Chopping Mall: The Novelization

by Brian G. Berry

Some people will kill for a bargain... and at the Park Plaza Mall they do! Here, you can shop till you drop... dead!

High tech robots equipped with state-of-the-art security devices have been recruited as the new mechanical night watchmen' for Park Plaza Mall. When a jolting bolt of lightning short circuits the main computer control, the robots turn into 'killbots'... on the loose after unsuspecting shoppers!

Four couples are trying to make it after hours in a mattress store. They make it alright—in the morgue!

At Park Plaza, you can save on everything but your life!

Encyclopocalypse Publications has joined forces with Shout Factory to novelize the cult classic 1986 film Chopping Mall. Produced by the legendary Roger Corman, Chopping Mall has been a mainstay of the horror genre, Chopping The Novelization promises to deliver all the laughs and thrills that have made it a beloved fixture in horror cinema, reimagined as a collectible paperback book.

Genres: Horror

138 pages, Paperback

Published November 19, 2024

About the author

a.k.a Brian Berry

Brian G Berry is new to the world of writing. He writes everything from 1980s inspired horror, SCIFI/Action-horror, to the strange. His biggest influences are the writers of the weird including Lovecraft, Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, to the pulp horror authors of the golden age 70s/80s- and a splattering of others. Author of The Pail, A Bloody Christmas, Splatter Fiend Series, Slasherback Series, Campfire Tales Beneath a Pallid Moon, Accursed Ground, Blood Lanes, The Night Mutilator, Thanksgiving Day Massacre, and his newest: SNOW SHARK.

Reviews

[Kelli Krystne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave ultimate 90s horror vibes. Some mall workers decide to stay and party after work one day in the store. Meanwhile, the mall has just started having robot security guards, this proves to be a terrible idea as the night goes on. I found this book to be very suspenseful and easy to read. The idea of the rouge robots really freaked me out. I did receive this book for free as an ARC but that didn’t change my rating or review of this book.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a blast with this mall slasher gore-fest! As I was reading, I could picture scene by scene. I felt the terror of the victims but also delighted in the bloody mayhem. This is a quick, fun read that is sure to delight fans of 80s horror films.

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gory, campy, and surprisingly smart thriller that delivers exactly what its premise promises: a night of wild mayhem in a mall-turned-death trap. Ideal for readers who love their horror with a wink and a nod to the excesses of the 80s. Brian G. Berry was the best choice to bring this novelization to life. It pulls no punches and delivers a heart-stopping, action-packed adventure to keep you up at night.

Brian G. Berry is a master of tension, blending horror with tongue-in-cheek humor, ensuring that even as the body count rises, the book never takes itself too seriously. Fans of pulpy, fast-paced thrillers with a touch of retro sci-fi will find themselves breezing through the pages, eager to see what new danger awaits in the next shop or corridor.

Grab your copy of this novelization and get ready for a thrilling foray into the gore and guts of the Park Plaza Mall!

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chopping Mall: The Novelization by Brian G Berry
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is such a fun and entertaining horror story! This book is based on a 1986 movie, Chopping Mall. (I have not watched the movie.)
The book definitely does well in making the reader feel the reminiscence of 80’s slashers films.
At Park Plaza mall, robots have been hired to
work night security. After the robots short circuit, no one left in the mall is safe!
This is a really fun and quick read. Lots of killing, gore, suspense and excitement!

Thank you to Joe Hempel & Brian G Berry for an audio copy of this fantastic book! Joe Hempel did an amazing job with the narration and he’s my favorite narrator!

*Paper and ecopies of the book will be out November 19th. However, the audiobook is out now! *
*Grab yours!! *

[Jessi Linne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this through Audible. This was a free ARC from the narrator. Thank you so much!

If you’re only stumbling on this novelization without prior knowledge of the ridiculous movie from the 80’s then buckle up!! What could go wrong with a security team of robots roaming the mall at night? Absolute chaos! These robots are blood thirsty and can’t differentiate between friend and foe. Sucks for the poor teens and young adults that decide to stay late to party in the mall. So much gore, and so much cheese! Just shut your mind off, and drift back into the 80’s for this fun quick listen!

