Thursday, December 25, 2025
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Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” fails to consider the nuances of Mary Shelley’s novel   

Released on Oct. 17, Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein was well received by critics and viewers alike — yet many fans of the classic novel walked away disappointed due to the numerous changes del Toro made to a story that many people love so dearly.

On screen drama to Broadway: Whitney Leavitt’s rise to fame 

Whitney Leavitt may not have been the Dancing with the Stars Mirrorball champion, but she won the jackpot when she was cast in Chicago on Broadway.  

Outkast: Hip hop’s greatest catalogue   

It’s hard to believe that an unusual rap duo from Atlanta, Georgia, made it this far in the first place, let alone became one of the most influential of all time.

The whole bloody affair: “Kill Bill” and movie theatres as “third places” 

Watching Kill Bill for the first time in a theatre felt like the right way to meet a movie that’s built intentionally around mood, sound and audience reaction. Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair isn’t subtle. It’s style-forward, violent, funny in a dark way and constantly aware of itself as cinema.

Robert Irwin’s win on “Dancing with the Stars” is stirring up controversy online 

For most viewers, the Dancing with the Stars finale was a huge hit, but some fans believe that the end results were rigged. 

“Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” review: when moviegoing becomes a matter of expectations 

Score: 1.5/5  This article contains heavy spoilers for the Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 movie.  It’s my fault that I hated Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 so strongly.  All the signs were there. Critics were brutally honest about their distaste of the film, with the horror sequel amassing an abysmal 14 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Fan reception wasn’t much better, with even the most diehard fans calling the movie “insulting.”

A look at some of the upcoming shows at The Warehouse 

For the music lovers in the Niagara Region who are looking for something fun to do, here are some of the upcoming shows scheduled to take place at The Warehouse.

Annabelle Dinda’s “The Hand” blew up overnight, but the final production might be considered a flop 

After going viral, Annabelle Dinda has released her newest single, “The Hand,” to middling applause.

A sparkling sip of ‘70s sunshine: Supertramp’s “Breakfast in America” 

When Supertramp released Breakfast in America in 1979, they knew that they’d created something special, but few could have predicted the album’s enduring cultural presence. More than four decades later, Breakfast in America remains one of the greatest achievements of the late-’70s pop-rock, blending clever songwriting, pristine production and a distinctive tonal palette into a cohesive and joyful listening experience.  

Mumford & Sons gear up for the release of their new record, “Prizefighter” 

If Mumford & Sons’ upcoming studio album, Prizefighter, is anything like the records that precede it, you can expect it to be a fan favourite right from the beginning.  

Brock University’s music ensembles are gearing up for their annual winter performance showcase  

As we head toward the end of the fall semester, Brock’s Department of Music is gearing up for the performances of its various music ensembles. As an annual tradition, these performances showcase the hard work of students who have been practicing all semester long.

The creative shift that changed everything: “folklore” and “evermore” five years later

2020 was a strange year. Public life halted, yet the world kept moving. Tours and festivals shut down, school traditions were scrapped and artists were suddenly given the chance to pivot. 

Artist spotlight: Del Water Gap 

Indie pop heads and casual listeners alike can find something to love in the music and artistry of Del Water Gap.

Mumford & Sons and Hozier explore “rubber band theory” in their newest collaboration 

Mumford & Sons and Hozier have produced a beautiful new track, treating their fans to a folk collaboration for the ages.

“Everybody Scream”: a call to arms that shakes the soul 

Score: 4/5  Everybody Scream is an album that leaves you speechless. It’s dark and soul crushing yet somehow purifying — a disorienting journey from near death to rebirth.

The “Wicked: For Good” hype machine 

Is it just me, or is Wicked absolutely everywhere? 

Ella Fitzgerald’s classic holiday album “Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas” turns 65 this year 

In the 65 years since Ella Fitzgerald released Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas, the record has become a holiday classic. 

“Rumours” by Fleetwood Mac: a timeless masterpiece 

When Rumours first hit the shelves on Feb. 4, 1977, it quickly became clear that British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac had created something extraordinary. Nearly half a century later, the album’s blend of emotional honesty and intricate harmonies still resonate with listeners across generations.

The Brock Colouring Kettle Club creates space for mindfulness on campus 

Brock’s Colouring Kettle Club welcomes like-minded people to gather in the name of wellness. 

Apple TV+ is the destination for your next favourite show 

Apple TV+ is a streaming service that doesn’t make a lot of sense on paper, yet it has carved out a place as one of the most forward-thinking studios of the 2020s.  

Sunroom live at Velvet Underground 10/21/2025 

Steam shoots up from a subway vent in the ground as I dash across a darkened street, the Velvet Underground finally in sight. Above the entrance, a sign reads “SUNROOM.” 

A look at some upcoming performances at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre 

As colder weather approaches and we all start to look for indoor entertainment, here are some of the upcoming performances scheduled to take place at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC). 

Inhaler continues to test the boundaries with their newest single 

4/5  Inhaler shocked the rock world with the release of their latest track, showing fans that the band has much more in store than many might have expected.

Lily Allen turns her deepest wounds into art on “West End Girl”  

4/5  The British pop star long known for her tabloid presence becomes the tabloid itself on her latest release.

Across all of horror, who’s the best slasher villain?  

