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Witching Hour Theatre
On a cool October night at the Starlight Cinema, an all-night horror movie triple feature is about to Witching Hour Theatre. It's the one exciting thing in Larry Wilson's life, not counting the lovely brunette who works the concession stand. Settling in, he loses himself in the atmosphere of the old the crowd, the screams, the popcorn and the blood.
But when the second feature ends, only thirteen moviegoers remain. Among them, a woman of nineteen with a fondness for piercings and the macabre, a cop and his wife, a trio of bad-tempered bullies, and a solitary figure sitting silently in the shadows of the back row.
On this endless October night, Witching Hour Theatre will become Larry's worst nightmare. For the movie on the screen is growing stranger by the minute. His fellow theatergoers are disappearing one by one.
And the figure from the shadows is advancing.
But when the second feature ends, only thirteen moviegoers remain. Among them, a woman of nineteen with a fondness for piercings and the macabre, a cop and his wife, a trio of bad-tempered bullies, and a solitary figure sitting silently in the shadows of the back row.
On this endless October night, Witching Hour Theatre will become Larry's worst nightmare. For the movie on the screen is growing stranger by the minute. His fellow theatergoers are disappearing one by one.
And the figure from the shadows is advancing.
81 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2005
63 people are currently reading
1151 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Janz
61 books2,107 followersJonathan Janz is an author and public schoolteacher. His sci-fi horror novel VEIL is now available, and you can find his story "Lenora" in THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: NEW TALES OF STEPHEN KING'S THE STAND. He’s represented for Film & TV by Adam Kolbrenner of Lit Entertainment, and his literary agent is Lane Heymont. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novels Children of the Dark and The Dark Game were chosen by Booklist and Library Journal as Top Ten Horror Books of the Year. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children. You can sign up for his newsletter (http://jonathanjanz.us12.list-manage....), and you can follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
August 17, 2018
This is one of those cases where I can forgive some things (it was his first published story) because he managed to put me THERE! 5 STARS without a doubt!
I'll confess, and maybe that will make you understand why I fell in love with this story, that I used to be a movie buff. This simply means that the amount of movies I've seen are measured with four digits, and I happen to have a great memory for shit, so a lot of useless movie trivia is stuck up in the noggin even though I might not remember everything I did last week.
I refer to it as "used to", because my tastes have changed and time not my friend, so these days I don't even manage a movie a week. Things (or certain facts) might become a bit muddled in the brain from time to time.
The reason I tell you all of this is I have a tendency to refer to movies or scenes in movies in my reviews sometimes. I don't research them, it comes out of my head as I type, so if I get something wrong it is not intentional, but the basic idea should be sound...or, at least, as sound as I can be.
Right, the slasher horror movies were big in the late 70's and throughout the 80's. Post TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, there were only three really brilliant movies in this genre. To keep from rambling too much, I will name them without elaboration - HALLOWEEN, FRIDAY THE 13TH and A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.
Having said that, I must have seen at least a hundred of them. My motivations were different back then. More blood and gore equaled a better movie. And, later, as my teenager hormones raged, 90 minutes of poorly written, badly acted, senseless drivel was worth it if there was even a hint of a nipple in there. Hey, sometimes a well placed shadow could do the trick.
Yes, yes, I cringe as I write these brutally honest words...
But there is also the primal, uncontrollable emotion of fear that makes this genre so attractive and universally popular.
Anyway, as was so brilliantly described in the first SCREAM movie, there were certain rules to surviving a horror movie.
The opening scene always featured the first, unlucky victim. (Beside the story, the camera angles, lighting and music, especially, could be more effective than gore, as was so brilliantly executed in the first HALLOWEEN)
The slutty girl usually had the biggest breasts, and they were most likely to be shown to the audience, and then she had to die.
Never split up from the group, since it meant certain death. Not even to go to the bathroom, because the killer WILL be hiding there.
Never say anything stupid, like "I'll be back", "Trust me" or, my personal favorite, "The worst is over".
And, of course, once you think the killer is dead, he will make a final lunge to try and scare the shit out of you.
And the virgin will survive...
Sorry for the rambling...here's what you can expect from the story:
At the Starlight Cinema, a midnight horror movie triple feature is about to begin. Most people watch the first, which is more recent and popular, some would leave before the second, which was a classic, and the third was usually some obscure, unknown movie from the past - only the hardcore fans stuck around for that one.
Larry Wilson is a normal, boring guy and this is the highlight of his week.
With only 13 patrons left for the third feature, the movie (which he knows nothing about) starts. Some college guys are being assholes, and one by one the last few patrons leave, until Larry is the only one left.
Or so it seems, until he turns around...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loved this story - everything about it, because I was right back in that cinema with Larry. It's not a flawless story, but damn, it had me and it kept me, making me miss those days terribly.
Fun read for horror fans.
I'll confess, and maybe that will make you understand why I fell in love with this story, that I used to be a movie buff. This simply means that the amount of movies I've seen are measured with four digits, and I happen to have a great memory for shit, so a lot of useless movie trivia is stuck up in the noggin even though I might not remember everything I did last week.
I refer to it as "used to", because my tastes have changed and time not my friend, so these days I don't even manage a movie a week. Things (or certain facts) might become a bit muddled in the brain from time to time.
The reason I tell you all of this is I have a tendency to refer to movies or scenes in movies in my reviews sometimes. I don't research them, it comes out of my head as I type, so if I get something wrong it is not intentional, but the basic idea should be sound...or, at least, as sound as I can be.
