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Friend
Paul Conway -- born to brilliance, with a mind that flashes and sparks scientific fireworks. A young genius desperately isolated in a world of theories and formulas few can understand. Until he meets shy and loving Samantha. The friend he never had. The love he only dreamed of.
He loves her so much, he cannot let her go. And when suddenly, tragically, Samantha is lost, he makes a solemn vow -- to use his gifts of genius to keep his beloved Samantha. For just a little while longer....
He loves her so much, he cannot let her go. And when suddenly, tragically, Samantha is lost, he makes a solemn vow -- to use his gifts of genius to keep his beloved Samantha. For just a little while longer....
307 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1985
21 people are currently reading
420 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 20, 2023
No me ha gustado el estilo, pero la historia tiene mucha miga. Os haréis un favor si escucháis la reseña que le hacen en el podcast Vaya Barullo en Innsmouth: pa partirse el eje y reflexionar. Telita.
September 3, 2023
A rather slow-burn by Henstell, which I appreciate, but the story was overshadowed at times by enough melodrama to fill a gothic tome. Our lead, Paul 'Piggy' Conway, is a boy genius, especially when it comes to science and computers, but to say he lacks social skills would be an understatement. At age 13 he has already built a 'pet' robot (BeeBee) and won some prestigious awards while attending a school for the gifted in Boston. Nonetheless, Friend starts with Piggy in a car with his mom (Jeannie) driving to a new college located in Pennsylvania. What gives?
Well, it seems Piggy had an 'accident' in his lab that just happened to fry a classmate to death; one of his main antagonists no less. At about the same time, Piggy's dad announces that he is leaving Jeannie for another woman. Although Piggy did not face criminal charges, the accident made him persona non grata at the gifted academy and the only school that would take him (and give Jeannie a job teaching English) is where they are headed.
Surprising enough, Piggy does make a few friends in the small town of Welling. On his first day of school, he is shown around by 'Slime', one of the few townies to attend Mason Prep; Slime got his nickname because he is the son of the local undertaker (and you know what dead bodies turn into!). Piggy and Slime become buddies as social outcasts often do. Even more surprising for Piggy is his neighbor Samantha (Sam), who, while a few years younger than Piggy, actually treats him and his robot nicely and finds him neat. Sam's father does not like the 'fat brain' next door, however, or his robot, and beats Sam whenever he gets a snootful, which is often.
The basic plot falls rapidly into place, and I will not go beyond the blurb on the backflap to avoid spoilers. We know Sam will die and Piggy will do whatever it takes to bring her back. Henstell gives us a modern-day Frankenstein tale here, but this is no homage to Shelly. I would have liked this more if I did not find the characters so annoying. Piggy may be a genius, but he is a brat without any emotional control and prone to fits that would make a 2 year old proud. I did like Slime and Sam, but Piggy's mom is a flake and most of the secondary characters are small town stereotypes. I think this was turned in to a movie back in the day. 2.5 slow stars, rounding up for GR.
Well, it seems Piggy had an 'accident' in his lab that just happened to fry a classmate to death; one of his main antagonists no less. At about the same time, Piggy's dad announces that he is leaving Jeannie for another woman. Although Piggy did not face criminal charges, the accident made him persona non grata at the gifted academy and the only school that would take him (and give Jeannie a job teaching English) is where they are headed.
Surprising enough, Piggy does make a few friends in the small town of Welling. On his first day of school, he is shown around by 'Slime', one of the few townies to attend Mason Prep; Slime got his nickname because he is the son of the local undertaker (and you know what dead bodies turn into!). Piggy and Slime become buddies as social outcasts often do. Even more surprising for Piggy is his neighbor Samantha (Sam), who, while a few years younger than Piggy, actually treats him and his robot nicely and finds him neat. Sam's father does not like the 'fat brain' next door, however, or his robot, and beats Sam whenever he gets a snootful, which is often.
The basic plot falls rapidly into place, and I will not go beyond the blurb on the backflap to avoid spoilers. We know Sam will die and Piggy will do whatever it takes to bring her back. Henstell gives us a modern-day Frankenstein tale here, but this is no homage to Shelly. I would have liked this more if I did not find the characters so annoying. Piggy may be a genius, but he is a brat without any emotional control and prone to fits that would make a 2 year old proud. I did like Slime and Sam, but Piggy's mom is a flake and most of the secondary characters are small town stereotypes. I think this was turned in to a movie back in the day. 2.5 slow stars, rounding up for GR.
