Cabal

Cabal is yet another novel, later turned film, by the underrated Clive Barker. This book has a lot of different themes and aspects that at times compete with each other within the limited page count. This is by no means among Barkers best work but I do think it's one of his most interesting. Its Barkers take on a chosen one narrative with Boone almost playing this Moses type character and going on a hero's journey of sorts. Its still Barker so nothing is conventional. A popular reading is that the book is an allegory for queerness and it's no stretch to imagine especially considering the time of the novels release. The monstrous, orphic Nightbreed are bastioned beneath a cemetery, away from mortal men who fear and persecute them. This is exemplified by the police brutality against the breed but also by Decker. Decker is a monster in his own right yet instead of joining the Nightbreed he works to exterminate them. Maintaining the queer allegory you could say Decker represents the anger and self hatred often associated with repressed homosexuality. Anger which he can only express when he dons his mask, "Buttonface". This is in opposition to Boone who has also repressed his true self. He's turned into a Nightbreed via oral transmission when he's assaulted by Peloquin. Its only then through his relationship with Lori that he's able to finally accept himself and consumate their love does he become proactive in the story. The books is at its best when Boone, Lori and Decker are playing off each other. Unfortunately this is few and far between. The book is short and its not always efficient with its page count, leading to some parts dragging and some moving quite fast. Barker's prose here is also nowhere near what he displayed in Hellbound Heart. All that said, this is undeniably one of my favorite novels and films. It resonated with me before i even knew exactly why. I would only recommend this to the die hard Barker fans or those who would resonate with its themes.