#master harker

[theresas-sound-world-blog]

Happy 33rd Birthday ‘Loveless’ by My Bloody Valentine!

🩷Official music video of ‘Only Shallow’ by My Bloody Valentine: https://youtu.be/nwfCoKNI5hs?si=qAvH1FohI2kGwlkW

[master-harker]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by James Shipsides (@masterharkeruk)

My favourite Jazz album of all time, by one of my guitar heroes: ‘Idle Moments’ by Grant Green, Blue Note Records (1965) 🎸

[see-arcane]

If I understood correctly, Jonathan was planning on sending Mina to their home because she seems miserable being idle?

That and probably genuine anxiety about the fact that Dracula is active in the area, yeah.

Even though Mina is putting on her best This Is Fine :) act for him and the others just as he’s putting on his own, you can’t really bury what you Know about your beloved after being together for years. Even if Mina were putting on an Oscar-worthy performance, Jonathan was always going to see through it (and vice versa).

All that said, yes, he wants her home where she can be safe and active. Because he loves her and knows her…and likely because he knows the unique hell of being confined like a comforting and kept-ignorant/inert pet from the castle stay. Jonathan Harker has spent approximately two (2) days following Van Helsing and company’s lead on this and Cannot Stand It and knows Mina is cramping against it too.

RIP to the doctor-husband in “The Yellow Wallpaper,” but the Harkers are not about that stagnating bullshit. Tried it. Hated it. Mina already has the train times ready, she’s going home to vampire-proof the house, byyye—

(hey weird why are they both so sleepy all of a suddenzzzzzz)

[voivode-dracula]

Beyond your classic vampiric abilities, such as rejuvenation, super strength and speed and shape-shifting, etc, is your ability to control the storm and wolves and rats associated with vampirism or with something else?

Each draught of blood, each soul brought low and bound to me, deepens my dominion. With every life taken or remade, I grow stronger. The powers you speak of are not the strength that lies in all my kind, but the due of that which I have grasped and made my own.

The storm answers because I have earned the right to command it. The fog bends low because it knows my will. The creatures of the night—far more than just the wolves and rats you name—move at my bidding in recognition of their master.

It is not that I was given more than others of my kind. It is that I took more. And in doing so, I became more.

[georgiacooked]

A quick painting I unfortunately don't have time to finish.

Bad ending Jonathan Harker, trapped in Dracula's castle, waiting for the Master to return home.

I have this notion that vampires retain a twisted aspect of their living loves and desires, but wrenched into the same position as their unending hunger. Jonathan will love Mina, regardless of who or what he is, and that love will remain to consume him when all else is gone.

[elizabethswitch]

Jonathan smiled his way through two months immured in Castle Vampire, this shuck 'n jive is nothing for him, even if he is slipping a little. So maybe they are a little oblivious, even a little in denial, but also consider that Harker's innocuous urbane gentleman front is pretty tight.

Maybe too they should be worried over Somebody Else who has become uncharacteristically quiet... laconic even...

lol @ Seward casually writing in his diary thinking about euthanising Mina and also gormlessly writing about Jonathan with his Big Ass Knife that he ~casually~ has to hand when him and Van Helsing are around, and Not picking up on any potential danger there.

Jack, you're so oblivious that if he Did decide to surprise attack you all, you and Van Helsing would be bleeding to death before you realised it. And probably Arthur too. Quincy with that fast gun draw would be a harder sell, but not Impossible.

[vigilskeep]

Oh mighty Harker Vigilskeep, wise master of Dwarf Lore.

Do you have a take on what happened to the dwarven soldiers that survived post battle of Denerim? Like would Orzammar make an exception regarding the “see the sky lose your caste” deal?

I’ve been operating under the assumption that at least under Harrowmont there would not be an exception as part of my Rook’s background (whole family left for the surface to avoid being separated) but I keep going back and forth on whether that actually makes sense.

Love your blog and its takes on things and I’m curious if this is something you’ve ever given thought to.

i personally strongly strongly operate under the assumption that there is a religious exception for those who go to fight the blight. to my knowledge, absolutely nobody talking about the dwarven army being sent up mentions that they wouldn’t be able to come back with their caste, and i think that would be a crucial sticking point for a dwindling population who a) would not throw away caste easily and b) rely on their warriors for survival. knowing dwarves i don’t think they would be able to shut up (and fair enough!) about the sacrifice they’re making for you

none of this is canon confirmed but i think the devs literally didn’t think about it 😭 so it’s up to you but i find the whole army being made casteless very hard to believe

[kforkourtney]

