The Breakdown: I Am In Eskew is a exploration horror fiction podcast which explores the nightmarish city of Eskew through the experiences of David Ward, reluctant resident from London.
Listen If: You like conspiracies and slow-burn body horror.
Not If: The sound of rain and a pretty voice makes you sleepy.
Similar To: The Magnus Archives
Overall Rating: 4.0/5
By: David Ward
Average Episode Length: 33.06
Fear Factor: 4/5
Genre: Horror, Fiction, Body Horror, Lovecraftian, Found Footage
Number of Episodes: 29 (As Of August 5th, 2019)
The Bare Bones
I Am In Eskew is a fascinating story that manages to convey that sense of stomach-pit dread that's usually attributed to Lovecraft. It's a bit of a slow burn, and gets a little chewy towards the middle, but it's worth the listen, and I am genuinely excited to follow this story moving on.
Premise: 5
There's not too much I can say about the premise of this podcast without potential spoilers, but the concept behind the city is brilliant, and many, many episodes shine through for their creativity and pure original conceptualization. There's a sense of manipulative genius, a real flair for the disastrous that provides the undercurrent for the entire series, and really makes it pop in the sea of independent podcasts.
Quality: 4
I Am In Eskew does an incredible job of setting precedent with background sound, and utilizing the betrayal of that precedent to accentuate the disquiet that the stories themselves nurture in the reader. The stories are creative and concerning, regardless of topic or theme, and they all manage to tie together to really paint a picture of Ward's terrifying city of nightmares.
Atmosphere: 4
There is something about the calm comfort of the constant rain, and the rough transitional sound that manages to cement the mundane status of the increasingly disturbing imagery and stomach-twisting tales that make up the world of this podcast. More than once, it manages to trick you into a sense of calm that does not fit with the words being said. The sheer mastery and utilization of this technique, is, in several places, nothing short of sorcery.
Delivery: 4
I vastly enjoyed I Am In Eskew. It's the type of horror that really burrows its way into the marrow of your bones, and leaves pictures of its more memorable moments emblazoned in your mind. It consists of those kind of stories that set your teeth on edge and wind your shoulders tight, like the screech nails on a chalkboard.
Consistency: 3
There's a point, about halfway through the existing content, where the pace slows. I can't offer you a specific episode at which it happens, but it has happened for me as well as several other listeners I know. This seeming trip up in pace is only seems to carry a few episodes, and I assure you that, the unfolding of the story itself it more than worth any momentary loss of momentum that the show seems to have.
As with any installment style horror, the episodes vary in theme and tone, and it is no surprise that some of the episode stand out, where some fall behind. But I can honestly say that the better episodes of I Am In Eskew are easily some of the best horror shorts I've heard in a while. Its reminiscent of the Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark books in that, while not every story gets you, every child had one story that stuck with them.
Check Them Out!
Website: https://www.iamineskew.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/eskew_podcast