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A review by ojtheviking
The Elementals by Michael McDowell
4.5
Coincidences have a tendency to sneak up on you. I was reading an online list of highly recommended horror novels, where this book was mentioned. It seemed interesting, so I ordered it. While finishing up Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, I knew I was going to read this one next, and it would be my first time reading anything written by McDowell.
But in the meantime, I also started watching an old anthology horror/sci-fi TV series called Tales from the Darkside (created and produced by none other than George A. Romero); I remember being scared by it as a child, so I bought the complete series on DVD a few years ago out of nostalgia, and suddenly decided a few weeks ago it was finally time to get started on it. And it just so happens that McDowell had written the scripts for several episodes, often the most horror-themed ones, and a couple of them were in fact among the episodes I could remember being scared by way back when.
So it turns out I was introduced to McDowell's work at a very early age without even knowing it. That just makes it all the more cool that I've now finally read one of his novels. And I really enjoyed it. It was well written, and the overall vibe was similar to, and consistent with, the chills McDowell gave me as a child via the Tales from the Darkside episodes.
Despite it being a relatively short novel of 218 pages, this story is a slow burn, but not in a bad way. It gives you time to get familiar with the characters, as well as the family dynamic, including the dysfunctional parts. And whether it's a novel or a horror movie, I've always been of the opinion that establishing the characters first will always get you more emotionally invested before all hell breaks loose.
With that said, with this novel being as short as it was, there's still a slight feeling that you were given only enough to care (which I guess in some ways is good enough), and that McDowell didn't dwell on moments for too long, nor did he digress very much. It's a compact horror story in that respect, intended as a quick read. It may just be the case that he writes well enough, so much so that I'd be okay with a little more dwelling, put it that way.
Of course, despite my comment about this being a slow burn, there is certainly a sense of mystery introduced early on, but it lingers and builds at an even, gradual pace, while you're still getting familiar with the characters, and the aforementioned moment of all hell breaking loose starts after you've read a fairly large chunk of the book. But that makes the experience all the more intense from then on.
As for the actual horror in this story, the idea is fairly original in terms of what kind of forces the Savage family is up against. Or, at least, it's a unique take on such a concept. I especially like the inclusion of sand as a threat in and of itself; sand that is inexplicably pouring into rooms, making the scenario quite claustrophobic and nightmarish. And there's almost a sense of symbolism there, that the supernatural forces are as old as time itself, using the sand to reclaim their territory when the humans invade areas where they don't belong.
So, if you're looking for a quick read that still has its suspenseful moments, I'd say The Elementals is worth checking out.
But in the meantime, I also started watching an old anthology horror/sci-fi TV series called Tales from the Darkside (created and produced by none other than George A. Romero); I remember being scared by it as a child, so I bought the complete series on DVD a few years ago out of nostalgia, and suddenly decided a few weeks ago it was finally time to get started on it. And it just so happens that McDowell had written the scripts for several episodes, often the most horror-themed ones, and a couple of them were in fact among the episodes I could remember being scared by way back when.
So it turns out I was introduced to McDowell's work at a very early age without even knowing it. That just makes it all the more cool that I've now finally read one of his novels. And I really enjoyed it. It was well written, and the overall vibe was similar to, and consistent with, the chills McDowell gave me as a child via the Tales from the Darkside episodes.
Despite it being a relatively short novel of 218 pages, this story is a slow burn, but not in a bad way. It gives you time to get familiar with the characters, as well as the family dynamic, including the dysfunctional parts. And whether it's a novel or a horror movie, I've always been of the opinion that establishing the characters first will always get you more emotionally invested before all hell breaks loose.
With that said, with this novel being as short as it was, there's still a slight feeling that you were given only enough to care (which I guess in some ways is good enough), and that McDowell didn't dwell on moments for too long, nor did he digress very much. It's a compact horror story in that respect, intended as a quick read. It may just be the case that he writes well enough, so much so that I'd be okay with a little more dwelling, put it that way.
Of course, despite my comment about this being a slow burn, there is certainly a sense of mystery introduced early on, but it lingers and builds at an even, gradual pace, while you're still getting familiar with the characters, and the aforementioned moment of all hell breaking loose starts after you've read a fairly large chunk of the book. But that makes the experience all the more intense from then on.
As for the actual horror in this story, the idea is fairly original in terms of what kind of forces the Savage family is up against. Or, at least, it's a unique take on such a concept. I especially like the inclusion of sand as a threat in and of itself; sand that is inexplicably pouring into rooms, making the scenario quite claustrophobic and nightmarish. And there's almost a sense of symbolism there, that the supernatural forces are as old as time itself, using the sand to reclaim their territory when the humans invade areas where they don't belong.
So, if you're looking for a quick read that still has its suspenseful moments, I'd say The Elementals is worth checking out.