Review: MAGNIFICENT AND MOVING
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 23, 2011
Will faith save a priest and a nun from the Zombie Apocalypse? Can faith endure after death? Find out in this beautiful yet horrible glimpse of a parish surrounded by a flock of decaying corpses. The faithful undead congregate outside Father Job's church, lured by the man's powerful voice. Perhaps he speaks their language; perhaps he understands them just a little too well. "In Extremis" by Jerry McKinney is truly like no zombie tale I have read or seen due to the author's exceptional ability to capture a moment in stunning relief through the eyes of a character, while reaching into that character's soul and pulling out the essence of the individual. It transcends the typical Zombie category, along with the Horror genre, by presenting two such characters -- a priest and a nun -- caught up in Hell on Earth. They are selflessly carrying out their mission with loyalty and devotion, even as the world teeters on the brink of doom. Is it faith or courage that keeps them going, as living breathing parishioners are replaced and overwhelmed by the walking dead? The author's attention to detail enhances what reads like a distinctive yet classic story of Good versus Evil. However, upon McKinney's horrific Armageddon-scape, there are no guarantees of survival or salvation. The horror is believable and down-to-earth, gritty and hard-hitting. You may cringe, but you cannot look away. The humanity in his words, on the visages of his fictional progeny, will keep you reading until the end. This writer knows how to deliver true horror, the kind to be savored and read again, the kind you will remember. The kind that will become part of your life. And leave you wanting more.