The idea behind Night of the Ghoul blends cinema, monster movies, and failed fatherhood together in a narrative that’s quite gripping. That’s paired with art that brings a shock to the system with bold color choices and striking page turns. It’s a series that tantalizes in new ways. Night of the Ghoul #4 is out this week further developing the story on film and the story taking place in very scary old folks home.
Night of the Ghoul #4 opens with a bit of burned film catching the reel and playing more of the classic black and white film. It’s in these scenes we get new information on the monster that haunts the past and the present. Cleverly, writer Scott Snyder adds a bit of moviemaking kitschy scenes–a character pushes herself over out of her wheelchair for an alibi–playing into the old film motif.
Outside of the film, the father gets out of a closet and takes action and his son is also on the move too. Characters are moving around and making progress as they get chased, or fear getting chased, at every moment. The general vibe of the book is tense with a few sight scares thrown in too.
Necrotic flesh is on the menu boys!
Credit: Comixology
Speaking of, the sight scares look great thanks to Francesco Francavilla’s art. The use of purple in one full page splash adds an extra layer of surprise and weirdness to a scene involving the small boy. The final cliffhanger full-page splash may even make you jolt back as you’re reading the book.
When it comes to the visuals of the old film, Francavilla also nails the old school vibe. Rendered in almost black and white, there’s one scene with shadows in the night that casts an ominous look quite well.
The use of color is also inspired, with creepy blues in the young boy set in the rainy night. Meanwhile, the yellows and oranges used inside with the father create an intense look enhancing the anxiety of the moment.
What we have in Night of the Ghoul is a story that plays to the strengths of the genre while playing up tropes of an old monster movie cinema. It’s an experience that adds up to one you can’t get anywhere else. Plus, this might be the scariest issue yet.
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