As a younger lad I can remember going to the Scholastic Book Fair to grab the latest copy of Goosebumps to see what fears R.L. Stine could instill in me. Thanks to Shortwave Publishing and each new Killer VHS book such as Killer VHS: Happy Hour by Gemma Amor we can get this feeling all over again. This time around it’s a bit darker and filled with 1990s atmospheric horror.
The eccentric owner of a ’90s underground London cocktail bar has a unique and disturbing way of keeping an eye on everything and everyone, then disappearing those who don’t behave. Famous politicians, glamorous actresses, and international stars are all dying to get in… and to get out.
What stands out the most in this new entry to the Killer VHS series is the atmosphere set up by Amor. I could truly visualize the neon-soaked 1990s smoky underground club setting that felt almost cinematic and immersed us in a sense of place. It’s this setting that made the story come to life and allowed me to quickly read these horrific pages.
Each of the Killer VHS stories feature a unique plot and Happy Hour is no different. Amor does rely on age-old tropes such as a haunted house or in this case a bar, but a unique mythology surrounding said bar with a supernatural twist that created a constantly evolving mystery. It’s not just Amor’s concept and plot, but the author’s writing itself that brings the story to life (or death) in ways that are almost poetic, yet visceral and horrifying. Amor is inventive, while also stylish in the way she tells her stories.
The visceral horror is present, but other horror rear their ugly heads throughout this brief story, including power, obsession, celebrity culture, corruption, and the consequences of bad behavior. Now, I have heard of people getting kicked out of bars for various reasons, but disappearing all together is a whole other thing. Killer VHS: Happy Hour takes bad behavior to another level and while doing so blends social commentary with supernatural horror in ways that surprised me.
Like other books in this series, Killer VHS: Happy Hour is a fast-paced horror that takes a unique concept and tells a fresh story that has you turning pages at breakneck speeds. While this book does need your attention throughout, as long as you are following along closely things fall right into place for a great reading experience.
Killer VHS: Happy Hour is yet another fantastic entry into the Killer VHS series. Gemma Amor delivers a stylish supernatural horror wrapped in an unforgettable and atmospheric setting. A cocktail blend of equal parts intoxicating and terrifying, Happy Hour stays with you long after last call.
Killer VHS: Happy Hour hits bookstores everywhere on October 20, 2026 from Shortwave Publishing.
