Rough Cut

Making movies can be murder.

Horror legend Harry Tuttle is desperate for a hit. Harry’s career has been on a painful slide ever since he directed a couple of box office winners in the 1980s. Enter Marcus Stegman, a young unknown with a horror picture of his own. It’s not only a brilliant debut — it’s the movie Harry always dreamed of making.

A rivalry ensues — and it’s about to become bloody. A suspicious film critic, beautiful young starlet, and deranged fan become entangled in the cut-throat competition where hungry hopefuls will go to any means necessary to break into the big-time…and no one is safe.

Bad Moon Books (2011)

Dark Arts Books (2017)

Available in Paperback, Limited Hardcover and Ebook

Also available from: Indie Bound, Apple Books, Google, Kobo

Praise

“Pinkerton paces his novel masterfully and much like a movie script, with quick scenes and snappy dialogue… This is modern pulp worth checking out.”
— Rue Morgue magazine

“Gripping… it literally would not let me go until I read the last page… The characters are incredibly intriguing and the story line is unique, well-developed and perfectly described. Bottom line: Brian Pinkerton can flat out write with the best… This thing cooks, people… good luck putting Rough Cut down once you start.”
— Jordan Norton, The Crow’s Caw

“A terrific book, and I enjoyed it immensely. Highly recommended!”
— John R. Little, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Miranda and The Memory Tree

“Wow. That is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Brian Pinkerton’s novel Rough Cut. I was absolutely enthralled with it from beginning to end… without a doubt the best book that I have read this year.”
— Todd Martin, Horror News

“Pinkerton writes a story that needs to be read in one sitting and the twists and turns are pure bliss.”
— Crimespree magazine

“Rough Cut features a well-crafted plot, tight writing, and a fantastic level of suspense… Pinkerton has done his homework here: his portrayal of the ins and outs of the film business kept me as interested in the proceedings as the ever-growing tension. You won’t be bored for a second.”
— Nick Cato, The Horror Fiction Review

“Author Brian Pinkerton writes a fantastic tale of twists and turns. His details of movie making are as good as any Hollywood insider… 5/5 rating.”
— Horrorview

“A non-stop thrill ride of twists and turns, Pinkerton winds this prose film spool tighter and tighter until Rough Cut reaches the bloody breaking point. Two severed thumbs up!”
— John Everson, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Siren and The Pumpkin Man

“Rough Cut is a terrific fast-paced thriller that film buffs—especially devotees of the schlock horror genre—will devour in a few riveting hours. Pinkerton’s knowledge of the movie business and Hollywood trivia, as well as his talent for telling a whopping good story, makes this tale a blockbuster!”
— Raymond Benson, author of the James Bond anthology Choice of Weapons

“Rough Cut is the real deal, highly recommended.”
— C. Dennis Moore, The Horror Zine

“Brian Pinkerton’s Rough Cut is equal parts thriller and horror drive-in feature. A sleek love letter to the very same shot-on-a-budget classics it emulates, Rough Cut pits down-in-the-dumps burned out director Harry Tuttle with everyone’s worst nightmare, a crazed fan. But in this case, the fan is ever so much more dangerous. Filled with the set pieces of a Saturday night double-feature, Rough Cut will tickle all the right bones… before chopping them off.”
— W.D. Gagliani, author of Wolf’s Edge (The Nick Lupo Series) and Savage Nights

“Brian Pinkerton has crafted a fast-paced, suspenseful ride that one could imagine seeing up on the big screen… It’s a biting look into the Hollywood movie scene and also a love letter to horror films… Recommended.”
— Trever Nordgren, Dark Discoveries

“Rough Cut is recommended for thriller fans and fans of horror cinema.”
— Mark Justice, Pod of Horror

“Grab the popcorn and enjoy this ticket to a great read. Brian Pinkerton has taken a great story to the next level with compelling characters and a sucker-punch plot twist.”
— Scarlett Dean, author of The Frost Sisters mystery series

“Pinkerton’s Rough Cut was easily one of the half dozen best novels I read last year… Rarely does one read a book which can put you ‘on the edge of your seat’ as movies so often do, yet this novel does precisely that.”
— Hal Bodner, author of Bite Club

“Brian Pinkerton is the real thing. Rough Cut is a hip and savvy look at the trials and tribulations of a formerly respected horror director and his current status as one that makes low, LOW, budget crap. Pinkerton’s prose hits all the right notes…”
— Mark Sieber, Horror Drive-In

“What a great book! Absolutely loved it. Couldn’t put it down.”
— J. Michael Major, author of One Man’s Castle

Other Editions

The limited signed hardcover edition from Bad Moon Books. Artwork by John Everson.

The amazing Chris Hedges of Hedges Bindery created this one-of-a-kind handbound edition of the first two handwritten drafts of ROUGH CUT with seven lethal knives secured to the cover. Readers who pre-ordered the limited signed hardcover were entered into a drawing to win this mega-deluxe monstrosity.