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Twentieth Anniversary Screening
Winner of the 2021 Bram Stoker Award for Long Fiction!
This mockumentary-style dark comedy recounts the grisly events surrounding the terrible slasher flick THE ROOFER, remembered only because an obsessed fan tried to reenact the murders as they played out on the screen. When the same theater shows the film twenty years later, will the warnings that this is a really, really bad idea be justified?
This mockumentary-style dark comedy recounts the grisly events surrounding the terrible slasher flick THE ROOFER, remembered only because an obsessed fan tried to reenact the murders as they played out on the screen. When the same theater shows the film twenty years later, will the warnings that this is a really, really bad idea be justified?
67 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2022
About the author
Jeff Strand
213 books2,056 followersBram Stoker Award-winning author of a bunch of demented books, including PRESSURE, DWELLER, CLOWNS VS. SPIDERS, AUTUMN BLEEDS INTO WINTER, MY PRETTIES, the official novelization of ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES, and lots of others!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
May 19, 2022
Innovative horror based around an interesting idea. The Roofer, a below-average 1991 slasher movie (love the description and all the funny references to the big horror blockbusters in the 80s) has its twentieth anniversary screening. What about the audience? Are there any die-hard (LOL) fans among it? How were victims killed in the Roofer? The author comes up with a great tale full of satire and full of allusions to slasher flics. The Roofer is badder than old King Kong but the story is absolutely excellent in reaching its terrible climax. Imagine what might happen on an anniversary screening of Friday 13th, Halloween or Nightmare on Elm Street... Brilliant novella, masterly plotted and delivered screaming to the point. Highly recommended! One of Jeff's best and most bizarre stories so far.
May 23, 2022
Short and sweet. Murderous good time.
August 11, 2023
Really enjoyed this!! It’s more comedy/parody than slasher, but there are a few grisly details. Very fun time.
Read
July 19, 2024Once this was announced as the winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Long Fiction (I live-streamed the event, I wasn't there), I added this to my TBR... it was a VERY competitive group in that category this year, so I knew this was one to check out.
Once I read the description of the book and saw Lynne Hansen's cool artwork, I said "I'll have to read this very soon."
Once I noticed it was on Kindle Unlimited... I said "OK, I'll read it RIGHT NOW."
I'm glad I made this choice, because it was a well written, page-turning kind of book, but I'm left with mixed feelings that are not the fault of the writer (more on that below). Jeff Strand is one of those authors whose names I've seen floating around over the years, and yet I'd never tried any of his books before. This seems a good one to start with, since it was fast-paced and only 67 pages.
The premise is - - as the title says - - an upcoming 20th anniversary screening of a 1991 horror film called THE ROOFER. And no, it's not considered a high-quality film or anything of the sort, in fact it's described as "aggressively mediocre". Of course, the author sneaks in this quote towards the beginning: "...and were it not for the real-life body count, the movie would almost certainly be forgotten today".
The novella is separated into four chapters. The first includes a play-by-play summary of the film itself, and oh how I wish THE ROOFER was a real movie I could watch (indie filmmakers, please get on that). It goes into all the filmmaking errors and badly scripted details that brought to my mind the so-bad-it's-good classic PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE. For example, Strand writes "A huge splash of blood hits the wall. In the widescreen version of the film, you can catch a split-second glimpse of the bucket from which the fake blood was flung."
After the film is summarized, the first chapter progresses into a "real-life" slasher story involving a killer inspired by THE ROOFER.
The next chapter of the book fast-forwards from 1991 to 2011 and the controversial twentieth anniversary celebration of THE ROOFER (which happens to be only two weeks apart from the aforementioned copycat killing). And from there, well, you'll just have to read the novella and see how it all unfolds! I will say that Jeff Strand is masterful at blink-and-you'll miss it foreshadowing; for example, in chapter two, a character is quoted as saying (regarding the screening) "We all know how it turned out, but even if it had turned out great...". When you read stuff like that, it really makes you want to keep flipping the pages to see what comes next.
In short, I've read a few books in the past year which act as an homage to the horror film industry, and Twentieth Anniversary Screening is probably the most effective of those, as it really captures the essence of the slasher movie subgenre.
My only problem is the timing of when I picked this up. Reading a book that involves mass murder when an ACTUAL mass murder (that took place in my home state) is all over the news... well, it's hard to really "enjoy" a book like this, and ended up making me sad about the real world killings. I thought I could handle it, sort of knowing in advance what kind of book this was, but Chapter 4 was really hard to read.
But, in fairness, Jeff Strand clearly had no control over the timing of when I would read this book. Generally speaking, I would recommended to anyone who has a fondness for cheesy slasher films, and/or readers who enjoy a sense of humor baked into their horror (i.e. fans of Grady Hendrix).
