At Midnight We Possess The Damned

by Andre Duza, Anna Kubik (editor), Nick Cato

There are casual fans, and then there are genuine  fanatics.  Gary has been obsessed with the extreme side of cinema since he could remember, and has been on a quest to see every infamous film possible, the more shocking, the better. He has even tried his hand at making his own films, but tonight he will be part of an urban legend, the thing people like him fantasize tonight  Gary is going to see an actual snuff film. But what he witnesses on a small screen at a secret location is only the beginning of a downward spiral where entertainment and fate collide… where Gary discovers there was a latent reason for his life long fascination with the dark side…

Genres: Horror

140 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 14, 2025

About the author

Andre Duza is an actor, stuntman, screenwriter, and the author or co-author of over 10 novels, a graphic novel, Hollow-Eyed Mary, and the Star Trek comic book Outer Light, co-written with writer/producer Morgan Gendel. He has also contributed to several collections and anthologies, including Book of Lists: Horror, alongside the likes of Stephen King and Eli Roth.

Andre’s writing has been described as horrific, satirical, and fast-paced, with a unique voice and lush, finely-detailed prose.

Andre also wrote, co-produced, and starred in the award-winning short film Tagati, which is currently making the rounds on the festival circuit. You can view the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUZ6n...

Andre is also a Certified Fitness Trainer and a Kung Fu Instructor. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and four children.

Reviews

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Night at the Cinema...

AT MIDNIGHT WE POSSESS THE DAMNED
by Andre Duza, Nick Cato

4 stars. Cruising down the street, Gary McKay wondered if he could handle what he was about to see...

The cold, remorseless actors, the "talent"...

And the people peddling the film...

Would he be scarred and haunted by seeing something he could never unsee? He was nervous and his hands were sweating...

Gary had a thing for horror movies...

He was a movie director wannabe, but his only self-funded project had been rejected by the Annual Brooklyn Horror Film Festival...

He felt disappointment and resentment...

Now, he was driving in the seedy town of Red Hook. He hoped that what he was about to see wasn't a hoax...

Parking in a storage facility, he met a man who let him look through a collection of numbered DVDs...

Snuff films...

Featuring adults, teens, couples (gay and straight), seniors, kids, and clergy...

The worst was DVD #113...

Gary gave the man $5,000.00 to see #113, the filmed murder of a priest in South Central L.A...

Gary had to see it...

For his money, Gary got one viewing at another site, TBD. He was told to come alone...

Days later...

Gary went to the appointed place, another storage unit. He sat with an old man who had also paid to view the film...

The video would eventually be seen by three more people at a later date, then destroyed...

A few days later...

The video man called Gary, telling him that the old man who had viewed #113 with him had died of a heart attack...

Then the video man made Gary an offer he couldn't refuse...

I think most people wonder if the elusive snuff films do indeed exist on the dark web. I was surprised to see that the actual killings in this story weren't shootings, stabbings, or some other run-of-the-mill quick offings. They were much more gruesome and over the top.

At about halfway, the story took a turn in a metaphysical direction, which was interesting but a little confusing. Overall, I had mixed feelings about some parts of the story and its rushed conclusion. IMO, an opening was left for a future sequel.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME- if this book isn’t on your radar, you need to check it out!

“The video you are about to see is real, and will be seen by your eyes and the eyes of three more people at a later date. This video will then be destroyed.”

A run down amateur film student gets an opportunity to break back into the movie world when he’s offered a well paying gig. The catch- he’ll be directing snuff films. Soon he’s caught up in a world of trouble, with forces for good and evil playing tug of war with his mind, body, and soul.

This story totally caught me by surprise- I was thinking it would be your basic splatterpunk, or extreme horror (nothing wrong with that), but the plot just became more and more twisted and intriguing. I could not believe the ending and what became of our main character Gary; it was FUCKING wild!!!!

