October has been filled with spooky movies (naturally) and a mad dash to finish massive projects for several work events (regrettably). Fortunately, that is past and (hopefully) now I can focus on slowing down for the holidays. And while Fall’s arrival is concerningly protracted this season, at least I can look forward to seeing The Fall in theaters at the start of November.

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This month’s playlist:

The Red Shoes

I watched several excellent, and a couple bad, movies this month--one I already spilled much ink over on Letterboxd. But I need to talk about The Red Shoes here.

This is the first movie I’ve seen by The Archers--Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. And I was not prepared for how much it would move me. The way it dissolves wordlessly into pure emotion, movement, and expression makes me feel I’ve never watched a true movie up till this moment. My person faded away; the world replaced by the one on the theatre screen. I’m being pulled away again just thinking about it. This is the magic they speak of that is conjured by cinema.

Till We Have Faces

I read this years ago and did not grasp it. But I felt I’d just read Lewis’ most mature artistic work. Reading it as the person I am now, Till We Have Faces made me ache. Ache with beauty. Ache with grief. Ache with love. Ache with awe.

Lewis drew me deep into the heart of the protagonist where I felt her every joy and enumerable sorrows. Many pages were read through tears. This is a beautiful retelling of the Greek tragedy of Cupid and Psyche from the sister’s point of view. And through Orual’s eyes, Lewis crafts a deep, rich meditation on the nature of love, holiness, man, and gods.

For Orual, holiness is known to her as darkness and the stench of blood. For me, holiness is this book.

Alan Wake II: The Lake House

All I want in video games right now is more Alan Wake and more Control. The Lake House expansion gives me both. Thankful for this opportunity to return to this world for more mysteries and scares.

The earlier Night Springs expansion was a delight as well.

Supercar

The band responsible for an iconic song for my beloved Eureka Seven, which lurks on the edge of my memory at all times. Finally checking out the rest of their discography.

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This month I also finished the first draft of my latest script. Now I’m deep into the process of transcribing. I also took a long weekend to stay at a cabin with friends and black bears tried to break in on our last night. They may have been attracted by the smell of the Thai dinner I cooked for everyone.