My Stuff

Basically here to talk about K-Pop, movies, TV shows and books.

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Anyway, I'll try to list most of the things I'm interested in, in case anyone who shares these interests wants to follow me (I'll most likely follow back):

K-Pop:

BTS, TXT, Le Sserafim, IU, Seventeen, Chung Ha, Blackpink, Twice, NewJeans, Stray Kids, Ateez, Enhypen, Aespa, Red Velvet, Dreamcatcher, (G)I-DLE, StayC, Baek Yerin, etc.

Tbh I like so many artists I'll never be able to list everybody, just hit me up/follow me for Kpop-related stuff.

J-Pop:

Hikaru Utada, Kenshi Yonezu, Namie Amuro, //Dish, &Team, Yoasobi, etc.

Other music:

Halsey, Rina Sawayama, Florence + The Machine, Keshi, Chvrches, Years & Years, Alessia Cara, EDEN, Paramore, Avril Lavigne, etc.

Movies:

Some of my favorite movies: Spirited Away, Confessions (Kokuhaku), Arrival, The Handmaiden, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, Mad Max: Fury Road, Parasite, Princess Mononoke, The Wailing, The Mitchells VS The Machines, The Vast of Night, Your Name Engraved Herein, Nobody Knows, A Story of Yonosuke, The Descent, Better Days, Coherence, etc.

TV shows:

Some of my favorite TV shows/dramas: Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Someday or One Day, Soredemo Ikite Yuku, Mother, N no Tame Ni, My Mister, Twenty Five Twenty One, It's Okay to Not Be Okay, Arcane, Brooklyn 99, Young Royals, Dead To Me, Fleabag, Derry Girls, My Hero Academia, Evangelion (and the movies too), The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Shadow & Bone, Beef, etc.

Books:

Some of my favorite authors: Rick Riordan, Maggie Stiefvater, Melina Marchetta, Jandy Nelson, Patrick Ness, Ai Yazawa, Alice Oseman, etc.

I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting a ton of stuff, so I guess I'll keep editing this post as things come to mind.

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Infested

Movies watched in 2026

Infested (2023, France)

Director: Sébastien Vaniček

Writers: Sébastien Vaniček and Florent Bernard (based on a story by Vaniček)

Mini-review:

The trailer for the upcoming Evil Dead Burn is one of the coolest things I've seen this year, so I had to look up the director's previous work. Well, here we are, and now I'm even more excited. Vaniček clearly knows how to wring tension by putting the creature feature element in a confined space. Also, he manages to include some social commentary in a way that feels quite effective. The movie does run a bit too long, but in its best moments, it had me gasping and gripping my seat. I found the effects to be pretty solid, both those made practically and those that use CGI. The acting is also impressive all across the board, but Sofia Lesaffre in particular made me genuinely believe she was terrified of spiders. So yeah, Infested is an impressive horror debut that has me interested in whatever the director makes next.

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Hokum

Movies watched in 2026

Hokum (2026, USA/Ireland)

Director & Writer: Damian McCarthy

Mini-review:

McCarthy's work ranked amongst my favorite discoveries of 2025, so his new film was obviously one of my most-awaited horror releases of this year. Fortunately, it lived up to my expectations. McCarthy reaffirms himself as one of the best ghost storytellers of our times, thanks in great part to his innate gift for startling jump scares. The production design, sets and props are also exquisitely crafted, a pleasant surprise considering the modest budget. That being said, the emotional core didn't hit as hard as in his previous films. The main character is quite unlikable, so it felt somewhat unearned. (Adam Scott does a fantastic job, though). To sum up, Hokum is another gripping addition to Damian McCarthy's growing filmography.

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Perfect Days

Movies watched in 2026

Perfect Days (2023, Japan/Germany)

Director: Wim Wenders

Writers: Wim Wenders and Takuma Takasaki

Mini-review:

What a nice little gem. The first thing I noticed was the cinematography. From the very first shots, the movie felt so alive. I also loved the structure, the way it starts off by showing us the main character's perfect routine and then goes to show us the little things that shake it up from time to time. It's not a particularly eventful story, that's for sure, but the result is just so lovely. The key element is Koji Yakusho's luminous performance. He's always been a magnetic screen presence, and that remains so even in a more restrained context. I only wish we could have learned more about the character, since his past kept being hinted at. Also, I couldn't help but wonder why the public toilets shown in the film looked so cool. Anyway, Perfect Days is a pleasant love letter to the little things in life.

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Hero's Island

Movies watched in 2026

Hero's Island (2025, Japan)

Director: Keishi Otomo

Writers: Ryo Takada, Keishi Otomo and Kota Oura (based on the novel by Junjo Shindo)

Mini-review:

Phew, that's one long movie. Surprisingly, it packs so much stuff that it never gets boring, all without losing track of the main plot. However, the final act does feel too stretched out, which in turn dilutes the message it's trying to send. Satoshi Tsumabuki, Suzu Hirose and Masataka Kubota all give superb performances (but sometimes it was kinda odd that Suzu looked clearly younger than them, since the characters are supposed to be around the same age). The movie also shines in its production values. The sets are amazingly detailed, and the cinematography creates an atmosphere that I found very fitting. I guess some people will find it hard to sit through its three hours of runtime, but I'd say Hero's Island is definitely worth a watch.

