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A review by zj5
Hairspray and Switchblades by V. Castro
3.0
What if Ed Gein was a sexy ass Witch bent on eternal life by means of black magic? And what if the only person who could stop them was a shape-shifting stripper juggling her job, taking care of her sister, and possibly falling for a handsome detective? Well, you’d have yourself a rollicking good time, wouldn’t you?
Hairspray and Switchblades is the fifth in the Rewind or Die series from Unnerving Press and the second which I’ve read (the first being the fun carnival themed slasher, Cirque Berserk.). The idea behind RoD seems to be to hearken back to the glory days of video rental horror but with a modern edge and as such Switchblades feels like a mash up of Sexploitation films, Urban Fantasy novels, and Serial Killer Horror.
Maya is our sweet and tough protagonist who is as in control on the stage as she is in her everyday life. She’s terrified of the recent sex worker murders and worried for her sister but also quick with a switchblade and doesn’t shrink into the background when things get dangerous.
Castro writes her book as equally violent and sexual while managing to avoid coming off as sleazy or at least the bad kind of sleazy. The sex is exciting and fun and the violence is gross and on the right side of graphic. And best of all Maya is shown as a woman with sexual agency and not as somebody who has sex forced on her (either literally or figuratively). A not so uncommon trope in horror.
So not only is it all inline with the 80s/90s VHS horror but it works as an update as well; taking the best bits while jettisoning the sexism and misogyny that so often permeated that genre.
Castro helpfully gives us both sides of the story by alternating POV from Maya and The Weaver. Sometimes it’s great to be left in the dark when it comes to the villain or monster but when you’re short on pages the more perspective you can give, the better for the story. Plus without The Weaver chapters we’d miss out on a sex scene which is really straddles the line between hot and disturbing.
But it’s not simply a two hander, we’re also treated to a cast of kickass secondary characters; Maya’s academic and sneaker loving sister, the former chemist turned make up artist, and the boy scout detective. We’re given glimpses into their lives and personalities all while seeing their importance to the plot. And again this is a fairly short book and as such there isn’t a lot of real estate so it’s a feat that Castro manages to flesh out her world while also telling a compelling story.
I will say that the latter half of the book does feel a little quick and the final confrontation is maybe a little convenient but it doesn’t necessarily take away from the fun of the book. The idea being these Rewind or Die titles is to tell stories reminiscent of what you would find in the horror aisle of your local video store and I think Castro has accomplished that admirably. Hairspray and Switchblades feels gory and sexy and I would have loved to have rented this from the corner store.
Hairspray and Switchblades is the fifth in the Rewind or Die series from Unnerving Press and the second which I’ve read (the first being the fun carnival themed slasher, Cirque Berserk.). The idea behind RoD seems to be to hearken back to the glory days of video rental horror but with a modern edge and as such Switchblades feels like a mash up of Sexploitation films, Urban Fantasy novels, and Serial Killer Horror.
Maya is our sweet and tough protagonist who is as in control on the stage as she is in her everyday life. She’s terrified of the recent sex worker murders and worried for her sister but also quick with a switchblade and doesn’t shrink into the background when things get dangerous.
Castro writes her book as equally violent and sexual while managing to avoid coming off as sleazy or at least the bad kind of sleazy. The sex is exciting and fun and the violence is gross and on the right side of graphic. And best of all Maya is shown as a woman with sexual agency and not as somebody who has sex forced on her (either literally or figuratively). A not so uncommon trope in horror.
So not only is it all inline with the 80s/90s VHS horror but it works as an update as well; taking the best bits while jettisoning the sexism and misogyny that so often permeated that genre.
Castro helpfully gives us both sides of the story by alternating POV from Maya and The Weaver. Sometimes it’s great to be left in the dark when it comes to the villain or monster but when you’re short on pages the more perspective you can give, the better for the story. Plus without The Weaver chapters we’d miss out on a sex scene which is really straddles the line between hot and disturbing.
But it’s not simply a two hander, we’re also treated to a cast of kickass secondary characters; Maya’s academic and sneaker loving sister, the former chemist turned make up artist, and the boy scout detective. We’re given glimpses into their lives and personalities all while seeing their importance to the plot. And again this is a fairly short book and as such there isn’t a lot of real estate so it’s a feat that Castro manages to flesh out her world while also telling a compelling story.
I will say that the latter half of the book does feel a little quick and the final confrontation is maybe a little convenient but it doesn’t necessarily take away from the fun of the book. The idea being these Rewind or Die titles is to tell stories reminiscent of what you would find in the horror aisle of your local video store and I think Castro has accomplished that admirably. Hairspray and Switchblades feels gory and sexy and I would have loved to have rented this from the corner store.