Oct 10 2026

My Top 15 Scariest Horror Movie Scenes

Horror movies generally don’t scare me much anymore. I’ve watched so many of them that it takes something really special for me to get afraid. And even then, I get more tense than afraid. But every so often, something comes along that’ll just rub me the exact wrong (right?) way and I’ll get that thrill of fear. So I’ve decided to compile a list of 15 of the scariest scenes in horror movies. They’re in a rough order, but a lot of these could be interchangeable except for maybe the top 3 or 4. Some spoiler warnings may be needed.

Number 15
The Exorcist III – The best jumpscare ever

This one is on the list not because it’s super duper frightening, but I have to mention it for the absolutely masterful use of a jumpscare. After setting up a very long shot of a nurse going through the hall doing her rounds, a figure suddenly jumps out from behind her and is following her with giant garden shears. It then cuts to a decapitated statue. Nothing is really shown, but it doesn’t need to be, the implication is all there.

Number 14
The Prophecy – Lucifer

The Prophecy isn’t a scary film, until the last 5 minutes. Viggo Mortensen turns in an absolutely skin-crawling performance as Lucifer. “He doesn’t love you like I do…” Gahhhhh….

Number 13
The Sixth Sense – The red tent

The Sixth Sense as a whole is more unsettling than scary, except for one scene. Cole gets scared and goes to hide in his red tent, where the clips holding it together slowly start to pop off. Haley Joel Osment really sells the terror of what this little boy is going through.

Number 12
Seven – Sloth

We could debate until the cows come home about whether or not Seven is actually a horror movie (it is), but anyone who says they didn’t jump right out of their skin when Sloth woke up is lying.

Number 11
Sinister – The videos

Sinister has a, well, sinister feel through the whole thing, but those snuff films that Ethan Hawke’s character finds are on the next level. Especially the lawn mower one *shudder*.

Number 10
It – That fucking clown

It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about the original 90’s version with Tim Curry or the 2017 version with Bill Skarsgård, Pennywise the Dancing Clown has haunted my nightmares since I was 9 years old. Coulrophobia is a thing, folks.

Number 9
Undertone – Creepy nursery rhymes

Undertone is the most recent film on this list, but it more than deserves its spot. The whole thing oozes dread, but those nursery rhymes are something else. My whole body was covered in goosebumps by the end of it. I also have to mention the few times the whole screen goes black and you’re just listening. I’m afraid of the dark, so sitting there in pitch blackness listening to creepy noises actually made me turn on a lamp.

Number 8
Silent Hill – Little girl bbq

I have an almost irrational fear of burning, so this scene just scared me down to my core. It’s the reason I’ll never watch Silent Hill again, despite it being a really good movie. I just can’t see that again. I couldn’t find a picture of the scene in question, which is probably for the best.

Number 7
The Autopsy of Jane Doe – Someone’s in the hall

The whole film is rather tense, but the scene where Tommy and Austin are hiding in a room and they can hear that little toe bell that’s on the corpses jingling really ups the creep factor. It did a great job at creating creeping dread.

Number 6
The Woman in Black – Exploring the dark house

Again, my fear of the dark got me. There’s a nice creepiness through the whole film, but the part that really got me was when Arthur is exploring the house with a candle and then the lights start to go out, the darkness creeping closer and closer. Ugh, no thanks, I’m busy that day.

Number 5
Annihilation – The bear

This film is more creepy than scary except for one thing: that damn bear. The scientists are sitting where they’ve been tied up and in walks a mutated bear. It already looks scary, but when it roars, it sounds like a woman screaming. Uh uh, nope, none of that. Nope from space.

Number 4
The Conjuring – There’s someone behind the door

I know most people think of the hide-and-clap scene as being the scariest in the film, but this is the one that got to me. Again, probably cause it’s in the dark. Christine gets woken by something grabbing her foot and almost yanking her off the bed. She looks around terrified, even looking under the bed, where she sees the door slowly moving. Her sister wakes and asks what’s wrong, and Christine says there’s someone behind the door. It’s an absolutely masterful, suspenseful scene. James Wan knows what he’s doing.

Number 3
The Ring – The videotape

When I first got The Ring on dvd when it came out, one of the special features was the entirety of the video that our main character watches. I made it through half of it and then tried to turn it off. But they had made it so that you couldn’t pause or stop it, and I almost went into a panic, clicking the remote over and over. Thankfully the phone didn’t ring once the video was over.

