- admin
- May 21, 2025
In Nicholas Selk’s thrilling horror story, Heinous Souls, the true terror doesn’t come from ghosts, monsters, or the supernatural forces that haunt the story. Instead, the most chilling aspect of the book lies in its human antagonists: Archie and Susannah. These two characters may not have the traditional traits of horror villains, but they serve as a potent reminder that sometimes the real monsters in a story are the people we are forced to live with.
From the start, Heinous Souls sets the tone for a psychological and emotional battle that Sebastian, the protagonist, faces while living with his wife, April parents. The house they live in, soaked in neglect, decay, and cruelty, becomes central to the story’s horror. But what makes the environment so truly oppressive isn’t just the physical decay—it’s the actions of Archie and Susannah, whose abusive behavior turns what should be a place of refuge into a suffocating, nightmarish prison.
Archie: The Tyrant Behind the Torment
Archie is the epitome of toxic masculinity, and his treatment of Sebastian, the son-in-law, is downright brutal. He isn’t just an abusive figure—he’s a manipulator, a bully, and a man who gets his kicks from tormenting those around him. His constant verbal assaults are designed to break Sebastian down, using humiliating insults, threats, and cruel taunts. From calling Sebastian demeaning names to making snide remarks about his manhood, Archie’s cruelty is relentless.
But what makes Archie so terrifying is not just his overt abuse—it’s the psychological warfare he wages. He keeps Sebastian trapped in a constant state of fear and anxiety, threatening to destroy his life with false stories or accusations. It’s clear that Archie is a man who thrives on control and manipulation, and his power comes from Sebastian’s inability to fight back effectively. Sebastian’s attempts to stand up for himself are met with more cruelty, leading to an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
Archie’s behavior doesn’t just directly impact Sebastian—it casts a dark shadow over the entire family dynamic. His actions drive a wedge between Sebastian and his wife, April, who is caught between her loyalty to her father and her relationship with her husband. While not as abusive as Archie, April is complicit in her father’s cruelty. Her failure to protect Sebastian from Archie’s attacks adds to Sebastian’s emotional weight throughout the story. This toxic environment makes the house they live in an actual horror show, not because of ghosts, but because of the real human suffering caused by Archie’s actions.
Susannah: The Silent Predator
While Archie is the loud, outwardly cruel villain of Heinous Souls, Susannah’s role as the antagonist is subtler but just as menacing. She is a woman whose actions are both manipulative and disturbing, using her proximity to Sebastian to create an atmosphere of unease and fear. Unlike Archie, Susannah doesn’t overtly lash out with insults and threats; instead, she relies on her inappropriate advances and twisted behavior to keep Sebastian trapped in an even more insidious form of psychological torment.
At first, Susannah’s behavior seems to be little more than a strange quirk—her lewd comments and inappropriate gestures appear to be just a part of her eccentric personality. But as the story progresses, the true horror of her actions is revealed. She begins to sexually harass Sebastian, making unwanted advances that become more aggressive over time. The horror here isn’t just physical; it’s the power imbalance and the emotional manipulation Susannah wields. She can cross boundaries and make Sebastian feel powerless, twisting his sense of right and wrong.
What makes Susannah especially chilling is that she operates in a gray area. Her behavior isn’t overtly violent, yet it is deeply violating. She uses her physical proximity and her knowledge of Sebastian’s vulnerability to corner him emotionally and psychologically. She doesn’t need to harm him to cause immense damage physically—her ability to create an atmosphere of constant discomfort and fear is enough to push him to the brink. In many ways, Susannah’s abuse is even more horrifying than Archie’s because it takes on a more subtle, manipulative form.
Creating the Oppressive Environment
Archie and Susannah create a toxic environment where Sebastian is constantly on edge. The house, which should have been a haven, becomes a suffocating prison. The physical decay of the house mirrors the emotional decay that Sebastian experiences at the hands of these two characters. The house feels like a living, breathing entity that thrives on the cruelty and dysfunction of the people inside it. With each insult from Archie and every uncomfortable moment with Susannah, the walls of this house close in on Sebastian, trapping him in a nightmare of psychological and emotional abuse.
What makes their actions so horrifying is that they aren’t motivated by traditional “villainous” goals like greed or power—they don’t want anything from Sebastian except to break him down. A desire for control and superiority drives their actions, and, in Susannah’s case, an unsettling sense of entitlement. They aren’t merely antagonists; they are predators who prey on vulnerability, and their cruelty isn’t just a means to an end—it is the end itself. The more they break Sebastian down, the more they derive satisfaction from watching him suffer.
The True Monsters of the Story
In Heinous Souls, Archie and Susannah are the actual monsters, not because of their size or strength, but because of their ability to manipulate and control others. They don’t need supernatural powers or violent tendencies to create terror. The real horror comes from their emotional and psychological abuse, which leaves scars that run much deeper than any physical wound. The suffocating environment they create in their home is one of isolation, manipulation, and fear. This horror isn’t just felt in the dark corners of the house but in every interaction between the characters.
As we read the story, we see that the real monsters are not the supernatural forces that haunt Sebastian—they are the people he is forced to live with. Archie and Susannah remind us of the very real dangers of toxic relationships, manipulation, and abuse. Their actions force Sebastian into constant fear, leaving him no safe space to retreat. While the supernatural may seem like the primary threat, the actions of these two villains create horror in Heinous Souls.
Ultimately, Heinous Souls shows us that sometimes the most terrifying monsters live in plain sight—those who hide behind the mask of family, love, and familiarity. Archie and Susannah are not just antagonists; they embody the psychological terror that haunts the human soul. Their cruelty isn’t just in what they do—it’s in how they make us question how much we’re willing to tolerate before we can escape their grip.