The Wrong House
Curtis Lawson

Broken Soul Press, Graphic Novel, $0.99
Review by Darkeva

Curtis Lawson’s graphic novel, The Wrong House, starts off, appropriately enough, at a house that makes the people inside want to wish they were in a wrong house, that is to say, a different house. Any house but this one. The story begins with a gruesome murder, one of which has already taken place, and another that is in the middle of happening. The killer is forcing one victim to watch as he beats the other one to death. The black and white illustrations make this short graphic novel come all the more to life, and the characters, particularly the villain, will jump out at you. Kudos goes to the artist as much as the writer.

Lawson tells his story in a disjointed narrative, but it’s an effective technique, as he teases the reader into itching to know why everything is happening, how the events of the first few pages began. If you’ve seen Fight Club, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

The tension is fantastically maintained from frame to frame, and the song lyrics as the murderer approaches make one scene in particular all the more poignant.

This is one graphic novel that is deliciously bloody and vicious, and just when I thought Lawson couldn’t do anything to possibly top himself, his villain spouts the most poetic – and appropriate – Latin quotation, while wearing a demon mask.

But the ending is the true piece de la resistance; just when you think you have the story figured out, just when you think your sympathies have gone to the correct characters, Lawson will skilfully – and masterfully – reveal his last grand deception, which will leave you both shocked and amazed.

If you’re looking for a quick, gruesome read that sucks you into the story and doesn’t let you go, read The Wrong House. You’ll never think of the woods the same again. And as an added bonus, Lawson includes a newspaper article from the local paper that reports the incident. Overall, a highly recommended read. Horror fans, do yourselves a favour and buy this one; it’s not to be missed.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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