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jodieb81's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
himynameismichael923's review against another edition
5.0
2022 Horror Reading Challenge: Gothic
David Sodegren did something really special with Night Shoot. He took a slasher, and turned it into a Gothic Horror. Literally all the attributes of gothic horror, Night Shoot possesses. Throw in all the familiar tropes of slashers and you have a fun house of madness.
Night Shoot revolves around a group of film students, who are allowed to film in the intimidating Crawford Manor, the catch is they only have one day and have to leave before 8 PM. Things happen, and they are unable to finish filming, and decide to break back into the Manor and finish their film overnight. Needless to say things go sideways.
I had a blast with this novel, and the villain was unique absolutely repugnant. What a grotesque individual. I’m really impressed with Sodegren and have enjoyed the other novels by him I’ve read, Night Shoot being the best. If you are looking for a Gothic Horror novel with buckets of blood and gore, a stay at Crawford Manor might be for you.
David Sodegren did something really special with Night Shoot. He took a slasher, and turned it into a Gothic Horror. Literally all the attributes of gothic horror, Night Shoot possesses. Throw in all the familiar tropes of slashers and you have a fun house of madness.
Night Shoot revolves around a group of film students, who are allowed to film in the intimidating Crawford Manor, the catch is they only have one day and have to leave before 8 PM. Things happen, and they are unable to finish filming, and decide to break back into the Manor and finish their film overnight. Needless to say things go sideways.
I had a blast with this novel, and the villain was unique absolutely repugnant. What a grotesque individual. I’m really impressed with Sodegren and have enjoyed the other novels by him I’ve read, Night Shoot being the best. If you are looking for a Gothic Horror novel with buckets of blood and gore, a stay at Crawford Manor might be for you.
calamity_114's review against another edition
3.0
Night Shoot is a decent book, with some good characters and enough nastiness to make it a worthwhile read for horror fans.
The book follows a small crew of Scottish filmmakers, shooting a horror film as part of their final grade at university. The house they're filming in has bars on the outside of its windows, many locked doors and a proviso that the students be out by 8pm. Naturally, they wind up being there past 8pm and we find out why all those doors were better kept locked...
This book won't make it into my favourite lists personally, but it's a pretty good horror that is short, sweet and stuffed with creepy images. The feeling of claustrophobia and the mystery of what exactly is going on in Crawford Manor keeps the pages turning, as does seeing how our plucky heroine Elspeth will escape...
If she will, that is.
The book follows a small crew of Scottish filmmakers, shooting a horror film as part of their final grade at university. The house they're filming in has bars on the outside of its windows, many locked doors and a proviso that the students be out by 8pm. Naturally, they wind up being there past 8pm and we find out why all those doors were better kept locked...
This book won't make it into my favourite lists personally, but it's a pretty good horror that is short, sweet and stuffed with creepy images. The feeling of claustrophobia and the mystery of what exactly is going on in Crawford Manor keeps the pages turning, as does seeing how our plucky heroine Elspeth will escape...
If she will, that is.
laurainrapture's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
meggamillion14's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
That was truly a fucking SLASHER. I’d probably categorize it in the “extreme horror” end of things, but it was a blast to read. It was funny, it was enraging and it was tense as hell. Half a star down for that one scene (iykyk). Grateful for a lesbo main character, too lol.
potatonell's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
Felt cringe at times when reading. Did feel like your usual slasher/ monster movie but compared to the Haar this book felt abit too corny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Incest, and Rape
teaandtales1's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
1.0
As someone who reads a LOT of horror, I have finally found the line. While I've never intentionally delved into extreme horror or body horror, I certainly unintentionally came across it with this book.
This is the 2nd Sodergren book I've read, and the first one was gross but also kind of charming and funny in the way that 80s slasher movies can be. This one was just GROSS and had so many things that I felt were unnecessary to the story.
Which brings me to the story - it's actually fine. There's a college film crew that decides to break the rules and continue filming in a mansion after the time where they've been told repeatedly to leave. And apparently after said time, the monsters of the place wake up and eat people. This *should* make for a fun popcorn slasher, but there was just too much in there. Having purposely stayed away from films like Deliverance and Hostel, I feel like I stumbled on the book equivalent.
Literally all the trigger warnings (except animal death, so I guess there's that...). I need to go read a cozy fantasy story now to get rid of the ick.
This is the 2nd Sodergren book I've read, and the first one was gross but also kind of charming and funny in the way that 80s slasher movies can be. This one was just GROSS and had so many things that I felt were unnecessary to the story.
Which brings me to the story - it's actually fine. There's a college film crew that decides to break the rules and continue filming in a mansion after the time where they've been told repeatedly to leave. And apparently after said time, the monsters of the place wake up and eat people. This *should* make for a fun popcorn slasher, but there was just too much in there. Having purposely stayed away from films like Deliverance and Hostel, I feel like I stumbled on the book equivalent.
Literally all the trigger warnings (except animal death, so I guess there's that...). I need to go read a cozy fantasy story now to get rid of the ick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
stevensc4's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75