It Came from the Multiplex: 80s Midnight Chillers

by Joshua Viola (Editor, Contributor), Mario Acevedo (Contributor), Kevin J. Anderson (Contributor)

Welcome to tonight's feature presentation, brought to you by an unholy alliance of our spellcasters at Hex Publishers and movie-mages at the Colorado Festival of Horror. Please be advised that all emergency exits have been locked for this special nostalgia-curdled premiere of death. From crinkling celluloid to ferocious flesh—from the silver screen to your hammering heart—behold as a swarm of werewolves, serial killers, Satanists, Elder Gods, aliens, ghosts, and unclassifiable monsters are loosed upon your auditorium. Relax, and allow our ushers to help with your buckets of popcorn—and blood; your ticket stubs—and severed limbs; your comfort candy—and body bags. Kick back and scream as you settle into a fate worse than Hell. Tonight's director's cut is guaranteed to slash you apart.

Edited by Joshua Viola
Produced in collaboration with the Colorado Festival of Horror
Cover art by AJ Nazzaro and Joshua Viola
Story art by Xander Smith
Header art by Aaron Lovett

Contents:

FOREWORD
Bret and Jeanni Smith

INTRODUCTION
Paul Campion

ALIEN PARASITES FROM OUTER SPACE
Warren Hammond

RETURN OF THE ALIEN PARASITES FROM OUTER SPACE
Angie Hodapp

NEGATIVE CREEP
Alvaro Zinos-Amaro

HELLULOID
Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore

RISE, YE VERMIN!
Betty Rocksteady

THE CRONENBERG CONCERTO
Keith Ferrell

CREATURE FEATURE
Gary Jonas

INVISIBLE
Mario Acevedo

SCREEN HAUNT
Orrin Grey

THE DEVIL'S REEL
Sean Eads and Joshua Viola

ON THE ROCKS
K. Nicole Davis

COMING ATTRACTIONS
Stephen Graham Jones

LATE SLEEPERS
Steve Rasnic Tem

SPECIAL MAKEUP
Kevin J. Anderson

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Fantasy, Adult, Mystery

316 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2020

About the author

Joshua Viola is a two-time Colorado Book Award finalist and co-author of the Denver Moon series. His comic book collection, Denver Moon: Metamorphosis, was included on the 2018 Bram Stoker Award Preliminary Ballot for Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel. He edited the Denver Post bestselling anthology, Nightmares Unhinged, and co-edited Cyber World—named one of the best science fiction anthologies of 2016 by Barnes & Noble. His fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and has been reprinted by Tor.com. He is owner and chief editor of Hex Publishers.

Reviews

[Char · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took this anthology a while, but the final tales really delivered!

As with any collection of stories, some hit the mark with me and some didn't. The ones that impacted me the most were:

CREATURE FEATURE by Gary Jonas. This one was imaginative, mysterious, fun and scary all at once.

INVISIBLE by Mario Acevedo. Serial killer at the drive-in. That's all I'm going to say. There were lots of twists with this one.

THE DEVIL'S REEL by Sean Eads and Joshua Viola. The church-going community gets all riled up over a new multiplex coming to town. Turns out they were right to be riled!

COMING ATTRACTIONS by Stephen Graham Jones. What's behind that panel in the men's room where the trough used to be, before they replaced it with urinals? What happens at the old Winchester theater, when it's all closed up in the middle of the night, but there are lights flickering inside? You'll have to read this and see.

LATE SLEEPERS by the legendary Steve Rasnic Tem. I'll admit it, I'm a HUGE fan of Tem's work and have been since I was in my early teens. This story is no exception. Welcome to Paradise Cinemas! This was my favorite story in the collection.

SPECIAL MAKEUP by Kevin J. Anderson. What happens when the special effects makeup person is tired of an egomaniac of an actor and finally has had enough of his BS? Read this and find out.

All of the authors in this collection have writing chops, as evidenced by quite the impressive list of accomplishments credited to each one of them in the CAST & CREW section. There is no doubt that all of these authors are qualified, it's just that their work didn't tickle me in the way I liked to be tickled. Your mileage may vary.

There is also a section about the SPECIAL EFFECTS TEAM, crediting the illustrators whose work is featured in this volume. I enjoyed the graphics they provided.

