What It Reminds Me Of: Black Mirror, Ex-Machina, M3ghan.
Writer: Drew Hancock
Director: Drew Hancock
Premise: A weekend getaway with friends at a remote cabin turns into chaos after it’s revealed that one of the guests is not what they seem.
My Premise: Three couples reunite at a billionaires secluded lake house and true identities come to light as people
Cast: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend.
Review:
This movie has been on every horror fans radar since the first trailer dropped. Sophie Thatcher has become quite a scream queen with her roles in things like Yellowjackets and Heretic. Jack Quaid has starred in horror films like Scream and The Boys. The Boys might not be known as a horror show, damn, it really is. Lukas Gage stuck out as the creepiest part of the Smile 2 trailer, as he bashed himself in the face with a weight. Harvey Guillén starred in the horror comedies What We Do in the Shadows and Cursed Friends. All of these actors under one roof made me feel sure this movie would be a hit.
But more things sold me on it early on. Zach Cregger, behind last years hit Barbarian, produced this movie. And just the general plot: What happens when a robot goes too far?
Now a lot of early reviews of this movie said that they wish they never saw the trailer. Or that the trailer didn’t give away that Thatcher was a robot. But don’t worry. The movie will keep you guessing. There are twists and turns. There is a whole lot of blood, a whole lot of laughs, and action up until the very end.
The Super Bowl isn’t just about football—it’s one of the biggest entertainment events of the year, drawing millions of viewers for the commercials, halftime show, and spectacle. In 2025, Super Bowl LIX reached a record 127.7 million viewers, with a peak of 135.7 million, making it one of the most-watched broadcasts in history. With such a massive audience, advertisers paid up to $8 million for a 30-second commercial spot, hoping to capture attention with creative, high-budget ads. The commercials have become just as much a part of the tradition as the game itself, sparking conversations and debates long after the final whistle. The halftime show also adds to the excitement, and this year’s performance by Kendrick Lamar, with a special guest appearance by SZA, had social media buzzing. Whether people watch for the ads, the music, or just the overall experience, the Super Bowl remains a must-watch event for millions.
There was the Ben Affleck Dunkin’ Donuts commercial that had do you wanna go down method acting in coffee. It was very Apocalypse Now.
There was the final trailer to the live action How to Train Your Dragon movie. While I don’t think we needed a live action, I am pretty excited to see it. The original movies are quite magical and feature one of my favorite musicians, Jonsi. they are also finishing a whole park in Universal for the franchise which looks great.
Well, I don’t really know much about this movie, I am excited for the new Marvel movies that are coming out this year like the new Captain America and new installment of the Fantastic Four. I think I read something that Thunderbolts is like Suicide Squad for Marvel. That’s what it looks like, a bunch of bad guys from various movies teaming up. Like I said, I don’t know much about it, but it is Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Sebastian Stan. That’s enough for me to be on board.
The Ritz commercial starring Aubrey Plaza and Michael Shannon as two people who get mistaken for never smiling was very funny.
Barry Keoghan riding on a horse over the Cliffs of Mohr was weird as hell so, naturally, I enjoyed it. Also, a modern day paper boy throwing laptops on peoples lawns was a cool perspective.
Seal as a seal was terrifying. I’ve already seen Justin Long as a seal and thought was all I would ever see. But hey, it was funny.
The Instacart commercial of all of the different products making their way to a house was really cool. It had been too long since we saw the Kool-Aid man bust through wall and an energizer bunny make its way down the street.
The Gordon Ramsay commercial with the alien technology used in the kitchen was fun. Even more with the surprise, Pete Davidson cameo reconfirmed that he is an alien. It seemed like a deleted scene from a Men in Black movie.
Speaking of batteries, the robotic Tom Brady commercial was pretty entertaining.
I love Glenn Powell. The man has chosen to work on some pretty cool projects. What I really like about him is that he doesn’t take himself too seriously and that he leans into his stereotypes. Especially in this commercial.
Decades later, Billy Crystal and Matt Ryan return to the deli where it all went down.
