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John Carpenter's Night Terrors
John Carpenter's Night Terrors: Sour Candy
Four months to the day he first encountered the boy at Walmart, the last of Phil Pendelton's teeth fell out.
At first glance, Phil Pendleton and his son Adam are just an ordinary father and son, no different from any other. Some might say the father is a little too accommodating given the lack of discipline when the child loses his temper in public. Some might say he spoils his son by allowing him to set his own bedtimes and eat candy whenever he wants. Some might say that such leniency is starting to take its toll on the father, given how his health has declined.
What no one knows is that Phil is a prisoner, and that up until a few weeks ago and a chance encounter at a grocery store, he had never seen the child before. But now Adam is in his life, altering and controlling it, and it will take a particular kind of horror to get him out. Because there is nothing ordinary about Adam, or the monsters that come when he calls.
At first glance, Phil Pendleton and his son Adam are just an ordinary father and son, no different from any other. Some might say the father is a little too accommodating given the lack of discipline when the child loses his temper in public. Some might say he spoils his son by allowing him to set his own bedtimes and eat candy whenever he wants. Some might say that such leniency is starting to take its toll on the father, given how his health has declined.
What no one knows is that Phil is a prisoner, and that up until a few weeks ago and a chance encounter at a grocery store, he had never seen the child before. But now Adam is in his life, altering and controlling it, and it will take a particular kind of horror to get him out. Because there is nothing ordinary about Adam, or the monsters that come when he calls.
104 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
1 person is currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Kealan Patrick Burke
194 books2,346 followersHailed by Booklist as “one of the most clever and original talents in contemporary horror,” Kealan Patrick Burke was born and raised in Ireland and emigrated to the United States a few weeks before 9/11.
Since then, he has written six novels, among them the popular southern gothic Kin, and over two hundred short stories and novellas, many of which are in various stages of development for film/TV.
In 2005, Burke won the Bram Stoker Award for his coming-of-age novella The Turtle Boy, the first book in the acclaimed Timmy Quinn series.
As editor, he helmed the anthologies Night Visions 12, Taverns of the Dead, and Quietly Now, a tribute anthology to one of Burke’s influences, the late Charles L. Grant.
More recently, he wrote the screenplays for Sour Candy (based on his novella), and the remake of the iconic horror film The Changeling (1980), for the original film's producer, Joel B. Michaels.
He also adapted Sour Candy as a graphic novel for John Carpenter's Night Terrors.
His most recent releases are Cottonmouth, a prequel to Kin and The Widows of Winding Gale, a maritime horror novel set in Ireland.
Kealan is represented by Valarie Phillips at Verve Talent & Literary Agency.
He lives in Ohio with a Scooby Doo lookalike rescue named Red.
Since then, he has written six novels, among them the popular southern gothic Kin, and over two hundred short stories and novellas, many of which are in various stages of development for film/TV.
In 2005, Burke won the Bram Stoker Award for his coming-of-age novella The Turtle Boy, the first book in the acclaimed Timmy Quinn series.
As editor, he helmed the anthologies Night Visions 12, Taverns of the Dead, and Quietly Now, a tribute anthology to one of Burke’s influences, the late Charles L. Grant.
More recently, he wrote the screenplays for Sour Candy (based on his novella), and the remake of the iconic horror film The Changeling (1980), for the original film's producer, Joel B. Michaels.
He also adapted Sour Candy as a graphic novel for John Carpenter's Night Terrors.
His most recent releases are Cottonmouth, a prequel to Kin and The Widows of Winding Gale, a maritime horror novel set in Ireland.
Kealan is represented by Valarie Phillips at Verve Talent & Literary Agency.
He lives in Ohio with a Scooby Doo lookalike rescue named Red.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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July 9, 2022Fans of KPB’s prolific novella, SOUR CANDY, need to add this to their collection straight away. The illustrations look almost like movie stills-made me feel like I was getting the movie adaptation I’ve always wanted.
Does not skimp on the gore either
Does not skimp on the gore either
March 8, 2022
A nice, snappy horror comic with an icey paranoid build up. Sure, there isn't anything new here, but it is done quite well.. until the ending, which sort of fudges it. There's also the traditional 'oh no the evil is still here!' epilogue, which here makes little sense.
I like the photorealistic art, and I do wonder if it's based on actual photography, but I can't make my mind up..
3.5 stars
(Picked up a review copy through Edelweiss)
May 23, 2022
I immensely enjoyed the original version of Sour Candy, and I love all of KPB's work in general, so I was very excited to see this get the graphic novel treatment — and friends, this spooky little piece does NOT disappoint!
I think this version and the novella are equally frightening in their own ways, but there's definitely an added element thanks to the disturbing artwork combined with the cute, yet twisted child at the center of the story. I thought this was a fantastic adaptation that didn't miss anything crucial from the original version, and can easily stand on its own if you're unfamiliar with the novella.