I wish NIGHT AT THE MULTIPLEX had more of a balance to it, which would have made the reading go a bit quicker for me, but overall it's a decent collection, one with a few final stories that blew me away before this appeared on the screen:



*Thanks to the publisher, the authors and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a lot of fun stories in this, some of which took me back to the 80s! And those old theatres which were dirty, sticky and ugly -- and AWESOME!

This is a fun read, schlocky -- which is my favourite type of horror, so I'm a little biased in favor of a collection like this.

It's fun! Read it!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology is a love letter to horror films, particularly the spattery monster ones. If those are your jam, then you should check out this book. “Coming Attractions” by Stephen Graham Jones was compelling storytelling about a young teen adventure of sneaking into an old haunted movie theater and spending the night. “Late Sleepers” by Steve Rasnic Tem had a waking nightmare quality about it that is quite likely a disassociation event for our unreliable narrator.

“Screen Haunt” by Orrin Grey delivers everything I could want in a perfect Halloween story. I want to see someone do cosplay as the monsters from this story’s film. Also, this delivers the thesis statement for Orrin’s oeuvre as well as this book:

“Movies don’t scare me,” I tell my therapist at our second or third session, when she asks me why I want to make scary movies. “They’re, like, the only things that don’t scare me. So, of course, I want them to.”

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It Came from the Multiplex...

Annnd it delivered a campy, gory, glorious celebration of 80's horror!!

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read, with all of the stories sharing a theme of movie theaters or drive ins in the heyday of 80s classic cheesy horror films. There are aliens, serial killers, demons who steal souls through movies and then possess their victims, and more. Some of the stories were scary while others were more of a nostalgic and campy good time. As someone who grew up in the 80s spending most Friday nights at the drive in theater and most Saturday mornings in the video store poring through the new releases on VHS this was like a trip back in time to my youth.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

[Horror Bookworm Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror Bookworm Reviews...
It Came From The Multiplex: 80’s Midnight Chillers
Who remembers making that exciting trip to your local cinema on behalf of those great horror movies of the 1980's. Maybe a trip to the huge Multiplex for a showing of Sleepaway Camp. Or how about a midnight showing of Killer Klowns From Outer Space at your local Rialto. Perhaps a drive-in double feature, The Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2. It Came From The Multiplex: 80’s Midnight Chillers is a horror anthology based on these scenarios brought to you by Hex Publishers.
From a homicidal psychopathic serial killer that preys on drive-in movie goers, alien parasites from outer space attempting to reign over the human race and a haunted theater where an admit one ticket may allow you to enter, but never leave. This collection of authors assembled by Joshua Viola give a nod to the experience of viewing these third-rate B-Movies of the silver screen. With the likes of authors Stephen Graham Jones, Kevin J Anderson and Betty Rocksteady, this throwback to the 80's has plenty of authentic horror, blood and gore to excite the most enthusiastic ritualist. Written with extreme creativity and quick wit, the reader will appreciate the authors flow of darkness from story to story.
For these reasons you should purchase a ticket, popcorn, candy, coke and this book. Grab a seat and wait for that familiar clickety-clack of the film projector as it lights up the silver screen. However, keep in mind this particular motion-picture screen is the window to many monstrous souls waiting to reveal each short story. Hex Publishers have released an enjoyable nostalgic anthology that readers will no doubt appreciate. 5 stars.
For more recommendations visit https://horrorbookwormreviews.wordpre...

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This. Book. Was. AMAZING!!!!!!!! I grew up in the 80's, and boy oh boy, did these stories bring back the memories. They don't make them like this anymore. Sit down, Get comfortable. And sink your teeth in. You will be glad you did.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and every single author that contributed to this short story anthology. You all made my day!

[Mylene · Rating 3 out of 5]

But that cover though!

Let’s talk about the things I liked about this anthology before reviewing each short story. I have to mention the absolutely brilliant book cover. The artist covered the topic of the anthology and it really entices the reader to pick this book up. Secondly, the direction given to the authors by Joshua Viola also worked well. Having each story blend seamlessly into the next made the book as a whole seem cohesive and on topic. There wasn’t as single jarring tale that did not fit with the others which happens in a lot of anthologies. Lastly, the editing was excellent and all authors showed that they are talented writers.

