Posted by Astronommy 4 years ago Report

It's a morbid play on the anniversary celebration tradition, but it's perfectly natural for these two!

Claire's tour de force for sure -- as an artist, an actress, a social planner, a chef and an Adam wrangler. Loved reading those preliminary expository parts on Adam's routine, and how Claire's involvement of Tammy was mostly done for the sake of exercising their bond, and as an extra precaution. Her true masterstroke was leading his expectations one way by cooking legitimately splendid dishes, only to yank it the other way, yet still get to involve her fine culinary achievements in the proceedings!

The descriptions of both preparing the house for her ambush, and of her paint-intensive suit here are most intricate and detailed, and despite that they read smoothly and -- by the way of gradual adding to the overall terrifying impression from Adam's perspective -- do a swell job ramping up the tension.

She may have been going a more instantaneously and viscerally intimidating appearance by opting for such a (generally agreed to be) revolting role, but it is also telling of how Claire feels about that monster-within part of herself, at least when it hasn't been properly let out for a long time.

But, of course, the whole setup -- the monster, the placement, the language -- are all perfectly synergistic elements resulting in a superb scare, shocking and sustained.

More progress with the tiny phone smashing a large breach in Adam's wall of customs!