Paranormal/Futuristic
Gremlins: Silver Scream
By Chrissy Dionne
Aug 2, 2008 - 4:01:01 PM

Gilda Albright has recently been hired as a projectionist at The Orpheum, a historic theater.  She’d looked forward to working with the same modern day machines as she was used to using at the IMAX theater, instead she’s introduced to sixty-year-old Century projector but that doesn’t dim her excitement.

Seth McConnell is Gilda’s boyfriend and even though he reaps the benefits of her seductive techniques he’s not entirely comfortable with making out in the theater but he’s not about to disappoint her either.  He’s concerned that she’s putting her job at risk but never dreamed that something about the theater would be so threatening - or possessive.

Gilda loves the glitz and glamour associated with the theater. She even dresses in clothing associated with the ‘50's in her seductive dance she performs for him which leads to their first sexual encounter in The Orpheum.  The whole experience should have been titillating but then Gilda notices a strange noise, a silhouette that shouldn’t be there, and then a stage light bursts over them showering them with glass just as the power goes out. 

It’s an old theater so a power surge would make sense but after calling the owner, Mark, and going into the basement to check the circuit breakers she discovers a picture of a long ago starlet which raises questions.  It’s the same picture that hangs in the projector booth.  The starlet had died on the roof when she’d supposedly been struck by lightning.   What that has to do with the bizarre goings-on at the theater is anyone’s guess but Gilda’s spending a lot of time there and even her dreams are being invaded. It isn’t until one of Seth and Gilda’s potential love making sessions in the projector room is invaded by an unseen diabolical force that they realize that there’s something more than power surges going on.  Gilda’s become the focus of the specter; will Seth be able to save her before she follows in the starlet’s footsteps?

There’s something so magical about the glitz and glamour of Hollywood actors and actresses and old films that captivate the imagination.  S.D. Grady captures that feeling beautifully but adds an additional element of suspense and horror that ensures readers become immersed in the storyline and eagerly read every single page.  Gilda and Seth have the sort of relationship that I’d expect of a college couple and I loved their affectionate playful behavior with each other.  I also really had to admire Seth for the devotion he shows for Gilda when it becomes obvious that something is very wrong.