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 will 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!
As part of the MCU’s journey into the world of TV, we have recently gotten to experience what happened to Loki after he stole the tesseract and escaped his inevitable capture back in 2012’s The Avengers. What resulted is a show that boggled the mind, played with our expectations, and enticed us every week!
While it is getting a season two, we will unfortunately have to wait a long while before we’re able to properly dive back into Loki, so here are some intriguing suggestions for other media which could keep you occupied enough until that fateful day.
So without further ado, let’s begin…
Movie: Crimson Peak
Vastly underrated, this gothic film directed by Guillermo Del Toro is a ghost story with a twisted romance. Starring Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam, and the man of the hour, Tom Hiddleston himself, this is a great world to visit following Loki. The film follows Wasikowska’s Edith who, in the aftermath of a family tragedy, finds herself drawn to Hiddleston’s mysterious stranger and his foreboding abode — an old house that breathes, bleeds, and remembers.
Now you might be reading this thinking, how on earth does this relate to Loki? Well first of all, Hiddleston is arguably, portraying one of the most conflicted, interesting roles of his career. A Victorian socialite whose troubling relationship with his sister, hidden horrific past, and his undeniable chemistry with our heroine, is one that constantly draws the eye. When he’s not on screen, you want him to return, and when he is on screen you can’t take your eyes off him. So if you want to see him in another fully realized role as a morally questionable character then look no further.
All that aside, this is also a mystical tale that I honestly couldn’t stop thinking about after my initial viewing. From its stunning visuals, layered plot lines, and intriguing mysteries, you’ll find yourself experiencing very similar emotions, and inner conflicts that you would have had while watching Disney’s new show.
I won’t say anymore as there are certain… elements that I wouldn’t want to spoil, but just trust me when I say it’s worth the watch.
Hunker down on a Friday night and catch this flick, which is now streaming on Netflix.
Book: The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Catherine Webb
A story that explores past lives, resurrection, meaning, and so much more, I cannot begin to put into words how interesting this book is.
I guess I’ll start with the plot. The story centers around Harry August, a man who has so far lived 12 lives and remembered them all. Every time he dies, Harry always returns to where he began: as a child with all the knowledge of all the lives he’s already lived. Nothing has ever changed, until this time when a little girl appears beside his deathbed pleading that he help effect change. This is the story of what Harry does next, and what he did before, and how he tries to save a past he cannot change and a future he cannot allow.
Now, if you got a little lost in that description, I wouldn’t blame you — it’s not the most straightforward plot summary in the world but, then again, it’s also not the most straightforward book. Diving into the many pasts of our protagonist, we explore what it means to be human, to be individual, and to try and break a cycle that had previously always been inevitable — sound familiar?
I’m hesitant to give you any more, as the magic in this novel comes from discovering it in your own time. But let me just confirm that if you enjoyed following the journey of Loki and his many variants in their futile fight against a dreaded, but inescapable fate, then this is a book worth checking out.
Pick it up at your local library or favorite bookseller today, and dive right in!
Podcast:Flash Forward
If what really got you excited in Loki was the presence of a multiverse — and unprecedented possibility — then do I have the podcast for you.
Have you ever wondered, “what if?” Now stay with me. I know we are soon to have a TV show that answers this very question for Marvel soon. However, this is more relevant to the society and civilization that we very much know.
What if humans could see at night? What if we no longer had the capability of lying? What if policing was only done by robots? What if we all knew the exact date we would die? These are just some of the questions posed in this podcast. Each week a new scenario is brought up, which is then answered via research, intuition, and interviews with experts in a related field. The show basically gives us as accurate of an answer as we could possibly get for each scenario, as well as the likelihood of it ever coming about.
It’s wildly fascinating and will easily keep your mind engaged for its duration. With each episode spanning from 20 minutes to an hour, you’re sure to find something that will tickle your brain and keep you thinking well after it’s finished.
With new episodes and worlds explored each week, every consideration about the world and its possibilities is intricately studied in a way that is wholly engaging and gripping.
Should this be something that intrigues you, you can find it streaming on Apple Podcasts and Spotify now.
Video Game: Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
What is real? Does it matter? Isn’t Norse mythology cool?!
If those are questions you find yourself asking, especially following your experience of watching the Norse God of Mischief on his many adventures, then there’s a video game that I reckon you should check out.
Now, immediately I will say, that this is not a game for the faint hearted. It’s as dark and gritty as it gets, and will really have you questioning your sanity, rational thought, and (again) what it means to be human.
So what is it about you may ask? Well let me tell you.
Set in the Viking age, a broken Celtic warrior, Senua, embarks on a haunting vision quest into Hel (the Norse mythology version of Hell) to fight for the soul of her dead lover. However, throughout this perilous journey, Senua is also plagued by constant voices in her head, at times spurring her along and others, weighing her down.
First of all, the game is stunning. Honestly it’s got some of the most evocative visuals I’ve ever seen. Everything is so beautiful in its grim depiction, that it’s very easy to get so sucked into the gameplay, and not realize that hours have passed. However, that pales in comparison to the themes and character complexities that are explored. Lauded by many as one of the best video games ever made, it centers around a story of grief, self-assurance, and mental illness, and how all that can come to a head, resulting in either triumph or a destruction of self.
The pre-mentioned voices are atmospheric auditory depictions of Senua’s psychosis, which only get more and more intense as you continue along her ill-fated journey. You never really get a handle on them, and honestly the sound experience of this game alone is worth the price of purchase.
I honestly don’t want to say any more. If this has intrigued you, even in the least, then you should hop onto your favourite game console and give it a go now.
But also, again, giving a warning here that this is a psychological horror that will take over your life until you’ve finished the story. And there are moments that are truly terrifying — I’m talking I was screaming while playing at times, so you know, go in with caution.
So if that’s got you interested, it’s available to play on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.
So Loki fans, I hope I have given you enough to satiate your desire for more until we get season two. Whether you’re looking for more Hiddleston, an exploration into the multiverse, or into your own personal ever-changing self, there’s something here that is sure to scratch the itch.
Look out for next month’s release, where I’ll be back with a whole bunch of new recommendations, related to whatever stood out to me the most in August.
Until then, thank you for visiting SiftPop’s One Stop Pop. We hope to see you again soon!
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