Review: Terrifying 'old school' storytelling
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 16, 2014
‘It Lives in the Basement’ by Sahara Foley takes me back to the time when horror stories were all about creatures and monsters that go bump in the night. They don’t necessarily have to emerge from their dwelling, but the thought of their existence was enough to terrify.The story begins (quite somberly) when the police investigates a case of missing persons and cats, believed to be killed without a trace. Lieutenant Flynn finds some clues from a written account of the male victim, pointing to a creature that lives in the basement.The story has two distinct parts presented 4 years apart. At first, it feels disjointed, but as the story moves along, the link is revealed. And the mythical creature finally gets a name – Tescara.The author masterfully describes how the Tescara attacks its prey, enough to instill fear and terror. The sheer power of the creature can only mean a brutal end to its victims.This is the kind of storytelling that works because the author is a skillful wordsmith. He/She can be very subtle with words, but can easily shift gears and be very disgustingly graphic (perfect for this kind of story!). The ending ends with a bang, but leaves the possibilities open.