#thrillers

[ultrakillblast]

RESERVOIR DOGS (1992)

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Naomi Kritzer’s “Obstetrix”

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2026/06/09/deliver-us/#kritzer

Naomi Kritzer's Obstetrix is a new, tense thriller in the mode of Atwood's Handmaid's Tale and Alderman's The Power; it's a beautifully turned, claustrophobic horror novel about an obstetrician who's been kidnapped by a Christian cult obsessed with fertility:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250423375/obstetrix/

Kritzer is a master of building scenarios that require her characters to express and resolve a wide variety of complex and contradictory emotions. Her breakout novel, Catfishing on CatNet is a charming and deceptively goofy story about an AI trained on the impeccable vibes in a really solid groupchat becoming sentient and demanding…cat pictures. This is the setup for a warm (but intense) novel of internet-mediated friendship and IRL mutual aid:

https://memex.craphound.com/2019/11/19/naomi-kritzers-catfishing-on-the-catnet-an-ai-caper-about-the-true-nature-of-online-friendship/

Then there's her incredibly prescient 2015 story "So Much Cooking," about people in lockdown during a pandemic. For obvious reasons, it enjoyed an revival in 2020, with Kritzer penning an excellent essay reflecting on what it means to have thought through the implications of a disaster that is now upon us:

https://reactormag.com/didnt-i-write-this-story-already-when-your-fictional-pandemic-becomes-reality/

In 2023, Kritzer published one of the most memorable YA novels I've read, Liberty's Daughter, which is set on a libertarian seastead and told from the point of view of the daughter of the cult's founder:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/21/podkaynes-dad-was-a-dick/#age-of-consent

Liberty's Daughter is basically what you'd get if you rewrote a Heinlein YA novel from the perspective of one of the kids, who had to live with a Heinlein-type dad (Heinlein was childless and had some of the most batshit child-rearing ideas, which he managed to make sound bizarrely plausible). There's a lot of sf that is "in dialogue" with Heinlein (including some of mine), but no one nailed RAH like Kritzer.

Then there's Obstetrix; it's got one of those admirably propulsive setups. Doctor Elizabeth Gwynn is an obstetrician who performed an abortion to save her patient's life, only to be dragged into the culture wars by North Dakota's crusading attorney general, who charged her with felony murder and offered to let her plead out if she would admit that she was wrong to do it, as an example to other OBs who might be tempted. Now, Dr Liz lives in Minneapolis, where her savings are running out and no one wants to hire an obstetrician who's done time.

Then, Dr Liz gets a cold-call from a midwifing service that wants to hire her as an on-call doc. It's a weird offer from out of the blue, but Dr Liz can't afford to pass up a chance at steady work. She finds herself in a residence that the midwives work out of, and the nice woman there offers her a cup of tea. That's when the world fades to black, as the drugs in the tea take hold.

Liz sporadically regains consciousness in a van during a multi-day drive, and already she is thinking about her escape – even as she is becoming increasingly aware of how truly terrible her situation is. When she finally arrives at the cult's remote compound, frozen and isolated, she learns that she has been kidnapped because the fertility-obsessed cult needs an OB, especially since the daughter of the cult's founder, the "pastor," is carrying a high-risk pregnancy.

All that is in the first few pages, which leaves plenty of room for an expertly spun second act in which we get Kritzer's trademark interpersonal work, where carefully chosen and smartly wrought small details flesh out a picture of the complex dynamics of life inside a "high-demand" cult, from the way that members are manipulated into policing each other's compliance to the internal processes that keep members cowed even when they're unobserved by others. It's a brilliant work of sociological speculation and the engine that drives it is a series of maneuvers and gambits whereby Dr Liz hopes to make her way to safety.

I won't spoil the end, except to say that it is exciting, satisfying, and has a sweet denouement that does real justice to the whole book. All told, this is a read-in-one-sitting thriller that does as much to illuminate the workings and dynamics of patriarchy and religion as any gender studies class. It's peak Kritzer (so far), and that's saying something.

[lambyrotting]

Hellraiser II: Hellbound (1988)

[phantombandit84]

For any new Richard Harmon fans coming from watching Final Destination: Bloodlines, here’s some more of his films that I highly recommend:

- The 100 (Tv Series) Probably the most special to me, this is when I found Richard in 2014 when The 100 started, and gave us probably one of his best characters, John Murphy.

- I Still See You (2018) Probably my second favorite character of his, Kirk Lane. It's such a interesting story and he's absolutely incredible in it.

- Fakes (Tv Series) If you're wanting something a little funnier, rather than horror I'd go for Fakes on netflix. It's just a silly little comedy and really shows off his funny side.

- Forever 16 (2013) A very interesting story, but also rich, bad boy asshole richard is a plus.

- Lowlifes (2024) Lowlifes was a very big surprise to me, I highly HIGHLY recommend this one! it's very interesting.

- Margaux (2022) I'd say that Margaux is kind of the closest thing to Final Destination, it's silly and the deaths are over exaggerated.

- The Puppet Killer (2019) I just very weirdly have a love for this movie, it's a weird one but it knows it which makes it interesting. Also Richard in his famous guyliner never disappoints.

- The Hollow (2015) Honestly one of my favs, he looks incredible in this movie. The story is really good too and the visuals are incredible.

- Scarecrow (2013) I will say now, his screen time in this movie is short. BUT HE LOOKS SO HOT so it is completely worth the watch!

- If I Had Wings (2013) This is honestly one of his best films, it's so emotional and real. It's incredible.

- Grave Encounters 2 (2012) A great found footage, paranormal horror.

- Triple Dog (2010) He's so baby in this, he only has a little role but I love this movie so I had to include it.

- Trick r Treat (2007) Had to put this in here because Trick r Treat is such a big halloween film and Richard is so incredibly proud of being in it.

- Darkness Falls (2020) Another interesting story.

- The Return (2020) Haunted House.

- Judas Kiss (2011) This is a very interesting story, and it's a fan favorite. Richards first LGBTQ+ Film.

- Woodland (2018) He looks incredible in this film and it's a very interesting watch.

- Game, Set, Love (2022) Not a massive hallmark movie person haha but I wanted to include this because it was a Harmon sibling project. I do need to rewatch though.

[januaryfruits]

Thriller: A Cruel Picture (1973) dir. Bo Arne Vibenius

[bookpaula]

Watching You

Revisiting this, my second favourite Lisa Jewell book (after Then She Was Gone).

[thingsaday]

The Severance Season 2 Trailer went CRAZYYYY!!! I'm so excited for January!! 🕺

(warning for spoilers in that trailer, check out season 1 before you watch it :) )