It Came From the Woods

Matthew Mercer returns with a chilling entry in his "It Came" anthology series, delivering an indirect sequel to "It Came From Above." This work blends the visceral intensity of 1980s slasher cinema with the disorienting realism of found-footage storytelling. The narrative centers on Nancy Miller, who invites a documentary crew to her home for interviews while she watches unedited footage from a college assignment gone wrong. That assignment involved eight friends camping in the woods to document Bigfoot, resulting in their brutal slaughter. The book is organized around this retrospective viewing, forcing Nancy to relive the nightmare of watching her companions die while trying to convince the world that a cryptid was responsible. Mercer utilizes the structure of a documentary interview to frame the horror, creating a tense atmosphere where the past intrudes upon the present. The story draws heavily on supernatural fiction traditions and gothic elements of isolation and dread. It suits readers who enjoy gory, suspenseful tales rooted in classic horror tropes. Those seeking lighthearted entertainment or traditional linear narratives may find the found-footage format less appealing.