Shaw-Lite | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

Over the last few months a series of earthquakes have been rumbling from deep within the trench. Curious to know why, and the impact they are having, a team of scientists start an expensive expedition down into the depths. Funded by a billionaire - who is going along for the ride in his specially designed submarine - the team head beneath the ocean's choppy waves with the world watching.

Little do they know that 7 miles beneath the ocean's surface, their nightmares await and their world will never be the same again.

THE MARIANA TRENCH by Matt Shaw is not nearly as shocking or graphic as his other stories, such as FROM THE FLAMES or OCTOPUS. This story is more of a creature feature, and this author usually does better with people being the monsters. However, the ending gave me legit nightmares. (For context, OCTOPUS 3 is the last Shaw story which traumatized me.)

There are references to his other novella, BELOW DECK, which is far more entertaining and horrific, in my opinion.Maybe I would feel differently, if I had read this one first. In any case, I'd love to see more stories surrounding the major event in this novella.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Demonic Delicacy | Horror Review | AstraDaemon

It costs more than some people's houses to charter one of these super yachts. The guests expect nothing but the best: The best service, the best food, the best excursions and the best time. They expect the trip of a life-time and Captain Lee and his team will do anything they can to ensure they get it too.

When the guests leave, they do so with a big smile on their faces and a promise that - one day - they will return and charter the yacht again. Better yet, they leave a big tip for the captain and his team... At no stage do they realise that, for most of the meals they've been eating, they have been feasting upon the crew's favourite snack, human meat...

BELOW DECK: HELL OR HIGH WATER by Matt Shaw is my new favorite by this author. Instead of the cannibals being the typical inbred mutants with non-existent IQs, the crew are rather cunning about their new business venture. Switching back and forth on the timeline, past events are served up much like the meat: a piece at a time. This creates a fantastic build-up of suspense, leading to an extremely sinister dilemma amongst the crew.

I didn't know where Shaw would take this yacht of blood, and the ending is shocking, to say the least. I'm fine with this story as a stand-alone, but I would definitely enjoy a sequel...the characters are right up there with Shaw's werewolves, as far as his bad guys go.

Recommending this one to all horror fans!

As always,

AstraDaemon