I Was a Teenage Slasher – Stephen Graham Jones (Review)

Stephen Graham Jones – the renowned native Texas writer, is a Bram Stoker Award winning author of fine contemporary Horror fiction such as Night of the Mannequins (2020), My Heart is a Chainsaw (2021) and Don’t Fear the Reaper (2023). And his latest novel – I Was a Teenage Slasher – is an ode to the literary Slasher genre he has unquestionably made his name in, while this time crafting a meta-style of storytelling like never before. The story is told retrospectively, as our narrator looks back at events from 1989 that occurred when he was seventeen-years-old.

The time period clearly allows Graham to draw on influences from his own youth, as he regularly plucks names from the pop-culture of the era. Specifically citing Rock musicians such as Motley Crue’s Vince Neil and Tommy Lee, Poison’s Bret Michaels, and bands such as Van Halen. He also references films including Predator (1987) and actors such as Chevvy Chase, while also reminding us of the classic Duck Hunt video game on Nintendo’s original NES console – all helping to really draw us back into the era.

Blending the 80s Slasher genre with the politics of High School social standing, Jones weaves his tale with an air of mystery as our seemingly normal narrator drops bread-crumb hints about what he is about to become. As the reader, we wait patiently as the story unfolds and the action that rocks the small town setting, starts to drop. The journey begins with the narrator and his friend Amber attending a typical high-schoolers house party. A little back-story sets up their place in the hierarchy of their peers, as well as recounting the horrific tale of a recent tragedy.

A tragedy which has gruesome repercussions for the those involved, when a phantom returns for revenge, and we are introduced to the Drill-Bit Killer – starting a chain of events at the party that our narrator reluctantly finds himself in the middle of. From here the book unashamedly pays homage to the Slashers we know and love, commentating on the various tropes and rules that the genre abides by. Written from the prospective of the killer himself, an often reluctant participant and almost certainly an unreliable narrator at times.

Jones explores what it is that makes Slashers such perfect killing machines. Their canny ability to use a range of weapons … knives and chainsaws especially of course. Their ability to enter seemingly locked buildings, to cover substantial ground even when they appear to be walking slowly or merely limping along. Or disappearing when nobody is looking, refusing to stay dead. Jones also explores the actions of those around the killer. Victims making the wrong decisions when trying to escape. Teenagers copulating or frolicking in water during a midnight skinny-dip, and never finishing the killer off when you have him hurt. All warm and cozy conventions that fans of movie series’ such as Halloween or Friday the 13th … know all too well.

Although a Meta exploration of the Slasher genre is certainly nothing new, with Scream writer Kevin Williamson along with director Wes Craven of course laying the foundations of the idea back in 1996 – Jones does indeed provide an alternative and somewhat unique prospective, along with an often tongue-in-cheek tone. Written in a loose and conversational style that often meanders, Jones also provides a number of descriptively gruesome scenes that will keep the gore-hounds happy enough. With each chapter generally finishing on a tantalising note. Teasing what’s to come, just enough to keep you wanting to turn over to that next page each time. KZ

7.5/10

Words by Mark Bates

Kult-Zilla’s – Essential Horror Books – 2024!