BurriedAlive.jpgLittle Evil Things

Frank Macchia & Tracy London

Bite sized Tales of terror to Chill your Bones !

5 CDs

Web: http://www.littleevilthings.com/

 

 

I love horror ! Supernatural tales, werewolves, monsters, strange plot twists and characters you can’t trust. While I adore a great horror film, there is something to be said for mediums which let your own imagination do the work. The horror novel is always good for a rainy night but in today’s hectic world when reading seems to be too time consuming and multimedia is the way to go, the audio book is always a good option. However audio books are only as good as the production, simply reading a book onto a CD is not enough these days.

 

Little Evil Things takes the audio book to the next level, they are not just audio books, but tales which have been enlivened with music, special effects, background sounds and a great presentation. They combine the very best sound technology can offer combined with impressive tales which revive the classic elements of horror storytelling and present it in a modern medium.

 

There are now five CD’s available in the Little Evil Things series and hence there is more than enough to keep you occupied on rainy nights - turn off the lights, turn up the sound and let your mind roam...

 

The stories vary in content, while many would be seen as reasonable for older children (13+), others do cover some marginally adult themes, I wouldn’t think any of the stories is especially “adults only”, except for the unduly puritan among us ! Considering the wild origins of most traditional myths and fairy tales I think these stories should be considered great entertainment for the older child who wants to stimulate their imagination. At the same time, these are not just for kids only, we loved them and we are all rather a bit older ! Little Evil things can be enjoyed by anyone from 13 to 100...

 

let1.pngLittle Evil Things

Volume I

Transformation- Little Evil Thing

The Quiet Child- It's After Me

Parasites

 

The first CD includes five great tales. Transformation offers a man's first-hand experience becoming a werewolf, while in Little Evil Thing a woman gets more than she bargains for when she rescues a strange little creature and we should take care when dealing with the little boy with the power to control minds in The Quiet Child. The man with classic chase nightmares meets with a surprising end in It's After Me! and in Parasites a greedy man gets his just desserts as creatures invade his body. They are all outstanding but I must admit I enjoyed Transformation and Parasites the most, they are all very well presented and will send a shiver down your spine.

 

let2.jpgLittle Evil Things

Volume II

Thing in the Jar - Sisters

It's in the Water - Blubb

 

 

Volume II is even more impressive than the first CD. Jim McDonnell has a great voice which really tickles the backbone ! The Thing in the Jar is a real Pandora’s box tale of a strange jar which unleashes the evil inside to all who open it, while in Sisters, Siamese twins get the surprise of their lives as they attempt to separate.  In It's in the Water, a man's fear of water threatens to destroy him, while in the final classic tale, Blubb, a giant monster made of fat terrorizes Beverly Hills. Volume II continues the same high standard as volume one and will give you some nice scares and dreams which will hang around for quite a while after listening to it...

 

let3.jpgLittle Evil Things

Volume III

Buried Alive-It’s a Boy

Freaked Out-The Dolls

The Potion

 

 

Little Evil Things, Volume III is a real gem with great narration, dramatization and orchestration using the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, never mind the great special effects and mood sounds. I am really impressed with the way these tales balance strong plot with action and gore and yet still are remarkably friendly for younger listeners. Because there are five tales they also to achieve a lot within a short time span, these are good examples of very carefully written and executed storytelling. Buried Alive explores the age old fear of being buried alive and the terror of awakening in a crypt six feet under, while It's a Boy explores what happens when a couple's desire for a child backfires. Freaked Out is set under the big top, step right up and see Zemo's Big Top Freak Show, you will never be the same after. The Dolls explores how a doll collection exacts its revenge on a nasty nephew, while in the Potion, a witch concocts a creepy brew.

 

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Volume IV

Lost- Hazardous to Your Health

Infection - In Your Head

The Violin’s Curse

 

Volume four continues the great success of the earlier series. Personally I think each volume brings something new and offers more and more refinement of the presentation, plot and orchestration. The fact that they are regularly using the Moscow Symphony Orchestra creates background tracks which are textured and layered, even while you are focussing on the tale, the music and sound effects are doing their job ramping up the mood.

 

Volume four again includes five tales, In Lost: A man suffers the tortures of hell in a nightmarish dream - or is it, while in Hazardous to Your Health: 1940's mobster gets hooked on a deadly habit. Infection explores how a man's life gets turned inside out when he discovers a spot on his arm while In Your Head considers whether those gray hairs really are what they appear to be? The final tale The Violin's Curse is the story of how a haunted violin comes to life. These tales again offer the best in traditional horror stories with new and modern twists,  there are all the motifs you would expect in a horror story yet with intelligent plot changes, interesting re-interpretations and unusual endings.

 

let5.jpgLittle Evil Things

Volume V

Whispers in the Attic - The Happy Wanderer

O.S. 666  - Dreamgirl

The Impaler

 

 

Volume five completes the series presently available and again offers five top quality tales. Jim McDonnell once again does the job admirably with his “dark” Tom Baker like narration and the other characters, sound effects and background music are better than ever. Whispers in the Attic offer greetings and salutations from an old friend, while the Happy Wanderer tells the tale of a driver who has lost his way finds a new way home.  In a rather timely tale in this modern world of the internet and computers, O.S. 666 tells the story of a software giant creates the perfect world and in Dreamgirl, an unfaithful husband finds the girl of his dreams. Volume five ends with The Impaler, an ominous tale about the risks of unbridled science as a mysterious creature is cloned from a fossil.

 

Little Evil Things are a superb series, while in the US they were released for Halloween, they are enjoyable anytime of the year. They are beautifully produced and are a classic example of the top class products which can be found by looking outside the box of “Hollywood” releases. They offer superior narration, great orchestration, awesome special sounds effects and storytelling which combines the best in traditional horror motifs with a modern sensibility.

 

Little Evil Things will always be on my music shelf for a rainy night.

 

The Little Evil Things website offers lots of background information on the series and if this review is not enough, it even includes sample mp3 tracks for you to prove to yourself they are worth purchasing. Don’t take my word for it, go to the website (http://www.littleevilthings.com/) and listen for yourself, I am convinced you will end up placing an order in due haste. They can be purchased from the website, on Amazon and via CDBaby.com. There is also a discount pack available of Volumes I,II and III.