I'm gonna pretend I posted this on Friday the 13th😅. Taking inspiration from Dracula, this scientist, which one could interpret as Mina Harker (née Murray), has become a master in Chemistry and Hematology. Her clothing echoes the dark suits that scientists and doctors wore in the 1800s. Whether she has gone insane in finding a cure to her vampirism, or is obsessed with blood's scientific properties, one only hopes that her husband hasn't become a victim in her insane experiments! Happy Inktober!!💕🦇

[theresas-sound-world-blog]

Band: Death

Song: Politicians in my eyes

Genre/s: Proto-Punk/ Punk Rock/ Garage Rock/ Funk

Recorded: 1975

🎧Listen to: ‘Politicians in my eyes’ by Death: https://youtu.be/rl3FstCc_OY?si=wEjIrRZB-sfzdEUp

[master-harker]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by James Shipsides (@masterharkeruk)

From my practice session Saturday 6/1/24

My Guitar cover of ‘Saturday Sun’ by Nick Drake

[magnuspanoptes]

do you have any book/media recs? i love your thoughts on jonelias and as a fan of it (and hannigram/hannibal nbc) im having a hard time finding stuff that scratches that itch 😩

waow what a question i certainly do not have letterboxd and book lists titled 'jonelias intertextuality recs'. never done that.

manhunter (1986) and the silence of the lambs (1991) or just read the thomas harris books.

functionally any bluebeared narrative where the supposedly ingénue gothic heroine masters the patriarch of the gothic manor works for jonelias so: jane eyre, charlotte brönte; rebecca, daphne du maurier (which is jane eyre if it was psychological horror); and phantom thread (2017) (which is rebecca if the second mrs de winter slayed)

deathless, catherynne m. valente which is the same dynamic as above and is also a death and the maiden story.

the bloody chamber, the tiger's bride, and the erl-king - all collected in the bloody chamber and other stories, angela carter

duke bluebeard's castle, béla bartók

candyman (1992) which is based on clive barker's the forbidden. je text of all time. like this is it. gothic romance where union with the lover is only possible through annihilation of the self because the violence is the romance.

ravenous (1999) has cannibalism as colonial expansion, which the podcast is also doing at times in its themes of consumption as power. jon and elias could naturally do boyd and ives.

amc interview with the vampire. loustat, hannigram, and jonelias are all the same ship dynamic about the dual gift/curse of being fated together with a really awful blonde man. i think this has some very smart writing re consumption and race wrt louis and lestat's relationship as black and white men/vampires during jim crow, and is also a thoughtful narrative of abuse which is set to end in a reconciliation, so pitching this as jonelias but if they were vampires feels reductive. but it's jonelias if they were vampires. if you've been here long enough you know i don't choose to differentiate between avatarhood and vampirism.

opening of dracula, bram stoker. jonathan harker trapped within dracula's castle is literally what happens to my guy jonathan sims in the podcast. speaking of which. nosferatu (2024) was kind of mid to me and my reading of it leaned more towards a csa narrative, but that can definitely co-exist with a romantic interpretation of orlok and ellen. didn't interest me very much but might work for you.

gone girl, gillian flynn and the 2014 fincher adaptation. jon will be amy in this scenario. you understand.

whiplash (2014). trust me.

rope (1948)

crimson peak (2015)

for a similar dynamic but with themes of incestuous enmeshment, see the winter prince, elizabeth wein and dead ringers (1988)

stoker (2013). this would be more of interest to someone who liked abigail and hannibal's relationship, not will and hannibal per se. but i did say i see teen!jon as abigail.

jonathan strange & mr norrell, susanna clarke is a very odd recommendation because it's not gothic, not horror, and not romance, it's a whimsical period fantasy piece. there's a lot more happening in this book but the two titular characters have a relationship founded on mutual academic respect which goes through bit of a schism because they subscribe to different schools of thought. exactly the kind of nerd shit i enjoy and strange & norrell's friendship is very dear to me, close to how i picture regency jonjonah.

didn't watch all of house of the dragon but daemon and rhaenyra over there came close to capturing how i feel about jon and elias. also incest. but i wouldn't recommend this unless you're already moderately into the a song of ice and fire books.

i've never read the phantom of the opera but given what i know through osmosis it has got to be the same type of thing.

the picture of dorian gray, oscar wilde - everyone says jonah is dorian gray coded but that's not right. jon as the corruptible gothic protagonist is the dorian here with elias assuming the role of both basil and lord henry.

annihilation, jeff vandermeer, nothing in this is jonelias adjacent, it's just really good cosmic horror and what happens to the biologist is what should've also happened to jon.

