David Case - And Now The Screaming Starts

[dem bones]

David Case - Fengriffen: A Chilling Tale (Hill & Wang, 1970: Lancer, 1970, 1972)

• Reprinted as Fengriffen & Other Stories with Among The Wolves and Strange Roots (MacDonald, 1971)
  
• Reprinted again - minus the additional stories - as And Now The Screaming Starts: Pan 1973
  
• Reprinted as one of "10 of the world's great short novels of terror and the supernatural" in the Mike Ashley edited The Mammoth Book Of Short Horror Novels (Robinson, 1988)
  

As And Now The Screaming Starts: Pan 1971 (?)

Pervading Evil ...
Unholy Darkness ...

Bewildered and terrified, a young bride finds herself powerless to resist the grotesque horror of an inhuman revenge ... and within the accursed walls of Fengriffen Manor, a cycle of torment, lust and nightmarish dread draws even nearer to its hideous climax.

After the majestic Seeds Of Evil, I felt in the mood for some more gothic romance so Fengriffen was the obvious place to go. I'm not up to a review just now, but the gist of it is this:

Late nineteenth/ early twentieth century. Charles Fengriffen has recently inherited his fathers estate. He and his young bride, Catherine, are very much in love, but from her first day at her new she grows sullen and withdrawn. Concerned that she no longer loves him and even more-so, that her odd behaviour will have dire consequences for their as yet unborn child, he turns to psychiatrist Dr. Pope. Pope learns that there are legends associated with the place, something to do with Charles' grandfather's disgraceful conduct toward a woodsman. Is that why the old fellow's portrait is missing from the gallery?

*************

Franklin Marsh

I recently watched the film after a gap of many, many years and thoroughly enjoyed it. I know it's condemned as boring by quite a few but a good cast (Stephanie Beacham, Ian Ogilvie,Patrick Magee, Herbert Lom and Peter Cushing), a few genuine make-you-jump moments and some (in hindsight) unnecessary gore made this low budget romp (Amicus' only stab at a period horror) very entertaining. Even the good old Amicus hand turned in a sterling performance. Having picked up a copy of the Mammoth Book of Short Horror Novels (because it contained Fengriffen) I was all set to check out the source. The only David Case I had read before was The Hunter which I think is fantastic - possibly the best story from the Pan Horrors. (I' think I have Among The Wolves and The Cell somewhere - must check them out too).

The beginning of the novel was a struggle. It differed from the film and (obviously) went into more detail about Catherine's state of mind - and how it was affected by events. As the end approached, Case's writing really whipped up a tremendous atmosphere and it was the scene of Charles Fengriffen haring off to his family graveyard (in the midst of a storm in the novel) that really took me out of myself for the first time in ages. I think the two sit nicely together - what the film mucks up, the book takes care to explain - where the book can be a little 'difficult' (in terms of archaic language and lack of excitement) the film is rip-roaring. Worth checking out both. (I do wonder how I would have fared with the novel had I not seen the film).

*************

demonik

"Suddenly, from behind the tombstone, a face rushed up at me! A hideous face with hollow eyes and a red smear, running upward from the corner of the mouth to the cheekbone .... a smear the colour of blood as though he had been tearing into raw flesh."

I love the book: the film, I'm not sure, only saw it the once and I was probably disappointed that it couldn't convey anything like the impact of Case's original. It's very different to his other writings at the time and not just because there's no werewolf in it, but the full on Gothic approach really suits him and, as Franklin points out, when he shifts the gears up a notch or ten toward the last quarter, it's .... "unputdownable."

Lancer, 1970

[andydecker]

I love the book, one of the best gothics I ever read.

Recently I bought the Amicus collection and rewatched the movie. Even if a lot appears cheesy today, it still has some nice scenes. Herbert Lom as Hugo Baskerville, ahem, Fengriffen is memorable, and the stomping of the corpse at the end is great.

The Dvd is good, some very interesting commentarys, btw.

Anyone some info on the writer David Case?

[dem bones]

Hi Andy

According to an old issue of Fantasy Tales, after The Cell and Fengriffen he wrote disappeared from the horror scene for the rest of the 'seventies, writing pulp westerns and soft porn novels under a variety of pseudonyms - I'd certainly appreciate more information if anyone can enlighten me? Wolftracks (Tower, 1980) and The Third Grave (Arkham House, 1981) marked a return to the genre and he continues to contributed to anthologies, albeit sporadically (The War is Over in Ramsey Campbell's Fine Frights is nasty and I've heard good things of Pelican Quay).

[alansjf]

Are you aware of Case's last collection, Brotherly Love & Other Tales of Trust and Knowledge (Pumpkin Books, 1999)? It contains 'Brotherly Love', 'The Foreign Bride', 'Ogre of the Cleft', 'Jimmy', 'Anachrona', and 'The Terrestrial Fancy'. It's well worth a read, though admittedly it pales somewhat in comparison to The Cell and Fengriffen.

Also, I recall good things about 'Pelican Cay' from Jones & Sutton's Dark Terrors 5.

[caminoreal]

I've just finished reading this. What a great novel. It's atmospheric, chilling and has a great ending. Much better than the film. I need to read more Case now! Where can I find 'The cell'?

[dem bones]

The Cell & Other Stories (MacDonald, 1969) would probably set you back a few quid now! Fortunately, Herbert Van Thal was a big fan and reprinted it in 11th Pan Book of Horror Stories, following on with another Case masterpiece, The Hunter, which takes up half of Pan Horror 12. Still he wasn't done - if I remember, Fengriffen was the only story from Case's first two horror outings he didn't reprint in the series? The Dead End is in #13, Strange Roots in #14 and Among The Wolves in #15. Neighbours in #19 and A Cross To Bear in #22 were, as far as i'm aware, original to the series.