[ScarlettAnomalyReads]

Retracted

[Brian Shevory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Encyclopocalypse Publications and BookSirens for allowing me to read an early copy of their latest release in their novelization series Chopping Mall: The Novelization. I was also able to preview the novelization of Plan 9 from Outer Space by Brett Nelson, and I really enjoyed the book. Furthermore, this is the third book from Encyclopocalypse Publications I’ve read, and they have all been fun, high quality reads. The movie Chopping Mall is an underrated 80’s techno-horror film, kinding operating as the antithesis of Short Circuit and building on the fears stoked by such films as Terminator. Although released before Robocop, I felt like the movie has some similarities with Chopping Mall as well since it presents a kind of corporate surveillance state where mindless commercialism and consumerism are intertwined with military technological surveillance and control. Maybe I’m looking too much into the subtext of the film since it’s also a fun and silly movie with some crazy kills and over-the-top gore and roboviolence. I feel like many people don’t know too much about this film, and I was glad to find out more as I researched it. I learned that the film has its DNA in Roger Corman’s productions, which is interesting since one of the couples who stays to party at the mall after closing watches Attack of the Crab Monsters and another character reads a book of short stories that features the basis for another Corman production Death Race 2000 (which also features Mary Woronov, who also has a cameo in this film). One of the stores in the film is also named after Corman’s Little Shop of Horrors and there are posters of Corman films throughout some of the stores. One of the great things about the book is that Berry includes many of these references throughout the novelization, but he also seems to add to some of the detaisl. For example, the janitor, played by the great character actor and Corman star Dick Miller, is, I think, the third person to die in the film. Berry names his colleagues Dick and Miller and kills them off too. I don’t remember their deaths in the film. There were a few other deaths in the novelization that I didn’t remember in the film—it’s been a while since I’ve seen it, and so I didn’t remember if Leslie’s dad was killed by one of the Protector bots—he was in the novelization, trying to spy on Leslie and Mike. Berry also adds some backstory to some of the characters that was entertaining. I loved his descriptions and background about Mike Brennan, explaining his interest in gum chewing that the film doesn’t really bother with. The novelization also has Paul and Mary returning to the mall to do something nefarious with their restaurant, not only a reference to the cameos from Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov, but also a reference to their film Eating Raoul. I loved these little nuggets including the reference to the sporting goods store as Peckinpah’s, which apparently was in the movie as well. I also found it interesting that a mall would have a sporting goods store with guns and other weapons, but this was also a major plot point for Dawn of the Dead so maybe that was something that happened more frequently in the 70s and 80s. The novelization stays true to the film, but in addition to the characterization, I also loved the epilogue. It was a cool twist, that I won’t end here, but it makes the protector robots more nefarious and part of a bigger plot. It also kind of opens the door for future movies or books about this robot program. I’m not sure if that will happen, but this was one of the great additions from the novelization. Beyond the epilogue, Berry’s writing also contributes to creating a fun read for fans of splatter and gore. The robot kills are described in graphic and creative ways. It’s over-the-top, but also kind of provides an imagistic description of what happens on the screen. If anything, his descriptions of the laser violence heightens the gore and splatter, adding a new dimension to this techno-horror gem. I found that Berry is a prolific author, so I will have to check out more of his works. I will definitely look for more Encyclopocalypse Publications. I really appreciate the preview copy, and I loved seeing the film stills and posters from the movie. I didn’t realize that the film had a previous title, Killbots, and was changed after it was unpopular at the time. I definitely think that Chopping Mall is a much better title and not only adds to the anti-capitalist message with other films like Dawn of the Dead and Carpenter’s They Live!, which would follow in a few years. The only thing I wish this book had was another introduction or preface by another author who also loves this film. Plan 9 had a great intro from Dana Gould explaining his love of the film and providing some context. I was hoping for a similar introduction to give some additional context to this film and the novelization. Hopefully, other books in the series will continue this tradition. Regardless, the book is still a fun and entertaining read, whether you’ve seen the film or not.

[PaperbackWarrior · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roger Corman's Concorde Pictures released Chopping Mall in 1986. The origin of the film's production stemmed from Corman's wife Julie negotiating a distribution deal with Vestron to create a horror film with a shopping mall locale. B-movie screenwriter, director, and producer Jim Wynorski joined the project to write the script (with Steve Mitchell) and direct. This was a partnership with the Cormans that would fuel future cult hits like Big Bad Mama II, Deathstalker 2, and Sorority House Massacre II and III (aka Hard to Die or Tower of Terror). Chopping Mall (initially titled Killbots) had a limited theatrical run but became rental store sustenance for millions of VCRs in the 1980s. Very few teenagers could pass up the amazing font and cover art.