November 29, 2022
"She was a terror! Like a dead person. Like she had come right up out of the grave and walked! … And the fog! That fog could strangle a person!"
My coworkers and I were talking about a movie called Deadly Friend. A little movie from 1986 directed by Wes Craven. There’s a scene where Sam (Kristy Swanson) (the OG Buffy) throws a basketball so hard that it makes someone’s head explode. Like kaboom! It was bizarre as hell in all its epic glory. Then we found out that it was based on a book and here I am.
Actually, I found this gem on my bookshelf and I dived right on in. My husband read it and loved it. I thought I was going to read a horror novel that I would make everyone read but I found out that my husband and I have different tastes in books.
This was actually kind of boring. It was a modern (for 85) book inspired by Frankenstein. Reanimated Sam was the best part but she didn’t make as many appearances as I would have liked. Piggy was the worst character. Talk about someone who loves to toot their own horn. He and Matthew Perry would make great friends.
It took quite some time for me to get into this one. I knew where it was going but it took too long for it to get there. Once Sam took a dirt nap, that’s when it got interesting. Strange things started to happen and a quiet town was rocked by random murders. Now that is more my speed.
Friend was an okay read. The ending was really good and I thought it was different from what we’re used to. I definitely think that the movie was better than the book. The movie was dumb and ridiculous but in a fun way. If you watch it, please don’t expect a masterpiece.
My coworkers and I were talking about a movie called Deadly Friend. A little movie from 1986 directed by Wes Craven. There’s a scene where Sam (Kristy Swanson) (the OG Buffy) throws a basketball so hard that it makes someone’s head explode. Like kaboom! It was bizarre as hell in all its epic glory. Then we found out that it was based on a book and here I am.
Actually, I found this gem on my bookshelf and I dived right on in. My husband read it and loved it. I thought I was going to read a horror novel that I would make everyone read but I found out that my husband and I have different tastes in books.
This was actually kind of boring. It was a modern (for 85) book inspired by Frankenstein. Reanimated Sam was the best part but she didn’t make as many appearances as I would have liked. Piggy was the worst character. Talk about someone who loves to toot their own horn. He and Matthew Perry would make great friends.
It took quite some time for me to get into this one. I knew where it was going but it took too long for it to get there. Once Sam took a dirt nap, that’s when it got interesting. Strange things started to happen and a quiet town was rocked by random murders. Now that is more my speed.
Friend was an okay read. The ending was really good and I thought it was different from what we’re used to. I definitely think that the movie was better than the book. The movie was dumb and ridiculous but in a fun way. If you watch it, please don’t expect a masterpiece.
October 5, 2021
Wow, Friend became an instant favorite.
Friend is a tragic story about a genius boy who brings his friend back to life after their tragic murder. It’s essentially a modern day Frankenstein, and it’s horrifying.
Author Diana Henstell created a haunting tale of loneliness, friendship, and love. The story is drenched with dread and atmosphere, and Henstell’s ability to create such vivid imagery made many scenes terrifying to read.
The story is a slow burn that allows you to really connect with the characters and empathize with them when things go wrong. The build up has an incredibly shocking payoff.
I highly recommend this one, especially for fans of old school 80s horror.
Friend is a tragic story about a genius boy who brings his friend back to life after their tragic murder. It’s essentially a modern day Frankenstein, and it’s horrifying.
Author Diana Henstell created a haunting tale of loneliness, friendship, and love. The story is drenched with dread and atmosphere, and Henstell’s ability to create such vivid imagery made many scenes terrifying to read.
The story is a slow burn that allows you to really connect with the characters and empathize with them when things go wrong. The build up has an incredibly shocking payoff.
I highly recommend this one, especially for fans of old school 80s horror.
February 28, 2023
*3,5 estrellas.
August 9, 2020
The writing is excellent but this story took forever to go anywhere
June 8, 2018
I should not have finished this book. I resolved to myself not to read bad books, so what do I do? Keep plodding through this doorstop to the end.
I rented "Deadly Friend" on Netflix and was surprised to find that it was based on a novel. I thought "a story about a robot AND a Frankenstein girl? Yes, please." But no, I should have stopped there. It's an idea that better rests in the mind than in tangible form. It is so overwritten it's obviously trying to stand on the same pedestal as the Stephen King mass market paperback thrillers of 1985 (it's even got alcoholism and a small New England town). And it's just as overwritten. SO overwritten. Every thought a character has, every nuance of movement, every past detail is rehashed, sometimes six or seven times. As if the reader is too stupid and needs a review every POV switch.
