Incident On and Off a Mountain Road

by Joe R. Lansdale

"Easing her back against a tree trunk, she sat and listened, watching for that strange face, fearing it might abruptly burst through the limbs and brush, grinning its horrible teeth, or worse, that he might come up behind her, reach around the tree trunk with his knife and finish her in a bloody instant."

“Incident On and Off a Mountain Road” is one of Joe Lansdale’s most popular and terrifying short stories. Adapted for television, it appeared as an episode of Showtime’s Masters of Horror series.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Ebooks

33 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 20, 2011

About the author

Champion Mojo Storyteller Joe R. Lansdale is the author of over forty novels and numerous short stories. His work has appeared in national anthologies, magazines, and collections, as well as numerous foreign publications. He has written for comics, television, film, newspapers, and Internet sites. His work has been collected in more than two dozen short-story collections, and he has edited or co-edited over a dozen anthologies. He has received the Edgar Award, eight Bram Stoker Awards, the Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the British Fantasy Award, the Grinzani Cavour Prize for Literature, the Herodotus Historical Fiction Award, the Inkpot Award for Contributions to Science Fiction and Fantasy, and many others. His novella Bubba Ho-Tep was adapted to film by Don Coscarelli, starring Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis. His story "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road" was adapted to film for Showtime's "Masters of Horror," and he adapted his short story "Christmas with the Dead" to film hisownself. The film adaptation of his novel Cold in July was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and the Sundance Channel has adapted his Hap & Leonard novels for television.

He is currently co-producing several films, among them The Bottoms, based on his Edgar Award-winning novel, with Bill Paxton and Brad Wyman, and The Drive-In, with Greg Nicotero. He is Writer In Residence at Stephen F. Austin State University, and is the founder of the martial arts system Shen Chuan: Martial Science and its affiliate, Shen Chuan Family System. He is a member of both the United States and International Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He lives in Nacogdoches, Texas with his wife, dog, and two cats.

Reviews

[Wayne Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had forgotten that I had already read this as part of a short story collection but it was well worth a re-read. This has all the elements of a great horror short story. No-stop spine tingling action, extremely gruesome details, and a nice finishing twist. If you like horror, ya gotta read this one.

[Zoeytron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moonlit night, a psycho with a moon face and a yearning to add to his gruesome family are more than plenty to carry this short tale of horror. The ending was a bonus. The more I read of Lansdale, the better I like him.

[Marvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gere Donovan Press and Amazon are currently offering four short stories by Joe R. Lansdale to Kindle readers for free. The four tales are The Steel Machine, Bullets and Steel, Tight Little Stitches on a Dead Man's Back and this one, Incident On and Off a Mountain Road. "Incident" is one of Lansdale's earlier tales and one of his more famous short pieces mainly due to the Don Coscarelli directed episode of the TV series Masters of Horror. It is also one of Lansdale's most harrowing, evoking disturbing memories of all those "psycho in the woods" horror films. But there's a nice twist at the end that is pure Lansdale. Highly recommended.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incident On and Off a Mountain Road is a terrifying twisting tale of unflinching violence and survival laced with a hint of madness and plenty of perversion, weaving three unique plots into a single moist vinaigrette of horror.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Moly! What a fantastic story. I am between reading novels and wanted to read something quick for a change. I borrowed this story from my husband's Kindle library because I have read Joe R. Lansdale's novels and really enjoyed them. Well, all I can say is that this short story is definitely worth the late night read. It is only 33 pages but yet it tells a great tale. If you liked (or remember) Rod Sterling of 'The Twilight Zone' fame, this story would have been one of the top selections.

[M.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, violent, horror story

This story is quite violent and graphic so is not for everyone, but the strong female lead was exceptionally well written and the story was fast and intense. Highly recommended for horror fans who are okay with graphic descriptions of death and violence.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this isn't the perfect "strong woman fights off deranged psychopath" story then I don't know what is. Even as I read it I checked off all the standard plot devices (which I won't list because that will ruin the story) but I enjoyed it anyway just because Lansdale is that good. And then he still surprised me with a perfect ending. If you haven't read Lansdale you are really missing out and this story would be a great place to start.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, it had a very 1970s horror feel to it, by that I mean claustrophobic and intense. Lots of action and some definite creepy and disturbing moments and a nice little twist at the end which I liked.

[Yolanda Sfetsos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had a bad run of books I can't get into lately, so I've been reading short stories. This is the latest one.

