"The Devil's Rejects," by Rob Zombie, is a horrorgraphic thriller about freaks who get themselves trapped, weakened, surrounded, and executed. Presumably outstanding warrants on outstanding debts and a string of robberies, riots, and forgeries catches up to the fringe of society, already barely hanging on, resulting in a series of standoffs and violent confrontations that leave half of the characters dead midway through the drama. So what else do they think of along the way to the final showdown? They terrorize a hospital, several motels, restaurants, and pedestrians from every walk of life, from life guards and nurses to bank tellers and farmers. They drink alcohol, smoke, and inject whatever drugs they can find, or steal. They grope hookers, take hostages, and bash up trailer parks. The final showdown catches them on the road, injured, tired, and cornered after several weeks of off-road adventure. An entire firing squad lines up for the execution, cutting off their escape, leaving their car smoldering, their lives shattered, and their final hope dashed.
Salem's Lot, by the American writer Stephen King, is a horror novel about vampires. The town of Salem is under attack by lycanthropes that hunt down victims and steal their energy. Lycanthropy is a disease that plagues zombies, werewolves, and vampires. The infection is spread through the blood, usually caused by a bite. Werewolves are lycanthropes that shape shift during full moons, when they no longer remain human but become wolves. Giant werewolves hunt down their own kind as well as others. They flee sunlight, however, because the sun has power over them. Killing a werewolf is complicated, as killing any undead figure is complicated. This requires silver, silver daggers, silver bullets, and other such charmed weapons. Silver is special for it's supernatural quality. Normal weapons may wound werewolves but do little else. Werewolves were violent during their life so now they hunt each other for eternity. Fire can burn all lycanthropes, so silver and fire are used in combination. Zombies are undead creatures that resemble humans but have little or no brains. They rejected common sense and kindness during their lifetime, so now they cannot think. They eat each other like cannibals. The sun is fatal to them. Vampires are monsters that shapeshifte into other animals such as bats, wolves, and mice. Vampires hunt for blood, but must stay out of the sun. The sun is fatal to them. Vampires were liers and selfish during their life, so now they are cursed to scavenge. This story describes how Salem unites to destroy the vampire threat to their safety, peace, and happy way of life.
IT is a horror novel by the American writer Stephen King. IT is a monster that hides in the woodlands and stalks the residents of a quiet town. The people realize that there is a problem and band together to fight IT. Friends survive by working together. IT is hurt and hibernates for a long time. The town is peaceful again until IT returns and continues to terrorize the residents. So the residents burn IT and crush IT until IT is dead for good. The characters in this book live a charmed and happy life. They are friends who admire each other and look forward to long and productive careers. They are loyal and hard working. They are devoted and kind. They like sports and movies. They celebrate holidays together and live good and productive lives. IT is such a contrast and disruption to them that they question themselves and their motives. Did they really mean all of those things they said about loving each other and their community? Would they actually die for each other? Would they sacrifice themselves to save their town? IT is an intrusion into all of their lives and priorities, causing them to make difficult and hard decisions.
Everything Is Eventual is a book of horror stories. Stephen King, the American writer, collected stories about fame and loss, love and hurt, dreams and nightmares, and safety and danger in this book. Horror is about contrasts, love and hate, prosperity and greed, and safety and abuse. Each story describes a horrific situation where a character is lost or faces a life changing decision. Consequences result when characters disregard their conscience, causing them to suffer mental and physical torment. Everything Is Eventual is dramatic and witty. Stephen King writes with humor and style, describing surreal situations that characters learn from and grow or suffer and perish. -DuskyRiver