Now that I know I like his writing style, I will surely read more from this author. It looks like he has a lot of material out there, and I look forward to seeing what else he has to offer.
Once I read the description of the book and saw Lynne Hansen's cool artwork, I said "I'll have to read this very soon."
Once I noticed it was on Kindle Unlimited... I said "OK, I'll read it RIGHT NOW."
I'm glad I made this choice, because it was a well written, page-turning kind of book, but I'm left with mixed feelings that are not the fault of the writer (more on that below). Jeff Strand is one of those authors whose names I've seen floating around over the years, and yet I'd never tried any of his books before. This seems a good one to start with, since it was fast-paced and only 67 pages.
The premise is - - as the title says - - an upcoming 20th anniversary screening of a 1991 horror film called THE ROOFER. And no, it's not considered a high-quality film or anything of the sort, in fact it's described as "aggressively mediocre". Of course, the author sneaks in this quote towards the beginning: "...and were it not for the real-life body count, the movie would almost certainly be forgotten today".
The novella is separated into four chapters. The first includes a play-by-play summary of the film itself, and oh how I wish THE ROOFER was a real movie I could watch (indie filmmakers, please get on that). It goes into all the filmmaking errors and badly scripted details that brought to my mind the so-bad-it's-good classic PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE. For example, Strand writes "A huge splash of blood hits the wall. In the widescreen version of the film, you can catch a split-second glimpse of the bucket from which the fake blood was flung."
After the film is summarized, the first chapter progresses into a "real-life" slasher story involving a killer inspired by THE ROOFER.
The next chapter of the book fast-forwards from 1991 to 2011 and the controversial twentieth anniversary celebration of THE ROOFER (which happens to be only two weeks apart from the aforementioned copycat killing). And from there, well, you'll just have to read the novella and see how it all unfolds! I will say that Jeff Strand is masterful at blink-and-you'll miss it foreshadowing; for example, in chapter two, a character is quoted as saying (regarding the screening) "We all know how it turned out, but even if it had turned out great...". When you read stuff like that, it really makes you want to keep flipping the pages to see what comes next.
In short, I've read a few books in the past year which act as an homage to the horror film industry, and Twentieth Anniversary Screening is probably the most effective of those, as it really captures the essence of the slasher movie subgenre.
My only problem is the timing of when I picked this up. Reading a book that involves mass murder when an ACTUAL mass murder (that took place in my home state) is all over the news... well, it's hard to really "enjoy" a book like this, and ended up making me sad about the real world killings. I thought I could handle it, sort of knowing in advance what kind of book this was, but Chapter 4 was really hard to read.
But, in fairness, Jeff Strand clearly had no control over the timing of when I would read this book. Generally speaking, I would recommended to anyone who has a fondness for cheesy slasher films, and/or readers who enjoy a sense of humor baked into their horror (i.e. fans of Grady Hendrix).
Now that I know I like his writing style, I will surely read more from this author. It looks like he has a lot of material out there, and I look forward to seeing what else he has to offer.
May 20, 2024
Just a short, entertaining horror novella with a unique format. Bloody, hilarious and with some unexpected twists at the end.
May 25, 2022
I enjoyed this short story enormously, and would normally highly recommend it. However, given the recent news of a primary school massacre in Texas, I feel it is not appropriate for me to praise the book right now.
May 2, 2022
A fun quick read. Far from my favourite Strand but it was short n sweet.
January 2, 2024
First review of the year and I wanted to make sure it was a book that had been on my radar for a while so I could set the tone.
The best way to describe this book is that it’s a wild ride and if you’re a slasher lover like myself, you’ll probably love this!
May 2024 bring me great thrilling reads!
The best way to describe this book is that it’s a wild ride and if you’re a slasher lover like myself, you’ll probably love this!
May 2024 bring me great thrilling reads!
December 26, 2022
It's creepy, twisted, crazy clever, and parts are so funny (one scene in particular...you'll know it when you read it, I promise), I had laugh-tears running down my cheeks. I guess maybe you'd call this story a mock-essay? Eh, call it whatever you want. It doesn't matter. You're gonna love it.
August 3, 2023
lol I wasn’t sure if I was reading about something that actually happened or something fictional!
“How did I not know about this?” <—-Me
It never happened. It was still interesting and a quick read!
Also, I need someone to make ‘The Roofer’ a thing.
“How did I not know about this?” <—-Me
It never happened. It was still interesting and a quick read!
Also, I need someone to make ‘The Roofer’ a thing.