I’ve been seeing a lot of red room/dark web/ snuff film stories in the horror world lately, and I appreciate each author’s take on this disgusting and gruesome topic. However, Duza & Cato spin this plot on its head- totally throwing readers off the scent of what they think is going on. It’s so well written and was an enthralling treat of a tale to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and Dead Sky Publishing/ Death’s Head Press for a copy.

[Ga.selle (Semi-hiatus) Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

"on the ride back to his apartment, Gary felt as if he murdered that priest himself. Now that he had seen a genuine snuff film, he wasn't sure if it was such a good idea. There was a major difference between watching cheap-looking zombies in Italian films eat people as fake blood splashed across the screen, and listening to a man plead for his life as two masked assailants slowly butchered him, right on the altar where Gary assumed he performed Sunday services."


From dream come true to worst nightmare. Certified horrorphile Gary Mcckay is about to gamble his soul. He has a thing for the 80s, particularly related to horror cinema.
When his film entry got rejected, things started to get a turn from crazy interesting to downright nasty and horrendous.
Shit started when he bought a snuff film of a priest (child molester) being murdered from a man he soon will know as 'thirty-six'. Soon, he will get to witness unalive sessions of these selected 'talents' by being offered a job (5 thousand dollars to direct each snuff film). Will he partake? Will he continue to take his obsession further? Is declining even an option without dire consequences?
Like a moth to a flame, we will witness how he gets lured further down the rabbit hell-hole by this mysterious man named 36.


Fastpaced...gruesome...atrocious...
demented - the cunning antagonist reminded me a bit of Leland Gaunt from Needful Things and some setting/scenarios I kinda imagine like Hell-bound heart when surrounded by Pinhead and his team of Cenobites.

Thanks to NetGalley, Death's head press and Dead Sky Publishing for the arc 🖤

4.5✨

[Barbara Behring · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this story expecting something unusual and it certainly delivered. A very interesting story.

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snuff Films, Grisly Murders, and Terrifying Trips Down the Rabbit Hole!

At Midnight We Possess the Damned is a quick thrill ride adventure chock full of disturbing acts of violence all while our main character, “Lee Revok” attempts to discover exactly how deep he is willing to travel within a secret (and deadly) organization.

The story places you very quickly in the middle of the action and lets you make decisions along with the narrator. You’re watching a beautiful train wreck unfold and you cannot look away. As the mystery aspect starts to be revealed, I found myself truly unable to look away. It’s just done very well and I think I might be desperate for more information on this world. We get left in a place where there could be follow-ups and I’d be very happy.

There are also some disturbing scenes and sequences that I think horror fans are going to love too. It’s a dark story bordering on splatterpunk (if it already isn’t classified as such), so this could be something to check out if you need to. I didn’t know what (or who) to trust by the end of it, but it made the final scenes breathtaking to read!

Don’t miss this story, it’s truly something readers will love!!

This is perfect for fans of David Sodergren, Brian Smith, and Craig DiLouie!

[Corrina Morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

At Midnight We Possess The Damned is a dark and disturbing trip into the even darker and more disturbing world of the dark web and snuff movies, and just how far people are willing to go, whether they really want to or not, to seek that depraved and twisted satisfaction.

It's savage, brutal, and packs a hell of a punch. The tension and anticipation are palpable throughout. It's completely gripping, brilliantly detailed and so utterly addictive, I couldn't put it down! I didn't want to put it down! It's one of those that intrude on your thoughts when you're busy doing other things, and it still does, weeks later! It absolutely drips with intrigue, mystery and life fluid, and it's pretty intense with some inventive, merciless and horrific kills.

One line that hit me particularly hard was, “Tears streamed from his eyes even in death, suggesting that his torment was somehow ongoing.”

We are immediately introduced to Gary. Gary is about to witness something that will have a huge impact on his life, he knows what it is, he's chosen to watch it, but he's apprehensive, he's not sure how he will feel about it once he has viewed it. But, still plagued by the rejection of his short film some years ago, he is hoping that this particular event will reignite his creative spark and get him to the top. He's left completely shook though, and with lots of questions….

