All the World’s a Page and All the Characters Merely Authors: 10 Pieces of Life/Writing Advice + Hiatus Announcement

Content Warning: Visual Reference to the Results of Self-Harm

Does this title seem familiar (albeit lengthier) to you? If so, it’s because this post is a combination of a poorly formatted old one I have since deleted and its intended sequel. Thus, this!

I know 10 points is a lot, but considering this will be my last post for a while, for a number of reasons, the consolidation makes sense (including the fact that the previous post read like pretentious crap 😅). Also, this subject happens to be particularly relevant to today’s announcements:

• Due to daily neck, back and shoulder pain and inflammation that have, for the last two weeks, affected my ability to hold my head up, let alone type, the blog will be on hiatus during the upcoming holidays.

Workin’ it out like…

I need to figure out a new action plan that will allow me to keep making headway on my third draft and wish to put my energy into said new regime, my manuscript and the mental upkeep it will continue to take to navigate these circumstances with positivity.

• Regarding the blog itself, I’ll either be bringing it back sometime early next year, when I’ve found a treatment/productivity plan that works, or, as I get closer to finalizing my manuscript, discontinuing it for the most part to focus on expanding my platform.

• So if you happen to be interested in podcasts, meta memes and musings along the lines of those you’re about to read, I hope you’ll consider coming along for the ride. But if this is where we part ways, I’d like to thank you sincerely, from every corner of my heart, for your time, support and readership. ❤

Thank you, EVERYONE, for your time, support and readership. It’s been quite the journey so far, hasn’t it? And it’s not over. Though you have bested all your worst days and I have very nearly beaten BPD in spite of myself (literally, heh), life goes on. This most sacred, cursed blessing we lucky ones must bear continues to change…and change us.

With that in mind, I’d like to share 10 pieces of writing/life advice that could help one choose to change for the better.

1. Write every day.

Even if you’re not a writer. Get your thoughts down—get them out—to open your mind up to new ones.

Draw with your body as you dance, as you exercise. Author stories and dreams and pass them on. Find and use your voice, be it for work or recreation. On the page you are as safe as you want to be. And a practiced hand—and mind—requires practice.

2.

Gif credit: titussevigny via Tenor

Preparation is more or less a relative concept, I know, but it still applies to art of business and the business side of art. Whatever you want to do in life, in order to do it well/prime yourself to improve at it, you have to study and train and prepare for it, as whatever industry you plan on going into—as well as society at large—will alter over time.

Be present, but don’t forget to invest in your health and future. Better to have training and not need it than need it and not have it, right?

3. A critique is just that—it’s not an ego stroke.

I learned this one the hard way, lol, both personally and professionally, but I’ll be forever grateful for how, when and from whom I learned it.

It’s important to be kind, open and clever enough to admit when you’re wrong.

After all, the whole world’s falling apart because not enough people can do this, on either a collective or individual basis…Do you really want to contribute to that?

It’s important to cop to your mistakes—and accept the consequences of your actions. And it’s important to do your best to fix your mistakes, for this is the essence of true strength, of fortitude. Because those who cannot handle, process or apply constructive criticism are the people who will never really get any better at what they do.

Often, we are blind to ourselves, whether we’re overconfident or insecure. But how else can we expect to mitigate these oversights if an honorable, honest, respected observer doesn’t let us know what they are?

A just critique isn’t out to break your spirit—it’s meant to highlight your strengths and spotlight the things you could improve. Help you harness every last drop of your potential.

I’ve seen plenty of critical comments that have almost broken me, and not even because of what was said but because of how I interpreted what was said. Too often I’d consume only the toxins, digest the questions all wrong…and I’d almost let them kill me. I’ve almost killed myself so many times…

But that would’ve been wrong, because I was wrong, and I’m blessed to be here to say that. I’m still alive and thus able to look back, see all the ways I was wrong, understand all the whys, reapply the hows that have shown me how to correct myself going forward and reclaim a power that makes me nothing short of excited.

The ability to learn from one’s mistakes is at the core of every success you and the people you look up to have ever had. Think about it.

Think about it and recognize that the best part of a critique isn’t its conclusion; it’s the aftermath, specifically the realization that your skills, others’ responses, the number of positives they point out, the entire process—all of it can only get better if you choose to treat your missteps merely as misses and each day as another chance to conquer yet another rung on the ladder of life.

And while you’re ascending, you’d do well to…

4. Compare yourself solely to yourself.

You don’t need to hop in a TARDIS to do this. Just take the time every now and then to reflect on or even record your victories—and losses—to determine whether or not you are where you want to be performance-wise. If you are, celebrate yourself. If you’re not, be gentle with yourself…

…unless you’re more than a little aware that you could do with a swift kick in the ass, in which case go ahead and gently give yourself said kick in the ass. Forthwith. 😁

But seriously, little good comes from comparing your unique talents, smarts, size, looks, job, goals, past successes or past pain to other people’s. You’ll either make yourself depressed or ride a superficial high before crashing into a questioning mode again, and both you and your art will suffer for it.

So you might as well put the price gun down, stop quibbling with yourself about your worth and focus on improving your output and celebrating your triumphs. Ease the pressure and everything will flow.

Oh, and while you’re at it…

5. Let it go.

As a child of old-school Toonami, I couldn’t resist. Gif credit: Ryan Arno via Pinterest

Or, if you prefer, move on.

Whatever you need to exorcise—be it doubt, fear, blame, anxiety, pessimism, perfectionism, toxic beliefs, events, relationships—find a way to let those things go, for the sake of your future. Let your determination determine your focus, temper caution, eclipse the inner critic and sublimate negativity. If you can’t lose it, use it to elevate yourself and everyone around you. But if you can let it go, do so, and in doing so, try not to look back.

Freeing yourself may involve therapy, training or medication. May come in the form of moving away or eschewing social media. May involve diving into sports, academia or other passions or hidden talents (*cough, like writing, cough cough*). As long as it’s a healthy practice, it’s valid.

Sometimes the act of letting go will be accompanied by grand speeches and sweeping exits. Sometimes it will be as simple as alighting upon the realization that you haven’t thought about that person or that incident or that emotion for a long time.

And being able to smile afterward is when you’ll know you’re free, and it’ll taste like light.

May you rise above and beyond—higher than you’ve ever dared to dream… ❤

Now let us move on.

6. You don’t have to be unkind to be critically honest.

While there’s power and entertainment in being creatively harsh, a thoughtful reminder on social media has recently woken me up to the fact that it’s just not worth it in the long run. Image is everything nowadays, and what agent, employer or writing group wants to work with someone who dumps on others’ work? Moreover, there’s a fine line between constructive and destructive criticism, and if you’re as talented as you believe yourself to be, you’ll find a way to be constructively critical/honest yet respectful of others.

So for those who enjoy razzing other creators a little too much, fair warning: doing so may be counterproductive to your own future success…

And I say this to remind myself as well, as someone who could stand to ease up on the general pedantry and edit/delete her more negative movie reviews. Not every opinion has to be publicized, right?

Because if I truly want to be a better writer and person in general—and I do—I’ve got to commit to better practices.

How about you? You good?

7. “Setbacks are not failures.”

I’m going to give my fellow word nerds some homework for this one: Please look up the definitions for setback and failure to confirm for yourself that what I’m about to say isn’t bullshit. Thank you. 🙂

(And if you’d still like to debate, you might as well skip this point, as I doubt it or #9 will resonate much with you.)