Number 2
The Eye – The elevator

There’s a nice sense of dread that permeates the entire film. But the scene that got me was the elevator scene. Our heroine, who we’ve now established can see the dead, gets on an elevator, already shaken up. She sees from the corner of her eye a figure standing behind her that’s ever so slowly creeping towards her. As the elevator seems to take forever to get to her floor, she gets progressively more afraid. It’s a very simple scene, but filmed so well that you really feel the dread.

Number 1
The Exorcist – The whole thing

I saw The Exorcist for the first time when I was 16. I was already a horror veteran by that point, not much scared me anymore (if it ever did). But after sitting through this movie, I actually had to sleep with the light on for a few days. In 2000 I think it was, they put it back in the cinema, restored and with some extra scenes. I went to a matinee showing and I was the only person in the cinema. That was… something.

And that’s my list. I’m sure I for got some, but these are the ones that I could think of off the top of my head. What are the scenes that really got you? Let me know!

M.

Oct 6 2026

Mel’s 5 Second Book Review: Project Hail Mary

Project Hail Mary
Written by: Andy Weir
Year: 2021
Audiobook performed by: Ray Porter

It was a long time coming, but I finally finished this book. I seem to have trouble finishing books (or shows, for that matter) that I start, even if I love them. It’s weird.

A science teacher wakes up alone on a spaceship. As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing Earth’s sun, and realizes that an unexpected friendship may be the key.

I knew I wanted to read this book as soon as I heard of it way back in 2021. The Martian had been one of the best books I’d read in a long time, so I knew I definitely wanted to read (or listen to) this one. And even though it took me forever, I finally got through it, and can finally watch the movie. I have to say, Project Hail Mary really is as good as The Martian. And the audiobook is performed beautifully by Ray Porter. He really captured the essence of all the characters, giving each their own distinctive voice without sounding silly.

Ryland Grace, our main character, was so well drawn, and we really feel for him. There’s bits of humour sprinkled in that made me grin like an idiot, even laugh out loud a few times. The science, at least to me, sounds all plausible, even though it relies on a substance that doesn’t exist to make it work. Weir is very good at making things sound scientific without being dry. I don’t want to say too much more in case there are people who haven’t read the book who want to, but needless to say, I absolutely loved it. The ending was a nice surprise as well. It was heading towards one thing, and I was rather upset, but then, surprise! Not surprisingly, I give it a 10/10.

AMAZE AMAZE AMAZE!!

M.

Sep 28 2026

My Top 20 Best Cover Songs

Most of the time, a great song should not be touched. Like a great movie, they just shouldn’t be remade. Saying that, every so often a cover song comes out that is just as good (and sometimes even better) than the original. I’m also keeping it to one song per artist (some bands I like are known for all their covers), so I’m choosing the best one. I’m also keeping it to one cover a certain song. So here are my top 20 best cover songs.

20 – Without Me by Flight Paths
Original by Halsey (2018)

I didn’t even know this was a cover when I first heard it. But having listened to the original, I can easily say that this is the superior version.

Released as a single in 2018.

19 – Another Brick in the Wall by Korn
Original by Pink Floyd (1979)

I’m generally not a fan of prog rock, so it’s no surprise that I prefer this version to the original.

Released in 2004, from the album Greatest Hits Vol 1.

18 – Headhunter by Icon of Coil
Original by Front 242 (1988)

I like these two equally, and they’re different enough that it’s not repetitive.

Released in 2003, from the album Android.

17 – Umbrella by Vanilla Sky
Original by Rihanna (2007)

The video for this song is absolutely hilarious, but the song is actually surprisingly great.

Released in 2007, from the album Changes.

16 – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Marilyn Manson
Original by Eurythmics (1983)

I like the original, but this cover really is so much better. Manson also did a great cover of Depeche mode’s Personal Jesus.

Released in 1995, from the album Smells Like Children.

15 – Careless Whisper by Seether
Original by George Michael (1984)

This cover just takes all the longing and regret of the original and dials it up to 11.

Released in 2007, from the album Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces.

14 – The Sound of Silence by Disturbed
Original by Simon and Garfunkel (1964)

It’s kind of not fair to compare these two, they’re on different levels. Disturbed also did a great cover of Genesis’ Land of Confusion.

Released in 2015, from the album Immortalized.

13 – Stripped by Rammstein
Original by Depeche Mode (1986)

The original is a classic, but I do prefer this hard rock cover of it. Palaye Royale also did a good cover of this song.

Released in 1998, from the Depeche Mode tribute album For the Masses.