When he then gets an unexpected visit one night, he gets some of the answers he's been seeking, and also a chance to immerse himself back into the world of filmmaking. Albeit a bit more extreme than the extreme he's used to, this is more real, and of course, it comes at a price! It's not an easy decision to make, but he makes it, with trepidation, curiosity and the help of the numerous dollar signs!

His first shoot is a huge shock to the system, but it soon becomes an addiction that leaves him feeling emboldened and powerful. Each time, he has to fight conflicting feelings of right and wrong, as he gets in ever deeper and struggles to see a way out.

When Gary spots a familiar face on the local news, he decides to do a little investigating, and that leads him to have an encounter with the Satanic Church, and yet another, more familiar face, and an opportunity to get some inside information on his new boss. What he discovers is truly terrifying. But just as he is contemplating his safety, he gets a promotion from Thirty-Six. Does he have what it takes though, or is this the beginning of the end for him, and just what is his boss really capable of….?

Meanwhile, there is a nasty virus making itself known across the pond, and people calling themselves The Gatekeepers, who are trying to recruit for their sinister cause. Is it all connected? With the virus and the New York City Satanic Church running alongside the main story, you're getting a whole heap of exciting and disturbing entertainment for your bucks!

After a bizarre evening with his ex, things take a sudden, dramatic and demonic turn, and a battle between Hell and The Gatekeepers ensues, resulting in Gary finding himself directing the biggest movie of his career. And discovering that the snuff films are ultimately a front for a much bigger piece of this satanic puzzle…. Has Gary finally found his true calling….?

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had really high expectations for this novella. It wasn't what I was expecting. I thought the story took too long to get started, and I wasn't a fan of where the story went.

[Gyalten Lekden · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Rounded up from 3.5)

This fast-paced novella is a nasty piece of work. Glitz covered grime, it does a great job at showing deep horror bonafides while also subtly poking fun at the obsessive horror movie nerds that will probably make up a good part of its audience, (and no doubt authors, too). The writing felt similarly pointed and smart, with a propulsive pace and enough detail to paint a scene and tell a bigger story but most of the other fat trimmed away. The main character was great, complicated and incredibly real, the kind of person desperate for attention and recognition but unable to acknowledge it, teetering on the edge between auteur and incel, the potentially to land in one or the other due to the winds of circumstance.

The plotting was great throughout, moving the story forward, with snide thoughts and asides doing a lot of story and character work in place of exposition dumps. Sometimes everything felt a little abrupt, though that seems more like story than plotting. I thought the story was good, it was a mean little exploration of what morals someone might sacrifice for their shot at glory, wrapped in a snuff film. The brief bursts of gore were violent and graphic and queasy, just the right amount of sleaze. I would not have minded if there was a little more development in the story. Felt like the main character had all other depths he could have explored. The way the ending twisted and turned was fun, but there was nothing in the story that set up for any of that, not really, until the final act, which felt rushed. I was fine with where it ended up, even though it actually feels way more conservative than I would have personally wanted it to go, but I would have liked more mystery and enigma building up to that ending, something that made everything that happened feel earned instead of just a twisty surprise.

Fast-paced, fun, bloody, and just a little sleazy, what else do you want?

I want to thank the authors, the publisher Dead Sky Publishing | Death’s Head Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ember · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were offered a life changing amount of money but you had to edit some down right disturbing footage. Would you? This book honestly reminded me of legion mixed with night crawler but the gore of that movie where the dudes are on vacation and rich people torture people. OH HOSTEL! The gore was honestly very tastefully done it wasn’t revolting in any way. This is a novella so the main character isn’t crazy flushed out but he does his job. I’m honestly interested in another book about what he chooses to do with his talent now.

Thanks to NetGalley, Death's head press and Dead Sky Publishing and the authors for the arc!