Right, the slasher horror movies were big in the late 70's and throughout the 80's. Post TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, there were only three really brilliant movies in this genre. To keep from rambling too much, I will name them without elaboration - HALLOWEEN, FRIDAY THE 13TH and A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.
Having said that, I must have seen at least a hundred of them. My motivations were different back then. More blood and gore equaled a better movie. And, later, as my teenager hormones raged, 90 minutes of poorly written, badly acted, senseless drivel was worth it if there was even a hint of a nipple in there. Hey, sometimes a well placed shadow could do the trick.
Yes, yes, I cringe as I write these brutally honest words...
But there is also the primal, uncontrollable emotion of fear that makes this genre so attractive and universally popular.
Anyway, as was so brilliantly described in the first SCREAM movie, there were certain rules to surviving a horror movie.
The opening scene always featured the first, unlucky victim. (Beside the story, the camera angles, lighting and music, especially, could be more effective than gore, as was so brilliantly executed in the first HALLOWEEN)
The slutty girl usually had the biggest breasts, and they were most likely to be shown to the audience, and then she had to die.
Never split up from the group, since it meant certain death. Not even to go to the bathroom, because the killer WILL be hiding there.
Never say anything stupid, like "I'll be back", "Trust me" or, my personal favorite, "The worst is over".
And, of course, once you think the killer is dead, he will make a final lunge to try and scare the shit out of you.
And the virgin will survive...
Sorry for the rambling...here's what you can expect from the story:
At the Starlight Cinema, a midnight horror movie triple feature is about to begin. Most people watch the first, which is more recent and popular, some would leave before the second, which was a classic, and the third was usually some obscure, unknown movie from the past - only the hardcore fans stuck around for that one.
Larry Wilson is a normal, boring guy and this is the highlight of his week.
With only 13 patrons left for the third feature, the movie (which he knows nothing about) starts. Some college guys are being assholes, and one by one the last few patrons leave, until Larry is the only one left.
Or so it seems, until he turns around...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loved this story - everything about it, because I was right back in that cinema with Larry. It's not a flawless story, but damn, it had me and it kept me, making me miss those days terribly.
Fun read for horror fans.
February 6, 2017
Larry Wilson lives for the Witching Hour Theatre, the all-night horror triple feature at the Starlight Theatre. But will he escape with his life and sanity intact when the horror becomes all too real?
After Children of the Dark, I knew I had to read more Jonathan Janz. This one was only nintey-nine cents and I'm a cheap bastard.
Witching Hour Theatre is a retooling of Jonathan Janz' first published work, a chapbook published under his real name. While there's a Richard Laymon feel to things, it's clear young Janz knew what he was doing, even back then.
The story is pretty simple. During a horror movie marathon, the crowd starts thinning out and it's soon clear something sinister is happening. Larry Wilson, horror movie fan and sub-average Joe, has to deal with something far beyond his experience. And a lot of people get hacked to squishy bits.
After being thoroughly impressed by Children of the Dark, it was interesting to see Janz' work in its more or less embryonic form. All the things I like about his work are present, some hidden beneath a fine layer of gore. I liked Larry quite a bit, having much more in common with him than the action heroes that populate a lot of books. The ordeal he went through was brutal yet believable. Oddly enough, the afterword may have been my favorite part, talking about Janz' road to publication and his love for Stephen King.
Witching Hour Theatre is a fun, suspenseful gorefest, the written equivalent of a slasher flick. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
After Children of the Dark, I knew I had to read more Jonathan Janz. This one was only nintey-nine cents and I'm a cheap bastard.
Witching Hour Theatre is a retooling of Jonathan Janz' first published work, a chapbook published under his real name. While there's a Richard Laymon feel to things, it's clear young Janz knew what he was doing, even back then.
The story is pretty simple. During a horror movie marathon, the crowd starts thinning out and it's soon clear something sinister is happening. Larry Wilson, horror movie fan and sub-average Joe, has to deal with something far beyond his experience. And a lot of people get hacked to squishy bits.
After being thoroughly impressed by Children of the Dark, it was interesting to see Janz' work in its more or less embryonic form. All the things I like about his work are present, some hidden beneath a fine layer of gore. I liked Larry quite a bit, having much more in common with him than the action heroes that populate a lot of books. The ordeal he went through was brutal yet believable. Oddly enough, the afterword may have been my favorite part, talking about Janz' road to publication and his love for Stephen King.
Witching Hour Theatre is a fun, suspenseful gorefest, the written equivalent of a slasher flick. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
July 5, 2020
A triple feature of horror movies is shown every Friday night at the Starlight Cinema. It's the best night of the week for Larry, horror buff extraordinaire. A loner by nature, he is in his element here. He settles in with his snacks. As the body count amasses in the films, the audience in the theatre thins out commensurately. Heads up on the front row seats. You there, in the corner, and now edging ever closer . . . why the long face? Who's running the show? There will be blood, and gore, and a sharp axe. It's a real horror show.
March 19, 2020
Originally, Larry only wants to watch a triple feature of horror movies. But when the third movie, Veil of the White Temptress (I like the depiction of the sex scene within the movie) is running, horror breaks loose. Larry tries to escape violence and bloodshed in the cinema auditorium (those scenes are a bit long winded). Will he succeed? What about the cashier, Nichole, he has made a date with earlier? This is a fine story about a unusual night at the movies. It shows how much sex is in many horror movies ('silicone breasts jiggling') and what a good horror film fest (the second movie played is The Omen!) is about. Well written, good plotted this is a fine novella for ever horror fan containing some gore, sex and violence in the good old Laymon tradition. Recommended!
