Experimental Film

Name: Experimental Film
Price: 23.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781504063883

✍️ Gemma Files

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$23.00

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A film critic uncovers dark secrets in silent movie footage linked to a vanished spiritualist.

Lois Cairns pursues professional recognition by researching Iris Dunlopp Whitcomb’s early work in film. Her inquiry uncovers a supernatural force linked to Whitcomb’s 1918 train disappearance. The plot transitions from scholarly investigation to personal dread as Lois sees parallels between her life and Whitcomb’s destiny. A noon demon appears, demanding strict adherence to duty. The narrative explores artistic ambition and family obligations. Files combines Canadian cinema history with folklore to build tension. The story progresses from a movie screening to an exploration of historical tragedies reflecting current threats.

Key Themes

silent film history spiritualist traditions maternal fear

Literary Context

The book is published by Open Road Media in 2020. It focuses on Canadian cultural figures, specifically Iris Dunlopp Whitcomb. The narrative engages with the era of silent cinema and early twentieth-century spiritualism in Canada.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Shirley Jackson · Silvia Moreno-Garcia · M.R. James

🕯️

Supernatural

🏛 Open Road Media 📅 2020 📖 342 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781504063883

📝 Description: Experimental Film

Lois Cairns investigates the disappearance of early Canadian filmmaker Iris Dunlopp Whitcomb while raising her autistic son. The story follows Lois Cairns, a former instructor who works as a freelance critic while caring for her autistic child. After viewing a screening, Lois uncovers silent film footage containing silver nitrate samples connected to Iris Dunlopp Whitcomb. Whitcomb disappeared from a train car in 1918 and was known for collecting fairy tales and practicing spiritualism. Lois attempts to demonstrate that Whitcomb was the first female filmmaker in Canada. Her investigation draws her toward a supernatural reality where folklore becomes tangible. This journey involves confronting a demon associated with noon that requires payment for duty. Lois notices disturbing echoes between her own existence and Whitcomb’s past, leading to fear for herself and her family. This title appeals to those interested in gothic mysteries, the history of early cinema, and psychological horror. It relies on spiritualist traditions and silent movie visuals. The narrative is not suitable for readers wanting light comedy or rapid action. Fans of atmospheric tension and character-focused supernatural tales will likely enjoy it. Files employs a mystery framework to examine legacy and maternal anxiety.

💎 Our verdict on Experimental Film

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🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Gemma Files crafts a compelling narrative that transitions from scholarly investigation to personal dread, effectively merging Canadian cinema history with folklore. The story excels in building tension through the parallels between the protagonist’s life and historical figures, creating a palpable sense of unease. Files utilizes a mystery framework to examine complex themes like maternal anxiety and artistic ambition without resorting to cheap scares. The depiction of a noon demon demanding strict adherence to duty adds a unique supernatural layer to the psychological horror. This book is best suited for readers who enjoy atmospheric gothic mysteries and character-driven plots. It avoids rapid action in favor of deep, unsettling exploration, making it a strong recommendation for fans of true crime adjacent fiction and dark fantasy who value intellectual engagement alongside fear.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This title appeals to readers who appreciate atmospheric tension and character-focused supernatural tales over rapid action or light comedy. It is ideal for those interested in gothic mysteries, the history of early cinema, and psychological horror. The book offers a unique exploration of legacy and maternal anxiety through a mystery framework. Readers seeking to understand how folklore becomes tangible within a scholarly investigation will find value here. It suits fans of dark fantasy who enjoy narratives where personal dread mirrors historical tragedy. The work provides depth for those examining artistic ambition against family obligations, making it a compelling choice for mature audiences interested in the intersection of cinema history and spiritualist traditions.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Gemma Files crafts a compelling narrative that transitions from scholarly investigation to personal dread, effectively merging Canadian cinema history with folklore. The story excels in building tension through the parallels between the protagonist’s life and historical figures, creating a palpable sense of unease. Files utilizes a mystery framework to examine complex themes like maternal anxiety and artistic ambition without resorting to cheap scares. The depiction of a noon demon demanding strict adherence to duty adds a unique supernatural layer to the psychological horror. This book is best suited for readers who enjoy atmospheric gothic mysteries and character-driven plots. It avoids rapid action in favor of deep, unsettling exploration, making it a strong recommendation for fans of true crime adjacent fiction and dark fantasy who value intellectual engagement alongside fear.