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Director's Cut:
From Keith McCabe, the author of Rabbit King, comes a terrifying thriller about a film no one was meant to see...
An unfinished film is discovered in the closet of a New York insane asylum. The only clue to its origin is a name written on the label, Maynard Burke, a secretive avant-garde director who has never made a public appearance despite his loyal cult following. But what’s on the film are horrors beyond imagination, more disturbing than any of Burke’s previous violent films, reigniting an old are Burke’s films real or fake?
Amanda Sloan, a retired actress, and Louis Bardon, a notable film editor, are tasked with authenticating the found footage and tracking down Maynard Burke. But what they uncover is a shady history of gonzo filmmaking at the expense of other people’s lives. As they delve deeper into Burke’s twisted world, Amanda and Louis become the target of dangerous forces watching from the shadows.
Their journey becomes a deadly game of cat and mouse as Amanda and Louis navigate the tumultuous waters of Burke’s rabid fanbase. As they close in on the mysterious filmmaker, answers demand sacrifice, and nothing could have prepared them for the horrors laying in wait…
An unfinished film is discovered in the closet of a New York insane asylum. The only clue to its origin is a name written on the label, Maynard Burke, a secretive avant-garde director who has never made a public appearance despite his loyal cult following. But what’s on the film are horrors beyond imagination, more disturbing than any of Burke’s previous violent films, reigniting an old are Burke’s films real or fake?
Amanda Sloan, a retired actress, and Louis Bardon, a notable film editor, are tasked with authenticating the found footage and tracking down Maynard Burke. But what they uncover is a shady history of gonzo filmmaking at the expense of other people’s lives. As they delve deeper into Burke’s twisted world, Amanda and Louis become the target of dangerous forces watching from the shadows.
Their journey becomes a deadly game of cat and mouse as Amanda and Louis navigate the tumultuous waters of Burke’s rabid fanbase. As they close in on the mysterious filmmaker, answers demand sacrifice, and nothing could have prepared them for the horrors laying in wait…
- GenresHorror
601 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2023
14 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Keith McCabe
15 books20 followersKeith McCabe writes at the crossroads of horror and humanity, where dread seeps into the cracks of the human experience and truth is often more terrifying than the monster. An American indie author, McCabe has built a body of work that’s as fearless as it is unsettling—stories that pulse with suspense, rage, and psychological fire. Influenced by the haunting precision of Peter Straub, the emotional brutality of Joyce Carol Oates, and the stark moral landscapes of modern noir, McCabe crafts tales where every shadow hides a secret and every sinner has their reason.
His novels span the spectrum of terror and mystery. In Rabbit King, a fever dream of psychological horror, McCabe dissects the art underworld where the mythical Rabbit King has reigned for centuries; a mysterious creature that determines which artists achieve fame in their lifetime or die penniless and forgotten. Director’s Cut turns a lens on obsession and morbid fandom in the world of underground filmmaking—where creativity and cruelty blur into a single, bloody performance. Pain Diary is an unflinching psychological thriller that reads like a confession from the edge of reason, a story about trauma’s long reach and the fragile architecture of identity.
McCabe’s Victims & Hunters takes a detour into history without losing his trademark grit—a sprawling historical crime novel set against a world of moral decay, vengeance, and fractured justice with a pioneer female investigator (Maryelaina Lemberg) at the helm. Here, McCabe fuses period detail with the tension of modern noir, proving that human corruption is timeless.
His supernatural Deb Dawson series (Jersey Graves, Jersey Gothic, Jersey Devils) extends his vision into a haunting mythos of cursed people and restless spirits featuring a reluctant New Jersey psychic (Deb Dawson) navigating the dangerous occult underworld. Through these works, McCabe explores America’s dark folklore and the ghosts we make for ourselves—both literal and psychological.
What ties McCabe’s stories together is not just their intensity, but their empathy—the sense that beneath every act of violence lies a yearning for something pure, something lost. His worlds are brutal, beautiful, and cinematic, written with the pulse of a thriller and the soul of literary fiction.