July 2, 2020
Bloody Fun!
JANZ really reeled me in with this beginning......
"Welcome to my spooky theatre. I hope you enjoy the show. The ticket booth is right this way." Ten bucks, what a deal. On to the concession stand and the pretty girl with the big brown eyes. $12.50 for popcorn, two drinks and two candy items. Wow! Count me in.
37 year old Larry Wilson is all set until a man purposely (?) hard bumps his shoulder exploding half his popcorn into his hair and spilling one of his drinks.
"What kind of world was it that a man had to be on constant guard against unkindness?"
Back to Larry. I like him. He's a hard core horror buff, a book lover, and he loves the movies. He goes to the Starlight Cinema every Monday and Wednesday, but his favorite night of all is the Friday midnight Witching Hour showing of three horror flicks. The theatre is packed; he has to sit down front....a bummer, but by the third movie, few patrons remain and the real horror begins.
In this debut novella from 2005, we have a pitch "dark and perilously" older theatre and a mysterious countdown of folks who go missing. Tack on creepy Long Face and Pumpkin Head, gore....not overdone, an axe fight to the finish topped off with just a bit of romance and you have a well-rounded, entertaining romp of a good time.
GREAT book-cover too!
May 26, 2022
Loner Larry pulls an all-nighter to watch a horror triple bill at the cinema and gets more than he bargained for. Decent, short, slasher story with nods to cinematic horror.
April 12, 2023
Slice & Dice Action!
Small backstory:
Larry Wilson loves going to the cinema to watch movies and especially looks forward to the Friday night cinema which shows three horror movies.
When Larry heads into the theatre after grabbing his movie snacks he notices there are a few people within but he knows that they will probably start thinning out after the first movie as no one usually stays for all three movies unless they have nothing else to do, but Larry starts noticing some of the theatre patrons missing here and there. When the last movie appears the real horror begins and Larry becomes part of the horror which sends him into survival mode!
That is about all I can give on a small backstory so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This was a quick short story that I read in about 24 hours and the story threw me into some movie horror action as the author threw in some "guts and gore" visuals which had me reaching for my gore suit!
The visual images of the theatre along with the popcorn actually had me thinking I was at the movie theatre as I could see the scene unfolding in my minds eye as I read this book! There was quite a bit of slice and dice action within which made the pace of this book go into lightning speed. Really enjoyed this debut book by author, Jonathan Janz! Giving this book four "Twisted Theatre" stars!
Small backstory:
Larry Wilson loves going to the cinema to watch movies and especially looks forward to the Friday night cinema which shows three horror movies.
When Larry heads into the theatre after grabbing his movie snacks he notices there are a few people within but he knows that they will probably start thinning out after the first movie as no one usually stays for all three movies unless they have nothing else to do, but Larry starts noticing some of the theatre patrons missing here and there. When the last movie appears the real horror begins and Larry becomes part of the horror which sends him into survival mode!
That is about all I can give on a small backstory so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This was a quick short story that I read in about 24 hours and the story threw me into some movie horror action as the author threw in some "guts and gore" visuals which had me reaching for my gore suit!
The visual images of the theatre along with the popcorn actually had me thinking I was at the movie theatre as I could see the scene unfolding in my minds eye as I read this book! There was quite a bit of slice and dice action within which made the pace of this book go into lightning speed. Really enjoyed this debut book by author, Jonathan Janz! Giving this book four "Twisted Theatre" stars!
July 24, 2021
During the introduction, Jonathan Janz (pseudonym - this story was actually originally published using their real name) names Stephen King, Richard Matheson and Richard Laymon as his main influences. The Laymon influence is very prevalent from what I know of his work. But also, very much its own thing with Janz’ unique way of horror storytelling.
From midnight until the early hours of the morning the Starlight Cinema becomes what is known as the Witching Hour Theatre. Three horror films are played back to back, with a five minute interlude between them, a triple-feature.
The first is the most recent flick, the second is a classic, and the third is a more obscure feature for the more hardcore fans of the genre. Usually less than half the audience would stick around for even the second movie and the number of movie-goers would dwindle down to even less by the time the third film is shown.
The evening our protagonist Larry goes, the first film is a new teen slasher, the second is The Omen (a favourite of mine!), and the third is called Veil Of The White Temptress. Horror buff Larry hasn’t heard of this one, and he assumes that it’s going to be laughably awful.
As this last movie airs, Larry quickly realises that it wasn’t what he expected but in a different way to it just being a bad B-Movie to laugh at. It starts as an atmospheric, gothic horror flick but then becomes pornographic in nature - this is where the Laymon influence lies.
But, how will horror fan Larry cope if he’s thrown into a horror movie-like situation himself? *queue some great gory moments*
The afterword talks more about Janz’ inspirations, mainly focusing on his love for Stephen King. I echo all his sentiments there. He states there is that Laymon influence in Witching Hour Theatre but that it isn’t an imitation, and as I touched on this earlier on in my review, I have to agree there. He has his own flare.
The love, passion and knowledge for the horror genre is here and I look forward to checking out more of Janz’ work in the future to see where he has progressed from this first publication.
3.5 stars 💀
From midnight until the early hours of the morning the Starlight Cinema becomes what is known as the Witching Hour Theatre. Three horror films are played back to back, with a five minute interlude between them, a triple-feature.