What was a miss for me was that there were maybe only 5 stories that really captured my full attention. Although, as mentioned, every story was fully on topic, I just found my interest in some of the stories uneven. So, without further ado…..

1. Alien Parasites from Outer Space by Warren Hammond: Awesome short story! Captured the atmosphere of a small town drive-in perfectly. Story wrapped up beautifully. This was a smart layered tale that was very well thought out and used several aspects of a B-movie to make its point. Really impressed with the cleverness of this story.

2. Return of the Alien Parasites from Outer Space by Angie Hodapp: Just like a sequel… not as a good as the original! It wrapped up the original story, but without any depth and was quite predictable.

3. Negative Creep by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro: Very different. It had an interesting underlying message, but it also seemed like the author was delivering on more than one theme. The story dragged a bit, but had more than a superficial layer.

4. Helluloid by Kevin Dilmore and Dayton Ward: Good idea for a story, but the wrap up was lacking. The back story needed to be tighter and more unique. The additional ending twist did not work as there was no back story to support it.

5. Rise, Ye Vermin by Betty Rocksteady: Really enjoyed this story of two gals wanting to get out of a deadbeat town because they are different. It was an interesting comparison between the males monsters and cockroaches. The author truly had you visualizing 1980 chicks with zippos, big hair, and hair spray.

6. The Cronenberg Concerto By Keith Ferrell: Very interesting and unique idea for a story. It dragged a little, but the payoff came at the end.

7. Creature Feature by Gary Jonas: Excellent short story! Loved it! Just flowed really well with intriguing plot. The characters were part nutty, funny, and creepy. It feels like the author nailed the topic with this one.

8. Invisible by Mario Acevedo: Excellent short story. Perfect tie in to the invisible theme. The hunters become the hunted.

9. Screen Haunt by Orrin Grey: The author is talented at getting the reader to visualize the creepiness being described. That part worked for me. The part that didn’t was following along with the point of the story. Why is the director telling this story? What happened in those 25-30 mins on Halloween? So many questions and so few answers, but the author described the action beautifully.

10. The Devil’s Reel by Sean Eads and Joshua Viola: Could not get into this one…. Plot was a bit confusing and went from one thing to another. Maybe could work if expanded into a longer story.

11. On the Rocks by K. Nicole Davis: Obvious tale from the get-go. Had trouble getting into it.

12. Coming Attractions by Stephen Graham Jones: It’s probably me, but I never really got the cult status of Stephen Graham Jones. Although I have given his novellas a shot and have some of his novels on my reading list, I was never blown away. Surprisingly, I did love this short story. You can tell Jones is a clever writer and he made the story work with a terrific ending. Otherwise, if the ending hadn’t worked, I would have been lukewarm on the plot.

13. Late Sleepers by Steve Rasnic Tem: Just couldn’t get into this one and put the pieces together.

14. Special Makeup by Kevin J Anderson: Amusing story lacking in depth though.

FAVORITE STORY: Creature Feature

OTHER MUST READS: Alien Parasites from Outer Space, Rise, Ye Vermin, Invisible, Coming Attractions.

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally I’m pretty iffy on short story collections because usually it’s a lot of misses with very few hits but I’m glad to say this one was the opposite! I don’t know if it was the theme that made the stories so good but I’m not questioning it too much because I thoroughly enjoyed this 80s horror themed anthology.

[Michael Hicks · Rating 2 out of 5]

It Came from the Multiplex: 80s Midnight Chillers is a themed anthology of 14 stories centered around the horrors of 80s cinema. On the whole, it never quite fully lives up to the promise or potential of this excellent premise, but there a few bright spots in an otherwise uneven collection.

Warren Hammond and Angie Hodapp kick things off with their two-part double-feature, "Alien Parasites from Outer Space" and "Return of the Alien Parasites from Outer Space." While attending a drive-in screening of the titular film, Carl Cramer begins to realize that the movie is not a lost Hollywood classic, but an actual, honest-to-goodness documentary disguised as a sci-fi horror flick, and that it's being shown by the drive-in owner as a way to warn its attendees of the threat of alien parasites. "Parasites" is reminiscent of '50s-era bug flicks, and while entertaining it's also about as straightforward as you can get. There's no real big surprises, twists, or last minute reveals to spin the narrative off into something noteworthy or truly compelling, but it's a decent enough ode to a bygone era of horror cinema.

