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The Narrow Caves
The Narrow Caves is the first Audiostate ever released, a new product combining the grandiosity of Hollywood films with the intimacy of audio to create an "ear-movie" experience. Adapted from a script by award-winning novelist, screenwriter, and director S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk, Wraiths of the Broken Land), The Narrow Caves features voice acting by Vincent D'Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket, Daredevil), Will Patton (Armageddon, Falling Skies), Lili Simmons (Bone Tomahawk, Banshee) and Wyatt Russell (Everybody Wants Some, Black Mirror). Binary Reptile provides an eerie score that contributes to the cinematic feel of this haunting piece.
Synopsis:
In Florida, 1983, two college students meet at a yard party and do not hit it off. Walter and Ruby have no reason to reprise this antagonistic encounter, but something strange and almost primordial burgeons within each of them. Their thoughts and dreams turn toward each other, and in very little time they find themselves in an intense and unique relationship. What lies at the bottom of their strange connection is unearthed when Walter joins Ruby on a holiday trip to her home in upstate New York, where a living darkness inhabits the woodlands that surround her family's mansion. This engrossing and unpredictable blend of mystery, horror, and romance subverts the idea of "fated love" while exploring strange compulsions, intense desires, and ancient mysteries that are best left buried deep in the earth.
Synopsis:
In Florida, 1983, two college students meet at a yard party and do not hit it off. Walter and Ruby have no reason to reprise this antagonistic encounter, but something strange and almost primordial burgeons within each of them. Their thoughts and dreams turn toward each other, and in very little time they find themselves in an intense and unique relationship. What lies at the bottom of their strange connection is unearthed when Walter joins Ruby on a holiday trip to her home in upstate New York, where a living darkness inhabits the woodlands that surround her family's mansion. This engrossing and unpredictable blend of mystery, horror, and romance subverts the idea of "fated love" while exploring strange compulsions, intense desires, and ancient mysteries that are best left buried deep in the earth.
Audiobook
First published May 16, 2017
2 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
S. Craig Zahler
27 books1,364 followers"S. Craig Zahler is certain to become one of the great imaginers of our time." ― Clive Barker
Novelist and cartoonist S. Craig Zahler is also the screenwriter, director, and musical co-composer for the movies, Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and Dragged Across Concrete. His second graphic novel Organisms from an Ancient Cosmos was released by Dark Horse Comics as an oversized hardback in December 2022. He wrote and illustrated this large-scale sci-fi work.
"What a fantastic read!" ― Patton Oswalt
"I had the best time reading this graphic novel. I never knew where it was going or how." ― Brian Michael Bendis
His debut graphic novel, Forbidden Surgeries of the Hideous Dr. Divinus and his crime book The Slanted Gutter came out in 2021.
Praise for his other books:
"Whether writing westerns, science fiction, or crime, Zahler (Corpus Chrome, Inc., 2013) always manages to bring something new to the genre. [We fell] completely under Zahler’s spell... A bravura literary performance.” —Booklist, Starred Review
"Zahler tells a gripping story." ― Kirkus Review
"Five-plus stars to Hug Chickenpenny. Complex, well-drawn characterizations, compelling imagery and a well-ordered story..." ― Publishers Daily Reviews
"Zahler’s mean streets are bizarrely mean. But Mean Business is often mordantly funny, too—and not to be missed." Booklist, starred review
“CORPUS CHROME, INC describes one of the weirder post-singularity futures. The characters are very much alive. I was entertained throughout.” —Larry Niven, Hugo & Nebula award winning author
"Zahler's a fabulous story teller..." Kurt Russell, star of Escape from New York, Tombstone, and Stargate
My dark western Wraiths of the Broken Land is also available in trade paperback, hardback and ebook editions. Below is some praise from Joe R. Lansdale, Booklist, Jack Ketchum, and Ed Lee:
"If you’re looking for something similar to what you’ve read before, this ain’t it. If you want something comforting and predictable, this damn sure ain’t it. But if you want something with storytelling guts and a weird point of view, an unforgettable voice, then you want what I want, and that is this." –Joe R. Lansdale, author of The Bottoms, Mucho Mojo, and Savage Season
"It would be utterly insufficient to say that WRAITHS is the most diversified and expertly written western I’ve ever read." –Edward Lee, author of The Bighead and Gast.