A delay in progress—hell, even a regression—does not ruin the recovery process nor stop it altogether. You don’t have to let disappointment, shame, fear, anger, apathy, guilt or regret take away from all the good you’ve done up to this point. It’s not worth it. Trust me.

A few Wednesdays ago, I cut myself again. I’d tried breathing, meditating, “Checking the Facts” and Ativan to calm down but had become so convinced that I couldn’t control all the compound, complex, overwhelming emotions that I sliced open my skin to relieve the tension. And you know what?

For the first time ever, it hardly worked.

These scars will heal.

Dazed, I ended up calling my cousin to ask her to sit with me to make sure I didn’t take it further. It was awful, waiting for her on the porch…bleeding and clinging to a post, rocking back and forth and laughing at everything you know isn’t funny…and giving in to the urge to self-harm (especially at a time when I’d been reflecting and celebrating how far I’ve come on my journey to wellness) made me feel like an even bigger failure.

“It’s happening again,” I told her on the day, along with some tearful variation of, “I thought I was past all this shit!”

Her response was this quote, and as usual, she’s right. I may have relapsed, but I’d also pulled my world together long enough to ask her to sit with me and talk things out until the call to commit suicide had left nary an echo in my mind.

And that’s where our focus should be: on the comeback. On every time we haven’t killed ourselves. On every time we have overcome. On the chance to try again and again until our last breath.

No one’s path to wellness or success is a straight line—no one’s. That is the nature of this life. What’s important is that we give credit when and where it is due and see setbacks for what they are: things that do not have to weaken, ruin, diminish or define us.

8. Take care of yourself before, after and while plumbing the depths of your psyche.

Whether you’re preparing to write an impactful scene or uprooting past traumas so the skin of your soul can finally heal. Again, trust me on this one.

I’ve been stuck on the 12^th chapter of my 3^rd draft for months now—not because I lack direction but because it’s been obscenely painful and difficult to write. It contains an explosive confrontation as well as multiple characters’ breaking points, and trying to capture and transcribe the essence of some of humankind’s most primal emotions has taken me back to mindsets and memories I thought I’d be able to handle with ease.

…But, as previously evidenced, I overestimated my emotional endurance, and my carelessness contributed to the aforementioned near-psychotic break—over what I perceived to be a work faux pas which, upon communicating with the rest of the office, was not, of course, so much the case.

And even though I wasn’t in trouble, I remained upset for a spell as I ruminated on what my breakdown represented: yet another professional and personal failure. And that determination kept me spiraling—and snapping and raging and screaming—until I’d finally had enough of feeling like/treating my mom like shit and put the work in to achieve a breakthrough…and boy, did I break through! Shattered almost 30 years of assumed expectations and false beliefs.

I’ve been doing better mentally ever since.

I’m also fairly confident chapter 12 will reach most readers, but the fact remains that I should have heeded my mental health coach’s warning in the first place and prepared myself to enter and exit such a tricky frame of mind, as taking the time to do so would have saved everyone a lot of grief (again, literally).

In short: Please refer back to #2. 😅

9. Review and/or redefine what “success” means to you (especially if you’re an unrelenting perfectionist).

This is about accruing the ability to temper your expectations so you can meet them (if you’re not already). And if you find yourself more than a little resistant to the notion of lowering or otherwise altering your standards, perhaps you should examine why you believe you have to (over)achieve in order to succeed. As it turns out, the truth behind my perfectionist tendencies was actually revealed to me back in 2017 at a religious-based mental health seminar, during which one of the hosts posited that most of our problems stem from the belief that we are not good enough.

Do you ever feel that way? Perhaps it’s time to explore why.

Because it’s important to feel “good enough”—for your job, your family, your dreams, your standing in the community—and even if you don’t currently, that doesn’t mean you can’t get there. It may take a lot of effort, especially for rigid perfectionists, but once you loosen the reins a little, not only will you be much more motivated and productive, you’ll be happier and kinder to yourself as well.

In short: Please don’t set yourself up for [what you will perceive as] “failure.”

But if you happen to…

10. Always remember: You are creative. You’ll find a way around it.

Whatever “it” is. You don’t need to panic. You don’t have to spiral. You don’t need to berate yourself or anyone else because, again, if you’re as creative as you know yourself to be, you will find a solution to your problem(s).

For instance, I found a way to complete this post despite the fact that being on the computer, in any given position, unleashes an excruciating, scorching pain along and below my cervical spine. And I will find a way to continue writing my book.

I don’t care what it takes or how long it takes or if I only ever write just one—I want to be a published author more than I want to let this pain stop me, so I don’t let it stop me. And as long as I can move—or speak or think—I won’t let it stop me. Even on the days where I’m lying in bed for hours at a time, I still find things to laugh about and notes to jot down.

Because I have been through hell, and I’ll be damned if I let hell stop me.

Quote attributed to Sir Winston Churchill, Mario Murillo, Steve Harvey & anonymous others, in part. Image credit: Sanvello

And I won’t be damned.

Are you with me?

The power to choose, to do, for your work and for yourself, is yours. It always has been.

Remember that every time you step up to reclaim it.

See you on the other side.

All my love,

Britney

Britney P.’s 2021 Octoberween Watchlist

Happy Halloween!

May you have a safe, fun and yet moderately mischievous night…

I won’t keep you long—just wanted to share the annual tally of all the horror works with which I’ve been celebrating “Octoberween” aka “Halloween all October…” 

…which I invite you to do as well! I’d love to exchange recommendations. 

• American Horror Story: Double Feature (yes, would recommend; loved Red Tide!)
• Eli Roth’s History of Horror (season 3 – yes)
• Halloween Wars (season 11 – depends on whether you’d like the change in format)
• A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (yes – also my favorite NOES movie)
• A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (depends on your tastes)
• Ghost Whisperer (depends)
• Dead Birds (depends, although it’s better than I feel most would expect)
• Lost Souls
• The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Specials (always)
• Doctor Wolfula’s YouTube channel (stupendous horror channel – always love “Ahhctober”!)
• We Watched a Movie’s YouTube channel (fun and informative content – their Michael and Loomis skits make me laugh until I cry 😂)
• BuzzFeed Unsolved (my cousin’s personal recommendation – she’s Shane, I’m Ryan 😂😂)
• It Follows (yes)
• The Moleman of Belmont Avenue (depends, but again, it’s way better than I feel most would expect. I thought it was hilarious, frankly, in that “We’re-low-budget-and-we-know-it-and-we’re-still-gonna-work-it” kind of way 😄)
• American Psycho (yes)
• Death Machine (…maybe? lol)
• Camp Cold Brook (yes)
• Black Death (yes)
• Chucky (the USA series – yes! They’ve done a good job with both the transition from film to TV and keeping up with the times/youth culture)
• Halloween (2018 – yes)
• Halloween Kills (YES, even though whether or not you’ll like it will apparently be contingent on your willingness to accept the themes/characters’ decision-making. For me, very little fell outside my expectations, so I can safely say I loved it. At the very least I hope people who want/have wanted to see this movie enjoy it, because it is one hell of a slasher flick, all right 😁)
• Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight (always)
• Godsend (depends)
• Horsemen (yes)
• Take Shelter (always)
• Dracula (1931 – yes! Though no longer scary, the creepiness—as well as most of the acting—holds up)
• Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (absolutely – interesting, important and entertaining!)

As for tonight? Maybe

• The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

or

• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

Lol. But we’ve gotta go with the classic 

• Halloween (1978)

and, as far as I’m concerned, probably at least one of these sequels 

• Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
• Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers 
• Halloween (6): The Curse of Michael Myers

because they meant a lot to me growing up. Those AMC marathons got me through a lot of sad, lonely, scary nights, man. And now I love [fictional] horror. Because I’m in control of my life and what and who is in it. My nightmares are gone, and I’m the master of my dreams now.  

