This Movie Doesn't End the Way We Want

Name: This Movie Doesn't End the Way We Want
Price: 18.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781835411483

✍️ Hailey Piper

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$18.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A woman hunts for a cursed film linked to her sister's disappearance thirty years ago.

Val McQueen’s life is disrupted by a recent murder that mirrors the unsolved case of her sister and best friend from 1994. She teams up with Roxie de la Fontaine to find an obscure movie they watched before the tragedy. Their search reveals that a supernatural force tied to the film is still active. The narrative focuses on Val’s internal struggle with guilt and external pressure from true crime fans. Piper examines how past events can resurface violently when ignored. The story blends elements of urban legend with personal horror.

Key Themes

cursed film missing person true crime

Literary Context

Published by Titan Books in September 2026, this work sits within the modern resurgence of cursed movie folklore. It appeals to readers interested in supernatural fiction and psychological horror. The narrative reflects ongoing cultural fascinations with true crime media and unresolved disappearances.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Gretchen Felker-Martin · Andrew Joseph White

👻

Ghost Stories

🏛 Titan Books (UK) 📅 2026 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781835411483

📝 Description: This Movie Doesn't End the Way We Want

Hailey Piper, the Bram Stoker award-winning author of Queen of Teeth, presents a chilling narrative centered on Val McQueen. Thirty years after the disappearance of her sister and best friend in November 1994, Val believes she has moved past the trauma. Her parents remain resentful, and true crime enthusiasts continue to hound her. A stranger's murder forces these buried memories back into the light. Val suspects a connection to an obscure film the three girls watched together at their local theater. Val enlists the help of Roxie de la Fontaine, a cinephile and former classmate, to locate the missing movie. They soon realize they are not alone in this pursuit. Someone or something involved with the film is hunting for the girl who got away. The story operates as a riff on the cursed film subgenre. It draws on urban legend traditions and supernatural fiction tropes. Piper structures the narrative around the lingering effects of grief and the resurgence of past terror. This book suits fans of Gretchen Felker-Martin and Andrew Joseph White. Readers seeking straightforward horror without psychological depth may find it less appealing. The plot relies heavily on the mystery of the lost film and the characters' shared history. Piper uses the framework of a missing person case to explore how trauma resurfaces when confronted with its original source.

💎 Our verdict on This Movie Doesn't End the Way We Want

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Piper delivers a chilling narrative that effectively merges urban legend traditions with deep psychological horror. The story excels in portraying the violent resurgence of past events, anchored by Val’s internal struggle with guilt and external pressures from true crime enthusiasts. While the plot relies heavily on the mystery of the lost film, this framework serves to explore trauma rather than merely drive a generic thriller. It suits readers who appreciate complex character dynamics and supernatural fiction tropes over simple jump scares. The integration of personal horror with broader cultural anxieties creates a layered experience for those willing to engage with its thematic weight.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a narrative that prioritizes psychological depth over straightforward scares will find value here. The book offers a compelling examination of how trauma resurfaces when confronted with its original source, making it ideal for those who enjoy complex character studies within horror frameworks. It appeals to fans of urban legends and the cursed film trope, particularly those interested in the lingering effects of grief and the intersection of true crime culture with supernatural terror. Those who appreciate nuanced explorations of guilt and personal horror will gain significantly from Piper’s structured approach to resurfacing past terrors.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Piper delivers a chilling narrative that effectively merges urban legend traditions with deep psychological horror. The story excels in portraying the violent resurgence of past events, anchored by Val’s internal struggle with guilt and external pressures from true crime enthusiasts. While the plot relies heavily on the mystery of the lost film, this framework serves to explore trauma rather than merely drive a generic thriller. It suits readers who appreciate complex character dynamics and supernatural fiction tropes over simple jump scares. The integration of personal horror with broader cultural anxieties creates a layered experience for those willing to engage with its thematic weight.