I wasn’t sure what to expect going into Deadgirl by Bridgett Nelson. I rewatched the film beforehand and assumed this would be a straightforward retelling in book form. Wow, was I wrong.
In the film, we never learn what the deadgirl is or where she came from. Bridgett Nelson took that mystery and ran with it. She created a fully fleshed-out backstory for the deadgirl—who we now know as Ivy—and even gave us a little something extra at the end for closure.
The book weaves Nelson’s original narrative into the events of the film using alternating “Then” and “Now” chapters, shifting timelines at well-placed intervals. The chapters that revisit the movie are flawlessly done, but what really stood out to me was Ivy’s backstory. It’s a tragic, gut-punch of a story about a young girl growing up in the late 1940s with an abusive father and a mother who ultimately sends her to an insane asylum.
This book completely changed how I see the film. I already thought the original concept was dark and disturbing—based on the idea that the deadgirl was just a mindless zombie—but giving her a history elevates the horror to a whole new level.
Nelson’s writing is tight, and the pacing is spot-on. The transitions between timelines feel seamless, building toward a finale that adds a satisfying sense of closure to the film’s hauntingly open ending.
Thanks to Booksirens, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.