[myreadingescapism · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dare I say, I needed more? 🫠

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read, a well-crafted novella blending the urban legend of snuff films with supernatural and religious horror. It starts rather tamely, with the world facing a pandemic with very uncomfortable and embarrassing symptoms, but the action and the suspense escalate pretty fast; before you know it, you're already deep into demonic rituals and satanic cults. The main character, an ambitious filmmaker wannabe, is obviously flawed, fetishizes gore and horror, and soon finds himself directing snuff films. Although he's given plenty of reasons to regret his choice, especially when he realizes who he's working for, the money and the promise of making his own film lure him deeper into the world of his mysterious benefactor. At some point, he can no longer go on, and then things get really bad for him - and for everyone else as well, as the end of the world seems to have arrived. The ending was very surprising, taking into account the revelation about the protagonist, and it seems to leave space open for a sequel.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uy, qué agresivo y grotesco y a la vez no exagerado. Creo que a pesar de ser un tema muy gore, solo hay las descripciones necesarias para que sepas lo que está pasando sin recaer en ese asco morboso. Y bueno el setting apocalíptico le da un extra, aunque no se si fui fan de esa parte, pero igual me tuvo bien picada el libro.

[Katrina Aird · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book certainly was a wild ride!

The start had been very intrigued as we find Gary, an aspiring director, getting mixed up in the world of snuff films and getting in over his head when he ends up behind the camera, filming some really disturbing movies.

The more he learns about his secretive boss number thirty-six, the deeper the rabbit hole goes.

I think I really enjoyed the first half of this book, when it started to turn more toward the satantic cult thing, I was okay with it, but it almost felt as if there was so much more backstory needed for Thirty-Six and his brothers and it felt a bit rushed due to the length of the novella.

Nevertheless, I finished it in a few hours and it definitely made me feel a bit uncomfortable, which is good when it comes to horror.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC copy of this book.

[Daniel R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gary McKay is a dissatisfied aspiring filmmaker. He’s had a short he poured his passion into and ended up disappointed by on the festival circuit, nevertheless leveraged it for a couple of near miss feature deals. Burned out and dejected, he’s working a crappy day job and dreaming about horror movie stardom …

When he has the chance to see something truly disturbing, he’s jumping at the chance. This time, it’s a supposedly real snuff picture featuring a Catholic priest allegedly responsible for very sinful behaviors. That film is nothing like he’s expecting. No simple knifing or shooting, the whole situation is meticulously planned, the priest is tortured with a Sawzall power tool and cauterizing techniques to prolong his pain and suffering. After witnessing the filmed murder, Gary is shocked. A little turned on, as well.

So, imagine his surprise when he returns home to find an intruder in his house. Not some thief, this is the distributor who took Gary’s money and showed him this whole other world. That man knows a lot about Gary, and he’s got an offer: Come work for me.

Gary’s no killer and explains as much, but the man doesn’t need that kind of help. He needs a director/cinematographer to shoot the thing. Gary has the unparalleled opportunity to make a document of torture and carnage. It’s not an easy decision to reach, but it is an inevitable one: he’s all in. Providing he can use an alias. The man doesn’t mind: after all, he goes by Thirty-Six, so if Gary wants to be known as Lee Revok, so be it.

However, the experience behind the camera is like nothing he expected. And it will open whole new doors for him. But the deeper he gets, the more inconsistencies he discovers with Thirty-Six’s program. Soon enough, curiosity gets the better of Gary, and he starts to delve into things, getting too deep for comfort. It’s only a matter of time before his investigation comes around to bite him on the hind end. It’s only a matter of time before his efforts get noticed, and Thirty-Six is forced to retaliate … And that’s when things get even stranger and more horrifying than even a gorehound like Gary can take.

Nick Cato and Andre Duza have collaborated on a terrific novella of gruesome horror with touches of science fiction and social commentary with At Midnight We Possess the Damned.

The setting is a near future one, a world that’s a mirror of our own, though it is caught in the waves of a future pandemic. The media outlets are flooded with all kinds of information and misinformation, leading average citizens like Gary to wonder who’s to be trusted. As it turns out, belief is a major thematic thread in this book, both in fellow human beings as well as larger institutions and systems. It’s a topic that Cato and Duza enjoy playing with. Whether through the protagonist’s own disaffected approach to a worldwide epidemic to a more local issue with religious groups (devil worshippers versus the so-called Gatekeepers who oppose them) squaring off over matters of faith, to the impossibility of appreciating the larger-than-life forces despite overwhelming evidence.