"[C]ompulsively readable…. Fans of Zahler’s A Congregation of Jackals (2010) will be satisfied; think Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained. [C]lever mayhem ... leads to a riveting climax." –Booklist
"WRAITHS always rings true, whether it's visiting the depths of despair, the fury of violence, or the fragile ties that bind us together for good or ill. It's a Western with heart and intelligence, always vivid, with characters you will detest or care about or both, powerfully written." –Jack Ketchum, author of Off Season and The Girl Next Door
Novelist and cartoonist S. Craig Zahler is also the screenwriter, director, and musical co-composer for the movies, Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and Dragged Across Concrete. His second graphic novel Organisms from an Ancient Cosmos was released by Dark Horse Comics as an oversized hardback in December 2022. He wrote and illustrated this large-scale sci-fi work.
"What a fantastic read!" ― Patton Oswalt
"I had the best time reading this graphic novel. I never knew where it was going or how." ― Brian Michael Bendis
His debut graphic novel, Forbidden Surgeries of the Hideous Dr. Divinus and his crime book The Slanted Gutter came out in 2021.
Praise for his other books:
"Whether writing westerns, science fiction, or crime, Zahler (Corpus Chrome, Inc., 2013) always manages to bring something new to the genre. [We fell] completely under Zahler’s spell... A bravura literary performance.” —Booklist, Starred Review
"Zahler tells a gripping story." ― Kirkus Review
"Five-plus stars to Hug Chickenpenny. Complex, well-drawn characterizations, compelling imagery and a well-ordered story..." ― Publishers Daily Reviews
"Zahler’s mean streets are bizarrely mean. But Mean Business is often mordantly funny, too—and not to be missed." Booklist, starred review
“CORPUS CHROME, INC describes one of the weirder post-singularity futures. The characters are very much alive. I was entertained throughout.” —Larry Niven, Hugo & Nebula award winning author
"Zahler's a fabulous story teller..." Kurt Russell, star of Escape from New York, Tombstone, and Stargate
My dark western Wraiths of the Broken Land is also available in trade paperback, hardback and ebook editions. Below is some praise from Joe R. Lansdale, Booklist, Jack Ketchum, and Ed Lee:
"If you’re looking for something similar to what you’ve read before, this ain’t it. If you want something comforting and predictable, this damn sure ain’t it. But if you want something with storytelling guts and a weird point of view, an unforgettable voice, then you want what I want, and that is this." –Joe R. Lansdale, author of The Bottoms, Mucho Mojo, and Savage Season
"It would be utterly insufficient to say that WRAITHS is the most diversified and expertly written western I’ve ever read." –Edward Lee, author of The Bighead and Gast.
"[C]ompulsively readable…. Fans of Zahler’s A Congregation of Jackals (2010) will be satisfied; think Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained. [C]lever mayhem ... leads to a riveting climax." –Booklist
"WRAITHS always rings true, whether it's visiting the depths of despair, the fury of violence, or the fragile ties that bind us together for good or ill. It's a Western with heart and intelligence, always vivid, with characters you will detest or care about or both, powerfully written." –Jack Ketchum, author of Off Season and The Girl Next Door
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 20, 2021
S. Craig Zahler does Cosmic Horror and it's scary and compelling.
I am not a big fan of audiobooks (I tend to drift away while listening) but having heard that one of my favorite directors and authors had a horror audiobook/drama, I had to check it out. This one is, however, performed by a whole cast and not just the narrator, making it somewhat an "audio" movie.
Zahler takes the classic boy-meets-girl scenario and transplants it into John Langan territory, complete with the upstate New York setting. Zahler makes it his own, however, through his quirky and unusual dialogue which never veers into Tarantino-like irreality. (In short, it's still realistic). He adds what may be nods to similarly-themed works such as Graham Masterton's Wells From Hell (Seriously) as well as other innumerable works of Cosmic Horror. Oh, and it's also filled with sex and violence, but you get to hear all that.