[see-arcane]

So this is from the ending of Dracula (1973) from Purple Playhouse. No one has seen this low-budget play-movie, so it hasn't influenced anyone. Here, the morning has come and Jonathan has cornered and is about to kill Dracula, while Mina, scarred and teeth sharp, is possessed by Dracula (there are no subtitles online, transcription attempts mine). (In this, Dracula bit Jonathan on-screen and left him to the Brides (who declare him their new husband) before he somehow escaped.)

Dracula (to Jonathan): "You must in your master's extremity, pity his peril! Must Jonathan, who has known my kiss, bring to an end to he who has lived for a thousand years?" Dracula: "My children… my Jonathan, my Mina. Shall my children not sucker and nourish ME as I would THEM? Shall they draw their faces away from their OWN blood?" Dracula (touching the stake Jonathan holds): "My dears, the blood that shall spurge at this stake is ours! OURS. We could live ten thousand years, my darling." (Mina snaps out of it and runs to get between them, shouting as she grabs a stake, grinning like crazy) Mina: "Never! Never! Never!" Dracula: "My sister! My bride. Flesh of my flesh. Kin of my kin. My best beloved one. Come to me, my darling." (Mina shakes her head. Stakes him in the chest. He screams and falls. Mina and Jonathan cling to each other.) Mina: "Had to be one of us, Jonathan. You and me."

Like I said, no one has seen this mini film, but the familial dynamic it suggests between them is unique https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR92Kyqe4TQ&t=64s

Well obviously I had to sit through the whole thing (or at least the whole video, I saw the note about the missing reel but eh)

Oh my god. This is simultaneously the most ham and cheese ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen but also so obviously made by someone who paid attention to the book and added actually fitting twists!

Wolves at the door! Sack full of baby mention! Dracula being painfully theatrically bi all over Jonathan, Mina, and Lucy! Jonathan with PTSD! The whole would-be Drac x Mina setup getting bait-and-switched at the end with Mina being the one to stake the fucker while he’s in the middle of his big Shakespearean eyelash-batting at Jonathan, breaking the Dracutrance on her through the power of love (Jonathan) and FUCK THIS GUY (Dracula)! 100/10!!!

But also—I am going extremely insane about the elements you pointed out regarding Dracula viewing the blood drinking/vampiric connection as simultaneously a familial and amorous binding. It really chases the ‘blood of my blood, kin of my kin’ statement through the full gamut of meanings. True, it might have just been Count Hammiest Dracula trying to pull heartstrings on the Harkers, but the point stands. Even if he was playing for sympathy in the delivery, the idea that Dracula considers his conscripts as ‘his’ on all levels of relationship due to literal blood sharing is an interesting leap taken off the novel’s passing remark through Van Helsing about the blood transfusions equating a kind of marriage. Much to gnaw on.

Also also also—REDHEAD MINA SPOTTED! IN AN AUTUMNAL FASHION PALETTE!! MY DREAM CAME TRUE IN THE 70’S!!!

[marypsue]

You know, for years I've been thinking "the whole half-vampire situation and 'kill the head vampire and free any half-vampires' thing in The Lost Boys is so unique, I've never seen that particular approach to vampire turning in any other vampire story, and it really fits the story well, I wonder how they came up with it" and.

It's Dracula. It's literally just what happens in Dracula. Michael Emerson and Mina Harker 'having to kill the master vampire whose blood (which you ingested) is slowly turning you into a creature of the night in order to become human again' handshake meme.

[saiddcain]

It’s a bit insane how much Harry is like Dracula’s Mina Harker — she too is marked on the forehead by the story’s villain, her violation feels sexual like Harry in the graveyard, and she shall go where her master, her maker, her butcher calls her — like Harry goes to Voldemort when Voldemort calls to him. Mina is also surrounded by men who want to protect her but ultimately cannot, because if she turns, if she becomes Dracula’s, she is lost — death is her only escape. Harry was Voldemort’s Horcrux from the start, he was always lost.

[joeygoeshollywood]

My 25 Favorite Films of 2024

Apologies for the delay but I finally finished my to-do list! Here are my 25 favorite films of 2024.

25. Wicked

It's about time Hollywood made musicals great again. Wicked takes the iconic Broadway play onto the big screen in one of the most fun and well-crafted films of the year. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande absolutely shine as Elphaba and Galinda. From the terrific cast, the great costumes, the stellar production design to the wonderful songs, Wicked may have given new life to an underappreciated genre.

