Review: Rare Gem
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 30, 2012
Normally I am not a fan of contemporary graphic horror with its slash and dismember shock value. Discovering Joe R Lansdale is a great treat as he seems to be able to satisfy the masses fascination with bloody terror but also rise a step beyond with his journey into the human id. I really thought this story deserves a place among those rare gems category; like the strange earlier works of J. G. Ballard, but written for the generation who grew up with the Texas Chainsaw Massacre; unlike my generation which grew up with the more tame Hammer Films. Although this short story did have some very graphic images I felt the violence did not overtake the story, it only helped to spice the deeper drama and darker emotions of guilt, loss and remorse that were being explored one needle thrust at a time. Definitely would love to read more stories like this one.