Alex Weller’s Reviews > Night Shift > Status Update

At a washateria, Hunton tells Jackson what Gillian told her. Jackson has read about demon-summoning spells, a lot of which involve the blood of a virgin. If Sherry Ouelette is a virgin, her blood may have caused the Mangler to become possessed, even though Hunton doesn't believe it. Somehow, I feel like we already know the answer to that question. This is Stephen King, after all.

Hunton visits Gillian in the hospital, who tells him about the accident with the steam line, along with so many other issues with the Mangler, like bolts falling off and workers' dresses getting caught. But all these issues started after a young worker named Sherry Ouelette cut her finger on a clamp while tightening the feeder belt, then bled all over everything. Sounds ... pretty ominous.

Hunton has managed to forget all about the Mangler until a week later, when Jackson reveals to him that Annette Gillian, a worker at the laundromat who previously testified to the safety bar working properly, has been sent to the hospital for severe burns after a steam line from the Mangler came loose. Even Jackson is starting to think the Mangler is haunted, and Hunton remembers what Martin said about the icebox.

The Mangler is inspected, but nothing is wrong with it at all. Mrs. Frawley's death is ruled as a misadventure, but how she ended up getting caught in the machine still remains a mystery, since the safety bar wasn't faulty. Inspector Roger Martin is spooked by the Mangler, which reminds him of a discarded haunted icebox that lured a dog, a kid, and birds into it, all of whom suffocated. Is the Mangler haunted too?

Hunton tells Jackson about all the damage the Mangler did to Mrs. Frawley, to the point where her remains were carried out in a basket. Hunton and Jackson believe that if Stanner and Bill Gartley, the owner, are found liable for improper maintenance, judging by the sloppy conditions of the laundromat, they could go to jail. Maybe they deserve it. What a horrible way for Mrs. Frawley to die!

At dinner with his friend Mark Jackson, Hunton is unable to eat anything, having lost his appetite at the sight of the accident. He remembers what happened: The worker, Mrs. Frawley, somehow got caught in the Mangler after the safety bar didn't work. Mrs. Frawley was sucked in and reduced to a bloody mess, with bloody pieces of her clothes flying everywhere. But apparently, that wasn't the worst part. Yikes!

Just started reading the fifth story, "The Mangler". Officer Hunton is called into an industrial laundromat to investigate an accident involving an ironer/folder (dubbed "The Mangler") that killed one of the workers. It's so bad that neither the employees nor the foreman wanna go anywhere near the scene. Hunton goes over to the scene himself, and it's so bad that it causes him to throw up. What the hell happened?

Finished "I Am the Doorway"! Seven years have passed. The boy's body has been discovered, and everyone assumed Richard ran off. Arthur now has hooks for hands and has gotten along real fine these past seven years, but is now planning to shoot himself. New eyes are starting to form on his chest. Looks like Arthur has to sacrifice himself to stop the entity. Damn. Overall, great story!

Arthur recounts how he had killed the boy: As the boy passed by Arthur's house, he had been considering calling the Navy Department to have himself studied. As he got lost in thought, the entity took control, made its way to the boy, and blew his head up. It was then that Arthur realized he REALLY has a problem now. You REALLY need to have yourself studied!

Richard returns with his dune buggy and they drive to the burial spot. Richard tries to dig the body up but it's not there. The entity has gained control of Arthur's body while he sleeps, and used him as a vehicle to move the boy's body. Richard doesn't believe Arthur and recommends seeing a doctor, and it's then that Arthur shows Richard his hands. See the truth now, Richard?