I hope there’s power in this night—this holiday—for you too. For that’s truly a reason to celebrate.  

Enjoy your Halloween.

With love,

Britney

P.S. Yes, there is someone in the horror community who really likes the Thorn trilogy timeline of the Halloween series, lol. Despite its flaws, I always have and I always will. 

P.P.S. Also working on a full review for Halloween Kills—stay tuned!

Bonus Post: Britney P. Reviews #3 – Halloween Edition

Disclaimer: The following reviews are mine but have been slightly edited for clarity. They may also be found under the username “B. Peterson” in Google’s “Audience Reviews” knowledge panel.

Happy Halloween! In a week! 😄

As promised, this bonus post centers around three psychological dramas that deliver on thrills, chills and even kills!

• Down a Dark Hall (film)
• Acrimony (film)
• Take Shelter (film)

Threads that tie these thrillers together include a crisscross mix of realism and ambiguity—elements essential to every successful suspense or psychological horror story. The suggestion—or corporeality—of distortion, of dysfunction, is far more natural than super, which makes the events you’re witnessing even more disturbing if you can put yourself in the place of the characters experiencing them.

Especially when you can.

Especially when things, for you, really are out of order.

Especially when you can’t tell if they’re out of order or…

The essence of psychological horror—the psychology of horror? It’s all in the “-or” of horror.

Or is it?

If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t mind straddling the abyss—or prefers to, particularly in October—come walk the edge with me awhile, would you?

1. Down a Dark Hall (2018) – directed by Rodrigo Cortés

To be honest, I was floored by how good this film is. It may be a PG-13 adaptation of a 47-year-old Lois Duncan novel, but the acting, cinematography, thrills, and chills are all pretty damn great.

I also appreciate that this adaptation is softly inclusive, in that diversity and feminist themes are present but not overbearing—there are good male characters and villainous male characters, good female characters and villainous female characters. Everyone is interesting, the themes of identity are reasonably intriguing, and the story arc is more poignant than one might expect.

Personally, I like horror with a little heart, so if you’re the same, don’t miss this contemporary Gothic drama—at the very least, it’s like running around a smaller, creepier, eviler version of Hogwarts for 90 minutes, lol.

My rating: 7/10

2. Acrimony (2018) – directed by Tyler Perry

Better than one might think.

I’m all right with Tyler Perry in general, but his captivating (albeit slightly messy) devolution of Melinda Moore, played by Taraji P. Henson, really made me feel for both her and the object of her ire—Lyriq Bent’s Robert—more than I expected.

Both characters are in the wrong for most of the movie—he is self-involved and opportunistic while she has many chances to move on with her life that she doesn’t take—and therein lies the tragedy. This is a story with extremely sad and relatable elements, but you understand, each step of the way, why the characters feel the way they do and make the decisions they make.

I also appreciate that the film makes you think about the person underneath the wellness and rage issues. As someone who’s struggled with BPD for years, I don’t think that’s something you come across too often in media, and it deserves some recognition when it’s done decently. (I do find the narration a little too directive and on the nose, however.)

All in all, it’s a fine film, and I must say I quite enjoy Henson’s darkly dire performance. I also find Acrimony to be one of Perry’s stronger directorial outings—not as striking as For Colored Girls but more powerful than most of the Madea movies (with the possible exceptions of I Can Do Bad All by Myself and Diary of a Mad Black Woman).

If you’re also a Taraji fan who’s drawn to frighteningly real psychological thrillers, definitely give this one a shot.

My rating: 6/10

3. Take Shelter (2011) – directed by Jeff Nichols

Superb. Stunning in its simplicity and authenticity.

I had such a profound watch experience that, after the film ended, I couldn’t even form cohesive thoughts. I just…took a walk, underneath a somber sky…

Here are the impressions I’ve since pieced together (5 days later, no less):

There are few films crafted so deftly, shot so perfectly, performed so earnestly, and paced with such purpose—that feel so real—but Take Shelter is one such marvel. It boasts all the proper story beats along with naturalistic dialogue and a score that delicately couples wonder with dread. The plot, while suitably grave, is laced with humor, intimacy, subtlety, and ambiguity—everything a thriller needs to leave an imprint on one’s psyche. Additionally, simultaneously, the story offers a poignant take on masculinity in association with mental health whether it ultimately means to or not.

It may be a touch too long—maybe…?—but the film is so engrossing, so patient, so moving, and yet so disquieting that this note on editing is hardly worth opining. Similarly, the scene I thought was the ending wasn’t…so there’s that…but at the same time, the true ending is not only appropriate for such a genre- and mind-bending piece but probably necessary as well. The right choice.

The writer in me was pleased whereas the viewer was left breathless—I’ll leave it at that. As for the film altogether? It’s a perfect storm, pun wholly but gently intended.

Now, if you’re on the fence, let me tell you: I was nervous going in. Not because I dislike psychological horror/thrillers (quite the opposite) but because I wasn’t sure I was up for the toll I feared the story might have on my state of mind.

…Was afraid it would get too close, you know? Because I have worked very hard to reach a sense of mental and emotional equilibrium.

Maybe you have too.

And I fight every day to maintain it through the residual challenges BPD, OCD, and PTSD present, such as recollections of nightmares similar to those of the protagonist’s.

And if you do too…

I must say to everyone reading this who has ever grappled with or is fighting a series of mental health challenges right now that this is NOT a movie experience to avoid but rather one to embrace. With an unguarded mind and with your whole heart.

If you can relate to this premise, to these struggles, these fears, these assaults, these storms—and if not to them, at least to the tremendous performances by Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain—there are aspects of this film that will leave you thunderstruck.

If you have ever questioned all you know, you’re ready to hole up with a film wise enough, dire enough, and true enough to inspire you both to take shelter and give shelter to whomever you can, however you can.

Good luck.

TL;DR: I was truly awed by this film and would recommend it to most anyone old enough to appreciate the subject matter.

My rating: 9.5/10

Look at that, we made it through!

This time, anyway.

Acquired from Tenor.com

Thanks so much for reviewing my reviews! Next Sunday, I’ll be posting my annual “Octoberween Watchlist”—a list of all the horror films, series and channels I’ve consumed this month and with which I’ll be celebrating Halloween night! Mwa ha ha!

Feel free to stop by—and don’t forget to drop your own watchlist and/or recommendations in the comments!

Spread fictional horror, not real horror! Spread fun, not germs! 😂

And may you truly have a happy Halloween

Gif credit: zackario via Memecenter

(I can’t stop using these gifs; they’re too perfect!)

With love,

Britney

Reel Revelations: 11 Horror Movies That’ve Helped My Mental Health

+2 Psychological Thrillers to bring our film count to lucky number 13! Gotcha now!

Acquired from Tenor

But in all seriousness, do you think horror stories have ever helped you cope with the horrors of the real world? If so, which ones helped the most, and what did you learn from them? How did they comfort, empower or change you for the better?

Did they help you address past traumas or present fears? Did the protagonists infuse you with strength and resolve? Did the scope of the story put things into perspective? Were you inspired to attend therapy or continue pursuing treatment?

I’d be curious to hear your stories of overcoming horrors with horror, fellow fans and mental health warriors, so feel free to comment below—especially if you, like me, would like to add credence to the narrative that horror isn’t and doesn’t just mean one thing. Let’s light up the dark together, shall we?