"Negative Creep" has a killer premise with a sound-based entity hunting down local teens, and has a very '80s teen horror movie aesthetic about it, reminding me a bit of Nightmare on Elm Street, only instead of having to stay awake in order to stay alive, these kids have to be surrounded by the noise of music and movies to ward off the supernatural threat. Alvaro Zinos-Amaro sure has come up with an incredibly sleek and cool idea here, but its latter half rushes to an end with a series of conveniences and hollow contrivances that left me skeptical. I think if it had been expanded into a novella and Zinos-Amaro had more room to really develop this story's themes and commentary on the proliferation of technology and the distraction of mobile devices (in this case, cassette players and stereo decks), it could really be quite an effective story. Here, it's just fair to middling.

Of the more recognizable names contributing to this anthology, Betty Rocksteady was one I was most looking forward to. "Rise, Ye Vermin!" didn't disappoint, thankfully, and revolves a lesbian couple who plan to walk out on their jobs at the movie theater, only for one of them to end up kidnapped by the deranged manager. Rocksteady delivers a really fun narrative chockfull of squicky bugs, and, frankly, that's always entertaining.

However, it's Keith Ferrell's "The Cronenberg Concerto" that I found to be the most welcome surprise here. I really dug this piece a lot - not just the mystery of the narrator's strange movie viewing ritual, but of what Ferrell has to say about nostalgia and the power of film through the eyes of our central figure here. Ferrell has a lot to say about the history of horror cinema and the way this genre and the movies themselves have evolved over the decades, all filtered through the concept of the "real" and how making horror films more accessible to general audiences has deprived them of their authenticity. It's a smart story, and it packs a nice punch, too.

Stephen Graham Jones, as expected, serves up another of this anthology's best with his "Coming Attractions." A group of kids sneak into a theater and hide until after closing so they can explore the legitimacy of the legends of this haunted movie house. Jones's writing of these kids is on-point and authentic, and the climax is genuinely eerie.

Good, too, is Steve Rasnic Tem's "Late Sleepers," which revolves around a movie theater closing up shop and sharing one last hurrah with its audience by screening a custom-made clip-show of past films exhibited there. Interspersed in this footage, though, are scenes of a house... a house very familiar to one particular audience member. There's a nice sense of mounting dread throughout this story, and then it takes a deliciously dark turn that I quite appreciated.

Unfortunately, much of the stories contained within It Came from the Multiplex are pretty basic efforts. Perhaps it's fitting, then, that the book sputters to a finish with Kevin J. Anderson's "Special Makeup," a disappointingly cheesy and obvious note to end this collection on. Anderson tries to deliver a cautionary tale in the mold of a Tales from the Crypt segment, but it's about as effective and clumsily handled as something out Scary Tales to Tell in the Dark. Being concerned with the production of movie in the '50s, too, it doesn't jibe well with the overarching motif of '80s cinema and feels awfully dated. I can only imagine it's included here because the reprint rights must have been cheap to come by, but the anthology might have been better served by its exclusion.

While I was initially excited and delighted by the potential offered at first blush by this book, it's ultimately hard to recommend given its imbalance in hits to misses. Most of the stories herein are decidedly OK, but only a few actually rise above these standards and attempt to provoke and engage its readers rather than merely being odes to a bygone era.

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can view my video review here: https://youtu.be/VrH75r6dxi4

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This was a fun collection of horror short stories that were themed around classic horror movies and the 80s. I would particularly recommend it to fans of old B-rated horror flicks, as that is the feel that the whole book gives off. In general, though, I would say that the quality of the stories in this anthology varies widely.

Several of the stories felt quick and shallow and flashy with little depth or substance. I did not enjoy this particular brand of story as much, though I do think it was true to the theme of the book, as they felt a lot like the movies they featured. Unfortunately, several of the early stories in the book fall under this category, so if you've begun reading and aren't impressed, stick around; there are some hidden gems later on.

There were also several stories which were okay--ones I may not remember a month or two from now but which felt more thought-out and had more depth. However, three stories in this anthology really stood out to me, and those are the ones I shall be talking about for the rest of this review.

