#2017 fall convention

[divorcedfiddleford]

You made a post saying “it has been zero days since our last alex hirsch hates ford so much bullshit” and i know it was mostly hyperbole, but you have some really good takes that I would love to be elaborated on in terms of how ford is written

it really wasn't hyperbolic. over the years he's just really shown a lot of hatred towards this one character.

content warning: discussion of abuse

i want to start with this clip from the commentary which i think of as a microcosm for how the writers and especially alex think about ford.

transcript:

rob renzetti: i mean he [mcgucket] should've basically knocked ford out, and... and destroyed the... you know, tied him up, and, destroyed... and... alex hirsch, speaking over him: yeah he should've beat ford with a wrench and taken this thing apart piece by piece! he's the one who understood how to built [sic] it, but...

... so that seems like a pretty violent course of action. shall we unpack that?

ford is a character who's pretty explicitly written as a victim of abuse, and who now has c-ptsd as a direct result of the abuse he experienced. alex hirsch believes that ford deserved everything bad that happened to him, that it's ford's own fault, and that he also deserved worse things to happen to him. this is why, given every narrative chance, alex hirsch has piled more suffering onto ford's plate. the biggest example of this i can think of is in the journal, when he wrote that fiddleford was actively erasing ford's memory (despite this being a massive timeline contradiction which i still refuse to accept). because god forbid ford even have one remotely healthy relationship with somebody. that would be too good for him. ford was manipulated and lied to by bill, but alex repeatedly compares him to icarus, a teenager whose demise was the result of his own ignorance. this comparison is still so fucking offensive to me. the sun did not lie to icarus, did not guarantee icarus all of the happiness and success and sense of belonging which he had been denied all his life, did not actively shut out the voices of those around him who would try to help him.

alex in general has a very strange relationship with abuse. he seems to get really upset when people read his characters as victims of abuse. the strongest instance of this is actually not with ford, it's with pacifica - especially in the nwmm episode commentary. the episode says "pacifica's parents have conditioned her to respond to a bell" and alex says people got "the wrong idea" about it. like. dude. what the fuck. you wrote abuse. even if you didn't mean to, that's what you wrote. you can't say people got "the wrong idea" just because you didn't think about the subtext of what you were writing. anyway, back to ford: i believe this extends to him as well. alex wanted to write a character who's a foil to stan and who was a selfish unlikable victim of his own arrogance. however that's not what he wrote. he somehow seemingly accidentally wrote a really compelling and relatable awesome autistic guy who had to fight for every good thing he he ever had in his life only for it to be taken from him every single time. but alex can't let go of seeing ford as just "the opposite of stan". when he talks about "how someone as smart as ford could fall for bill's tricks", he refuses to realize he wrote a situation in which a man was being psychologically manipulated and tortured.

it goes back further, too. people repeatedly theorized that filbrick was... not a very good father, to say the least. on top of the very explicit and canon fact that he threw one of his children out on the street (seriously, there is no defense for this), people pointed out that stan would flinch at filbrick, that ford seemed upset by things filbrick said but dared not talk back, that filbrick was mad at stan not for hurting his brother, but for "costing the family potential millions". but alex can't have people seeing ford as sympathetic. ford can't have it bad like stan did. ford had to have everything and he lost it all because he sucks so much. so he wrote the graphic novel story where ford is filbrick's favorite child and filbrick also is not even a bad parent you guys he's just stoic. ignore the whole thing in dreamscaperers where stan perpetuates the abuse that filbrick did to him. ignore the fact that ford was shouting at stan and then completely shut up as soon as filbrick entered the room and did not say another word for the rest of the night. ignore all that because i just made up this story where he cries at a present from stan. filbrick loved his boys for sure you guys!!!

i'm not even touching on how alex repeatedly villainizes traits commonly associated with mental illness and neurodivergence. ford's hypervigilance becomes arrogance. his passion for knowledge means he's a know-it-all. his difficulty socializing and making friends means he's a misanthrope. his lingering resentment for the way he was raised means he hates his brother and is the worst human being to ever have lived. i could go on, go even further into how the finale reaffirms this, but i feel weird talking about this too much.

[rabbitcruiser]

The Convention of 1818 was signed between the United States and the United Kingdom on October 20, 1818, which settles the Canada–United States border on the 49th parallel for most of its length. 

[cerusee]

I've never watched any Chinese dramas but I really enjoy your posts/gifs about them and it's got me interested in trying some! Do you have any recommendations for somebody who's totally new to them? Any tropes/background context I should be aware of? The historical/fantastical ones seem the most appealing to me.

Oooooh! My first thought on reading this ask was, “oh, I’m hardly qualified”; I’m only on my *stops to count on fingers* eighth cdrama, not counting the one episode I watched of the Wang Zhuocheng xianxia where he falls in love with a rock. (Long story.) There’s a lot of cdramas out there, and I myself have not even scratched the surface of what’s out there! That said, if you’re interested in historical/fantastical dramas, those ARE the ones I’ve been watching, so I still have some opinions despite being a total noob myself.

Do not start with The Untamed/Chen Qing Ling. Twas my first cdrama, like a lot of western fans, who were drawn to it in part because of the big censored-but-still-very-evident gay love story between the male leads, but honestly, as much fun as it is for the slash fans, it’s not a great jumping off point for either Chinese television in general, or even for its own wuxia-inspired genre setting. I say this as some who is still deep in the fandom four years later, and has immense love for the show: the first two episodes are flat-out bad, the overall pacing is bad (episodes frequently stop MIDSCENE), the worldbuilding is thin (a carryover from the novel it was based on), and without a larger context for why it’s made the way it’s made (stylistic choices, industry conventions, government censorship, genre conventions) a lot about it is confusing as hell to cdrama newbies, which is…so evident…a lot…in fandom wank I mean in the discourse about what story this story is trying to tell. Like, if you came to me and asked specifically, “I’m thinking of watching CQL. Should I watch CQL?” I would say yes, absolutely! It’s so much fun! I’m obsessed with the characters! I’ve written a lot of fanfic about the purple guy! But it’s not a good first cdrama, nor it is the best example of what the Chinese TV industry has to offer.

A MUCH better first cdrama especially if you like the historical/fantastical: The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017), which not coincidentally was my second cdrama. It’s one of about a dozen television adaptations of the classic 1957 Chinese novel of the same name by Jin Yong, generally considered to be the inventor of the genre known as wuxia, which is a blend of history, fantasy, and martial arts. (One of the most well-known examples of wuxia in the west is Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning 2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which you have probably at least heard of.)

Legend of the Condor Heroes (hereafter known as LOCH) has it all: romance, revenge, evil plots and daring deeds, people jumping off a burning mountain and being rescued by the worst CGIed eagles known to television or cinema, boat adventures, mountain adventures, grasslands adventures, a weird cult leader who lives on a spooky flower island (there will be math), murder, baby kidnapping, more murder, one guy inadvertently racking up a ridiculous number of martial arts teachers, sworn brotherhoods which invariably end with one guy stabbing the other, lots of VERY good martial arts fights, and, of course, Genghis Khan. Technically there are no magic/supernatural elements in this show—no ghosts, ghouls, magic, angels, devils, gods, etc—although the martial artists do have l33t skillz that might qualify as superhuman depending on how you slice your genre conventions, and are awfully fun to watch.

I’ve actually seen two LOCH adaptations (there was one in 2024 I liked a lot, with my favorite Guo Jing so far), but 2017 is a much better adaptation for newcomers as it tells a fuller version of the story and doesn’t skimp on or rush through or rewrite as many elements of the plot as other versions do; it’s meant to be a LOCH for people who haven’t seen half a dozen versions of LOCH already. It has a WONDERFUL cast, including my one of my favorite cdrama leading men, Chen Xingxu,* as the lead antagonist, Yang Kang, who is a trash fire of a person you just can’t root for, but he also can’t help it because he was raised by Wanyin Honglie. You can catch it on YouTube (I recall that there are couple of missing episodes from that playlist, but you can search on YT for those when you get there, to find them subtitled from other channels.)

*If you, like me, come away from LOCH 2017 with your mouth slightly ajar at how great CXX is, I have wonderful news for you! He’s been a lead in at least two other very good cdramas: the 2023 xianxia** The Starry Love, where he gets to play, like, five different characters (huge acting flex, and he’s great, although I would rush to stress I loved a ton of things about this show besides CXX himself), and the 2019 semi-historical drama Goodbye My Princess, which might actually be my favorite cdrama I have seen to date, and arguably THEE best well-made on a technical level, with phenomenal acting, a great script, and editing and directing I am constantly swooning over, but I am not entirely sure I can recommend to you unless you are a Tragedy Enjoyer.

(If you are a Tragedy Enjoyer, please stop whatever you’re doing and just start watching Goodbye My Princess right now, it is phenomenal. It is also available on YouTube. Watch the Director’s Cut, not the regular one! This is important. In its haste to get the main leads on screen together ASAP, the regular version does a Reader’s Digest version of stuff the Director’s Cut spends like five episodes carefully setting up, and it doesn’t make a lot of sense, nor does it flow well.)

**Speaking of xianxia! Xianxia is the high fantasy genre, full of magic and gods and demons and people dying and living multiple lives and whatnot. Important to note: xianxias are soap operas (complimentary). They tend to feature female protagonists, sweeping, epic romances, and put enormous emphasis on exploring the nuances of relationships and emotions. I have watched three that I loved (Love Between Fairy and Devil, The Starry Love, and Eternal Love: Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms), and while technically I could recommend all three, if you were going to watch just one, especially as a cdrama intro, I have to recommend Eternal Love, which really is the quintessential xianxia, the one all other xianxias are kind of shaping themselves around. I have watched it 1.5 times and I can say that it does not properly take off until like, episode 10, or whenever it is that the main couple finally, properly meet. IT IS WORTH THE INVESTMENT. This show made me want to spit blood. I cried multiple times watching it. It made me feel things. It has a wonderful immersive quality that’s hard to describe except to say that the entire show sort of vibrates on its own frequency. The casting is just kind of…perfect? Props to Maggie Huang for portraying the most perfectly hatable xianxia villainess of all time. Absolutely no one is doing it like Su Jin. No one should try. I believe this is available on YouTube, but after an abortive start, I realized it was on US Netflix, and watched it there.

As for tropes and background context: ehhhhhh. I mean, it’s an entire industry? I know substantially less about how it functions than I do about, like, American TV and film. I know government censorship is a not-inconsiderable factor, but I don’t know much of the nuance of how that plays out in terms of filming and airing. Tropes will vary according to subject. Idol dramas (shows built to showcase media personalities regardless of their ability to act) are a thing. Most cdrama audio is still dubbed (this one surprised me!), usually by professional voice actors and not by the original cast, for a confluence of reasons, some of which historically make sense (noisy filming lots rendering original audio useless), and some of which are really stupid (fans throwing hissy fits if lead actors don’t have the “right” kinds of voices for their characters).

Anyway! My recommendations are this: try The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017) to start with, UNLESS you would prefer having your heart ripped out of your chest, in which case watch Goodbye My Princess (Director’s Cut, 2019), or UNLESS you love soap operas as much as I do, in which case watch Eternal Love: Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms (2017). All three are great shows, but they all hit differently/scratch a different itch.