12 – Shape of You by Fame on Fire
Original by Ed Sheeran (2017)

I’m actually not a fan of the original, but this rock version is awesome.

Released as a single in 2017.

11 – Running Up That Hill by Placebo
Original by Kate Bush (1985)

Not a huge fan of the original, but then I do always prefer male voices.

Released in 2003, from the album Covers.

10 – Every Breath You Take by Chase Holfelder
Original by The Police (1983)

Finally, a version of this song that matches the lyrics. And people think this is a love song. Pfft…

Released in 2015, from the album Major to Minor Vol 1.

9 – The Man Who Sold the World by Nirvana
Original by David Bowie (1970)

I love David Bowie, but Nirvana’s version of this song kind of blows the original out of the water.

Released in 1994, from the album MTV Unplugged in New York.

8 – Radioactive by Bullet for My Valentine
Original by Imagine Dragons (2012)

These two songs are similar, but I prefer the singer from Bullet for My Valentine’s voice a lot more. It’s also harder than the original.

Released in 2018, from the album Gravity.

7 – Zombie by Bad Wolves
Original by The Cranberries (1994)

Definitely not better than the original, but this version still rocks hard.

Released in 2018, from the album Disobey.

6 – The Hills by Solence
Original by The Weeknd (2015)

The original is fine, but this hard rock cover is so much better.

Released as a single in 2016.

5 – Blue Monday by Orgy
Original by New Order (1983)

Not a huge fan of the original, but Orgy really made it theirs.

Released in 1998, from the album Candyass.

4 – Wicked Game by HIM
Original by Chris Isaak (1989)

The original of this song is smooth and sultry, and the cover is harder and louder. Which one is better? No idea.

Released in 1997, from the album Greatest Lovesongs Vol 666.

3 – Set Fire to the Rain by No Resolve
Original by Adele (2011)

I do love me some rock covers, don’t I? Adele’s version is good, but I much prefer the cover.

Released in 2021, from the album A New Beginning.

2 – Someone You Loved by Our Last Night, with I See Stars, The Word Alive, and Ashland
Original by Lewis Capaldi (2018)

The original is good, but, for me, this cover is much better. I love all the different voices together. Our Last Night also did an amazing cover of Billie Eilish’s When the Party’s Over.

Released as a single in 2019.

1 – Closer by Palaye Royale
Original by Nine Inch Nails (1994)

I’m just gonna say it: this cover is way better than the original. Also, singer Remington Leith is one of the most beautiful men on the planet, and this video does things to me…

Released in 2023, from the album Sextape.

And that’s it! Are your favourite covers on the list? If not, what are they? Let me know!

M.

Sep 20 2026

Mel’s 5 Second Review: Good Boy

Good Boy (2025)
Indy the Dog, Shane Jensen, Arielle Friedman, Larry Fessenden, Stuart Rudin
Directed by: Ben Leonberg

I’ve been meaning to watch this film since it came out last year, but due to my weird moods, I hadn’t gotten around to it til now. I need to watch EXACTLY the right thing when I want to watch tv, otherwise I just won’t like it. It’s very weird, and annoying, cause that means I can flip endlessly through the streaming services to find something. But last night I just opened Shudder to see the new releases and decided, in record time, to watch Good Boy. And now I wish I’d seen it sooner.

A loyal dog moves to a rural family home with his owner, only to discover supernatural forces lurking in the shadows. As dark entities threaten his human companion, the brave pup must fight to protect the one he loves most.

First, let me say that Indy the dog is a good boy. A real good boy. In fact, he was such a good boy that he won the Astra Award for Best Actor in a Horror or Thriller Movie. He arrived at the ceremony in his little tie, and I almost lost it. Most of the time in films that use animals, more than one animal is used to play the same character because they’re trained in different things. But Indy did everything in this film. No, he didn’t do any circus tricks, but it was still impressive.

The story was almost excessively simple and bare bones, but that’s not a bad thing. The film is told in perspective of the dog, so it’s normal that we don’t get the whole view of things. The camera-work is slow and methodical, following our furry hero around the scary house. The sense of dread is heavy throughout, and focusing on Indy’s fear instead of his owner’s makes the film feel emotionally raw. I knew exactly what was happening throughout the film, having guessed it at the very beginning, but that didn’t dull the pain of what inevitably happened at the end of the film, and I’m not afraid to say that the tears flowed freely. I haven’t cried for a movie in 8 years, but this one got me.

