SMALL TOWN HORROR

Returning to the scene of a nightmarish event that forever changed the course of five close friends' lives should be an experience brimming with tension and fear. But in this production, narrator Joe Hempel's lackluster approach detracts from the urgency at the core of the story. Hempel's slow-paced, straightforward approach to the characters, each of whom deserves more of an individual interpretation and perspective, leads to a rather monotonous listen. The lack of unique voices for the five protagonists is disappointing, especially given that each has their own harrowing memories of the fateful night so many years ago that shaped them into the flawed individuals they are today. L.B. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2024]