This week, I tried to satisfy my household’s penchant for films that traffic in monsters and gore by reviewing Stake Land. As is often the case when dealing with this sort of genre fare, it was ultimately disappointing, the promising, inventive elements ultimately unable to outweigh the portions of the film that were pure retread. I’m still longing for that amazing discovery moment that comes from watching something Ti West’s The House of the Devil.

I also reviewed the new album from Vivian Girls, which was a little odd having already worked with the band as performers who played at my workplace. It didn’t change my review one iota–because we booked them, I’ve had a copy of the album for ages so my opinion of it was set before they ever set foot on campus–but I would have preferred writing the piece before having casual conversations with Kickball Katy.

There was also a List Inconsequential this week, which allowed me to vent an eighteen-year-old grudge against a movie that everyone else–including many of the professional participants in the film, I suspect–has forgotten about. As for my cohorts, I have to say that Nick Hanover’s selection of From Hell is spot on.