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4.0 out of 5 stars
Literary horror, but extremely bleak and depressing., Jul 15 2002
I was very impressed with Mort Castle after reading CURSED BE THE CHILD. However, I doubt I'll be reading his other (out of print) horror novel STRANGERS.
Why? Because CHILD was so incredibly heavy. I don't know if I can read another book like it (although I don't know if STRANGERS shares it's topics and/ or subject matter). For different reasons I will not delve into the plot too much.
I must warn you though, after reading the back blurb and viewing the cover you maybe expecting a run of the mill horrornovel about a child possesed. Believe me: CURSED BE THE CHILD is not!
There are gruwelling twists aplenty and in Mort Castle's world there is no room for a Dean Koontzlike happy ending. I have read few horrorbooks which spent so much time developing its characters as does CURSED BE THE CHILD. And what they turn into isn't always so comforting. Like I stated above, that's what makes this book (for me anyway) almost literary in it's set up and execution. It also makes me wonder why Castle didn't become a bigger name in the horrorfield, since CURSED BE THE CHILD clearly shows his talent.
Maybe it's the subject matter.... Which brings me to the controversial aspects of this novel: the child abuse, incest etc. In his introduction Castle writes that the book doesn't get to graphic about all that stuff.
What is written about it is however really unsettling and proves what a good writer can do with merely the power of suggesting.
Parts of this book had me really disturbed, but for me these severely adult themes - like pedophilia - make CURSED BE THE CHILD almost transcent the supernatural horrorgenre and let it evolve into something that stands completely on its own. I know Mort Castle has (still is?) been involved with the HORROR WRITERS OF AMERICA. After reading this book I can understand why, since he clearly knows his horror, and best of all, was able to write a fresh, disturbing take on a subgenre (child possession) which, even in 1990, had already been done to death. So, after all those very kind words, why only a four star rating?
Simply because it was TOO MUCH for me! I couldn't handle it!
But then again, shouldn't all horror be as thought provoking as this is?
I'll leave the answer to you... Recommended....for those who can stomach it!
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