First, it was Eugene Levy’s eyebrows, and then it was Nick Offerman’s mustache. This commercial featured bird like mustaches traveling to the houses of Pringles customers.
How do I open? The Super Bowl had a lot of commercials that were pretty heartfelt and this is definitely my favorite one.
I had first thought that this was a trailer for a Toy Story horror movie. I’m not sure how to be had as much money as they did to put into the commercials for the Super Bowl, but man was this commercial fun and also terrifying.
This is the year for horror. I just saw Companion. I’m seeing The Monkey soon. we have many sequels coming out this year to horror movies such as Final Destination six.  And, Weil limited, this teaser trailer for the new Meghan 2.0, which features a sung by Chappell Roan, it’s enough to get people on board.
Kiernan Culkin is fresh off of the awards show circuit collecting trophy’s and nominations. So, why not play a Belluga in a commercial?
I love Post and I love Shane Gillis and this was a duo I didn’t know we needed.
Matt Damon and David Beckham as long lost brothers was hilarious. All the way up to the Ben Affleck dig at the end.
I don’t really know much music by Kendrick Lamar. I know he’s considered one of the best rappers alive—hell, he even won a Pulitzer Prize for Music. There’s no real reason I haven’t listened to more of his music. There’s just a lot of music out there.
That said, I do love his song “HUMBLE.”—especially the Skrillex remix, which somehow makes it even catchier. But my actual favorite Kendrick Lamar song? “YOLO.” Except…it’s not even his song. It’s a track he’s featured on, courtesy of The Lonely Island, a group best known for creating absurd, over-the-top comedy rap.
For the uninitiated, The Lonely Island got their start making sketches on YouTube before writing for an MTV Movie Awards show. Not long after, they were hired by Saturday Night Live—Andy Samberg as a cast member, with Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer joining as writers. Their SNL Digital Shorts became some of the biggest hits in the show’s history, with many still holding up today. “I’m on a Boat,” “Dick in a Box,” and “Like a Boss” are some of the classics. During their time on SNL, they had many guests on their songs including Natalie Portman, Justin Timberlake, and Michael Bolton.
After SNL, they kept the momentum going, releasing multiple comedy rap albums featuring an insane lineup of guests such as P!nk, and, of course, Kendrick Lamar, who appears on the song “YOLO.”
Now, most people hear the phrase “YOLO” (You Only Live Once) and take it as an excuse to live dangerously—skydiving, partying, making impulsive life choices. But The Lonely Island, in their infinite wisdom, flipped the concept entirely. In their version, “YOLO” actually stands for “You Oughta Look Out,” turning it into a paranoid anthem about avoiding risks, staying inside, and most importantly never trusting furniture.
The song also features, Adam Levine and the chorus and Kendrick Lamar provides a really great bridge to the song. Lamar actually provides some great financial advice. Check out the song music video below.
Anyway, our county is pretty divided right now. Republicans and Democrats. Chiefs fans and Eagles fans. People who thought Beyonce deserved Best Country Album and those that didn’t. But I think there’s one thing we can all agree on: A surprise performance by The Lonely Island at the Super Bowl would be pretty great.
If you know me, you know that everything is my favorite. Every movie, every show, every band—I love them all. But I have actually managed to narrow them down!
My favorite movie? Everything Everywhere All At Once. My favorite show? Scrubs. My favorite band? Bon Iver.
See? I can commit. And when it comes to my favorite song of all time, there’s no hesitation. It’s Same Drugs by Chance the Rapper.
Same Drugs is the sixth track on Chance the Rapper’s third mixtape, Coloring Book, released on May 13, 2016. And this wasn’t just any mixtape. It was a game-changer.
This was the first project to ever chart on the Billboard 200 based solely on streams. It went on to win Best Rap Album at the Grammys in 2017, making history as the first streaming-only album to ever take home an award. Critics praised it for its unique blend of hip-hop, gospel, and soul, and honestly, there’s nothing else quite like it.