So, do I recommend it? Yes, absolutely. Even if horror movies aren’t your bag, I think you’ll enjoy this movie. It gets an absolutely wonderful 9/10 from me. It might have gotten a 10, but it did drag a bit once or twice, but really, I’m nit-picking.

M.

This movie is currently streaming on Shudder and Crave in Canada, and on Shudder, AMC+, and Hulu in the States, and is available for rent or purchase on YouTube and Amazon Prime.

Sep 16 2026

Mel’s 5 Second Review: The First Omen vs Immaculate

Two years ago, in 2024, two movies came out that were so similar in plot that many people wondered what the point was. I wonder how that happens. Cause they had to be in production at the same time, so it’s not like one came out and the other copied it. It’s not the first time something like this has happened. A Quiet Place and The Silence came out a year apart. I didn’t even bother seeing The Silence since the plot was so similar. But after I saw The First Omen, I’d heard some good things about Immaculate and that it was doing its own thing, so I decided to watch it.

The First Omen (2024)
Nell Tiger Free, Ralph Ineson, Sonia Braga, Tawfeek Barhom, Maria Caballero, Charles Dance, Bill Nighy, Andrea Arcangeli
Directed by: Arkasha Stevenson

A young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, but encounters a darkness that causes her to question her faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.

First, to get it out of the way, Nell Tiger Free is a total babe. Like, whoa nelly! Her newest IMDb picture makes me sad, though, she went blonde. Not sure if that’s her natural hair colour, but she looks stunning with dark hair. Besides her looks, she’s got some serious talent. She did an amazing job in the role of a sweet but naïve nun in training. The rest of the cast also do a great job. The film also looks beautiful, the cinematography is on pointe. Filmed mostly in Italy, the locations are stunning. There are also some quite striking visuals that have now been seared into my brain (vagina hand, anyone?) The story was great. I was actually surprised at how much I liked this, seeing as I hated The Omen. Both the original and the sad 2006 remake. I’m glad that they did mostly their own thing, though, so they weren’t overly constrained with what they could do. Die hard fans were a little scandalized at that, though.

Immaculate (2024)
Sydney Sweeney, Álvaro Morte, Simona Tabasco, Benedetta Porcaroli, Giorgio Colangeli, Dora Romano, Giulia Heathfield Di Renzi
Directed by: Michael Mohan

Cecilia, a woman of devout faith, is warmly welcomed to the picture-perfect Italian countryside where she is offered a new role at an illustrious convent. But it becomes clear to Cecilia that her new home harbors dark and horrifying secrets when she becomes pregnant, seemingly by immaculate conception.

I had no intention of seeing this one after The First Omen. But I’d heard good things, so I put it on thinking, how similar could it really be? Very. The stories are basically the same. They’re even both set in Italy. Sydney Sweeney did a good job as the young nun in training. I didn’t know her before seeing this film, she’s in the kind of stuff that doesn’t interest me. But I had heard that people were sure that she’d be crap, mostly because she often plays a certain type of character and she dares show some skin, so people were thinking that that’s all she was. And while she wasn’t amazing, she did a perfectly serviceable job that hopefully shut people up. It was filmed in the same areas as The First Omen, so the locations were also gorgeous. It was a little slow in the first half but picked up nicely in the second. And the end went places I really wasn’t expecting, which is almost all there was from making it a carbon copy of The First Omen.

So, which one do I prefer? The First Omen, hands down. Immaculate had its moments, but The First Omen was engaging the whole way through. And of the two, it’ll be the only one I’m likely to revisit.

The First Omen gets a 9/10. Simply wonderful.
Immaculate gets a 7/10. A good time.

M.

The First Omen is streaming on Disney+ and Crave (in Canada) and on Hulu (in the States), and is available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime and YouTube.
Immaculate is streaming on Netflix (in the States only), and is available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime and YouTube.

Sep 12 2026

Mel’s Dreams: The Party

Another vivid dream. There was a lot more to the dream than this, but I picked out what seemed to be the most important beats.

Preparing for a party. I’m making a dessert that requires a ton of melted chocolate, and I’m making a huge mess. We go to Costco to get more ingredients. Getting ready for the party, I try on a lot of dresses. I’m with Chris but need to choose another date, so I chose an Asian man who looks cute, but when I get closer, he’s not. Then I hide in the basement until it’s time to leave.