In the book, the robot is a lot less "Johnny Five" and more "1980's robot" from the Muppets. It doesn't even talk. And its creator is a twelve-year-old kid who brings it everywhere he goes -- to school, the grocery store -- like it's his security blanket. It's no retelling of Frankenstein and it's no thriller. It's slow, it's stupid, and it ain't got no style. Not a single character is likable, least of all the main one. His mother should be taking him to therapy, not to a genius academy. His mother calls him "Piggy" for chrissakes. The science is appalling, the dialogue is cheesy. It makes one wonder how this idea passed muster in the agent's room.
I rented "Deadly Friend" on Netflix and was surprised to find that it was based on a novel. I thought "a story about a robot AND a Frankenstein girl? Yes, please." But no, I should have stopped there. It's an idea that better rests in the mind than in tangible form. It is so overwritten it's obviously trying to stand on the same pedestal as the Stephen King mass market paperback thrillers of 1985 (it's even got alcoholism and a small New England town). And it's just as overwritten. SO overwritten. Every thought a character has, every nuance of movement, every past detail is rehashed, sometimes six or seven times. As if the reader is too stupid and needs a review every POV switch.
In the book, the robot is a lot less "Johnny Five" and more "1980's robot" from the Muppets. It doesn't even talk. And its creator is a twelve-year-old kid who brings it everywhere he goes -- to school, the grocery store -- like it's his security blanket. It's no retelling of Frankenstein and it's no thriller. It's slow, it's stupid, and it ain't got no style. Not a single character is likable, least of all the main one. His mother should be taking him to therapy, not to a genius academy. His mother calls him "Piggy" for chrissakes. The science is appalling, the dialogue is cheesy. It makes one wonder how this idea passed muster in the agent's room.
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July 17, 2019this kid would be a MRA today
August 4, 2012
Paul Conway -- nicknamed Piggy -- is an genius adolescent who has moved with his mother away from Boston in part because of problems with Piggy's behavior. Piggy is troubled by that and by his parents' divorce, and he finds it difficult to fit into small town life. He makes two friends and he has a friend he created -- a small robot. One human friend is his neighbor Samantha whom he can't bear to lose. He uses all his skills to keep her with him, which is what the horror aspect of the novel revolves around.
It's a little difficult for me to rate this book because I didn't realize from the back cover description that I'd be reading about an adolescent. I thought the book was a horror/suspense story about a young man who'd had a troubled childhood and then fell in love as an adult. So I wasn't quite ready to read about someone struggling not only with first love and loss, but also with fitting in to a new school and making the transition toward adulthood. There's nothing wrong with a book like that, I just wasn't in the frame of mind to read one when I started reading Friend. As it turns out, though, I liked that part of the book better than the horror aspects of it. Once it turned more toward horror, I found the plot a bit too hard to believe, which took me out of the story.
As to characterization, I sympathized with Paul/Piggy early on, but he pushes his best friend so far that I had trouble continuing to cheer for him. At the same time, I did feel bad for Piggy, and that almost became too painful.
I liked the writing itself and I kept reading to find out what happened, but I don't think I will read anything else by this author. That being said, someone with slightly different tastes, and who knew the book was about an adolescent protagonist from the outset, might like it very much.
It's a little difficult for me to rate this book because I didn't realize from the back cover description that I'd be reading about an adolescent. I thought the book was a horror/suspense story about a young man who'd had a troubled childhood and then fell in love as an adult. So I wasn't quite ready to read about someone struggling not only with first love and loss, but also with fitting in to a new school and making the transition toward adulthood. There's nothing wrong with a book like that, I just wasn't in the frame of mind to read one when I started reading Friend. As it turns out, though, I liked that part of the book better than the horror aspects of it. Once it turned more toward horror, I found the plot a bit too hard to believe, which took me out of the story.
As to characterization, I sympathized with Paul/Piggy early on, but he pushes his best friend so far that I had trouble continuing to cheer for him. At the same time, I did feel bad for Piggy, and that almost became too painful.
I liked the writing itself and I kept reading to find out what happened, but I don't think I will read anything else by this author. That being said, someone with slightly different tastes, and who knew the book was about an adolescent protagonist from the outset, might like it very much.