At Midnight We Possess the Damned rides the line between extreme horror and splatterpunk, starting off in the first camp and then shifting gears into the other side of the gory equation when it starts to take a much more direct satiric approach to both our species’ and our society’s foibles. However, the gross out material is certainly lovingly rendered. Readers are invited to stare into the abyss via sequences of disturbing torture and murder, each rendered with clarity and wit. There is not a shred of levity to be found in the book apart from a few acerbic asides. This is not a Jeff Strand work, after all, though it matches that author’s penchant for clever mayhem.

There is a cinematic quality to the prose. But we are also invited into Gary’s inner landscape and given an intimate chance to understand him from the inside out. We know his aspirations, his disappointments, and witness his growth from an angry young man into a remorseful one. It’s all organic, and while the length of the piece will give readers looking for protracted approaches to the material some literary blue balls, the novella is the perfect length to give us the right dose of horror and characterization.

While readers looking for quiet chills and allusions to the real horror will best be served elsewhere, those horror fans with an interest in gory set pieces and gruesome revelations will find plenty to enjoy here. As well, those horror fans looking for a gleefully subversive horror yarn with a few things to say about and a few shots to take at the world we live in through a horror fiction lens will also find plenty to enjoy here. It’s a solid mix of messy horror with an honest emotional core and fueled by enough ideas to power a full-length novel.

[Brian Shevory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secretive Satanic Covens? Check.
Snuff films? Check.
Curtis Silwa and the Guardian Angels? Check.

Nick Cato and Andre Duza’s collaborative novella At Midnight We Possess the Damned traffics in some great mythical 80s legends. Big thanks to Dead Sky Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this wild ride of a book. When I saw the cover and read the description, I knew that this was a book I really wanted to read. I wasn’t disappointed, and I hope that more people will get to read this At Midnight We Possess the Damned. Cato and Duza are able to use some of these urban legends to advance the story, but they also take these legends to new places and the narrative takes some inventive and entertaining strides to advance the plot. Ultimately, though, this is a book for horror movie obsessives. The story focuses on Gary McKay, an aspiring genre director who is looking for inspiration and financial backing for his new film after his short film was recently rejected from a NY film festival. Where else can an aspiring horror movie director find ideas but from the underground snuff film circuit. Gary’s quest for inspiration leads him to meet up with a mysterious man in a storage center in Brooklyn, notably where the scenery “melted from shiny-happy to hold-onto-your-purse sketchy”. I really enjoyed Cato and Duza’s descriptions of people, scenes, and the gore and violence. It wasn’t overly descriptive, but oftentimes funny and rooted in a kind of realism and relatability that appealed to me. In addition, I really liked Gary. He’s an artist who loves horror movies and is inspired by some of the greats. That was another appealing aspect of this book—the various horror movie references throughout the book. Whether it was the frequent Fulci name drops or using an alias Lee Revok as an homage to Cronenberg, this book has some excellent references for horror fans. Although I’m not sure exactly what a snuff film collector would ask for and how someone would initiate this process, Cato and Duza provide a great set-up that seems both mysterious and cryptic. I wasn’t exactly sure how Gary was able to afford to splurge on the viewing, but Cato and Duza create an interesting story about how these films are made, and this particular story about a priest was both shocking and intriguing. Gary’s interest leads him to an opportunity to direct his own snuff film and work with the “talent” in these films. There’s not much description of the films contents, but I loved the titles- Burning Man, Eaten Alive (maybe a Hooper reference), Pin Cushion, and Skin Deep. Just the suggestions of these titles was enough to make my imagination go off on a flight, and I loved how Gary added these artistic touches to the films that lacked them in the beginning of the book. While Gary is developing his directing credits, a global virus is quickly moving across the Atlantic, beginning to infect Americans and shutting businesses and other social events down. Cato and Duza played with our pandemic experiences in an entertaining way, creating a new virus that will serve an important purpose later in the book’s plot. I won’t give any other details away, but I really liked what Cato and Duza did with this current event and how they used it to advance the story. They not only took this more recent event, but also took the legends like snuff films and Satanic cults to appeal to readers, but also used these tropes in inventive ways that challenged my assumptions. While some of the events are a little unbelievable, I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. It was easy and fun to read, and the chapters left me in suspense wanting to find out more about what was going to happen. I loved the use of the snuff film and satanist plot lines—they created a kind of air of mystery and familiarity, but these elements were also used to further the story in a creative way. I can’t wait to check out other books by Cato and Duza; I was especially excited to see the other books about films that Cato has written, and if they are anything like this book, reading them should be a wild ride. Highly recommended!