The Cronenberg Concerto by Keith Ferrell
This story is probably the one that will stick with me the longest. It was much more character than plot with a delightfully disturbing reveal. While I did figure out where this one was going in advance, it proceeded like the proverbial train-wreck; I couldn't look away.

Invisible by Mario Acevedo
This was a great story for crime fiction lovers. Again, this story brought me deeper inside a character than most of the others in the collection, and I really appreciated the twist in the ending.

Coming Attractions by Stephen Graham Jones
Of the three stories I've selected to highlight here, this is definitely the most reminiscent of a classic horror plot. What makes this one stand out is the writing; it was by far the cleanest and best-written story of the anthology, and I found myself enthralled with it in a way I wished I could have been with many of the others.

If you like old horror movies or just want to reminisce about the existence of drive-ins, I recommend checking out this collection.

[Melanie (TBR and Beyond) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This honestly didn't work for me at all. I had pretty high hopes on this one - maybe because of the badass covers and that it promised a cool anthology about 80s horror movies - which is very my era. It was pretty much all a miss for me. A couple were kind of cool but nothing blew me away and I honestly already forget most of them. Some of them I found a little more leaning towards the 60s horror monsters than 80s horror monsters, but maybe that is just me.

[Joshua Hair · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with most anthologies, some stories hit the mark and others were skippable. Overall, this is a fun little love letter to theaters of old and the grimy, beautifully bad B-horrors hosted there. Don’t expect anything mind-blowing and you’ll have a good time.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Don’t say we’re just trying to capture the zeitgeist. We’ve been breathing it all along” (8).

This anthology surrounds itself with the nostalgic environment of multiplexes and drive-ins aligned with cars filled with their own unique and grotesque horror stories wrapped up with a mesmerizing bloody bow on top. Each story melted into the next creating this timeless flow. The fact that this is not published in October also shows you the dedication of the authors displaying how much of an homage the book is to the genre and it’s followers.

“The stories in this anthology are a love letter to the 80’s, golden age of horror where blood and gore were faithfully rendered in 35mm Technicolor” (11).

First, I have to applaud this book for it’s artwork. The reader may think they only get this stunning 80’s influenced horror film dedicated cover described in the preface as “...the right sort of artwork, something with eye-gouging, wait, eye-popping colors'' (9). Oh no, there is much more art submerged within the pages. Included inside are these gorgeous horror stencils that not only accommodate each story but also synchronize with the header flipbook artwork.

“The projector pitches off its stand and crashes to the floor. With a crunch of breaking glass, the drive-in goes black” (50).

The majority of these stories had my heart pumping and gripped by the throat gasping for air. Others had tropes that were expected to eventually appear, but done quite well. I admired the multiple creative usages of physical film reels incorporated in select stories in comparison to simply using a film within the story. “Alien Parasites From Outer Space” (Warren Hammond⁣ & Angie Hodapp⁣), “Helluloid” (Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore) and “Invisible” (Mario Acevedo) were my favorites from the collection. Also, Keith Ferrel’s “The Cronenberg Concert” had me submerged through the vivid word usage. Then, hit me with the horrifyingly grotesque.

“... tendrils of celluloid flapping and twisting outward from the core of the shape’s bulk. Film reels hung from the ends of various strands” (95).

While at first glance, one may believe this has a target audience. I would recommend this anthology to anyone. One can find fragments of comedy, mystery and magical realism alongside the main genre of nostalgic horror.

“Christmas lights were hung, a glitter of brilliant white with the occasional splash of red. Everything else lay dark” (263).


Thank you to NetGalley, Hex Publishers, the authors, and all contributors for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review..

[Eule Luftschloss · Rating 3 out of 5]

trigger warning
racism, homophobia, gore, kidnapping, mutilation, self-mutilation, mental illness, trauma, use of the slur gypsy

Be prepared! In these short stories, you'll meet your worst nightmares. Or, you know, what 80-ies horror movies would suggest as your worst nightmares. Only enter the cinema if you're ready for mysterious creatures, horrible things, and well-loved tropes!

The first two stories belong together, apart from that, all are standalones featuring movies in one kind or another. VHS tapes, cinema, shooting a movie - all these aspects of it are taking in to make up a red thread that's weaving through the anthology.