Before we get into Same Drugs, it’s worth appreciating just how stacked this album was. The opening track, All We Got, features the Chicago Children’s Choir alongside Kanye West—Chance’s mentor and one of his biggest influences. Then you have No Problem featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz, an anthem that feels like pure joy. Chance has called Lil Wayne his dream collaboration, and you can tell he’s having the time of his life on that track. And then there’s All Night with Knox Fortune, a song that makes you want to roll the windows down and just drive.
But as great as all of those are, Same Drugs is the one that hits the hardest.
The song runs for 4 minutes and 17 seconds and was written by Chance the Rapper, Nate Fox, Peder Losnegård (Lido), Nico Segal (formerly Donnie Trumpet), Francis Starlite (Francis and the Lights), and Peter Wilkins. Production was handled by Chance, Peter Cottontale, Francis and the Lights, Lido, and Nico Segal.
Knowing that Francis and the Lights had a hand in this song suddenly makes sense. I am a huge fan of his, and their song, May I Have This Dance, and didn’t know he was a part of this song!
Let’s clear this up right away—the song isn’t about drugs. Chance has literally said that. The drugs in the title are just a metaphor for growing up and growing apart.
We all have that one person—whether it’s a friend, a partner, or even a sibling—who we used to share everything with. But then, life happens. Interests change, priorities shift, people move on. Suddenly, you realize you’re not on the same page anymore, and there’s no way to get back to where you were. That’s what this song is about.
Maybe it’s a friendship that faded. Maybe it’s a relationship that didn’t survive adulthood. Maybe it’s just life pulling two people in different directions.
It’s relatable because everyone has gone through it in some way. Maybe you and your best friend used to play video games all night, but now they have a family and no time. Maybe you and your ex used to go to concerts together, but now they don’t even listen to the same music anymore. Maybe you and someone grew up together, but now they don’t even believe in the same things you do.
Chance captures that feeling perfectly—the quiet, heartbreaking moment when you realize you can’t go back.
Beyond its metaphors about growing up, Same Drugs is packed with references to Peter Pan—a story about never growing up and holding onto childhood.
“When did you change? Wendy, you’ve aged.”
“I thought you’d never grow up.”
“Window closed, Wendy got old.”
“You must have lost your marbles.”
“Don’t you miss the days, stranger?”
“You were always perfect, and I was only practice.”
“Wide-eyed kids being kids.”
“What did you do to your hair?”
“When did you start to forget how to fly?”
“I was too late, I was too late.”
“A shadow of what I once was.”
The song isn’t just about growing apart—it’s about one person growing up while the other stays behind. It’s about someone losing their childlike wonder while the other still wants to believe.
That theme carries through the bridge, which is one of the best bridges:
“Don’t forget the happy thoughts
All you need is happy thoughts
The past tense, past bed time
Way back then when everything we read was real
And everything we said rhymed
Wide-eyed kids being kids
Why did you stop?
What did you do to your hair?
Where did you go to end up right back here?
When did you start to forget how to fly?”
Same Drugs starts off as a straight-up piano ballad—no drums, no extra production, just Chance’s voice and the piano. Then the layers start creeping in. By the chorus, those gospel harmonies come in, adding warmth and nostalgia. As the song moves along, soft claps and light percussion slide in, barely noticeable at first, but they give the song just enough movement.
The bridge slows things down, letting everything breathe before it builds up into an outro with reflective guitar licks that feel like the song is drifting off into a dream. Structurally, it doesn’t follow the typical verse-chorus-verse-chorus format—it’s got distinct sections that give it an almost floating, cinematic feel.
A song like this doesn’t need a great music video to be iconic. But in this case, the video only makes it better.
Released on February 6, 2017, and directed by Jake Schreier, the video shows Chance playing piano, singing alongside a puppet. I won’t say anymore. You need to watch it!
Since the dawn of television, countless major televised moments have shaped and influenced our world.
On July 20, 1969, the world watched as man first walked on the moon during the Apollo 11 landing, solidifying the United States’ victory in the Space Race.
On August 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon announced his resignation live on air following the Watergate scandal.
