Top 20 Horror Novels - #18) Intensity by Dean Koontz (from 1995)

Not only am I ranking my Top 20 Horror Movies for you this October, but I'm doing likewise with the scary books that I hold near and dear.  As with the movies that I'm discussing in that Top 20, I'm not attempting to rank these novels based on their place in pop culture, but rather their place in my heart.  Isn't that sweet?  Seriously, there are some fine books that didn't make the cut here because there just wasn't room, and there are definitely some well-regarded books that didn't make the cut because I don't really like them.  That also means there are some personal favorites of mine on this list that you may not have heard of.  If that's the case, I promise that I'll reward your trust with a gnarly tale if you give one of them a spin.  Finally, I may have shortchanged some of the titans in the genre (hey there, Stephen King) as I didn't want to overload this list with titles by the same author, though Uncle Stevie did manage to score three direct hits on my list.

The list thus far:

#20) Amok by George Fox (from 1980) 
#19) Manstopper by Douglas Borton (from 1988)

Top 20 Horror Novels - #18) Intensity by Dean Koontz (from 1995)
 
Intensity is the perfect title for this razor-sharp thriller that is guaranteed to scare readers senseless.  Koontz weaves a tight web throughout, thrusting readers into one of his most impressive tales and keeping things red hot until a brilliant climax.  This 1995 effort is one of my favorite books by this author and it may be the finest example of his talent; the premise is relatively simple, but the characterizations, the pacing, and (most importantly) the execution are all sensational.  The heroine, one Chyna Shepard, is gutsy and likable, and as she is pushed to her limit and beyond, it becomes easier and easier to root for her.  Edgler Vess, the villain of the piece, is frightening and calculating in equal measures.  Vess is well-drawn, a curious serial killer with an ample dose of humanity who remains scary enough to stand as an embodiment of unadulterated evil.  These engaging characters spend the entire book engaged in a nerve-rattling game of cat and mouse that makes Intensity damn near impossible to put down.  Though I have often lamented Koontz books for failing to deliver the goods in the conclusion, this one features a worthy ending that underscores the quality of the story.  In short, if you're looking for a horror novel that can scare your socks off without any supernatural elements, you can't go wrong with Intensity.

Short Attention Span Review: Manhunter (1986)

Pop quiz, hotshot: what's the best movie with Hannibal Lecter (or is Lecktor?) in it?  If you said Silence of the Lambs, you're in the majority.  If you said Manhunter, you're surely in the minority, but I happen to agree with you.  If you said anything else, you're wrong.  Despite being a little dated (it was the 80s, can you name a good movie from that decade that isn't dated?) and a little rushed at the very end (which is still awesome) Manhunter is a wicked ride.  First off, if it's a Michael Mann movie, it's worthwhile.  This is one of his earlier efforts, but it has the power and charisma of his later work and showcases his unique gift for providing his films with a wealth of atmosphere.  The acting is top-notch, with the gifted William Petersen offering up what is quite possibly his best performance--though his equally compelling work in To Live and Die in L.A. makes that a tough call.  Brian Cox is a fine Hannibal and Dennis Farina is pitch-perfect as Jack Crawford.  Tom Noonan is truly spooky as the conflicted villain, Frances Dollarhyde, a.k.a. "The Tooth Fairy."  Joan Allen makes the most of a smaller part and lends Noonan a major assist in bringing some humanity to a difficult role while a host of other thespians also make worthwhile contributions to the picture.  The pace may be a bit slow for some, but it's all about getting into Will Graham's head as he does his best to get into Dollarhyde's head, all while Hannibal is worming his way deeper into Will's head.  If that makes it all sound overly complex, it's not.  The picture is emotionally charged, easy on the eyes, and very intriguing, all while generating a wealth of suspense and fear.  The frightening aspect of Manhunter is one of its biggest successes, for it does cover some gruesome and scary territory to great effect without ever playing any standard horror genre tricks.  There are no jump scares to release the tension and the music never provides us with any false alarms.  It's frightening because of the subject matter and the powerful direction and performances, not because it benefits from any Hollywood shenanigans.  If you've never seen Manhunter, do yourself a favor and give it a watch--particularly if you're familiar with Hannibal or the books written by Thomas Harris.  You'll have a great time sweating bullets with Will Graham right up until the riveting conclusion, which probably contains the single greatest shot that Michael Mann ever filmed.

Final Grade: A-

William Petersen absolutely slays it as Will Graham.