August 3, 2022
This 2021 Bram Stoker winning novella about slasher films and serial killers was entertaining, hilarious, and full of surprises! And a showcase for all the reasons I screen most of my movies at home now.
March 26, 2022
Neat idea for a novella here but more importantly, new Jeff Strand! I got spoiled in 2020 with five releases, one of which was on par with King’s On Writing or Laymon’s A Writer’s Tale. More Strand please!
June 6, 2022
4.5 stars. This novella definitely deserved to win a Bram Stoker. It's an innovative look at cinema and a slasher that leads to tons of violence. Also, Jeff Strand is freaking hilarious and it genuinely made me laugh out loud several times. Full review to come.
July 25, 2023
short and sweet horror novella told in the form of a blog post in the vein of FANGORIA or something similar, about what happens on the night of a 20th anniversary screening of a terrible slasher (and what happened during an original screening of said horrible slasher)
not a lot to say ok go read it it’s on KU byeeeee
not a lot to say ok go read it it’s on KU byeeeee
November 21, 2023
I had such a good time reading this one from Jeff Strand. Just needed something that didn't take itself too seriously. He's the perfect go-to author to lift your spirits.
Horror comedy at its best.
You'll blast through this.
Horror comedy at its best.
You'll blast through this.
September 13, 2022
Imagine a movie theater massacre to the Benny Hill theme song!
Exquisite.
Exquisite.
June 28, 2022
Brief summary: When the cheesy slasher film "The Roofer" was in theaters, a man tried to reenact the murders as they happened during the movie. Twenty years later, an anniversary screening is being held at the scene of the crime. But no one will die this time... right?
This novella is a fresh take on the slasher trope. It's told documentary-style, which gives it a bit of a true crime feel. It actually reminds me of House of Leaves in a way, because the first part of the book is a description of the fictional movie.
Just like a slasher movie, there some moments that are terrifying, and some that are funny. I was surprised by the ending, which is always a great sign.
This story could be upsetting if you get stressed out thinking about mass killings in the public, because at times it felt a bit too real. I highly recommend it to slasher movie fans!
This novella is a fresh take on the slasher trope. It's told documentary-style, which gives it a bit of a true crime feel. It actually reminds me of House of Leaves in a way, because the first part of the book is a description of the fictional movie.
Just like a slasher movie, there some moments that are terrifying, and some that are funny. I was surprised by the ending, which is always a great sign.
This story could be upsetting if you get stressed out thinking about mass killings in the public, because at times it felt a bit too real. I highly recommend it to slasher movie fans!
March 30, 2022
Absolutely loved the story. The plot sucked me in from the first line, and never let me go. This needs to be made into a movie ASAP, and I'm not saying that to be ironic!
The characters, without giving away any spoilers, were well rounded, real and believable. I was especially fond of the wannabe actor... The remorseless director, whilst not having a huge part, was immediately dislikable but essential to moving the plot forward, on its blood-fuelled, relentless march to the climatic ending.
Once again, and I'll say this loudly for any production companies out there, this would make the perfect 'slasher' flick. The next 'Scream' franchise. Buy it now!
The characters, without giving away any spoilers, were well rounded, real and believable. I was especially fond of the wannabe actor... The remorseless director, whilst not having a huge part, was immediately dislikable but essential to moving the plot forward, on its blood-fuelled, relentless march to the climatic ending.
Once again, and I'll say this loudly for any production companies out there, this would make the perfect 'slasher' flick. The next 'Scream' franchise. Buy it now!
March 12, 2022
The author suggested I read this on his FB fan page. And since he released it for free on Kindle and it's a Stoker-nominated novella, I'm not going to say no. Because, you know, IT'S JEFF STRAND.
This is a dark comedy slasher story that is quite clever. It's divided into four parts and each part is a telling that happens after the original event. You can always expect a wicked sense of humor and lots of action-packed gore with Jeff Strand. He's one of a kind!
This is a dark comedy slasher story that is quite clever. It's divided into four parts and each part is a telling that happens after the original event. You can always expect a wicked sense of humor and lots of action-packed gore with Jeff Strand. He's one of a kind!
February 12, 2024
Really, really enjoyed this one, although as a slasher fan it really shouldn't be that surprising. A quick, fun little read by one of my favorite authors!
May 22, 2022
3 1/2 stars. Clever presentation.
October 4, 2023
This was really good and a really interesting premise
October 12, 2023
"After a poorly choregraphed struggle, Elwood makes several snips in his daughter’s neck. A tremendous amount of blood spurts from the wound. In a genuinely unsettling image, he opens his mouth and waggles his tongue as the blood sprays all over his face. Remember, this is his daughter’s blood. To quote Schitt’s Creek: Ew."
