Hello Darkness My Old Friend
I imagine that in Horror 101, aspiring fearmongers are taught that slapping the image of an asylum, a clown, and/or a child on a cover or promotional material is a surefire way to inspire a certain creepy factor. As such, full marks go to Ed Brubaker and the Phillips duo for their spine-tingling cover art of Houses of the Unholy. These creators welcome us, weary travelers, to hang up our hats and coats and get comfortable with this horror mystery with a generous smattering of the occult.
The book focuses on Natalie Burns, one of a few alleged victims of brainwashing at the hands of a satanic cult in her younger years, an ordeal that would inspire her to save any youngsters drawn into the seductive realms that cults create and promise. However, her efforts are not merely driven by the desire to be a good samaritan but rather serve more as attempted penance for the potential fabrication of lies that were conjured up by the supposed cult that had harmed her and five others. A member of law enforcement specialising in this niche area comes to believe that a series of murders may be connected to this dark period of Natalie's life.
As such, the two dive deep into treacherous waters where Natalie is forced to face the demons of old, her crimson memories held at bay by an excessive indulgence in marijuana - an attempt at staying high to avoid the claws that wish to bring her low. Brubaker and co. Create a gripping tale that reinforces its exhilarating present with a horrific past, and do well to show that we remain childlike in our desire for acceptance, a desire met by entities that need not always adorn themselves with the obvious trappings of a cult. The artwork is inspired, with various hues incorporated in panels to subtly invoke emotions in each scene, like subliminal messages hidden on a vinyl played backward.
One thing is for sure, Houses of the Unholy is a hauntingly good read that entertains as much as it inspires critical reflection on the accuracy of our memories and the courage to face our past wrongdoings, all the while moving forward in search of better days. Fans of horror mysteries would do well to add this to their lists.