August 13, 2017
the only character in the book you don't hate with white-hot fiery rage is a little girl who gets killed.
reading this, one can see the skeletal elements of wes craven's '86 film, but it's only the very most basic elements that were taken: kid and his mom move to a new town, kid's a genius with a robot, girl next door is cute, she dies, robot's brain gets put in girl, murder ensues.
in henstell's novel, paul is a horrible little boy who's terribly smart, but also terribly irritating and self-important. he's generally put-upon by most who meet him, and you can kind of understand why. the fact that he ends up with two friends in the course of the novel is rather baffling. his mother's ridiculously in her own head, and essentially, nobody in friend is willing to actively do anything. it's 100% reactive to things, and it makes the plot plod and drag.
maybe only for the very curious fan of the film. definitely not for the casual sci-fi horror fan, as it's nasty and mean, and not in the titillatingly fun way. just got watch the movie.
reading this, one can see the skeletal elements of wes craven's '86 film, but it's only the very most basic elements that were taken: kid and his mom move to a new town, kid's a genius with a robot, girl next door is cute, she dies, robot's brain gets put in girl, murder ensues.
in henstell's novel, paul is a horrible little boy who's terribly smart, but also terribly irritating and self-important. he's generally put-upon by most who meet him, and you can kind of understand why. the fact that he ends up with two friends in the course of the novel is rather baffling. his mother's ridiculously in her own head, and essentially, nobody in friend is willing to actively do anything. it's 100% reactive to things, and it makes the plot plod and drag.
maybe only for the very curious fan of the film. definitely not for the casual sci-fi horror fan, as it's nasty and mean, and not in the titillatingly fun way. just got watch the movie.
July 17, 2021
No empieza mal, bien escrito y con una premisa que puede ser interesante, pero relativamente pronto comienza a hacerse algo pesado de leer.
Demasiado detallado, sobran diálogos y situaciones insustanciales que no hacen sino machacar una y otra vez una idea que se pilla rápidamente: que al niño protagonista, por muy genio que sea, le habrían hecho falta, como se decía antes de que fuera políticamente incorrecto insinuarlo, un par de "galletas" bien dadas a manos llenas. Es el personaje culmen entre un elenco en lo que tampoco sobran aquellos con los que se podría simpatizar, pues parece que todos los habitantes del pueblo están de permanente mal humor.
Apunta Goodreads que el libro tiene 323 páginas, pero se me ha hecho con si tuviera 100 o 150 más al menos.
Demasiado detallado, sobran diálogos y situaciones insustanciales que no hacen sino machacar una y otra vez una idea que se pilla rápidamente: que al niño protagonista, por muy genio que sea, le habrían hecho falta, como se decía antes de que fuera políticamente incorrecto insinuarlo, un par de "galletas" bien dadas a manos llenas. Es el personaje culmen entre un elenco en lo que tampoco sobran aquellos con los que se podría simpatizar, pues parece que todos los habitantes del pueblo están de permanente mal humor.
Apunta Goodreads que el libro tiene 323 páginas, pero se me ha hecho con si tuviera 100 o 150 más al menos.
September 11, 2023
Hey even if I don't have the novel, I do know how much I hate it...DAMN is it horrendous?! Such a wasted potential, it's just crap! I get that it was supposed to be a Dark Love story, b-but the fact that's so sad to read, it's so bad something like, lazy ideas like this! Because we don't even know how Paul can create stupid robots that never listen to their owners. And Samantha is supposed to go to hell, after getting killed by Paul like he had no choice, I don't get it! Paul would've kept his crush had he was told to kill her, and heck, I never knew the text of the ending. It's a great idea, and great story, but such a wasted potential!
Also fun fact, I made 2 stories of my own based on this, which are, basically crossovers with other characters in the story...Yeah, I'll end this.
Also fun fact, I made 2 stories of my own based on this, which are, basically crossovers with other characters in the story...Yeah, I'll end this.
June 7, 2022
It starts out like a Judy Blume book but descends into a warped riff on Frankenstein. The through-line of not being able to overcome grief feels like a better version of the A24-type emotional horror, more fully realized and depressing. It’s more dread than anything. You know the kid can’t get out scot-free, but you don’t want any other alternative to happen, so you’re stuck seeing things get progressively worse and worse. I can see why Wes Craven was so interested in this, it’s genuinely disturbing stuff!
July 31, 2024
Lo leí cuando tuve unos 12 años por primera vez y no me gustó, porque no comprendí bien qué contaba, sobre todo, el final. ¿Por qué hizo lo que hizo el protagonista en el final? ¿Y por qué dijo lo que dijo si no me lo parecía?; pero decidí releerlo durante la pandemia y ¡qué bueno para pasar el rato, para que el tiempo vuele! Es decir, me resultó muy entretenido y eso en una novela de terror, mucho más en la actualidad, es toda una sorpresa. Y el final, y lo que decía, pues bien, admito que no es nada original, pero es lo mejor.
