand the number of books I've enjoyed from that point of view. However, Patrick Lacey has really pulled it off and it works well here. From this perspective, you are the star of the book and you will take the risk of bringing the curse upon yourself.

The movie scenes played out in vivid detail, to the point that I feel like I actually saw it. I wanted to tell them not to watch but they could not look away and neither could I, even when the curse began to take hold. The main character's depression over a traumatic incident in the past seems to make him (You) more susceptible to the curse but that doesn't mean it's safe for anyone else to watch this movie.
I read this book in one sitting and I never do that. If I never post again you'll know the curse took me.

My thanks to Patrick Lacey.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo good.. kind of reminded me of scanlines by Todd keisling

[Glenn Rolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

BAD MOVIE NIGHT...first take? AWESOME!

If it seems like it's been forever since we got something new from Patrick Lacey (A Voice So Soft, We Came Back), it's because, well, it has. In 2019, Lacey released three books—WHERE STARS DON'T SHINE and A VOICE SO SOFT (both from Grindhouse Press) and the excellent LORDS OF THE DEEP, co-written by fellow indie horror star, Tim Meyer (Severed Press).

What's up with the recent silence? I ran into him at a convention this year and asked him. It turns out Lacey started a family, and if that wasn't enough, he's also been hard at work behind the scenes preparing for some next-level stuff. So, when Grindhouse Press announced earlier this year that they'd be putting out a new book from one of my favorite current horror writers, I was freaking pumped!

My thoughts on BAD MOVIE NIGHT:

Lacey hits homers with any retro horror movie-loving, heartbroken protagonist he writes and he does the same here. We have a group of YouTubers who watch bad horror movies and talk about them. A hard-to-find indie flick called Creepies finds its way to the studio where they do all their work and the weirdness begins. I love that a lot of Lacey's horror fiction feels like a fucked-up dream, you can tell he watched A Nightmare on Elm Street about two thousand times as a kid and it soaked deep into his marrow. BAD MOVIE NIGHT is no different. The film (Creepies) is haunted. The actors all died at various times since filming it, and the director was let go halfway through production. The original director's B-movie vision of a Gremlins/Ghoulies/Friday the 13th takes a huge turn into an odd direction once the second director takes over.
Our main character's past, including an accident with his ex, makes him a target for the more bizarre aspects of the film and its curse.

I don't want to give you any more info on what happens, so you can check it out for yourselves.
If you're a fan of Lacey's past works, or have a hardcore love for retro horror movies (anything they'd show you on The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs), you are going to have a blast with this book.

Patrick Lacey's BAD MOVIE NIGHT is a guaranteed good time.
Glenny J says check it out!

[Alex | | findingmontauk1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

You had me at cursed film.

After a few chapters I already felt like this is just the perfect book. A love letter to horror classics, video rental stores, and low budget gems shared with friends while simultaneously a scathing jab at modern movie blandness and lack of risky choices made that equate to sanitized production. There's something to be said about a time where we could just go to the movie store (well, my dad owned one so that was easy for me!) and grab random horror movies off the shelves and then return home with friends or family (siblings and cousins in my case), get all the Mountain Dew and Doritos, turn the lights off, and stay up for hours having the best time ever.

But what if you grabbed... THE WRONG MOVIE?

It's fast-paced, engaging, and definitely doesn't give you time or the desire to check your phone for any updates in between. I can see younger me with this group of friends, watching these movies, dissecting them on a video channel, and just having the best time with pizza and drinks along the way. Hell, I can probably see now-me doing this same thing if work and adulting wasn't constantly in the way trying to sabotage us. But thanks to Patrick Lacey we get to live vicariously through this well-written story and remain safe from harm (and all those pizza calories) on the other side of the book. And the fact that this book is written in 2nd person POV actually makes that vision even more of a reality, inviting you into this eerie, creepy path to uncover the truth behind this infamous and elusive film at the center of this book.

I thought I knew how this was going to end, but it's like the author climbed out of the book and slapped me and taunted, "Ah ah ah! Not today, sucker!" It's one of those books that you finish and have a big smile on your face because you love the destination just as much as the journey itself.

Like I said earlier, a lot of this felt like a love letter wrapped up in a cursed film horror story. And that's definitely the feeling I will have when I think back on BAD MOVIE NIGHT. Easily going in my Top 10 of 2023.

"There's nothing wrong with a little sleaze."

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Patrick Lacey for sending me an e-ARC of Bad Movie Night!

As soon as I saw the title/cover and who authored Bad Movie Night, I knew I needed to read it. Where Stars Won’t Shine was my first read from Patrick Lacey & it was an instant fave & he quickly became an author I knew I needed to keep up with. & reader, I can tell you that Bad Movie Night definitely cemented Lacey as an instant buy.

Second person POV might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but believe me when I say it works for Bad Movie Night. I felt like I was trapped alongside the main character as they investigated what was going on with this strange cursed film. Their descent into madness is paced perfectly & forces you to feel like you’re also falling part.

& the writing? Phenomenal.

I definitely urge you all to pick up Bad Movie Night. This fast-paced read is definitely a unique experience.

[Horror Sickness · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5*

Let me ask you something. Do you love cursed movies? Do you enjoy a horror enthusiast main character?

If your answer has been yes to both questions, then you will love this novella.