The horror genre has amassed numerous legendary characters over the course of its rich history, many of whom have managed to remain relevant in pop culture for decades. Despite the array of sub-genres within horror, no group of characters have managed to stand out quite like slasher villains. Exploding onto screens in the 1970s, the slasher genre defined horror for the remainder of the century, for better or worse.

Spook-tacular songs to add to your Halloween playlist 

Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or getting ready to carve your pumpkin, you’ll need a spooky soundtrack to accompany your frightful festivities. Here is a list of my favourite songs to add to your Halloween playlist this year.  

The lasting magic of “Saturday Night Live” 

While algorithms feed us endless clips of the best and worst parts of society, Saturday Night Live offers a nuanced and curated perspective that is often lost in the fast-paced digital world.  

The Film House takes on cultural phenomenon “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” 

The Film House in downtown St. Catharines is gearing up for Halloween with a series of interactive screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  

Breaking the wall: Pink Floyd’s radical contribution to music 

In an era of three-minute rock singles, Pink Floyd dared to stretch their ideas into radiating, hour-long odysseys. Their concerts weren’t just performances — they were journeys that featured floating pigs, collapsing walls and soundscapes that blurred the lines between music and theatre.

A night to remember: Brock Swift Society rings in Taylor’s latest release  

As the clock struck midnight, Spotify predictably crashed on everyone’s phones while gasps rang out as the Brock Swift Society hit play on Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. 

Quiet but beautiful: “My First House” explores the grief of growing up 

3.5/5  Although Olivia Barton’s newest track, “My First House,” is quiet, it still deserves a listen.

Breaking the glass: Virgin’s vulnerability echoes through Toronto 

From the moment the lights dimmed at the Scotiabank Arena, it was clear that Lorde wasn’t interested in giving a typical pop spectacle. Her Ultrasound tour, now deep into its run, arrived in Toronto as a daring blend of vulnerability, theatricality and pure communal release.

“Midnight Sun” proves Zara Larsson is the pop princess we all knew she could be 

4.5/5  Coming in at just over 30 minutes, Zara Larsson wastes no time in crafting a Barbie-dream world that feels cohesive, confident and uncompromising.

Everything you need to know about the Twenty One Pilots lore: “Breach” era 

This is the conclusion to an ongoing series that focuses on the lore associated with the music produced by the band Twenty One Pilots. Click here to read the first part of this series, which focuses on the lore associated with the album “Trench.” Click here to read the second part, which focuses on the lore associated with the album “Scaled and Icy.” Click here to read the third part, which focuses on the lore associated with the “Overcompensate” music video. Click here to read the fourth part, which focuses on the lore associated with the album “Clancy.” 

What to binge next: An Emmy awards recap 

Television’s biggest night saw some of the top shows of the year go head-to-head for the industry’s most sought-after prize. 

Ethel Cain delivers a hauntingly memorable performance at Toronto’s Queen Elizabeth Theater 

Bringing life to the quiet Queen Elizabeth Theatre at Exhibition Place, Ethel Cain returned to Toronto, delivering her signature heart-wrenching cinematic tracks.

Eliza Mclamb showcases a high degree of emotional awareness in her track “Quitting” 

4.5/5  This summer, singer-songwriter Eliza Mclamb solidified her abilities as an expert lyrical storyteller in her single “Quitting.”

Weddings, affairs and viral jeans: the pop culture moments that defined summer 2025 

The summer of 2025 was loud, messy and unforgettable. From surprising celebrity pairings and extravagant weddings to blockbusters and headline-grabbing reunions, this summer flew by in a blur of spectacle and scandal. 

The releases that changed the sound of the summer  

Summer 2025 had no shortage of big-name drops and season-defining sounds. 

My top songs of summer 2025 

As the summer holiday concludes and the fall semester starts, let’s look back at my top four songs of summer 2025. 

Travelling to Nova Scotia? Here are the top three songs I listened to on my trip out east 

This summer, I travelled nearly 2,000 kilometers to the beautiful shores of Nova Scotia. On this trip, I designed a playlist meant to inspire me on the long drive up and through the east coast.  

Finding your creative outlet: exploring arts at Brock 

Are you looking to get involved in the arts community at Brock? Look no further! 

Djo flips the script again with his third album “The Crux” 

Score: 4/5  Djo summons new musical directions for his third studio album, a mostly successful venture that capitalizes on the success of the softer sounding “End of Beginning.”

Looking back on the Cocteau Twins’ “Heaven or Las Vegas” after 35 years 

With 35 years passing since its release, the Cocteau Twins’ Heaven or Las Vegas remains an undoubtably iconic piece in the band’s discography and alternative pop music at large. 

“A Minecraft Movie”: a magical moviegoing experience for all the wrong reasons 

Score: 2.5/5  Go watch A Minecraft Movie in theatres. Yep, that’s it. That’s the review.

Björk’s lovely “Post” celebrates its 30th anniversary this year 

After three decades, Björk’s sophomore album remains as vibrant as ever. 

Ranking all 28 episodes of Black Mirror 

Even if you haven’t already heard of Black Mirror, you’ve almost certainly been living through it. Black Mirror, Netflix’s hit anthology series created by Charlie Brooker, explores the dangers of technology through an array of thought-provoking episodes, asking a series of “What if?” questions that leave you questioning everything you know about humanity and our overreliance on technology.  

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