AMAZON ORIGINAL STORIES: The Creature Feature Collection Of Your Literary Nightmares
October has arrived, and with it, all the spooky season vibes and haunted happenings in the world of horror. Unfortunately, it is still 95 degrees in Texas, where this wicked witch lives, BUT that is not stopping me from consuming all the scary books!
I started this month with the intention of writing a short review of the Amazon Exclusive Short Story by Grady Hendrix, "The Ankle Snatcher." However, after devouring that story and being thoroughly spooked, I read the entirety of the “Amazon Original Stories Creature Feature Collection” I am happy to report that it delivered on its promise to be ‘a collection of devilishly creepy stories that tingle the spine and twist the mind. They can be read or listened to in one petrifying sitting.'
This collection comprises six short stories, all featuring horrifying twists on iconic or newly introduced creatures by renowned horror authors. The six stories are: "The Pram" by Joe Hill, "The Ankle Snatcher" by Grady Hendrix, "It Waits in the Woods" by Josh Malerman, "In Bloom" by Paul Tremblay, "Best of Luck" by Jason Mott, and "Big Bad" by Chandler Baker.
These incredibly talented authors have each crafted gripping tales that genuinely terrified me and immersed me in their worlds. Strange as it may sound, this collection features empathetic characters in a "slice of life" setting. Unfortunately for the characters, this particular "slice of life" is terrifying for them.
The first story I read was "The Ankle Snatcher" by Grady Hendrix. As a huge Hendrix fan, I was ecstatic to hear that we were getting a short story from this master of modern horror. As the cover and name imply, the creature in this story is the iconic Boogeyman of everyone's childhood nightmares. We follow Marcus, who grew up believing his father murdered his mother and then blamed it on the boogeyman. Moments after the gruesome incident, Marcus' father told him his mother was killed because she did not obey the rules and left the bed without turning on the lights. Ever since then, Marcus has obeyed this rule. After inviting a new girlfriend over, Marcus may discover the truth behind his mother's mysterious murder. This story was very similar to Stephen King's short story, "The Boogeyman." I know it is blasphemous to say, but I enjoyed "The Ankle Snatcher" more. Sorry, Stephen!
Next, I read "In Bloom" by Paul Tremblay. Journalist Heidi Cohen is investigating the bloom of toxic algae on Cape Cod and its potential environmental effects. She meets with Jimmy, who is a local expert in the field of toxic algae and relays his personal monstrous experience to Heidi. Again, I am a huge fan of Paul Tremblay's and was interested to see what he would do with this premise as it seemed outside of his usual character-driven realism. In true Tremblay fashion, he expertly incorporated both realism and the supernatural and had me questioning if the impossible is true.
My favorite of the six and the one that kept me up at night was "Big Bad" by Chandler Baker. A mother and father with two girls are struggling to keep their marriage together. After recently moving to an isolated farmhouse, a resentful father and restless mother struggle to control their children. Wolf sightings are growing in the area, and an unexpected visitor arrives that turns the family's life upside down. Truly twisted and delightfully terrifying, Baker is unafraid to expose the dark feelings of parenthood and bring to light the primal rage in all of us.
Jason Mott's "Best of Luck" tells the story of two best friends with very different strings of luck. One friend has it all: healthy children, money, a wife, and a beautiful home. The other lost his children, is in the midst of a divorce, and is scraping by to make ends meet. One night, the two friends face off and come to terms with the source of their varying lives. Gruesome and heartbreaking in the best way, Mott crafts an addictive narrative that will keep you guessing until the end.
"It Waits in the Woods" by Josh Malerman tells the story of a bridge to nowhere guarded by a creature in search of a face who abducts young women. Brenda Jennings is looking for her sister who disappeared three years ago. As time passes, she begins to believe this folktale and sets off to discover if it is true and find her sister. Being abducted is a terrifying possibility for any woman. To then add the prospect of a faceless creature on the prowl to the mix? A recipe for nightmares.
Lastly, I read Joe Hill's "The Pram." Willy and Marianne are dealing with the loss of a child they never got to meet. In hopes of a fresh start, they move to a beautiful farmhouse along a bridal path. Willy is given an old pram to carry his groceries in. He quickly becomes attached to the pram as its phantom cries call to him. Heartbreaking and stomach-churning, Hill breaks your heart from page one, relentlessly displaying raw grief and the lengths of delusion it can drive someone towards.
If you are looking for a quick way to get into the spooky season mood or want to try reading a variety of horror authors, I highly recommend reading the Amazon Exclusive Creature Feature Collection. Each distinct voice, writing style, and creature will keep you entertained and spooked until the final page.
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