Oh! Lastly! @dangermousie is a great source of cdrama recs. I should note she prefers dramas and tragedies and mostly does not vibe with xianxias. But she watches like eight million hours of dramas a week and reports her findings to us because she is a river to her people.

[amethystina]

Sorry everything has been hard lately! You're going through a lot. Do you feel comfortable sharing about your wife, like how you met and got married? I didn't know you were married.

Yeah, sure! It's not exactly a secret and, tbh, is a bit of a funny (if long) story. We've been married since July 2017, so closing in on ten years soon!

A good thing to know before we start is that it's not a marriage in the more conventional sense. We're both on the ace spectrum, so we're platonic life partners, not a romantic couple. Which I think is important to have in mind in regards to some of the events, because it adds a slightly different perspective.

But, with that said: buckle up, my friends — it's going to be a long one.

Also, feel free to count the fanfic tropes. It's both hilarious and embarrassing.

So. I met my future wife, Sara, during orientation day at university where we were both enrolled to study Library and Information Science (i.e. aiming to become librarians).

And the first thing I did was threaten to kill her.

As you do.

To make a long story short, we were being herded around, being shown the school etc., and I ended up behind her as we were walking through a doorway. But she slowed down unexpectedly just as she'd stepped outside and I wasn't expecting that, so I accidentally stepped on the back of her shoe. Unsurprisingly, that made her stumble but, fortunately, she didn't fall. But there was a case of some dropped belongings etc. etc. And yes, I know — incredibly meet-cute.

Or at least it would have been if not for the fact that when she — jokingly — accused me of being mean for tripping her up, my immediate and very deadpan response was:

"It could have been worse — I could have pushed you out in front of a car."

(I will forever maintain that the fact that she agreed to marry me even after that lovely first impression says more about her than it does about me)

ANYHOW. First words I said to my future wife.

I am such a romantic.

None of this was helped by the fact that I'm fairly tall (176 cm), have a resting bitchface, and am from the wilderness of the north of Sweden. My classmates were convinced I wrestled bears in my free time. I had also been living on my own for four years already at that point (I moved out at 15 to go to school in a different city) so I was confident, independent, and grounded in a way the majority of my classmates weren't.

I was, according to witnesses, incredibly intimidating.

Despite the dramatic beginnings, Sara and I ended up becoming friends pretty quickly because we had shared interests and ended up in a group of geeky, like-minded students. We liked the same books, video games, music, animes etc. etc.

Sidenote: Years later I found out that Sara, the little shit, lied to me about the music. Or bent the truth, I should say. In that we both listened to a lot of metal and when I named my favourite band (Sonata Arctica) Sara lied and said she loved them too, when she only barely knew who they were. She confessed that she did so because she thought I was so goddamn cool and wanted us to have more things in common. Which meant she had to hurry home that very same day and actually start listening to the band in question to not end up in an even worse pickle than she'd already put herself in. A+ for dedication to the bit.

(She was already embracing the fanfic tropes at that point, clearly)

Anyway, back to the story. We were a pretty big friend group but Sara and I clicked in a way that set us apart from the others. We didn't actually spend the majority of our time together there at the start, but it slowly evolved to that, especially once she moved into the same building as me during our second year, on the floor below mine. It was a dorm-ish situation where there were small apartments with a communal kitchen on each floor. With this new proximity, we ended up running back and forth to each other a lot and just spending a lot of time together.

(So, if you're keeping track, we've now moved from a University AU to a sort-of Roommate AU)

We continued to grow closer and had a couple of adventures, like the time the fire alarm went off early one morning and everyone had to evacuate. I think you can picture what it was like: a bunch of university students huddling on the sidewalk in various states of undress and wakefulness, trying to figure out what the fuck was going on and how long we'd have to wait before we could go back to bed.

Unfortunately for me, this was during a time when I still had pretty frequent panic attacks and being woken up by the fire alarm left me shaky and disoriented. So Sara, who didn't like how out of it I looked, took me back to her place and fed me tea and toast. It's a very fond memory of mine, despite the discomfort of the near-panic attack.

Anyhow. We remained good friends and once our three years at university were nearing their end, we figured we'd keep in touch but end up on different ends of the country. I had decided that I wanted to take a year and study art before I started working, just for the heck of it, and Sara thought that sounded fun but she'd go for writing instead (since she can't draw for shit 😆)

And you can imagine our confusion when I let her know the art school I had been accepted to and her response was:

"What? You too?"

So, without even talking to each other, we had somehow managed to apply and get accepted to the same school that just happened to offer courses on both art and writing, amongst other things. It wasn't even close to where we were living at the time. It just... happened?

And so, apparently, we were going to spend another year at the same school.

(At this point, we could probably call this Star-Crossed Lovers, yeah?)

So we get to this new school and it's in the middle of nowhere on the lush Swedish countryside, sharing grounds with a castle from the 1100's (I know, I know — just roll with it). It was incredibly beautiful and I absolutely loved it.

One downside, however, was that while the school supplied food during the week, we had to feed ourselves during the weekends. Fortunately, Sara had a car so she would usually pack it full with students (for a small fee) and drive to one of the nearby grocery stores so those who needed it could buy food.

Now, it was a fairly small school and the majority of us lived there, so you spent a lot of time with students who weren't in your class. And everyone soon realised that Sara and I knew each other from before because of the way we behaved with each other. But even I thought it was a little weird when other students came to me to ask if there was any room left in Sara's car for the coming grocery run. And, eventually, I asked why they did that and the answer I got was:

"You mean it's not your shared car? We figured you owned it together since you're a couple."

Turns out the entire school had decided that Sara and I were dating and just never told us.

Or, well, I guess they wouldn't tell us that, would they? Since they would assume that Sara and I would already be aware of our being a couple 🤣

Except, of course, we weren't.

(Add a tick for "Everyone Knew They Were Dating Before They Did")

We found this pretty hilarious, anyway, and everyone was hella confused when we explained that we were, in fact, not together. But, in hindsight, I guess they were right — just a little early.

Sidenote: Sara and I went to Venice during our year at the art school and, somehow, we accidentally stumbled in at the tail end of the Carnival. Like, we didn't realise it was happening until we were literally walking the streets and saw all the confetti and posters. We picked the date because it was spring break at school and ended up with a wonderful, unexpected surprise. 10/10, do recommend.

So! Anyway! We spent a lovely year at art school, then we both started working as librarians. We ended up relatively close (about two and a half hours away by bus) and so we kept spending weekends together.

Another couple of years passed.

(If you haven't figured it out yet, this is also a Slow Burn)

Unfortunately, Sara ended up in a city with very limited housing opportunities and after two and a half years without getting her own place, she decided to move back south again. That would leave us too far apart to visit each other more than, perhaps, twice a year.

And me, being the brilliant genius that I am, decided that, hey, this is the perfect time to propose!

I did have my reasons, one of them being that my relatives were bugging me about finding a partner (though, to their credit, they didn't specify a gender) and I just wasn't interested? But I could see myself spending a lot of time with Sara. The second was that, even the few times I had met someone I could consider dating, my first thought was: "But how am I going to make them understand Sara's importance in my life? And the fact that she might often come before them?" And so, more often than not, I just chose not to pursue it because I couldn't be bothered to go through that hassle.

Turns out she'd been doing the same for years 😂

(I'm not even sure what this trope is called but you know the one)

So, a couple of days before she was set to leave, we decided to splurge on a hotel weekend as a sort of send-off. And, on the second morning, just after we had woken up (before breakfast — which Sara has never let me live down) I explained my reasoning to her and asked if we should get married.

It took her about fifteen minutes to a) understand what I was suggesting, b) realise I was serious, and c) try to figure out what she thought of the bombshell I'd just dropped on her.

(Again: Early morning, no breakfast)

But, eventually, she got with the program and accepted. It was only afterwards that I realised my mistake which was that, apparently, it was fucking Valentine's Day. I shit you not.

So, whenever I say that our engagement date is Valentine's Day, everyone thinks I'm such a goddamn romantic. When, in actuality, I was presenting a marriage of convenience with the tone of a business proposal. I even had a mental list of arguments.

(In hindsight, I should maybe have made a PowerPoint too — it might have helped Sara get on board faster. But alas)

(Add "Last-Minute Proposal" to the list)

So we got engaged, Sara moved to the other end of the country, and two and a half years later, we got married. But it took another six months after that before we actually ended up working close enough that we could live together.

Which, in hindsight, wasn't the right choice for us. We're used to living close to each other, but not in the same apartment/house. We're just too different, so that's what we're going to correct now by selling the house and moving into separate apartments. Or going back to our roots, one might say?

And, as mentioned, remain married. Considering everything we've gone through, it would feel like such a waste to get a divorce now 😆

So yeah! That's how we met, got engaged, and eventually married. It took many, many years and a lot of hijinks, but we got there in the end! And we're still figuring out the details. But hey, that's what relationships are like, yeah?

Thank you so much for the well-wishes and I hope you enjoyed the storytime! 😄

[opencommunion]

via RNN:

The eternal martyr Basil Al-Araj wrote abundantly before his ascension in March of 2017. In his posthumously published book, "I Have Found My Answers," (a line from his will) he spoke of war during the 2014 zionist aggression on Gaza, just prior to the IOF ground invasion on July 17.

Basil guided us with eight rules and insights on the nature of war. He wrote:

—

Since there is talk of a ground operation, several points must be considered:

1. The Palestinian resistance consists of guerrilla formations whose strategies follow the logic of guerrilla warfare or hybrid warfare, which Arabs and Muslims have become masters of through our experiences in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Gaza. War is never based on the logic of conventional wars and the defense of fixed points and borders; on the contrary, you draw the enemy into an ambush. You do not stick to a fixed position to defend it; instead, you perform maneuvers, movement, withdrawal, and attack from the flanks and the rear. So, never measure it against conventional wars.

2. The enemy will spread photos and videos of their invasion into Gaza, occupation of residential buildings, or presence in public areas and well-known landmarks. This is part of the psychological warfare in guerrilla wars; you allow your enemy to move as they wish so that they fall into your trap and you strike them. You determine the location and timing of the battle. So, you may see photos from Al-Katiba Square, Al-Saraya, Al-Rimal, or Omar Al-Mukhtar Street, but do not let this weaken your resolve. The battle is judged by its overall results, and this is merely a show.

3. Never spread the occupation's propaganda, and do not contribute to instilling a sense of defeat. This must be focused on, for soon, we will start talking about a massive invasion in Beit Lahia and Al-Nusseirat, for example. Never spread panic; be supportive of the resistance and do not spread any news broadcast by the occupation (forget about the ethics and impartiality of journalism; just as the zionist journalist is a fighter, so are you).

4. The enemy may broadcast images of prisoners, most likely civilians, but the goal is to suggest the rapid collapse of the resistance. Do not believe them.

5. The enemy will carry out tactical, qualitative operations to assassinate some symbols [of resistance], and all of this is part of psychological warfare. Those who have died and those who will die will never affect the resistance's system and cohesion because the structure and formations of the resistance are not centralized but horizontal and widespread. Their goal is to influence the resistance's support base and the families of the resistance fighters, as they are the only ones who can affect the men of the resistance.

6. Our direct human and material losses will be much greater than the enemy's, which is natural in guerrilla wars that rely on willpower, the human element, and the extent of patience and endurance. We are far more capable of bearing the costs, so there is no need to compare or be alarmed by the magnitude of the numbers.