Dreaming of making a dessert with melted chocolate generally symbolizes transforming your inner desires, creativity, or suppressed emotions into something satisfying and sweet. Making a huge mess while preparing your dessert signifies a feeling of overwhelm, loss of control, or chaos as you try to process your emotions or create something good in your waking life. While your ultimate goal is positive (making something sweet), the process feels chaotic and unmanageable. Since melted chocolate represents deep emotions or desires, the mess suggests these feelings are overflowing or becoming too difficult to contain.
Running out of ingredients and needing to go to Costco shifts the dream from a purely emotional space into one about your real-world resources, preparation, and how you handle unexpected setbacks. Running out of ingredients suggests that a project, relationship, or emotional situation in your waking life is requiring far more energy, time, or resources than you initially anticipated. In dreams, a warehouse club like Costco represents abundance, over-preparation, and bulk solutions. Going there means your subconscious is looking for a massive influx of support, stability, or tools to fix the mess. You don’t just want a quick fix; you want a wholesale solution to regain control. Having to stop mid-creation to run an errand reflects a waking-life feeling of being blocked or interrupted just as you were trying to get things done.
(This feels about right. I’ve been trying to get my life on track for a while now, but I seem to keep hitting a health barrier, be that either my physical or mental health. I had a big crisis of mental health last summer that had me off work for 6 months. I worked hard at overcoming that but lately I can feel myself slipping again. The loss of control over my own emotions is maddening.)

Trying on a lot of dresses right before the party symbolizes anxiety about self-image, identity shifts, and how you want to be perceived by others. Now that a party has entered the narrative, the entire dream sequence connects: you are trying to create something wonderful (the chocolate dessert) but ran out of resources (the Costco trip) and are now struggling to find the right “identity” or presentation (trying on dresses) for a major social event. The upcoming party represents a social arena where you feel you will be observed or judged. Trying on dress after dress reflects a fear of not fitting in or not being “ready” for a new phase or event. Just like making a mess with the dessert, trying on too many clothes shows a state of overwhelm. You might be feeling immense pressure to look perfect or have everything together for others.
(I always worry about what my loved ones think when they see me struggling. I feel very judged and try hard to keep myself together, which makes it all the harder on me when I fail.)

Needing to choose a second date while attending a party with your current boyfriend represents internal conflict, divided attention, or a feeling that you are trying to balance multiple major commitments or paths in your life. In dream psychology, a “date” doesn’t always represent a romantic interest—it often symbolizes options, paths, or significant choices you are trying to schedule or prioritize. Combined with the rest of your dream (the messy baking, the Costco run, the dress changes), this final piece highlights a theme of decision fatigue. You are trying to do it all, please everyone, and manage multiple complex situations at the same time.
Choosing an Asian man who looks cute from afar but loses his appeal up close represents illusion versus reality, disappointment upon closer inspection, or a waking-life situation that looks perfect from a distance but reveals its flaws under scrutiny. This ties directly into the themes of your entire dream—the messy dessert that looked good in theory, the dresses that didn’t quite fit, and the need for a second option. From a distance, this new path or choice looked ideal, fresh, or exciting (the “cute” stranger). This mirrors how we often romanticize new opportunities, jobs, or relationships before we know the details. Getting closer and realizing he isn’t what you thought represents a sudden reality check. Your subconscious is warning you that a choice you are considering right now might look good on paper, but it won’t satisfy you once you actually get involved. While it feels like a disappointment in the dream, waking up to the reality of the situation is actually a positive psychological shift. It means you are developing the discernment to look past surface appearances.
(Every time I start a new job, I always think that “this time will be different” and am pulled back into reality when I fail. Maybe I’m starting to think that a new approach is needed.)

Hiding in the basement until it is time to leave represents withdrawing, escaping from overwhelm, and seeking comfort in isolation when the social pressure, chaos, and decision fatigue of life become too much to handle. The basement represents the deepest parts of your subconscious, privacy, or your “inner fortress.” Retreating there means you have hit your limit. You are choosing to emotionally disconnect and hide away from the judgment of others (the party, the dresses, the choices) to protect your energy. After a dream filled with chaotic baking, frantic shopping, outfit changes, and confusing relationship dynamics, hiding is your mind’s way of saying: “I need a break from trying to perfect everything for everyone else.”
(This might be what I’m doing, but I still get the feeling that it shouldn’t be what I’m doing. I keep trying and trying but it’s like just repeatedly bashing my head on the wall.)

