*This article was originally published on Jan. 2, 2026 in Reporter Magazine “It’s for the fans and not for the critics,” was the phrase heard repeatedly before watching the new “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” movie. While I agree that it could be an enjoyable movie for fans of the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (FNAF) games, I question what the phrase “not for the critics” really means. If it means “clunky dialogue and awkward delivery from Josh Hutcherson,” then I would agree that it

* This article was originally published in the November issue of Reporter Magazine. This year’s Hugo Award for the Best Short Story went to “Stitched to Skin like Family Is” by 2021 Hugo winner Nghi Vo. The story follows an unnamed Chinese seamstress with the magical ability to sense the memories of clothing as she travels 1931 America in search of her brother, Yongjun. In the beginning, the protagonist arrives at the inn where Yongjun had been staying, and she quickly realiz

Not every television show warrants a quirky adaptation. In fact, my general quality of life would probably be better if most shows stopped getting quirky adaptations.  Squid Game is a South Korean drama series released on Netflix on September 17, 2021. The thriller show follows a financially destitute gambler who competes against hundreds of people in similar financial situations, in a twisted game-show-type setting involving childhood games and activities with the incentive

The singer-songwriter highlights themes of love, hope, and introspection * This article was originally published on Oct. 27, 2023, on Shorewood Ripples . It would be strange and hyperbolic of me to open this review with “Everybody loves Mitski!” but the numbers do not lie. With over 19 million monthly listeners on Spotify and countless videos featuring her music on platforms like TikTok, Mitski is a global sensation. Despite this, she did not originally dream of creating musi