I’ll start, if you don’t mind, and go from some of the broadest life lessons to those I’ve found to be the most impactful when it comes to my own journey to wellness.

Don’t be afraid to let me know which ones resonate with you—you’re safe from energy vampires and trolls here. 

Content Warning: Allusions to Abuse, Anxiety, Self-harm, Homicide, Suicide

11/10. Willard (2003)/Carrie (1976): You do not deserve to be abused; you deserve the chance to come into your power. Upon doing so, however, choosing vengeance will not only destroy those who have wronged you but also those who have not.

And one way or another, it will destroy you too.

9. Devil (2010): Owning up to your worst mistakes and learning how to forgive/be forgiven isn’t just life-changing—it can be soul-saving.

Gif credit: gemtopia via Tumgir

8. The Shining (1980): You are not responsible for your father’s evil. What he inflicted on you and your mother is not your fault. Above all, be grateful you escaped.

7. Gothika (2003): Your life, your experience, is valid. You deserve to be seen. Heard. Believed and taken seriously. Understood.

Chronic pain may have most of your body…PTSD may have a part of your mind…but neither of those things—nor BPD—can or will have your soul.

You deserve to be free, and one day, you will be.

Gif credit: Baron_Of_Salt via Tenor

6. Saw III (2006): Harming yourself or others only offers a false sense of relief, as neither act will solve your problems in the long run. You have to deal with and heal what angers and grieves you—invest in healthier support systems and beliefs. There are people who can help you, but no one can “fix you” for you—you have to fix yourself, for that is your test.

Live or die. Make your choice.

5. The Babadook (2014): As feverishly as you’ve studied, as intensely as you’ve trained, as far as you’ve come—as much pain, grief and rage as you’ve experienced—you still have a monster within, and it is terrible to behold. Therefore…if the BPD never wholly goes away, you’ll have to find a way to live with it. Control it. Quieten it. Pacify it. And you can, because your best qualities ultimately outshine your worst. But still, keep an eye on it. It is your responsibility.

4. Misery (1990): The writer in you does not belong to BPD. Don’t let your inner critic, Puritan or abuser keep drugging you with fear and negativity. Use your creativity and intelligence to outsmart those old patterns of thought. Use the trauma to fuel your productivity and feed your will to survive—to write.

3. Psycho I-IV (1960, 1983, 1986, 1990): If Norman Bates can conquer Dissociative Identity Disorder, you can conquer Borderline Personality Disorder. It may take years—maybe even most of your life—but if you remain open and aware, curb your impulses and keep learning from your mistakes/applying what you’ve learned, you can reverse your diagnosis and reclaim your identity. Norman is not Mother, and you are not your father—or, at the very least, you don’t have to be. You can break the cycle. You can be a better parent. You can have a stable life. You can be yourself. It’s possible.

Gif credit: Patti Pauley via Rue Morgue [Magazine]

2. A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988): When you are lost, insecure, frightened or grieving, use the power others have gifted you to find yourself, to remake yourself. Know that you are a formidable combination of everyone you have ever loved and have ever been loved by, and when those people are gone, carry them with you for as long as you can. Such love and commemoration will only serve to make you stronger. More complete. A force to be reckoned with.

Teamwork makes the dream work. 😁

Gif credit: Stormhawk via Make A Gif

1. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989): You can survive this.

Maybe you will…and maybe you won’t…but either way, you need to try—you have to fight for your life because there is always something to fight for. You must resist the shape of evil, even if/when it’s found in your own bloodline. You can’t choose your family…except when you can.

Honor your chosen family, their sacrifices. To live is to love and thank them, to be grateful for any and all moments of joy you have experienced, even if they are few and far between.

Their echoes are all around you, and as long as you are here, the fight is not over.

You have to try. You have to try and survive. Do it for yourself—for the inner child who deserved so much more—and for others who also deserve(d) a chance at a better life but cannot or will not get there.

Quote by: Alice Little. Image credit: Enlightened Consciousness via Facebook

Be smart. Be brave. Be empathetic and resourceful. Be loved and extend love, until the very end.

Live well, even if life doesn’t treat you well.

One day, you’ll be able to stop running, and you’ll be able to rest in peace.

~~~

…That being said, this is a horror post as much as a mental health post—I can’t just leave it there. I also need to pay homage to the psychological thrillers/horror films with which I most identify and from which I’ve learned the most difficult and profound truths.

And these truths are as follows…

Bonus

Gif credit: Coqueline > Ima-Wolf via Tumblr via Yenus’ Music Blog on Skyrock

*Black Swan (2010): Sometimes it’s necessary to kill part of yourself to become the person you’re truly meant to be. To achieve true perfection: sublime imperfection.

Gif credit: Anayalas via Gifer

*Take Shelter (2011): There is always a storm coming, be it literal or figurative, and you are not wrong to be apprehensive. Even fearful. Much of what will happen is beyond our understanding or control.

Keep doing the best you can, as that’s all you can do. You’ve come so far already, and you are far more loved than you are “crazy.” Do not forsake that love, for it will not forsake you.

What’s on the horizon, as you work to right your mind, heal your heart and mend your relationships, is probably the hardest thing you’re ever going to go through…but it is something you have to do.

Because one day, in one way, we will all face a reckoning of the grandest proportions.

Prepare yourself.

~~~

What a way to end the post, right? Sorry, but it is October and this is horror-related content. MWA HA HA HA HAAAAAAA!

But once again, in all seriousness, may you have a fun, safe and truly happy Halloween—and October in general, lol! I hope you enjoy some healthy horror this month. 

Join me next time for a full review of Take Shelter + two other psychological thrillers, ooooohhhh!

Thanks so much!

With love,

Britney

P.S. See you

Gif credit: zackario via Memecenter

Straight to the Point: 3 Reasons Why You Should Get the COVID-19 Vaccine (if You Can/Haven’t Already)

Do you know someone who is vaccinated?

Do you know someone who isn’t?

And you love them, right?

But you’re mad at them too, aren’t you? You don’t understand why they can’t—or won’t—understand and accept your stance.

I can understand that. But what I don’t understand is why people would rather risk their lives—along with the lives of those around them—than take a gratis vaccine that, depending on the manufacturer, either has been or is soon to be FDA approved and is scientifically proven to reduce the spread of illness and risk of death during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Depending on your genetic makeup, there are risks involved, yes, as articles from The BBC and New Hampshire’s The Conway Daily Sun can tell you, and we’re right to acknowledge and pay heed to them. On the other hand, we’d be remiss not to acknowledge the calculated risks we take when subjecting ourselves to like vaccines, such those that protect us against measles, tetanus and seasonal flu viruses. 

There are risks, and then there are likelihoods, and those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 are not only more likely to contract the disease but 11 times more likely to die from it. (Here’s a link to the data the previous link references: CDC study.)

As I said on my Facebook page, safety is an illusion. No one can ever be 100% safe in this life—there are no guarantees. I say this not to frighten but to share truth, and the truth is that those of us with access to a preventative medicine should care enough about ourselves, each other and our future together to take actions that will make us safer than not, starting with taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

Disagree? Here are 3 reasons why, unless you physiologically cannot take the vaccine, you should reconsider:

1. To protect yourself.

And not just from contracting COVID but from the severity of its effects if you do happen to fall ill.