Keith McCabe lives in Texas where he works as a court reporter.
His novels span the spectrum of terror and mystery. In Rabbit King, a fever dream of psychological horror, McCabe dissects the art underworld where the mythical Rabbit King has reigned for centuries; a mysterious creature that determines which artists achieve fame in their lifetime or die penniless and forgotten. Director’s Cut turns a lens on obsession and morbid fandom in the world of underground filmmaking—where creativity and cruelty blur into a single, bloody performance. Pain Diary is an unflinching psychological thriller that reads like a confession from the edge of reason, a story about trauma’s long reach and the fragile architecture of identity.
McCabe’s Victims & Hunters takes a detour into history without losing his trademark grit—a sprawling historical crime novel set against a world of moral decay, vengeance, and fractured justice with a pioneer female investigator (Maryelaina Lemberg) at the helm. Here, McCabe fuses period detail with the tension of modern noir, proving that human corruption is timeless.
His supernatural Deb Dawson series (Jersey Graves, Jersey Gothic, Jersey Devils) extends his vision into a haunting mythos of cursed people and restless spirits featuring a reluctant New Jersey psychic (Deb Dawson) navigating the dangerous occult underworld. Through these works, McCabe explores America’s dark folklore and the ghosts we make for ourselves—both literal and psychological.
What ties McCabe’s stories together is not just their intensity, but their empathy—the sense that beneath every act of violence lies a yearning for something pure, something lost. His worlds are brutal, beautiful, and cinematic, written with the pulse of a thriller and the soul of literary fiction.
Keith McCabe lives in Texas where he works as a court reporter.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 2, 2024
First off, a word of warning. This book contains some of the most graphic descriptions of violence I have ever read. I skipped the detailed descriptions as much as I could. I skipped several paragraphs in places, so as not to read about gore, etc. However, the mystery portion of the book was excellent. The idea is sterling--people are trying to authenticate movie footage found in storage closet, which leads to many unexpected happenings. I enjoyed the characters and the unravelling of the clues that they found. Creepiness pervaded the most mundane scenes in the book. This story was also quite terrifying in places. If you liked "Night Film" by Marisha Pessl, "Silver Nitrate" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, or McCabe's other book "Rabbit King", you will enjoy this book, too.
December 26, 2023
Night Film is my favorite book. This book reminds me of the feel of Night Film. I feel some editing mistakes were made and there are some inconsistencies, but overall I enjoyed the story. This is the second McCabe I have read and I enjoy the grittiness of his novels. Dialogue needs some work in places, but overall it's a fun read. I have zero doubt some folks will read this and tear it apart, but as for the overall "vibe," this worked for me. I look forward to reading from him in the future.
December 28, 2023
The story was spine-tingling and breath-taking. At first I thought it’s paranormal but it turned out to be a story about a psycho director. Many people were sacrificed for the sake of his art. And in the journey to track down the director the two lead characters fell into a cat mouse game.Over all,the book Director’s Cut by Keith McCabe was really good, well characterized and I really enjoyed it. I couldn’t stop reading until I finish it.
February 17, 2025
Immersive
Along the lines of a scary folklore tale ( which I love) this urban legend deals with what's real or myth. Nothing gets out of control to the point of unbelievable, but just a slow and steady creep fest growing in intesity. You really get involved with the characters and the situations that arise. This is my second novel by mr. McCabe and I have to admit that his style of writing is perfect.
Along the lines of a scary folklore tale ( which I love) this urban legend deals with what's real or myth. Nothing gets out of control to the point of unbelievable, but just a slow and steady creep fest growing in intesity. You really get involved with the characters and the situations that arise. This is my second novel by mr. McCabe and I have to admit that his style of writing is perfect.
November 25, 2025
A captivating mystery set in the world of filmmaking and distribution. Makes some salient points about violence and degradation being put on film and being considered art. And how much profit can be wrung from it. The film references aren't TOO gatekeeping obscure, thankfully. And there's a thinly disguised version of the CRITERION label in there. A good read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews