lambchops's Full Review: Brian Keene - Urban Gothic
Urban Gothic by Brian Keene reads like a supremely gory movie. A cross between The People Under The Stairs, The Hills Have Eyes, and Hostel the novel doesn't pretend to be anything profound. It is what it is--truly and utterly disgusting but totally compelling pulp. I felt more than a little dirty reading the words Keene wrote on the page, but his talent as a horror writer made it impossible to put down. Like most of Keene's other books, Urban Gothic is an unforgettable journey into the darkest parts of human nature. It left me wondering if indeed a place like this could exist. I hope not, but...maybe?
The story goes as follows. A group of six teens went to a Monsters of Hip Hop concert the summer before college. They had to visit a part of the city that well off white kids usually try to ignore. Alas, the group gets lost and then breaks down in an unappealing part of the city. Soon they are approached by a group of young men. The white kids jump to conclusions when in truth the group was going to ask if they could help fix their car.
Oops.
The six kids then race to find some sort of shelter for the night. They don't want to call their parents - they are after all in a poor, seemingly dangerous neighborhood. It doesn't seem logical to me to take up residence in a dilapidated old home, but hey--I'm not a teenager. In the process of starting the story we get to know all the kids. They are definitely a diverse group of kids even if they seem cookie cutter on the outside. We also come to find out that the teens from the "bad side of the tracks" also are good kids. Leo, the leader, is paticularly decent.
Once the six enter the presumably abandoned home all hell breaks lose. The door is barracaded behind them and they are confronted with a gigantic mutant being with a thirst for blood and wielding a huge hammer. The first of the kids is soon dispatched and the rest scatter into the dark from the horror of the attack. The rest of the novel is pure survival horror. Of course they are individually picked off, but we come to find out that this group of bloodthirsty mutant humans is much larger than anybody could have expected. There are women, men, children, and (gasp) babies. It's one of the darkest books I've read in a very long time. Just as dark as the nastiest visions created by Edward Lee or even Keene, Urban Gothic is completely unforgettable. Blood, guts, bodies, and various freakshows are perfectly described by the writer.
While I loved Urban Gothic, it is not the kind of thing I would recommend to just anybody. If you've enjoyed the bloodiest works by Richard Laymon, Edward Lee, or Brian Keene then this is right up your alley. If you can't handle gratuitous gore than steer clear of this nasty delight. I highly recommend this to fans of the authors mentioned or Leisure horror. I loved every moment even if it was a very guilty pleasure. There is some social commentary, the characters are colorful and compelling, and the story is completely original.
After their car breaks down in the seediest part of the city, Kerri and her friends take shelter in an abandoned row house. But it s not abandoned at ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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