My Authoritah: The Horror!

The human psyche can seem as confounding as the universe itself, if not more so.

The horror genre is very much in vogue right now. Recent film offerings such as M3GAN, Barbarian, and Smile absolutely slayed (no pun intended) the box office. This is at a time when the movie business is supposed to be in a state of slow decay (perhaps on life support thanks to streaming services and social media).

Genre does tend to reflect society. I find it interesting that on the heels of a pandemic, horror is the choice of escapism. Then again, horror is fun (for some). When effectively produced, it activates one’s fight or flight stimulus. It is an adrenaline surge, an exploration of the unknown, and a reminder of the darkness that may lie beyond societal boundaries (and a more secret and more sinister darkness within the self).

I’ve seen all three movies mentioned above. Of the three, I found Barbarian to be the most wildly unpredictable and interesting. Smile was the scariest (it’s relentlessly intense). M3GAN is formulaic but fun.

There’s an upcoming sequel/new installment to the Evil Dead franchise as well: Evil Dead Rise. The previews hint at something macabre, but whether the movie has a sense of fun remains to be seen. I do wonder if it can capture the comic and at times campy bodily horror of the Bruce Campbell-starring originals. The previous Evil Dead revamp had tons of horror, but zero chuckles. I need the modern equivalent of an Evil Dead 2 highlight: Ted Raimi dancing around in a “zombie grandma” costume and spitting profanity. What the Evil Dead originals effectively realized is that horror and comedy are closely intertwined.

The current horror series taking viewers by storm is The Last of Us. My first thought upon viewing episode one was, Damnit, they beat me to the idea of a zombie plague being started by fungi!

However, the series is based on a video game, and the idea of a fungal epidemic has actually been floating around for years. I can’t claim it as my own.

Aside from the idea of a fungus turning people into zombies, it’s a fun zombie show. It’s entertaining enough to keep me watching. It also pales in comparison to the far-superior South Korean zombie series, All of Us are Dead.

I think the series is off to a solid enough start. Pedro Pascal is an immensely talented actor who was a highlight in the Nicolas Cage meta-film Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. It’s no surprise to me that he can carry a franchise.

I think back on horror being an addiction one final time. How is it that nightmares can be so unbearable, but horror films so intoxicating?

The Weekly Plunder: Week 9 - Pain with an Anchor

Winter first sinks its talons into you in the early morning and evening hours. Outside my window I can see a thin coating of frost on the neighboring library’s lawn grass; it glistens under the early morning moonlight and the city street lamps.

We (I) have to accept our (my) present situation. It can be easy to dwell on the bad and forsake the good. I attempted a run on Wednesday and quickly felt a damaged ligament tear open again; I guess it wasn’t fully healed and couldn’t take the impact that running requires. Running was a horrible mistake. I’ve felt severe pain in my walk since. If it doesn’t abate in the next few days I’ll visit a doctor. It seems that I can’t put a timetable on a return to running. It won’t be soon, I do know that, and that sucks. That’s just reality.

I can still ride a bicycle, so there’s that. Last week I managed a hike, and I should regain that ability quickly. I just have to accept a long waiting period before running is possible. Until then, I’m sure I’ll dream about it. I’ve been dreaming a lot lately.

That’s okay. There’s too much good in life to dwell. I’m trying to reign my thoughts in to focus on what good I can do today.

What I’m watching: Willy’s Wonderland starring Nicolas Cage. This is a terrible film. Even as a Cage apologist I regret paying for this one. Let the man speak, that’s what we pay for!

What I’m reading: My Brain Has Too Many Tabs Open by Tanya Goodin. It’s amazing how much social pressure there is to have an “online identity,” and how much of ourselves is stolen by giving this identity to social media companies.

What I’m listening to: “Pain as an Anchor” by Mastodon. The opening song on their new album. Title seems relevant to my foot. It’s an eerie and somewhat melancholic rocker. I actually like it, and usually I’m not a fan of the band.

What I’m doing: The weather will warm up by noon today. I’ll do a group bike ride with some friends, then visit my favorite winery tomorrow. Wearing the foot brace again. I didn’t expect to be physically limited for this long. But it’s important to not have expectations.

What I’m thinking: Thinking about a classic film called The Crazies. In the movie there’s an unknown virus that turns people more belligerent and violent. It hits a small town and a mass paranoia sets in as people wonder who is infected and who isn’t. How can you tell when the only symptom is aggressive behavior?

When I walk the downtown streets I see more belligerent behavior than usual. Maybe it’s because people were cooped inside for so long, many not working, many isolated, many stress-watching television or stress-reading news on phone screens. People do generally seem angrier and more anxious in urban areas. They drive more aggressively and indeed, by virtually all metrics, crime and obesity are rising.

Finally I’m thinking that there is too much beauty in the world to dwell on the negatives for long. Our days are finite. There’s always a pleasant surprise around the corner, regardless of what’s behind us… we just need to let ourselves look ahead. Always thinking about what my Chinese student Tony told me, back in 2018: “Be happy every day.”

Torn Asunder: The Weekly Plunder

Fall hits gradually, but winter hits abruptly. Winter imposes itself on the Midwest like a sudden switchback on a long desert highway. It shows abruptly, having long-been hiding behind shimmering mirages.

What I’m doing: In my reenactment of the protagonist’s mission from the Stephen King novel Duma Key, I am attempting to walk a little farther each day (rehabbing a busted ankle=slow and tedious, like your typical Oscar winner, badabing). Today I managed to walk around my apartment building three times, which felt like a minor triumph. On Sunday I’m going to attempt an early morning swim. It’ll be my first swim in about a year.

On the minimalism front I sold a decent weight of clothes this week, not so much in a quest for less as from a standpoint of, “I bought this more out of vanity than for function.” “Stuff” is fine so long as it’s functional. It’s when we get obsessed with upgrades that it becomes dangerous. And of course, an expensive bicycle causes more pain when stolen or crashed than a stripped-down bicycle does. An expensive wardrobe is just more money lost in the event of a flood. The newness of it all stales, like all things. Take things in moderation. Enjoy cool stuff but don’t let materialism sink its fangs into you.

What I’m watching: Movies mostly suck these days but I’ll watch the James Wan film Malignant tonight. Wan directed The Conjuring and Insidious, both of which I found to be effectively suspenseful. Check my Reviews page in the upcoming days for a deep dive.

What I’m reading: Born to Run was a magnificent and inspiring novel. I can’t wait to run again. Now I’m on Full Throttle, a collection of short stories from Stephen King’s son, Joe Hill. Hill is a masterful storyteller in his own right. I’d say it runs in the family but I think it’s more a matter of picking up good habits from one’s immediate surroundings.

What I’m listening to: “The Parchment” by Iron Maiden off their new album Senjutsu. This one showcases the master storytellers at the top of their game. Kick back and let this one take you places.