Review: 4.5 out of 5
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 22, 2010
Rating: 4.5 out of 5There is something to be said for the slam-bang horror tale.  You know the type - they drag you in, shake you around a bit, and then pull away, never once telling you why everything that happened, happened.While reading "Down the Drain", a fast-paced novelette by Daniel Pyle, I was struck at first by how strange and audacious the storytelling was.  Hell, the first chapter is told through the viewpoint of a cat!  From there, it moves onto the main character, Bruce, a lonely independent contractor whose bathtub seems to have a thing for cat-flesh and penises.  Short story even shorter, Bruce is accosted one night while bathing, the accursed tub doing things to him that might not be printable on a family blog before giving birth to something even stranger than a living, breathing hunk of porcelain.This is a very straight-forward, action-driven tale.  And it's also fun.  The scares are there, and the creepiness, but it's the sense of humor - and the desire to shock you - that shines.  I laughed out loud and cringed at the same time while I read it - especially during a scene involving a waggling phallus and the contemplation of how far away is a safe enough distance from a man-eating bathtub.Never once is a reason given for the bathtub's actions, and that's okay.  Sometimes, you can be given a larger chill by not knowing than if the author were to give you an unsatisfactory explanation.  I love this style of storytelling, though I'm not very good at it, myself.  Therefore, I have much more respect for those who do."Down the Drain" is a rumpus of uncomfortable horror.  It goes by quickly, and will grab you in places you'll never expect and jiggle you around a while.  It's an extremely enjoyable ride, no matter how short it is.  I personally guarantee fun will be had by all who read this...unless you're bothered by naked men running around and defending themselves from man-eating bathroom fixtures, that is.Plot - 9Characters - 8Voice - 10Execution - 9Personal Enjoyment - 9Overall - 45/50 (4.5/5)