[Beau Wasserman (Depression Arc) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by Dead Sky Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

At Midnight We Possess The Damned is a gritty, dark, and unapologetically thrilling ride that had me hooked from the very beginning. Co-authored by Andre Duza and Nick Cato, this book blends horror, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural in a way that feels both fresh and unrelenting. If you’re a fan of books that push the boundaries of what’s comfortable, this is one you won’t want to miss.

The story takes readers into a nightmarish world where the lines between reality and the supernatural blur, and the characters are just as lost and dangerous as the world they inhabit. Duza and Cato have created an atmosphere that’s as eerie as it is captivating, with moments that made me shiver in both fear and excitement. The pacing is fast, and the tension is palpable throughout—there’s no time to catch your breath, as every chapter drags you deeper into the madness.

What really stood out to me in this book were the characters. Each one is multi-dimensional, with their own personal demons to face, making their journeys both disturbing and poignant. The way the authors weave the past and present of these characters into the larger horror elements adds layers of emotional depth to the story, making it more than just a typical supernatural thriller. It’s dark, emotional, and at times, heartbreakingly beautiful.

Dead Sky Publishing has once again delivered a raw and powerful piece of horror fiction. At Midnight We Possess The Damned is one of the most unique and gripping reads I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing. If you love your horror with a heavy dose of atmosphere, complex characters, and twists that leave you questioning what’s real, this book will not disappoint.

I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys horror that pushes boundaries and doesn’t shy away from the darkest aspects of the human psyche. This one will stick with you long after you turn the last page.

[Logan Gisick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nick Cato and Andre Duza deliver a pulse-pounding, suspenseful horror experience with At Midnight We Possess the Damned, a novel brimming with mystery, tension, and unexpected twists. From start to finish, the story kept me on edge, expertly balancing a sense of creeping dread with shocking revelations that made it impossible to put down.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is its atmosphere—dark, unsettling, and layered with an ominous feeling that something truly disturbing lurks beneath the surface. The pacing is tight, the characters are engaging, and the narrative constantly throws surprises at the reader, making for a thrilling ride.

That said, one aspect of the story didn’t quite add up for me. The protagonist, Gary, spends years saving money just for the chance to view a single snuff film. While I understand that he’s portrayed as a hardcore horror superfan, it felt a bit implausible given the ease of accessing disturbing content online for free. The level of obsession required for him to go through all that trouble didn’t feel entirely justified, which slightly weakened my immersion in an otherwise well-crafted plot.

Despite this, At Midnight We Possess the Damned is an excellent horror novel that grips the reader with its eerie unpredictability. Fans of suspenseful, mind-bending horror will undoubtedly appreciate the relentless tension and unsettling twists this book has to offer. Highly recommended for those who love their horror dark, disturbing, and full of surprises.

Rating: 4/5 stars.

I want to thank NetGalley and Del Rey Publishing for sending me a free advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review

[Byron F · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you're into the extreme side of cinema, as Gary McKay is, you'll do whatever it takes to get your fix. Like most addictive habits, you need to keep pushing the boundaries, need to go bigger and badder and better to get your fix. Special effects and make up can go only so far, though, eventually you're going to want the real thing.