The first is the most recent flick, the second is a classic, and the third is a more obscure feature for the more hardcore fans of the genre. Usually less than half the audience would stick around for even the second movie and the number of movie-goers would dwindle down to even less by the time the third film is shown.
The evening our protagonist Larry goes, the first film is a new teen slasher, the second is The Omen (a favourite of mine!), and the third is called Veil Of The White Temptress. Horror buff Larry hasn’t heard of this one, and he assumes that it’s going to be laughably awful.
As this last movie airs, Larry quickly realises that it wasn’t what he expected but in a different way to it just being a bad B-Movie to laugh at. It starts as an atmospheric, gothic horror flick but then becomes pornographic in nature - this is where the Laymon influence lies.
But, how will horror fan Larry cope if he’s thrown into a horror movie-like situation himself? *queue some great gory moments*
The afterword talks more about Janz’ inspirations, mainly focusing on his love for Stephen King. I echo all his sentiments there. He states there is that Laymon influence in Witching Hour Theatre but that it isn’t an imitation, and as I touched on this earlier on in my review, I have to agree there. He has his own flare.
The love, passion and knowledge for the horror genre is here and I look forward to checking out more of Janz’ work in the future to see where he has progressed from this first publication.
3.5 stars 💀
February 10, 2019
Gratifyingly gory, Witching Hour Theatre delivers on all levels of the scare scale.
Come for the horror, stay for the story; this novella isn't just about blood spatter and deftly timed scare tactics. The protagonist, horror film buff Larry Wilson, reads 'real' and has a surprising amount of depth crammed into him considering the page count.
The supporting cast is fleshed out just enough to make you care about them, I felt for the cop and his wife when their respective heads were found minus bodies in theatre no.1 following a brutally messy killing spree by a couple of heinously horrifying murderers who resemble popular horror guises and I know Nicole from the candy store will stick in my memory for a time to come.
All round, Witching Hour Theatre is pure unadulterated fun; a quick fix for the horror junkie. I loved it.
My rating: 5/5 stars. Perfect for a one sitting read which will have you thinking twice about catching that late night movie.
Come for the horror, stay for the story; this novella isn't just about blood spatter and deftly timed scare tactics. The protagonist, horror film buff Larry Wilson, reads 'real' and has a surprising amount of depth crammed into him considering the page count.
The supporting cast is fleshed out just enough to make you care about them, I felt for the cop and his wife when their respective heads were found minus bodies in theatre no.1 following a brutally messy killing spree by a couple of heinously horrifying murderers who resemble popular horror guises and I know Nicole from the candy store will stick in my memory for a time to come.
All round, Witching Hour Theatre is pure unadulterated fun; a quick fix for the horror junkie. I loved it.
My rating: 5/5 stars. Perfect for a one sitting read which will have you thinking twice about catching that late night movie.
June 12, 2023
This novella was so much fun! It’s a bit more bloody than I usually prefer horror, but the story was so entertaining that this did not really bother me. Intense and thrilling, it definitely kept me engaged in the story.
October 3, 2017
WITCHING HOUR THEATRE, by Jonathan Janz, is an early novella of his. We begin with our "everyday" worker, Larry Wilson--a horror fan buff--who never misses out on the weekend triple movie feature of horror films. The "love-interest", is conveniently the concession stand girl, Nicole.
The first half of this novella was much more "captivating" mentally to me, as it explored the atmosphere of the theatre, the older, "second theatre" reserved for the horror features, and generally worked on a lot of characterization. We get to know our main character, and many of the regulars that attend the weekend horror features with him.
After that, we move into a gore-fest. While entirely predictable (purposely, as it is meant to imitate the classic horror movies), there is an added touch of comedy which makes up for that.
After reading so many of Janz's spectacular novels lately, it was nice to read one of his earlier works, that started him out on his writing career. (This e-book also contained a nice ending by the author, naming Stephen King, and most importantly, his own wife, as major influences on his writing.)
"Horror is one of the only genres that's truly universal."
Recommended!
The first half of this novella was much more "captivating" mentally to me, as it explored the atmosphere of the theatre, the older, "second theatre" reserved for the horror features, and generally worked on a lot of characterization. We get to know our main character, and many of the regulars that attend the weekend horror features with him.
After that, we move into a gore-fest. While entirely predictable (purposely, as it is meant to imitate the classic horror movies), there is an added touch of comedy which makes up for that.
After reading so many of Janz's spectacular novels lately, it was nice to read one of his earlier works, that started him out on his writing career. (This e-book also contained a nice ending by the author, naming Stephen King, and most importantly, his own wife, as major influences on his writing.)
"Horror is one of the only genres that's truly universal."
Recommended!
January 18, 2018
Witching Hour Theatre is kooky...gory...and engaging. That's my main takeaway from this sick fic! I thoroughly enjoyed the wild ride. Even when Larry (the MC) is beginning the three-movie viewing, author Jonathan Janz keeps your interest at a steady level rather well. Then once things get crazy? Well, that's when it gets pretty skin-crawling crazy and violent! The descriptors used for the gruesome deaths were proper and spot-on. Plus, you're seriously rooting for Larry during his frightful plight. Lots of heart here; I'll be reading more from this writer for sure. Extra points for giving props to Pumpkinhead and Dog Soldiers. Both of those fun films are buried treasures!
October 27, 2016
Witching Hour Theatre is a fresh re-release of Jonathan Janz's out-of-print novella from the author himself. Earlier this year, I was introduced to Janz by way of his most recent novel, Children of the Dark, and, a short time later, an earlier novel, Savage Species. Now, we go even further back into the Janz archives with this particular title, which is both a fun read and also a solid indicator of how much this author has grown over the years.