Overall, give it a listen. It's one of the few audiobook productions that seek to scare and entertain you, unlike that preachy nonsense that was Paul Theroux's Camp Echo. If I want to hear preaching, I turn on the TV to EWTN. Nuff said.
I am not a big fan of audiobooks (I tend to drift away while listening) but having heard that one of my favorite directors and authors had a horror audiobook/drama, I had to check it out. This one is, however, performed by a whole cast and not just the narrator, making it somewhat an "audio" movie.
Zahler takes the classic boy-meets-girl scenario and transplants it into John Langan territory, complete with the upstate New York setting. Zahler makes it his own, however, through his quirky and unusual dialogue which never veers into Tarantino-like irreality. (In short, it's still realistic). He adds what may be nods to similarly-themed works such as Graham Masterton's Wells From Hell (Seriously) as well as other innumerable works of Cosmic Horror. Oh, and it's also filled with sex and violence, but you get to hear all that.
Overall, give it a listen. It's one of the few audiobook productions that seek to scare and entertain you, unlike that preachy nonsense that was Paul Theroux's Camp Echo. If I want to hear preaching, I turn on the TV to EWTN. Nuff said.
January 21, 2020
Like most of his work, S. Craig Zahler’s “The Narrow Caves” is a captivating journey into a version of Hell that pulls no punches.
“The Narrow Caves” starts normally enough as a boy-meets-girl story. Quick-witted Walter meets introverted Ruby at a party, and what begins as a test of cleverness quickly blossoms into romance. It then shifts into girl-has-strange-family-with-a-sordid past story before transforming into a proper Zahler story – one filled with despair, hopelessness and ancient, otherworldly horror.
Those familiar with his work should know what to expect. Normal party hookups? A quick fling in the woods? A misshapen sub-human force-feeding a captive while they’re in chains? It’s all on the table for Zahler and described with excellent diction.
Zahler’s fantastic script is brought to life by compelling performances from Wyatt Russell, Lily Simmons, Vincent D’Onofrio and fantastic narration by Will Patton. Both the dialogue and descriptive narration are poignant and expertly delivered; every syllable of every word seems to hold weight. Before you know it, all eight 20- to 40-minute episodes will have gone by, leaving you shocked but craving more.
Equal parts romance, mystery and horror, “The Narrow Caves” is a thrilling ride through an exciting new relationship, a creepy rural dwelling in upstate New York, and the hellish, titular caverns guarding an evil that may be as old as time itself.
“The Narrow Caves” starts normally enough as a boy-meets-girl story. Quick-witted Walter meets introverted Ruby at a party, and what begins as a test of cleverness quickly blossoms into romance. It then shifts into girl-has-strange-family-with-a-sordid past story before transforming into a proper Zahler story – one filled with despair, hopelessness and ancient, otherworldly horror.
Those familiar with his work should know what to expect. Normal party hookups? A quick fling in the woods? A misshapen sub-human force-feeding a captive while they’re in chains? It’s all on the table for Zahler and described with excellent diction.
Zahler’s fantastic script is brought to life by compelling performances from Wyatt Russell, Lily Simmons, Vincent D’Onofrio and fantastic narration by Will Patton. Both the dialogue and descriptive narration are poignant and expertly delivered; every syllable of every word seems to hold weight. Before you know it, all eight 20- to 40-minute episodes will have gone by, leaving you shocked but craving more.
Equal parts romance, mystery and horror, “The Narrow Caves” is a thrilling ride through an exciting new relationship, a creepy rural dwelling in upstate New York, and the hellish, titular caverns guarding an evil that may be as old as time itself.
February 6, 2023
Full cast audio book, super quick listen bbut not my cup of tes. The two romantic leads had no chemistry. The dialog was a little pretentious, I didn't like any of the characters and dealt with some body horror, which was not my jam at all.