7. Today's wars are no longer just wars and clashes between armies but rather are struggles between societies. Let us be like a solid structure and play a game of biting fingers with the enemy, our society against their society.

Finally, every Palestinian (in the broad sense, meaning anyone who sees Palestine as a part of their struggle, regardless of their secondary identities), every Palestinian is on the front lines of the battle for Palestine, so be careful not to fail in your duty.

[daphrona]

Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime left Blizzard because he was reportedly tired of fighting with former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, according to those who worked closely with him, the two leaders having butted heads for years regarding the future of Blizzard.

New details about Morhaime's 2018 departure and Blizzard's contentious relationship with Activision come via an excerpt from Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier's upcoming book Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment , which releases on October 8 (the same day Blizzard's first expansion for Diablo 4, Vessel of Hatred, launches).

For years, Morhaime attempted to keep Activision, which acquired Blizzard in 2007, at bay. That goal of keeping Blizzard insulated from outside Activision pressure became harder in 2013 when Blizzard canceled project Titan, an FPS MMO that had been intended to be the next World of Warcraft, according to Schreier.

After the project's cancellation, which cost Blizzard around $80 million, Kotick and Activision began to assert more control over Blizzard, including pushing Blizzard to hire a chief financial officer, Armin Zerza, to keep costs in check. Zerza just "kept talking about how to make as much money as possible," according to one former employee, and at one point suggested axing Blizzard's annual BlizzCon fan convention, confused as to why a project with such low profit margins was allowed to exist, according to Schreier's sources. Blizzard announced this year there would not be a BlizzCon 2024.

Morhaime continued to battle Kotick in the following years, defending Blizzard's need for customer service employees and the studio's cinematics team. Following a meeting of Activision, Blizzard, and King leaders focused around the theme of "One ABK," Morhaime feared Blizzard was losing its independence, according to Schreier. He wrote a lengthy email to Kotick in response, stating he believed "preserving Blizzard's culture and magic" was a necessity in order to attract and retain "the best creative talent in the world." He additionally said that it had been "increasingly hard for me to provide Blizzard leadership and staff confidence that Blizzard has a stable future."

In 2017, Morhaime submitted a resignation letter, but was persuaded at the time by Kotick and others to take it back. Following the One ABK meeting in the spring of 2018, Morhaime formally announced his departure that October, saying it was time for someone else to lead.

Blizzard's story would of course continue, but without the man that Schreier said many Blizzard staff worshiped. Morhaime went on in 2020 to found a new game studio and publisher, Dreamhaven. Blizzard, meanwhile, in 2021 found itself embroiled in controversy following an explosive state of California lawsuit that accused Activision Blizzard of systemic sexual misconduct and discrimination, eventually settling with the state in 2023 to the tune of $54 million. Morhaime said in a statement addressing the lawsuit that he was "ashamed."

"To the Blizzard women who experienced any of these things, I am extremely sorry that I failed you," Morhaime said.

In the wake of the lawsuit, Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, with Kotick stepping down as Activision Blizzard CEO in December 2023.

[starsfic]

Never too early to make a poll

Summaries:

Uncaring of timelines, several children's entertainment companies meet up during a convention, including Elliot Ludwig of Playtime, Isaac Indigo of Indigo Park, and Henry Emily of Fazbear.

AU where the TLT are all streamers- Xiaojiao does video games and motorcycle care, Red does fashion and invention history, while Xiaotian does speed paints and character design. This October, they decide to do a massive stream together of horror games.

AU where Macaque gets married to the wealthy and charming Azure Lion to support his failing theater. However, there is a darkness about his new husband and his mysterious first husband.

AU where Azure Lion sees and falls in love with Sun Wukong...and kidnaps him to Heaven in a rare burst of instinct.

Long Xiaojiao teams up with several other streamers, including speed painter Marcy Wu, conspiracy theorist Todoroki Shoto, and figurine maker Gangle, to play Mario Party for charity. Shenanigans happen, including magic outbursts, old bullies popping up in chat, and general chaos.

To boost morale for the anniversary of Elliot Ludwig’s death, Playtime Co. sponsors a happy hour at a nearby bar for the workers. However, the phrase “loose lips sink ships” rings true, especially when those lips are loosened by alcohol enough to share stories of several weird occurrences. The toys and children alike aren’t sure what to think when, the next day, they’re set free.

Based on this post, the gang is hired to investigate the rumors of a bunny animatronic ghost overnight. The truth is a little more tricky.

During a scouting mission gone wrong, the boys find themselves locked in Draxum's home, hunted by a mysterious figure.

An unsolved mystery show wishes to interview April on the anniversary of her mother's death. When Leo's invited along, he suspects that these detectives are more than what they seem.

The cycle, as it turns out, does not reset the Harbinger when the cycle resets.

When local lord Sun Wukong begs for martial help from powerful witch Azure, Azure decides to help...by killing Wukong's husband.

I make another poll of fics from 2022-2017 and rewrite the chosen one with my current writing ability.

[ouroborosmoons]

Resistance News Network: IMPORTANT

The eternal martyr Basil Al-Araj wrote abundantly before his ascension in March of 2017. In his posthumously published book, "I Have Found My Answers," (a line from his will) he spoke of war during the 2014 zionist aggression on Gaza, just prior to the IOF ground invasion on July 17. Basil guided us with eight rules and insights on the nature of war.

He wrote: Since there is talk of a ground operation, several points must be considered: 1. The Palestinian resistance consists of guerrilla formations whose strategies follow the logic of guerrilla warfare or hybrid warfare, which Arabs and Muslims have become masters of through our experiences in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Gaza. War is never based on the logic of conventional wars and the defense of fixed points and borders; on the contrary, you draw the enemy into an ambush. You do not stick to a fixed position to defend it; instead, you perform maneuvers, movement, withdrawal, and attack from the flanks and the rear. So, never measure it against conventional wars. 2. The enemy will spread photos and videos of their invasion into Gaza, occupation of residential buildings, or presence in public areas and well-known landmarks. This is part of the psychological warfare in guerrilla wars; you allow your enemy to move as they wish so that they fall into your trap and you strike them. You determine the location and timing of the battle. So, you may see photos from Al-Katiba Square, Al-Saraya, Al-Rimal, or Omar Al-Mukhtar Street, but do not let this weaken your resolve. The battle is judged by its overall results, and this is merely a show. 3. Never spread the occupation's propaganda, and do not contribute to instilling a sense of defeat. This must be focused on, for soon, we will start talking about a massive invasion in Beit Lahia and Al-Nusseirat, for example. Never spread panic; be supportive of the resistance and do not spread any news broadcast by the occupation (forget about the ethics and impartiality of journalism; just as the zionist journalist is a fighter, so are you). 4. The enemy may broadcast images of prisoners, most likely civilians, but the goal is to suggest the rapid collapse of the resistance. Do not believe them. 5. The enemy will carry out tactical, qualitative operations to assassinate some symbols [of resistance], and all of this is part of psychological warfare. Those who have died and those who will die will never affect the resistance's system and cohesion because the structure and formations of the resistance are not centralized but horizontal and widespread. Their goal is to influence the resistance's support base and the families of the resistance fighters, as they are the only ones who can affect the men of the resistance. 6. Our direct human and material losses will be much greater than the enemy's, which is natural in guerrilla wars that rely on willpower, the human element, and the extent of patience and endurance. We are far more capable of bearing the costs, so there is no need to compare or be alarmed by the magnitude of the numbers. 7. Today's wars are no longer just wars and clashes between armies but rather are struggles between societies. Let us be like a solid structure and play a game of biting fingers with the enemy, our society against their society. Finally, every Palestinian (in the broad sense, meaning anyone who sees Palestine as a part of their struggle, regardless of their secondary identities), every Palestinian is on the front lines of the battle for Palestine, so be careful not to fail in your duty.

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Can you recommend some good recent long chaptered fics that are completed? I feel like a lot of them are older and pre coming out and I don’t see many newer ones?

I actually haven’t read any long recent fics! I swear it’s on my to do list. But here’s the ones Ive seen the most hype over! Like 2023-present completed

a night to remember (ao3) - grievingwarwidow

Summary: roxie, who prefers the label exotic performer over stripper, is a star amongst people who are out when the sun goes down. who better for a close-minded phil who has despised what he labels as lowlifes to suddenly obsess over than Roxie himself?

aka the one where phil gets pathetically hung up on dan, better known as roxie and is desperate to get to know him better.

Burning Bibles (ao3) - cherryheartz

Summary: phil lester loved curly headed boys with tattoos on their arms and a joint made with torn bible pages between their soft lips.

and dan howell was exactly that.

The Death of Our Star (ao3) - queerbonafide

Summary: Dan Howell has always wanted to be an astronaut. As soon as he graduated, the strange message from the deep space has arrived. As one of the most talented pilots of his generations, he's been chosen to this two-people mission with the purpose of finding out who exactly tried to communicate with them. The second person was Phil Lester, an incredible scientist with PhD in theoretical physics and amazing specialist in black holes.

Let's Think of Something Better (ao3) - EverythingIsAsItWas

Summary: Dan Howell has no direction in life. No real friends, a job he hates, and suppressing a huge part of his identity, the end of summer 2009 is looming.

Then, he begins to see a boy in reflections, a boy with black hair and blue eyes he swears he could swim in. And then his entire world falls apart at the seams.

Like a Bowl of Oranges (ao3) - cloej88

Summary: Dan has built a solid career for himself as a ghostwriter. He safely hides behind other people’s words, crafting their tales and pocketing the cash without any threat of notoriety. But lately he has been working on a book of his own, itching for a change.

Phil is an indie filmmaker who happened into some huge breaks over the last few years. He wants to use his influence to uplift queer stories for the screen, so he puts out an open call for story submissions. At his agent’s behest, Dan submits his story.

The writer!Dan and director!Phil friends/co-workers to lovers AU that we never knew we needed.

Limerence (ao3) - cherryheartz

Summary: Phil Lester is popular. But Dan Howell is not. Dan Howell likes Phil Lester's raven colored hair and ice blue eyes. But so does someone else…

Lying Makes You Go to Hell (ao3) - skygremlin

Summary: The ice that binds him. The glittering spirits that feed him. The sigil of his house. The vermilion that will set him free.

From 2015 to 2017, Dan and Phil put out a trilogy of April Fool’s pranks creating crafts that were silly and a bit Satanic. They made their dramatic return in 2024 by summoning a goat demon.

Or did they?

Dan and Phil accidentally summoned a demon while making a DanAndPhilCRAFTS video in 2017. Dealing with the pressure of moving apartments, touring the world, coming out, and a stressful lockdown, they were stuck living with a pizza-loving, goat-shaped roommate from the underworld for seven long years. Keeping it a secret and keeping a demon in check was nearly enough to make them snap. When they returned to crafting in 2024, they weren’t summoning a demon - they were finally banishing him back to hell.

My Sanctuary, You're Holy to Me (ao3) - skygremlin

Summary: Sister Daniel isn't very good at being a nun, but she's stuck living in a convent because she's got no other plans. The church needs a new priest for Sunday mass, and the responsibility falls on her to meet him for the first time. Will he see through her false devotion?

