Book Review

Creepy Creepers Choke Codger

I couldn't not use that review title once I'd thought of it. Kevin Bacon narrates this short story by David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, Spider-man, Panic Room, War of the Worlds etc etc etc) about a retired judge (Herman) who's adrift in the world after his wife has died.

After Herman moves permanently to his lake house, he finds his memories of the place are being slowly choked to death by mile-a-minute, though the way it's described sounds more of some mutant strain. Enraged at the vine, the judge takes matters into his own hands to reclaim the trees, while getting slowly torn apart by the process as the thorns dig in and take root in his psyche.

What follows is the poor guy's descent into madness as he grapples with the big momma vine that's killing the tree he and his late wife planted on their honeymoon. The vine is not willing to go without a fight though, and will seemingly do whatever it takes to stop Herman.

Kevin Bacon, naturally, delivers a stellar performance of this creepy, almost science-fictiony horror tale. Certainly will be on my mind next time I'm weeding the garden, that's for sure!