In 2013, author, producer, and editor Mark Alan Miller teamed up with Shout! Factory to release the director's cut edition of Clive Barker's Nightbreed. Now, in 2024 Miller is the founder and president of the nostalgically modern publisher Encylopocalypse, which concentrates on horror, science-fiction, and action novels as both original content, reprints of prized vintage fiction, and new, fresh novelizations of cult films. His former collaboration with Shout! Factory inspired Encyclopocalypse to novelize Chopping Mall, which had previously never been novelized. Shout! Factory owns the rights to publish Roger Corman's film library. The marriage is a perfect curtain-jerk into more Corman films hitting the printed page.

Chopping Mall's novelizations is by Brian G. Berry, an author of over fifty novels and the founder of Slaughterhouse Press. His most well-known series titles are Shark Files, Slasherback, and VHS Trash. Berry's experience with horror and his novelizations for SRS Cinema makes him the perfect fit for Chopping Mall: The Novelization (release date Nov. 19, 2024).

Berry's take on Chopping Mall mostly follows the film version, which is how I like my novelizations. After just reading Michael Avalonne's Friday the 13th 3-D novelization, which seemingly was written from a different script completely, I appreciate Berry's artistic integrity to preserve the film's original design.

The book, and film, concerns a technological advancement occurring at Park Plaza Mall. To detract theft and unruly behavior, Park Plaza has installed three robots deemed The Protector. They are armed with deadly, flesh-piercing devices like tasers, lasers, C-4 explosive, and pain-inducing pliers when in a pinch. The exterior of these robots is bulletproof. Why any of this is necessary at an average 80s shopping mall is never explained in the film other than security measures.

One night after the mall closes for business, teenage employees stay late and converge inside one of the mall's furniture stores with their mattress mate. When a lightning storm frays the building's electronics, the robots are glitched and begin hunting the teens in the mall. These mop-headed survivors fight for their lives by stealing firearms, paint supplies (boom!), and other hardware to combat the run-amok robots. Like any 80s horror film there is the proverbial “final girl finale” to keep the faith.

Berry's novel weighs in at 136 pages and presents these horrifying, stomach-clinching scenes of terror with enough descriptive detail to make it a bloody good time without being distasteful. I loved the breezy flow, shorter chapters, and the quick dismissal of the unimportant characters – pop, chop, and tase for (time) savings.

Unlike the film, Berry goes one step further and doesn't rely on the last page's embrace to welcome the credits. Instead, he includes a four page Epilogue titled “Protector 2.0” that explains the U.S. Army Special Weapons Division, funded by the Defense Department, staged this mall annihilation as an exercise to test how the robots would perform in combat. Berry also includes a scene from an undisclosed testing facility in California where the robots have killed a number of people before finally biting the hand that feeds in Dr. Vanders, in this case ripping her scalp from her head and shoving it in her mouth. Brian Berry can be nasty when he wants to be.

Chopping Mall: The Novelization is a delightful retail rampage placing consumer combatants into an arena of oncoming death. Or debt from those monstrous credit card machines fueled on American capitalism and 80s excess. That's the believable horror story.

Note - I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ricky]

Note: This is a review for the Brian G. Berry edition, not the Joshua Millican version (which are two distinct adaptations released in 2024).

I love the film Chopping Mall, so when I heard they were making a novelization 40 years later, I was through the roof. (Due to a wacky set of circumstances, I had no idea that we'd get two novelizations, but that's another story.) It's as schlocky a movie as they come, so it's not like I was expecting anything thought provoking.

It's a horny movie for sure, but my God, this is a horny book. I couldn't stop myself from sending unnecessarily nasty excerpts to friends, but also this was the best part. I haven't read too many novelizations so I can't comment on how well it... novelizes it, but it's gotta be hard to make a horror novel like this. The film is so very clearly written to exist as a movie; some of the early character bits are fun to read again but once we get into the robots chasing teens, it just really becomes an exercise in monotony. I don't know how you'd change it up without making serious deviations, but I'm glad that I had a mental picture in mind before I read this because it helped me tear through the boring text.

Speaking of changing things up, I dug the few extra scenes that were here, and some of them are completely bonkers. The epilogues are crazy and as disgusting as a lot of the descriptions were... it was fun to kind of hate read.

It appears that this version wasn't meant to be released, and I'm excited to read the Joshua Millican version soon (which I can only assume is better), but I'm glad that I got this retracted edition because there's some fun to be had.

