Short story collections don’t just gather tales, they map the edges of a writer’s inner thoughts and obsessions. In Midnight Somewhere, Johnny Compton assembles stories that circle themes of grief, the uncanny and the absolutely horrific. Each one reveals a different facet of horror and together, form a mosaic that feels diverse yet cohesive. So, let’s talk about it.
Compton’s Midnight Somewhere is a gripping, finely tuned collection that showcases his versatility and deep understanding of what truly unsettles the human mind. Compton leans away from predictable scares and instead settles his stories in the quieter, insidious anxieties that are universal to the human experience. In this collection, fear is not simply an external threat but a shapeshifting presence: at times supernatural, sometimes internal, yet always deeply personal.
The stories in Midnight Somewhere made me feel a sense of liminality. That eerie moment between what we know and what we do not, between where we think we are going and where we are, between dusk and true nightfall. Compton uses this concept brilliantly, allowing each story to operate in its own space. Even when the horrors do not take center stage, the atmosphere hums with tension. A shadow lingering at the edge of our vision or a memory that feels slightly … wrong. Compton understands that dread is most potent when it begins as a whisper.
One of the strengths of Midnight Somewhere is how each story stands on its own while contributing to the larger tapestry. Compton’s characters are often ordinary people dealing with difficult situations that veer into the uncanny. His stories feel lived-in, shaped by histories we glimpse in small but potent flashes. This emotional specificity gives the horror its weight. When the supernatural appears, it does not feel intrusive, but rather like a manifestation of something that was already brewing within.
Compton’s prose is both accessible and evocative, striking a balance between clarity and lyricism. He has a knack for pacing, either lingering or moving on quickly, leaving the reader to fill in a space with their own imagination. This restraint often makes a story more frightening. The unknown becomes the monster, and the reader becomes complicit in conjuring it.
What is particularly notable about Midnight Somewhere is the variety Compton achieves without sacrificing cohesion. Some stories lead toward psychological, others toward supernatural, and some tread the line between the two with a skill that leaves readers with a sense of uncertainty. There are stories that unfold slowly, like a creeping fog, and others lock into tension immediately, gripping the reader from the first paragraph. Despite the tonal shifts, Compton’s voice stays consistent and compelling.
Of all the stories collected here, three stood out. The first, “The Death Grip Challenge,” is a deeply disturbing take on the dangers of online trends, a much more sinister and dark version than a simple “ice bucket challenge”. “The Death Grip Challenge” exposes the obsession with validation and the addictive shots of adrenaline a flood of attention brings. The scariest part here is the human mind itself.
“Dead Bastards Revival Services” follows two inventors who discover a way to trap souls inside digital vessels and resurrect these souls … in a horrific way. A religious community hires these inventors to bring back a child murderer for reasons. And everything spirals into madness. The story marries the topics of religion and the use of technology into a horrifying picture.
“No Hungry Generations” is a Thanksgiving horror story that I never knew I needed. A family hunts their own game for Thanksgiving and cooks up a rather strange bird? They eat it with urgency and a deep hunger, only to find that there was still a lingering growing need for one specific thing, spoiling any and all other foods for them.
Midnight Somewhere is a journey through the landscape of fear. Compton guides us through the shades of dread without every relying on predictable rhythms or clichés. His horror is thoughtful, deliberately crafted, and attuned to the complexities of the human psyche. Midnight Somewhere is the kind of collection that haunts the reader with ideas that continue to echo in our minds. Fans of horror that prioritize atmosphere and psychological nuance will find much to love here. Compton proves that the most chilling stories are those that illuminate the shadows we carry within us and reminds us that midnight can arrive anywhere, anytime, whether we are ready for it or not.
Johnny Compton is a Stoker Award nominated author whose short stories have appeared in Pseudopod, Strange Horizons, The No Sleep Podcast and several other publications. His fascination with frightening fiction started when he was introduced to the ghost story “The Golden Arm” as a child. He is the author of The Spite House, Devils Kill Devils, and Dead First, as well as the short story collection, Midnight Somewhere.
Images via Blackstone Magazine
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