May 29, 2021
The Narrow Caves is kind of an odd, experimental novel, told in a semi-audiobook semi-audio drama format with narration by Will Patton, and performances by Wyatt Russel, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Lily Simmons among others. I was really excited to check it out because I thought S. Craig Zahler’s Bone Tomahawk was a great horror movie, but his subsequent films left me a little cold (I don’t care about prison/police exploitation movies) so I was excited to see him return to the horror genre. The book, however, left me a little hollow. I don’t think it’s bad, but there is something lacking.
I think a lot of that boils down to the sound design. Audio drama performances always feel a little awkward to me because of how much pantomime has to be done vocally, action always feels unintentionally funny, and there’s so much going on in the design that it sometimes becomes a percussive mess. The performances are good, but again the form doesn’t seem to help them any. When these long pauses have to be put between lines because of the narration, it disrupts the momentum of the performances and the story.
Speaking of the story, it’s very lacking. I like a slow burn, and this has a slowww burn, but a slow burn really only works if the characters are engaging. Walter and Ruby are not engaging at all. As individuals, Walter just seems like a cipher and a dick, and Ruby is frigid and cryptic for no reason. They become a couple purely so the story can happen, share no chemistry, and always seem to be arguing. When we finally learn what’s going on, I won’t spoil it, but there are so many levels to it that it devolves into exposition for most of the seventh chapter. Even with all the exposition in the seventh chapter, I still don’t really know what’s going on. It doesn’t help either that Zahler does my least favorite writer trick which is: when you reach the point in the story where it is logical for a character to get some explanation from another character, you instead have them say a bunch of cryptic bullshit for no reason other than that the writer doesn’t know how to keep the tension up otherwise.
But ok, I’m just dog piling on this book, when there are a lot of really good things. For starters, the prose can be quite beautiful, there is a feeling that this was a screenplay first, but there are more than enough passages of true descriptive beauty that are welcomed. The early chapters are quite excellent at setting up tension and establishing the world and characters. I know I called Walter and Ruby unengaging, but there is at least one scene with Walter and his friends that really pops because of the dialogue and the performances. When the creatures arrive, they are all uniquely designed and disgusting in the body horror that follows.
The ending sequence is somewhat startling and the conclusion Walter comes to is both horrific and somewhat empowering, and it’s a difficult moment executed really well. So all in all I can’t say I don’t recommend it, but I was pretty let down given the people involved.
P.S. I cannot believe Vincent D’Onofrio is as highly billed as he is for how little he is in this thing.
I think a lot of that boils down to the sound design. Audio drama performances always feel a little awkward to me because of how much pantomime has to be done vocally, action always feels unintentionally funny, and there’s so much going on in the design that it sometimes becomes a percussive mess. The performances are good, but again the form doesn’t seem to help them any. When these long pauses have to be put between lines because of the narration, it disrupts the momentum of the performances and the story.
Speaking of the story, it’s very lacking. I like a slow burn, and this has a slowww burn, but a slow burn really only works if the characters are engaging. Walter and Ruby are not engaging at all. As individuals, Walter just seems like a cipher and a dick, and Ruby is frigid and cryptic for no reason. They become a couple purely so the story can happen, share no chemistry, and always seem to be arguing. When we finally learn what’s going on, I won’t spoil it, but there are so many levels to it that it devolves into exposition for most of the seventh chapter. Even with all the exposition in the seventh chapter, I still don’t really know what’s going on. It doesn’t help either that Zahler does my least favorite writer trick which is: when you reach the point in the story where it is logical for a character to get some explanation from another character, you instead have them say a bunch of cryptic bullshit for no reason other than that the writer doesn’t know how to keep the tension up otherwise.
But ok, I’m just dog piling on this book, when there are a lot of really good things. For starters, the prose can be quite beautiful, there is a feeling that this was a screenplay first, but there are more than enough passages of true descriptive beauty that are welcomed. The early chapters are quite excellent at setting up tension and establishing the world and characters. I know I called Walter and Ruby unengaging, but there is at least one scene with Walter and his friends that really pops because of the dialogue and the performances. When the creatures arrive, they are all uniquely designed and disgusting in the body horror that follows.
The ending sequence is somewhat startling and the conclusion Walter comes to is both horrific and somewhat empowering, and it’s a difficult moment executed really well. So all in all I can’t say I don’t recommend it, but I was pretty let down given the people involved.