In conclusion: Your subconscious has taken you on a journey through decision fatigue and expectations vs. reality. You started with a sweet idea (chocolate), hit chaos and lack of resources (the mess and Costco), struggled with your identity and how to present yourself (the dresses), tried to double-book your future options (the two dates), and finally realized that the “alternative” option isn’t actually what you want. This dream is a strong nudge to appreciate what you already have (like the boyfriend you arrived with) and to be cautious about chasing new “shiny” options that might just add more mess to your plate. Your subconscious is giving you permission to step back and rest in your waking life. You don’t have to perfectly manage every chaotic situation or please everyone at the party.
(I guess I don’t…)

Not exactly the light, fluffy dream it seemed to be on the surface. Just be yourself, and keep on swimming!

M.

Aug 29 2026

My Top 20 Songs of the 2000’s

Another list that was painful to make. There are so many amazing songs that I wanted in the list, but I wanted to keep it at 20 songs. But I think this is as good as it’s going to get. Like last time, I kept it to one song per artist which was hard as hell. How do you choose between perfect songs? So here they are, my top 20 songs of the 2000’s.

20 – For All the Lost by Necessary Response

Such a great song to dance to. This brings me back… No video for this one, but I hope you enjoy the audio.

Released in 2007, from the album Blood Spills Not Far From The Wound.

19 – Mein Herz Brennt by Rammstein

Some people might have gone with Sonne or Mutter for this place, but I really prefer this lesser known song. So good.

Released in 2001, from the album Mutter.

18 – The Nobodies by Marilyn Manson

(s)AINT almost took this spot, but listening to them again, I realized that this is the superior song. Maybe. Did I mention this list was hell to make?

Released in 2000, from the album Holy Wood.

17 – Destroy Everything You Touch by Ladytron

I’d completely forgotten just how much I actually love this song. I haven’t heard it in a while, and I still remember all the lyrics (but not why I walked into the kitchen. Brains, am I right?)

Released in 2005, from the album Witching Hour.

16 – TZDV by Faderhead

I still remember the first time I heard this song. I was sitting in a club for a goth night in Quebec City just chatting with friends. This song came on and I was instantly in love. Love that pounding bass!

Released in 2008, from the album FH3.

15 – Military Fashion Show by And One

Such a great song to dance to. Man, do I ever miss dancing… *nostalgia kicking in* No video for this one.

Released in 2006, from the album Bodypop.

14 – Change (In the House of Flies) by Deftones

Passenger almost went here, but then I listened to this one again and was like, yup, that’s the one. Such a powerful song.

Released in 2000, from the album White Pony.

13 – Your Joy is My Low by IAMX

When I heard this for the first time, I was dancing in a goth club in Montreal (significantly more people in there than the club in Quebec City, lol) and this song came on. Halfway through the song I literally stopped dancing and just listened. So good.

Released in 2004, from the album Kiss + Swallow.

12 – Hellraiser (VNV Nation remix) by Suicide Commando

The original of this song is just so-so, but this VNV remix is awesome. They added some great melody to it. At around the 3 minute mark they added an instrumental bit that was heaven to dance to.

Released in 2000, from the album Hellraiser.

11 – Map of the Problematique by Muse

Singer Matthew Bellamy, besides being a cutie, has such an amazing voice. I had a hell of a time choosing just one Muse song, there are so many amazing ones. Undisclosed Desires had the spot before I went “hold on…” and remembered this song. This video is the only official one they have out, live at Wembley Stadium. But here you can hear just how good they are live.

Released in 2007. from the album Black Holes and Revelations.

10 – Judith by A Perfect Circle

Might seem like the obvious choice, but this really is an amazing song. Singer Maynard James Keenan’s voice is just so powerful. Shoutout to Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums, it was thisclose to being the one I picked.

Released in 2000, from the album Mer de Noms.

9 – Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes

Singer Jack White was made up to look like a pretty boy for this video, and the girls (and some guys, I’m sure) went crazy. Jack hated it and made sure he looked weird in videos from that point on. I was so disappointed, lol. Oh, and the song is an absolute banger. Simple but oh so effective.

Released in 2003, from the album Elephant.

8 – Exterminate Annihilate Destroy by Rotersand

Another one that’s just amazing to dance to. Plus it’s a little geeky, just like me! Unfortunately no video for this one. Not an official one anyhow. There’s a few that viewers made with clips of the Daleks, lol.

Released in 2005, from the album Welcome to Goodbye.

7 – Breath by Breaking Benjamin

Here’s another one that was hard to pick just one. But, listening to them again, this song is head and shoulders above the rest. I was so sure there was a video to this song…

Released in 2006, from the album Phobia.

