While I was reading the novella "Denoument" by Noah Rymer three different memories were intertwining in my mind, weaving themselves together in a complex pattern that sprung from the language of this story. The first was the film "Death Proof," the second was Robert Coover's short story "The Babysitter," and the third was my memory of the drug-infused parties I attended in high school in the 1970s. What do these have to do with this story? Quite simply the descriptions, the emotions, the references to slasher films (particularly Italian zombie films and Giallo), and the seemingly hum-drum suburban landscape that seeths with decadence underneath the surface.
"Denoument" is not your typical narrative story with conflict/crisis/resolution all set out in orderly fashion; in fact, the entire story is like a denoument...the wind-down after the conflict has resolved and the characters are picking up the pieces and trying to deal with all the consequences. It's presented as almost a long anti-climax, with the chracters superficially seeming to be suburban party girls but as is revealed through the story they are somehow damaged and seem adrift in a world that encourages hedonism and cheap thrills as much as it offers cheap material goods. Drifting from night club to supermarket to midnight movie to house party to...you get the idea...the characters seem aimless, moving at a mere whim seeking new sensations. I think it was this sort of aimless, party-girl facade that evoked "Death Proof" and, to be honest, I kept expecting some sort of violent act but none really presents itself...and the one that does occur comes across as almost banal. This is not a criticism; it is, in fact, a quite effective device to draw you in past the outer ennui of the characters to the ultimate inner self that is revealed towards the end.
There are powerful images of stereotypical suburbia here; strip malls, supermarkets, neon lights, the lack of community entailed from people who have no sense of place. This is where I was reminded of Robert Coover's "The Babysitter" which also shows the depravity that is part of the human condition that lies just under the banal and proper and superficial suburban surface. The characters seem desperate to escape their reality, whether through the mosh pit or horror movies or drugs to the point where this level of self-destructive tendency becomes disturbing. This is where my memories of 1970s California kicked in; the parties described here could have come from my own teenage years which seemed to occur in a drug-induced haze. I'm not sure it's good to know that kids haven't changed much since then, but it is what it is. Rymer doesn't glorify it, but rather uses it as an effective device to present the emptiness not just of the present but of the future that awaits these characters and the sheer terror and depression such prospects evoke.
It may seem like this is a nihilist story, but the ending belies that. Far from leaving one empty the story ends with the hopeful message that through friendship and, most effectively, through art even the characters in the story can find meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. I won't say any more but suffice it to say the ending was quite effective and left me hopeful for the characters.
"Denoument" is not for everyone, but I enjoyed it. If you like vivid descriptions, florid language and more experiential/episodic stories versus plot-driven stories, I think you will like it too.
Recommend.
The more I read on Substack the more I realize I don’t know anything! Now I must add all of it to my read/watch list, I loved this review because now I am curious 👀
Well written review of what i assume is an excellent novella. I’ve read a few of Noah’s short stories, and his florid and evocative style is powerful and disturbing.