P.S. I cannot believe Vincent D’Onofrio is as highly billed as he is for how little he is in this thing.
May 24, 2020
When I saw S. Craig Zahler’s film, BONE TOMAHAWK, I became an instant fanboy. After watching BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99 and DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE, I was convinced the man could do no wrong. Zahler’s unpredictable plots, ethically murky characters, raw yet slightly zany dialogue, and knack for cinematic brutality makes him standout amidst the sea of today’s timid filmmakers. While he doesn’t pull any punches, Zahler crosses the boundaries of taste with a sense of grace. He never sacrifices character development or rushes through story arcs to deliver the carnage that is present in all his work. It is this balancing act that makes him my favorite filmmaker working today. I discovered THE NARROW CAVES through Adam Cesare, who is the most knowledgeable Youtuber & author I’ve come across in regards to the horror genre. I was beyond excited that Zahler had released a star studded audio production of a fully realized screenplay. I’m happy to say that although this project fell a bit short for me in terms of story, the writing and overall package was on par with Zahler’s other work. The incredible voice acting by some of my favorite Hollywood talent, as well as the top notch production quality made this a thoroughly enjoyable experience. It is different than a regular audiobook, as there are sound effects and music used to really create a cinematic atmosphere. Without spoiling anything, the last quarter of the story felt a bit too much like BONE TOMAHAWK to me, except that I thought that film did much more with the situation which panned out. Nonetheless, there is enough darkness, intensity, and fleshed out lore here to satisfy horror hounds. I feel it’s best to go in blind in order to get the most out of this short but entertaining tale. If you sit well with graphic descriptions of violence and sex like me, then you’ll have a great time. S. Craig Zahler did not disappoint, and I’m overjoyed to have discovered that he has other novels as well. THE NARROW CAVES is well worth your time! I listened to it on Shudder, but it is available on Audible as well.
Read
December 7, 2020Es un podcast, que escuché tanto en verano como ahora en invierno, y es la versión de Zahler de un cuento de Clark Ashton Smith, con sintetizadores carpenterianos y un largo y divertidísimo clímax final - algo así como la ruptura amorosa más cósmicamente dolorosa jamás escrita. La presentación gradual, con su paso de relato gótico pulpy a ambigua e intrigante aventura erótica adolescente hasta el clímax, demuestra el tino de Zahler en una radionovela con su habitual y acaloradísima prosa (los protagonistas son referidos todo el rato como "the lanky fellow" y "the pale woman").
May 18, 2022
Comparing this to his films it felt pretty lackluster, but as a story all its own it was pretty satisfying. A nice little Lovecraftian tale.
I thought the performances were all really good and it really picked up the pacing to have all the depth of an old radio drama.
I think the only reason this got three stars for me is because it just isn't quite the level I would expect from Zahler. I'd love to hear a full length novel of his done this way though.
I thought the performances were all really good and it really picked up the pacing to have all the depth of an old radio drama.
I think the only reason this got three stars for me is because it just isn't quite the level I would expect from Zahler. I'd love to hear a full length novel of his done this way though.
June 14, 2021
The narrow caves is an interesting mix of love story, mistery and lovecraftian horror. Even if the antagonists' motives are not totally clear, they are instantly iconic in my view.
The sound effects are terrific for the audio version. It's an interesting mix of a movie playtrack and a book reading. I will slowly go through all of Zahler's works but it's a great introduction.
The sound effects are terrific for the audio version. It's an interesting mix of a movie playtrack and a book reading. I will slowly go through all of Zahler's works but it's a great introduction.
June 28, 2021
I’d probably give this a higher rating but I’m unsure if the experimental format worked for me fully. Which shouldn’t matter because the story is very good and Zahler doing comic horror is compelling but it’s a weird one. Some great actors in here doing the voices too. Curious as to what this looks like as a film or short story/novel though.
September 23, 2023
The narrator overuses the introductory phrase "At present" to the point of distraction, i.e. "The man walks over to the desk. At present, he sits down in the chair."
