Title: Starlet

Author: Danger Slater

Release date: August 27th, 2024

*Huge thanks to Danger for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*

I’m kind of at a loss as to how to really start this review.

Over the last number of years, I’ve read maybe six or seven of Danger’s books, and throughout, one thing has always been certain – Bizarro. When things are going smoothly, expect a ridiculous, crazy, insane development to happen. I mentioned in my review of Slater’s novella ‘Moonfellows’ that it was perhaps his best thing yet, his shining moment, showcasing his imagination and his writing like nothing else he’d done. With his almost straight-up horror book ‘House of Rot’ (which was very, very close to not having any Bizarro moments in it that it surprised the hell out of me reading it), he showcased another side of his writing and I was chomping at the bit to see what came next.

I never expected ‘Starlet.’

Not in a million years did I expect to read a full-force, body-horror story that skewers Hollywood elitism, ageism, and the battle to stay on top. Danger has delivered not only his most powerful story yet, but also a really engaging slasher story, where the final girl does whatever she can to survive.

What I liked: Déjà is a young woman, recently having moved to Hollywood, in the hopes of making it big. She’s had a few solid casting tests, but nothing’s stuck yet. But her fortunes change, when she bumps into one of the biggest movie stars in the world, one who not only recognizes her from her casting tape, but thinks she has exactly what it will take to make it big.

From here, they get flirty, Déjà working her day job while trying to get cast, and Mr. Brandon Bowers, superstar, is filming around the world. But they text, they Skype, and things progress. Even as Bowers reveals some odd fetishes, Déjà pushes them aside, believing that they really do having something here, a real connection.

The meat of the story takes place once Bowers is back and he invites Déjà over to his place. A few of his Hollywood elite friends show up and things take a strange turn when a new drug, Reno, is introduced and the reality of the lengths this trio is going to stay on top is revealed.

It’s here where the story really shines. Through the biting sarcasm and show biz quips, Slater revels in railing against the ridiculousness of these lengths they’ve gone and Déjà is used as the grounding mechanism. She waxes on about how they should be happy and feel fortunate that they’ve achieved so much, even as they bitch and complain that they’ve not won an Oscar yet or that every movie they’re offered sounds like its filmed straight for streaming.

The final quarter of the novel is where the action takes place. A full on ‘survive-at-all-costs,’ but I won’t go too far into that, as I want to remain spoiler free. Let’s just say, Slater let’s this one roll out cinematically, highlighting each scene with fantastic descriptions and realistic moments. That realism, where things hurt and energy fails highlights Déjà’s will to survive and makes her that much more of a relatable character.

Throughout, Danger also included some quick reviews of movies Bowers had been in, so the ending and the ‘epilogue’ of wrapping things up the way he did was spot on.

What I didn’t like: Honestly, this one was a blast from start to finish and I didn’t really feel any let downs. I think if there was anything I would point out, it would be that at times, where Slater tries to interject some humour, it does come off a bit more sarcastic than hilarious, based off of the way the scene was set up. It’s hard to fully explain without a direct example, but again, I want to be spoiler free, so I won’t direct quote here. But overall, a very minor thing.

Why you should buy this: The King of Bizarro has matured and focused with this one. It’s a strange thing to read a Slater book and discover that this fits 100% in the body-horror subgenre and that worked perfectly for me.

Slater’s writing, which is astounding given his track record and length of time as an author, continues to progress, and this one showcases yet another side to his skillset. He’s like a Jazz musician who can walk into any club in the world and pick up an instrument and play along with the band, no matter what genre of music they’re playing. ‘Starlet’ is a stunning release and I’m frankly still stunned after finishing it. Powerful, poignant, metaphorical and simply perfect, Slater just may have written his masterpiece.

5/5