In his foreword and a brief essay at the end of this novella, Janz discusses those early days as a new writer working to find his voice while under the strong influences of Stephen King, Richard Laymon, and Richard Matheson. Shamefully, I'm only familiar with the latter two by proxy, having read other horror writers who were similarly influenced, but there is a bit of a similar through-line shared amongst these works. And if you're going to be influenced by anyone, you couldn't do much better than King, in my opinion.
Witching Hour Theatre is an early work from a new writer finding his voice and wanting to do his own thing and it shows. This, however, is not necessarily a bad thing, as the novella also shows a young writer with a tremendous amount of promise in the future ahead (which, I can say, thanks to wonderful powers of prognostication stemming from having read his more current works, is a promise realized in Children of the Dark, itself a solid indicator that Janz's star is still exponetially on the rise and that this dude is going to be a name well known to horror fans soon. And yeah, I'm a fan. I know. Deal with it.).
The story itself is simple - a guy goes to the movies to catch a triple-bill of horror flicks, a staple of the theater dubbed Witching Hour Theatre. As the films wear on and the theater empties, Larry becomes aware of an entity seated in the dark rows behind him. Soon enough, we're off to the bloody races and witness to a fight for survival.
This is a satisfying story, but not particularly deep. Janz cuts things close, going for the quick, visceral feel of a slasher movie, keeping the pace taught. We get some glimpses of story elements Janz will play with in his later works, such as the self-described lovable loser who is hopelessly in love with the girl he thinks is out of his league, intense action scenes, vicious villians, and adept characterization.
Witching Hour Theatre is not Janz's best work, but, it is still very good and an awful lot of fun. And there's the thrill of finally reading Janz's very first published work in a spiffy, revised edition with some pretty awesome artwork fronting it. Readers who are already fans of Janz will find plenty to appreciate here, and, I think, readers just now discovering Janz through this work will be inclined to read plenty more from this author. The fact that it was re-released just in time for Halloween helps sweeten the deal, and it made for some fine late-night, witching hour reading at the close of October.
In his foreword and a brief essay at the end of this novella, Janz discusses those early days as a new writer working to find his voice while under the strong influences of Stephen King, Richard Laymon, and Richard Matheson. Shamefully, I'm only familiar with the latter two by proxy, having read other horror writers who were similarly influenced, but there is a bit of a similar through-line shared amongst these works. And if you're going to be influenced by anyone, you couldn't do much better than King, in my opinion.
Witching Hour Theatre is an early work from a new writer finding his voice and wanting to do his own thing and it shows. This, however, is not necessarily a bad thing, as the novella also shows a young writer with a tremendous amount of promise in the future ahead (which, I can say, thanks to wonderful powers of prognostication stemming from having read his more current works, is a promise realized in Children of the Dark, itself a solid indicator that Janz's star is still exponetially on the rise and that this dude is going to be a name well known to horror fans soon. And yeah, I'm a fan. I know. Deal with it.).
The story itself is simple - a guy goes to the movies to catch a triple-bill of horror flicks, a staple of the theater dubbed Witching Hour Theatre. As the films wear on and the theater empties, Larry becomes aware of an entity seated in the dark rows behind him. Soon enough, we're off to the bloody races and witness to a fight for survival.
This is a satisfying story, but not particularly deep. Janz cuts things close, going for the quick, visceral feel of a slasher movie, keeping the pace taught. We get some glimpses of story elements Janz will play with in his later works, such as the self-described lovable loser who is hopelessly in love with the girl he thinks is out of his league, intense action scenes, vicious villians, and adept characterization.
Witching Hour Theatre is not Janz's best work, but, it is still very good and an awful lot of fun. And there's the thrill of finally reading Janz's very first published work in a spiffy, revised edition with some pretty awesome artwork fronting it. Readers who are already fans of Janz will find plenty to appreciate here, and, I think, readers just now discovering Janz through this work will be inclined to read plenty more from this author. The fact that it was re-released just in time for Halloween helps sweeten the deal, and it made for some fine late-night, witching hour reading at the close of October.
December 9, 2018
Another fantastic Janz read! This was his first novella ever put out into the world, and while he's grown as a writer and mastered his craft over the last 13 years, this story is so creative and fun that you can really tell he's just a natural storyteller. Jonathan has quickly become one of my favorite horror writers of all time, and this was no exception to the enjoyment rule.
While this wasn't a flawless read for me due to the ending feeling a bit confusing (there were few questions I wouldn't have minded receiving the answers to as it all wrapped up), it's so easy to round up to 5 because I was on the edge of my seat through the entire story and found my heart racing from the suspense a few times.
On top of the plot, I've got to take a second to talk about our protagonist, Larry, and how relatable his inner monologue is for horror film fans everywhere. He's got a touch of elitism to him as he considers, with some snark, the idea that most film-watchers won't appreciate the classics or the B-rated horror he loves, but he also touches on the immense feeling of family that fosters between lovers of the genre, which is something I can vouch for in my own life. Witching Hour Theatre feels like a horror story first and foremost, but a love letter to horror film fans second, and that is one hell of a winning combination.
---
Buddy read with Kaleena! ♥
Because Fridays at midnight, long after the casual moviegoers filed out of the exits, the Starlight Cinema transformed into something dark and perilous.