Full disclosure: I fell ill earlier this month after attending a lakeside wedding. As you can see, I’ve been vaccinated since spring—as have my best friend, her husband and many of their guests—but I still caved in to the desire to fit in and, upon arriving and spotting no one else in a mask, kept mine in my purse. It was cowardly, and I am ashamed to admit I have done the same thing before. I’ve been wearing masks in public for the last year and a half and yet, 4 times, have chosen social acceptance over safety in high-traffic areas. I don’t wish to rationalize these unwise and potentially dangerous decisions, as social anxiety/personal comfort, in my eyes, are not valid excuses. No one made me go maskless but me. I was wrong to take the risk, and I paid for it, starting on the drive home from the venue. 

My sore throat carried on to the morning. No big deal, I thought upon waking with a scratchy voice. It’s not like I wasn’t chatting or shouting over music for 4 hours. It’s probably a chill (it was windy AF all afternoon).

A day later, I could barely swallow. The day after that, strange headaches that encircled the occipital region of my brain came and went, as if I were crowning and recrowning myself with an ill-fitting diadem throughout the day—I started canceling appointments and called in sick to my volunteer job then.

My paranoia regarding COVID increased as existing symptoms worsened and new ones—fatigue, muscle aches/swelling, chills, foggy thinking and a dry, hacking cough—appeared. As I camped out in my bedroom, part of me couldn’t help but wonder if I was being cosmically punished for my irresponsibility/late-in-the-game hypocrisy.

Fortunately—thankfully—the malady only lasted about a week, and after 10 days of quarantine, I felt well enough to leave my room unmasked. My mother, with whom I live and from whom I continued distancing, never became sick, and as far as I know (via Facebook), nobody with whom I had contact at the wedding did either.

To clarify, I believe it was a cold, due to the length of the illness and some missing key symptoms of COVID (fever, exhaustion, loss of smell), but we’ll never know for sure. I didn’t venture out to take a test.

Moral of the story? Some things are worth some risk.

Was it worth some risk to attend my best friend’s wedding? To me, it was. I love her and trust her, her husband and their judgment regarding their inner circle.

Was it worth some risk to go completely unmasked? No, because I did get sick and possibly could have gotten others sick. At this point I can only pray I didn’t.

And was it worth some risk to get the COVID-19 vaccine? Yes—and the flu vaccine too—because even though I probably had a cold, if it had been COVID (or the flu), there is no doubt in my mind that the rib and muscle pain, dizziness, labored breathing and continual cough I experienced would have been far worse.

Some things are worth some risk, right? Please don’t let your health be one of them.

Think about it. Think about all the stories you’ve heard over the last year and a half about the people who have perished from this disease.

Now think about the people. The parents. The children. Spouses. Siblings. Friends. Students. Doctors. Nurses. Caregivers. 

This isn’t just happening “out there” to other people. If you are unvaccinated and as negligent as I was at my friend’s wedding, it could very well happen to you. This is not alarmist propaganda—really, would the entire free world invest this much time, energy and money into a smoke-and-mirrors, health-scare hoax of this scale?—so much as a concerned warning. The pandemic only continues to receive so much coverage because there are informed individuals “out there”—and around the block—dedicated to informing you how to best protect yourself.

That being said, please don’t mistake me: There are also individuals, administrators, officials, politicians, corporations and bureaucrats who genuinely do not care whether you or I live or die so long as they can go on living their best (read: easiest) life. It is a terrible truth, but such people have existed and will until the day humanity ends. The other immutable fact we need to focus on is that people you love care about your health and well-being, as do people you know and even people you don’t know.

Photo by Valentin Antonucci on Pexels.com

Someone cares. Someone wants you to be safe. I’ll throw my hat in that ring. ❤

I’m not advocating that you trust everyone or everything you hear—trust me, heh—but this pandemic isn’t going to end anytime soon if more people don’t align themselves with a reasonably informed source that, more so than not, has their and the public’s best interests at heart. Such sources exist. You just have to find them, for this is the time in which we live. A time in which a pandemic is happening now and people are dying now, the vast majority of them unvaccinated.

Please take care, and take the precautions necessary to make sure you’re around to tell your story—and keep living it.

2. To protect others.

Like others have or have not protected you since this pandemic started. Like I have and have also failed to do the 4 times I entered a high-traffic area without a mask.

What’s happened to us, America, that we think so little of a life—be it ours or someone else’s—that we can disrespect and endanger ourselves and one another so easily and, often, so mercilessly?

Do you remember this 2020 news story about the woman who purposely coughed in the face of a masked woman who, unbeknownst to the assailant, was fighting brain cancer at the time? I remember when one of my other best friends sent me a message about it.

Rarely have I seen him ruffled, but as someone living with cystic fibrosis, he especially has every right to be. The incident occurred at a time when there were no vaccines available, and we grimly mulled over the fact that if this had happened to him, he most likely would’ve ended up ill at best…

Granted, I don’t know how everything went down, as we can only interpret the footage and hearsay of the involved parties secondhand, nor do I presume to pass judgment on what the assailant was doing up to the point of the assault or whether or not the other woman should’ve been filming her, but…

…I’ve had enough mental health training, enough practice taking responsibility for my worst traits, emotions, decisions and actions, to know that willfully coughing in a person’s face in the middle of a pandemic—as well as inundating the party at and admitting fault with death wishes—is beyond irrational and offensive. It’s hazardous to another human being’s health.

However, if the woman fighting cancer had died from complications of an infectious disease, the woman who chose to cough on her would, more likely than not, have been a contributing factor.

You never know, do you? Who you could hurt and how…with which action or inaction…or exactly how much…

I find it torturous. I’m curious as to why others do not.

But when one makes a decision that is definitively going to have an impact on others, one way or the other, for better or worse, one should take the time to ask oneself, “Is this something I can live with having done?”

Shouldn’t they?

What do you think? Is this woman’s action something you could live with the rest of your life, if you were more than an observer after the fact? If you were the perpetrator, the patient, a witness/bystander or parent?

If so, let’s go big picture: Do you think this is the kind of thing our “great” country stands for—the right to play fast and loose with each other’s lives?

Yeah, maybe. All right, I’ll grant nihilists that. But is it what our soldiers, doctors, nurses, police officers, EMTs, firefighters, teachers, caregivers and ancestors fought, sacrificed and died for? Yes, they fought for our freedom and survival, and I suppose they did fight for our right to kill—but for the right to kill without recourse? To harm others purposely, senselessly? To endanger their entire well-being in the heat of the moment?

I don’t believe so.

Furthermore—and to further clarify—I don’t believe choosing to remain unvaccinated is necessarily tantamount to coughing in the face of a stranger during the pandemic. However, I do think said choice, depending on where it’s coming from, tends to skew closer to that act than not, because the longer vaccination rates lag, the more time the virus has to mutate and develop more variants, which will not only prolong our collective ordeal but put even the vaccinated at risk.

Click here to read how, which brings us to the final point.

3. To contribute to herd immunity or hybrid immunity.

In terms of a pandemic of this scale, with symptomatic and asymptomatic people transmitting COVID-19, working toward herd immunity is of paramount importance. Not only would it allow us to get and stay ahead of variants like the Delta and Gamma strains, it would provide blanket protection to those who choose to stay unvaccinated as well as those who are immunocompromised, cannot otherwise receive or have yet to receive the vaccine, such as young children.

But in order for people who do not wish to be vaccinated to reap these benefits…some of them are going to have to change their minds and be vaccinated. Herd immunity requires a majority—a collective effort, a united front. A sacrifice, even, in the pursuit of our future well-being.

Then again, what could be more patriotic than banding together to defend the world against a common, deadly enemy? That’s a big reason everyone likes alien invasion movies, right? Because no single group of humans is the main antagonist/everybody manages to put their differences aside, stop pointing fingers and work together long enough to save the world from destruction.

