A Very 80’s Exorcism

In a just world, Grady Hendrix would be seen by all as an up-and-coming horror writer, with big ideas and the writing skills to match.  My Best Friend’s Exorcism is Hendrix’s second novel, published by Quirk in 2016, and takes the reader on a fast-paced, roller coaster ride of suspense and terror that subverts the tropes of the genre while simultaneously celebrating and paying tribute to them.

Hendrix throws us right into the deep end of the world of our high-school protagonist, Abby.  It’s a stressful life she leads, but she has her best friend of the title, Gretchen, to support her and keep her feeling loved and complete.  Then, of course, it all goes wrong. There’s some acid.  A possible sexual assault. Fair-weather friends. Body-building exorcists. And, of course, striving for the salvation of Gretchen’s soul.  Just a regular day, full of drama.

Hendrix sets his tale in the 1980s, so we see through Abby’s eyes as she and Gretchen traverse the colorful landscape, with bright neon colors, big hair, roller discos, frozen yogurt, the Go-Go’s, Phil Collins, and novelty telephones.  The bright setting creates a stark and meaningful contrast to the darkness that overtakes Abby’s life, creating a world that, like the 80’s themselves, seems bright and bold and confident, while hiding a creeping darkness underneath. 

Unlike many horror novels and films featuring teenage protagonists, Hendrix’s characters actually act like teenagers.  They worry about acne, about boyfriends, about school. The indignities of the mall-era teenage job.  And when things go south, some accept it and try to help while others go straight to denial and refuse to believe what’s in front of them.  Any great story depends on its characters, and Hendrix breathes life into Abby, Gretchen, their friends, their parents, and their teachers and administrators.  It’s rare to read a book with high-school aged protagonists that treats adults as flawed and human.  Hendrix populates My Best Friend’s Exorcism with believable characters across the board.

And horror tropes? The author brings a little something for everyone.  Demons?  Check.  Body horror? Check. Paranoia? Check. Mysterious phone calls?  Check. And, since we can’t have an exorcism without bodily fluids, there are plenty of those as well, from suppurating acne to the now-traditional projectile vomit.  Many writers would simply throw these things in a blender and tick off the boxes, but Hendrix’s sly subversion of these tropes makes the reader feel like it’s the first time encountering these types of moments.

Witty, fast-paced and nostalgic while remaining fresh and new, My Best Friend’s Exorcism will take you back to the 80s and beyond into an imaginative, fully realized horror novel that will satisfy the most discerning of genre fans.  5 out of 5 Armchairs.  And a side table, to set your drink on.