by Alice-Ginevra Micheli, Contributing Writer
We all have that feeling. You know the one: you finish watching a movie and something about it hits you in just the right spot. Whether it was the theme, the story, or even the characters, there was a quality about it that almost makes you want to turn around and go back a second, third, or even fourth time!
Bar the reality of living in the movie theater for the rest of your days, you turn to the rest of pop culture and start to look for other avenues where you can find that same feeling.
Well I’m here to make this plight easier for all. Each month, I take a piece of pop culture that was prevalent in the social consciousness — whether it is a movie, TV show, or something else — and then recommend other forms of media for those who want to stay in that world a little bit longer.
Welcome to your One Stop Pop, internet!
Ah, John Wick: the ultimate assassin tale. A movie franchise that spawned out of pure will, and carefully curated stunts, John Wick: Chapter 4 gives us the latest in the crazy series that’s meant to get the adrenaline rising, eyes bulging, and blood pumping. So, it’s no surprise that when this latest installment released, people flocked to the theater to catch up with Keanu in his best form.
Given this, I take up my mantle once again, providing recommendations that pair nicely with the story following an unhinged yet vastly entertaining killing machine. Without further ado, let’s get started…
Book: Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
We must start with the obvious, by which I mean there will be a selection of recommends that are of course within the assassin oeuvre, and this is one of those.
Nevernight is the first in a trilogy of dark fantasy novels which follows fledgling assassin Mia Corvere as she seeks revenge on behalf of her family. It’s dark, it’s twisted, and my goodness, is it compelling!
From the beginning, you’re taken through this web of complicated memory, reaction, and storytelling that will slowly sink its claws into you until you can’t help but want to dive straight into the next book.
Wick fans will also enjoy just how much of an edgelord our protagonist is. Paired with a snarky companion monster/animal/spirit//thing, an important balance is struck between the two key characters, and it will keep you on your toes through every delicious moment.
It should be noted that similar to the Wick series, the world building is flawless. You can feel which rules set are the non-negotiable boundaries, and in turn, which are made for breaking. Not to mention, there are some mighty cool kills within the many pages.
Interested? Go to your favorite bookseller or to your local library!
TV Show: Happy!
Let’s move away from crazy world building, and towards the unhinged tone that pairs nicely with this assassin tale. Now, we’re staying with the idea of the contract killer, but this time it’s one who definitely has something rotting in the brain.
When his daughter goes missing, an injured hitman befriends her imaginary friend in order to hunt down the kidnapper and save her life.
Yes, that’s right. This is a TV show about a person who kills for a living, and his relationship with a blue unicorn pegasus that talks… and doesn’t exist.
Starring Law & Order: SVU’s Christopher Meloni as the human, and Patton Oswalt as the titular and imaginary Happy, this show is as crazy as it gets — and I mean crazy. The action is over-the-top, the story is ridiculous, yet the emotional core is in fact present and prominent. It all comes down to the unlikely friendship at its core, which only evolves with each passing episode.
I should mention a slight trigger warning here, as the violence in this show is dialed up past 11 and into the 50s. There’s blood, gore, and everything in between. It’s also vulgar, and will offend almost every sensibility that you may harbor, so please keep this in mind before you hit that play button.
However, it’s also, highly enjoyable, entertaining, fast-paced, and generally thrilling — just like how you might feel after John Wick 4 perhaps.
Both seasons are already completed, so if this is something you would like to sink your teeth into, then head on over to Netflix now for your viewing pleasure.
Video Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Now, there was no way I was going to finish this article without recommending the biggest elephant in the room when it comes to games. This is only enhanced when reflecting on the inclusion of exotic locations, expansive worlds, and of course (literal) killer moves. I am, of course, talking about the Assassins Creed series.
However, I won’t be recommending all of them, as they’re very hit-or-miss depending on who you’re talking to, and which game you’re talking about. Instead, we’ll be focusing on Assassin’s Creed Odyssey,which is the one set in Ancient Greece.
Released in 2018, this version immediately became a hit due to its sheer majesty. Within, you will find yourself choosing your fate, and rising the ranks from outcast to living legend, as you embark on your own odyssey to uncover the secrets of the past and change the fate of Ancient Greece.
An open-world RPG, this game will have you striving for greatness, while also giving you the freedom to explore and build up your character to reflect who you are within an awesome, and slightly twisted, Ancient Greek setting.
It’s also considered to be a great entry point into the series for those who haven’t dipped their toes into the Assassin’s Creed series before, so if you have always thought about testing these expansive chronicles before but weren’t sure where to start, then this would be the way to go.
If this might tickle your fancy, then download it now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, or PC.
Album: Blush by P.V.A
Bringing it back to John Wick 4,one of its most identifying elements is the intense and evocative music accompaniment. Whether it’s the hardened beats of the score, or the warped version of infamous songs in the soundtrack, this movie is as intensive phonically as it is visually, making it an overall treat.
The tastes that are being catered to here are clearly of a specific type, but I’d wager that a fair few of the movie-going crowd left theaters wishing for more head-banging enjoyment.
If this is the case, might I recommend the new album by ingenue British group, P.V.A, Blush. Combining emotional strength with impressive dance floor-evoking pulses, this group has delivered an album that almost too perfectly pairs with the newest Wick installment.
Its tracks vary in tone, and the song story constantly teeters on a knife’s edge between the celebration of self, and the bravery required to do so. Really, it’s an album that’s about breaking free of old, imaginary shackles, while still grappling with the bindings at the same time — much like our Mr. Wick throughout his devastating ordeal.
It’s also just a really good listen. So I might recommend that if you were one to enjoy what you heard, as well as what you saw, to go on over to Spotify, or your favorite music listening tool, and give a couple of these tracks a listen now.
It’s an assassin-heavy month, which is hard to deny when you see how ingratiated in lore, and the expansion of the contract killing underworld, that John Wick has become to the masses, and I hope that you enjoy experiencing it further through one or more of the above avenues.
I’ll return in May with whatever made headlines this month, but until then, thank you for visiting SiftPop’s One Stop Pop. We hope to see you again soon!
You can read more from Alice-Ginevra Micheli, and follow her on Instagram and Letterboxd