Sister Daniel/Father Philip convent au (Sister Daniel's origin story)

The Philver Scream (ao3) - UnorthodoxSavvy

Summary: While Dan's career in the FBI is taking off, Phil is left behind to pick up the pieces of his life after his brother's death. However, he finds himself plagued by strange nightmares that he can't explain. Soon, people around him start dying. Can Dan and Phil's partnership survive the mounting body count?

to let the light in (ao3) - cityofphanchester

Summary: Searching for a fresh start after a decade of dead ends in London, Dan becomes obsessed with a storytelling show on Rossendale Radio and a voice that hasn't been broadcast in years.

True Beauty Lies Beneath the Skin (ao3) - phansauce97

Summary: We're bringing back Punk AU's, folks, in which Phil Lester is lead guitar player in the popular British pop-punk band, Runaway Exorcist. The band continues to gain more fame day by day, and Phil couldn't be happier with his position in life, after recovering from an unimaginable tragedy and fighting many demons along the way. But even now, there are many gaps that Phil finds missing in his life, and his yearning to fill that gap only grows with each passing day that it remains empty...

Dan Howell is a tattoo artist and body piercer at Zombified Tattoos and Piercings, a popular shop in London. New to the tattoo scene, Dan proves himself to be extremely talented and quickly gains popularity. However, Dan has a bit of a secret. Well, it's not really a "secret" per-se, but it isn't something he tells just anyone either. When a post-tour Phil Lester walks into Zombified looking for some new ink, he and Dan...don't have the best first encounter.

When Dan discovers he and Phil can relate to each other on a more deeper and personal level though, and that Phil has many "secrets" too, they find both their gaps fading, realizing that letting someone in might not be so scary after all.

Two Man Team (ao3) - Nefertiti1052 (Succubusphan)

Summary: This is the story of two struggling friends who after many trials and tribulations find their way back to each other and build the life they've always dreamed of.

Or how Phil changed his life by talking to random strangers on the internet.

Undercover (ao3) - by phansauce97

Summary: After recovering from tragedy, Phil does his best to get back on his feet. He still had his mom, his brother, his friends, and a good future to look forward to. So, continuing to put one foot in front of the other, he pushes on.

Things turn upside down though when a new student arrives at school one day; tall, mysterious, and wearing all black.

"Dan Howell," or Agent Ten, as he's known, is a master assassin and secret agent. His mission? Go undercover to befriend, study, and ultimately - kill Phil Lester.

Yet despite his best efforts, this mission ends up being much more challenging than Dan would have previously expected, especially when he begins to fall hopelessly in love with his target.

-Rae

[thechurchofsplatterdaysaints]

Trying to get a handle on the movies. This is just the shit laying around for casual viewing. Doubles and triples of some due to upgrades, alternate cuts, extras, etc. Three more externals and not counting physical collection. I'm no hoarder, you are.

Need to get back on the cappin train so any requests are welcome.

3 Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) 2019: After the Fall of New York (1983) 4 Flies on Grey Velvet (1971) 7 Bloodstained Orchids (1972) 976-EVIL (1988) 10 To Midnight (1983) 60's GoGo Chicks / 1000 Shapes of a Female (Burlesque, 1963) 42nd Street Memories (2015)

Action Jackson (1988) Apt Pupil (1998) Agnes of God (1985) / American Me (1992) Angel (1984, Pt. 1 + Extras) Avenging Angel (1985) Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) / Dr. Phobes Rises Again (1972) Anima, The (SWV, 1968) A Clockwork Orange (1971) / Anthropophagus (Uncut, 1980) Alice Sweet Alce (1976) / Evil Laugh (1986) Alley Cat (1984) AIP Trailer Pack #3 Alone in the Dark (1982) Antichrist (2009) Awful Dr. Orlof (1962) / A Black Veil for Lisa (1968) Axe (aka Lisa Lisa, 1974) Anthropophagus (Uncut, 1980) Alien Vs Predator (2004) Angel 3, The Final Chapter (1988) American Movie (1999) Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) / Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972) Aileen: Life & Death of a Serial Killer (DOC, 2003) Awful Dr. Orlof (1962) / A Black Veil for Lisa (1968) Above the Law (1988) Aenigma (1987) Alien Nation (1988) Antichrist (1974) / Jack Ketchum's the Girl Next Door (2007) Antichrist (1974)

Angst (1983) Almost Human (1974) American Psycho (Uncut + Extras, 2000) Attack of the Beast Creatures (1985) / The Canyons (2013) Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957) Aerobicide (aka Killer Workout, 1987) April Fool's Day (1986) The Adventures of Busty Brown (1964) / The Big Snatch (1971) April Fool's Day (1986) Almost Human (1974) / A Day of Violence (Uncut, 2010) Armed Response (1986) American Tiger aka American Rickshaw (1989)

Best in Show (2000) / Black Dog (1998) Brainscan (1994) / Band of the Hand (1986) Blood Sisters (1987) Black Christmas (1974) Backdraft (1991) Burning, The (1981) Brainscan (1994) / A Night to Dismember (1983) Beyond the Law (1993) *** Baise Moi (2000) *** Blood Games (1990) Beyond, The (1981) / Wayward Pines S1 E6 Black Sunday (1960) Black Mass (2015) Bloodsport (1988) Bad Dreams (Uncut + Extras, 1988) Beast Within, The (1982) Blue Ruin (2013) Bad Lieutenant (1992) Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) Breeders (Uncut, 1986) Body Love (XXX, 1978) / The Story of O (1975) Bad Batch (2016) Back 2 School (1986) / Better Call Saul (S1, 3-4) Better off Dead (1985) / I know What You Did Last Summer (1997) Bloodrage (1979) Blue Velvet (1986) / One (Lynch Doc, 2007) Blue Velvet (1986) / Aenigma (1987) Barbarian Queen (1985) / Desparate Living (1977) Breakfast Club (1985) / The Boogens (1981) / Borgman (2013) Blood and Black Lace (1964) Birds of Prey (1987) Big Bird Cage, The (WIP, 1972) Batman Begins (2005) Burial Ground (aka The Nights of Terror, 1981) Beverly Hills Cop Trilogy (1984, 1987, 1994) Barfly (1987) / Factototum (2005) Bringing out the Dead (1999) / Battlefield Earth (RIFFTRAX, 2000) Behind the Candelabra (2013) Behind Convent Walls (1977) / Blue Velvet (1986) Big Racket, the (1976) Big Bad Wolf (2006) Black Roses (1988) Bay of Blood (1971) / Baron Blood (1972)

Barfly (+ Extras, 1987) / Tales of Ordinary Madness (1981) Buio Omega (aka Beyond the Darkness, 1979) The Brood (1979) Bride of Re-Animator (1990) *** Black Room, The (1984) / Behind the Green Door (XXX, 1972) Big Bird Cage, The (WIP, 1972) / The Beast Within (1982) Barton Fink (1991) *** Black Cat, the (1934) / The Raven (1935) The Bride's Initiation (1976) Boys Next Door, the (1985) *** Bukowski: Born Into This (DOC, 2003) *** Bukowski at Bellevue (DOC, 1995) *** Broken Bars (1995) Black Gestapo, the (1975) Behind the Green Door (XXX, 1972) Borrower, the (1991) Big (1988) / The Burning (1981) Beast With a Gun (aka Mad Dog Killer, 1977) Bone Tomahawk (2015) Burbs!, the (1989) Breaker! Breaker! (1977) Brain Damage (Uncut, 1988) Blue Rin (2013) / Bronson (2008) Barbarian Sound Studio (2012) / A Black Veil for Lisa (1968) Bang Bang (XXX, ???) / Blackmail for Daddy (XXX, ???) / Candi Girl (XXX, 1979) The Bizarre Ones (1968) / The Prince of Porn (Phil Prince DOC) Bad Boy Bubby (1993) / Crash (1996) Blood Simple (1984) Better Off Dead (1985) / Black Mass (2015) Black Tar Heroin (Doc) / Blue Ruin (2013)

The Bizarre Ones (1968) / Too Much Too Often Boxing Helena / Daughters of Lesbos

Case of the Scorpion's Tail, the (1971) Chrome and Hot Leather (1971) Candyman (1992) / 28 Days Later (2002) Curfew (1989) Color Purple, the (1985) Carpenter, the (1989) Con Air (1997) / Speed (1994) Curdled (1996) Class of 1999 I & II (1990, 1994) C.H.U.D. (Director's Cut, 1984) Companeros (+ Extras, Italian/Eng Audio, Eng Subs, 1970) City in Panic (1986) Chopper (2000) *** Casino (1995) Cobra (1986) *** Cold in July (2014) Curse of the Werewolf (1961) Caged Heat (1974) Castle Freak (1995) Conan the Barbarian (1982) Chopping Mall (1986) / Chrome and Hot Leather (1971) Cape Fear (1991) / Birdman (2014) Casualties: Can't Stop Us (MUSIC) Creed (2015) / Zipperface (1992) Class of 1999 (1990) Church, the (aka Demon Cathedral, 1989) Class of Nuke 'em High (1986) *** Cannibal Apocalypse (1980) *** Cars that Ate Paris, the (1974) Cheerleader Camp (1988) Confessions of a Serial Killer (1985) Cat O' Nine Tails (+ Extras, 1971) Color of Money, the (1986) Class of 1984 (1982) *** Cold Eyes of Fear (1971) City Heat (1984) / The Thin Blue Line (1988) Caged Women II (1996) Cosmopolis (2012) Charley Varrick (1973) / Clue (1985) Crimes of Passion (1983) / Star '80 (1984)

Creepshow (1982) *** Cruising (1980) Case of the Bloody Iris, the (1972) / Cat O' Nine Tails (1971) Confessions of a Serial Killer (Uncut, 1985) Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) / Revenge of the Creature (1955) / Creature Walks Among Us (1956) Charles Bukowski Tapes 1/2 (1985) *** Charles Bukowski Tapes 2/2 (1985) *** Crazy Joe (1974) / Almost Human (1974) Cold Steel (1987) Chinatown (1974) Crash (1996) / Curse of the Devil (1973) Creep (SOV, 1995) / NY '77 (DOC, 2007)

Dolemite (1975) Dead Bang (1989) Drop Dead Fred (1991) / Doggie Woggie Poochie Woochie (2012) Disaster Artist, the (2017) Demonwarp (1988) Deliberate Stranger: Ted Bundy Story (1986) Dracula Exotica (XXX, 1980) Death Wish 3 (1985) / Death Wish 4 (1987) Die Hard (1988) Delores Claiborne (1995) Dallas Buyers Club (2013) Dangerously Close (1986) Dirt, the (2019) Devil's Rain, the (1975) / Dead, the (2011) Dolemite is My Name (2019) Death Wish (1974) / Death Wish 2 (1982) Dawn of the Dead (European Version, 1978) *** Dawn of the Dead (Extras, 1978) *** Drive in Delirium III (Trailers) Driller (XXX, 1984) / Ultra Flesh (XXX, 1980) Demons (1985) *** Devil's Wedding Night (aka Full Moon of the Virgins, 1973) Don't Deliver Us From Evil (1971) Diary of a Cloistered Nun (1973) Drive in Delirium II (Trailers) Dead and Buried (1981) *** Deadbeat at Dawn (1988) Death Warrant (1990) Dressed to Kill (1980) Dawn of the Dead (1978) *** Death Wish (2018) Donnie Brasco (Extended Cut, 1997) Django (1966) Devil's Rain, the (1975) / Django Kill! (+ Extras, 1967) Diary of a Cloistered Nun (1973) / Donnie Brasco (Uncut, 1997) Don't Go in the House! (1979) Dead Man's Shoes (2004) Der Todesking (1990) The Donner Party (2009) Destroyer, the (1988) Death of a Cheerleader (1994)