Gif credit: micdotcom via Tumblr

It’s just…if we can all appreciate those stories, you have to wonder why we’re having so much trouble closing the chapter on a similar crisis…

But in all seriousness, at the end of the day, you’re right. You do have a choice, and you’re not wrong to be cautious. But please, don’t be careless. Believe me, it’s not worth it, physiologically or psychologically. Invest in yourself and your community. In unity.

Side note: Have you noticed that the coronavirus pandemic has turned those who identify as pro-life pro-choice (ex. “This is a private matter/I have the legal right to abstain”) and those who identify as pro-choice pro-life (ex. “You don’t have the moral right to willfully infect/kill others”)?

For as divided as we are, America, we’re still not all that different…

And if it’s a matter of faith, I challenge you to consider that science and faith can coexist in harmony. I assure you, they can (personally, I see the vaccine as a combination of God’s doing/blessing and the hard-won advancements of modern medicine vs. a mere aberration of nature or political tool/loyalty litmus test), same as civic duty and freedom (please note that not once in this think piece have I outright commanded you or anyone else to get vaccinated; rather, I’m attempting to convince you).

Even so, I understand that not everyone who is eligible for the vaccine will take it, and while that choice is honestly difficult for me to respect, I do accept it—and implore you to be the person who changes their mind.

If you haven’t already, please (re)consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s the best defense we have against this pandemic thus far, and as any athlete, coach or fan of a team sport can tell you, “Defense wins championships.”

…Because if we don’t start making serious, committed efforts to stand together and heal the rifts tearing our nation and the world at large apart, whether it’s 1 year or 10 or 50 or 100 years from now, we will fall together.

And no one—scientists and theologians alike—will have the right to be surprised.

With (a heavy dose of tough) love,

Britney

P.S. Suggested reading for those interested in this topic:

• https://www.webmd.com/special-reports/covid-vaccine-hesitancy/20210902/mistrust-politics-and-vaccines-how-we-got-here-how-we-fix-it
• https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20210916/cdc-safe-to-get-flu-covid-vaccines
• https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/03/health/covid-herd-immunity-vaccine.html
• https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/hybrid-immunity-people-covid-still-get-vaccinated-rcna1974

“Treasuring” “Trash”: 3 Reasons Why We Need Bad Art

What makes art subjectively or even objectively bad? The following features spring to mind:

• Narratives that don’t follow through with the plots or subplots presented
• Stories that lack logic and/or skirt universal Truths
• Unmotivated, uninteresting, inaccessible or irrelevant characters/character work
• Colors that disturb the eye
• Lyrics that lack meter/metre
• Poor framing/composition 
• Inauthenticity 

Or how about reworkings that don’t capitalize on constructive criticism? That don’t cater to their audiences? Their preestablished genres?

What about a work that disappoints more than it pleases? Does that make it technically or aesthetically bad?

If so, whyever would we consider cherishing such works, right?

Well, dear friends and fellow creatives, I posit that not only should we appreciate bad art, we need it—and not just to draw the line between “good” and “bad,” objectively, collectively, but to draw and refine our own lines, literally and figuratively, as well.

Having the ability to appreciate where you started allows you to appreciate just how far you’ve come. To do what we do—to keep doing it and keep improving—we have to train ourselves to look for silver linings. Oh, this practice writing…lol

1. We need bad art to piss us off—to motivate us to produce something better.

Have you ever watched a film or stared at an art piece and thought, “How is this even a thing?”

Well, don’t just get indignant, get active! If the subject—and the world at large—deserves better, honor it by doing it justice yourself.

I can do all things through Christ…and also this when I’m feeling a little less than pious… Image credit: DirtyCussStitch via Etsy. Acquired from: u/acireta via Reddit.

A short while ago, I came across a work that didn’t just piss me off, it offended me six ways to Sunday. I couldn’t believe the author had the gall to publish and peddle what was almost certainly a first draft; consequently, it is the worst fiction I’ve ever read.

However, studying the techniques applied—and then dissected by readers/reviewers—taught me how to fix countless mistakes in my own manuscript (ex. Showing vs. Telling finally makes sense!).

I’ve since come to a place where I can appreciate that the book exists because it made my story better. I value it as a “What-Not-to-Do” guide to writing.

Bad art, much like good art, provokes a response, and one can always parlay that response into the motivation to learn how to improve one’s craft.

‘Cause God knows we’re not perfect either…as much as we want to be or delude ourselves into thinking we can be.

2. We need bad art to give our artist eyes practice—to help us find, refine and redefine our tastes/opinions as well as extrapolate or expound what facets of a piece appeal to us but not others and vice versa.

Even when a book or film or show is critically or commercially hailed as “bad,” rarely is it all bad. Most works have components that do, on some technical or emotional level, work and will always work for someone. And to me, part of being a good writer—or editor or critique partner—is being able to articulate what you like/dislike and why as well as accepting what others have to say on the matter.

For example, a couple of weeks ago, one of my favorite movie-review podcasts, Thor’s Hour of Thunder, was kind enough to cover the supernatural indie thriller Vanishing on 7^th Street at my behest. Though I recognize the film’s failings, I genuinely don’t find it to be that bad and therefore was curious to get “The Pantheon’s” take.

As usual, they produced a wonderful and wonderfully funny episode (which you can sample on iTunes or here on Podomatic) about why they largely disliked the film. And I respect every second of it, both as a subjective fan of the film and an objective listener of the podcast. They were respectful of my niche tastes, explained their own clearly and candidly and took the time to credit the movie for both its cinematography and better “so bad it’s good” qualities (which I can more than appreciate as an admitted fan of this sub-subgenre).

We walked a sort of middle ground together—there’s enjoyment to be had!—and as always, it was a lovely exchange.

Seriously, if you enjoy movie-review podcasts with strong host camaraderie, honest, clever impressions, humorous asides and good-natured banter, you should check out Thor’s Hour of Thunder. I laugh out loud every time I tune in. 😁

I’m looking at you, Yeah, It’s That Bad crowd!

Point is, when it comes to the art and entertainment industry, everyone is allowed to have an opinion. What makes bad art “bad” overall can be just as complex as what makes good art “good” overall, lest we forget or forget that judgments like “good,” “bad” and “overall” tend to be somewhat simplistic and subjective. More often than not, a piece isn’t just bad or good—it’s some measurement of both, and your personal tastes, preferences and standards of quality will determine the acuity of your artist eyes.

Likewise, people are more liable to accept and respect your stance when you can raise counterpoints and/or give well-merited concessions. It’s difficult to be “wrong” when discussing art…that is, unless you’re a complete ass about it.

After all, when did compromise become such a dirty word? Compromise doesn’t always connote weakness. Sometimes it can be the most powerful weapon an artist—or an audience—has in their arsenal.

3. We need bad art to help us appreciate good art.

We must fail so that we may succeed—how many times have you heard an adage similar to this? It makes sense, though, and puts a lot into perspective.

If you love the rebooted Star Trek film series, you have to thank the original series for providing the blueprint. Every amazing song cover you have ever downloaded has its roots in a different version. Every film adaptation that has ever spoken to you first spoke through the pages of a book or play.

Bad art motivates, but good art inspires. Inspires us to pass on what we have learned so that others may reap the benefits and, in time, contribute a link in the chain of human connection themselves.

Bad art divides—as does good art—but good art also conquers, for it is born of the most powerful emotion known to humankind:

Love.

