"cult"

2018 · FPS / Open World · PC / Steam

Far Cry 5 moves the franchise to rural Montana and pits you against a doomsday cult in a setting that's both beautiful and timely, but the game refuses to engage with the political themes its premise raises. The Guns for Hire companion system and the co-op add genuine mechanical improvements, the countryside is gorgeous, and the Arcade map editor extends the lifespan significantly. The story's refusal to take a stance on its own material, the forced capture sequences that strip player agency, and the divisive endings leave the narrative feeling hollow beneath the polished gameplay.

2019 · Ari Aster · 148 min · Folk Horror

Midsommar is one of the most visually distinctive horror films in years, built around Florence Pugh's extraordinary performance and Ari Aster's commitment to staging horror in unrelenting daylight. It's an unnerving film that works as both folk horror and grief drama, though its near-2.5-hour runtime tests patience and the pacing can be punishing. For viewers who can meet it on its own terms, it's unforgettable. For those who aren't, it's a very long afternoon.