3.5 stars. Horse buggies, corn (corn everywhere, everywhere corn), the scent of fresh cinnamon buns, crunchy leaves, fairs with livestock contests and pie contests and handicrafts, birdsong, flame-colored maples, roadside stands selling cider. Much like in The Other, Tryon creates a great atmosphere fitting for a horror novel that doesn't seem like a horror novel at first.

It takes a long time to properly get the chills going, probably too long, but once they do it's rewarding. Sunshine and countryside coziness are slowly penetrated by a prickling at the base of your neck, low voices and whispers, things said in glances and between the lines, and flies buzzing around blood.