On June 10, 2007, The Sopranos finale aired, dividing millions on what actually happened to Tony Soprano.
But today, let’s talk about one of the greatest moments in television history: On July 13, 2010, MTV aired the series finale of The Hills.
Let’s rewind.
In September 2004, MTV introduced us to Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, a show that offered a peek into the lives of California’s elite 1%. Over three seasons, viewers became obsessed with the drama, fashion, and relationships of the cast, including Lauren “LC” Conrad, Kristin Cavallari, Stephen Colletti, Lo Bosworth, Trey Phillips, Christina Schuller, Morgan Olsen, Talan Torriero, and Jason Wahler.
The success of Laguna Beach led to its spinoff, The Hills, which followed LC’s journey as she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams in fashion. Through love, heartbreak, and always somehow ending up at the same nightclub as her frenemies, LC became a cultural icon. Joining her were co-stars Heidi Montag, Audrina Patridge, Whitney Port, Spencer Pratt, Brody Jenner, Kristin Cavallari, and Lo Bosworth.
The Hills aired for six seasons, running from May 31, 2006, to July 13, 2010, with a total of 102 episodes. On that fateful Tuesday in July, 3 million viewers tuned in for what became one of the most shocking television moments ever: the big reveal that much of it was staged.
For years, fans debated whether the show was real or scripted.
How did they always end up at the same club as their rivals? Didn’t Los Angeles have, like, a lot of clubs?
Were the lives of these uber-rich, uber-pretty people really that dramatic?
And, let’s face it: were they all really just hooking up with each other?
All these questions were somewhat answered during the series finale, titled “All Good Things…” In the final scene, Brody Jenner hugs Kristin Cavallari, the Hollywood Hills backdrop dramatically slides away, and the audience sees the truth: the scene was filmed on a backlot, not on location.
This iconic moment blurred the lines between reality and fiction, leaving fans in awe and cementing The Hills as a legendary piece of pop culture history.
It was December 15th, 2000. Hollywood was on a roll with raunchy comedies. American Pie had come out the year before, shocking audiences with its vulgarity and ushering prepubescent boys into manhood. The year 2000 brought us Road Trip and Scary Movie, and then, right before the end of the year, we got Dude, Where’s My Car.
The comedy/sci-fi was written by Philip Stark and directed by Danny Leiner, who later went on to direct Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.
The film starred Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott, with a supporting cast that included Jennifer Garner, Marla Sokoloff, Kristy Swanson, Hal Sparks, and Mary Lynn Rajskub. The movie felt like an early version of The Hangover—a film that would eventually become the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of its time.
The movie sparked a wave of pop culture moments in the years that followed: everyone wanted those Adidas jumpsuits, people got the tattoos, and then there were the ostriches. Or llamas. That summer, I went on vacation to Maine and discovered an ostrich farm right outside the supermarket. Naturally, we started calling them llamas and got a good laugh out of it. For anyone who hadn’t seen the movie, we just looked like people who didn’t know basic animals.
This post includes major spoilers, but let’s be honest—it’s been over two decades. The movie follows two stoners who wake up one morning and realize they can’t find their car, dude. Using clues, they retrace their steps from the night before, which somehow leads them to saving the world.
Early in the movie, Chester is watching Animal Planet and learns a fun fact about monkeys.
Their day is packed with ridiculous encounters: European bodybuilders, supermodel-like women in tight leather outfits, and everyone keeps asking them for the continuum transfunctioner. Jesse and Chester have no idea who to trust. Turns out, it’s the Nordic dudes who were sent to Earth to save it from the “super hot alien chicks.”
The climax of the movie takes place at an entertainment center, where the aliens square off against one another. As it turns out, Chester had the continuum transfunctioner the whole time—in the form of a Rubik’s Cube. Once solved, the device becomes a bomb that could destroy Earth—unless Chester can diffuse it. In a moment of panic, Chester remembers the Animal Planet documentary from that morning. It talked about how “chimpanzees often use crude sticks as tools.” So, he grabs a straw and defuses the bomb!