Whether you pick up this graphic novel or the novella (I recommend both!), Sour Candy is a modern classic in the indie horror world for good reason, and I strongly suggest it to anyone who wants a fresh twist on the "evil child" theme.
✨ Content warnings for:
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I think this version and the novella are equally frightening in their own ways, but there's definitely an added element thanks to the disturbing artwork combined with the cute, yet twisted child at the center of the story. I thought this was a fantastic adaptation that didn't miss anything crucial from the original version, and can easily stand on its own if you're unfamiliar with the novella.
Whether you pick up this graphic novel or the novella (I recommend both!), Sour Candy is a modern classic in the indie horror world for good reason, and I strongly suggest it to anyone who wants a fresh twist on the "evil child" theme.
✨ Content warnings for:
———
twitter | booktok | bookstagram | blog
August 17, 2022
As a huge fan of Kealan Patrick Burke’s work I was always going to love this. An incredible collaboration with the great John Carpenter. Two horror legends who endlessly inspire me. Jason Felix does the artwork for this and it is bloody brilliant! Gory excellence! Really brought the story to life. Overall, was incredibly impressed. 💀🖤
My review for the actual story can be found on the novella’s review page as I read that long before! :)
My review for the actual story can be found on the novella’s review page as I read that long before! :)
February 11, 2023
Fantastic! Almost as good as KPB's source material (one of the best novellas I've ever read).
February 22, 2022
Thanks so much to Edelweiss and the publisher for this DRC in exchange for an honest review!
Let me start by saying that Sour Candy was already superbly creepy. Burke has an immense talent for taking the mundane, everyday occurrences and transforming them into bone-chilling. Add insanely well-done art to this, and it’s just insane how the tension ratchets upward. This graphic novel is a definite must-purchase for me.
Let me start by saying that Sour Candy was already superbly creepy. Burke has an immense talent for taking the mundane, everyday occurrences and transforming them into bone-chilling. Add insanely well-done art to this, and it’s just insane how the tension ratchets upward. This graphic novel is a definite must-purchase for me.
November 9, 2022
I didn't realize this was an adaptation of a novella until I read the introduction. This is a very disturbing story with photorealistic art that makes creepy even creepier. The story did a great job of building tension and you really felt the despair of the protagonist. The ending confused me, but was still interesting. I've been pretty impressed with the John Carpenter line of comics from Stormking Productions.
June 30, 2024
Starts out as a faithful adaptation but then by the end, goes in it's own generic & derivative direction
February 27, 2022
OK, the big thing that needs to be said with this title is that the creepiness and unexpectedness first comes from it being created by photomontage – you know, one of those photographed newspaper story strips, but done with very very cheap photoshopping, so cigarettes end up either going through someone's front tooth or even their lip, our hero's boss holds a pen as if he's testing his sleight of hand for trying to fool Penn and Teller, and everyone looks stilted, rabbits-in-the-headlights, posing-like-it's-a-thirty-second-exposure kind of fashion.
OK, the big thing that needs to be said is that in the right hands this book would have worked without any spooky, here's-what-the-film-storyboard-looks-like-on-a-budget-of-two-bucks-fifty visuals. It's quite the interesting little, Midwich Daniel/The Omen Cuckoo hybrid, where a bloke is at the store getting some trashy sweets for his girl, who he's chatting to over wireless earbuds – until a bratty kid starts screeching the place down. Outside, he shortly sees the kid's mother walk under a removals van, and suddenly his girl thinks it's months since they quit dating and is with someone else, and the bratty kid says he's our man's child, fostered by him and a previously non-existent wife. Oh, and some otherworldly characters from a different plane of existence start cropping up, too.
Ultimately the book is nowhere near as good as the concept, with an ending that makes little sense and really diminishes what we've seen up to then. I think we'd have been allowed to like our man a bit more if this were a "Twilight Zone" story, but the spirit and ultimately duration of the piece is almost akin to a B/W age episode of that. It's not a horror, more a made-for-TV-movie "horror", but in doing something different manages to be a darned sight better than I remember previous books from this series being. Flawed yes, but with its rare presentation and fine flash of initial idea, it certainly gets three and a half stars as a time-passer.
OK, the big thing that needs to be said is that in the right hands this book would have worked without any spooky, here's-what-the-film-storyboard-looks-like-on-a-budget-of-two-bucks-fifty visuals. It's quite the interesting little, Midwich Daniel/The Omen Cuckoo hybrid, where a bloke is at the store getting some trashy sweets for his girl, who he's chatting to over wireless earbuds – until a bratty kid starts screeching the place down. Outside, he shortly sees the kid's mother walk under a removals van, and suddenly his girl thinks it's months since they quit dating and is with someone else, and the bratty kid says he's our man's child, fostered by him and a previously non-existent wife. Oh, and some otherworldly characters from a different plane of existence start cropping up, too.