6 – Like a Stone by Audioslave

Such a loss to the music world, singer Chris Cornell had a voice like butter. I love doing this song at karaoke. Or in the shower… lol.

Released in 2002, from their self-titled album.

5 – The Bitter End by Placebo

I was waffling between this song and Song to Say Goodbye for this spot, but this one won. And it has (almost) nothing to do with how hot singer Brian Molko is in it *fans self*.

Released in 2003, from the album Sleeping with Ghosts.

4 – In Repair by Our Lady Peace

I’d started listening to Our Lady Peace less in the 2000’s. A lot of the newer stuff I just didn’t like. This song is a massive exception. So good.

Released in 2000, from the album Spiritual Machines.

3 – I Don’t Care by Apocalyptica, with Adam Gontier

The 2000’s is when Apocalyptica started making their own music. Before then, they were doing Metallica covers on cello. On a few tracks per album from then on, they would borrow a singer from another band, in this case Three Days Grace’s Adam Gontier, and actually have lyrics. Their instrumental stuff is really nice, but I like to sing along. I also have a massive crush on “lead” cellist Eicca Toppinen (he’s the one with the long blond hair). Whew…

Released in 2007, from the album Worlds Collide.

2 – Crawling by Linkin Park

Choosing which Linkin Park song is the best of the decade was almost impossible, but I finally decided on Crawling. I always did prefer the songs that were heavier with Chester’s vocals more than Mike’s. He is sorely missed.

Released in 2001, from the album Hybrid Theory.

1 – Wreath of Barbs by :Wumpscut:

I was waffling a long time which should take first place, this or Crawling, but I finally decided on this. It might change tomorrow, but for now, this is it. I love everything about this song.

Released in 2001, from the album Wreath of Barbs.

And that’s it! As usual, a lot of the rankings are probably interchangeable, but for today, this is what I went with. I hope I was able to turn you on to some new music, and help revive old favourites. Next up, sometime in the not-too-distant future, the best of the 2010’s!!

M.

Aug 23 2026

Mel’s 5 Second Review: Exhuma

Exhuma (2024)
Kim Go-eun, Choi Min-sik, Lee Do-hyun, Yoo Hai Jin, Kim Jae-cheol, Kim Sun-young, Lee Jong-goo, Lee Yeong-ran
Directed by: Jang Jae-hyun

This one’s been in my to-watch list since it came out 2 years ago, and I finally got around to it. And while I’m left slightly confused, I did enjoy my time with it.

After tracing a strange ailment to a remote grave site, a team of supernatural experts soon discovers what happens when you mess with the wrong grave.

So, this one was special. I can confidently say I’ve never seen anything quite like it. But honestly, that’s because this film leans heavily on Korean and Japanese folklore, so I had no idea what was going on half the time. The run time was also a little daunting, clocking in at 2 hours and 14 minutes. I’d say it was a little excessive, but really, it didn’t feel that long. It’s definitely a slow burn, but everything that’s in there kinda needs to be. I’d have been even more confused if anything had been left out.

On a technical level, this film is gorgeous. The colours, the camera work, everything worked in its favour. The acting was all around terrific, especially from our leading lady. I almost didn’t watch it cause when I put it on, on Prime, it was dubbed and I was like nope, I’m out. But then I thought to check the audio settings, and I changed it to original, and put English subtitles on and voila! No more awful dubbing. And from the little I heard, the dubbing was truly awful. And, because I’m contractually obligated to say so, the most beautiful Asian man I’ve ever seen is in this film (Lee Do-hyun as Yoon Bong-gil). I mean, holy hell…

So, do I recommend it? If you don’t mind experiencing other cultures, and slow burns don’t bother you, then yes, absolutely. I give it a pretty great 8/10. Now to go hunt down Lee Do-hyun’s other work…

M.

This film is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, AMC+, and Shudder.

Aug 19 2026

Mel’s 5 Second Review: La Llorona

La Llorona (2019)
Sabrina De La Hoz, Margarita Kenéfic, Julio Diaz, Ayla-Elea Hurtado, María Mercedes Coroy, María Telón, Juan Pablo Olyslager
Directed by: Jayro Bustamante

Shudder has a tendency to dub movies that aren’t in English and I absolutely hate it. I’ll actually stop it, no matter how much I want to see it. I’ll pick the actor’s real voice every time, even if I don’t speak the language. Anyways, I was happy to see that this film wasn’t dubbed. And, oh boy, was it one of the very few things I actually liked about it.