[caminoreal]

Thank you for your quick reply Dem. I shall wander over to Amazon and see what I can pick up.

[killercrab]

following on with another Case masterpiece, The Hunter, which takes up half of Pan Horror 12. >>

Never really got the allure of this one and I purposely sought it out. Pretty old fashioned in style and maybe a tad long. Why's it a masterpiece?

KC

[franklinmarsh]

Might be a nostalgia thing, Ade. I read it as a youngster and it scared the heck out of me, perhaps because you don't exactly know what the creature is. Read it again when we started and it didn't have the same effect but it did take me back to my youth. It's a heck of a story.

[dem bones]

"Masterpiece" in demonik speak translates as "loved it", "it captured my imagination" or "couldn't put it down". As other "masterpieces" include Vic Crume's The Partridge Family #5: Terror By Night and Pierce Nace's Eat Them Alive!, i really wouldn't put too much significance on anything I have to say about horror lit, KC ...

[killercrab]

That's cool then guys. I should really read some more Richard Case - get on the case if you like - har.

KC

[andydecker]

I love that book. It is really a good read.

Still have Wolftracks unread on the shelf.

[dem bones]

BIZARRE STORIES FROM KENTON WAY

SEXUAL intercourse with a demon, a twisted idea of population control, and the eccentricities of werewolves are the subjects of three stories in a book published by Kenton author Mr. David Case,
The first "Fengriffen," which is also the title of the book, tells the tale of a psychologist summoned by a man to investigate the sanity of his pregnant wife.

Macabre

Mr. Case, who lives at 39, Lindsay Drive takes the reader through the story in straightforward manner but manages to build up tension for the expected climax.
Although questioned, to the reader, the wife's sanity is never in doubt and a macabre tale unfolds involving the demon spirit of a dead woodsman.
The end of the tale is predictable but Mr. Case's style keeps the reader on tenterhooks.
Werewolves are the subject of the second story "Strange Roots" in the book dealing with the research of a scientist into lycanthrope.
Here again the story end is predictable but Mr. Case's simple style uses words and phrases in a way that can thrill the reader.
"Among the Wolves" is the third title in the book. Again the story is easy to follow and deals with research by a naturalist into the relationship between wolves and moose, and the unnatural deaths of a string of old people.
However, the sickening climax, though expected, has to be re read to be believed. That perhaps is the skill of Mr. Case.
Fengriffen and other stories, written by David Case is published by Macdonald at £1.75. C.M

Harrow Observer, 25 May 1971

[andydecker]

May 9, 2021 19:10:44 GMT dem bones said:

The end of the tale is predictable but Mr. Case's style keeps the reader on tenterhooks.
Harrow Observer, 25 May 1971

I highly doubt that. The predictibility when reading this for the first time, not the rest.

Great find! A review of a local writer of horror stories in a newspaper. Those were the days.

[dem bones]

May 9, 2021 22:01:00 GMT andydecker said:

May 9, 2021 19:10:44 GMT dem bones said:

The end of the tale is predictable but Mr. Case's style keeps the reader on tenterhooks.
Harrow Observer, 25 May 1971

I highly doubt that. The predictibility when reading this for the first time, not the rest.

Great find! A review of a local writer of horror stories in a newspaper. Those were the days.

Have recently stumbled upon quite a few vault-interest items in the HO while researching another matter entirely.

WINNER'S WORK WAS A COPY

THE WINNING entry of the Borough Schools' creative writing competition by 15-year-old Maria S_____y, was not her own work.
Maria's story was, aside from cuts, a copy of Rosemary Timperley's "To Keep Him Company", published in 10th Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories.
Maria's version, entitled "The Unwelcome Visitors" was prepared for her first homework of the term beginning in September.

Did not know

Her teacher chose it for entry into the competition during the Spring term.
Maria did not know it had been entered until her headmaster, Mr. A. E. Maloney, of Whitmore High School, told her the day before the award presentation.
Maria attended the presentation with her parents and teacher and spoke briefly to the Harrow Observer reporter who attended.
Maria received the award from Mrs. M. Forcer, its donor, at the Schools Sub-Committee meeting on July 7.
The award, returned to the Education department on Tuesday, will now go to the original runner up, Susannah Hart. Her story is published in this issue.
Maria's father, Mr. Leslie S_____y, told the Observer on Friday.
"It was a genuine mistake. She is only 15 and I don't think what she did was criminal. I punish my kids if they do something wrong but this is difficult. She has broken down and I know it will affect her for the rest of her life. She has already learned her lesson."
He continued: "She is shy. She likes to work things out for herself. She doesn't like to tell us. She is ashamed. I have never seen my daughter so badly affected by anything."
Mr. S_____y said he felt sure his daughter felt she could not "chicken out" of the situation she found herself in.
He added that she had already offered to return the award before anyone mentioned such action. Maria also intended to write apologies to those concerned.
Mr. Maloney confirmed that Maria had only known about the competition, and her winning of it, the day before the presentation.
She had remembered the story from television and found it in a book. She had done the story for homework, he added.

- Harrow Observer, 22 July 1977

one for M. Lapin:

Ghosts and Ghost Hunting was the eerie talk given by Mr. Robert Aichman (sic) at the February meeting of the Stanmore Women's Institute, held in Glebe hall last Monday. Members were relieved that the lighting in the hall was in good working order!

- Harrow Observer, 1st March 1977