Death Spa (1988) Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981) Demon Cop (1990) Deadly Eyes (1982) Demons 2 (1986) *** Desperate Living (1977) Dear Mr. Gacy (2010) Don't Torture a Duckling (1972) Django Kill! (+ Extras, 1967) Decline of Western Civilization, part II: The Metal Years (1988) The Drop (2014) Donnie Darko (Director's Cut, 2001) Deranged (Uncut, 30th Anniv. Edition, 1974) Les Demons (Franco, 1972) / SWV: Snatched Women (1974) Don't Torture a Duckling (1972) / I Stand Alone (1998) Driller (XXX, 1984) / A Virgin Among the Living Dead (1973)

Exit Wounds (2001) Edge of the Axe (1988) / Twice Dead (1988) The Evil Dead (1981) Edge of Sanity (1989) Escape From New York (1981) End of Watch (2012) Exorcist, the (Director's Cut, 1973/2000) Exterminator, the (Uncut, 1980) Ed Gein (2000) *** Event Horizon (1997) Ed Wood: Look Back in Angora (DOC + Trailers, Extras, Interviews, Home Movies, 1994) Empire of Ash (1988) Evilspeak (1981) Eaten Alive (1980) Executioner II (1984) Exorcist III (1990) Eyes of a Stranger (1981)

Four of the Apocalypse (1975) Fatal Attraction (1987) Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) Friday the 13th (1980) Friday the 13th part IV: The Final Chapter (1984) *** Flesh Eaters, the (1964) Fire Down Below (1997) Faster Pussycat, Kill! Kill! (1965) / The Filth Shop (1969) Fight for your Life (1977) Flasher (XXX, 1986) Final Score (1986) Friday the 13th Part 3 (1982) *** Friday the 13th Part 3 (1982) *** Final Sacrifice (NON MST3K VERSION, 1990) Friday the 13th part 9 Jason Goes to Hell (1993) Friday the 13th part 7 The New Blood (Extended Uncut, 1988) Fuego (+ Trailer, 1968) / Something Weird Video Trash-o-Rama Vol 8) First Blood (1982) Fort Apache: The Bronx (1981) Fall of the House of Usher (1961) / The Raven (1963) Fog, the (1980) Fistful of Dollars (1964) *** Female Prisoner 701 Scorpion (1972) / Female Prisoner Scorpion Jailhouse 701 (1972) Firepower (1993) / Filth Shop (1969) Full Eclipse (1993) Frenzy (1972) From Hell (2001) Fight Club (1999) Foot Fist Way, the (2006) Friday the 13th part 6, Jason Lives (1986) *** Friday the 13th part 2 (1981) *** Friday the 13th part 2 (1981) *** Fear City (1984) Factotum (2005) / Fiend (+ Extras, 1980) A Few Good Men (1992) Fifth Cord, the (1971) / Four of the Apocalypse (1975) Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1943) Fright Night (1985) Fallen (1998) Forced Entry (XXX, 1975) / Café Flesh (XXX, 1982) Faster Pussycat, Kill! Kill! (1965) / Sick and Nasty Trailers

The French Connection (1971) Finders Keepers, Lovers Weepers (1968) / Cherry Harry & Raquel (1970)

Gone With the Pope (1976/2010) Grifters, the (1990) / Crazy Joe (1974) Get Out (2017) Glimmer Man, the (1996) Galaxy of Terror (1981) Girls Nite Out (1982) Good Time (2017) / Groundhog Day (1993) Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) Grave Robbers (1988) / Mortuary (1983) Gone With the Pope (2010) / Girl in Room 2A (1974) Grotesque (1988) Glengary Glenn Ross (1992) Grindhouse Trailer Classics (TRAILERS) The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (1966) *** Gang Boys! (1994) A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III (2012) Giallo in Venice (1979) Giallo in Venice (1979) The Girl Next Door (2007) The Godfather (1972) The Godfather II (Coppola Restoration, 1974) The Godfather (Uncut, Coppola Restoration, 1972) The Gray Man (2022)

Harry Brown (2009) Hyena (2014) Halloween (2018) Halloween Kills (2021) / Halloween Kills (Extended Cut, 2021) The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things (2004) Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) Hannibal (2001) / Red Dragon (2002) Halloween II (1981) Humanoids from the Deep (Uncut, 1980) Happy Gilmore (1996) / Vampires (1998) Hellraiser (1987) Hellraiser II (Uncut, 1988) The Howling I (1980) / The Howling II (1985) Howling 3: the Marsupials (1987) / Howling 4: The Original Nightmare (1988) Hard Ticket to Hawaii (1987) Hell of the Living Dead (1980) Hidden in the Woods (2012) Howling 3 (1987) House on Sorority Row (1982) Hollywood Cop (1987) Hardcase & Fist (1988) Highlander (Director's Cut, 1986) Hospital Massacre (1982) Heavy Metal Parking Lot (1986) / High on Crack Street (DOC, 1995) Halloween III (1982) House of the Devil (2009) Hallucinations (Pollonia Bros, 1986) Hidden in the Woods (2012) / House of Games (1987) The Hustler (1961) Hunter's Blood (1986) Hands of Steel (1986) Horror Hotel (1960) / Devil Girl from Mars (1954) Hard Target (1993) Hell on the Battleground (1988) Highway To Hell (1991) Heat (1995) Heartbreak Ridge (1986) / Hot Summer in the City (1976)

Inferno (1980) *** Inseminoid (1981) I, Tonya (2017) If You Meet Sartana, Pray for your Death (1968) Ilsa: The Wicked Warden (Uncut, 1977) / Ilsa: She-Wolf of the SS (1975) Ilsa: Tigress of Siberia (1977) / Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll (1974) Inside A L'Interieur (2007) In the Folds of the Flesh (1970) Irreversible (2002) *** It: Chapter 2 (2019) / Midsommar (2019) The Irishman (2019) Island Claws (1980) / I Think We're Alone Now (DOC, 2008) It Conquered the World (1956) Illustrious Corpses (aka Cadaveri Eccellenti, 1976)

Just Before Dawn (1981) Jaws (1975) Jaws 2 (1978) / Jaws 3 (1983) / Jaws 4 (1987) Jack the Ripper (Franco, 1976) Just One of the Guys (1985) *** Joker (2019) Jason X (2001) Jaws 5: The Cruel Jaws (1995)

The Killer Inside Me (2010) The Killing of America (DOC, 1981) Keoma (1976) / Enzo Castellari Interview Killer Joe (2011) Kingdom of the Spiders (1977) The King of Staten Island (2020) Kalifornia (1993) / Keoma (1976) The Killer is on the Telephone (1972) Kickboxer (1989) Killing Them Softly (2012) Ken Park (2002) The Kindred (1987)

Lock Up (1989) Less Than Zero (1987) / Middle Men (2007) Light the Fuse, Sartana is Coming! (1970) Last House on the Left (1972) Lost Highway (1997) / Late Phases (2014) Lucio Fulci Remembered Vol 1 (DOC, 2008) *** Lost Highway (1997) *** Lost Highway (1997) / Blue Velvet (1986) L'Ossessa (aka Eerie Midnight Horror Show, 1974) The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) Last House on Dead End Street (1973) Let the Right One In (2008) *** Lady Terminator (1989) L'Alcova (1985) Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man (1976) Liz & Dick (2012) Light of Day (1987) The Last House on the Left (1972) *** Lethal Weapon (1987) Lock & Load (1990) Loaded Weapon (National Lampoon, 1993) The Loved Ones (2009) The Lost Boys (1987) The Life & Death of a Porno Gang (2009) / Lady Stay Dead (1981) The Lorelei's Grasp (1973) The Hollow & Little Lady Fauntleroy (DOC, 1975) Late Phases (2014) / NY Stories (1989) A Lizard in Woman's Skin (1971) *** The Lord of the Rings (1978)

Mark of the Devil 2 (1973) Maniac Killer (1987) Mule Skinner Blues (DOC, 2001) *** Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) / Motherless Brooklyn (2019) The Magnificent Seven Ride! (1972) The Mechanic (1972) Ms. 45 (1981) Mr. Majestyk (1974) Mannaja: A Man Called Blade (1977) Madman (1982) Monster of the Opera (1964) / Madhouse (1974) Motel Hell (1980) *** Mountain of the Cannibal God (1978) *** Monster Dog (HD, 1984) Misery (1990) Mad Foxes (1981) Maniac (2012) My Bloody Valentine (1981) *** M. (1931) Mother's Day (2012) Maidens of Fetish Street (1966) Mark of the Devil (1970) Murder Obsession (1981) / Murder by Death (1976) Manhunter (1986) Mother of Tears (2007) *** Mannaja (+ Extras, 1973) / Mean Streets (1977) Mother May I Sleep with Danger (1996) Malibu Express (1985) The Mutilator (1984) The Monk (1972) My Dear Killer (1972) My Son, My Son, What Have ye Done? (2009) / The Departed (2006) Mankillers! (1987) Mr. No Legs (1978) Mega Piranha (2010) Mother! (2017) Malone (1987) The Manson Family (Jim Van Bebber, 1997) *** The Magnificent Seven (1960) Murphy's Law (1986) / hard Times (1975) Mean Streets (1977) Mantis In Lace (1968) Maniac Cop (Synapse Special Edition)

Midnight (1982) / Mortuary (1983) Meantime (1983) Il Mostro del'Opera (1964) / The Killer Inside Me (2010) Maidens of Fetish Street (1966) / The Filth Shop (1968) Mudhoney (1965) / Good Morning & Goodbye (1967)

Night of the Juggler (1980) Night of the Demon (1980) / The Dead (2011) New Wave Hookers 2 (1991) / Penetrator (1991) / Prisoner of Pleasure (1984) Nightdreams (XXX, 1981) / Forever Night (XXX, 1998) Napoli Violenta (+ Interview, 1976) Night of the Demons 2 (1994) The Night Porter (1974) *** Nightcrawler (2014) Nightbreed (1990) *** Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors (1987) Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Night of the Creeps (Alternate Ending, 1986) Night of the Creeps (1986) Naked Violence (1969) / The Big Racket (1976) The Naked Gun 2 (1992) Naked Gun 33 1/3 (1994) Night of the Demons (1988) *** Never Too Young to Die (1986) / The Hearing Aid Sessions (DOC) Nightmare Beach (1989) Nightmare in a Damaged Brain (1981) Ninja III The Domination (1984) The Nun of Monza (1969) Nightmares (1983) Night Train Murders (1975) *** Natural Enemies (1979) Night of the Comet (1984) Navajo Joe (1966) The Night Walker (1964) / Tales from the Crypt (1972) The Night Stalker (1986) Nightmare City (1980) *** Night Warning (1982) Natural Born Killers (1994) Night of the Bloody Apes (1969) The Naked Cage (WIP, 1986) Naked Gun (1988) Necrophilia (XXX ???? 80s or 90s) / Burroughs x2 (???) Night Caller (1975) Night of the Hunter (1955) The New York Ripper (1982) *** Next of Kin (1989) Night Train to Terror (1985) The Night of the Devils (aka La Notte dei Diavoli, 1972)