Even a horror satire like Get Out, which capitalizes on many of director Jordan Peele’s own fears, is bolstered by love: It is celebrated by critics and audiences alike who love that Peele has given form to liberal hypocrisy and the collective dread of modern Black America so creatively and effectively.

And we who appreciate you most love and thank you too, sir. Gif credit: The official Oscars page via Giphy.com

The last work of art I’ve loved in such a way is Jeff Nichols’ Take Shelter, which I will be reviewing here in October.

Acquired from Gifer.com

I wept throughout, I was so moved. This psychological thriller artfully illustrates just how hard it is to live with and seek help for irregular mental phenomena; takes you through a number of existential and universal fears; reaffirmed to me how far I have come on my journey to wellness; gave me the strength and drive to get back to revising an emotionally difficult chapter in my book—I could go on.

Wonder if I’m exaggerating its influence? Check out this SYFY WIRE article by someone who had a like epiphany.

And how did I get to Take Shelter? By watching a less potent film first.

“Bad” art helps us identify and laud “good” art, and examining good art sets us on the path to making our own. And to make good art, we have to know what to do and what not to do—to take the bad with the good (for the good), so to speak.

What is that other old saw? Something about not being able to see the stars without the darkness…?

In a world that increasingly pressures us to view things strictly in black or white terms, it’s necessary to acknowledge that most things—like most creative works—come in various shades of gray. Good art and bad art are symbiotic, with each highlighting the other’s significance, and to create we must appreciate.

Everything.

With love,

Britney

Another Announcement…

Admittedly, over the last couple of weeks, I’ve gotten off track.

I’ll be back on in another two weeks—on September 12—with a writing-related piece (on 3 reasons why we need bad art. Yep, you read that correctly). 

Please stay tuned. Please take care. Please take care of yourself so you may take care of others.

And please consider taking care of others in need (can’t highlight these links for some reason, sorry):

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/how-you-can-help-afghan-refugees-arriving-to-the-u-s

https://www.kqed.org/news/11885170/how-you-can-support-the-afghan-community-in-the-bay-area-and-beyond

Thank you. 

With love,

Britney

Bonus Post: Britney P.’s Journey-to-30 Watchlist

Everyone’s journey to 30 is different. Some journeys are easier than others. Some are more enriching.

By the time they hit 30, some people will have come into themselves, and some won’t.

Some won’t make it to 30 at all.

In less than a week, I will bid farewell to the youth of my youth. I distinctly remember thinking, as a youth, that I’d never make it to 30. That one of my suicide attempts would succeed before then because I just couldn’t live.

Didn’t know how. Would never figure it out. Could not.

…And now that I’m almost 30, I’m at a place where I can admit to the little girl inside that I still don’t have it figured out and never can and will have it all figured out. That all we can do is the best we can do and that we need to keep pushing ourselves—our self—and others forward on the backs of what we know and have to say and what so many others know, have said, and have given us and so many others…

Media has always been paramount to my personal sense of growth, hope and survival (as inspiration, education, entertainment, comfort, encouragement, a conduit of connection), and this list represents the bulk of television and films that have helped my sad, angry, lonely little girl work through a wealth of doubts, foibles, humiliations, traumas and crises to reach a stage—and age—in her life that her teenage self never thought she’d see.

Therefore, fellow creators, multimedia fans, mental health warriors, lone, hopeful souls and suicide-attempt survivors, I invite you to share in the strength the child, adolescent, young adult and adult in me have derived from the works on this list, and more than welcome you to share your own in the comments.

After all, one can never have enough inspiration—or connection. ❤

Photo by Valentin Antonucci on Pexels.com

Childhood

• Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
• Dragon Ball Z
• Early Edition
• Rush Hour 1-2
• Kim Possible
• Misery
• The Omen (1976)
• Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
• Freddy vs. Jason
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Honorable Mentions: Matilda (1996), Beauty and the Beast (1991), The Powerpuff Girls (1998), Mulan (1998), Star Wars Episodes I-III, Rugrats, Hey Arnold!, Clue, Corrina, Corrina, Miss Congeniality, Holes, Harry Potter 1-2, Uptown Girls, In the Heat of the Night (1988), Brian’s Song (1971), Red Dragon, The Shining (1980), I Am Sam, Bringing Down the House, Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight

Adolescence

• Bonanza
• Love Actually
• Secret Window
• 28 Days Later
• A Nightmare on Elm Street 1-7
• Saw 1-3
• Pirates of the Caribbean 1-3
• Little Miss Sunshine
• Night Court
• Things We Lost in the Fire
• Doctor Who series 3-4
• Run, Fat Boy, Run
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Honorable Mentions: Anger Management (2003), Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004), Without a Paddle, Napoleon Dynamite, Ghost Hunters (2004), Psycho 1-4, Crash, Nip/Tuck, America’s Next Top Model, Four Brothers, Harry Potter 3-5, Glory Road, The Longest Yard (2005), Willard (2003), Brokeback Mountain, Children of Men, The Dark Knight, The Godfather, Carrie (1976), Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Young Adulthood

• Ray
• A Clockwork Orange
• Six Feet Under
• Impractical Jokers
• The Walking Dead
• The King’s Speech
• Black Swan
• 21 Jump Street (1987)
• Mother and Child
• MythBusters (2003)

Honorable Mentions: The Birdcage, Harry Potter 6-8, The Blair Witch Project, Devil, Glee 1-3, Dexter, Death of a Salesman, Star Trek: TOS, Star Trek: TNG, Reno 911!, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Philadelphia, The Ladykillers (2004), Frost/Nixon, The Blues Brothers, Scent of a Woman, Quarantine, The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redemption, Quills, Doubt, Cloud Atlas, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, Doctor Who series 5-7 + The Day of the Doctor, Cabaret, American Psycho, Breaking Bad, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Adulthood

• American Horror Story
• Archer
• A Dangerous Method
• The Human Centipede
• Wonder Woman (2017)
• Inoperable
• On Chesil Beach
• American Gods
• Lovejoy
• Collateral Beauty
• Mary Queen of Scots
• Colette
• The Alienist
• Hot Rod
• Summer School
• A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
• The Four Feathers
• Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
• Scarecrow (1973)
• Lucky Day
• Thoroughbreds

Honorable Mentions: Doctor Who series 8-10 + Twice Upon a Time, The Thick of It, Candy, Girl, Interrupted, Pitch Perfect 1-3, Django Unchained, Inglourious Basterds, Star Wars Episodes VII-IX, Black Panther, Get Out, Trick ’r Treat, Sweet/Vicious, The Babadook, I Can Do Bad All by Myself, Nocturnal Animals, Five Feet Apart, Friday Night Lights (2006), 44 Inch Chest, Us, Joker, Prodigal Son, Mixed-ish, Sharp Objects, The Best of Enemies, Capote, Killing Eve

Keep going, and don’t forget to enjoy your journey. ❤

With love,

Britney

No Power, No Post!

Rural MI was hit by a severe storm Wednesday, and everyone in my area is without power; estimated time of restoration is late Sunday, hence this announcement. 😅

Sorry, folks! Please bear with me—I’ll be back when I can! (Because I’ll tell you what I can’t do, and that’s navigate this website on my old, jacked phone. 😂 Plus there’s the fact that I’m a false Millennial, so…)

Thank you all and stay safe. 🙏🏽

With love,

Britney

Bonus Post: Britney P. Reviews #2

Disclaimer: The following reviews are mine but have been slightly edited for clarity. They may also be found under the username “B. Peterson” in Google’s “Audience Reviews” knowledge panel.

