C.H.U.D. Lives!: A Tribute Anthology edited by Joe Mynhardt, compiled by Eric S. Brown

Crystal Lake Publishing, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-1642550337

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

C.H.U.D., or “Contamination Hazard Urban Disposal,”  more commonly termed by people on the streets as “Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers,” is a cult classic horror film, featuring flesh-eating monsters that call the sewers below New York home. New York police officer Bosch, and Reverend, the manager of a homeless shelter, join forces to investigate the disappearances of the homeless population only to discover cannibalistic monsters devouring anything that moves and mutating those who try to stop them.

This anthology expands the story of the movie with tales of humanity dealing with, or, let’s be honest, being consumed by, these underground dwellers. We are reintroduced to familiar characters like Bosch, the Reverend, and others, as well as meeting a new cast of hapless or up-to-no-good characters. Between those who desperately attempt to get the word out about the danger to the place they call home, and the suits and top brass who are involved in the great governmental cover-up, what’s a city to do?

C.H.U.D Lives! is full of amazing stories. I’ll only highlight my favorites in this review, but I recommend giving this a read to get the full effect of the anthology. “Dog Walker”, by Robert E. Waters, centers on Captain Martin Bosch’s wife, Flora, who is unhappy in her marriage. With a fella on the side, she’s feeling guilty, but not enough to tell her overworked cop husband. She decides to ignore his warnings and takes their dog, Bull, out at night for walkies. What’s the harm in taking little Bull out tonight, just for a bit? She finds out when she gets too close to a manhole. What struck me is that this is actually the opening scene of the film, and the perfect opening to this anthology.

Nick Cato’s “The Dwellers” introduces us to a new hardcore band, The Dwellers, who are playing their first official gig. Tommy couldn’t be more excited, but he faces two problems. The first is his father, who, less than enthused that his son thinks he’s a rock star, needs him to do a job at the warehouse moving some pretty hefty barrels. The other problem is what’s in the barrels. Tommy doesn’t feel so good when he gets on stage later that night. Soon, the packed crowd won’t fare any better.

“Date Night”, by David Robbins, centers on schoolteacher Angela Swinton, who teaches the special needs homeless children in the neighborhood. She braves the street to get to the Anything Goes nightclub to engage in some less than scholarly activities. She picks up Lance, an outwardly brave man who makes it all the way to Angela’s “home away from home” to spend the night with the attractive, yet matronly, teacher. Lance doesn’t know that he is on the syllabus.

Dr. Varlerius Alexkavich discovers new cult activity in Christopher Fulbright and Angeline Hawkes’ “Strange Gods.” The good doctor talks with his student, Karen, who has been attending worship services with a group who revere the strange gods Gog and Magog. When he accepts her invitation to witness her “Purification of the Soul” ceremony, he discovers more than he expected…much more.

In “Step Ate”, by Chad Lutzke, Harlan and Darlena used to be together, but heroin and poor life choices drove them to different lives. Harlan is wracked with guilt for the pain he put her through; she’s still a junkie working the streets for her next fix, while he’s cleaned up and working a regular job. When she turns into a raging, frothing, beast, he may have found a way to make his amends.

“You Will Never Leave Harlan Alive”, by Jonathan Maberry and Eugene Johnson, focuses on the newly minted Sheriff Bosch, working a case in the middle of nowhere. With Deputy Singer at his side, he ventures out to Senator Alvin Joseph’s cabin. There, they meet Lynch, a man claiming to be the senator’s bodyguard, and encounter a gruesome crime scene: the mutilated body of the senator’s driver. Who, or what, did this, and where is that shrill scream coming from? This one is set in 1989, sometime after the end of the film. It’s comforting to know someone made Bosch a sheriff after the ordeal he went through at the end of the movie, but it’s not comforting to know the whole thing had been called “the incident” and all of the evidence was burned and hidden from the public. This is definitely one of the strongest of the stories in this anthology. The authors capture Bosch to the letter, and the tension between the new sheriff and Lynch is palpable.

Other authors who contributed to this incredible anthology include Ryan C. Thomas, Greg Mitchell, Alex Laybourne, Michael H. Hanson, Ben Fisher, Tim Waggoner, Jason White, Mort Castle, David Bernstein, Martin Powell, JG Faherty, and Ross Baxter. There are also interviews with Parnell Hall, C.H.U.D.‘s screenwriter, and the late Andrew Bonime, the film’s producer. The book is dedicated in loving memory to Andrew Bonime, who died before the completion of this project.

Anyone who loves cult classic horror, especially C.H.U.D., will enjoy this book. For readers who haven’t come across this cult classic, check out the trailer from IMDB here (https://tinyurl.com/y8lgohcy).

Contains: blood, cannibalism (please don’t tell me you’re surprised), gore, some body horror

Highly recommended (for die-hard C.H.U.D. fans especially)

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker