Now Read This: Mouth (Joshua Hull)

Entertaining and wonderfully constructed, Joshua Hull’s must-read novella “Mouth” is a captivating love letter to classic horror.

A creature waits in the woods in Dillsboro, Indiana, perfectly camouflaged in the surrounding earth, waiting to swallow anyone, animal or human, who strays into its path.

Rusty is a drifter who crosses paths with an eccentric elderly man named Wayne Rogers. After only meeting him once, Rogers leaves him everything — his house, truck, and a pet named Mouth. Rogers dies mysteriously. With no other place to go, Rusty accepts his fate as Mouth’s caretaker, not knowing what Mouth is. Rusty doesn’t realize that his life has just taken a significant turn.

Rusty procures mice by the crateful from the local pet shop. The clerk, Abigail, makes note of Rusty’s odd purchasing habits. She follows him home and sees him feeding a mysterious creature in the woods. Instead of running for her life, she involves herself in Rusty’s situation.

Two outsiders, drifters without direction, become involved in a scenario that sounds straight out of the horror movies they both love.

In the center of it all is Mouth, a mysterious creature with an insatiable appetite for whatever crosses its path.

Joshua Hull’s novella Mouth is brief but brilliant.

It starts witty, comedic, and absurd, then segues into serious territory.

Hull’s characters are unlikely heroes — two misfits and nomads. Abigail and Rusty come from dark places but are determined to face their demons. Hull’s Mouth delivers a message about life with his insightful prose.

His characters are multilayered and well-developed.

Rusty and Abigail are not who they seem at first. Hull peels back the layers to reveal multiple facets. These are characters with chemistry, but not romantic chemistry, and I found that to be a refreshing change.

Although there is a significant age gap between the two, they develop a strong bond. With troubled pasts and a common love of horror movies, their different temperaments make them fit perfectly. Rusty is more cautious, sensitive, and introverted, and Abigail is assertive, adventurous, and shoots from the hip.

Mouth includes some vivid illustrations by Kristofor Harris and eye-catching cover art by Halil Karasu.

This is more than just a monster story; it’s about connections, facing our demons, and starting a brand new day.

Set for release on March 15, Mouth is available to preorder from Tenebrous Press in either softcover format or ebook format. Indiana-based author/screenwriter/filmmaker Joshua Hull’s previously published work includes Underexposed! The 50 Greatest Movies Never Made and Bedtime for Bob, a horror children’s book. He served as co-screenwriter of Glorious (2022), starring Ryan Kwanten and J.K. Simmons.