Joseph Laudati In Darkness It Dwells

In Darkness It Dwells

Joseph Laudati

Medallion, May 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 1932815708

In Chapinaw, New York sixteen years old filmmaker Tom DeFrank enjoys emulating his hero Ray Harryhausen in creating stop motion photography to create monsters. Tom accompanies his two friends Kevin and Danny to a cave where unbeknownst to the three teens a satanic ritual involving an infant sacrifice was stopped fifteen years ago. Something occurs inside with Tom muttering in a strange language.

At the high school, Tom meets Julie Parrish, whose father Stephen is considered by locals an eccentric lunatic, but in fact is a psychic. When she sees his drawings and recognizes his words she knows they are an enchantment. As Tom and Julie begin to fall in love, his latest "star" gizmo puppet is possessed by something the teen brought with him from the cave. As people suddenly die and violence explodes, everyone blames Stephen, who is the only hope to free the teen from his monster.

IN DARKNESS IT DWELLS is a fascinating paranormal thriller starring a delightful teen whose only enjoyment in life is the slow stop motion photography (see the movie Jason and the Argonauts as a terrific sample) until he meets Julie. The support cast augments the insight into the young hero and propels the fast-paced action forward. In some ways Stephen is the most enthralling character as his psychic gift is also a curse. Horror fans will appreciate this work and want Joseph Laudati to provide a prequel of what drove Stephen to Chapinaw.

Harriet Klausner