Hosted by Jay @ Bibliophilopolis
What is Deal Me In?
“Prey” by Richard Matheson
Card picked: Six of Diamonds
From: I Am Legend, and other stories
Thoughts:
The wooden box resembled a casket. Amelia raised its lid and smiled. It was the ugliest doll she’d ever seen.
The doll is actually a Zuni fetish in the likeness of a fierce warrior named “He Who Kills.” It is a birthday present from Amelia to Arthur, a very nice high school teacher and amateur anthropologist that she’s been dating. The fetish is wrapped in a gold chain which, it’s said, keeps the spirit of He Who Kills inside the doll…or something like that. After Amelia argues on the phone with her over-bearing mother mother and then Arthur, the doll is upended and the chain falls off.
Eighty percent of this story is Amelia battling the fierce seven inch warrior. She spends a good deal of time paralyzed in fear. To be fair, Matheson does a great job of writing action. The story moves at a great pace, never lagging. Amelia does manage to destroy the doll, but the spirit of He Who Kills continues on.
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I’m sure you are aware(?) that this story was one of three featured in 1974(?)’s “Trilogy of Terror”, starring Karen Black in all three Matheson adaptations. “Prey” was by far the best of the three. If you aren’t aware or haven’t seen it, you should find it and watch immediately! 🙂
Despite a great affection for horror anthology movies, I’m not sure I’ve seen Trilogy of Terror. But maybe I have because while reading “Prey” I kept thinking that it would make a great TV episode.
I think you would remember. It’s “pretty unforgettable” 🙂