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Nightmare
For George Tatum, the bad dreams were to blame for the atrocities he’d inflicted on those people in Brooklyn back in 1978. Since then, the experimental drug program had worked for a while and his doctors at The State Hospital for The Criminally Insane believed he was cured. But the childhood trauma that triggered his rage was still there, quietly seething in the dark recesses of his damaged brain. Now George is free again, and the psychotic carnage of his past can remain silent no longer. First came the girl in the 42nd Street grindhouse. Then the woman in Myrtle Beach. Now George is heading south, inexorably drawn to the young family on the Florida coast – especially the boy, C.J. Over the next six days, George’s grisly visions will return. The butchery will escalate. And the ultimate nightmare is about to begin.
200 pages, Paperback
Published May 7, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 10, 2024
I am a sucker for any novelization that adds things not originally in the film it is based on. Gingold is clearly a fan of the original source material and had no problem crafting a unique retelling of an 80s lesser known slasher. The extra kills are great as are the deleted scenes in full description that we’ve only seen stills of.
April 13, 2026
The pacing kept me until the third act. Then it felt rushed to the finish.
Update: after a recent rewatch of the film, now pinpointed why I don’t particularly love the movie: it feels half-baked. The novelization does help alleviate some of that, but sadly a particular favorite scene from the book wasn’t even in the film at all and the final revelation as to who George is to these victims was frankly ridiculous, and not in a good way. Both in the film and the novel. It comes out of left field and adds more mystery that I didn’t particularly care about.
The novel does also have an extended ending that thankfully was cut from the film. Way too cliche.
Something about this film speaks to me, but between film and novel, they both leave me feeling unfulfilled.
I’d recommend the book if you’re fan of the film, but don’t expect anything special.
Update: after a recent rewatch of the film, now pinpointed why I don’t particularly love the movie: it feels half-baked. The novelization does help alleviate some of that, but sadly a particular favorite scene from the book wasn’t even in the film at all and the final revelation as to who George is to these victims was frankly ridiculous, and not in a good way. Both in the film and the novel. It comes out of left field and adds more mystery that I didn’t particularly care about.
The novel does also have an extended ending that thankfully was cut from the film. Way too cliche.
Something about this film speaks to me, but between film and novel, they both leave me feeling unfulfilled.
I’d recommend the book if you’re fan of the film, but don’t expect anything special.
September 7, 2025
I’d give it a 3.5 if I could because it’s snappy and enjoyable enough, but leans more on the 70s-psycho-sexual-stalker side than I tend to prefer.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews