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When the Devil Climbs
Drake Vaughn, author
After a decade of addiction and criminality, Russ Grote is given an opportunity by his jilted ex-wife, Patty, to reconnect with his son, Tyler. On the day before his scheduled reunion, Russ and his coworkers are attacked by a horde of pigs infected with a mysterious virus. Russ soon finds that on this day a reunion is the the last thing on his mind.
Plot/Idea: 3 out of 10
Originality: 5 out of 10
Prose: 4 out of 10
Character/Execution: 3 out of 10
Overall: 3.75 out of 10
Assessment:
Killer pigs and a truckload of bloodthirsty survivalists aren't enough to save this confusing and surprisingly dull thriller. When a team of ex-cons working to hang billboards along the highway in California's San Joaquin Valley is pinned down by man-eating pigs, tension is quickly dissipated by point-of-view character Russ's frequent and lengthy discourses on his ill-spent criminal past. Due to stereotypical characters, poor plotting, and a predictable ending, a potentially interesting premise fails to pan out.
Date Submitted: June 03, 2016