We follow a group of youtubers that make video commentaries on bad horror movies. They are watching some new potential bad movies when they discover they have been sent a copy of a rumored impossible to get cursed horror film…Creepies

They decide to watch it and the aftermath of that, well… we have all seen The Ring, right? Some things are better left untouched. If a movie is rumored to be cursed….would you watch it?

[Deborah G. deAlteriis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have seriously missed Patrick's writing! This fast-paced novella will please all horror fans. A good mix of ghost story, supernatural and personal journey. This book takes you on a twisted journey you don't want to miss. And the ending is about as perfect as you can get!

[Rojda · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting but not really scary 💿📼

[That Horror Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a surprise for me and I loved every second of it. The moment that I picked it up, I just kept reading! With only 120 pages, it was such a fun short read. I finished it in one sitting.

The book is just long enough to really capture your attention and is able to convey its story. It had some genuinely creepy moments. But where I thought I was going to read a cursed film story, it felt more like a personal trauma journey. This didn’t mean Bad Movie Night lost its horror factor, though! If anything, it only added to the creepy atmosphere.

I thought I knew how this book would end, but the author pulled a 180 on us, and completely turned it around. By the end of it, I had such a big smile on my face.

Bad Movie Night goes directly into my favourites!

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story reads like a r/nosleep and I mean that in the best possible way. It reads as though it is one of those classic, famous nosleeps that everyone talks about (think "Penpals" "Uncle Gerry's..." etc.). The premise was interesting as any fan of horror media/classic 80s VHS tapes and the urban legends surrounding "cursed films." The creature(s) were also a lot of fun and were given just enough description to make them scary while also leaving a lot up to the imagination. What I especially liked was that the narrator was already somewhat affected/susceptible to the film's influence due to his own traumas and regrets. My only detriment is a personal quibble of not especially liking longform second person. I don't think third person would have fit for this novella and the point of the story, but first person would have been fine. That aside, it was incredibly creepy and you, along with the narrator (which, okay, could warrant second person, but I'm still not a fan) are invested in finding out the mystery. Or, rather, it finding you.

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick Lacey sucks you into this story with his unique writing style and storytelling. However, once you get a taste for it, you can't escape!

What a truly harrowing horror novella!! This story is truly devious while also being delightful! I really enjoyed it and if you haven't read this year - GO BUY IT!

[Michael (Horror Gardener) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what happened to Jessi of RLM? Well this book now gives us the answer!

Picking up early that this book was an homage to my favourite YouTube film review channel Red Letter Media I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It had some genuinely creepy moments throughout and enough coffee to peel the paint off a church.

My one surprise is I've come to expect depravity and gore from Grindhouse Press but his time it was replaced with caffeine and bootleg DVD's, which was also the selling point.

4 dead teenagers out of 5

[Dale Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is written in a different way than I've ever experienced before - apparently it's called "second person". The story talks as if you, the reader, are the main character. Some people have found it awkward but I quite enjoyed it, especially for a story such as this. To me, it added to the creepiness of the whole book. Something different but I really enjoyed it.

It's superbly written, with great details on all subject matter within the story. I found a lot of it quite interesting, in terms of film making and the like.

A short read which is definitely worth your time.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not too often I come across a novel told in the second person, which made for an interesting reading experience. In this novel, you are a successful movie youtuber. One night, you stumble across a legendary cursed film, which leads to an obsession.

Overall, it's not a favorite, but I like the unique POV style and the atmosphere. At times, I found the plot to be disorienting, but that may be because of what we learn further in the story.

[Mark Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a cursed 80s video nasty hooked me right in.

I’m a newcomer to Lacey and happy that the setup worked. Although the tense was a little clunky to start off with, the writing was so good it wasn’t that noticeable. I binged the book in a few hours - not something I usually do.

Overall a great premise, written well. Will be checking out his other stuff.

[Kelsi - Slime and Slashers · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up for GR. Loved, loved, loved! If you're a fan of stories that feature old technology, - like VHS tapes and the like - you may want to check this out. This is short and quick read. The story features some weird and very mysterious elements. Highly enjoyable and super easy to absorb! An underrated gem that I'm glad I discovered.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick Lacey has been an author I read without question since Dream Woods.

Bad Movie Night is an excellent novella that places the reader in the front seat. It's a constant nod to 80s and 90s horror, with plenty of fun and a few good twists.

Highly recommended!

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything worked for me in this novella: addressing the reader in the second person, the "bad movie" youtube culture, the description of the cursed film, the writing, the imagery, plus the terrific ending! There's a lot of atmosphere, a couple of amazing twists, and a riveting story. Loved it!

[Dee Bonney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the story but the second person style, for me, makes it difficult to flow.

[Adam Gismondi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will read every cursed film book, but this one is exceptional. Definitely seeking out more from Patrick Lacey.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm going with a three star rating for this novella. I really liked the concept, the second person POV kind of threw me off, but I would definitely read more by this author.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just couldn’t get into this book even though it’s just a novella. I tried, but couldn’t finish it.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exceptional little horror novella that really digs down to how our relationship with media influences our everyday lives.

[VeggieMan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great, quick read and it definitely had me scared. I loved the suspense and that kind of “unreliable narrator” style. There were a few typos I noticed reading it on Kindle but other than that it was fun. Definitely makes me want to watch a horror movie now, lol