Some people think they want to see certain videos you hear about in urban legends. Some people know they never do. Gary is ready to spend all his savings to view a snuff film, Gary thinks he's ready.

It's very hush hush, the process of getting a viewing is mysterious and thrilling. Then it's a bit worrying because Gary could be robbed or killed at any time, he doesn't know anything about these people.

A curator of snuff films with a selection by genre or victim, how do you trust someone like that with your life? At some point, you have to wonder if you'll be the next star in his collection.

But tonight, all that matters is that you're going to experience a gruesome film. Tonight your obsession reaches a new level. Tonight you'll see things you can't unsee, and it might not be enough.

This one choice brings Gary into a new world. He can put his skills to use here, there is a place for him. But at what cost?

This novella is a violent and paranoid race that keeps you turning pages to see what happens next.

In the end, remember this book the next time something you're passionate about is on the verge of becoming an obsession. Then again, how will you know?

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short novella that will give you nightmares, this is the story of Gary. He’s a failed movie director who is now working as an office drone but is still obsessed with horror movies. Due to its low page count, the excitement starts right away, with Gary going to see a snuff film. This is only the beginning and the plot has a lot of action, different settings and non-stop twists. I wasn’t expecting the direction the story took. My problem was directly related to that twist and I don’t want to give anything away because it’s an effective turn, but I didn’t like, root for or emphasize with Gary in any way. Someone who goes to such lengths and spends so much money to watch a snuff film is a bad person in my book (actually, anyone who willingly watches such a movie is no good). Even if the “talent” is someone I wouldn’t go out of my way to save, who other than a psychopath would want to see them killed? So normally I’d be OK with a story about someone like that, but the big reveal adds something that, to me, contradicted Gary’s character and there was no time for him to redeem himself. The content of the films themselves was creative and not for the faint of heart.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Dead Sky Publishing | Death's Head Press.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started strong, and even though I'm not the biggest fan of gory stuff it remained promissing, even with the subtle hints at paranormal activities and satanic rituals. I wouldn't have minded the whole "satanic cult killers" not even "sacrifice evil souls to please Satan and bring forth the end of the world". But, unfortunately, none of those things happened.
Our morally corrupted protagonist found himself wishing to destroy his evil boss, even though it was clear that he was CORRUPTED from the very beggining. He could have spiraled deeper into those nasty ideals of his. We could have found him slowlly getting POSSESSED by the evil spirits that plague his work... Many things could have happened, and unfortunately none did in terms of shocking twists or unconvecional endings. I would have killed to see the book end when Gary showered after his last film with Dany, not because he felt dirty but because he felt calm and ready to start again.
Touching something as important as a human's corrupted nature just to end the easy way: repentance and the opening of a new path takes quite a lot from this book.
Despite all of that, the book was still good enough to make me feel the horror behind the scenes.

[domsbookden · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this novella is fantastic! Fast-paced, sharp, and full of deep-cut horror references that feel both genuine and a little self-aware. It does a great job balancing love for the genre with a subtle critique of the obsessive horror fans and where that obsession can go wrong. The writing is smart and to the point, giving just enough detail to set the scene while keeping the story moving.

But the second half lost me. The setup felt like it was leading toward something psychologically darker and more interesting, maybe a full descent into the protagonist’s worst impulses or even a possession angle that tied back to his work; but none of that really happens. Instead, I think it plays things safe, with a standard redemption arc that feels out of step with the book’s strong start. There were no shocking twists or unexpected turns, just a resolution that felt too neat for a story about corruption and obsession.

Overall, the story starts strong but doesn’t fully deliver on its potential. It’s still an enjoyable read, but I couldn’t help but wish it had leaned harder into the ideas it set up so well in the beginning.

[Cat Treadwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tricky book to review. It's a nasty little splatterpunk on one hand (which is absolutely as advertised, not a negative at all), and a 'hero's journey' story on the other.

Gary was an interesting protagonist, and I liked how the authors engaged the reader in what was a pretty sordid adventure. He's not immediately likeable but is very human, and seeing his Faustian slide downwards kept me turning the pages.