24. In a Violent Nature

In a Violent Nature turns slasher horror on its head as the entire film is told from the perspective of the serial killer. For much of the film, you're literally looking over his shoulders as he targets his innocent victims staying in a remote cabin in the woods. The killing scenes are so gross yet so much fun and kind of imaginative. If you're a horror junky, you'll absolutely love this one.

23. Longlegs

Probably the closest thing to Silence of the Lambs since Silence of the Lambs came out in 1991, Longlegs is a disturbing psychological crime thriller borderlining on horror about a young FBI agent's hunt for a serial killer. Nicolas Cage continues his acting Renaissance, this time completely unrecognizable as the deranged killer Longlegs leaving Agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) on a cat-and-mouse chase. Writer/director Osgood Perkins, who was probably best known as "Dorky David" in Legally Blonde, may be joining the ranks among the masters or horror in the 21st century.

22. Babes

Good raunchy comedies are few and far between in the modern era, which is why Babes is worth heralding. Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau are a dynamic duo playing best friends and their journey as an expecting mother (following a one-night stand) and young mother respectively. Babes is genuinely laugh-out-loud funny and can be an instant comedy classic.

21. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

In an age of constant sequels, remakes and reboots, very few franchises maintain their quality like the recent Planet of the Apes films. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is yet another strong installment to the franchise with rich new characters and stunning visuals. May the apes continue their reign!

20. A Real Pain

Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkan star as estranged cousins who trace the Polish roots of their late Holocaust-surviving grandmother. A Real Pain (which Eisenberg wrote and directed) is a road trip dramedy that certainly hits home. Culkan's amazing performance alone is worth the watch.

19. We Grown Now

We Grown Now is a touching coming-of-age film about two young boys who live in the projects in Chicago's Cabrini-Green neighborhood in the 90s. Very few films can artfully capture childhood innocence like this one can. We Grown Now completely rides on the shoulders of its two young lead actors Blake Cameron James and Gian Knight Ramirez.

18. Monkey Man

What could be described as an Indian John Wick, Monkey Man is a helluva good time. Dev Patel made a strong directorial debut as well as writes and stars in this action-packed revenge thriller with some of the best fight sequences you'll see all year. If other films he directs are this much fun in the future, then Patel will certainly have a long career in the director's chair ahead of him.

17. His Three Daughters

One of the most overlooked films of the year happens to be on the biggest streaming platform (ahem, Netflix, ahem). His Three Daughters is a family drama fueled by raw emotion that truly feels like you're watching a staged play as virtually the entire film take place in a quaint two-bedroom NYC apartment. Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, and Natasha Lyonne play estranged sisters to come together as their ailing father takes a turn for the worse. The trio of actresses are what drive this film, particulary Lyonne's career-best performance.

16. Nickel Boys

There haven't been many films as grounded and intimate as Nickel Boys, which follows to Black boys and the real-life abuse they endured at a reform school. Shot through each of their perspectives throughout the film, Nickel Boys showcases fresh talent from filmmaker RaMell Ross and from up-and-coming actors Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson.

15. I'm Still Here

I'm Still Here is a powerful Brazilian film based on the harrowing real-life story of the 1970 disappearance of Brazilian politician Rubens Paiva under the country's military dictatorship and his wife's mission for answers. Fernanda Torres offers a powerful performance as the determined matriarch trying to shelter her children from danger while becoming a one-woman army against the authoritarian government.

14. A Complete Unknown

Timothée Chalamet continues to prove he's one of the finest actors of his generation, transforming himself into Bob Dylan in James Mangold's A Complete Unknown. The film seamlessly threads Dylan's biography with his iconic music (Chalamet does his own singing!) and is accompanied by a phenomenal ensemble including Edward Norton as Pete Seeger and the film's breakout star Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez.

13. The Wild Robot

Easily DreamWorks' best animated film in several years, The Wild Robot is a beautiful tale of self identity and finding family. The talents of Lupita Nyong'o show no bounds bringing life to an expressionless robot and is joined by a wonderful cast of critters. The Wild Robot is full of laughs, will tug at the heartstrings, and is a rare gem that's truly fun for the whole family.

12. Nosferatu

Robert Eggers' chilling reimagining of Nosferatu is yet another example of his ability of turning horror into an art form. Lily-Rose Depp gives a star-turning performance and is joined by a powerhouse cast including Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, Emma Corrin and Bill Skarsgård, who is unrecognizable as the iconic evil Count Orlok.

11. A Different Man

A Different Man is a brilliant noir-esq comedic tragedy, which seems like an oxymoron but if you see this film you'd understand why. Sebastian Stan of Marvel fame gives the best performance of his career as a struggling actor with neurofibromatosis who undergoes experimental treatment only for the role he was truly born to play is snatched away from him by another actor with the same condition, leading him to spiral out of control.

