Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Tribesman.

Title/Author:  Tribesman by Adam Cesare.

Genre: Horror.

Publisher: Ravenous Shadows.

Source: Purchased.

Favorite character:  Jacque.

Synopsis: In the early 80’s — at the height of the ultra-violent “Italian cannibal” grindhouse film craze — a small international cast and crew descend on an isolated Caribbean island, hoping to crassly exploit the native talent.

But the angry, undead spirits of the island have a different, more original script in mind. And as horror after staggering horror unfolds, the camera keeps rolling. To the blood-spattered end...

My Thoughts:  "Ew.  He he he.  Ew.  He he he."  That's the reaction I had while reading Tribesman, a no holds bar out and out slasher tale.  It has the supernatural, gore, great characters and more gore.  Taking place in the height of the golden era of Slasher Flicks, the 80s, Tribesman gives a close look at the world of filmmaking on a shoestring budget.  I would have to guess that Adam Cesare worked in film to bring the details of producing, camerawork and scriptwriting so easily to the page. 

No fluff here, no meanderings of prose, and yet I still got a sense of who these characters were in the short time I knew them.  I adored how some of the characters are over the top, yet real...because we've all met people like the creepy leading man and sleazy director who don't realize really there is anything lacking in their persona.  They are made all the more realistic by the calm screenwriter Jacque and the inexperienced female lead, Cynthia.

I also loved how each chapter switches to a different member of the crew/cast.  It seemed to me that this style was another reflection of a movie as the scenes play out.  Also unique is the punch the story has.  The horror starts quickly and never lets up.  The writing is direct and colorful.  It is simple without being over simplified.

This is a novella I enjoyed reading and once I started I didn't want to stop.  The story flows quickly toward the end *Spoiler Alert: where I was happy to see the quintessential Final Girl prevails.  If you don't like blood, violence and killing this is not the story for you.  If you do, then it will more than satisfy your thirst for a good dose of the grisly.

All in all:  A straight shooting horror story.  Fast paced and fun.

Challenges:













4 comments:

Smash Attack Ash said...

I really need to get back in to reading horror. Maybe I should start with some novellas like this? I love gore but I also love psychological thrillers. Any novella suggestions? :)

Midnyte Reader said...

@Smash-Let me ponder that and I'll get back to you.

Bark At The Ghouls said...

I like the sounds of this! Gore, humor. good characterization and more gore. It's calling my name.

Midnyte Reader said...

@Smash-Tribesman is a good novella, not so much a psychological thriller though. I tweeted you about recommendations.

@barkless-I'd love to know what you think of this one.

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...