Below is a reprint getting a much-needed reboot through Baynam Books Press in September of 2026. The editorial magazines unanimously loved the self-published version, with Kirkus Reviews hailing me “the future of Filipino horror.” But what is Filipino horror, and why is Below an indication of a new breed of horror fiction?
Below borrows heavily from the old zombie apocalypse template, something people know more popularly from movies like World War Z, Train to Busan, and the George A. Romero films. However, as effective as the zombie story has been in visual format, Below ratchets up the elaborate descriptions of gore and violence in the bloodiest scenes, something that readers will continue to recognize in my work as they read more examples. Think about it this way: more blood and gore=more beautiful writing.
The pertinence of drugs to the pandemic can’t be explained more thoroughly, leaving a satisfactory response from the reader itching to know “how” things happened. Movies like World War Z and Dawn of the Dead don’t go into detail. Suddenly, the zombies are just there and that’s that. In Below, narrator Luzvimindo takes readers back to the beginning to paint a more vivid picture. The medical explanations for the effects of drugs on the brain are persuasive, giving Below a sci-fi edge.
From drugs popular in Southeast Asia to the fentanyl epidemic in the United States, relevant social issues in the drug war and mental health treatment take center stage, adding a dose of realism to the story. While some readers may insist on writers focusing just on zombies, that approach never truly offers much intellectual satisfaction. Saying I want blood and gore and no story is like telling a writer who takes pride in their craft to peddle mediocrity devoid of artistry and intelligence. Below, for the benefit of the thinking horror fan, offers relevant social commentary in spades.
Also, Below follows the story of lead character, Luzvimindo Arnaiz, as he chases his dreams in impoverished Tondo, Manila, sight of the biggest slum area in the Philippines and the origins of the zombie outbreak. Because Tondo is packed to the square inch with people in dilapidated quarters and subhuman conditions, it makes a great scene for a zombie apocalypse.
And oh, don’t forget that there are many underground scenes for horror fans who want a good dose of that…
Stay tuned for the cover reveal and more announcements.
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