The setting of a pandemic New York was also fascinating, especially after the events of 2020. Apocalypse on top of public panic seems somehow reasonable!

Sadly it fell apart for me rather at the end. The last third of the book was exciting, sure, and the action was well-written. Unfortunately, from Gary's 'encounter' with his ex-girlfriend, events seemed to be rather on-rails. Perhaps that's the point - he was the Fated Hero, after all. I think I would've appreciated it more if he'd just been some random chap caught up in a sordid world. Adding in Supernatural (the trope and the TV show) elements seemed a bit of a sharp turn away from the rest of the book.

I definitely enjoyed the ride, but I was sad to be left feeling a little bit short-changed when it was done.

I was kindly sent this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.

[Ben Amos · Rating 3 out of 5]

At Midnight We Possess The Damned is my first foray into Splatterpunk that isn't western related, and overall found it to be alright. The main character's descent into the world of snuff films I found to be quite intriguing and grim as he grappled with how it affected him, an aspect I thought was handled quite well, establishing a seedy and dark atmosphere. Unfortunately, at least in my opinion, the second half let's it down as, without getting into spoilers, it becomes a bit less grounded and thus, breaking what immersion I had for the story, as well as losing the atmosphere that made it so engaging. The gore I found didn't bother me too much (maybe I'm just de-sensitized) but it felt appropriate for the story trying to be told. Pretty good if you like horror movies, does a good job of capturing the atmosphere of a darker film (more Sinister, less Friday the 13th).

3/5, a decent read.

[Christina Pfeiffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

**REVIEW**

AT MIDNIGHT WE POSSESS THE DAMNED
By Andre Duza and Nick Cato
Release: 1/14/25
Page count: 136
KU: No. Hoopla: Yes

Synopsis: In the decade, since Gary lost a coveted film contest, he has not let go of the disappointment. When he watches a snuff film, a once in a lifetime opportunity presents itself but with stipulations.

First line: “As Gary McKay cruised down the FDR Drive, he wondered if he could handle what he was about to witness.”

Favorite line: “They won’t be able to protect you forever.”

Thoughts: AMWPTD has some of the MOST descriptively brutal kill scenes I have read in recent memory. While the book as a whole wasn’t a total hit for me, overall it is a worthwhile wild and killer (ha) ride.

Rating: 4/5

Other recommendations: Andre Duza - WZMB, Nick Cato - THE LAST PORNO THEATER

DEAD SKY Publishing

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to both authors, the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC. I love the novella length, the perfect reading length. You get to experience an enriched story that maintains your focus. At Midnight We Possess the Damned fits the bill. I don't want to disclose too much of the plot but let me say the story shifted gears several times that caught me by surprise. It works as a straight up horror novella with some apocalyptic overtones. Highly recommended.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book we follow Gary a down on his luck film maker doing whatever it takes to pursue his love for the craft. This story hits the gas and never lets up till the final page. Plenty of bloody gory scenes occur as Gary gets a job as a director of snuff films and his life begins to unravel. This is horror done in all the right ways.

[Divergent_Librocubicularist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a WILD ride! I love to go into a book without any knowledge of what's to come, and the surprises this one had in store made that choice all worth it! I definitely DID NOT see that ending coming!! This book has some intense and graphic themes/imagery, but if you can stomach it, it's worth it! An entertaining read front to back, no doubt!

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!

Boy this did NOT go in the direction I was expecting and that ending was absolutely buck wild, in the best way. I went in expecting a short, gross story about extreme horror and came out with some musings on morality??

[John Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nasty piece of fiction with some twists

A piece of grind house cinema directed by Ken Russell, this story of twisted desires take some wonderful twists and turns with the end result begging a very fun piece of dark fiction. Come get some!

[John Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick and easy read that dabbles in some seriously taboo subjects; snuff films and demonic cults. Rather fast paced book that calls to mind some horror films of the 70's, 80's and 90's that many of us grew up on.