There’s a new gun in town and he takes no prisoners.
Horror writer and director Eric Red has introduced us to a genre that up to now, we was unaware existed – yet it’s so logical and works so well, we’re stunned it took us this long to savour the delights of the horror/western crossover.
Four years ago, Eric wrote his novel The Guns of Santa Sangre which brought back fond memories of The Magnificent Seven and Shane, where a beleaguered Mexican village hires three outlaw mercenaries to help them battle a gang of werewolves who have taken over. With that novel, Red wove a vivid tale of lycanthropes fighting against a trio of hardened shootists, armed with silver bullets fashioned from the cross of the local church.
Now, we finally get to read what happens next, as the sequel, The Wolves of El Diablo is published. It takes place exactly one month after the events of the first book, meaning as the book starts – it is again the time of the full moon and The Men Who Walk Like Wolves are back in action with hatred in their hearts, fur on their skin and vengeance on their minds. They’re now led by a true demoness in Azul. A bewitching beauty who is out for revenge on the hombres who killed her brother at Santa Sangre. Yes, it has a familiar Fright Night 2 vibe, but that notion is quickly swept away as our three antiheroes attempt a classic Western train robbery where they hope to steal a fortune in silver. However – Azul and her gang of werewolves have their eyes not only on the same train, but also on tearing out a bloody revenge on Tucker, Fix and Brodie.
What Eric Red has pulled off here is a wild ride that along with The Guns of Santa Sangre, revisits the Western genre with all its tropes and clichés mixes it up with a traditional horror genre monster and somehow cooks up something that is fresh, exciting and exhilarating. As with his previous book White Knuckle, this is a story that is howling to be adapted for the screen, and should be directed by Red himself.
Next year brings the final book in the trilogy, The Claws of Rio Muerta, and this writer, for one can’t wait for the showdown.
THE WOLVES OF EL DIABLO / AUTHOR: ERIC RED / PUBLISHER: SHORT SCARY TALES PUBLICATIONS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
