Somewhere Quiet, Full of Light by Henry Corrigan. The Haunting Weight of Perfection

The Haunting Weight of Perfection: A Review of Henry Corrigan’s Somewhere Quiet, Full of Light

Henry Corrigan’s Somewhere Quiet, Full of Light (Slashic Horror Press, May 2025) is a masterful and chilling novella that reinvents the haunted house trope by giving the house a distinct, terrifying personality and a sinister agenda. At a lean 123 pages, Corrigan weaves an intimate yet epic tale exploring familial love, the crushing burden of societal expectations, and the insidious nature of inherited trauma, all enveloped in genuinely unsettling supernatural horror.

“For this house has standards it lives by, expectations which must be met.” 

The story begins with a simple premise that quickly unfolds into a chilling tale. Eric Tillman, a struggling artist desperate to create a stable life for his two daughters, believes his prayers have been answered when his husband, Mike, an enthusiastic house-flipper, uncovers a grand but decaying mansion in upstate New York.

For Eric, this is a chance to escape poverty and provide a haven for his responsible, honour-roll daughter Emily and his adventurous, sword-wielding eight-year-old Iris. Mike, meanwhile, is captivated by the house’s potential as a thrilling restoration project. But their excitement soon turns to dread. The house, abandoned for seventy years after the mysterious death of the Miller family, is far from lifeless. It harbours deep resentment, enforces rigid “standards,” and demands perfection from its occupants.

As Mike becomes increasingly obsessed with restoring forgotten paintings and furniture with an unsettling fervour, Eric stands as the sole voice of reason, sensing the dark forces creeping into their lives. His efforts to protect his family or flee only strengthen the house’s malevolent grip, leading them down a relentless path between perfection and salvation, where some doors open only to ruin.

Corrigan’s boldest and most effective stroke is the narrative perspective. The story alternates between Eric’s increasingly desperate, first-person account and the chilling, possessive voice of the house itself. This isn’t a mere haunted location with ghostly whispers; this entity is a fully realized character – narcissistic, manipulative, patriarchal/matriarchal in its demented rigidity and harbouring a profound rage at being abandoned.

It views the Tillman family not as people but as possessions to be moulded, disciplined, and ultimately consumed if they fail to meet its exacting, impossible standards. The house’s narration, revealed early on but no less jarring for it, provides a unique and deeply unsettling insight into its motivations: a refusal to be forsaken again and a determination to inflict its warped ideals of order and perfection on its new “family”.

Beneath the visceral horror lies a potent exploration of profound themes:

The Tyranny of Perfection: The house embodies the crushing pressure of societal and internalized expectations – the perfect home, family, and behaviour. Its “standards” become a metaphor for the unattainable ideals that can fracture relationships and destroy individuals, particularly those, like Eric, burdened by past poverty and striving for security.

Family Dynamics Under Duress: Corrigan excels at quickly sketching believable, loving family bonds – the warmth between Eric and Mike, Eric’s deep love for his distinct daughters – only to show them fraying under supernatural pressure. Mike’s transformation from a loving partner to the house’s zealous acolyte is heartbreaking and terrifying. The tension between the fathers becomes a central source of dread, mirroring real-world familial conflicts amplified to horrific proportions.

Trauma and Systemic Oppression: The house’s history and its targeting of the queer family (Eric and Mike) and the vulnerable (the children) suggest deeper layers. It can be read as a manifestation of generational trauma, systemic oppression, or the predatory nature of inherited power structures demanding conformity. The house’s anger at abandonment and its need to control reflect toxic cycles that are difficult to escape.

The Illusion of Sanctuary: The core horror stems from violating the one place meant to be safe – the home. Corrigan masterfully twists the domestic ideal into a claustrophobic prison, questioning the very concept of safety and the potential darkness lurking within the walls we build.

Corrigan’s writing really draws you in and creates a vivid atmosphere. He starts with a sense of almost idyllic hope that gradually transforms into unease and eventually full-blown terror. The way he describes the decaying house, the eerie recovered artifacts, and the changing behavior of its inhabitants is incredibly detailed and impactful.

The pacing builds nicely, transitioning smoothly from a heartwarming beginning to a tragic conclusion. The tension ramps up continuously, reflecting Eric’s increasing panic and the house’s tightening grip on him. Some reviewers mentioned that the climax and resolution felt a bit rushed compared to the slow-building character development, but overall, the story leaves a powerful emotional impact. The ending is definitely thought-provoking and a bit bleak, which makes it stick with you, even if some readers might wish for a little more closure.

Even though the novella is short, the characters are well-developed and memorable. At its heart, the story revolves around Eric’s love for his family and his journey from hopeful to determined in the face of fear. His background as an artist adds a nice touch, allowing him to sense the house’s dangers early on. Mike’s shift in character is particularly unsettling because we start out seeing his love and enthusiasm. Emily and Iris aren’t just there to move the plot along; their unique personalities—Emily’s quiet anxiety and Iris’s spirited defiance—make the threats they face feel all the more real and raise the stakes in a significant way.

Somewhere Quiet, Full of Light is a remarkable addition to the world of queer horror. It features a loving gay couple and their children, allowing Corrigan to delve into themes like family life, protection, and the pressures of society. While it tackles some intense topics—like possession and the loss of personal freedom—it does so in a way that resonates universally. Rather than relying on stereotypes, it highlights the shared vulnerability of families when facing an age-old, relentless evil. It’s a story that invites everyone to explore the deeper fears and challenges we all encounter.

Henry Corrigan has created a wonderfully intriguing novella with *Somewhere Quiet, Full of Light*. It’s a captivating blend of psychological and supernatural horror that truly delivers, combining emotional depth with genuine chills. The unique narrative perspective of the house adds a fascinating layer, and the eerie atmosphere of creeping dread sets the stage perfectly. The characters are well-developed, making the exploration of significant themes all the more impactful. This isn’t just your typical scary story; it’s an unforgettable journey that sticks with you long after you’ve finished reading. Intelligent and emotionally resonant, Henry Corrigan stands out as a fresh voice in modern horror. Just a heads-up: this quiet house reveals some pretty dark and intriguing truths!

Somewhere Quiet, Full of Light by Henry Corrigan

Perfection has its price.

Eric Tillman is looking for a way out. Born into a poor family, the once starving artist has spent his life dreaming of a home where his kids could escape screaming landlords and the sting of poverty. So, when his husband Mike, a house-flipper with a jeweller’s eye for abandoned places, discovers a strange, but exciting old house in upstate New York, it feels like the perfect answer to all their prayers.

But once the family moves in, it isn’t long before Eric learns that some chances are too costly to take. For this house has standards it lives by, expectations which must be met. And on the long, relentless road between perfection and salvation…

some doors lead only to ruin.

Further Reading

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