[Michael Livingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such Nostalgic Fun! - I vaguely remember watching Chopping Mall when I was kid, being a mutant B movie horror fun before I knew what that was or what it meant. Then recently in the last 6 years or so I really got back into those old movies, or Drive In movies by watching The Last Drive in, and one of the first movies I watched with Joe Bob Briggs was Chopping Mall! From then on I can't get enough of that show no matter what Joe Bob and Darcy play but may favorites are always the movies from my childhood, Chopping Mall being a favorite. So when I saw an author I follow wrote a novelization had to jump on it! I don't know if Mr. Gregory is a mutant but he certainly has a passion for this one, while short, he takes care in building the characters and describing the movie to take the reader back to watching it on the old 22 inch tube TV in my room. This was great fun, and if you are reading this and you love B movie, drive in, grindhouse horror this ones for you! Now I want more like this and will search out more novelizations of my favorites! Remember to have fun and let it take you back to those old malls that are dying now, but if you aren't my age you will still have fun with this and you might fingd a new type of horror movie to watch while reading a great story!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[ania | hellishreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

chopping mall (1986) is honestly such an iconic 80s horror film with such an absurd premise that it’s an impossible to forget film. so you’d think a novelisation would be able to capture what made the film amazing — maybe even give new depths to an otherwise depthless film.

no such luck though. this felt more as if someone was asked to write a too long recap of the film without bothering to flesh out any characters beyond ‘blonde hair and huge boobs’ (granted, that’s very on point for the film) but having read other film novelisations this was subpar. stilted writing and nothing exciting makes it less fun than the film.

there’s limits to what an author can do with a film novelisation, obviously, and since i’ve not read anything else by the author i think it’s only fair to try out his original stuff in the future. but for now, this just didn’t do it for me, unfortunately — except maybe it’ll make me rewatch chopping mall in the near future.

// ARC courtesy of BookSirens.

[Megan Magee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never heard of this movie, but I do think after reading this, I'll check it out and give it my full attention. Told from the POV of multiple employees and attendees of Park Plaza shopping mall in the 1980s, we discover robots who patrol the mall and "serve" the humans who run it by keeping the perimeters safe and free from deterrents in the form of breakers and enterers and shop lifters. Upon the first introduction of the Protectors, as you do in slashers- a group of majority teens throw a party in the mall and all bloody hell breaks loose. Since I haven't observed the movie, again, I'm not sure sure what of the content is original and what is readjusted from the film adaptation BUT the splatters and gore and kills were original and humorous in nature. This book is very quick and enjoyable, I just wished there'd been a touch more photos! I received an advance copy for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

[Beau Wasserman (Depression Arc) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian G. Berry's Chopping Mall is a pulpy, bloody, and thoroughly entertaining throwback to '80s slasher nostalgia, wrapped in a modern twist. The book balances campy horror and over-the-top gore, delivering a thrilling ride through a shopping mall where a routine after-hours hangout turns into a battle for survival.

The characters are intentionally archetypal, a nod to classic horror tropes, yet some moments of genuine humor and relatability sneak through the chaos. The pacing is relentless, with tension ratcheted up in every chapter. While the story leans heavily into its absurdity, it never takes itself too seriously—and that’s part of its charm.

If you're into fast-paced horror that's a little cheesy, a little scary, and a whole lot of fun, Chopping Mall is a perfect read. It's not high literature, but it's a blast—and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chopping mall is an entertaining, fast paced and action packed read. Just an enjoyable 80’s style tale to escape real life and dive into a fictional robot killer world. It was very easy to visualize the setting, the characters and the events due to the pleasant writing style and I loved the brutal and in detail described killings.

The characters are a bit one dimensional though, but I watched the movie afterwards and let’s say they matched each other perfectly. So, well done author! It was really fun to read a horror story set in a mall (Yes, a real mall slasher!) and I enjoyed the movie too. I definitely want to try other books from this author.

[Megan Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was a quick fun read and I think the author did a good job converting a screenplay into a novel without adding too much unnecessary description. I am hoping that this was a rough draft copy as I found a number of typos, unnecessary capitalization and sentences that simply made no sense. I deducted a star for those reasons, but all in all I enjoyed it. Obviously this book was based on a 1980s movie so the author stuck to the script, and I think he did a great job. Once those typos and sentences are fixed I think this will be a great collectors piece for horror lovers.

Please note: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[DH_reads_horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Death Commando by Brian G. Berry recently and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to see his take on the novelisation of Chopping Mall. He has written a novelisation that is very faithful to the film, with just enough added chapters to keep things fresh for those who are familiar with the film. Of course, being a Brian G. Berry book, it goes without saying that the levels of gore have increased quite significantly. I must also point out that my nerdy side got a kick out of the new names given to the janitors (originally named janitor 1 and janitor 2 in the film credits).