At first, I had fun. It was nothing literary, but it was fun and remembered me quite a bit of the Fear Street series I used to love as a teen, but then the topics chosen by the authors got more and more problematic till we arrived at a gypsy curse.
Listen, some tropes simply didn't age as well as others and racism is not cool.

But I can tell you that it's exactly as trashy as cover and blurp lead you to suspect, so if you're ready for that, you'll not be disappointed.

I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

*thank you to Netgalley, Hex Publishers and all participating authors in this collection, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


2 stars.


I quite saddened that I didn't enjoy this more. That cover alone is 5/5 stars so I guess my hopes were high.

Being an 80s child and a horror fan since the famous 'Goosebumps' series by R. L. Stine came out, this was right up my alley.

80s horror definitely has a unique feel to it. The stories are told differently and you either click with it or not. The stories in here were either a miss from me or just barely enjoyable. Maybe it was more about the themes that were told, but this just wasn't for me. I wish it the best.

[Daniel Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's quite a challenge to review themed anthologies, as the reader can become jaded quickly from repetitive themes and settings, or can be attuned to stories with the required theme shoehorned in.

I went into Multiplex completely clean, and was immediately surprised that the second story carried on from the first. Was this akin to a novel with each author carrying on the next chapter? Or were the stories set in the same universe? Sadly no, as from this point we entered a more traditional set up with separate stories sharing the theme of 80s cinemas and drive ins.

And it's an enjoyable theme. Brings back memories from someone my age (born in 1980) and does capture the spirit of the time and the movies that hit the big screen.

However, this played a part in the major weakness of the book. While the plots of the stories became quite similar (eg, creepy theatre at night with ghost/evil entity prowling the place whipping celluloid around) the characters were completely forgettable. Just like the teenagers in all those 80s slashers, no one had any character, and were mere fodder. As the next story began, here came another set of interchangeable teens, the only real difference was their names.

Another element of the lack of variety in the book came in the breath of fresh air that was a werewolf story...but then the other creature piece was also a werewolf story, and both came to the same predictable conclusion.

Ah, it sounds like I'm dumping hard on the book. I did enjoy it, honestly, but I feel that these stories would have read stronger scattered through more general anthologies.

I enjoyed the two linked stories at the beginning, although the conclusion was a little too flat for me so I was disappointed when the story didn't continue.

The Cronenberg Concerto by Keith Ferrell was a standout, as the piece was about the history of horror cinema from the 60s onwards and the transition to VHS. I would loved to have read the character's thoughts on horror from the 90s and beyond!

Creature Feature by Gary Jonas was skillfully executed, with more fleshed out characters, meat on the story to work with, and good resolution. This was exactly what I want in a horror short.

The Devil's Reel by Sean Eads and Joshua Viola was also one of my favourites, with a nice sense of dread in the first act, and ballsy decisions once the action heats up.

I would recommend this book for readers who are passionate about their horror cinema and like movies oozing through their fiction like butter through popcorn. Otherwise, still a lot to enjoy, but perhaps a book to dip into now and again. You can start to ache sitting in those cinema seats for to long.

[Michelle Glatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun anthology which made me remember screaming along to my favorite horror flicks as a teenager in the eighties.

All stories had the unifying theme of taking place, at least in part at a movie theater (drive in or building).

My favorite stories were:

Creature Feature by Gary Jonas, for its Lovecraftian elements

Invisible by Mario Acevedo, for its unsettling serial killer

Coming Attractions by Stephen Graham Jones, for capturing the beauty and horror of youthful decisions

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love 80s horror movies and of course I had to get this because there was a Stephen Graham Jones short story in it. Was a really fun quick read and I’m a big fan of anthologies and collections because it always introduces me to new authors some of the stand out for me were “Rise , ye vermin” “ The Cronenberg concerto“ “ creature feature“ “ invisible“ and “screen haunt” really really wonderful short stories those were!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big lover of over the top, campy, b-movie horror flicks, this book is a super fun love letter to those movies. Even though not every story was a winner for me, none of them were bad, and I could enjoy their gory, often ridiculous nature. I found the longer I read the book, the more fun I had with it.

Creature Feature, The Devil's Reel and Rise, Ye Vermin were my favorites. If you love 80's horror movies, and are hungry for a nostalgia trip, this is the book for you.