Also, there's a lot of nudity for a podcast. I don't understand the appeal of having gratuitous nudity on your audio program.
Episode 5 is 20 minutes about the horror of being forced to eat an unpleasant melon.
Also, there's a lot of nudity for a podcast. I don't understand the appeal of having gratuitous nudity on your audio program.
Episode 5 is 20 minutes about the horror of being forced to eat an unpleasant melon.
June 16, 2023
The story is not bad but I came to the realization that I am not a fan of heavily produced audiobooks. The background noises are distracting. The narration was lacking something as well. I can't put my finger on it, it just didn't gel. Ugh. Too bad.
November 21, 2023
You can recognize Zahler in there. Descend into a cave. Hyperviolent things happen. Very meticulously written.
Starts out with a love story, midway there is kidnapping and shit eating, by the end it reminded me of some Lovecraftian moments.
Starts out with a love story, midway there is kidnapping and shit eating, by the end it reminded me of some Lovecraftian moments.
September 16, 2024
I’m a pretty big fan of Zahler’s brand of modern grindhouse filmmaking, but wow this sucked ass. Could barely make it through any stretch of dialogue without cringing into the stratosphere. No redeeming qualities for me.
February 3, 2020
Режиссура аудиокниги и Лили Симмонс (вах) хороши, а вот история подкачала, особенно финал.
August 18, 2020
WOW!!! There were some images in this that I'll have trouble forgetting
July 5, 2021
dnf. tried to speed up to audio just to get through the short story but I just couldnt do it. the actors were just too much and just so bad.
February 27, 2022
Crazy cool, packed with great sound effects and voices. Super creepy story with a rather bleak ending, but I still highly recommend this experience for horror audio book fans
October 14, 2022
If someone ever turned this into a film, it would quite possibly be the scariest movie of all time.
September 24, 2023
Really dumb but a quick read at least.
October 25, 2024
Zahler delivers an updated take on the weird tales of yore with an incredibly game cast. Perfect for this time of year.
February 17, 2024
There's some really neat stuff in here - a particular highlight was that one scene in the forest. If you've read the script, you'll know what I'm talking about. That was so weird and out of left field that it's stuck with me.
And there's some other compelling aspects as well - I can imagine how it might make for a compelling slow burn if this script ever gets made into a feature film, but as it stands right now, it just comes off kind of dry.
I've read criticisms that it's backloaded, with all the really interesting stuff happening at the end. I think that makes sense for a screenplay, considering that - without spoiling too much - that's where all the budget would need to go. If I had to guess, I'd imagine Zahler had that in mind when writing.
I originally gave this three stars, but I'm changing it to four. I don't think it's average. I think that if you can visualize this as a movie, it would definitely be a cult classic - no question about that.
Just keep in mind that as a reading experience, it can feel like a bit of a slog.
And there's some other compelling aspects as well - I can imagine how it might make for a compelling slow burn if this script ever gets made into a feature film, but as it stands right now, it just comes off kind of dry.
I've read criticisms that it's backloaded, with all the really interesting stuff happening at the end. I think that makes sense for a screenplay, considering that - without spoiling too much - that's where all the budget would need to go. If I had to guess, I'd imagine Zahler had that in mind when writing.
I originally gave this three stars, but I'm changing it to four. I don't think it's average. I think that if you can visualize this as a movie, it would definitely be a cult classic - no question about that.
Just keep in mind that as a reading experience, it can feel like a bit of a slog.
November 11, 2024
As a fan of Zahler's films, I appreciate his use of slow pacing, which allows for character development and atmosphere to build. However, this audiobook suffers from a lack of compelling characters, making the slow pacing feel more like a hindrance than a strength. The characters, especially Walter and Ruby, don't capture the same intrigue as Zahler's film characters. Their relationship development in the first two chapters doesn't seem to add much to the story or its atmosphere, and I believe the plot would have been more engaging had the story picked up when they arrived at Ruby’s childhood home, where the unsettling details began to emerge. This slow character development feels like filler and detracts from the horror elements.
