For anyone considering Chuck Tingle horror novels, this one - like all the rest - is not subtle. The themes are hammered home relentlessly and bluntly. There is no doubt that this horror novel is about the flaws of capitalism and the flaws in Hollywood and writer and actor rights and queer representation in media. And if you're considering picking up Tingle's books, you'll likely agree with his views on the matter, so the actual themes won't be a problem. But the lack of nuance or subtlety might me. In my case, I don't mind it, and it even drew me in to get my eyes watering during some of the emotional but blunt speeches in the novel.
This is, however, my least favorite of Tingle's horrors so far. Which is to say it's still really good. But this is at it's heart a love letter to Hollywood horror, and I just don't quite care about that. But the messages around media as a whole were things I really enjoyed seeing explored.