Necropolis (1986) The Nest (1988) Night of the Creeps (Alt TV Ending, 1986) / Murder Set Pieces (2004) New Years Evil (1980) Neon Nights (XXX, 1981) / Silence of the Lambs (XXX Parody, 2011) Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) Nail Gun Massacre (1985) Night Killer (1990)

Out for Justice (1991) Office Space (1999) *** Once Were Warriors (1994) Over the Top (1987) Opera (1987) *** On Deadly Ground (1994) Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) Orgy of the Dead (1965) Overkill (1987) Old Henry (2021) / Parenthood (1989) The Omen (1976) / My Amityville Horror (2012)

The Possession of Virginia (1971) / The Debauchers (1976) Point Break (1991) Prisoner of Pleasure (XXX 1981) / The Story of Prunella (XXX 1972) / The Toy Box (XXX 1971) Psycho 2 (1983) Popcorn! (1991) The Predator (2018) / Prey (2022) Pink Flamingos (1972) Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959) Paradise Lost (DOC, 1996) *** Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (DOC, 2000) *** Patrick Still Lives (Uncut, 1980) Patrick Still Lives (1980) Prince of Darkness (1987) Plague of the Zombies (1966) Pet Sematary (1989) Profondo Rosso (1975) Project: Metal Beast (1995) Phallus in Wonderland (GWAR, 1992) Phenomena (1985) Pusher (1996) / Pusher 2 (2004) Profondo Rosso (Dual Audio, Commentary, 1976) Ponty Pool (2008) Phenomena (1985) Phantasm (1979) / Phantasm 2 (1988) (With extras) Piranha 2: The Spawning (1981) Platoon (1986) Poor White Trash 2 (1974) Primal Rage (1988) Piranhaconda (2012) Roger Corman's The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) / Tales of Terror (1962) Paths of Glory (1957) Pieces (1982) *** Pieces (1982) *** Profondo Rosso (Dual Commentary + Extras, 1975) Public Enemies (2009) The Pit (1981) The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) / Premature Burial (1962) Possession (Uncut, 1981) The Prowler (1981) *** Punisher: War Zone (2008) Piranha 2: The Spawning (1981) *** Penetrator (XXX, 1991) / Usual Suspects (1995)

Phantom of Death (1987) Purple Rain (1984) / Piranha (1978) The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) Pieces (Uncut grindhouse, 1982) Pet Sematary 2 (1992) Prime Cut (1972) Postcards From the Edge (1990) / Stone Forever (1999)

Rabid (1977) Rambo 4 (2008) Race with the Devil (1975) Rocky 5 (1990) Rocky (1976) The Red Queen Kills 7 Times (1972) Reckless (1984) Rats: Night of Terror! (1984) Rocky Balboa (2006) Ran (1985) *** Rabid (+ Extras, 1977) Rocky 3 (1982) Revenge of the Nerds (1984) The Raven (2012) Rocky 2 (1979) / Rocky 3 (1982) Roller Blade (1986) The Roost (2005) Repo Man (Criterion, 1984) Rewind This! (DOC, 2013) Rabid Dogs (1974) Red Riding Trilogy (1973, 1980, 1983) Rambo First Blood Part 2 (1985) Reform School Girls (WIP, 1986) The Rules of Attraction (2002) / The Intruder: Rambu (1986) The Rainmaker (1997) Ricco: The Mean Machine (1973) Roadhouse (1989) Robocop (Extended Cut, 1987) *** Re-Animator (1985) *** Red Riding (1974) Red Riding (1980) Riot on 42nd Street (1987) Rider of the Skulls (aka El Charro de las Calvares, 1965) Raw Meat (1973) / Blood Simple (1984) Road to Revenge (1993) The Raid: Redemption (2011) The Re-Animator (1985) The Room (2003) Return of the Living Dead 2 (1988) / Return of the Living Dead 3 (1993)

The Runaways (2010) Rock N' Roll Nightmare (1987) Roadhouse (Rifftrax, Mike Solo, 1989)

Sisters (1972) Sartana the Gravedigger (1969) / Have a Good Funeral Sartana (1970) Scream (2022) Shawshank Redemption (1994) Stand By Me (1986) Sleepwalkers (1992) Streetwalkin' (1985) Savage Streets (Uncut, 1984) Singapore Sling (1990) Stepbrothers (2008) *** Snake Eater Trilogy (1989, 1990, 1992) Sleepaway Camp (1983) / Switchblade Sisters (1975) Suspiria (1977) Starcrash (1978) / Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity (1987) Skyscraper (1996) / Rocktober Blood (1984) Samurai Cop (1991) Spine (1986) The Straight Story (1999) Silent Night Deadly Night (1984) Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity (1987) / Scary Movie 2 (2001) Shivers (+ Extras, 1975) / Schindler's List (1993) Silver Bullet (1985) Shutter Island (2010) Salem's Lot (1979) Saturday Night Special (1976) / The Sister of Ursula (1978) The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh (1971) Stripped to Kill (1987) Slaughterhouse (1987) Salon Kitty (1976) *** Stone Cold (1991) *** Sleepaway Camp 2 (1988) / Sleepaway Camp 3 (1989) Silence of the Lambs (1991) Short Cuts (1993) Suspected Death of a Minor (+ extras, 1975) / Swamp Thing (Uncut, 1982) Street Trash (Uncut, 1987) / Student Bodies (1981) The Stabilizer (1986) Se7en (+ Extras, Disc 1/2, Disc 2/2, 1995) *** Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005) Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) / Oldboy (2003) She-Wolves of the Wasteland (1988) / Santo Attacks the Witches (1968)

Street Law (1974) Sweet Movie (1974) / Scary Movie (2000) She Mob (SWV, 1968) / Nymphs Anonymous (SWV, 1968) Scary Movie (2000) Scary Movie 3 (2003) Scream (1996) Stickfighter (1994) / Sharknado 2 (2014) The Street Fighter (1974) / Return of the Street Fighter (1974) Scream for Help (1984) Some Guy Who Kills People (2012) Suburbia (1984) Shotgun (1989) Scarecrows (1988) Supersonic Man (1979) Saving Private Ryan (1998) Santo en El Vampiro y el Sexo (Uncut, 1969) Suspected Death of a Minor (+ extras, 1975) / Swamp Thing (Uncut, 1982) Starry Eyes (2014) Samurai Cop (Jo Bob Briggs Commentary, 1991) The Stendhal Syndrome (1996) *** Street Law (+ Extras, 1974) / Suddenly Last Summer (1959) Some Kind of Wonderful (1987) Trash-O-Rama Vol 8 (SWV, Trailers) Society (1989) Slumber Party Massacre 3 (1990) Slumber Party Massacre 2 (1987) The Stuff (1985) Sleepaway Camp (1983) / Sorority House Massacre (1986) Spasms (1983) / Splatter University (1981) / Spookies (1986)

Slugs (1988) *** Sharknado! (2013) Shook em Dead (1991) / Student Bodies (1981) Sabata (1969) / Adios, Sabata (1971) The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh (1971) / Sixteen Candles (1984) Satan's Baby Doll (1982) / Slaughter High (1986) Supervixens! (Russ Meyer, 1975) / Up! (Russ Meyer, 1976) Story of O (XXX, 1975) / Body Love (Dual Audio, XXX, 1978) Showgirls (Fully Exposed NC-17, 1995) / Scream 4 (2011) Sorceress (1995) / Killpoint (1984) Serpico (1973)

Them! (1955) / Battletruck (1982) To Catch a Killer (1992) Tropic Thunder (2008) *** Terminator 2 (1991) Trick or Treat (1986) They Have Changed Their Face (1971) / The House at the Edge of the Park (Uncut, 1980) True Romance (Unrated Director's Cut, 1993) True Romance (1993) *** Tombstone (1993) Turner & Hooch (1989) / Parenthood (1989) Ted Bundy (2002) Tim & Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012) The Princess Bride (1987) / The Executioner part 2 (1984) Toxic Avenger (1984) / Tales of Ordinary Madness (1981) Tenement (aka Game of Survival, 1985) The Texas Vibrator Massacre (XXX, 2008) / The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005) T-Force (1994) Two-Lane Blacktop (1971) The Thing (1982) Tango & Cash (1989) Trauma (1993) / Torso (1973) The Toxic Avenger (Uncut, 1984) Thrashin' (1986) *** Thief (1981) This is England 1-4 (1990) This is England (BBC TV Mini Series, 1986) This is England (1988) Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) *** Texas Chainsaw Massacre Bonus Disc (1974) *** Titus (1999) True Believer (1987) Take it out in Trade (1970) / Texas Dildo Masquerade (XXX, 1998) The Trial of Jeffrey Dahmer (Court Footage,1992) / Whore Church Vol. 1 (2012) This World, Then the Fireworks (1997) This World, Then the Fireworks (1997) / Trick R Treat (2009)

To The Limit (1995) / Whore (1991) Terminator 2 (1991) *** Thriller (1973) *** The Tomb of Ligeia (1964) / Tales of Terror (1962) Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) Tommy Boy (1995) / This is England (2006) Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992) / Eraserhead (1977) Tremors (1990)

Ultra Flesh (XXX, 1980) Undefeatable (1993) / Undefeatable (composite) The Usual Suspects (Disc 1, Disc 2. 1995) *** Unsolved Mysteries (Disc 2) Unsolved Mysteries (Disc 4) Uncut Gems (Screener, 2019)

Vampire's Night Orgy (1973) Visting Hours (1982) A Virgin Among the Living Dead (+ Extras, 1973) A Virgin Among the Living Dead (+ Extras, 1973) Vengeance (aka Scream for Vengeance, 1980) Videodrome (1983) *** Vamp (1986) / Vixen! (Russ Meyer, 1968) The Video Dead (1987) / The Beast of the Yellow Night (1971) Valley of the Dolls (1967) Venom: Alive in 85 (MUSIC) Violent City! (1970) VFW (2019) / VIY (1967) Visions of Ecstasy (Short, 1989) / Valerie & Her Week of Wonders (1970) Vigilante Force (1976) Victims (1985) Vampyros Lesbos (1971) Vice Squad (1982) Vixen! (Russ Meyer, 1968) / The Seven Minutes (Russ Meyer, 1971) El Vampiro y el Sexo (1969) / SWV Trailers / Virgin Hostage (XXX, 1972) Vampyros Lesbos (1971) / Behind Convent Walls (1977)