Por cierto, la adaptación cinematográfica fue penosa.
Por cierto, la adaptación cinematográfica fue penosa.
June 29, 2018
Where has this book been all my life? OMG I loved it. Great story, characters, and you WILL care about them. Has suspense, some gore, humor, and tragedy. Highly recommended!
December 8, 2022
I didn’t love it. Ending sucks.
March 2, 2024
I was not expecting that ending...this book was really good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2012
Though I'm sure to upset some authors and publishers who, understandably, want five-star reviews, I've my own definition of the five-star system.
*One Star: A crime against God and man.
*Two Stars: Poor, or otherwise not ready for publication.
*Three Stars: A solid work worth the money/read.
*Four Stars: A superior, award-worthy achievement.
*Five Stars: A standard setter, a work to stand the test of time, a work to be studied and read again and again....
"Friend," or "Deadly Friend," by Diana Henstell.
Sound familiar? Prob-a-ly. It is the underrated film by Wes Craven, a movie that's not nearly as appreciated as it should be. But first it was a book, a wonderful modern-day Frankenstein story that's a suspenseful, sensitive, and ultimately, tragic tale. I remember it reading many years ago, and loving it.
Today it's available on Amazon, and available for the Kindle for just under a dollar, which is all but a steal, and more than reason enough to get.
Remember: New titles are so writers can make a living (yeah, I know ... don't laugh at me), used books are so they can be immortal.
All my best,
Rob M. Miller
P.S. I know the above review is kind of anemic. Earlier today I watched the film "Deadly Friend" with a family member who'd never seen it and got reminded of the book. As a writer, I'm always a reader first, and with the constant flood of new titles coming out, it's easy to exclusively give attention to the always-enormous slush- and to-be-read-pile. Then again, there's these gems, titles released many years ago. In this case, "Friend" came out in 1985, the year before I enlisted in the U.S. Army. Why's that relevant? Because as I write this, on the Day of our Lord, October 13th, 2012, some 27-years later, I still have vivid memories from this simple, well-written page turner. To have that kind of staying power with a story, for it to mark itself in a person's mind for the better part of three decades, is an accomplishment that every author of fiction hopes for, and which, often, does not happen.
To the author, Ms. Diana Henstell, I salute you. With "Friend," you hit one outta the park. How far? To date, about 27-years!
*One Star: A crime against God and man.
*Two Stars: Poor, or otherwise not ready for publication.
*Three Stars: A solid work worth the money/read.
*Four Stars: A superior, award-worthy achievement.
*Five Stars: A standard setter, a work to stand the test of time, a work to be studied and read again and again....
"Friend," or "Deadly Friend," by Diana Henstell.
Sound familiar? Prob-a-ly. It is the underrated film by Wes Craven, a movie that's not nearly as appreciated as it should be. But first it was a book, a wonderful modern-day Frankenstein story that's a suspenseful, sensitive, and ultimately, tragic tale. I remember it reading many years ago, and loving it.
Today it's available on Amazon, and available for the Kindle for just under a dollar, which is all but a steal, and more than reason enough to get.
Remember: New titles are so writers can make a living (yeah, I know ... don't laugh at me), used books are so they can be immortal.
All my best,
Rob M. Miller
P.S. I know the above review is kind of anemic. Earlier today I watched the film "Deadly Friend" with a family member who'd never seen it and got reminded of the book. As a writer, I'm always a reader first, and with the constant flood of new titles coming out, it's easy to exclusively give attention to the always-enormous slush- and to-be-read-pile. Then again, there's these gems, titles released many years ago. In this case, "Friend" came out in 1985, the year before I enlisted in the U.S. Army. Why's that relevant? Because as I write this, on the Day of our Lord, October 13th, 2012, some 27-years later, I still have vivid memories from this simple, well-written page turner. To have that kind of staying power with a story, for it to mark itself in a person's mind for the better part of three decades, is an accomplishment that every author of fiction hopes for, and which, often, does not happen.
To the author, Ms. Diana Henstell, I salute you. With "Friend," you hit one outta the park. How far? To date, about 27-years!
February 21, 2017
I remember this awful movie from the mid-80s. Poor Wes Craven was forced to make ridiculous changes to please the producers, but I found one of those lists online: Terrible Movies Made From Good Books. This was on it so I thought I'd give it a go.