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My Two Cents

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2026

My Two Cents (2026, Italy)

Director, Writer & Creator: Zerocalcare

Mini-review:

The bar was set very high, but this might actually be the best installment of the series in every way: the writing, directing, voice acting and animation are all better than ever, with the latter experiencing a particularly big jump in quality. Maybe all of it is due to the fact that this installment has two more extra episodes and longer runtimes, giving the show even more space to develop. But really, Zerocalcare's bitingly insightful and emotionally impactful writing remains top-notch. There were so many moments where I felt like the show was seeing through me in a way that was almost scary. Just like the two previous installments, the show has your heart in its grip before you even realize it, all while making you laugh like crazy. All in all, My Two Cents continues Zerocalcare's sublime streak.

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I'm glad they went for something more similar to Whiplash for the title track, cause I didn't vibe with the pre-release single at all. The album is so good too!

[femaleidols]

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A Foggy Tale

Movies watched in 2026

A Foggy Tale (2025, Taiwan)

Director & Writer: Chen Yu Hsun

Mini-review:

I had been waiting for this for a long time, and it didn't disappoint. I'll admit that it almost buckles under the weight of its ambitions, but it eventually pulls through with an ending that hit me surprisingly hard. Sometimes I felt like it was trying to do too much, or like it struggled to juggle its many tone changes, but the characters and the story itself always kept things engaging. Caitlin Fang gives a deeply nuanced performance, and Will Or shines with electric energy every time he's on screen; Tseng Jing Hua also manages to leave an impactful mark with just a few minutes of screentime. The sets, costumes and makeup are also top-notch, probably the best I've seen in a Taiwanese production. So yeah, A Foggy Tale is a flawed but emotionally impactful film set during a particularly harsh era in Taiwan's history.

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I didn't love the chorus on the first listen, but overall the song lives up to its title. It's good to see that RBW/WM won't force them to tone down their style. Also, how did they get Han So Hee to star in the MV? 😱😱😱

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AND2BLE also deliver with their post-split redebut. Zhang Hao and Seungeon's vocals sound heavenly together (but it makes me mad that Seungeon barely appears in the MV). I'm curious to see how they'll evolve as a group.

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The Drama

Movies watched in 2026

The Drama (2026, USA)

Director & Writer: Kristoffer Borgli

Mini-review:

I was sold on this from the very moment the trailer set up the plot hook, and it actually managed to deliver. It's just such a great concept for exploring relationship drama. Like, it forces you to question what you would do in a similar situation. Sure, it can feel like the characters are blowing things out of proportion (and the insufferable bridesmaid certainly does), but you can't truly know how you'd react without going through something similar. Zendaya and Robert Pattinson are excellent throughout, giving two of their best performances. The editing and sound design are also great, and they help transmit exactly what the characters are feeling and thinking, plus they also propel some of the funniest moments. Anyway, The Drama definitely lives up to its title with its juicy story.

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The Northman

Movies watched in 2026

The Northman (2022, USA)

Director: Robert Eggers

Writers: Sjón and Robert Eggers (based on the work by Saxo Grammaticus)

Mini-review:

I saw this was being shown on TV with no ads and jumped on the chance to watch it. As expected of a Robert Eggers movie, it shines in its richly detailed production design and atmospheric cinematography. (I almost couldn't believe how well lit most of the nighttime scenes were). And Eggers doesn't shy away from the brutality of its period setting, no matter how bleak it gets. But the story is engrossing too, especially once the revenge plot really gets going in the second half, which makes up for the uneven pace of the first half. Alexander Skarsgård is great as the brooding leading man, although I was disappointed by his lack of chemistry with Anya Taylor-Joy. Overall, The Northman is an epic journey told with brilliant skill.

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Strawberry Moon

Movies watched in 2026

Strawberry Moon (2025, Japan)

Director: Mai Sakai

Writer: Yoshikazu Okada (based on the novel by Nao Akutagawa)

Mini-review:

I'm always a sucker for this 'adult person reminisces on their tragic first love' subgenre of Japanese movies. But what made this even more appealing was that it reunites Ami Touma and Jun Saito. Both of them were great in Chihayafuru: Full Circle, a strong drama that unfortunately didn't have the time to explore their evident chemistry. Luckily, that changes here. The characters and their situation are more than different enough for it not to feel like a rehash at all, and they do a great job. The movie itself doesn't offer anything unusual, but it's well written and directed. Some scene cuts and transitions were particularly clever. All in all, Strawberry Moon will definitely work for fans of the genre.

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Both the song and the MV are the embodiment of camp, and I mean it as a compliment. Not to mention that it got stuck in my head right away. But most importantly, the album is simply genius, to the point that the two singles are actually the weakest tracks.

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I didn't know how this rebrand would turn out for ZB1, but they've come out with one of the best boy group releases of the year. I hope they stick with this sound and aesthetic!

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Milk & Serial

Movies watched in 2026

Milk & Serial (2024, USA)

Director & Writer: Curry Barker

Mini-review:

I've always found Barker's shorts to be impressive (especially The Chair), and with the insane buzz surrounding Obsession, I felt like it was high time I watched this one-hour film he made a couple of years back. Honestly, it turned out to be much more surprising than I expected. The story got progressively nastier as it went on, and there was something morbid about watching things play out. At first I felt like Barker's performance was kinda off, but it didn't take me long to realize that it was a conscious choice on his part. There's not much more to say about Milk & Serial, since it's a rather short movie with a clearly modest budget, but it definitely made me even more excited about Obsession.