Amazon.com Review
Following up on the popular success of
Little Evil Things,
Volume I and
Volume II, Frank Macchia and Tracy London serve up a third offering of short subject horror. While some might find the plots derivative, others will embrace these well-worn scenarios as classic slumber party spookouts. The lineup includes the ever-popular circus freaks' rampage, abused dolls bent on revenge, a boiling cauldron of toil and trouble, and the man who was buried alive. "The dirt writhed with worms and maggots ... their slimy bodies wiggling into his eyes, his ears, his mouth." Eeeewww, gross! For kids, or those uninitiated into the realm of terror, these slickly produced stories are an easy listening introduction to the wonderfully dark and diverse genre of horror. (Running time: 1 hour, 1 CD)
--George Laney
--This text refers to the
Audio CD
edition.
Review
I have to say it,
Little Evil Things, Volume II is better than the original. These tales of terror are the adult version of Goosebumps. The blending of the text, music and sound makes this audio mix a frightfully good audio theater. It reminds this critic of Lights Out and Suspense from the classic days of old radio.
Don't wait for Halloween, buy it anytime for a fearful good fright. -- Bennet Pomerantz, Audio World, Fall 1998
Just in time for Halloween celebrations, Little Evil Things is out with Volume II of their Bite-Sized Tales of Terror. More than just a story being read, this volume is a listening experience where the music is actually tailored to the actors' performances much like the score of a film.
In Volume II listeners will discover four brand new tales of terror. The Thing in the Jar is a twenty-minute tale about the evil residing inside a jar. Sisters is a fifteen minute excursion into the horror of sisters who don't get along and what happens when they decide to separate of course, they're Siamese twins. It's In The Water invites you to step into the psyche of a man who fears water for good reason. And finally, Blubb follows the path of a giant glob of fat as it terrorizes Beverly Hills.
As in Volume I, this is a professionally-delivered delight. Lots of fun to listen to on the way home from work after a hard day. It'll remind you that things could definitely be worse. -- David B. Silva, Hellnotes, September 1998
Perfect for Halloween, sleepovers, or an evening of spooky stories around a campfire, this tape features four original creepy stories written specifically for audio, accompanied by original music. The tape is labeled age 13 to adult, but apart from the first story (which deals with adultery), it would also be appropriate for younger fans who like R.L. Stine's Goosebumps and Fear Street books.
The tales are full of gory descriptions, unexpected jolts, and satisfying punch lines, which will especially appeal to boys. The highlight is the final story, Blubb, a gross yet hilarious tale in which the discarded fat sucked out of liposuction patients is struck by lightning and comes to life as a giant Blubber Monster. Nicknamed Blubb, the fat oozes its way through Beverly Hills, Calif., engulfing greedy, spoiled rich people. The story is full of mellifluous wordplay, and narrator Jim McDonnell takes full advantage of it. Like a man eating delectable fruit, McDonnell savors every juicy adjective, lingering over the words and letting them roll off his tongue. He's clearly having a ball, and his performance makes this tape a lot of fun. -- Trudi Miller Rosenblum, Billboard, September 5, 1998
Thanks to Frank Macchia and Tracy London for Volume II of Little Evil Things on both cassette and CD for new tales of fear and terror perfect for your Halloween party! They've reinvented this classic form of entertainment. -- Alan Caruba, Bookviews, September 1998