[Stephanie (Books in the Freezer) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here's the thing. Don't let my rating deter you if this is something that seems interesting to you. I was just 100% not the intended audience for this collection. If you're someone who genuinely enjoys over-the-top horror movies from the 80's, you can have fun with this. I just did not connect with it. I can see it being other people's jam though

[Gus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed a few of the stories in this anthology while a couple fell felt. With this book I realized I’m not much of an anthology fan BUT that takes nothing away from the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the 80’s vibe imbued in the narratives and was really entertained by the slasher/monster stories.

[Giulia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crazy and Cheezy style horror served ala 80's style. If you like that stuff, you will enjoy this book. I liked it but I think this one will only go over really well with the really hardcore 80's horror fans.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher for a chance to read and review.

[Aaron McQuiston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this anthology of 80s themed stories, and now that I am finished and have had a few hours to reflect, there are some things that this collection does well and some things it does not do well. One of the things that I really like is that most of the stories have one setting, most of them a movie theatre, and the authors do a great job in varying their stories told in this setting. It would be easy to have 15 stories about theatre hauntings, but there are only a few, and those few are really good ones. Many of these stories involve many different themes, from alien invasions to murders to crime cover ups, the variety kept me interested in the collection. I thought the art was very well done, and I have thought about getting a physical copy of this so that I could do the flipbook animation. One of the things that I did not like was that there was only one story that involved the multiplex, and this was in a story where they use the multiplex as a prop instead of a setting (where the kids saw a movie at the multiplex and did not come out the same.) The rest of the stories were set in old, one screen theatres and drive-ins. I know that it makes for great, and easier stories, but the idea of many of these stories being set in the 80s or being inspired by the 80s just does not come across very well. These stories seem to be more inspired by the drive-in movies from the 60s and 70s than the mall culture of the 80s. 

This is not to say that the collection does not have some highlights. I really enjoyed the first two stories, “Alien Parasites from Outer Space” by Warren Hammond and “Return of the Alien Parasites from Outer Space” by Angie Hodapp, a alien story with a legitimate sequel as the next story. I have not seen this very often in anthologies, and the stories were fun so I was fully engaged in the plot with both of these stories. I did not know what I thought about Keith Ferrell’s story, “The Cronenberg Concerto” while I was reading it because it is written in a more passive, reflective way, but in hindsight, I think about this story more than most of the others. This is a quiet, body horror story, and it is more interesting in concept than it initially appears. The only story that involves a Multiplex, "The Devil's Reel" by Sean Eads and Joshua Viola is a great Satanic Panic story, which seems to capture the spirit that this collection felt like it was trying to gear toward. There are a few other pretty good stories, particularly Stephen Graham Jones and Steve Rasnic Tem, but there are not many that really stick out and make me think I’ll remember much about this anthology in six months. They are good stories, but not memorable. I know how hard it is to work on these types of anthologies, and if anyone wants to read it, I would not discourage it, but this is a soft recommendation from me.

I received this as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Melissa S · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover is adorable and irresistible.  I'm a 70's baby, and a child of the '80s.  I even worked at a run-down, local video rental store in the VHS era, complete with the special "adult-section" that we kept in a binder under the counter, although that wasn't until the '90s (many cringe-y experiences there).  So reading the tagline of this anthology - 80s Midnight Chillers - of course I had to read it.  I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but this was definitely smarter than anticipated.  I had to look up two words (lagniappe - small gift with purchase  and zeitgeist - spirit of the age) in just the first three pages of the foreword.  That's got to be a record, and I wondered at that point what I'd gotten myself into.   What followed from there was a bit less cerebral, but a lot of fun.  All of the stories revolved around the theme of 80's horror movies and were set in 80's style theaters or drive-ins.   As Is the case with any anthology, some were more memorable than others, and I thought the tension and my interest grew as I made my way through the collection.  I really enjoyed the diversity of the stories and the authors. A quick and enjoyable read, especially for fans of 80's horror movies. Thank you to NetGalley and Hex Publishing for this galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[D.K. Hundt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

IT CAME FROM THE MULTIPLEX—80s Midnight Chillers

’The stories in this anthology are a love letter to the 80s, the golden age of horror where blood and gore were faithfully rendered in 35mm Technicolor. It was a glorious time to experience film like RE-ANIMATOR, THE THING, HELLRAISER, THE LOST BOYS, PRINCE OF DARKNESS, CHILDREN OF THE CORN, and many, many more.’

