Well, hello there! I’ve been on a long and unplanned sabbatical. Life simply went full-throttle for a while, but I’m thrilled to finally be back and ready to talk books, screens, and everything in between.
The short version of where I’ve been: Between being only half-unpacked from my August move, picking up new responsibilities at work, navigating a friend’s bachelorette and upcoming wedding, and giving my cat his many old-man meds, the usual fun stuff got completely sidelined. For a few weeks, I didn’t even read or play games, which is practically unheard of!
But the break ends now! I love writing, and I’ve missed this space. So, to kick off, here’s a round-up of everything I did manage to watch last month. Bear with me as I pick up the pace, and let me know what you think!
The RWW 5-Star System
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved this and want everyone to experience it and talk to me about it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ I liked this a lot, and I think many other people would like it, too.
⭐⭐⭐ I liked this, but I’m not sure it’s a great recommendation for most people.
⭐⭐ I didn’t really like this, but I didn’t hate it, and some other people might like it.
⭐ I really did not enjoy this experience and do not recommend it.
What I Watched In September
Krampus (2015) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ IMDB tagline: A boy who has a bad Christmas accidentally summons a festive demon to his family home. Quick review: This is a fun little horror movie! Great for people who don’t typically like horror or for horror fans looking for ways to ease their kids into the genre.
Starship Troopers (1997) ⭐⭐⭐ IMDB tagline: Humans, in a fascist militaristic future, wage war with giant alien bugs. Quick review: I can kind of see why people didn’t get that this was satire, but I really enjoyed it. It’s not a bad adventure movie on its own, and the satire is rich if you’re the type to notice it.
Orphan Black: Season 1: Episodes 1 - 3 ⭐⭐ IMDB tagline: A streetwise hustler is pulled into a compelling conspiracy after witnessing the suicide of a girl who looks just like her. Quick review: I just didn’t get into this one. It’s been running for ages, so maybe it gets better later, but I was more interested in watching other things.
Inglorious Basterds (2009) ⭐⭐ IMDB tagline: In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner’s vengeful plans for the same. Quick review: A really, really good movie that I didn’t enjoy very much. That’s my usual reaction to Tarantino films, and I’d like to write more about that soon!
Until Dawn (2025) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ IMDB tagline: A group of friends trapped in a time loop, where mysterious foes chase and kill them in gruesome ways, must survive until dawn to escape it. Quick review: I really like this kind of fun horror movie, and I love the director. It’s just a fun movie—not earth-shattering, but a nice way to spend an evening.
Adolescence (2025) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ IMDB tagline: When a 13-year-old is accused of the murder of a classmate, his family, therapist and the detective in charge are all left asking what really happened. Quick review: I can see why this made the rounds online. I really enjoyed it! But it is not a fun time.
Peacemaker: Season 1 - ⭐⭐⭐ IMDB tagline: Picking up where The Suicide Squad (2021) left off, Peacemaker returns home after recovering from his encounter with Bloodsport - only to discover that his freedom comes at a price. Quick review: I watched the first season and started the second but kind of fell off in between the weekly episode release. The second season just hasn’t been as enticing for me, but it’s still fun.
Them: Season 1: Episodes 1 - 4 ⭐⭐ IMDB tagline: Anthology horror series with varying characters and locations by season, featuring different aspects of the horror genre. Quick review: The clash between the fictional horrors of a haunted house and the real-life horrors of racism made it difficult for me to enjoy this series. I want to write more about why this one constantly felt on the verge of being really good.
Harlan Coben’s Shelter (2023) ⭐⭐⭐ IMDB tagline: Mickey lives with a mother in rehab, a dead father, an annoying aunt and a new school in New Jersey. When a creepy old woman tells him that his father isn’t dead, Mickey thinks he’s losing his mind. Quick review: I love a Harlan Coben series. This one is a weaker entry than many of the others, but you can’t go wrong with a Coben suburban mystery.
Death Becomes Her (1992) ⭐⭐⭐ IMDB tagline: When a fading actress learns of an immortality treatment, she sees it as a way to outdo her long-time rival. Quick review: A little silly, but a fun movie. I watched it because I enjoyed the Broadway version’s soundtrack, and I think the (unseen by me) Broadway version is better.
Midsommar (2019) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ IMDB tagline: A couple travels to Northern Europe to visit a rural hometown’s fabled Swedish mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult. Quick review: The movie that launched a thousand Florence Pugh frowny face memes. It’s an exciting thriller where you kind of know where it’s going the whole time, but it’s still great looking and interesting.
Thanks for catching up with me!
Which of these did you also watch? And more importantly: which of the future topics (Tarantino films or Them) should I tackle next? Let me know in the comments!
Karin Manley
Founder & Editor
Read, Watch, Write: Unveiling Media’s Magic
ReadWatchWrite.substack.com
This post was created with the assistance of an AI, to help edit the content.