You'll find only peak in this household
Hollow (Brian Catling)
Centering on three storylines that unfold after the death of a being called the Oracle (which belonged to a group called the High Church), this book has some of the thickest prose I've read. Extremely surreal and amazing imagery. The tone is dark and strange, and many elements of this book are eccentric. I love it so much. Some people describe it as like reading a Hieronymous Bosch painting and I couldn't agree more.
The Unworthy (Agustina Bazterrica)
This novel uses beautiful, abstract prose to explore the idea of a woman stuck in a cultish convent after the end of the world. It's a brutal read and I highly recommend it if you're looking for something short.
Dune (Frank Herbert)
This is a layered read. The world of Dune is evokative and I found all of the plans within plans within plans to be extremely gripping. I love what this book has to say about the nature of power as well as peoples' relationship to it insofar as the way its used to exploit everything around them.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
This is one of the most tense movies I have ever seen. It barely has a score and the way that violence feels like its own force of nature here is remarkable, not to mention Javier Bardem's standout performance as Anton Chigurh. This is one of my favorite movies.
Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024)
These movies are beautiful in both an aestetic and metaphoric capacity. They both have stunning setpieces and beautiful landscapes. The Harkonnen planet in part 2 is one of the coolest things I've seen put to screen. The narrative has an exceptional amount of depth to it (which makes sense, considering it's Dune)
Frankenstein (2025)
Guillermo del Toro's take on Frankenstein sacrifices some of the complexity of the book for the sole purpose of strengthening its emotional core. You're not going to have the same experience reading Frankenstein and watching this movie, but GDT is able to justify that through making a beautiful (and beautifully told with wonderful costumes and sets and props) narrative. It likely hit harder for me due to my own complex relationship with fatherhood
Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (2008)
GDT in both his Hellboy movies tells a great story about people that are othered by society and treats mental illness with the care and compassion that is deserved. The first movie scratches an alternative history itch in me and the sequel plays almost like a fairy tale. I am legitimately impressed by how both of the movies deal with such different mythologies and still feel like they're in the same world
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
LXG is not a good movie. I also like it a lot. It's a goofy action movie with a lot of public domain characters, which is a concept I love, and it also scratches an alt history itch in my brain. Again, this is not a good movie, I just like it lmao
Mars Express (2023)
This is a phenomenal film. It's a tight, well-paced sci-fi mystery set on Mars following two detectives (one human and one robot that used to be a human) investigating the disappearance of a cybernetics student. The animation is amazing and the stand-out thing to me is the worldbuilding. Aspects of the world are shown in such a way that you just immediately understand what you're seeing, and I've never seen another movie accomplish seamless worldbuilding to this insane extent. I highly recommend watching this one.
There Will be Blood (2007)
This is the first Paul Thomas Anderson movie I've seen and it's one of the best movies I've watched. The tension through the movie between the main oilman character and those around him as his personal life slowly unravels slowly builds and builds until it crescendos and the movie ends. Fantastic work and I highly recommend it.
Van Helsing (2004)
Similar vibes to LXG. It's not a great movie but its so campy. You get to see Hugh Jackman in a cowboy hat set out to kill Dracula on behalf of the Vatican like a Catholic James Bond. Very goofy and very fun.
Pacific Rim (2013)
GIANT ROBOTS FIGHTING GIANT MONSTERS DIRECTED BY GUILLERMO DEL TORO! PEAK!
Ultrakill
Ultrakill is an exceptionally fast-paced movement shooter (which served as my introduction to the genre). It's easy enough to get into it but the skill ceiling is stupidly high since just about every weapon has potential tech with every single other weapon. Heaven Pierce Her's soundtrack is phenominal and Ultrakill's take on a Dante-esque hell is superb (I won't be spoiling that because its so much more fun to see it for yourself)
Dungeons of Blood and Dream
This game's a roguelike where you're a blood wizard trapped in another wizard's mind prison. It's a psychadelic experience that I sound very fun in how arcane it presented itself. I found the characters therein to be eccentric and fun to interact with, and I love the notebook mechanic where through runs you keep a notebook that you can actually draw notes in for future runs
Utopia (2013)
The version of Utopia that originally aired in the UK is phenominal. Amazing composition and cinematography and great acting. The conspiracy plot is also gripping to me. The soundtrack is so thoroughly alien (its Cristobal Tapia de Veer so an interesting soundtrack was practically guaranteed). It's a very dark show and its also one of my favorites
Arcane
Beautiful story beautifully animated. Season 1 is exceptional and delves deep into the exploitative society it presents. That being said, season 2 unforutnately drops some of the themes that season 1 was setting up, but still a very worthwhile watch
Cowboy Bebop
Fantastic show. At time of writing I've only seen part of it, but this is the best anime I've seen in some time. The characters are fun and likeable, the setting draws me in, and the schenanigans that play out are always very fun.