Synopsis:
She’s making a list… and chopping it twice!
After surviving the horrors of Christmas Eve at the Thornton house, Austin, Mateo and Fiona head to the Church of Nodland to get some confessions from Pastor Wendell and his congregation. Little do they know that Candy Cain is coming to town to wish one and all a very merry axe-mas!
Review:
I think the only thing better than reading one Christmas slasher in one day, is reading two Christmas slashers in two, particularly when together, they form Brian McAuley’s objectively brilliant and stomach-churningly slasher-y “Candy Cain Kills,” duology. In this epic return to Nodland, McAuley picks up right where he left off, bleeding teens, a corrupt church and a slightly singed serial killer- fa la la la la, la la la la. If the first book was neatly gift-wrapped and tied with a red ribbon, the aptly named “Candy Cain Kills Again,” is the inevitable aftermath, torn paper, shattered ornaments, lots of festering organs and bodily fluids. We both know that sequels are a risk, Jaws 2 (need I say more) but here, the higher stakes and higher body count pays off immensely. “Candy Cain Kills Again,” not only complements its predecessor but elevates it, revealing what lies beneath the carnage, something warm, something human? Perhaps the only downside of posting my reviews back to back is that I’m running a little low on Christmas puns- I know for a fact that you’re just as upset as I am.
If you’ve not read the first, then you absolutely should go and do that right now, and you should definitely stop reading this because I wasn’t joking when I say McAuley picks up exactly where he left off. There is no prologue or gentle recap, we’re dropped straight back into the midst of a bloody avalanche.
Still with me?
Having narrowly escaped Thornton House with their lives, you’d think that Austin, Fiona and Mateo would call for help, perhaps visit the ER considering Mateo has just had his eye gouged out with a candy cane, or simply get the fuck out of Nodland pronto. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that in true slasher genre fashion, they absolutely do the complete opposite of that, stopping for a nice, warm cup of cocoa before storming the church they (quite rightly) hold responsible for creating the monster they narrowly defeated. It’s amidst Austin’s admonishment of the congregation that Candy Cain returns, and well, kills again.
What follows can only be described as satisfying. There’s lots of rather deep religious commentary and discussions on what exactly makes a monster, which is all very nice, but beneath the theological musings is the true heart of this story: gleeful, unapologetic carnage. Yes! Lots of horrible, twisted (but also nice and festive) things happen to horrible and twisted people who are completely deserving of their decidedly un-jolly fates. It’s an unapologetically schlocky and cathartic red Christmas, perfect for fans of Delilah S. Dawson or Red Lagoe, wanting to get themselves in a festive mood.
That being said, it is the seamless blend of camp and commentary that makes the duology the whole damn tree as opposed to a mere stocking stuffer. McAuley comments largely on religious zealotry, and what happens when faith becomes madness. Abuse, secrecy and ultimately no good, whether that be taken literally, as a Christmas killer who won’t stay dead, or the little girl who was forced to become that by her hyper-religious and abusive parents. Yes, it will come as no surprise that the righteousness of the church, and the good christian nature of its congregation crumble faster than stale fruitcake when, what can only be described as “justice,” is served. Naturally that entails some rather grisly body horror, but for all its entrails, the story never loses sight of its core. Austin’s grief is palpable, Fiona’s fury is righteous, and Mateo’s resilience, despite the fact he is a whole eyeball down, is the beating heart of this twisted tale. It is in actuality, a fight against a system that enables evil under the guise of holiness, and turns a blind eye as opposed to facing its demons, in addition to a gore-filled showdown between a group of teens and a vicious serial killer.
With enough vile, festive turmoil and bloodshed to make the krampus gag, “Candy Cain Kills Again,” asks us whether the true spirit of Christmas isn’t peace and goodwill, but survival and reckoning… before reminding us that it is indeed the former. It’s a sequel that adds depth and a strange sense of hope, and is packed with the same fun stuff that we picked up book 1 for. There are tidings of discomfort and carnage aplenty, but it also goes to show that even in the most twisted of tales, there’s room for a little holiday cheer.
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