Introduction to the Book
Eric LaRocca’s Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is an unsettling, horror-infused tale that explores the dark corners of human nature, isolation, obsession, and the chilling consequences of modern technology and communication. Through a uniquely structured narrative, LaRocca invites readers to witness the descent of two characters, Agnes and Zoey, as they interact over digital platforms, only to find themselves entangled in a relationship that grows increasingly toxic and violent.
The novel is known for its exploration of psychological horror, combining elements of body horror with psychological thriller tropes. It is a story that delves into the extremes of human desire and the dehumanizing effect of technology.
Let’s break down the plot, themes, writing style, and character development that make this novella so disturbing and compelling.
Plot Summary
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is presented in the form of an epistolary novel, composed of email exchanges, instant messages, and digital diaries, effectively reflecting the way modern communication increasingly shapes our relationships. The plot centers on two characters, Agnes, a woman who is grieving the death of her mother, and Zoey, a younger woman who is trying to escape a troubled past. Their initial, seemingly innocent connection through an online marketplace sets off a chain of events that gradually spirals into something far darker.
Agnes and Zoey’s relationship starts with a mundane transaction. Agnes, seeking to sell an antique item, meets Zoey online, and their communication shifts from professional to personal. As they continue to exchange messages, what starts as an innocent conversation soon evolves into something far more disturbing. Their discussions begin to explore areas of deep vulnerability, and it is clear that both women harbor dark secrets. However, the true horror of the novel emerges as both characters reveal the extremes to which they are willing to go in their pursuit of emotional connection and control.
LaRocca’s pacing is masterful, gradually building tension as the emails and messages grow darker, with each interaction drawing the characters deeper into an abyss of obsession, manipulation, and violence.
Themes of Isolation and Technology
One of the central themes of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is the sense of isolation in modern society. In an era where digital communication is a dominant force, people are often able to mask their true selves behind screens. The characters in this book use their online interactions as a means of escape from their real lives, only to discover that the digital world offers them no safety or sanctuary from their darker impulses.
The relationship between Agnes and Zoey is one of the most chilling aspects of the novel. What begins as a seemingly harmless connection between two strangers quickly grows into an unhealthy obsession. The digital medium through which they communicate amplifies their loneliness and enables them to act in ways they might not otherwise in the physical world. The anonymity of the internet allows them to shed any inhibitions, making it easier for both of them to indulge in behaviors that lead to the eventual breakdown of their relationship.
LaRocca also critiques the way technology dehumanizes the individuals involved. While the online world offers the promise of connection, it instead highlights the emotional distance between people. This is a commentary on how modern relationships—while often mediated through technology—can be just as isolating and damaging as relationships conducted face-to-face.
Psychological Horror and Body Horror
At its core, Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is a study in psychological horror. The tension in the book builds through the subtle, yet profoundly unsettling, shifts in Agnes and Zoey’s communications. LaRocca excels at creating a growing sense of dread through the degradation of the characters’ mental states. What starts as a mundane exchange soon spirals into something far more sinister. The horror is not just in the violence and body horror that are introduced later in the novel but also in the psychological manipulation that unfolds through the text exchanges.
LaRocca’s mastery of body horror is evident as the book moves into more extreme territory. The characters’ interactions become increasingly grotesque, and as the horror escalates, the visceral depictions of violence and physical disintegration take on an almost surreal quality. These moments are uncomfortable, not because of their explicit nature but because they are grounded in the emotional and psychological deterioration of the characters. The horror doesn’t feel detached or otherworldly—it feels disturbingly real.
Through this combination of psychological manipulation and physical grotesquery, LaRocca creates a sense of unease that lingers long after the book is put down. The horror is not just in what is done to the characters but in what they are willing to do to each other. The story becomes a stark commentary on the destructive power of obsession and the lengths to which people will go when they feel unseen, unheard, or unloved.
Character Development
The character development in Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is both compelling and tragic. Agnes and Zoey are fully realized characters, each with their own complex motivations, desires, and fears.
Agnes, the older of the two, is grieving the loss of her mother and looking for meaning in a world that feels empty. Her deep loneliness and emotional vulnerability make her an easy target for Zoey’s manipulation. As the story unfolds, Agnes becomes more desperate for connection, and this desperation drives her to make increasingly dangerous decisions. Her relationship with Zoey takes on an almost parasitic quality, with Agnes feeding off of the attention and validation she receives, even as Zoey slowly erodes her sense of self.
Zoey, on the other hand, is a young woman with a traumatic past, one that she attempts to bury through her online interactions. Her motives are more inscrutable at first, but as the story progresses, it becomes clear that she is using Agnes not just for emotional validation but for something darker. Zoey is presented as a figure both sympathetic and menacing. While it’s easy to pity her, there is also a growing sense of horror as we witness her manipulation and control over Agnes, culminating in moments of shocking violence.
The complexity of both characters makes them relatable in their flaws, even as they descend into depravity. LaRocca paints a picture of two deeply damaged individuals whose inability to connect with others drives them to increasingly extreme lengths. The relationship that forms between them is toxic, unhealthy, and ultimately fatal, but it’s also a reflection of the need for connection that exists in all of us.
Writing Style
LaRocca’s writing style in Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is direct and precise, making the horror all the more immediate and tangible. The novel’s epistolary format, presented through emails and online messages, creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy that pulls the reader into the story. There’s a certain coldness to the writing, mirroring the emotional detachment between the characters, but there’s also a rawness that makes the psychological unraveling of the characters even more poignant.
The pacing is slow and deliberate, with LaRocca taking his time to build tension before dropping the bombshell moments of horror. The gradual unraveling of the characters’ mental states is expertly done, and each new revelation feels both shocking and inevitable. The minimalist approach to the writing adds to the sense of dread, making the novel feel as though it’s building to something terrible, even when the reader may not be fully prepared for it.
The decision to present the story through digital communication allows LaRocca to explore the disembodied nature of modern relationships. The characters’ personalities are revealed through their words, and the distance created by the screen makes their descent into madness feel even more isolating. The dialogue is crisp, often cryptic, and fraught with tension, making it clear that something is brewing beneath the surface of their seemingly banal exchanges.
Conclusion
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is a remarkable piece of psychological horror that explores the darker facets of human relationships and the haunting consequences of isolation in the digital age. LaRocca’s exploration of obsession, manipulation, and emotional decay is both chilling and deeply unsettling. The novella offers a profound meditation on loneliness, the dehumanizing effects of technology, and the vulnerability that exists in all of us.
The novel is not for the faint of heart, as it dives deep into disturbing territory, both in terms of psychological unraveling and graphic violence. However, for those willing to confront the darkest corners of the human psyche, LaRocca provides an experience that is both horrifying and thought-provoking.
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is a disturbing, evocative, and ultimately haunting exploration of the ways in which technology can shape—and destroy—human connections.