While this wasn't a flawless read for me due to the ending feeling a bit confusing (there were few questions I wouldn't have minded receiving the answers to as it all wrapped up), it's so easy to round up to 5 because I was on the edge of my seat through the entire story and found my heart racing from the suspense a few times.
Tonight, he could experience the thrill of being chased without the danger of actually dying. He could inhabit the minds of murderers without inflicting damage on anyone. He could be more than a meek little man sitting alone in the dark with Twizzlers dangling from his mouth.
Here, he was free.
On top of the plot, I've got to take a second to talk about our protagonist, Larry, and how relatable his inner monologue is for horror film fans everywhere. He's got a touch of elitism to him as he considers, with some snark, the idea that most film-watchers won't appreciate the classics or the B-rated horror he loves, but he also touches on the immense feeling of family that fosters between lovers of the genre, which is something I can vouch for in my own life. Witching Hour Theatre feels like a horror story first and foremost, but a love letter to horror film fans second, and that is one hell of a winning combination.
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Buddy read with Kaleena! ♥
February 7, 2017
Witching Hour Theatre is a fun if simple read which contains all the flaws inherent in an early work from a skilled author - such as needlessly switching back and forth between the protagonist's first and last names - but one that also contains a couple of genuinely creepy moments which make it a worthwhile read.
As it stands, I'd have liked to understand more about the antagonists' motivations and why they became what they were. I was also wondering why .
3 Whites of the Rolled Back Eyes for Witching Hour Theatre.
As it stands, I'd have liked to understand more about the antagonists' motivations and why they became what they were. I was also wondering why .
3 Whites of the Rolled Back Eyes for Witching Hour Theatre.
November 2, 2018
3.5 stars
This is a fun slasher novella with plenty of horror tropes and gore delivered in a tongue-in-cheek style. Funny and compelling, I do recommend this one for a Halloween spooky!
(Just don't ask yourself why? how? or wtf??!! Coz this is just for fun)
This is a fun slasher novella with plenty of horror tropes and gore delivered in a tongue-in-cheek style. Funny and compelling, I do recommend this one for a Halloween spooky!
(Just don't ask yourself why? how? or wtf??!! Coz this is just for fun)
July 29, 2019
3.5 Stars
This was an entertaining slasher story set during horror movie screening. Fans of horror and the cinema will very likely enjoy this fun little novella.
This was an entertaining slasher story set during horror movie screening. Fans of horror and the cinema will very likely enjoy this fun little novella.
September 28, 2022
Larry Wilson loves horror movies in all shapes and forms. On a cool October night at Starlight Cinema, a triple feature of scary classic films is being showcased in the yearly tradition known as Witching Hour Theatre. The wondrous atmosphere of retro horror and the company of thrill-seeking oddballs like himself makes the theatre the only place in the world where Larry feels like he belongs, not to mention he's in love with a woman named Nicole who runs the concession stand. Among the awkward but lovable crew of moviegoers is a trio of bullies harassing everyone in the theatre to get their kicks, and even more sinister is a solitary figure cloaked in shadows that constantly moves from seat to seat like some lurking phantom as the hours go by. When odd things begin to happen in the theatre, Larry starts to feel as if he's just entered a horror movie of his own.
A great novella for long-term horror fans. The vibe of the story caters to people who have a lot of experience with the genre, delving into the history of its literature, cinema and all the numerous subgenres that parade it. It relies heavily on the nostalgia of the genre, really capturing the underlying beauty that makes it so engaging and its community of fans more tightly knit than many other genres. As such, I don't think casual horror watchers or readers will resonate with this much, it's written almost exclusively for people that have a lot of knowledge and experience with horror. There's a lot of references, parallels and in-depth descriptions of various horror films that will be lost on people who don't have at least a basic understanding of the staples, cliches and monumental achievements of the genre.
Overall I enjoyed the vibe of the story quite a bit and it made me feel very nostalgic. There's even a scene in the middle of the book that managed to jump-scare me. Being able to startle me with words alone is an impressive feat that's difficult to do in traditional literary format. I did think the ending was ironically a tad cliche and anticlimactic in some ways, certain things turned out too well and I found the motives of the antagonist a bit undeveloped, but there were some good scares and great writing throughout most of the book and I liked it a lot.
The author also mentions that they wrote this early in their career when they were young, unconfident and inexperienced, so I'll definitely be happy to check out more from them in the future.
A great novella for long-term horror fans. The vibe of the story caters to people who have a lot of experience with the genre, delving into the history of its literature, cinema and all the numerous subgenres that parade it. It relies heavily on the nostalgia of the genre, really capturing the underlying beauty that makes it so engaging and its community of fans more tightly knit than many other genres. As such, I don't think casual horror watchers or readers will resonate with this much, it's written almost exclusively for people that have a lot of knowledge and experience with horror. There's a lot of references, parallels and in-depth descriptions of various horror films that will be lost on people who don't have at least a basic understanding of the staples, cliches and monumental achievements of the genre.
Overall I enjoyed the vibe of the story quite a bit and it made me feel very nostalgic. There's even a scene in the middle of the book that managed to jump-scare me. Being able to startle me with words alone is an impressive feat that's difficult to do in traditional literary format. I did think the ending was ironically a tad cliche and anticlimactic in some ways, certain things turned out too well and I found the motives of the antagonist a bit undeveloped, but there were some good scares and great writing throughout most of the book and I liked it a lot.
The author also mentions that they wrote this early in their career when they were young, unconfident and inexperienced, so I'll definitely be happy to check out more from them in the future.
June 22, 2017
Witching Hour Theatre, a must read.
