The Visible Filth
Nathan Ballingrud
This is Horror
March 31, 2015
Reviewed by Tim Potter
With The Visible Filth, Nathan Ballingrud has written a swift, visceral and at times outright thrilling novella of horror and paranoia. The book reads like a Hitchcock-worthy thriller, the story of an average Joe thrown into a situation he doesn’t understand, and, through no fault of his own, is threatened by. There are also strong elements of noir at play, the atmosphere and fear of the unknown and unknowable, the seeming hopelessness of the situation that could be straight out of a Cornell Woolrich story.
The story is set in New Orleans, a dingy and dark corner not inhabited by Mardis Gras tourists but by locals and cockroaches, all of whom seem to have a strong attraction to strong drinks. Bartender Will is the protagonist, a man who ends up being in the wrong place at the wrong time. After a fight in the bar, once spilled drinks, tables and people have been righted, Will finds a phone on the ground. Yellow with heart stickers on it. He figures one of the college kids lost it when their table was knocked over. He doesn’t give it another thought until he has returned to his apartment. It buzzes in his pocket with a text message and he realizes he forgot to leave it at the bar. The texts read:
“I think something is in here with me.”
“I’m scared.”
“It knows I’m here. It’s trying to talk. Please come.”
This is where the thrills kick in and Will’s, and the readers’, adrenaline goes into overdrive. Is it a joke? Is someone really in danger? If so, what danger is it? These questions fuel the rest of the story.
The only thing that detracts from the story is the amount of time spent detailing Will’s relationships with the other characters. While interesting and perceptive, his dealings with other bar customers, his girlfriend and especially his friend who is a girl, who he may or may not have feelings for, distract the focus of the story from the mysterious texts and looming danger. The characters are good, but there’s only so much room in a 64 page novella and the edge-of-your-seat story is where this book scores the most points.
Ballingrud’s command of the language is terrific and it sets the scene with atmosphere and striking visual imagery. For instance, upon returning home to an apartment where the only light comes from the oven “… creating a little island of domestic warmth…” in an “… ocean of quiet darkness…” Beautiful words, just a few of the many that make this a satisfying read.
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