The Wild Bunch (1969) Witchfinder General (1968) What We Do in the Shadows (2014) Werewolves on Wheels (1971) The Warriors (Director's Cut, 1979) Waterpower (Uncut, XXX, 1976) Wild at Heart (1990) / Lost Highway (1997) When a Stranger Calls (1979) What Becomes of the Broken Hearted (1999) Witchery (Uncut, 1988) Wild Beasts (+ Extras, 1984) Women's Prison Massacre (WIP, 1983) / Human Experiments (WIP, 1979) Wrong Turn 2 (2007) / Winter's Bone (2010) Wrong Turn 2 (Unrated Director's Cut, 2007) Wet Wilderness (protoslasher/porno roughie, XXX, 1975) Whirlpool (aka She Died with her Boots on, 1970) Werewolf: Beast Among Us (2012) Werewolf Woman (1976) The Whip & The Body (1963) The Wasp Woman (1995) The Whip & The Body (1963) / What Have They Done to Your Daughters? (1974) Wet Wilderness (XXX, 1975) / Werewolf Woman (1976) Wake in Fright (1971) The Wild & Wonderful Whites of West Virginia (DOC, 2009) / Wild Honey (1972) The Wrestler (2008) *** Winnebago Man (DOC, 2009) Werewolf (1996) What Have You Done to Solange? (1972) *** Witchcraft 1-3 (1988, 1989, 1991) White Fire (1984) Witchcraft 4-6 (1992, 1993, 1994)

X (2022)

Year of the Dragon (1985) YOR: The Hunter from the Future (1983) The Jail: Women's Hell (WIP, 2006) / Young Frankenstein (1974)

Zombie Holocaust (1980) *** The Zodiac Rapist (XXX, 1971) / Taboo (XXX, 1980) Zombie (1979) *** Zombie (Extras, 1979) *** Zombie (Triple Audio + Commentary, 1979) Zodiac (2007) Zombie High (1987) Young Warriors (1983) Zombie 3 (1988)

EL SANTO COLLECTION

El Santo Vs. Capulina (1969) / Santo & Dracula's Treasure (1969) Santo Vs. Black Magic Woman (1973) / Santo vs. Blue Demon in Atlantis (1970) Suicide Mission (1973) / Santo & the Vengeance of the Mummy (1971) Santo vs. The Murderer of TV (1981) / Santo vs. the Diabolical Brain (1963) Operation 67 (1967) / Santo & the Grave Robbers (1966) Hotel of Death! (1963) / The Mummies of Guanajuato (1972) Santo vs. the Kidnappers (1973) / Santo in the Mystery of the Black Pearl (1974) The Treasure of Montezuma (1968) / Mystery in the Bermuda Triangle (1979) Santo vs. the Evil Brain (1961) / Santo vs. the King of Crime (1963) Chanoc & Son of Santo vs. the Killer Vampires (1981) / Santo vs. Baron Brakola (1967) Anonimo Mortal (1975) / Blue Demon Contra el Oider Satanico (1966)

ROLLIN COLLECTION

The Iron Rose (1973) / Phantasmes (1975) Rape of the Vampire (1968) / Shiver of the Vampire (1971) The Nude Vampire (1970) / Sidewalks of Bangkok (1984) Jean Rollin: Shorts, Interviews, Trailers Killing Car (1993) / The Two Orphan Vampires (1997) Night of the Hunted (1980) / Schoolgirl Hitchhikers (1973) Lips of Blood (1975) / Lost in New York (1989)

UNIVERSAL COLLECTION

This Island Earth (1954) / Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) The Brute Man (1946) / Strange Door (1951) / It Came from Outer Space (1953) House of Dracula (1945) / Mummy's Curse (1945) / She Wolf of London (1946) The Climax (1944) / Invisible Man's Revenge (1944) / The Mummy's Ghost (1944) Ghost of Fran Kenstein (1942) / The Mummy's Tomb (1942) / Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1943) Phantom of the Opera (1943) / Son of Dracula (1943) / House of Frankenstein (1944) Black Friday (1940) / Invisible Man Returns (1940) / The Mummy's Hand (1940) Invisible Woman (1940) / The Wolf Man (1940) / Invisible Agent (1942) Werewolf of London (1935) / Dracula's Daughter (1936) / The Invisible Ray (1936) Night Key (1937) / Son of Frankenstein (1939) / Tower of London (1939) Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) / The Old Dark House (1932) / The Invisible Man (1933) Black Cat (1934) / Bride of Frankenstein (1935) / The Raven (1935) Dracule (1931) / Frankenstein (1931) / The Mummy (1932) Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) / Phantom of the Opera (1925) / Cat & The Canary (1927)

SARLI

My Days With Gloria (2010) Y el Demonico Creo a los Hombres (1960) / Sabaleros (1959) Carne Sobre Carne (2008) / La Dama Regresa (1996) Le Mujer del Zapatero (1965) / La Tentacion Desnuda (1965) Sabaleros (1958) / La Senora de Intendente (1967) / Hitomi Surprise! India (1960) / Los Dias Calientes (1966) Desnuda en la Arena (1969) / Extasis Tropical (1970) La Tentacion Desnuda (Uncut, 1965)

[sloshed-cinema]

Presence (2024)

David Koepp is perhaps the greatest WMD in the Hollywood Industrial Complex’s arsenal at present. Certainly, he can create shock and awe in impactful screenplays like Jurassic Park or War of the Worlds when he collaborates. But he is also capable of annihilating stalwart franchises as with Indiana Jones, or even destroying multi-film projects before they can even get off the ground: no one has heard from the Dark Universe since 2017. But it’s not just the big-budget blockbusters that are unsafe in his hands. With this latest Soderbergh project, Koepp sets his sights on the high-concept microbudget indie film. The conceit is simple enough: a family are haunted by some sort of presence in the house they recently bought. Already at wit’s end as a group due to a daughter wracked by grief, a mother consumed by tax fraud or something (it really doesn’t matter, it goes away mid-film and is never commented upon again), a son in the throes of jocky adolescent douchedom, and a husband trying and failing to be the anchor point for everyone else, this spirit proves to be just too much. But this isn’t a conventional ghost movie. No, it is shot entirely from the perspective of this (mostly) unseen presence. Excellent. Do the people really even need to speak, or could this be told in some sort of dialogue-free manner, with the excuse being ghosts can’t perceive sound on the mortal plane or something, who cares? The answer is, yes it could. But the version provided here sadly contains dialogue. So much of it. So, so much terrible dialogue. This is a man who doesn’t even know that Gen Z exists trying to write teen speech, though perhaps it’s a blessing there are no Skibidi Toilet references to be found. This is a man who has never encountered another human being trying to depict marital strife and instead makes both raging alcoholics as lazy shorthand. This is a man completely lacking subtlety trying to create a poignant exploration of grief. Isn’t there a Star War you could be ruining somewhere instead, David?

Could this have been an interesting formal exercise? Perhaps. The opening minutes are an indictment of the DoP, as the introduction of the camera’s movements are obscured by poorly sculpted darkness as the entity begins to wander about the home, though I concede that could have been the projection in the theatre. Ultimately, there is a curiosity to the camera as this spirit tries to understand what is going on and when (David Koepp dropping time loops into his supernatural story casually ruins it halfway through), a confusion about the space. Anger occasionally breaks through, erupting into frenetic camerawork and flying objects. It’s this latter portion that causes the film to fall off its tightrope now and again: the manipulation of objects is introduced far too early into the film and every time something like that happens, the tone shifts into one of unintentional corniness. All the same, if left on mute, there is enough to go off in a story that blends natural and supernatural angst. Also maybe let’s leave the final reveal out in such a literal sense. It’s just kinda silly as-is.

THE RULES

SIP

Chloe is in her bed

Fist-pump dad line

Bashful ghost cam

The Presence causes something to move

BIG DRINK

Every line Julia Fox says

Ryan drugs a drink

The “punching the membrane” vibrating camera effect happens

[the-demigod-project]

Timeline Info:

The Dawn of the Demigods: The Sun Empire and Project God-Fall:

The world as we know it diverged sharply from history in 1945. Japan, faced with the looming threat of nuclear annihilation from the United States' Manhattan Project, launched an ambitious and desperate scientific endeavor: Project God-Fall. This top-secret initiative aimed to harness ancient myths and cutting-edge science to create a new type of weapon—a living weapon—capable of reshaping the tides of war.

Combining genetic experimentation, esoteric rituals, and spiritual practices deeply rooted in Shintoism and Japanese mythology, Project God-Fall succeeded in creating the first Demigod: Momoko, the Child of the Rising Sun.

Momoko, a being of immense power, became the physical embodiment of Japan's divine heritage. Her abilities were staggering, capable of turning battlefields into wastelands and making her impervious to conventional weapons. The successful unveiling of Momoko as a national icon and protector shifted the global balance of power. The U.S., once poised to end the war with nuclear force, found itself in a precarious position. While the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki still occurred, the devastating emergence of Momoko fundamentally altered the outcome. Japan was no longer seen as a defeated nation but as the leader of a new world order.

By 1952, Japan rebranded itself as the Sun Empire, ruled by a council of divine and human leaders with a singular mission: the pursuit of global dominance under the guidance of their burgeoning pantheon of Demigods.

The Rise of the Golden Federation: The Kronos Initiative:

Japan's advances did not go unnoticed by its allies. Germany, already at the forefront of scientific innovation during WWII, eagerly collaborated with Japan to secure access to the secrets of Project God-Fall. By the late 1940s, Germany had launched its own version of the program: The Kronos Initiative. Drawing from Greco-Roman mythology, German scientists combined their mastery of genetics with the mythological and esoteric traditions of the Western world.

By 1955, the Golden Federation—a coalition of European nations led by Germany—produced their first Demigods, beings of immense strength and tactical precision. Unlike the Sun Empire's ethereal and spiritual creations, the Golden Federation's Demigods were meticulously engineered, blending human ingenuity with the raw power of mythology. Their first success, Gabriel the Eternal Shield, embodied the perfect synergy of science and divine will.

Germany's dominance reshaped Europe and its former colonies. The Golden Federation expanded its influence rapidly, claiming territories across the globe. By the late 20th century, the world was split between two superpowers: the Sun Empire and the Golden Federation. While officially allies, they were bitter rivals, both vying for ultimate supremacy.

North America: The Last Bastion of Freedom:

The United States, once the world's dominant power, was reduced to a shadow of its former self. Its nuclear arsenal served as a deterrent against full-scale invasions, but it was not enough to secure the country's former influence. Yearly incursions by the Demigods of the Sun Empire and the Golden Federation left the continent scarred, its people weary and its resources stretched thin.

Despite these challenges, America remained defiant. Through decades of clandestine research and technological advancements, they launched Project Demi-God in 1987. However, progress was slow and riddled with failure. The secrets of creating Demigods proved elusive, and many early experiments ended in tragedy.

It wasn't until 2002 that Project Demi-God achieved its first breakthrough. By 2017, the United States had successfully produced 10 young Demigods, each representing a blend of human ingenuity and the mythological essence of North American legends and folklore. These fledgling warriors, though untested, offered hope for a nation on the brink of collapse.

The World in 2017(Present Day):

The global power structure is a tense balance of three superpowers:

• The Sun Empire: Ruling over much of Asia, Oceania, and parts of Africa, the Sun Empire maintains its dominance through its vast pantheon of Demigods and its cultural propaganda that portrays them as the ultimate saviors of humanity.

• The Golden Federation: Controlling Europe, parts of the Middle East, and South America, the Golden Federation prides itself on its technologically superior Demigods and the disciplined order of its regime. Its Demigods are seen as paragons of strength and precision.

• North America: The last free region, fiercely independent but weakened by decades of conflict. The U.S. now pins its hopes on its newly minted Demigods, praying they will be enough to stave off annihilation and perhaps turn the tide in their favor.

