‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ smashes box office

The recent release of the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” movie on Oct. 27 has reignited the franchise’s popularity, and fans of the games swarmed the theaters. The majority of the fans of the original game of the same name, which came out on Aug. 8, 2014, are now adults; however, the film’s financial success at the box office proves that older fans were still eager to rush to the theaters to see it.

‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ re-ignites pop royalty

Few artists could find a seamless way to connect items like polaroids, seagulls and pen clicks. In 2014, music industry topliner Taylor Swift did just that while transforming her career into an eclectic, synth-infused pop masterclass with the release of “1989.” Before the release of the Grammy-award-winning record, Swift flirted with unique, distinct genres as she began to progress into a fully-fledged pop star (songs like “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “22” from her previous album tested the pop waters with her loyal country audience). Nine years to the day of the original release of “1989,” Swift has taken back her iconic record with “1989 (Taylor’s Version).”

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is Scorsese’s latest masterpiece

For many filmmakers, their twilight years are a period of slowdown and downsizing with smaller, less ambitious works replacing the grand epics and massive swings that defined their careers. That makes Martin Scorsese’s recent film run (starting with “The Wolf of Wall Street” in 2013 and continuing with “Silence” in 2016 and “The Irishman” in 2019) all the more remarkable. As he approaches his eighth decade, his films have only grown in ambition, subverting the genre convention he had helped popularize with his most famous works to tell a grand, interwoven tale about the history of America and how it is entrenched with exploitation and violence.

boygenius continues success on new tour

On Monday, Oct. 2,  the band boygenius performed at Madison Square Garden as part of their tour for their debut album “the record.” The band consists of three members: Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, who are all also individual artists. The show was opened by MUNA. Bridgers came out to sing her part of her song with MUNA called “Silk Chiffon.” The night was filled with a mixture of screams and tears as people sang their hearts out.

Season 2 of “Loki” is a superhero-studded adventure

The popular Marvel Studios series “Loki” has returned with its second season, released on Disney+ on Thursday, Oct. 5. The new season is a direct continuation of the events from the finale of Season 1, which ended with Loki and Sylvie encountering “he who remains,” who was revealed to be a variant of Kang the Conqueror, the current main villain of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Season 1 was praised for its well-paced episodes, fluid writing and stellar performances by both Owen Wilson and Tom Hiddleston.

How horror dominates post-pandemic film

It is an irrefutable understatement to point out that the film industry was forever changed by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Productions were halted, films were delayed indefinitely, casts and crew members from all over were sent into isolation, and the streaming world naturally took over as the entertainment savior of lockdown. There were a couple of failed attempts at resuscitating theaters during 2020, and it wasn’t until March 2021 that moviegoing started showing signs of life again. Even then it wasn’t until well into 2022 that the box office was back to relative normalcy.

Blast From the Past: Stephen Sanchez Releases Debut Album “Angel Face”

Stephen Sanchez made waves all over social media in early 2022 when he debuted his hit single “Until I Found You.” In the ballad, which was reminiscent of ‘50s and ‘60s-style love songs, Sanchez gave listeners a glimpse of what he was capable of within the musical world. Sanchez has now been on countless tours and has made an even bigger splash in the music industry by performing alongside Elton John earlier this year.

A Hollywood strikes primer

The historic dual strikes that have stopped Hollywood in its tracks for almost half of this year are, seemingly, heading toward their end. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has made a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is seemingly close to one as well. However, the dual strikes, along with many controversies and contradictory information, have caused confusion as to what the strikes are for, who benefits from them and why there is so much tension between all parties involved. This article seeks to dispel myths, quell confusion and explain the myriad of issues that have arisen.

Make your choice: Four gnarly horror films for ‘Saw’ fans

With over $1 billion in unadjusted worldwide grosses and a massive, devoted following, “Saw” is one of the most successful horror franchises in existence. Starting off with a “Seven”-esque thriller and quickly morphing into a wildly elaborate and excessively gory soap opera, the soon-to-be-ten-film series has repulsed critics and general audiences alike but has ensnared the hearts and minds of horror fans around the world for nearly two decades. 

Introducing Hello Brooklyn

Whether you came to Fall Fest early this year to go to the carnival or get an up-close spot to see Rae Sremmurd, you most likely got a chance to hear the opening band, Hello Brooklyn. Depending on your music tastes, they might have been your favorite performance of the day.

Why women suffer in country music

Female country music artists have consistently faced a lack of equality in radio – their music is typically played less on the radio compared to their male counterparts. The highest-played male artist on country radio, Kenny Chesney, has earned more than six million spins, while the highest-played female artist, Carrie Underwood, has only earned a little more than three million spins. At the end of the year, even the male artists with the lowest numbers performed better than their female counterparts. 

Music Fest to welcome Ski Mask, cupcakKe

Soon, the sounds of cheers and screams will echo in the distance as Music Fest begins. Hofstra Concerts is celebrated for its profound musical passion, and this year’s Music Fest is an event worth its omnipresent hype. On Friday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., Music Fest will host a stellar lineup of performances, including Hofstra’s own Official X and the Nice Guys alongside femdot., cupcakKe and headliner Ski Mask The Slump God, at the arena within the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

Revenge is served with heart and gore in “Saw X”

Nearly 19 years after audiences were brutally introduced to the twisted world of “Saw,” the franchise’s staple character John Kramer (aka Jigsaw) is still one of the most iconic and beloved horror movie villains of all time. What makes his case so different from the rest, however, is how debatable his status as a villain is. Of course, kidnapping people and subjecting them to elaborate torture machines isn’t exactly the work of a traditional “hero,” but as his mythology unfolds during the first seven films, his achingly tragic and at times empathetic character is revealed to be more of an anti-hero than a clear-cut hero or villain.