Holy carp on toast, that was a creepy (scary) story! And that is saying something coming from a bitter, old horror fan like me!!!!
Holy carp on toast, that was a creepy (scary) story! And that is saying something coming from a bitter, old horror fan like me!!!!
Read
January 13, 2018The venue where we watch our favorite horror movies has metamorphosed through the years. We've went from old single screen movie theaters to drive-in theaters, to multiple screen multiplexes, and now many people have high quality electronics in their man cave that would give any theater a run for their money. For those of us that remember the older movie theaters, they were a magical place. The smells of popcorn and candy mingling with the sounds of the bustling crowds and the flashing bright lights of the marquee. Going to the theater was an event. But when the lights went down and the crowds dispersed, the theater could be a spooky place. This is the atmosphere that Janz captures perfectly.
Larry Wilson, an awkward loner and horror movie aficionado, doesn't miss many of the Starlight Theaters Friday Midnight Matinees. He gets his popcorn and candy along with a large soda to wash it all down with. Tonight, he even got a future date with the cute girl behind the counter that he's never had the courage to ask out. This night was shaping up to be one that Larry would never forget. Unfortunately, this was the last good thing to happen tonight. For this night, blood was going to spill and not just on the screen.
Witching Hour Theatre is a fun romp through familiar territory. Janz doesn't try to do too much with this story. He lets it be exactly what it is - a B-movie tale told in an eerie familiar setting. He's got all the right ingredients going - atmosphere, good characters, flawless dialogue and pacing, and oh yes, plenty of the red stuff. Come right in and take your seat. Don't mind the stickiness on the floor. I'm sure it's only spilled soda...or is it?
4 1/2 Slasher Flicks out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
Larry Wilson, an awkward loner and horror movie aficionado, doesn't miss many of the Starlight Theaters Friday Midnight Matinees. He gets his popcorn and candy along with a large soda to wash it all down with. Tonight, he even got a future date with the cute girl behind the counter that he's never had the courage to ask out. This night was shaping up to be one that Larry would never forget. Unfortunately, this was the last good thing to happen tonight. For this night, blood was going to spill and not just on the screen.
Witching Hour Theatre is a fun romp through familiar territory. Janz doesn't try to do too much with this story. He lets it be exactly what it is - a B-movie tale told in an eerie familiar setting. He's got all the right ingredients going - atmosphere, good characters, flawless dialogue and pacing, and oh yes, plenty of the red stuff. Come right in and take your seat. Don't mind the stickiness on the floor. I'm sure it's only spilled soda...or is it?
4 1/2 Slasher Flicks out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
October 27, 2016
In this new re-release of his debut novella, complete with a stunning cover from the same artist who did CHILDREN OF THE DARK, Janz weaves a chiller about a somewhat average horror film geek, Larry Wilson, attending a Friday midnight triple play at his favorite theater. He even flirts with the cute concessions girl...but as he settles in for the movies, enjoying his buttery popcorn, soda, and candy, something isn't right. It's not the obnoxious and drunk frat boys, but something else. And before long, Larry is thrust into a bloody nightmare more horrific than any scary movie.
What's so much fun about this Laymonesque novella is the taut pacing and relatability of the main character, who's no action hero, just an average guy suddenly thrust into a truly terrifying situation. And then the horror starts, oh yes, my friends...
Bonus essay by the author makes this updated edition well worth the price of admission! See what I did there? Highly recommended!
What's so much fun about this Laymonesque novella is the taut pacing and relatability of the main character, who's no action hero, just an average guy suddenly thrust into a truly terrifying situation. And then the horror starts, oh yes, my friends...
Bonus essay by the author makes this updated edition well worth the price of admission! See what I did there? Highly recommended!
July 30, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
A good short story.
A good short story.
March 30, 2022
An entertaining slasher which was set in a cinema. Pretty good read
December 4, 2016
Review: WITCHING HOUR THEATER by Jonathan Janz
I can't praise WITCHING HOUR THEATER highly enough! This novella was author Janz' first publication, but it is the work of a horror master. In a short duration, we are introduced to protagonist Larry Wilson, and subtly his character and personality are revealed. Better yet, Larry elicits our empathy: he's a genuinely "good guy," the kind seldom seen. (In retrospect, Larry reminds me of Arland D. Williams, the altruist of the Potomac River plane crash in 1982.) Larry isn't perfect, but he is a heroic Everyman.
Mr. Janz is a staunch admirer of author Richard Laymon, and his understanding of Laymon's mastership is evident. WITCHING HOUR THEATER is incredibly paced; I turned pages so fast that I'm surprised my Kindle didn't ignite. I read with heart in throat, the suspense ratcheted to maximum.
Now I must mention the author's clearly demonstrated admiration for horror cinema: all of it, the good, the bad, the poorly-executed, the ugly. He loves it all. So does Larry, and between them, so do we. (Made me want to go watch "The Omen" again!)
This is a story I can and will read over and over, and a blueprint for beginning (and practiced) writers.
I can't praise WITCHING HOUR THEATER highly enough! This novella was author Janz' first publication, but it is the work of a horror master. In a short duration, we are introduced to protagonist Larry Wilson, and subtly his character and personality are revealed. Better yet, Larry elicits our empathy: he's a genuinely "good guy," the kind seldom seen. (In retrospect, Larry reminds me of Arland D. Williams, the altruist of the Potomac River plane crash in 1982.) Larry isn't perfect, but he is a heroic Everyman.