The night Ellen is driving too fast down a mountain road, she hits a car. When she gets out to make sure the other driver is okay, she finds the car empty. But she's not alone, because a maniac with a knife soon appears...

I really enjoyed this one!

Not only is Ellen crafty and not willing to give up--constantly remembering some of the survivalist bullshit her ex talked about--but she's brave af. She might get caught in a cat-and-mouse situation with a hideous killer and discovers some pretty gruesome shit, but she keeps a level head throughout.

Yep, I really liked Ellen.

And if I didn't like her already, I would've cheered for her (oh, hold on, I did!) as soon as that twist hits. Just that is worth everything.

Great fast-paced story. Just what I needed right now. :)

[Andy Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m reading quite a bit of horror at the moment, I’ve just realised.. it must be the time of year.
Lansdale’s venture into the genre though is a welcome one, and horror just as it should be, short and sharp, with vivid and nightmarish images. It’s an hour of my life very well spent.

[Badseedgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masters of Horror, season 1, episode 1.

There were 26 episodes of the powerful Showtime series which aired between 2005 to 2007. All of them were based on short stories/ novellas by some of the most influential writers of the genre field. I have made it my mission to hunt these stories down and read them. There are only 26, I mean how hard can it be?!?!

The first story in the series was "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road." Short, but with brutal intensity, this 30 page story gripes the reader in the absolute horror of a midnight chase through a dark and sinister woods.

This was an excellent start to this series of short stories.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw the Masters of Horror episode of this story back when it first came out. I watched a few more episodes and didn't like them. From my recollection, this one was the best one I had seen. However, going into this short story I couldn't remember a thing other then a girl running from "some guy" in the woods.

Unfortunately I told someone about 15 minutes before I was to start reading it, that I was reading it, and they ruined the ending for me - probably accidentally. But annoying nevertheless. And well, when you come down to it the story had a lot to do with the ending, so it almost felt like "whats the point". I'm trying not to let it taint my feelings.

I wanted to give the story 3 stars, but I think had the ending not been ruined for me, I would have given it a 4. So, that's what I gave it

The only issue I had with the story was some of it was really hard for me to picture because it was so action filled and I was trying to read it while my husband was loudly watching the Playoffs in the next room. But, that's probably all my fault, not the fault of the writing.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decided to dip into some Joe R. Lansdale, given that Bubba Ho Tep is one of my all time favourite movies and Don Coscarelli's adaptation of this story for Masters Of Horror was one of my favourite episodes.

The most striking thing reading this is just how faithful and excellent Coscarelli's version was, he clearly stuck very faithfully to the source and the representation of Moon Face was iconic enough that it's difficult to read this without your mind conjuring up images of the MoH episode.

It really is a great short story, Lansdale's style throwing you right in at the deep end and not letting up for one moment. It's quite startlingly intense, and there are moments so dark that they understandably never made it to the tv adaptation.

As my first experience of Lansdale in book-form I'm massively impressed, and will be stocking up on more (with Bubba Ho Tep obviously top of the list).

[Godzilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

After many complaints from my wife about the number of books our house is struggling to contain, I have bought a Kindle.

I was very anti-Kindle, as I love the feel and nuance of books, but for a quiet life I have gone over to the dark side.

I saw this short story as a free offering and snapped it up.

Joe Lansdale rarely disappoints, and this is no exception. It's a taut, tense tale with a real twist in the tail.

His writing is always pacy and punchy, and as a free taster this encapsulates his strengths really well.

[Daniel Drago · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best short stories I have read. I am just starting to read Joe Lansdale even though I was first told to read him back in 1992. My mistake it appears. I love that the story moves so fast, doesn't have to explain why Moon Face does what he does and the ending is a great twist i didn't see coming. On my way to read more by Mr. Lansdale.

Highly recommended.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story is currently free, from Amazon, as it includes the first chapter of a book by the sponsoring publisher.

Which I'll have to get back to later, given how spooked out I was by this story.

[Nilchance · Rating 4 out of 5]

As gripping as a King short story, without the things that usually turn me off Lansdale. This sounds like damning with faint praise, but I did enjoy the story a lot.

Do not fuck with Ellen.

[Honey Rose007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a short story but had it read to my with ai British woman voice, and it’s great now gonna watch the adaptation from the horror show. Here’s a clean, engaging review of “Incident On and Off a Mountain Road” — the Joe R. Lansdale short story that later inspired the Masters of Horror episode.