I can’t tell you how much this advice has helped me in real life. If I need to retrieve something stuck under the couch or press one of those impossible-to-reach buttons on an electronic device, this technique always comes through.
I’ve passed this lesson on to my son and others over the years.
It wasn’t “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It wasn’t “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” from Forrest Gump. It was “Chimpanzees often use sticks as crude tools” from Dude, Where’s My Car that taught me life’s greatest lesson.
Who knew that 20 years later, I’d still be using a piece of advice that a stoner learned from a monkey—and used to save the world?
Last night, my girlfriend and I sat down to watch a horror movie. I’m always torn between wanting to show her a classic that I have seen that I feel she needs to or watching a newer one than neither of us either of us have seen.
After watching some trailers for movies, like the haunting, a classic starring Liam Neeson, Owen, Wilson, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, the 1998 horror sci-fi film the faculty arrived in my head.
This movie has every actor in it. Josh Hartnett, Elijah Wood, Jordana Brewster, Clea DuVall, Laura Harris, Famke Janssen, Salma Hayek, Robert Patrick, Jon Stewart, Bebe Neuwirth, Shawn Hatosy, Usher Raymond, Piper Laurie, Daniel von Bargen, Christopher McDonald.
And it is directed by Robert Rodriguez, who is mostly known for directing an extremely violent movie and a kids movie the next. Although I guess horror was his earlier thing because he also did From Dusk Til Dawn.
Anyway, it’s a great movie for so many reasons. Besides Big Daddy, I think it’s one of the only other movies that John Stewart ever did. It is very reminiscent of films like the bodysnatcher and the thing. Some they actually referenced in the movie which I love when a television show or movie recognizes another famous piece of media within their universe.
I think the film holds up. The monster is pretty bad ass. The jump scares and creepiness are good. But there was one thing that just irked me re-watching this film. How Josh Hartnett runs.
Heartland character Zeke it’s a two time senior in high school. He lives by himself while his parents traveled the world. And while he is one of the more intelligent people, he spends his time dealing his own, created drugs to students and starting shit with teachers.
But the way he runs.
I surprisingly couldn’t find any clips online. I recorded this one. I’ll try to do another one but just go back and watch it because the movie still holds up and it is awesome.
I just started watching Juror #2. The Clint Eastwood-directed drama is now streaming on MAX and follows a juror in a trial who begins to second-guess a recent night of his.
The film stars Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, Chris Messina, Zoey Deutch, Cedric Yarbrough, and Kiefer Sutherland. It’s really cool to see Cedric Yarbrough in such a serious role—definitely a change of pace for him.
The movie jumps into the story pretty quickly and is incredibly tense.
But here’s the thing: 30 Rock has absolutely ruined this movie for me, and I’ll tell you why.
The Curse of The Rural Juror
Within the 30 Rock world—which, technically, exists inside someone’s head—there are tons of fictional TV shows and movies. America’s Kidz Got Singing, Bitch Hunter, Homonym!, Honkey Grandpa Be Trippin’, Martin Luther King Day, MILF Island, Queen of Jordan, and Sport Shouting are just a few examples. And honestly, MILF Island basically became a real show (Temptation Island, anyone?).
One of the most infamous entries in the 30 Rock universe is The Rural Juror, a big movie starring Jenna Maroney. It’s one of the many projects that constantly pulls her away from her responsibilities on the sketch show. The running joke is just how awful the title is—nobody can pronounce it. Even Liz Lemon, Jenna’s oldest friend and biggest cheerleader, struggles to root for the film, calling it “The Ruror Juror.”
Little did I know that 30 Rock’s ridiculous joke would ruin any future TV shows or movies for me with the word “Juror” in the title.
Watching Juror #2
That said, I was still able to binge and obsess over Jury Duty (thankfully). But now, here I am watching Juror #2, and I can’t stop hearing “Ruror Juror” every time the title is mentioned.
I’m about halfway through, and I’m really enjoying it. The cast is stacked, and the tension is palpable. If you can get past 30 Rock living rent-free in your head, I’d definitely recommend checking it out.
Clips from 30 Rock:
When Liz Lemon finally learns the name of the movie.
And the song from The Rural Juror:
Rachel Dratch playing Barbara Walters introducing The Rural Juror.
I have been a fan of Kyle Gallner forever. His acting career actually goes way back.
I recently watched Veronica Mars for the first time, and he has a supporting role in that for a season or two. Of course, he winds up playing a psycho.
He actually had a small but credited role in Wet Hot American Summer. And not the television show—the movie from 2001!
He also had a lot of one-episode appearances on television shows early in his career.
One of my favorite roles of his is in The Outsiders, a severely underrated TV show where he co-starred alongside David Morse and Ryan Hurst. The show is about an off-the-grid family in Appalachia that preys on the town down the hill because everyone is too scared of them. It’s super tense and plays out like a mix of Deliverance and the Wrong Turn remake.
But now, let’s talk about his horror movies.
Over the past few years, Gallner has starred in Strange Darlings and Smile 2. Strange Darlings isn’t your typical horror movie, but I’d still put it in that realm. It’s a great cat-and-mouse story with a big twist. The Smile films, on the other hand, are an impressive new addition to the horror world. They focus on a creepy presence that haunts people, giving them a week to figure out how to escape before meeting their end.
In 2023, he also starred in The Passenger. It took me a while to sit down and watch this one. I knew I wanted to see it because Gallner is one of my favorite actors, but I also knew it was going to be heavy. The movie follows a complacent townie who gets dragged into a violent rampage by his co-worker. It’s incredibly tense and disturbing, and Gallner gives an amazing performance.
I also recently watched The Cleansing Hour. I watched it for him and Ryan Guzman, who I know from 9-1-1. The film follows a fraudulent streamer who claims to perform exorcisms. And then, of course, one winds up being real.
I haven’t seen Red State since it came out, but it was a wild ride. It marked Kevin Smith’s start in the horror realm and is his answer to the Westboro Baptist Church. The film follows a few high school boys who meet a woman online—only to find out she wants to make them pay for their sins.
Ghosts of War has been on my list for a while. The film follows five American soldiers assigned to hold a French chateau near the end of World War II who encounter a supernatural enemy. The cast is what sold me on this movie, with Alan Ritchson, Theo Rossi, Skylar Astin, and Billy Zane.
His whole horror career includes the following. I might be leaving out a few that are more thriller than horror, but here’s the list:
1. Red Eye (2005)
2. The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)
3. Jennifer’s Body (2009)
4. A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
5. Red State (2011)
6. The Walking Dead (2013, episode: “Live Bait”)
7. Sublime (2007)
8. The Cleanse (2016)
9. The Cleansing Hour (2019)
10. Scream (2022)
11. Smile (2022)
12. Ghosts of War (2020)
13. Mother, May I? (2023)
14. The Passenger (2023)
15. Strange Darling (2023)
16. Smile 2 (2024)
Kyle Gallner has done a ton of horror and absolutely deserves to be called a scream king. If you’re not already a fan, you’re missing out on one of the best actors in the genre right now.
Premise: A mysterious traveler blackmails a young TSA agent into letting a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Eve flight.
My Premise: A cat and mouse game between a TSA agent and a mysterious man on Christmas Eve.
Cast: Taron Egerton, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Jason Bateman.
Review: Jason Bateman is one of the best comedic actors of our time. And is you listen to his podcast, Smartless, with Will Arnett and Sean you will know he’s also hilarious in real life. But damn is he a good serious actor.
I just started watching Ozark. I had seen a lot of it before but never finished it. It had been too long so I wanted to restart it. Bateman’s directorial debut was also in a film called The Gift which is one of the most disturbing movies that I have seen.
Bateman plays the antagonist in Carry On, playing against Taron Egerton, an extremely nice and easy going TSA agent who just found out he is expecting. The two of them play very well together in this movie.
While a lot of the movie plays out like Phone Booth, mostly with tension done over the phone, the second half of the movie includes a lot of action.
