Night Shoot: A Horror Novel Paperback – May 5, 2019

Reading a Sodergren novel is just like sitting down in an old creaky theater, a big tub of popcorn in your lap and a cold drink in the cupholder of your seat. The lights dim and the movie starts and it’s an old school horror flick, a bad B-movie chiller where you know most of the cast isn’t going to make it and you laugh and cheer through all the gory effects, jump scares, and chase scenes. There’s nothing like that space, in the dark, with the smell of the butter and the dust of the movie theater, the sense of being alone in the dark even if you’re surrounded by other people sharing the movie with you. It’s a perfect experience, one that you want to hold on to.In this second novel, Sodergren takes his deep-cut horror movie knowledge even further, setting the book with some film school rejects, the kids trying to finish up their school year by shooting a horror movie. Yeah, Elspeth knows it’s not going to be anything to write home about and the writer/director is someone she wishes she could just forget altogether, but she needs this project to graduate.Setting is everything when it comes to horror movies and of course, they wind up in a creepy old castle with only one rule: everyone and everything has to be out by 8 pm. But anything that can go wrong in a horror movie, not only goes wrong but goes from bad to worse to holy-hell-let’s-get-out-of-here!You get the picture.Blending the fast-paced gore, casting, and structure of ’80s slasher and final girl films with the dread-inducing mystery of more gothic haunted house tales, this horror tale keeps you guessing, laughing, and peeking through your fingers when it gets gory.Sodergren has a great feel for pacing, building up main character Elspeth so that she feels completely relatable, even when she is at her most vulnerable. I loved the moments in the book that are edging on meta, taking digs at bad horror movie tropes (What’s with all the unnecessary nudity and showering?) and really hammering home all those points we love and love to hate about watching horror on the screen.This one is a wild ride. I think the ending will be divisive for readers; it will either work or it won’t, and I lean toward the latter. But the rest of the book is so strong and I enjoyed reading it so much that I’m OK with the end.Here’s hoping for many more from Paperbacks and Pugs!

This was my first Sodergren and it will not be my last.This book was WILD. I loved every moment of it. Creepy secluded house, creepy uncle, a group of totally unlikable teens shooting a B horror film for college in said creepy secluded house with specific directions to be out of the house by a certain time... What could go wrong?

Characters are realistic and their conversations are believable. Some funny parts throughout. Book gets a lot better around the last quarter. Not quite as atmospheric and scary as it could've been. Some more detail could've been given to various plot points, including one of the villains' actions toward the end of the book. Didn't really care for some of the SJW stuff as another reviewer mentioned. A bit underwhelmimg and felt a bit rushed. Still worth a read

This was a heck of a fun read. I picked it up on the recommendation of Mother Horror, and wasn't disappointed. I went into it knowing it would be a total gore fest. It was perfectly paced, with interesting characters you're either rooting for or can't wait for them to meet their demise. I also loved all the tidbits about the joys of being on set - the personalities and egos and petty fights. The book was a quick read, because I kept wanting to know what happened next.One other excellent note about this book - Sodergren has added in here a short side story that deals with the exploitation of women on set. I really appreciated finding this gem in here, woven seamlessly and treated with truth and care. We're in the head of Elspeth, the set designer, and read her trains of thought on the matter. I felt like this was an excellent addition to an already enjoyable slasher horror book.Sodergren's an excellent writer, and I'm excited to read more from him.

Sodergren is the king of quick, digestible horror. He sets it up, gets you into the grit and grime, takes you for a ride. A rollercoaster of delightfully disturbing situations.

This writer does not cease to amaze me, and every story is more satisfying than the last. If you like a good read with great characterization and actual horror movie quality horror, read David Sodergren.

When I set out to read this book I blocked some time into my whole weekend. I needn't have as I tore through the whole thing in one night. One's Sodergren's writing had got the hooks in I was sucked in and didn't want to stop.All the best slasher tropes are there but with new twists and extra grisly details. Not one for the faint of heart (or weak of stomach). The characters are believable and although some of them are a***oles you want to see taken down a peg or two each death is so visceral and unforgiving that you feel the full tragedy of a life cut short.

Really great novel - interesting story line and just the right amount of creepy characters and gore.

Some film students are coerced into completing their final project - a horror movie - in a creepy old mansion. Another great novel by David Sodegren. The story pulls you along with it; strong characters and recognisable scenarios make for a fun, if grisly, romp. As ever, David skews the old perspectives on gender and misogyny. Be warned, it gets gruesome, but that's what you want isn't it?

The book is very fast paced and is basically the same story as Hell Night, except instead of sorority pledges it is a small university film crew shooting a bad horror movie.All the men are either perverts, self absorbed, cowardly or jerks (a trend I notice with this author), while the women are slightly flawed but always the heroes.It is entertaining though, even if the plot doesn't make any sense (I won't spoil anything) and can be easily read in a few hours.