Ultimately the book is nowhere near as good as the concept, with an ending that makes little sense and really diminishes what we've seen up to then. I think we'd have been allowed to like our man a bit more if this were a "Twilight Zone" story, but the spirit and ultimately duration of the piece is almost akin to a B/W age episode of that. It's not a horror, more a made-for-TV-movie "horror", but in doing something different manages to be a darned sight better than I remember previous books from this series being. Flawed yes, but with its rare presentation and fine flash of initial idea, it certainly gets three and a half stars as a time-passer.
March 18, 2022
Wow, ok, that happened. Creepy creepy creepy! A classic innocent-looking kid (Adam) that's really some sort of evil entity decides a guy (Phil) that caught his eye in Walmart is going to be his new daddy. You see, Adam's old mom, the woman Adam is at Walmart with, is broken now, and he needs a new parent/sacrifice. Phil's life gets upended, everything changes, and Phil is the only one who remembers how things used to be. Maybe not the most earth-shatteringly original story, but it's well done here; the story tightens up the tension at a steady pace, and Jason Felix's photo-realistic art just adds to the creepiness. I mean, adds a LOT to it. Together, the text and art come together perfectly to make a nicely disturbing reading experience. Also, this is a great reminder that the old adage "don't take candy from strangers" applies to adults too!
March 13, 2022
Sour Candy – 5/5
Kealan Patrick Burke
Every time I read this book I am filled with a sense of dread. This book is genuinely my worst nightmare.
You constantly doubt the main character throughout this book wondering if he is crazy and can't remember his life following his car accident – or is everything that is happening around him real?!
This book gives me the creeps and has 100% creep factor.
Now this being in graphic novel format… wigs me
out even more. Actually seeing Adam is creepier than imagining him. This is most definitely my worst nightmare. The illustrations are perfect and are brilliant at conveying the absurdity of what is happening to Phil. Definitely one I need to keep re-reading!
Kealan Patrick Burke
Every time I read this book I am filled with a sense of dread. This book is genuinely my worst nightmare.
You constantly doubt the main character throughout this book wondering if he is crazy and can't remember his life following his car accident – or is everything that is happening around him real?!
This book gives me the creeps and has 100% creep factor.
Now this being in graphic novel format… wigs me
out even more. Actually seeing Adam is creepier than imagining him. This is most definitely my worst nightmare. The illustrations are perfect and are brilliant at conveying the absurdity of what is happening to Phil. Definitely one I need to keep re-reading!
September 27, 2023
An encounter with a screaming child and a zombie-like mom in Walmart leads to a man's life changing. After witnessing the woman's death - and eating one of the sour candies the kid, Adam, gives him, Phil suddenly finds himself in an alternate life in which he is Adam's father and the only food in the house is sour candies. But there is something wrong with Adam, and Phil will have to fight to escape.
The artwork in this graphic novel was weird, kind of rotoscoped almost? I'm not sure I liked it. I can't remember where I saw this but the first line of the description drew me in. It was a decent horror story, could have had a bit more immediacy and horror, but a fun read.
The artwork in this graphic novel was weird, kind of rotoscoped almost? I'm not sure I liked it. I can't remember where I saw this but the first line of the description drew me in. It was a decent horror story, could have had a bit more immediacy and horror, but a fun read.
March 24, 2024
really good and creepy! the art style is so cool. the author's foreward really shows his love of the genre. i was interested by the small and larger things they changed to make the narrative work as a graphic novel and to make the climax more exciting. i think i found the novella to be a scarier, mainly because we get more of phil's thoughts and terror as things go on, but this was still terrific and really felt like looking at stills of a movie!
December 29, 2022
Loved the novella this is based on. Like this a lot, mostly. The artwork isn't my cup of tea, though; it's deeply in the uncanny valley, where parts of it look almost like photo stills, but just... not.
Overall, still a creepy, weird little story.
Overall, still a creepy, weird little story.
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March 2, 2022
Trigger & Content Warnings
Suicide
Suicide
February 18, 2023
Absolutely stunning art! It really makes the story shines. And what a story! Creepy cosmic horror at its best! A very recommended read!
April 4, 2025
Kids and candy prove to be a dangerous combination.
May 30, 2025
Great idea with amazing art work and a creeping sense of horror. But I just didn't get the ending sadly. Worth the read and hopefully you do better than I did.
November 14, 2022
Solid comic book horror based on a novella by Kealan Patrick Burke. It's about a guy who witnesses a crazy kid and crazier mother freak out in a Wal-Mart. He ends up becoming the kid's new dad when the mother kills herself. The ending isn't as clear as it could have been, with a the evil is still out there ending tacked onto the ending.
The art had a photo realistic style that was hit and miss. Sometimes I enjoyed it and sometimes it was fugly.
The art had a photo realistic style that was hit and miss. Sometimes I enjoyed it and sometimes it was fugly.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews