The Púca Is Ireland’s Pastoral Trickster Spirit

The Púca Is Ireland’s Pastoral Trickster Spirit

Atlas Obscura and Epic Magazine have teamed up for Monster Mythology, an ongoing series about things that go bump in the night around the world—their origins, their evolution, their modern cultural relevance. You’re a banker, living in a cottage in Dublin. It’s autumn and the wind is brisk but pleasant, so you decide to take…

In West Africa, the Adze Is an Insectoid Source of Misfortune

In West Africa, the Adze Is an Insectoid Source of Misfortune

Atlas Obscura and Epic Magazine have teamed up for Monster Mythology, an ongoing series about things that go bump in the night around the world—their origins, their evolution, their modern cultural relevance. As night settles across Togo and Ghana, the adze, it is said, slips through keyholes, under windows, around doors. They fly to the…

Will a Biden Victory Crush Late Night TV?

Will a Biden Victory Crush Late Night TV?

The 2016 presidential race permanently changed the jokes told after the nightly news. Late night comedians, fearing a Donald Trump victory, shifted their content aggressively to the Left. Jokes got massaged or simply nudged aside for talking points ripped out of a New York Times op-ed. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonIn…

THE LAST EXORCIST: The Power of Crap Compels You

THE LAST EXORCIST: The Power of Crap Compels You

Exorcisms have been a topic of horror films for decades. Even the most famous of these, William Friedkin‘s The Exorcist, spawned two sequels, two prequels, and a TV series that ran for two seasons. It’s a tall order for any other exorcism films to compete with, indie or not! The Last Exorcist has a decent…

TRUMP CARD: Contemporary Propaganda Film for America’s Far-Right

TRUMP CARD: Contemporary Propaganda Film for America’s Far-Right

Dinesh D’Souza is on trial once again with his new film, Trump Card, a visual overload consistent with his record so far. As a propagandist, he’s not so much Leni Riefenstahl but Michael Moore. In the same way, Moore perhaps wishes he had the journalistic integrity and style of Alex Gibney – damning, classy and…

Ganryū-jima in Shimonoseki, Japan

Ganryū-jima in Shimonoseki, Japan

Almost everyone in Japan knows of the 17th-century swordsman Miyamoto Musashi and the legendary duel between him and his rival, Sasaki Kojirō. Musashi allegedly arrived at the duel purposefully late, wielding a wooden sword made out of an oar. Enraged by this disrespect, Kojirō lost his calm and was struck on the forehead, knocked unconscious,…

Nietzsche’s Path in Èze, France

Nietzsche’s Path in Èze, France

After losing year-long friendships with composer Richard Wagner and philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer over intellectual quarrels around the mid-1870s, the mental and emotional health of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche started to deteriorate. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonIn search of a cure for his ails and his ever-increasing migraines, Nietzsche started to roam the…

Mercatus Traiani (Trajan’s Market) in Rome, Italy

Mercatus Traiani (Trajan’s Market) in Rome, Italy

Trajan is considered one of the greatest Roman emperors, having expanded the empire to its largest size. While leading the conquest of Dacia, he ordered the construction of a large forum around 105 CE. The most integral part of the forum was a market. It’s believed the project was designed by Apollodorus of Damascus, an…

WANDER DARKLY Trailer

WANDER DARKLY Trailer

A couple gets lost in Wander Darkly, the latest from writer/director Tara Miele. Adrienne and Matteo were in a tough spot. A rocky point in their relationship and a new baby had them both frayed at the edges, so when they’re involved in a severe car crash, they are understandably thrown off course. Finding themselves adrift…

Carnfunnock Ice House in Ballygalley, Northern Ireland

Carnfunnock Ice House in Ballygalley, Northern Ireland

Inside Carnfunnock Country Park is an old ice house that was constructed during the mid-1800s. It was designed to provide ice for the former estate grounds known locally as Cairncastle Lodge. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonThe ice house was constructed into the side of a hill and would then be covered…

Jewish Medieval Museum in Fondi, Italy

Jewish Medieval Museum in Fondi, Italy

The Jewish Medieval Museum is located in a historical quarter of the small town of Fondi, about 62 miles (100 kilometers) south of Rome, in a district that was originally known as “La Giudea,” or the “Jewish District”. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonFondi was located on the northern fringes of the…

Synchronic

Synchronic

Among the best compliments that can be paid to the filmmaking team of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead is to say that their movies are more interesting when you know nothing about them. Leading with that statement raises the question of why anyone would read this review. Maybe you shouldn’t; maybe you should just see their…

A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting Film Review

A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting Film Review

★★★ Stars Directed by: #RachelTalalay Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonWritten by: #JoeBallarini Starring: #TamaraSmart, #OonaLaurence, #TomFelton, #LynnMasakoCheng, #TroyLeighAnneJohnson, #TyConsiglio Read moreRobert Stack Finally Solves a Mystery in ‘The Strange and Deadly Occurrence’Film Review by: Alicia Moore Tamara Smart takes centre stage within dreamland and nightmares alike as Kelly Ferguson, a high…

10 Fantastic Horror Films That Avoid the Sophomore Slump

10 Fantastic Horror Films That Avoid the Sophomore Slump

October is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “31 days of horror.” Don’t bother looking it up; it’s true. Most people take that to mean highlighting one horror movie a day, but here at FSR, we’ve taken that up a spooky notch or nine by celebrating each day with a top ten list. This article, about…

They Reach Grimmfest film review

They Reach Grimmfest film review

★★★★ Directed by: Sylas Dall Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonWritten by: Sylas Dall, Bry Troyer Starring: Mary Madaline Roe, Eden Campbell, Morgan Chandler Read moreRobert Stack Finally Solves a Mystery in ‘The Strange and Deadly Occurrence’Film Review by: Darren Tilby Drawing inspiration from the works of Stephen King and paying homage…

Chelsea Handler’s ‘You Ain’t Black’ Moment, Explained

Chelsea Handler’s ‘You Ain’t Black’ Moment, Explained

Chelsea Handler takes her activism seriously. The former E! network star cares more about being woke and pushing progressive causes now than making us laugh. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonA review of her new HBO MAX stand-up special, “Chelsea Handler: Evolution,” compares it to Hannah Gadsby’s shtick. It’s a TED Talk…

10 Most Ravenously Rodent-Infested Horror Movies

10 Most Ravenously Rodent-Infested Horror Movies

October is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “31 days of horror.” Don’t bother looking it up; it’s true. Most people take that to mean highlighting one horror movie a day, but here at FSR, we’ve taken that up a spooky notch or nine by celebrating each day with a top ten list. This article about…