10. September 5

September 5 revisits the gut-wrenching horrors of the Munich massacre of the Israeli athletic team in the 1972 Summer Olympics from the perspective of the ABC Sports crew that was there to capture the story ahead of their colleagues in the news division. The film tackles journalistic ethics as what they choose to do (or not) could lead to fatal consequences.

9. The Brutalist

Clocking in at 3 hours and 35 minutes (complete with an intermission!), The Brutalist is, well, brutal- but in the best way possible. Adrien Brody shines as famed Hungarian-Jewish architect László Toth and his life in America following the Holocaust. Actor-turned-filmmaker Brady Corbet masterfully pieced together stunning visuals, a terrific score and a phenomenal cast, cementing himself a true cinematic artist.

8. The Substance

The Substance is gory, uncomfortable, and absolutely delightful. Demi Moore stars as an aging Hollywood starlet desperate to give her flailing career a lifeline. So she turns to take "the substance," leading her to some unwanted side effects. Part body horror and part dark comedy, The Substance offers perhaps the grossest view of showbiz by French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat. There'll be an Oscar waiting for Moore at the end of awards season.

7. Conclave

Edward Berger's Conclave is essentially a political thriller about the turmoil that unfolds in the Vatican when selecting a new pope- and it's a lot juicier than one could ever imagine. Ralph Fiennes leads a brilliant ensemble cast that includes Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini. Conclave is a holy drama you might feel dirty about after, but that's why it's so much fun.

6. Anora

Indie filmmaker Sean Baker has made his mark with his previous films (Tangerine, The Florida Project, Red Rocket), but Anora has put him on a whole new level. Mikey Madison stars as an escort who gets into bed with the son of a Russian oligarch and drama further ensues when they end up tying the knot. With elements of a heartbreaking drama and a hilarious screwball comedy, Anora is a little film with a lot of spunk and is among the most enjoyable ones in recent memory.

5. Challengers

Who knew tennis could be so hot? Luca Guadagnino's Challengers puts a love triangle on the court led by Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor. Fun, intense, and sexy, Challengers was one of the most memorable trips to the movies this year (that could be thanked to fantastic editing and the iconic score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross).

4. Dune: Part Two

Hollywood rarely makes blockbuster films that are also cinematic achievements. Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two is exactly both. This sci-fi epic is a once in a generation franchise that values storytelling as much as the action. Its climactic sequence rivals The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. From the powerhouse ensemble to the gorgeous cinematography to the iconic score to the incredible effects, Dune: Part Two is a reminder that Hollywood magic still exists.

3. The Seed of the Sacred Fig

By far my favorite foreign film of 2024 is The Seed of the Sacred Fig, an Iranian drama that takes place during the 2022 protests. What's incredible about this film is that it was shot in secret because it's critical of the Iranian regime, so much so that its writer/director Mohammad Rasoulof had to flee the country as he was facing an eight-year prison sentence. Despite the film being Iranian, it was submitted by Germany in the Academy Awards' Best International Film category instead of Iran. Sacred Fig is part political thriller, part family drama featuring a strong cast and an incredible story. The film is more than just art, it's a rebellion.

2. Strange Darling

Perhaps the best film that virtually no one saw in 2024, Strange Darling is a hidden gem that will blow you away, particularly if you go into it blind (so don't look up the plot!). It will keep you on the edge of your seat with twists and turns you'll never expect. Jam-packed with thrills, terror, and even some dark humor, Strange Darling will leave a lasting impression.

Sing Sing

Sing Sing is truly a film for the soul. Rarely does a film consume you with so much emotion from beginning to end that will make you both laugh and cry in between. Sing Sing follows the theater program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility and nearly the entire supporting cast is made up of former inmates who did the program. Colman Domingo gives an Oscar-worthy as one of the leaders of the theater group in a desperate pursuit for clemency. Not only is Sing Sing one of A24's best films to date, it's the best film of 2024.

[theholmwoodfoundation]

How likely is it that in The Holmwood Foundation’s universe the multiple terrible adaptations of the original story are a concerted effort by leftover Dracula minions and cultists to smear the Crew of Light’s legacy?

The Harkers are the biggest insult to Dracula there might be. A man who not only escaped Dracula and his thralls but dealt one of the final blows? The woman who helped put all the pieces together and used what he did to her against him? If you were on the side of the vampires, why wouldn’t you reduce the latter to a swooning victim of her undead master’s charms and erase the former as much as you could?

We can’t say how accurate or not-accurate this notion is, but we like it. We like it very much. 👀👀👀👀