C. J. Daley
Thanks to Titan Books for the physical ARC. I liked the original, and was excited for the remake, so I was happy to receive this novelization.
While I have seen multiple sites list this as a novelization, I would have to say that this is perhaps, truly the first “original novel” based on a screenplay that I have ever read. With added scenes, character backgrounds and pasts, character thoughts, and even added details, motivations, and entire scenes. And while that is of course interesting, this one didn’t exactly work for me. Much like the added scenes in the novelization of The Last Jedi novel, when I come to the book version of a story it’s because I want more, not different.
Billy is traumatized during a visit with his grandfather when the man grabs him and tells him Santa punishes the naughty children. And although this is technically something millions of parents actually do tell their children, Billy’s grandfather means something far worse than coal. On the ride home, right after Billy asked his mother if she’s ever been naughty, a man comes and ends his parents’ lives. After years of abuse in a Christian orphanage, Billy finally snaps one night when he’s forced to dress as his biggest fear. Once he has the outfit on, he becomes Santa, and when he sees naughtiness happen right in from of him…well Billy was taught that Santa punishes.
There is an air and style to the author’s voice that did bring to mind King. It has a flow to it that I feel like I rarely see anymore these days. For that, it was enjoyable. And for the parts of this novel that actually followed the script, I really enjoyed them. It was everything else that rubbed me the wrong way.
The killer Santa, Billy’s parents, and Billy’s grandfather all get a much longer explanation than I feel they should. An opening scene, which to be frank is about 15 minutes max, takes up the first 100 pages of the book. The grandfather’s dementia and antics felt very similar to The Rule of Jenny Pen (sans the doll) and I didn’t feel like it added anything other than length. It was almost so drawn out that I felt equally as traumatized as Billy.
His time at the orphanage, which was already bad on screen, is easily quadrupled by the author. Mother Superior goes from a controlling, cruel, and dangerous keeper to a brutal and sexual sadist. Sister Margaret, who I always saw as a motherly protector (at least in desire) is transformed into a devious and pedophilic abuser that sees Billy—as the novel puts it multiple times—as “her man.”
I don’t know if there was further context given from the script/writers, but much of what was added to me seemed to take away from the original thing itself as a whole, and made it less enjoyable. I expected some additional information and thoughts, to see how the characters were taking in the scenes in the movies with insight we would never receive elsewhere, but this is something else. The author took a classic 80s slasher and turned into more of an extreme horror (admittedly not my bag), focusing often on the disgusting.
I really did want to like this more. I even rewatched the movie in preparation of finishing this, and it honestly just made the shortcomings more obvious.
Thanks to Titan Books for the physical ARC. I liked the original, and was excited for the remake, so I was happy to receive this novelization.
While I have seen multiple sites list this as a novelization, I would have to say that this is perhaps, truly the first “original novel” based on a screenplay that I have ever read. With added scenes, character backgrounds and pasts, character thoughts, and even added details, motivations, and entire scenes. And while that is of course interesting, this one didn’t exactly work for me. Much like the added scenes in the novelization of The Last Jedi novel, when I come to the book version of a story it’s because I want more, not different.
Billy is traumatized during a visit with his grandfather when the man grabs him and tells him Santa punishes the naughty children. And although this is technically something millions of parents actually do tell their children, Billy’s grandfather means something far worse than coal. On the ride home, right after Billy asked his mother if she’s ever been naughty, a man comes and ends his parents’ lives. After years of abuse in a Christian orphanage, Billy finally snaps one night when he’s forced to dress as his biggest fear. Once he has the outfit on, he becomes Santa, and when he sees naughtiness happen right in from of him…well Billy was taught that Santa punishes.
There is an air and style to the author’s voice that did bring to mind King. It has a flow to it that I feel like I rarely see anymore these days. For that, it was enjoyable. And for the parts of this novel that actually followed the script, I really enjoyed them. It was everything else that rubbed me the wrong way.
The killer Santa, Billy’s parents, and Billy’s grandfather all get a much longer explanation than I feel they should. An opening scene, which to be frank is about 15 minutes max, takes up the first 100 pages of the book. The grandfather’s dementia and antics felt very similar to The Rule of Jenny Pen (sans the doll) and I didn’t feel like it added anything other than length. It was almost so drawn out that I felt equally as traumatized as Billy.
His time at the orphanage, which was already bad on screen, is easily quadrupled by the author. Mother Superior goes from a controlling, cruel, and dangerous keeper to a brutal and sexual sadist. Sister Margaret, who I always saw as a motherly protector (at least in desire) is transformed into a devious and pedophilic abuser that sees Billy—as the novel puts it multiple times—as “her man.”
I don’t know if there was further context given from the script/writers, but much of what was added to me seemed to take away from the original thing itself as a whole, and made it less enjoyable. I expected some additional information and thoughts, to see how the characters were taking in the scenes in the movies with insight we would never receive elsewhere, but this is something else. The author took a classic 80s slasher and turned into more of an extreme horror (admittedly not my bag), focusing often on the disgusting.
I really did want to like this more. I even rewatched the movie in preparation of finishing this, and it honestly just made the shortcomings more obvious.