‘The Clatter Man’ – By Janelle Schiecke (Indie-Horror Review 2025)

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Indie-author Janelle Schiecke has been making quite a name for herself in the Horror scene these past few years. Previously having self-released the novellas Ghost Room (2023) and Death Cult (2024), before delivering what is perhaps her strongest work to date; The Clatter Man. And with her latest novella, Schiecke has served up a real homage to Horror, specifically a number of familiar movies from the 70s, 80s and 90s that all fans of the genre have an affinity with.

From the off, The Clatter Man evokes the feeling of a Cabin in the Woods style Slasher-flick. And following a tease of the supernatural, Schiecke introduces the key characters and set up of the story. She allows us to get to know and sympathise with her heroine Abby – who we suspect may end up being our Final Girl – in a section which is certainly a calm before the impending storm.

The legend of The Clatter Man himself is unquestionably a somewhat familiar one, as Schiecke provides a rich back-story which draws a natural comparison to that of Clive Barker’s Candyman. With both being urban legends who can be conjured into our realm by way of a certain ritual. But the meat and bones of the lore she has developed is fresh, original … and once read, quite frankly unforgettable.

As well as the main story having a Friday The 13th-esq feel to it, the killer also has a certain Jason Vorhees’ type quality to him. But The Clatter Man also borrows from a number of the best, highlighted by the displaying of one of his kills with the imagination of Halloween’s Michael Myers – in the aftermath of what is one of the book’s most memorable scenes.

There is also a strong nod to Wes Craven’s A Nightmare On Elm Street in a later passage, and by bringing together inspiration from all of these key movies and antagonists, Schiecke has created a warm comfort blanket of a Horror story. But she also very much sprinkles over her own magic, creating a deep and textured narrative which at times takes inspiration from the more gothic side of the genre.

With short, sharp chapters that get straight down to business, The Clatter Man is a real page-turner, and a thoroughly enjoyable read. In the killer she has created, there is certainly icon potential. And with this in mind perhaps, Schiecke leaves the tale open-ended enough for a further dive into the world of this gruesome supernatural entity, should she so wish – 8/10 – KZ.

http://www.janelleschiecke.com

Words by Mark T. Bates

Check out our Kult-Zilla series of Horror short stories:

‘The Curious Dark (Vol.1)’

‘The Curious Dark (Vol.1)’ – by Mark T. Bates