Retired general Enrique and his family must face the truth of his actions and the sense that a supernatural force is targeting them for his crimes during the Mayan genocide.

This movie does have some good going for it. The story is actually excellent, although I seem to remember the La Llorona story being something quite different. Hold, let me go look it up… Ok, yes, it is different. Here’s what Google had to say about it: “La Llorona, or the Weeping Woman, is a famous ghost in Hispanic and Mexican folklore. The legend says a heartbroken or angry woman named Maria drowns her children in a river after her husband leaves her. She then kills herself. Cursed to wander the earth, her ghost cries out for her lost children near water.” (If a version of this sounds familiar, it’s because Supernatural’s pilot episode was about this, except they called her a Woman in White.) Water still features prominently in the story, just not quite in this way.

This, in my opinion, would have made a fantastic short film, maybe half an hour long. But there are just so many long shots of little to nothing happening that I was begging for something to happen. I spoke out loud to my tv, “something, anything, please, just stub your toe, even, come on”. I do enjoy a good slow burn, but this was glacial. The acting was mostly pretty good, and it did have some good looking shots.

I actually knew nothing of the real-world events that inspired this film. I thought that this was going to be a period piece, set during conquest. I was actually quite upset that it wasn’t! Looking it up after the fact and boy, do humans ever suck. Wouldn’t it really be nice for vengeful ghosts to come around and take care of these people?

So, do I recommend it? No, not really. It’s slow and mostly boring. It’s got a good final 10 minutes, but it’s not enough to save it. I give it a (generous) 4/10.

M.

This film is currently streaming on Shudder and AMC+.

Aug 7 2026

Mel’s 5 Second Review: Thine Ears Shall Bleed

Thine Ears Shall Bleed (2024)
Andrew Hovelson, Hannah Cabell, Lucas Near-Verbrugghe, Lea Zawada, Duke Huston
Directed by: Ben Bigelow

I found out about this movie from mistylane over at Cinema Scminema and thought it sounded at least somewhat interesting, so I went over to Tubi and found it. And, oh boy…

In the 1860’s American West, a minister and his family are traveling in a covered wagon when they hear a mysterious sound coming from the woods. Believing the sound to be God, they worship it, until they start to discover the sound might be something much more sinister.

I don’t often use Tubi, only as a last resort really, if what I’m looking for is there and nowhere else, cause Tubi has ads, and ads give me toothaches. But this sounded intriguing enough that I decided to watch it anyways. And while it wasn’t god-awful, it wasn’t great either. I believe mistylane was of the same opinion.

So first, the acting. It was bad. And the dialogue, worse. People just don’t talk like that, even in the 1860’s. The acting wasn’t quite bad enough to make my ears bleed (eh eh), but really, it wasn’t far. The son in particular was really bad. Which is too bad cause he was kinda cute. Maybe? It was actually hard to tell cause he kept making weird faces.

As for the story, it was an interesting concept. But a good part of the movie is just plain dull. Now, I do love me a good slow burn, but it still has to be interesting, the characters engaging, and this was neither. The first half is basically the characters just walking around. There had to be a better way to do this. Now the second half was much better than the first, but really, the bar was set real low. But there were actually some interesting things happening. And the twist, if it can be called that, was good, even if I did see it coming a mile away. They might have explored other mythologies to make it more interesting, but whatever, it was fine.

SPOILERS INCOMING

But the ending is where I have my biggest gripe. So Mr Booker, who we now know is Lucifer, is looking for a pure soul so he can escape the woods (ok? But why is he stuck in the woods in the first place?). The daughter was not, apparently because she wanted more in life than playing an organ in a tiny church. The wife was not because, and this is great, she sinned in independence. The father was not because he pridefully wanted a bigger flock to come to his church. He was also tricked into killing his wife, so definitely not pure. So that leaves the son. But he also killed. Booker told him he’d make him blind again if he didn’t shoot his father. And so he did. But how does this make him pure? Wouldn’t choosing to kill over being blind make him impure? Wouldn’t purity have been sacrificing his sight to save his father? And then, of course, he loses his sight again anyways as soon as they leave the woods, Booker telling him that he wouldn’t need it to enjoy what was coming, so it really was just another trick. But again, how is Luke pure after killing, but the father is not? I guess maybe I’m thinking about it too hard? Meh..

So, do I recommend it? No, not really. There’s the bare bones of a good story here, but all of the dressing isn’t great. I give it a ho-hum 4.5/10.

M.

This movie is currently streaming on Tubi and Fawesome.