I was bored by chapter 3 and gave up.
I was bored by chapter 3 and gave up.
August 29, 2016
Preferring the original title over it being packaged as 'Deadly Friend' (after the Wes Craven directed, studio butchered movie 'inspired by' the novel), I wonder if I can talk about the book without talking about the unintentionally hilarious movie that it inspired that featured Kristie Swanson as a robot zombie...
Friend is a hard book to read. It's an attempt on a modern retelling of Frankenstein incorporating youth aspects of infatuation, love, domestic abuse, technology, divorce, loneliness, and myriad other themes that weave in and out. Sometimes it's so creepy as to make the reader question the tonality of the rest of the novel. Sometimes it's obvious that the author would rather be writing the book from a more familiar perspective (the mother of the main protagonist). The author's love of Mary Shelley's finest work is very clear at the end. The author's sincerity in wanting to tell the story about a touching friendship is very clear. The author's inexperience in putting a whole book together is also very clear - but every author has a first novel.
It's impressive that anyone chose to make a screenplay out of this book. It's unfortunately that 'A Nightmare of Elm Street' caused the studio's to 'tweak' the resulting film into the hilarious mess it became... but honestly a film capturing the true spirit of 'Friend' would not be some campy movie for teenagers. It would be sad, tragic, uncomfortable, and hard to watch in places.
Friend is a hard book to read. It's an attempt on a modern retelling of Frankenstein incorporating youth aspects of infatuation, love, domestic abuse, technology, divorce, loneliness, and myriad other themes that weave in and out. Sometimes it's so creepy as to make the reader question the tonality of the rest of the novel. Sometimes it's obvious that the author would rather be writing the book from a more familiar perspective (the mother of the main protagonist). The author's love of Mary Shelley's finest work is very clear at the end. The author's sincerity in wanting to tell the story about a touching friendship is very clear. The author's inexperience in putting a whole book together is also very clear - but every author has a first novel.
It's impressive that anyone chose to make a screenplay out of this book. It's unfortunately that 'A Nightmare of Elm Street' caused the studio's to 'tweak' the resulting film into the hilarious mess it became... but honestly a film capturing the true spirit of 'Friend' would not be some campy movie for teenagers. It would be sad, tragic, uncomfortable, and hard to watch in places.
January 14, 2016
No doubt, many folks will likely recognize the title from its infamous 1986 film adaptation - which, while memorable in some regards, hardly did the original story any justice.
While Deadly Friend can be described as a modern day Frankenstein, it is at its core, a tragic love story. While the premise is much the same as the film version, there are several differences - most notably, the younger characters, which makes us feel all the more for them - especially Samantha.
While Diana Henstell's original story did not have some of the gruesome scenes that were added in the film, it invokes plenty of suspense - often in the form of protagonist Paul's own paranoia, which manifests as nightmares and hallucinations.
Needless to say, the climax and ending were far more powerful than the film version. While it might be easy to see Samantha as the titular abomination, after reading the book, I cannot help but ponder: Who was the REAL monster?
While Deadly Friend can be described as a modern day Frankenstein, it is at its core, a tragic love story. While the premise is much the same as the film version, there are several differences - most notably, the younger characters, which makes us feel all the more for them - especially Samantha.
While Diana Henstell's original story did not have some of the gruesome scenes that were added in the film, it invokes plenty of suspense - often in the form of protagonist Paul's own paranoia, which manifests as nightmares and hallucinations.
Needless to say, the climax and ending were far more powerful than the film version. While it might be easy to see Samantha as the titular abomination, after reading the book, I cannot help but ponder: Who was the REAL monster?
March 23, 2011
I wanted to read this because I had seen the film version, "Deadly Friend." Well, now my curiosity is satisfied, and I only finished the book to see how closely it followed the movie. I couldn't have tolerated much more of the author's purple prose and totally predictable plot.
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December 4, 2008She wrote it well such an extraordinary image .. the story goes to the Genius a student and his entire life, puppy love, inventions, compulsions, traditions..
May 28, 2009
I saw the movie "Deadly Friend" and had to read the book it was based off of. I liked it!
May 2, 2012
Wonderful darkly romantic retelling of Frankenstein. I will always feel some disgruntlement with Wes Craven for turning the story into the awful film Deadly Friend.
July 5, 2014
Excellent book that I read when I was young. Made into a nice movie but it never worked as well as the book or recreated that magic. Still one of my all-time favorite stories.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews