Blackwater

The primary supernatural element of the Blackwater saga is Elinor Dammert, a river monster who can transform into a human shape. When the town of Perdido, Alabama, floods, she marries into the powerful Caskey family, intertwining her monstrous nature with their Southern Gothic legacy. She is heavily associated with the local river and its muddy waters.

Blackwater is a serialized Southern Gothic horror novel consisting of six distinct volumes. The books were originally published monthly throughout 1983 by Avon Books. The volumes include The Flood, The Levee, The House, The War, The Fortune, and Rain.

While McDowell was a famous screenwriter who wrote the screenplay for Tim Burton's Beetlejuice and The Nightmare Before Christmas, Blackwater has never been officially adapted into a feature film. However, there have been various discussions and attempts to adapt the Southern Gothic saga into a television series over the years. The horror property remains primarily a literary cult classic.

The story takes place in the fictional town of Perdido, a small Alabama community centered around the Perdido River. Spanning several decades from 1919 to the late 20th century, the setting plays a crucial role in defining the wealthy Caskey family. The region's frequent floods serve as major turning points for the supernatural elements in the narrative.