Night Film

I really wish I could do a half-star. This book was far better than ‘The Never List,' but I can't quite give it a three-star rating.

It has a decent premise: Investigative reporter ruined by bizarre-o, reclusive director of thrillers years ago now thinks he has a chance to redeem himself through investigation of suicide of the daughter of said director. There are parts of this book that are crazy and fun and weird. But, speaking as one who loves horror more than investigative crime thrillers–all the thrill and creep were lacking. Mostly because Scott didn't make any of it believable (that would be Mr Reporter). And Scott is also a bitter, sexist butthead through most of the book. Whatevs. That's fine. But I couldn't totally buy his character. And whilst I really, really wanted to be into the relationship he has with his two erstwhile assistants, Hopper and Nora, I couldn't believe his relationships with either of them. Everything was too forced. Nora was just a manic pixie dream girl. Yawn. And Hopper was just to tragically hip. These weren't real people. And, frankly, precocious child who refers to parent by parent's first name–been done before and more believably. The investigation was also a bit flimsy, I thought; but I don't read many crime thrillers, so what do I know?

That said, I enjoyed the mythology she began to create around the director, Cordova, and his family. Sadly, I think the potential for creepiness with these people goes largely unfulfilled. I also think she gave them all a little too much power, even if black magic was involved. I felt like there were some unfortunate things left unresolved. As far as the mythology created for Cordova's daughter, though–I don't believe most of it. I don't believe any of these characters would be as obsessed as they are in the novel (excepting maybe Hopper, who, of course–yawn–was in love with her in their youth). That too seems forced. If Pessl has treated her characters' obsession with Ashley Cordova's death as some sort of critique with celebrity obsession, maybe I could have bought it. But she didn't.

I'm also a bit tired of people using BDSM or transpeople as creepy plot points. It's boring and offensive. Especially when it seems like a writer knows little about either. At the very least, it's usually not believable.

So, all that said, it wasn't UNenjoyable. I read it quickly. The prose isn't very elegant, but it's not the crappiest thing I've ever read. Their are too many pointless italics, but everyone has mentioned that already.

I think, though, one of the biggest problems I had was the fact that every one of Cordova's movies was...TRITE. I think I've already seen most of those plots. The only interesting thing about his movies was the mythology built up AROUND those movies. But I don't believe those movies would have the respected cult following they had. They'd be flimsy Red Box rentals that you waste $1.50 on. At best, they'd be underground horror classics.

All that said, I still had fun reading it. It was all right, but not worth the hype.