International Horror (Entry 6)

I think Bong Joon Ho, director of Parasite, said it best, “Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” 

A lot of my favorite horror movies come from various locations across the globe and I will never pass up the opportunity to recommend these movies.

Argentina -

When Evil Lurks is a recent release that surprised me. It is filled with intense moments, fresh ideas and horrid imagery that almost made me look away. This film forces the audience to witness an unmerciful evil engulf a rural town, possessing the behaviors of even the most innocent souls. This was one of my favorite watches of the last year and I am always sure to recommend it to every horror lover.

Italy-

Suspiria is a timeless classic that never loses its charm. Its set design and usage of colorful lighting makes the entire film unforgettable. The kills are surprising and all deliver a punch. The score provides a disorientating factor that doesn’t deter from its stunning visuals, only adding to the beauty this film possesses.

Japan-

One Cut of the Dead is a recent watch for me, and I regret not watching it sooner. This was the most fun I’ve had watching a horror flick in a while. The eyebrow raising scenes during the start of the film are hilariously justified in a way that heightens my appreciation of the filmmaking process along with the filmmakers. Despite its horror factors only being in the first 30 minutes, the stress and tension afterwards keeps the anxiety high while simultaneously delivering the most comedic and heartfelt moments. 

France -

Raw is a visually intense rollercoaster of events that follow a girl and her journey through veterinary college. Justine, the protagonist, is faced with some disgusting challenges that will make you squirm. It's a shocking body horror that isn’t for the faint of heart.

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Higher education in Arizona (Entry 5)

 

The idea of having a higher educated population in Arizona is exciting. Both articles highlight the benefits of seeking a higher education including higher wages, more jobs, and less poverty. 

Both articles really fail to recognize the barriers many people are up against when planning to attend college. Nearly everyone is aware that attending college and earning a degree will boost your chances to get paid highly yet it’s difficult to remain optimistic while planning an education journey given the cost to make these dreams a reality. 

For students who have to be providers for their homes, finding the resources and finances for their education can be difficult. The time, money and effort in getting a degree can be too large of a sacrifice for these individuals. 

There are peers of mine who have spent tens of thousands of dollars pursuing a degree when at the end of their journey, they have to spend their earnings on their student debt, telling their friends and family how it’s not worth it.

Sometimes students, after spending thousands on their degree, want to change their major yet cannot afford to, leaving them with no choice but to stick to a career they’re not happy with.

For many people, seeking higher education is more than a sacrifice. Although the idea of being paid a higher amount in your career is an enticing benefit, the cost of schooling in the United States deters many from even considering it. I also find it a little silly how we encourage others to continue the education journey yet do not pay our educators accordingly, despite knowing the extreme importance their jobs hold.

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V/H/S (Blog Entry 4)

 

 A horror subgenre I tend to gravitate towards is found footage. What sets this genre apart from others is the only criteria the film needs to meet is the appearance that the entirety of the project is filmed by a character in the movie. This explanation is one giant excuse for me to recommend an underrated series of my favorite found footage horror films. 

    I am talking about the V/H/S series. Other than V/H/S: Viral, all the installments follow a basic formula. A group of people stumble upon multiple tapes containing horrific footage. Each tape is a segment in the film created by multiple directors. Being exposed to so many directors and writers at once is exciting since you get to see the style of multiple filmmakers in the time of one feature length film. This series of movies, composed of multiple different storylines has helped me seek out the filmmakers behind each tape. 

• Ti West, currently known for directing Pearl and X, has also directed a segment in the first V/H/S movie.

• Adam Wingard also did a segment for the first film in the series prior to directing You’re Next and The Blair Witch remake.

What I’m saying is, despite the budget and “quality” of this series of films, you’re opened up to discovering the ideas of these filmmakers, which is really what matters. You’re able to see these artists further develop these ideas as they start to gain access to a wider audience, and a bigger budget, raising the “quality”. It really pays off seeing your favorite “smaller” directors start getting the recognition they deserve. 

My favorite segments from each installment in the series, in order of release, include: 

“Amateur Night” (V/H/S)

“Safe Haven” (V/H/S 2)

“Dreamkill” (V/H/S/85)

“Storm Drain” (V/H/S/94)

And none from either V/H/S: Viral or V/H/S 99 sadly.