First published 2024
Max Maury has built his reputation directing cheap slasher films in 1980s Hollywood. He makes good money and commands respect, but he craves something deeper than the blood-soaked exploitation his producer demands. At a wrap party, Max meets Sally Priest, an aspiring actress who dreams of starring as the Final Girl in a major horror production. Sally works to impress Max and prove she has what it takes to scream her way to stardom. Max's career takes a sinister turn when he discovers an antique camera with a dark history. The device once captured genuine Hollywood horror, and it comes with an ominous warning. Sometimes the camera emits eerie wails. Max becomes obsessed with using this supernatural tool to create the most frightening film ever made. By the time he realizes the true malevolent force contained within the camera, he refuses to abandon his vision. Sally finds herself thrust into the starring role she always wanted, but now she must become a real Final Girl to survive the nightmare Max has unleashed.
Genres: horror, supernatural, thriller, dark-fantasy
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: obsession, supernatural-artifact
Setting: Hollywood
Period: 1980s
393 pages · Paperback · Redhook
Content warnings: gore, violence