My Favorites…

’The Cronenberg Concerto’ – by Keith Ferrell

’Creature Feature’ – by Gary Jonas

’Invisible’ – by Mario Acevedo

’Screen Haunt’ – by Orrin Grey

’The Devil’s Reel’ – by Sean Eads and Joshua Viola

’On The Rocks’ – by K. Nicole Davis

’Coming Attractions’ – by Stephen Graham Jones

’Late Sleepers’ – by Steve Rasnic Tem

’Special Makeup’ – by Kevin J. Anderson

Thank you, NetGalley and Hex Publishing, for loaning me an eGalley of IT CAME FROM THE MULTIPLEX in exchange for an honest review.

[Clued-in With A Book (Elvina Ulrich) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, the fun 80s! I grew up in the 80s! Extreme fashion, VHS, walkman, Bon Jovi, Duran Duran, multiplexes and 80s horror movies! There is just something so nostalgic about the 80s. So when I see a book that says 80s Midnight Chillers, I knew I had to read it!

This is definitely one fun, spine-tingling, horror anthology! From bugs and aliens to ghosts, there are fourteen stories themed after 80s horror movies in this book. Just like any anthology, some stories stood out while others were just okay. Some stories were scarier with blood and gore while others were somewhat predictable and cheesy. It is like watching the Creepshow movie.

Overall, this is one entertaining read. I love the cover! So 80s and definitely gives me the Stranger Things vibes here.

***Thank you Hex Publishers and NetGalley for this gifted review copy in exchange for an honest review.***

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Hex Publishers for an e-arc of the book in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars.

It Came from the Multiplex: 80s Midnight Chillers is a blast from the past and more than I could have asked for as a fan of 80’s horror cinema. If, like me, you’re a fan of the old school “B” Horror movies, drive-ins, and slasher films this is definitely the book for you! The book contains an amazing collection of short stories about serial killers, ghosts, and all kinds of other ghouls waiting to come for you in the night (or while you’re watching your next horror flick). Every story is fun to read and full to twists that will keep you wanting more.

[lucyreads_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

IT CAME FROM THE MULTIPLEX is a collection of short stories that are written based off of a love of classic 80's horror movies.

this collection got off to a rocky start for me as the first few stories didn't really take my interest but once I got past the first five I definitely felt my interest peak. my stand outs were definitely Coming Attractions and Late Sleepers, both of which I loved!! I also really enjoyed Creature Feature, The Cronenberg Concerto and On the Rocks

overall this one was a mixed bag for me but I had a lot of fun reading it and found some stories I loved. I'd especially recommend this one for those who love classic horror films!

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT CAME FROM THE MULTIPLEX was a super fun book that had my nostalgia feelings all a tingle. I couldn’t help but be immediately sucked in by that cover. Look at it. Isn’t it fantastic? While I was never super into the B-movie level creature features that were just dripping in gouda, I appreciated the level of fun that some of these stories wished to recreate here because, let’s face it: they just don’t make movies like these anymore.

I also liked how everything centered around the super grimy movie theater of years past. As an adult now I pretty much won’t go to anything other than an Alamo Drafthouse, although I certainly remember those discount theaters where you were thankful the lights weren’t fully up because you just didn’t want to know what could potentially be all over your seat. And what the hell did you just step in? Anyone else’s LA Gears get spot-welded to the floor if you kept them in place for too long? No? Just me? So yeah. I totally get it.

On of my favorites was The Devil’s Reel, simply because I’m a sucker for Christianity vs the devil type stories and how those whacky plots can go so terribly wrong. I also liked the one about keeping the Old Ones in check in an old movie theater. I think that one was Creature Feature. Special Makeup was a good one too. I thought it was really unique and I liked how it was set in 1950s (I think) Hollywood.

I was totally in the mood for something like IT CAME FROM THE MULTIPLEX and I was not disappointed. It has that certain level of kitsch that pokes the nostalgia button while at the same time still being a little on the creepy side too. I liked it. I liked it a lot.

4.5

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.