(Originally posted on 4/4/2025)

This is a romp, although one of the character’s names, for personal reasons, took a little of the air out of it for me, at first. But, as I kept reading and long before reading the afterward, I did feel as if I were immersed in an 80s horror movie. I kept remarking to myself that it felt like a mix of Phantasm and Hellraiser, with an overall aura of The Prince of Darkness, and the dialogue lends just the right amount of “cheese” to provide that 80’s aesthetic. The only qualms I have are that, at times, it feels a little rushed and disconnected, the transitions coming so fast that I felt a little dizzy, although that would also appear to suit the overall aesthetic. And I had a little trouble imagining the setting in places, never getting a tight grasp on the overall layout of the den. But, having grown up in the desert, the place felt “right,” and I imagine there is something similar existing in some small town off the interstate, unknown to the world. Personally, I would have liked it more if it had been a tad more drawn out, but, again … 80’s movie. All in all, the story smacks. The descriptions are killer and you feel for the protagonists. DEATH CULT delivers as promised, and that kicks it up to a 5.