Comforting Autumn Film Recommendations Without the Scares
To me, autumn offers one of the most cinematic seasons in film. The rich hues, golden-hour light, and crisp outdoor backdrops evoke change, nostalgia, and the perfect atmosphere for character transformation. Whether it signals a fresh start or a pivotal turning point, autumn on screen feels both familiar and full of possibility.
When I was putting this list together, I thought about not just the visual setting and use of colour, but also the way autumn influences the story’s tone and setting – how it underscores themes of growth, reflection, and renewal.
Love Island 2025: Society on Steroids - Power, Race, and Gender Dynamics
UK Love Island Season 12 is a revealing microcosm of society’s persistent tensions around patriarchy, misogyny, and racial bias. As the contestants navigate love, friendship, and conflict under the relentless spotlight, we witness a condensed performance of social codes and power struggles that shape everyday life. The Majorcan villa becomes a pressure cooker, intensifying the complex intersections of gender, race, and power in ways that are uncomfortable, captivating, and all too familiar.
Pretty Little Liars: Fifteen Years Since “A’s” First Text
Some TV shows are binge-watched and forgotten. Others define your teenage years. Pretty Little Liars premiered fifteen years ago and quickly became a series of unforgettable moments. Set in the fictional town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, the show followed four high school friends through nearly a decade of secrets, lies, mysterious encounters, and reckless choices that shaped their lives. It set the standard for dramatiSed teen angst, edgy fashion, and became a widely discussed pop culture phenomenon.
Doctor Who (2005-2023); Highs and Lows, Ups and Down, Timeys and Wimeys
Doctor Who has long enjoyed a certain prestige as the longest-running science fiction television series. In 2010, Guinness World Records recognised it as 'the most successful science fiction television show in the world,' based on metrics such as DVD sales and online viewership.
The show has been running for so long that even its revival, relaunched in 2005 after being shelved in 1989 for declining quality, is now 20 years old. Heck, it survives into the modern day through a third revival tailored specifically for streaming, backed these days by big daddy Disney money (not to mention the works of Big Finish, which have secretly been keeping the lights on for decades and will presumably continue on long after humanity is extinct and the world has been consumed by flames - eta: next Tuesday).
Review: Mike White’s ‘The White Lotus’ (Season 3)
Mike White’s The White Lotus has, for many years, depicted the monstrosity of affluence among wealthy Americans. From Hawaii to Sicily, we were rocked by the twists and turns of events throughout their stay at the iconic hotel. Season 3, now set in Thailand, was perhaps the most hotly anticipated TV series this year, and it certainly did not disappoint! We were introduced, yet again, to another ensemble of wealthy Americans eager to put their minds at rest from their everyday materialist lives. A holiday in Thailand was quite the choice!
Review: 'Queer' (2024) - "I'm not queer, I'm just disembodied"
Queer’ is a story of obsession and addiction, manifesting itself in the form of William Lee’s love interest, (If you can call it that) Eugene Allerton. Director Luca Guadagnino masterfully takes us through the story of an aging William Lee battling with his inner turmoil as he clings to the idea of love that never existed. The story takes us from 1950s Mexico City to the Ecuadorian jungle, much of its 137 minute run-time is spent unravelling Lee’s obsessive nature, but the final act feels like a slow descent into madness. Guadagnino allows for the long, drawn out nature of act three to explode into a cinematic moment, a payoff for a 3rd act that might test some viewers patience. While act 3 draws to a long close - it highlights the long and challenging journey our two characters have been on.
The Social Class Satire: How the Ultra-Rich Lost Their Allure
Poking fun at those in positions of power or privilege is nothing new; in fact, it’s the very foundation of satire. Yet, the 21st century has introduced a new generation of the rich and famous, complete with a fresh set of mannerisms and stereotypes for those on the outside to laugh at. Films such as Triangle of Sadness – a scathing satire centred on models, influencers, and oligarchs – and TV series such as The White Lotus – a darkly comedic take on luxury resorts – suggest that being inordinately wealthy has lost its chic, if fact, it’s actually quite embarrassing.
Why the Vampire Trend is Immortal
Twilight was a big deal. The 2008 supernatural romance film hit screens with a bang, and everyone had something to say about it. Even though the craze for the saga has faded with time, nobody can deny the impact it’s had on teen pop culture. Hitting the peak of its popularity with the final film’s release in 2012, it seemed that every girl had an opinion on whether glistening vampire Edward or broody werewolf Jacob made the better match for Bella. This was the pinnacle of the so-called ‘vampire trend’, which also saw the success of TV series like True Blood and The Vampire Diaries. Many look back at this time with nostalgia (even if such feelings are met with ridicule from the actors themselves), but the 2020s are seeing a resurgence in vampire-related content.
Christmas Films and the Demonisation of the Big City
The Hallmark Christmas movie formula is one so well-known that it has an almost mythical status in popular culture. A woman living in the city, with a high-powered career and an endless stream of meetings and espressos, goes back to her rural hometown, falls in love with a man in a plaid shirt, all while discovering the joys of Christmas, and ultimately, becoming a housewife. They’re undeniably cosy and sweet, and the formulaic approach means you can half-watch whilst wrapping presents and still follow the plot. But why does festivity have to come at a cost to life in the metropolis?
Why the 2022 John Lewis Christmas Ad Matters
Every year, British retail giants John Lewis release a heart warming festive advert, and 2022’s edition has been met with both praise and criticism. Ranked as the 3rd best Christmas ad of this year (Saville, 2022), ‘The Beginner’ tells the story of a soon-to-be foster father learning to skateboard, trying his best to fit in practice sessions between his regular 9 to 5; at first, it appears as though he may be pursuing a hobby simply to escape the mundaneness of life, as much as it may hurt and frustrate him. It’s then revealed that he’s doing it to share a common interest with a teenager he’s fostering, who arrives at his doorstep with her own skateboard, nervous about joining a new family for Christmas (John Lewis, 2022). Viewer opinions seem to be divided; on the one hand, some appreciate the sentiment that the idea of a picture-perfect biologically-related family on Christmas doesn’t have to set the standard for ‘traditional’ norms. On the other hand, some viewers have noted that the ad could be misinterpreted and any foster children watching might receive the wrong message (more on this later). You may also be wondering how 2022’s ad has compared to previous years — and what other elements have led to the public deeming it a success or a flop.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Commercialism and Cynicism
Christmas is a time we typically overspend and overstress. In the run-up to Christmas, stressed-out shoppers run riot. And to that end, the overworked staff in these retail spaces, who rarely get to spend meaningful time with their own family and friends at Christmas, get abused by customers daily. While shopping this year - keep that in mind!
‘Everything I Know About Love’: A Review
Despite its mixed reviews, I was glued to the screen while watching the BBC adaptation of Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love — and it’s because I saw my own life recalled before me. I’m twenty-two at the time of writing this review, a couple of years younger than the show’s protagonist Maggie, but it’s like we were one of the same — from the career goals, messy situation-ships, relationships with illicit substances, down to the haircut. Maggie is an aimless graduate sharing a house with her three best friends, trying to bridge the gap between her partying student days and growing up into a full-time career with serious relationships. Her life is a little bit of a disaster at every turn, but her growing understanding of adulthood as she navigates her twenties is what makes the show so gripping and realistic.