August 26, 2022
winner of the 2022 Bram Stoker Award for outstanding Long Fiction
this is a quick easy read, written like a documentary about a cheep slasher film titled "The Roofer". One of those bad slasher movies made for a quick buck with no name actors, made in a rush with laughable moments of ineptness. A movie that should have been quickly forgotten had a maniac not murdered audience members in theme with the movie. After 20 years a failing movie theater scheduled a '20th anniversary screening' , will more maniacs come out to once again tarnish this bad movies reputation? It's a Jeff Strand story so what do you think?
The story is just fine and it delivers with gusto, but the real meat here is Jeff Strand's love of bad slasher films, a love i share! There's nothing like watching a terrible film with friends who know it by heart and can predict the worst moments together, and Jeff understands this, he understands not just what makes bad movies fun, but why they happen. He describes scenes that make the audience howl with laughter and I can see it clearly. Reminds me of such classic bad horror movies like Pieces, Silent Night Deadly Night 2 and Sleepaway Camp. Movies i rewatch with friends every year!
this is a quick easy read, written like a documentary about a cheep slasher film titled "The Roofer". One of those bad slasher movies made for a quick buck with no name actors, made in a rush with laughable moments of ineptness. A movie that should have been quickly forgotten had a maniac not murdered audience members in theme with the movie. After 20 years a failing movie theater scheduled a '20th anniversary screening' , will more maniacs come out to once again tarnish this bad movies reputation? It's a Jeff Strand story so what do you think?
The story is just fine and it delivers with gusto, but the real meat here is Jeff Strand's love of bad slasher films, a love i share! There's nothing like watching a terrible film with friends who know it by heart and can predict the worst moments together, and Jeff understands this, he understands not just what makes bad movies fun, but why they happen. He describes scenes that make the audience howl with laughter and I can see it clearly. Reminds me of such classic bad horror movies like Pieces, Silent Night Deadly Night 2 and Sleepaway Camp. Movies i rewatch with friends every year!
April 25, 2022
Reading Jeff Strand is always a treat! (Although watching him in person read his short story “Crazy Ralph Used Car Emporium” put him on a whole new level for me!)
This was a fricking fantastic Novella. It read like an a news article about an old Slasher film that came out in 1991 (I googled the film, it isn’t real, but the way it was written made me feel like it could be) and the events that happened at the original showing and then events that happened at a 20 year anniversary screening. A story in a story in a story type story. I would love to see this one be made into a movie, but I think instead of going to a movie theater, I will stream it from the comfort of my own home.
This was a fricking fantastic Novella. It read like an a news article about an old Slasher film that came out in 1991 (I googled the film, it isn’t real, but the way it was written made me feel like it could be) and the events that happened at the original showing and then events that happened at a 20 year anniversary screening. A story in a story in a story type story. I would love to see this one be made into a movie, but I think instead of going to a movie theater, I will stream it from the comfort of my own home.
July 6, 2022
Jeff Strand created a fresh twist on a sub-genre that can easily get repetitive.
This novella is written as a blog post that recounts the horrific events of the twentieth anniversary screening of a movie called The Roofer.
I really enjoyed the format that this was written in. The interviews were fun and helped breathe a lot of life into the characters without the need for too much background. The story was exciting and I loved the cinematic setting for a slasher.
Overall, this was a great novella and I highly recommend checking it!
This novella is written as a blog post that recounts the horrific events of the twentieth anniversary screening of a movie called The Roofer.
I really enjoyed the format that this was written in. The interviews were fun and helped breathe a lot of life into the characters without the need for too much background. The story was exciting and I loved the cinematic setting for a slasher.
Overall, this was a great novella and I highly recommend checking it!
March 14, 2022
Told in the form of a blog type article, Twentieth Anniversary Screening involves a look at a bad, schlocky horror film, The Roofer. During a screening on opening week, an incident occurs at The Diversion movie theater, during a screening. Twenty years later, the theater screens the movie again. Will history repeat itself? I am a big fan of Jeff Strand's writing style, and it really shined again here.
If you love 80's style horror films, with humor, and bite, this is a good one to dive into.
If you love 80's style horror films, with humor, and bite, this is a good one to dive into.
June 3, 2022
This was formatted in a really interesting way and the premise was unique. Overall, Strand took a fun approach to the story, and I was actually surprised by something that unfolded - I honestly didn't see it coming! This was definitely an entertaining and quick read!
March 24, 2022
Really fun, quick slasher read. With quick pacing and increasingly absurd plot developments around every corner, Jeff Strand sure does know how to spin an entertaining little yarn
June 7, 2022
One of Jeff’s best works!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews