Film alumnus Brian McAuley ‘13 has written a horror novel titled Curse of the Reaper, which was featured on Esquire’s list of Best Horror Books of 2022. The novel was published by Talos Press and released in October of 2022.
Curse of the Reaper follows the character of Howard Browning. Decades after playing the titular killer in the 80s horror franchise Night of the Reaper, Browning has been reduced to signing autographs for his dwindling fanbase at genre conventions. When the studio announces a series reboot, the aging thespian is crushed to learn he’s being replaced in the iconic role by heartthrob Trevor Mane, a former sitcom child-star who’s fresh out of rehab. Trevor is determined to stay sober and revamp his image while Howard refuses to let go of the character he created, setting the stage for a cross-generational clash over the soul of a monster. But as Howard fights to reclaim his legacy, a sinister alter ego consumes his unraveling mind, pushing him to the brink of violence.
Esquire’s review states that “Curse of the Reaper is a very funny book with some of the best ‘bad scriptwriting’ ever committed to page. But when McAuley turns to horror in earnest, he goes hard.”
Brian McAuley received his BA in Creative Writing and Horror Theory from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study before getting his MFA in Film from Columbia University.
As a WGA screenwriter, Brian has written five films for the Lifetime Network in addition to writing and producing the award-winning thriller Dismissed for BoulderLight Pictures. He sold his TV series pitch Affliction to Syfy Network in a pilot development deal and penned an episode of Fuller House for Netflix.
Brian’s short fiction and non-fiction have appeared in Dark Matter Magazine, Nightmare Magazine, and Shortwave Magazine.