Mr. Janz is a staunch admirer of author Richard Laymon, and his understanding of Laymon's mastership is evident. WITCHING HOUR THEATER is incredibly paced; I turned pages so fast that I'm surprised my Kindle didn't ignite. I read with heart in throat, the suspense ratcheted to maximum.
Now I must mention the author's clearly demonstrated admiration for horror cinema: all of it, the good, the bad, the poorly-executed, the ugly. He loves it all. So does Larry, and between them, so do we. (Made me want to go watch "The Omen" again!)
This is a story I can and will read over and over, and a blueprint for beginning (and practiced) writers.
May 29, 2020
The Starlight Cinema offers up an all-night horror movie triple feature called Witching Hour Theatre every Friday night and Larry Wilson is certain to be there. He looks forward to the films and speaking with the beautiful brunette at the concession stand.
There is electric in the air on this October night as Larry settles in for popcorn and gore. Nothing could possibly bring him down now that he has a date set for Saturday night with the young woman he’s been flirting with for months over buttered popcorn and candy.
By the time the second feature ends, there are only 13 people left in theatre two. Unease settles over Larry as the final movie rolls and the moviegoers trickle out a few at a time. Eventually there is only one person left, a silhouette in the back row, who seems to be getting closer each time Larry dares to look over his shoulder.
This was an incredible short story that filled me with unease! I loved the intensity of the slow burn and sense of dread followed by the shock of realizing what is happening. This story played out masterfully and is well worth the read for those who enjoy horror!
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
There is electric in the air on this October night as Larry settles in for popcorn and gore. Nothing could possibly bring him down now that he has a date set for Saturday night with the young woman he’s been flirting with for months over buttered popcorn and candy.
By the time the second feature ends, there are only 13 people left in theatre two. Unease settles over Larry as the final movie rolls and the moviegoers trickle out a few at a time. Eventually there is only one person left, a silhouette in the back row, who seems to be getting closer each time Larry dares to look over his shoulder.
This was an incredible short story that filled me with unease! I loved the intensity of the slow burn and sense of dread followed by the shock of realizing what is happening. This story played out masterfully and is well worth the read for those who enjoy horror!
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
May 11, 2022
I don’t even know how to rate this one. I’ll get back to you on that.
For starters, I loved the first half. I felt like I was there, seeing a movie on my own, like I’ve done so many times. Literally I would give that part 4-stars. Once we hit the murdery parts though, that’s where it had me questioning if this was genius writing or just really really lazy writing.
Never mind the irritating habit the author had from the start of alternating sentence-by-sentence calling the MC by his first name, then by his last name, then by his first, then by his last. It was seriously distracting and so prolific that I figured it had to be a plot point...
Okay I’ve decided. One-star. Despite some fantastic world building. There were just too many distracting elements and plot holes for me to rate this any higher. This guy thinks he’s Stephen King and he’s just really really not. Hopefully Amazon can give me my money back.
For starters, I loved the first half. I felt like I was there, seeing a movie on my own, like I’ve done so many times. Literally I would give that part 4-stars. Once we hit the murdery parts though, that’s where it had me questioning if this was genius writing or just really really lazy writing.
Never mind the irritating habit the author had from the start of alternating sentence-by-sentence calling the MC by his first name, then by his last name, then by his first, then by his last. It was seriously distracting and so prolific that I figured it had to be a plot point...
Okay I’ve decided. One-star. Despite some fantastic world building. There were just too many distracting elements and plot holes for me to rate this any higher. This guy thinks he’s Stephen King and he’s just really really not. Hopefully Amazon can give me my money back.
October 2, 2017
The reasons I just had to give this 5 stars:
1. You definitely have a kick ass wife and you're awesome for recognizing what great support can do for a person
2. You are waaaaayyyy too humble. I am a huge fan of your stories and you certainly have your own voice and style. I always look forward to digesting another Janz tale.
3. I am also a HUGE Layman fan. You gave me a taste of what made me love horror in the first place. You said it best when you explained your influences. Although the story is all your own, it is reminiscent of all the attributes that I adore when reading a Layman tale. Thank you for that.
4. The main character referenced The Omen, Sid Haig, Tony Todd, and Dog Soldiers. You are a true horror aficionado.... (The only argument I have with Larry Wilson's positioning is that I feel it is a better sign when a director returns for a sequel than the lead actor)
1. You definitely have a kick ass wife and you're awesome for recognizing what great support can do for a person
2. You are waaaaayyyy too humble. I am a huge fan of your stories and you certainly have your own voice and style. I always look forward to digesting another Janz tale.
3. I am also a HUGE Layman fan. You gave me a taste of what made me love horror in the first place. You said it best when you explained your influences. Although the story is all your own, it is reminiscent of all the attributes that I adore when reading a Layman tale. Thank you for that.
4. The main character referenced The Omen, Sid Haig, Tony Todd, and Dog Soldiers. You are a true horror aficionado.... (The only argument I have with Larry Wilson's positioning is that I feel it is a better sign when a director returns for a sequel than the lead actor)
May 6, 2011
Another great offering from Jonathan Janz! The pace of this story is extreemly fast. The action was certainly of the gory ,blood ,guts, and vomit school of horror so be forewarned! Great edge of your seat read!
March 9, 2014
Witching Hour Theatre is a horror fan's horror story. Bloody fun and highly entertaining. Janz is the man.
August 1, 2020
This was loads of fun. I loved Larry, he seemed so real to me. I only want wonderful things for him.
Definitely recommended for horror film fans.
Definitely recommended for horror film fans.
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