u/OrionTrips

The latest horror hit, Obsession, has taken the world by storm recently, becoming the highest-grossing horror film in decades. Truly, this horrifying indie-movie has struck a chord with the masses. People are resonating with this film more than anything else in recent memory. And what is Obsession saying that people are connecting with?

Surely, Bear's catastrophic mistake in wishing for the endless love of his high-school crush is a slip-up many of us young men can relate to. Bear tries to force a relationship with the most attractive woman he knows (Nikki), rather than the sweetest and kindest woman he knows (Sarah). And this theme of choosing lust over love is very relevant in today's sex-obsessed society, where pornography and casual hookups are more prevalent than ever. Through the internet, we are being programmed to choose women for their bodies rather than their characters.

The tragedy of Obsession is that Bear, in making his wish, attempts to force a romance which, in all honesty, was never meant to be. Yet, within arms reach, was a potential relationship which would have taken far, far less effort to make work. Sarah is easily the most fitting romantic candidate in Bear's inner circle; yet he evades her advances for the sake of pursing Nikki.

Ultimately, we realize far before he does, that there was a much better romantic option in his life; one which didn't require black magic to make work. However, with a brain warped by lust, Bear wishes for the love of the prettier girl who doesn't even like him romantically to begin with; and this relationship, held together by the supernatural, leaves terror and death in its wake. And what a shame it is that he didn't simply connect with the one woman in his life who actually cared about him.

It goes to show that today's young men have no clue how to pick a great woman. We just chase after the "sexy" option, forgetting to filter for qualities such as kindness and gracefulness.

Check out my video analysis linked above! Thanks!

I recently saw KPop Demon Hunters for the first time, and I was BLOWN AWAY by its message. As someone who struggles with being authentic and honest, I related a lot to Rumi's internal conflict. I empathized with her self-consciousness around her demon marks, and the burning desire to get rid of them for good. The ways in which she puts up walls to conceal her insecurities really hit home. Like her, I often feel like I'd rather not go all-in on my life and my relationships until I feel "fixed" or "perfect."

In today's society, especially with the vapid music and media industry we're surrounded by, it can feel like everyone is striving for perfection. Flaws are seemingly unacceptable, and grounds for complete rejection. For those of us who are self-conscious in the first place, it can be a very scary thing trying to go out into this world while imperfect and wracked with obvious flaws. We get so scared by the prospect of judgement that we decide to hide our imperfections and only show the world a very controlled and edited version of ourselves.

Yet, this leads to a lot of internal strife, as we learn to lie in this way. We stop telling the truth to people--even our closest friends and family--just so we can sustain an image of flawlessness. But truly, as shown by KPop Demon Hunters, one of the best things you can do for your self-confidence is embrace your flaws, and show up every day despite your imperfections. It's a terrifying thing to show up in front of the world while you're still a "work-in-progress." But, truly, if you wait until you're perfect to join the world, then you'll be waiting forever.

I made a video expanding on these points, and I'd appreciate any views/feedback y'all have!

Clint Eastwood is easily one of my favorite actors/directors of all time. With a distinct style both in front of and behind the camera, he has proven himself to be an unforgettable force in filmmaking history.

Getting his start in the Western genre, Clint never forgot his roots, and although he dabbled (successfully, might I add) in other genres, his best work is still arguably his Westerns. With revolutionary works like "High Plains Drifter" and "Unforgiven," He made a name for himself by leaving behind the conventions of directors like Howard Hawks or John Ford, transforming the genre into something far more dark and self-reflective.

Clint Eastwood's Westerns served as wild departures from the trends of his forefathers, embedding his films with themes of betrayal, dishonesty, and moral confusion. Unlike those before him, Clint Eastwood didn't use the Western as a template for American exceptionalism; rather, he used the genre to question American morality, and in the process forced us to reflect on our hypocrisies and shortcomings.

Clint Eastwood was uniquely honest and bold with his Westers, and in this video, I pay tribute to his long and timeless career, honing in on such films as "High Plains Drifter" and 1992's best picture, "Unforgiven."

Is it just me, or have movies become lamer? The directors of our time seem to have so much less conviction and integrity than directors of the past. I think back to people like John Ford, Howard Hawks, Martin Scorsese, and perhaps my personal favorite, John Carpenter. These directors always had a theme to their works, and they consistently stood for what they thought was right or necessary. Whether their intention was to celebrate the American spirit, or to outright criticize American authority, it was clear that they had an important message to get across.

But Christopher Nolan, perhaps the most celebrated director of our time, is, in my opinion, an incredibly boring artist. His films don't have the same conviction that older films do, and I can't help but feel disappointed and unenriched at the end of his movies. Nolan is not a man who can be defined by his art, because his art is not unique and personal enough to be defining. His films are "good", money-making blockbusters, but at the end of the day, they are bereft of the passion and heart that filled all the greatest films in Hollywood history.

Recently, I did a deep dive on one of my favorite songs from perhaps my all time favorite band, The Smiths.

'How Soon is Now?' is a song all about how a desire for connection can be thwarted by the painful unwillingness to actually work for that connection. Relationships take effort, however not everybody want to put in that effort. Surely, if you sit around waiting for people to become your friends, then you will be lonely forever.

Friendships, romance, and really all human connection requires a certain amount of effort from both parties, and this song is all about the failures of a man who simply doesn't do his fair share of the work.

Recently I watched Howard Hawks' "Rio Bravo," and I was blown away by its powerful depiction of addiction. Through the character Dude, played by Dean Martin, "Rio Bravo" demonstrates the negative effects of addiction, as well as our tendencies to continually identify with our worst impulses. Dude has been a town drunk for so long that hardly anybody can remember a time he wasn't that way. He's built a reputation for being a wasted mess; others view him this way, and deep down, it's how he views himself. However, the film shows him overcoming this reputation and regaining the respect of his friend John Chance (played by John Wayne), and others.

However, Dude's recovering is rocky, and he quite nearly falls back into drinking hard liquor before the movie is over. He's been stuck in addiction for so long that sobriety doesn't feel right, and he's begun to find comfort in the drinking. But one thing keeps his head above water, and that's purpose. Being the right-hand man to his friend John Chance in his time of need.

The film shows us that overcoming addiction isn't merely about practicing severe self-discipline, but rather replacing our bad habits with productivity and purpose. Surely, we are best equipped to ditch our worst addictions when we instead set our sights on meaningful struggles in our daily lives.

I made a short video on this. Please check it out!