The Funeral is easily the most enjoyable piece by Matheson I have read. I think a large part of that is the fact that it doesn't take itself seriously. I mean, it's hard to when you have a vampire arguing from out of his casket with a witch who can't help poking fun at his eulogy. Right from the beginning this story was fun. Which is what this story showed me. Monsters can be fun. It reminded me strongly of the movie, Hotel Transylvania. Both approach monsters with the idea that they really aren't that bad, and they're just trying to make their way in the world same as us. This is a refreshing change and works especially well as a way to use monsters as comedy.
At the same time, Silkline certainly doesn't see his position as comedic. He is terrified. To the point that he passes out and misses the fun of the monster fight. And this makes sense. Matheson does an excellent job in the first scene of painting Asper to be intimidating. He is very serious about the funeral and his anger at Silkline thinking it is a joke helps to lend him that air of gravitas. And it is this gravitas that makes the funeral so amusing.
Over all, this short story was a nice departure from what I've come to expect from Matheson, and gave me a bit of interest in reading more of his short stories to see what other gems I could discover. Although it will be hard to beat a vampire fighting at his own funeral.
This was a fun read. I'm glad the piece didn't take itself too seriously and Matheson clearly had fun writing it. It reminded me of the Addams Family. I love gothic comedies. I haven't seen Hotel Transylvania, but it's on my list. I might read through some of Matheson's other work now thanks to this story and I Am Legend.
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ReplyDeleteI've heard that the key of comedy is to make your characters treat a silly situation as life and death. While Mort's life is probably in danger his reaction is so over the top it comes off as funny (that and the fact that we don't really like him). And I was totally thrown by this being a comedy, especially after reading Hell House and I Am Legend. But I guess every author needs to stretch their wings.
ReplyDeleteIt makes you wonder though: what makes horror horror? I'd classify this as a comedy. Do monsters and the grotesque only make horror? Or is it something else? Do magic and swords only make fantasy? Sure it was a fun departure from the world all things horrible, but is this story even horror? If it wasn't matheson writing this, would it be classified as such? I'd say no, personally.
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