I received an advance review copy of Chopping Mall for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian G Berry does a fantastic job in bringing Chopping Mall to a novelization. It had that element that I enjoyed from the movie and I felt like it was everything that I enjoyed from the characters in this mall. The characters felt like they belonged in this and still felt like the people in the movie this was based on. Brian G Berry does another great novelization and I was enjoying the way he wrote this. I can't wait for more from Brian G Berry as it's always a good read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kirstyn (readwithkirstyn) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chopping Mall by Brian G. Berry is an absolute gem that masterfully blends horror and comedy, making for a uniquely fun reading experience. Berry’s sharp wit and clever writing create a captivating atmosphere that balances genuine suspense with laugh-out-loud moments. The characters are relatable and memorable, each adding to the chaotic charm of the story. This novel is a thrilling ride that keeps you engaged from start to finish, perfect for anyone looking for a delightful mix of terror and humor.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolute blast. The extra elements and kills added by Berry seamlessly blend in with the main plot, with plenty of injokes peppered throughout. Little tidbits down to the book a character is reading are captured here, characters being named 'Dick' and 'Miller' gave me a good chuckle w/ the added 'bucket of blood' punchline.

The writing was actually surprisingly pretty solid although Berry does slightly de-sleaze the book....I memba more to that pepperoni line lolololol.

Great little read novelizing one of my favourite 80s horror movies.

[Meredith Livingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wouldn't have known this was about a movie if the author hadn't mentioned it. So, I looked up the movie and watched. I'm not much for 80'S camp or horror. So, wasn't a huge fan of the movie. But the book was so much better, more descriptive and more graphic than an 80s movie could ever be. The story could've taken place now and was therefore scarier. I can't recommend the movie, but do recommend the novelization. Berry does a great job of telling the story and making it scarier.

[Maiidesuu · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good, it had an excellent grasp on that signature campiness of 80's horror flicks, not too fast paced that it felt rushed and interesting characters. It was engaging and descriptive without being too much. My only issue was that I thought it could use another proofreading. There were a few misspellings and some of the sentences were run on but those are small, nitpicky things on my part otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC: 2.5 stars rounded up. This story was fine, and given that it was a novelisation, some of the lack of depth can be justified as it would have been better emphasised in its original visual format. I didn't care for the explicit scenes which are a classic horror film trope, but felt very weird in this novella - though I did appreciate the anatomical accuracy! I think I would enjoy this if it were a more fully-developed story intended for reading.

[Emily Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished Chopping Mall: The Novelization by Brian G. Berry and this was such a fun, entertaining and gory read!! I loved absolutely everything about it and now I have to watch the movie. Who doesn’t love a good slasher that takes place in a mall with killer robots?! This was a quick read with some wild kills. 80’s vibes were strong and the closed mall after hours was a creepy thought throughout reading!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laura Colwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chopping Mall is one of my favourite 80s films, so I had to read the novelisation and it did not disappoint! While sticking very closely to the film, I loved how more evil and viscous the robots were - the violence and gore was more extreme (its reminded me of the violence in robocop!) I like the few extra scenes included with other characters we don't see much of in the film. Highly recommend reading this if you love your b-movie horror!

[Lola Jansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this horror read!

Horror is

My favorite genre and usually I find it difficult to find good horror books that have original plot. So this book was very refreshing and unique!

It was everything a good horror book should be! Gory, twisted and easy to reaad!

definitely recommend !

[Austin Shinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic 80s style book that feels like the novelization we somehow didn’t get at the time. Put this next to Jason Lives and it reads identical. Very stripped down prose. It clings to the movie. It only adds a few scenes. And that’s perfect. The movie was great. Berry just made me relive it. Highly recommended. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jesse Bollinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always been a huge fan of the movie so when I heard a novelization was out, I knew I just had to read it. This novel makes us care more for the teenagers than the film did. It makes what happens that much more impactful. If you love the movie, I would say read this book. It will make you enjoy the story even more! I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Christopher Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great novelization! It’s been a while since I’ve seen Chopping Mall so I am not sure how faithful it is to the movie but this was so much fun. Wonderful descriptions of gore and mayhem! It does a great job of giving that feel of malls in the 80s. I miss those days. luckily I was never dismembered by killer robots while visiting!!

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the perfect pre Halloween movie. It gets you ready for all the fun and horror to come. It was gore and more gore with a true fight of man against machines. It's short but impactful. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens.

[Lyndsey Gollogly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just so much fun! That 80s full on gore fest. One of those where you want the whole cast to meet the killer robots. I really enjoyed reading this.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.