The world is descending into hell so obviously I’m high on the Spice Melange and escaping into a fictional universe descending into hell. Dune (2021) in IMAX again, revisiting Dune (1984) in theaters, reading the source material: Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune. I see an earthworm stranded on the pavement after the rain and I cry, "Shai-Hulud!"
This month’s playlist:
Happiness
I stumbled across Shūzō Oshimi’s work via The Flowers of Evil, a very odd and uncomfortable story that is worth the read. Happiness was far more accessible for me and, delightfully, a vampire story that is faithful to the mythology’s original themes. Gore, despair, and body horror. With a smidge of solace in the end.
Suzhou River
This is one of those instances where your cinema bro texts you a name and you just watch it, no questions asked. Not the first first-person-view film I’ve seen (that prize unfortunately goes to Hardcore Henry) but it is the first movie I've experienced where it doesn’t feel like a gimmick. This movie flows. You’re lulled into it like a dream. And when you wake up you’ll have an unquenchable thirst for Żubrówka Bison Grass Vodka.
Odd Taxi
What a surprise. I was expecting a comedy due to all the anthropomorphic animals (conditioned by Bojack Horseman) but got a rather dark crime drama. Very good writing with distinct characters with a unique twist at the end. Excellent single-season series.
Helldivers 2
"I’m doing my part!" I barely dabbled with the original. I appreciated the gameplay and humor of the friendly fire of the initial outing, but it didn’t hold my interest. But the sequel changed that by moving the isometric view to over the shoulder and emphasizing the online co-op. Multiplayer isn’t my bag, especially PvP, but I make an exception for PvE. Squishing bugs and blasting automatons to spread "managed democracy" with internet ranbros is exquisite.
This week I also published a nonfiction piece, and have been making constant Dune jokes online and IRL and people are tired of it.