Fresh off of his smash hit, “The Only Good Indians,” New York Times best selling author, Stephen Graham Jones returns with a heartfelt homage to horror. Some of Jones’s best childhood memories (as he explains in his acknowledgements section of the novel) were spent at video stores during the glory days of the 80’s horror boom. “My Heart Is A Chainsaw” is a salute to those slashers mixed in with the sub-text of some of the real-life horrors that plague Native American culture. Jones, a Blackfeet Native himself, combines his two loves in this new age slasher story.
Jade Daniels is not just another misfit rebel teen. She has to endure an alcoholic father, a pervy co-worker, and a town that is not giving her any more chances to fit in. Jade copes by drowning herself in her favorite passion, horror films, in particular the sub-genre of slasher productions. Everything in Jade’s life revolves around these films. From consistent internal dialogue to homework assignments, to pulling pranks in school which resemble scenes from these famous films. Once the consistent pressures of the town and the real-life horrors of her home life reach a crescendo, Jade attempts to flee via an unsuccessful suicide attempt. After getting therapy, she returns to a town that very well could be the set of a new serial slasher film. With new wealthy unknown residents invading the town, several locals with shady past, and a too good to be true real life final girl befriending her, Jade attempts to separate fact from fiction and warn the town that cast her out before they all become stew for the slaughter.
Jones opens his own wrist up and pours his heartfelt love all over this book, while admirable, this is not necessarily a good thing. The writing is exemplary though overindulgent. It is as if Jones never wanted the tale to end and never wants the reader to miss a beat. While the consistent slasher film references that litter the novel will have thirsty horror fans drooling, the descriptive narrative is outrageously intemperate. At one point there is a nearly two-page description of items that sit on a desk. Though everything has nearly been done before, Jones gives the reader a fresh plot with a new setting. The town of Proofrock, Idaho and its iconic lake, provide the reader a perfect picturesque community that is ripe for creative chaos. Jade herself is also a fresh protagonist, written with rich sub-text that explores fandom phenomenon as well as touches on social Native American issues. The ending of this novel has received split reviews. While some will enjoy the symphony of slaughter and original yet unexpected ending, others will feel the ending is not worth the lengthy read. If anything, the editors at Saga Press should be held accountable for length of the novel, it is as if they needed to reel in Jones’s love for the genre to make a more concise and freer flowing read. In the end, “My Heart Is A Chainsaw” is a very original, blood soaked, thrill ride, however; some will feel the wait in line is not worth the price of admission.
Scream Score: 8.2/10