⸻

Review: Incident On and Off a Mountain Road

By Joe R. Lansdale

Joe R. Lansdale’s Incident On and Off a Mountain Road is a lean, vicious, and darkly clever slice of survival horror that shows why he’s one of the best voices in modern suspense fiction. The story works on two levels: a brutal cat-and-mouse chase in the woods, and a psychological unravelling told in sharp, revealing flashbacks.

Tone & Style

Lansdale’s writing is quick, mean, and cinematic. He wastes no time establishing danger: one wrong turn on a mountain road, a crash, and suddenly the protagonist, Ellen, is being hunted by a deformed backwoods killer known as Moonface. The pacing is relentless, and the descriptive details—both of the forest and the violence—are vivid without ever feeling bloated.

Character Focus

Ellen is the story’s true engine. What seems like a typical “woman being chased by a monster” setup quickly becomes more complicated. Through flashbacks to her marriage, we see a past filled with manipulation, survivalist training, and escalating cruelty. These memories reveal why Ellen is so strangely prepared to fight back, and the contrast between her former life and this new danger gives the story psychological weight.

Themes

Lansdale explores:
• Hyper-survivalism and how it shapes identity
• Cycles of abuse and power
• Self-reclamation through violence
• The thin line between predator and prey

Ellen’s “training” becomes both a tool for survival and a reminder of the toxic relationship she escaped — creating a layered moral tension behind every choice she makes.

Horror Elements

This is horror rooted in realism more than the supernatural. Moonface is terrifying not because he’s mystical, but because he feels like the kind of human monster who could be lurking on any forgotten backroad. The story blends:
• backwoods slasher energy
• psychological thriller
• survival horror
• twist-driven storytelling

The ending, as in much of Lansdale’s work, is sharp, unsettling, and leaves you questioning who the real monster was all along.

Overall

Incident On and Off a Mountain Road is a fast, brutal, and smartly structured short story that elevates a familiar horror premise with character depth and Lansdale’s signature grit. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy survival horror with a psychological edge and a twist that reframes everything that came before.

[Randy J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Joe R Lansdale is one of the greats!!

Y’all can’t help to enjoy most everything this man writes!
I expect the theme from the Twilight Zone to play as I read!
And his Hap & Leonard stories are also well done!
I don’t want to give anything away...
He’s worked hard to give us jump scares & twisted endings,
I respect that!
Thank you for the entertainment Mr Lansdale!!

[Tedward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded me a lot of PC nerve shredders like Outlast, Amnesia or Alien Isolation. It was adapted into a TV movie back in 2005 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BRDygPv... that looks like the gist of the story. It also added a lot to it. Very good short read with a ending you won't see coming.

[Charles Bodenheimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw the Masters of Horror episode back when it came out and completely forgot ole Joe wrote it. So I finally got around to reading this and I goota say, the creepy vibes are strong with this one; maybe moreso than those of the flick.

[Blue]

I have seen teh Masters of Horror episode that is based on this and it was amazing.

[javier fernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,80/5 le daría

[Clark Hallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incident On and Off the Mountain Road is and excellent, very violent, 33-page, short story with a surprise at the end. It's a fun read. One of the many things I like about eBooks is that publishers now make short stories and novellas available individually as eBooks. In many cases, that enables me to purchase only the stories I know I want to read. I may not need to purchase as many collections that contain only one or two stories that interest me. I hope this trend continues, it's a good thing.

[Saretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una giovane donna, a causa della pioggia, si scontra con una macchina lungo una strada di montagna.
Preoccupata per gli abitanti del veicolo scende (grave errore), da quel momento inizia un incubo: un pazzo assassino inizierà a inseguirla per i boschi per aggiungerla alla sua collezione.
Ma la giovane donna non è così indifesa come potrebbe apparire.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another weird tale from the author of many such.

A woman escaping from one madman pursued by another on a lonely highway in the mountains. A near disaster, wreck, sets her up for a killer.

But is she the helpless female she seems?

Author Lansdale gives us a suspenseful tale with a nice ywist or two along the way.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something came up in a conversation that reminded me of this episode of Masters of Horror, and I found out this is based on a short story. I easily found it on Kindle and gave it a read.

The episode is good, but the short story is better. I might want to give more of Mr. Lansdale's work a try in the future.

[Mark Tallen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good little read and I liked it enough to sample some more of Lansdale's work. Of corse there are far better short stories to read than this but I do recommend it if you're in between novels.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

An individual story for the Kindle from Lansdale. Very good. I was able to download it for free.

[Padre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced, captivating story with two nice twists. As entertaining as the movie adaptation.