The world teeters on the edge of an apocalyptic clash, with North America as the battleground for freedom against tyranny. The emergence of America's Demigods sets the stage for a new chapter in this high-stakes saga, where the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

Map:

[rabbitcruiser]

The Convention of 1818 was signed between the United States and the United Kingdom on October 20, 1818, which settles the Canada–United States border on the 49th parallel for most of its length.   

[speedytheporcupineaucorner]

Speedy The Porcupine AU: Yandere Himiko.

(Sketch not done by me)

The offical equivalent to Sonic.EXE in the Speedy The Porcupine AU. For more information about the AU as a whole, click here.

Yandere Himiko a self-aware version of herself who acts like... a typical yandere. Acting friendly and normal at first before revealing who she really is.

There's multiple interpretations of Yandere Himiko, but the most recent interpretation is that she ocasionally wanders around cosplay conventions and other places similar to that, going under the alias of "PixelLovely". Once she sees a potential love intrest, she'll act casually, greeting herself in a friendly manner, after hanging out with them for a while, she'll give the love interest either a Speedy the Porcupine cartridge or disk.

The game on this cartridge/disk has her torture Mr. Benedict in several ways until the player gets to the end, where Yan-Himiko will reveal herself, telling the player that she is their "girlfriend", in other words, that they love her. If the player declines their confession. She'll get mad, and claim that she is their soulmate. And then, she'll trap the player in the game, it's unknown what she does to them after this.

The other common interpretation is that the game will play exactly the same as the first game, execpt when the player gets to the end, where the game will glich out and Yan-Himiko will reveal herself.

Yan-Himiko's (in-universe) origins came from a creepypasta known as "A Young Girl's Game" written by a user called MC The Weasel. The story follows a man named Ryan, who recives a mysterious cartridge from his friend John. I actually did write this in-universe creepypasta too, it can be read here:

The creepypasta wasn't very well received, and was often mocked and criticised for it's poor quality. A fangame based on it was also released shortly after the story was made, said fangame was also slightly criticised, but regardless, it was pretty popular.

Despite the criticisms, it didn't stop people from making their own takes on Yandere Himiko, and their own Yan-Himiko fangames too.

The official (in-universe) takes include:

Koibito

A creepier version of Yan-Himiko that made her debut in Speedy PC Edition. Featuring red eyes with heart pupils, a messy version of her OG outfit, an X-shaped version of her bowtie, and a grey version of her red suspender skirt.

2011 Yan-Himiko

The current version of Yandere Himiko, and Koibito's past incarnation, the only notible difference between this one and the OG is that this one has a grey suspender skirt like Koibito does.

"Himiko"/2017 Yan-Himiko

Originally made for a remake of the OG story before the character became under the ownership of a different user. This one is a rather off-looking Himiko. Having a porcelain-doll like body, blanked out eyes, and missing a lot of her acessories. Leaving her with only her white shirt and skirt.

You better love her and believe she's the real Himiko, because if you don't, there will be consequences.

Another popular peice of media was a mod for the rhythm game Rap Jam Saturday titled "VS. Yandere Himiko". Where the protagonist of said game must battle against the tutual yandere and other characters. The mod inspired a few other Yan-Himiko mods to be created. The most notible one was a bait-and-switch mod called PorcuPop/Himiko Legacy, featuring the current incarnation and the "Himiko" versions of Yan-Himiko.

Misc. Info

Yan-Himiko's canon voice is "distorted, and uses a much slower, creepier cadence."

The most noticible difference between normal Himiko and Yandere Himiko is that Yan-Himiko has freckles.

She wouldn't hurt her animal friends. She may be a Yandere, but that doesn't mean she'd suddenly kill everyone.

Many takes set within Speedy's world have her fall in love with Speedy himself, though a lot of people do it in the platonic sense.

Anyone is welcome to ask questions about the AU or do concepts for the AU of course.

[sporadicmemeage]

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (2017), sentence starters

↳ feel free to change pronouns, etc.

"Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for."

"Buried in your bones, there's an ache that you can't ignore. It's taking your breath, stealing your mind."

"All that was real is left behind."

"Don't fight it, it's coming for you, running at you."

"It's only this moment - don't care what comes after."

"Your fever dream, can't you see it getting closer?"

"It's fire, it's freedom, it's flooding open. It's the preacher in the pulpit and your blind devotion."

"There's something breaking at the brick of every wall that's holding all that you know."

"Do you wanna go where it's covered in all the colored lights? Where the runaways are running the night."

"This is the greatest show!"

"It's everything you'll ever want. It's everything you ever need."

"We light it up, we won't come down."

"The walls can't stop us now."

"They can say I've lost my mind."

"I don't care, so call me crazy."

"A million dreams are keeping me awake."

"I dream of what the world could be, a vision of the one I see."

"However big, however small - let me be part of it all."

"Share your dream with me."

"You may be right, you may be wrong - but say that you'll bring me along to the world you see."

"You're asleep inside, but you can shake awake."

"You're just a dead man walking, thinking that's your only option."

"Take the world and redefine it."

"Go and light your light, let it burn so bright."

"You're more than you could ever be."

"You're dreaming with your eyes wide open."

"You know you can't go back again to the world that you were living in."

"No more living in those shadows."

"You run with me and I can cut you free out of the drudgery and walls you keep in."

"Trade that typical for something colorful, and if it's crazy - live a little crazy."

"You can play it sensible, the king of conventional - or you can risk it all and see."

"Don't you want to get away from the same old part you have to play?"

"I hate to tell you but it just won't happen."

"Thanks, but no, I think I'm good to go."

"I quite enjoy this life you say I'm trapped in."

"I live among the swells and we don't pick up peanut shells. I'll have to leave that up to you."

"Go and do like you do, I'm good to do like me."

"Is this really how you like to spend your days? Whiskey and misery and parties and plays?"

"If I were mixed up with you, I'd be the talk of the town. Disgraced and disowned, another one of the clowns."

"Let me give you the freedom to dream and it will wake you up and cure your aching."

"You set off a dream in me."

"Take my hand. Will you share this with me?"

"Darling, without you, all the stars of a thousand spotlights, all the stars we steal from the night sky will never be enough."

"These hands could hold the world and it'll never be enough for me."

"I'm not a stranger to the dark."

"I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars."

"I know that there's a place for us."

"This is brave, this is bruised, this is who I'm meant to be."

"I'm not scared to be seen."

"You know I want you. It's not a secret I try to hide."

"You're here in my heart."

"Who can stop me if I decide that you're my destiny?"

"What if we rewrite the stars, say you were made to be mine?"

"You are the one I was meant to find."

"No one can say what we get to be."

"You think I don't want to run to you?"

"It was hopeless after all."

"No one can rewrite the stars."

"Everything keeps us apart, and I'm not the one you were meant to find."

"It's not up to you, it's not up to me - when everyone tells us what we can be."

"I can't have you."

"We're bound to break and my hands are tied."

"I'd follow you to the great unknown."

"It's all an adventure that comes with a breathtaking view - walking the tightrope with you."

"You pulled me in and together we're lost in a dream."

"I risk it all just to be with you."

"I risk it all for this life we choose."

"Will you catch me if I should fall?"

"A man learns who is there for him when the glitter fades and the walls won't hold."

"From that rubble, what remains can only be what's true."

"If all was lost there's more I gained, cause it led me back to you."

"From now on, these eyes will not be blinded by the lights."

"From now on, what's waited till tomorrow starts tonight."

"I drank champagne with kings and queens, the politicians praised my name."

"Those were someone else's dreams."

"For years and years I chased their cheers - the crazy speed of always needing more."

"When I stop and see you here, I remember who all this was for."

[deeptrashwitch]

OC COD: Ghosts ->"J.J"

Name: Juliana “J.J” Jiménez Rojas

Age: 27

Birth date: June 15th of 2000 - Bogotá (Colombia)

Nationality: Colombian

Residence: N/A

Affiliations: Anti-federationists (former) / Ghosts (currently)

Rank: None

Nickname: J.J, lil’ bird (by Elias), maniac (by Logan), Juli (by Hesh), kid

Occupation: Recon expert for Task Force STALKER

Height: 1,78 m/ 5'10" ft

Weight: 76 Kg

Blood type: A+

Pronouns: She/her

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Languages: Spanish (native), English, Quechua, Chibcha and Emberá

Affiliations

Ghosts:

- Elias "Scarecrow" Walker

- David “Hesh” Walker (alive)

- Logan Walker (alive)

- Keegan P. Russ (alive)

- Thomas Merrick (alive)

- Alex “Ajax” Johnson

- Esmeralda Rosa Sanchez ( @imagoddamnonionmason oc)

Family:

- Mario Jiménez (Father) (deceased)

- Paula Rojas (Mother) (deceased)

Personality

- Juliana is calm and thoughtful, always trying to keep the peace whenever arguments start between everyone. She cares a lot for the Walker family ever since Elias took her under his wing. And she's great friends with Logan.

- Whenever the team is on a mission, Juliana hides her emotions and becomes a cold blooded killer. She will kill without a doubt if she has to.

- Also she likes to talk with everyone, but will stay in a comfy silence if none of them feel like talking.

Biography

She was born in Bogotá , Colombia, as an only child from a military dad and a civilian researcher mother. During her childhood she was a calm and quiet kid, but also curious, trying to learn everything. Her parents were kind and taught her to be a respectful and clever kid, while at the same time, they let her discover her interests.

By the moment the Federation arose, the Colombian government refused to help at first. But since they were already allied between some countries, they ended up taking control of Colombia as well by force. During that, J.J’s mom was killed because she was in the way of the Federation soldiers. Juliana was twelve by then.

After the Federation took over, some officers of the Army ran away, refusing to work with the Feds. Mario was between them. They ended in the jungle hiding, and to survive, they made an alliance with the guerrillas. That's how J.J started to train with them.

On 2015, Mario went to Caracas when he heard about the mission to kill Almagro, offering his and some volunteers help. There he met the Ghosts and became friends with Elias Walker. And in 2017, they heard about ODIN's fall, so her father started to teach her everything he knew and what her mother knew too.

Eight years later, Mario was hunted in Colombia and killed in front of J.J and before dying, he gave her a single task. Go to the remains of the US and find Elias Walker, saying that he'll help her and give her a place to stay.

Two years after that, she first encountered Hesh and Logan Walker. And later on, after a conflict with the two brothers, she met with Elias. He comproved her story and offered her to stay despite his sons surprise.

Skills

- Knows guerrilla warfare and conventional tactics.

- Well trained in hand-by-hand combat.

- Her specialty is stealth and sniper.

Trivia

- She has a crush on Hesh. Logan knows and pesters her with that, and that's why they argue with each other. Does Hesh knows? No, not at all.

- J.J loves Riley, it took a while for her to win over the dog. In the end, it's normal to find her cuddling with Riley when they were at home or inside a vehicle.

- She loves to speak with Elias, hearing his stories. Somehow, it reminds her of her family.

- Loves to drink tea, and sometimes steals Logan’s coffee before running to hide while he chase her arguing.

- When she wants to bother Logan, she starts speaking spanish just saying random things, and enjoys Logan's confusion. Also she notices how Elias chuckles whenever he notices her doing it.

Song:

Picrew/Face claim:

(Emilia Ceballos)