HORRORSTÖR (2014) by Grady Hendrix
As
this review is being written (November 2020), the horror novel
HORRORSTÖR is being developed into a TV series, which is a
good idea – it was made for a movie or a series.
HORRORSTÖR
is a satirical horror tale about a haunted ”big-box” furniture
superstore, suspiciously similar in design to IKEA (though under a
different name).
The protagonists are low-wage workers in the
haunted store. They're trapped in limited means, feeling lonely,
frustrated and exploited. Their employer corporation condescendingly
calls them ”partners” – only one example of the mind-numbing
corporate jargon this novel pokes fun at.
These working-class
protagonists are very human and relatable; none of them turns into
a comic-book hero or disposable moron. When faced with
supernatural terrors, they react and behave in a credible manner.
Parts of the book
(including the hilarious cover design) are direct graphic parodies
of an IKEA catalogue – with furniture names like ”Kjërring”
and ”Arsle” (check what they mean in Swedish!). The book is worth
having for these pages alone.
The story delivers laughs and sympathy and a good deal of horror – there is some gruesome violence – but even so, the author seemed to be holding back the social critique just a little (or maybe it seems that way from my Swedish perspective). The ”story beats” seemed a little too tailor-made for a movie.
While the novel does succeed as horror and satire – and social critique – I wish it had dug deeper, been less ”functional” and tried to be more daring. I can't say it truly surprised me at any point.
Anyhow, I look forward to the TV series. HORRORSTÖR is recommended for horror and satire lovers – and anyone who ever got sick of wandering around in an IKEA store without finding the exit.
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