Welcome to the first of two bonus posts for the month of August! This set of reviews will cover the following dark-humored, action-heavy films:

• Lucky Day
• Thoroughbreds
• Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

Why group this bunch together? Because they’re all movies I’ll soon be revisiting on my birthday, and I’d love to pitch them to film lovers who haven’t tried them out yet.

For fun, I’ll be sharing my official “Journey to 30” watchlist in a couple of weeks, in case anyone’s interested in more underseen, undervalued and/or unpopular picks, but until then, let’s have a look at these striking, stylish splatterfests, shall we?

(ALLITERATION! ALLONS-Y!)

1. Lucky Day (2019) – directed by Roger Avary

What a neat, quirky little comedy/suspense flick—fleet, simple, serviceable. Too often these tones don’t seem to gel together, but there’s something here for everyone—a mix of “Ooohs,” “Ewwws,” HAs!” and “Awwws.”

The cast is likable even if their characters aren’t, so when things start to become a little more predictable or unpalatable, you still want to see them through to the end.

The big theme here is family, but I’m not sure this is a film for the whole family, as the language and violence are both explicit in nature. (Personally, though, I would’ve gobbled up a pseudo-absurdist action/thriller like this as a preteen for sure.)

Crispin Glover as a badass assassin who fancies himself a Frenchman is super fun. Luke Bracey, Clifton Collins Jr. and Clé Bennett bring a balanced humor and relative depth to their otherwise stock roles—Bracey and Bennett especially in regard to their characters’ friendship. Nina Dobrev also shines in a part that, due to her performance, feels stronger than it is (the steadfast and resourceful young wife and mother), and the same goes for the film’s smaller players, like Nadia Farès and Mark Dacascos.

In large part, I really enjoyed it; however, as you can see, plenty of other viewers feel quite the opposite, so it may be best to take all of our experiences with just as many grains of salt.

Buuut if you’re the kind of eclectic indie film lover who likes to take a middling audience score as a challenge/recommendations from people with unpopular opinions, then perhaps it’s your Lucky Day after all…

My rating: 6.5/10

As for my dumb pun? Hmm, shall we say…a 3/10? The delivery was too long, wasn’t it? I know, but I couldn’t decide which end draw was better. *Sighs the sigh of a writer who’s forever editing…*

My notes sometimes look like this. Acquired from u/keksdieb via r/ProgrammerHumor on Reddit

2. Thoroughbreds (2017) – directed by Cory Finley

An impressive and underappreciated comedy/drama/thriller that both exercises and plays with your mind.

The story is by turns suspenseful and funny, its execution swift and sure-footed. Where the plot is simple, the characters are complicated—recognizable yet fascinating—and blessed with natural, intelligent dialogue. The chapter breaks, which some may deem unnecessary, to me, are well placed. Even the sound mix is amazing.

The performances are understated but exceptionally rich. This is a strong final outing for Anton Yelchin, may he rest in peace. He, Olivia Cooke, and Anya Taylor-Joy simply slay every scene.

The only critical thing I can think to say is that I’m tired of seeing Asian actresses being relegated to stock nail technician roles—and please don’t cite the “It’s-just-a-reflection-of-some-people’s-real-lives” argument. While that’s true and there’s nothing wrong with working at a nail salon, this kind of trope is reductive and rampant to the point of excess. Because this is a script, over which the people contributing to it have control, it can’t be that hard to diversify your character pool/extras cast when it comes to depicting labor and service jobs.

That being said, I’m still floored that this is writer-director Cory Finley’s directorial debut and would also recommend his second feature, Bad Education (2019), with as much gusto as I recommend Thoroughbreds.

The film does contain some taboo material—there’ll be a couple of (rather pivotal) scenes to fast-forward through if you’re sensitive to implied violence or violence toward animals—but if dark, awkward humor and phenomenal acting and writing appeal to you, I urge you to ride this first-rate thriller all the way to the end.

My rating: 9/10

3. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020) – directed by Cathy Yan

This is the kind of movie I could watch at least twice in a row without missing a beat. It’s fantastic, fabulous, and—more importantly—fun! I say this as someone with only a passing familiarity with the comics, warm memories of BTAS, a healthy respect for the Arkham series, and as a Millennial who loves antiheroes, swearing, John Wick-esque action sequences featuring glitter and/or guts, plots that don’t revolve around romantic relationships, and seeing other women engage in such things.

If you hit this demographic, you’ll probably enjoy Birds of Prey too.

The performances are strong all around, especially those of Margot Robbie, Ewan McGregor, and Jurnee Smollett (Bell). I could’ve used more of Rosie Perez’s tenacious Montoya and Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s wonderfully awkward/badass Huntress, but I appreciate that all the female characters, including Ella Jay Basco’s Cassandra, represent an array of ethics—that kept everyone interesting.

Loved how the mood could turn on a dime from flippant to serious or from normal to unnerving. This Black Mask is a master of tonal shifts and Black Canary has great timing, but it’s Robbie’s Harley Quinn who literally steals the show. She is the perfect live-action representation of Arleen Sorkin’s iconic antihero(ine).

That being said, there are things the film could’ve done better/made clearer…or more subtle, because even though I’m right in the middle of this film’s target audience, the “Men mostly bad, Women mostly good” motif did set off an alarm in the intersectional part of my feminist brain a few times. I want sexism and any discriminatory -ism to be addressed in universal mediums too, but if you do it too many times in the same space without showing strong exceptions to the rule (as well as some finesse), you’re going to alienate a good chunk of your audience at best and damage the message at worst.

We do have Sal and Helena’s bodyguard, so the aforementioned “wokeness” isn’t as extreme here as it is in a number of other recent productions (*cough* Black Christmas [2019] *cough*), but it’s still worth mentioning. Again: Give me all the girl power. Give me all the LGBTQ+ power. Give me all the diversity—but don’t forget to give us allies. It’s okay to be feminist and love plenty of men too, I promise.

The editing is better here than in Suicide Squad; I had no problem with the nonlinear storytelling. Also loved the aesthetic, from the glitzy “fun gun” to Harley’s kooky, breathable outfits to the creepy carnival setting toward the end. ADONA’s ghostly cover of “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” is transcendent—and what a killer soundtrack! I’d go on, but I think I’ve gushed (and sermonized) enough.

Honestly, though? I’ve been waiting my entire 20s for a movie where a diverse group of women bands together to kick ass in the name of good/in the same vein as Buffy, still take a moment to share a compliment and a hair tie, and drop f-bombs like confetti over a plot that has them more concerned with who they’re going to be vs. who they’re going to be tangential to someone else—and we finally have one!

And I got to see it before I turn 30… What a great sendoff to the youth of my youth.

Excuse me, I’m about to get as emotional as Harley gets over the perfect egg sandwich…because who wouldn’t? Did you see how delicious that thing looked? Agh, I can’t wait until diners are safe again.

TL;DR: Take a shot at Birds of Prey. It may not hit you with its best, but it will kiss you with its fist and leave a cloud of glitter in its wake.

My rating: 8/10

I’m so ready to take on my 30s.

I may not look like Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, but the important thing is that I feel about as free as she does…and I’m very nearly there. 

How far away from 30 are you? Any advice for the tricenarians out there?

What’s the next birthday you’re looking forward to? Or, if not birthday, milestone?

May you celebrate it as thoroughly as I’m celebrating every side of myself in these Birds of Prey-inspired pics. 

Thanks so much for viewing my reviews. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments—and don’t forget to stop by in two weeks’ time to see which films have helped inspire this mental health warrior to complete her “Journey to 30.”

Who knows? You may find a little inspiration along the way too. ❤

With love,

Britney