This issue isn't isolated to The Narrow Caves. I've noticed similar problems in Zahler’s horror films, such as The Incident and Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich. In these works, the slow pacing and lack of character depth detract from the overall experience. Only in The Forbidden Surgeries of the Hideous Doctor Divinus does Zahler succeed in creating a more compelling narrative. This is likely due to its unique blend of crime and horror, allowing Zahler to focus on police officers’ perspectives, which better suits his strengths.
In The Narrow Caves, the first chapters include unnecessary narrative elements, such as a nightmare sequence that serves only to shock without advancing the plot. Additionally, an extended sex scene feels uncomfortable and out of place, offering little to the overall narrative. These moments seem like distractions rather than meaningful contributions to the story, which is a problem in horror, where the tension and atmosphere should be front and center.
While Zahler struggles with character development in his horror work, he still manages to craft an engaging atmosphere. Once the horror elements come into play, starting in the third chapter, the creepy atmosphere effectively compensates for the basic characterizations. Zahler’s work here bears a strong influence from H.P. Lovecraft, particularly in the way tension builds slowly, with subtle foreshadowing and eerie moments that heighten the horror. Like many Lovecraft stories, things don’t become truly disturbing until later in the narrative, but the payoff is worth the wait, especially with some chilling revelations in Chapter Seven, including elements of body horror.
Overall, The Narrow Caves has a lot of potential, but it struggles with pacing and characterization, especially in the early chapters. Zahler’s strength lies in building atmosphere, and when the horror finally takes center stage, it delivers. However, this would have been a more engaging story if Zahler focused more on characters and plot in the same way he does in his non-horror work. Fans of extreme horror will still find much to enjoy here, especially the Lovecraftian influences and the gradual buildup of tension.
This issue isn't isolated to The Narrow Caves. I've noticed similar problems in Zahler’s horror films, such as The Incident and Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich. In these works, the slow pacing and lack of character depth detract from the overall experience. Only in The Forbidden Surgeries of the Hideous Doctor Divinus does Zahler succeed in creating a more compelling narrative. This is likely due to its unique blend of crime and horror, allowing Zahler to focus on police officers’ perspectives, which better suits his strengths.
In The Narrow Caves, the first chapters include unnecessary narrative elements, such as a nightmare sequence that serves only to shock without advancing the plot. Additionally, an extended sex scene feels uncomfortable and out of place, offering little to the overall narrative. These moments seem like distractions rather than meaningful contributions to the story, which is a problem in horror, where the tension and atmosphere should be front and center.
While Zahler struggles with character development in his horror work, he still manages to craft an engaging atmosphere. Once the horror elements come into play, starting in the third chapter, the creepy atmosphere effectively compensates for the basic characterizations. Zahler’s work here bears a strong influence from H.P. Lovecraft, particularly in the way tension builds slowly, with subtle foreshadowing and eerie moments that heighten the horror. Like many Lovecraft stories, things don’t become truly disturbing until later in the narrative, but the payoff is worth the wait, especially with some chilling revelations in Chapter Seven, including elements of body horror.
Overall, The Narrow Caves has a lot of potential, but it struggles with pacing and characterization, especially in the early chapters. Zahler’s strength lies in building atmosphere, and when the horror finally takes center stage, it delivers. However, this would have been a more engaging story if Zahler focused more on characters and plot in the same way he does in his non-horror work. Fans of extreme horror will still find much to enjoy here, especially the Lovecraftian influences and the gradual buildup of tension.
August 11, 2020
I was able to find this on the horror streaming service SHUDDER, and I'm glad I did. I don't often listen to audio books, or ear podcasts, or radio dramas. But as this was a screenplay written by S. Craig Zahler--writer and director of the brilliant BONE TOMAHAWK and BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99, I couldn't have been more excited to give new material a listen. It was narrated by a great group of actors and you really got lost in the story. Time rushed by for me and I felt like I was envisioning a movie. That's what a great story does. THE NARROW CAVES does not disappoint and I would love to see it adapted to the screen. But it doesn't have to be, because this method of adaption worked-- Give it a chance and enjoy!
April 6, 2022
A simple, but well-told spooky yarn. The acting of the radioplay is excellent.
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