Readers of sci-fi, horror and everything in-between the psychological realm will find snippets of the author's life, book announcements, exclusive offers and more in this ongoing newsletter.
What was your favorite content of 2021?
Hey Reader,
How's your 2022 been going so far? I hope it's been going fantastic and stress-free. This first month has proven to be very tedious for me, but on the bright side the renovations of my houses (only) bathroom are nearly done! For the past time, our cleanliness is all thanks to this "outdoor shower cabana" built by my father-in-law:
It really has worked for us in all this time hahaha. Since my head's been in a funk, it's rough for me to announce anything at the moment, other than I have been working steadily on Mad Virus. I thought it'd be fun to share some of my favorite content of 2021. For this one, I'll keep it to movies and TV. I may cover other things, like books, in a future email. =)
If you enjoy the stories I've written, then this will most likely be something in your ball park. Or maybe you've already seen it and we can nerd out about it together. (Or not, that's cool too) Some of this may also have not been released in 2021 and something I simply finally watched or read.
MOVIES
Dune - I love the worldbuilding and visuals in this movie. It definitely requires a lot of focus, but I feel it's focus worth investing for a story like this.
Spider-Man: No Way Home - I saw this movie twice in theaters and it's truly nearly everything I LOVE as a fan of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), and more importantly as a fan of Spider-Man. Truly something else.
Incendies, Blade Runner 2049, Sicario and Prisoner - I'm basically just shelving all of this into one collection since Dune prompted my wife and I to watch more of Denis Villaneue's work. Accompanied by some great cinematagraphy are fantastic stories. Blade Runner 2049 and Incendies are my personal favorites, but if you could only watch one, then I would objectively say Incendies is my highest recommendation.
The Suicide Squad - Another superhero movie that nonetheless nails comedy, action and beauty crunched up into one nice rubber-band ball perfectly. I also saw 2016's Suicide Squad in the same year and can say without a doubt this was a HUGE improvement.
Shang-Chi And The Legend of The Ten Rings - Yeah, this movie exceeded my expectations. Despite a somewhat slow second act, this is a story that a lot of the MCU tends to miss out in their one-off stories nowadays. Also, martial arts in the first act was fucking PHENOMENAL!
It Follows: What an AWESOME horror movie. The entire concept settled anxiety into my skin, looking at every detail in every scene, and I won't say anything more than that.
Some other great mentions include The Mitchells vs The Machines, Another Round, The Guilty, Demon Slayer Mugen Train, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and Snowpiercer.
TV
Arcane - Everything about this show, from the animation to the characters, is perfect. I'm not even a fan of the video games this comes from, and now I love this world, the lore, the story that's being told. Best animated show.
Midnight Mass - And this is the best live-action series. Every character has a role, a purpose, a backstory, a personality that fits within the small town this enigmatic narrative takes place in. I loved it with all my heart.
Castlevania - I picked this show back up when my wife wanted to binge it. This honestly fits in with the other two shows I mentioned. Vampires, magic, a lot of badass ass-kickery. Good stuff~
Loki - Out of every MCU series that's been released, I would say that Loki nailed it the best (with Wandavision being second). Loki's journey is great, and each episode keeps up the hype and mystery of what's to come next.
Mare of Easttown - If you're craving for a great mystery, this is one you should check out. Don't wanna spoil too much.
Some other great mentions include Squid Game, The Witcher, Mandalorian, Wandavision, and Ted Lasso.
These shows that I've found enjoyment and gained so much inspiration from, both on a conscious and subconscious level. If you're interested in any of what I mentioned, then I know you'll be interested in the novels and novellas I have currently published.
Whether you have a new reading goal or you're looking for a fun read, these books will be right up your alley. And if you read it and enjoyed it, then be sure to leave a review. =)
Click the below links and purchase a copy on Amazon:
Mad City
The Bizarre Situation of Mama's Son
What are some of your favorites of 2021?
Until next time!
~Victor Vahl
www.victorvahl.com
Victor Vahl
Readers of sci-fi, horror and everything in-between the psychological realm will find snippets of the author's life, book announcements, exclusive offers and more in this ongoing newsletter.
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