Nope

Im Sooyeon (CINE21 reporter): The captivation and horror that the unknown world can stir up in audiences come together as one package. The contrast of captivating horror and horrifying captivation has typically been a major push to see movies. For instance, situations arising from alien contact or involving spaceships are sights for the audience to behold and fill them with a sense of fear at the same time. Nope, the latest movie from Get Out and Us director Jordan Peele, is a horror/thriller that goes to great lengths to contemplate the duality of these emotions we experience within a grand spectacle. First, the setup as the movie opens, which introduces OJ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald Haywood (Keke Palmer) as direct descendants to the Black man who appeared in The Horse in Motion moving picture, reminds audiences that film started out as an attraction in its earliest incarnations. On top of that, when the Haywood siblings, who had been struggling to save their farm, decide to capture whatever it was that took their father’s life on film, Nope becomes a movie about movies. Though one can point out numerous visual references inspired by greats such as Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick, the biggest influence on Nope’s spectacle is Steven Spielberg (and Close Encounters of the Third Kind in particular). However, this is not a film that only becomes enjoyable when analyzing the essence of film and so long as the viewer is aware of its extensive points of reference. The director’s cleverly refined approach is on full display through his use of spectacular imagery and easily satisfies the moviegoer who’s looking for pure fun in a genre film such as this.

Unnies Without Appetite (YouTube)

Choi Jieun (writer): Two light eaters are taking on the mukbang community, a space previously thought to be exclusive to gourmands. Park Sohyun drinks an iced vanilla latte for breakfast and lunch, and Sandara Park goes a whole day on a single banana. The two are quick to feel full after their first bite of anything. While famous gourmet eaters such as Kim Sook, Yu Minsang and Heebab are invited as “muk professors” to lecture the two stars of the show, the two light eaters keep to their own pace and share a single piece of kimbap and chew on the same piece of meat for five minutes straight. The show is a breath of fresh air and creates a niche market: Instead of forcing these two light eaters to eat more, they simply share the experience of trying new foods. In fact, the final question of each episode is, “Would you take the last bite?” Of course, since the two are full after a mouthful or two where others would keep eating to finish off their plates, the two stars bid farewell most of the time with a humble, “I’m done!” As with most things in life, it’s important to know when you’ve had your fill.

“DESTRUCTION” feat. Coast Contra (Tobe Nwigwe)

Kang Ilkwon (music critic): We are living in the era of alternative music. Different genres are dismantled and coalesce repeatedly, making different categories ambiguous to the point that the term “alternative” becomes inadequate. Still, once in a while there’s an artist who reinforces the definition of alternative, and Tobe Nwigwe, a versatile Texan rapper, is one of them. Nwigwe’s new single “DESTRUCTION” destroys our expectations of what alternative hip hop should be, hence the title. It’s experimental, powerful and soulful. Up-and-coming hip hop group Coast Contra also contributed to the song. The constantly changing beat across the verses and the unique performances from the different rappers grant the listener a truly immersive experience, while the gospel-like chorus in the middle to late part of the song acts as a launch pad to the dynamic beat and rapping to follow. If you want to get a sense of the essence of alternative hip hop, go ahead and give Tobe Nwigwe a listen.