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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A brilliant mirror to modern society through the scope of ritualistic folk horror and the power of superstition. Each character has a full, three-dimensional life of their own, whilst also echoing voices in reality readers will know and recognise. Moral ambiguity for astute self-fulfilment is championed as each character reflects a pillar of humanity we cannot ignore. The relationship of women with ritual, magic and men is one of my favourite aspects of this novel. The writing merely skims the surface of these themes, invited the intended to reflect on the root of such “evil”, if it should be called that. This is the perfect balance of magic and realism, highlighting scary misogyny within power-systems and the inaptitude afforded with status. Really enjoyed this, and the illustrations are a beautiful addition. This copy is particularly special, as the editor reflects on their relationship with the cult film, I look forward to watching.
Beautiful writing style and perfect for the genre. The unexplained magic is always the scariest!
Beautiful writing style and perfect for the genre. The unexplained magic is always the scariest!
"Blood on Satan's Claw: or, The Devil's Skin" is the novelization of the 1971 landmark British folk horror film of the same name, written by its original screenwriter. The novel is narratively better, or at least clearer. The film, as it should be, is more showing than telling and in the process certain plot points are harder to grasp. The violence, especially the scene where a young woman is raped and murdered, is easier to ingest on the printed page than film, but never the less may make this book a work to be avoided for some.
The story and its themes are stereotypical binary folklore: women are both more mystical and thus more prone to evil or darkness; men represent civilization, rational thinking and authority; Christianity must prevail against an ancient pre-Christian evil. It's still a weird and engaging story, just rooted in traditional tropes.
As with the film, there's no good reason for why the devil cult is allowed to grow so out of hand. The narrative justification does not make sense, nor does the true motivation for why the person most capable of stopping it choses not to. It's not about punishing the village or setting an example, it's just Patriarchal stubbornness about how things should be done. It's akin to the part in "Dracula" where Van Helsing and the menfolk philosophize in another building, after having put Mina to bed swathed in garlic, instead of actively watching for Dracula: they assume their authority is true, extends over all things, and will go unquestioned. And they are wrong; the supernatural doesn't give a pair of dingo's kidneys what these authoritarian men think is the proper way things should proceed. I suppose this only reinforces the binary themes of the work instead of illustrating that a binary approach to the world is shortsighted and foolish.
The story and its themes are stereotypical binary folklore: women are both more mystical and thus more prone to evil or darkness; men represent civilization, rational thinking and authority; Christianity must prevail against an ancient pre-Christian evil. It's still a weird and engaging story, just rooted in traditional tropes.
As with the film, there's no good reason for why the devil cult is allowed to grow so out of hand. The narrative justification does not make sense, nor does the true motivation for why the person most capable of stopping it choses not to. It's not about punishing the village or setting an example, it's just Patriarchal stubbornness about how things should be done. It's akin to the part in "Dracula" where Van Helsing and the menfolk philosophize in another building, after having put Mina to bed swathed in garlic, instead of actively watching for Dracula: they assume their authority is true, extends over all things, and will go unquestioned. And they are wrong; the supernatural doesn't give a pair of dingo's kidneys what these authoritarian men think is the proper way things should proceed. I suppose this only reinforces the binary themes of the work instead of illustrating that a binary approach to the world is shortsighted and foolish.
A pretty good novelization of the 1971 horror classic.
Although, Robert Wynne-Simmons really could’ve manifested some dinkuses for readability’s sake.
Although, Robert Wynne-Simmons really could’ve manifested some dinkuses for readability’s sake.
Wonderful radio play adaptation - might even be scarier than the film.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Robert Wynne-Simmons' return to the material of a film he wrote fifty years ago is in premise a fascinating endeavour and as a read, it's definitely an enjoyable time but perhaps not as revelatory as the premise suggests. It's good old-fashioned pulpy horror fun, and it's a solid page-turner but nothing here will blow your socks off - and that is completely okay. It does the job and will be finished in a brisk pace. Wynne-Simmons' writing is efficient and workmanlike, you're not likely to find any passages that will really get under your skin but evokes a certain paranoia with an ever-ramping up tension, and that paranoia turns into an excitement as you get to the increasingly hectically paced final act.
Very good - I like these short audio dramas that Audible has been creating.
It's not actually perfect but I don't care. I love this movie and I was SO pumped to pick up this book and finally read it! Look at this cover!