BabaDook

WRITTEN BY JEROMY WILL
SEPTEMBER 29, 2015
HUSKY HOWLS: 7.6/10

​Don’t you hate it when you read your child a story that turns out to be really dark, and you don't remember where it came from, and then an evil spirit from the book torments the household? Well, that’s what happens in Jennifer Kent's “The Babadook”. It is a movie about a young mother, Amelia, whose husband died driving her to the hospital to give birth to her son, Samuel. Amelia is clearly tired and depressed through the whole film while Samuel is quite a trouble maker (including bringing a crossbow into his school). After reading him a strange bed time story, odd things start to happen.


The Characters
​The characters, I thought, were made pretty well. Amelia has the right to be depressed. You can tell how she feels pretty well throughout the movie. There's a scene that perfectly looks like a distressed mother, with hair messed up and expressions of genuine sadness. The only problem I had with Samuel is a part where he is screaming in the car; it was weird and made me laugh. It kind of took away from the mood they were going for but it brought happiness to a rather depressing movie. The side characters are in the movie for just the right amount of time. There's no huge filler conversation or out of place topic. The characters work like a symphony, they all have their parts.


The Horror
The “monster,” aka the Babadook, is a little scary. You don't really see him that much though, if anything his hands mostly.  There's not really any jump scares. It's more of a psychological horror movie; you think something's going to happen, then nothing happens. Then something messed up happens, and it just cycles. There are bugs, but not too many for you who have entomophobia, or a fear of bugs.


The Story
The story was very interesting and makes you think a little. I was constantly thinking if there really was a monster or if it was some hidden meaning. It never really had any down time, as there was always something new to learn and examine. The story doesn't really tell you exactly what was happening but through close analyzation (and looking up other theories on line), it opens up what could possibly be the truth behind The Babadook.


​

Art by Emma Duffy

---

The VISit

​WRITTEN BY KRISTEN LEER
SEPTEMBER 29, 2015
HUSKY HOWLS: 5.4/10

Cast: Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, Deanna Dunagan, Peter McRobbie, and Kathryn Hahn
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Genre: Horror-Comedy

Ever since its release, a lot of focus has been on writer and director M. Night Shyamalan which is to be expected because of the unknowing of what he’s going to do next. However, the movie itself needs to be analyzed more than the person who created it. In the previous reviews that actually focused on the movie, the critics have had mixed reviews. "The Visit" was either very good, with a nice touch of humor and horror, or very bad, leaving the reviewers wondering why this was the movie Shyamalan decided to have be his next movie. Again the reviewers were focusing too much on Shyamalan.

Focusing on the movie

The cinematography immediately strikes you as visually appealing accompanied by great shots and transitions, however, there is a problem;  it is completely unrealistic. This movie is known as "found footage", which is when the camera is controlled by the actors in the movie.

The actors controlling the camera are kids, Rebecca (Olivia DeJonge) and Tyler (Ed Oxenbould), and would not realistically have the capability of nailing the smooth transitions that have been successfully created in this movie. 

This makes the movie a little less appealing once you realize this, noticing that even though there are crazy good shots,  they're not realistic.
​
One thing that was constantly well done was the performance of the actors. Even though the comedy and the story was not as well done as some have said, the truly admirable thing about it was the actors ability to perform in it despite these obstacles.

A clear example in the movie is that Tyler raps three times and even though that was supposed to be a comical element in the movie, it just was mainly uncomfortable to watch, because of how he rapped and what he rapped about. The admirable part about it was his ability to, in simple terms, ‘fake it till you make it’. The other actors, as you’ll notice when watching the movie, followed through well with their character’s obscure roles and personalities.

Focusing a little bit more on the performance of Ed Oxenbould, the best part of his performance was during the end when the children realize that the grandparents are not who they say they are. His reaction and final conflict he has with them, leading to a breakdown that involves football was superb. On a side note, the football was a nice connection that M. Night Shyamalan weaved into the story as you’ll observe when watching it.

The story itself was not impressive. The concept was interesting and intriguing, maybe one of the many reasons why so many want to see it, but the follow through and end result was not spectacular.
​
Focusing Briefly on Shyamalan

The really frustrating thing about this movie, focusing on M. Night Shyamalan for a moment, what it boils down to, is that he can do way better. It’s already been proven in the "Sixth Sense", nominated for 6 Oscars. However, that movie was not a one time thing, that he reached his peak and now there’s nothing else he has to offer. He has the skill and the talents; it is just trying to get it out of him that is the difficult part. One does have to consider, though, that maybe he is just making movies like “The Visit” for the fun of it is understandable.

With that, one has to understand that this movie is a one time thing. As in you watch it once, experience it, and then move on. It’s not a necessary thing to see, so don’t fret if you can’t see it within the next 3 weeks, six months, or five years. One thing to take from this movie is that the actors had great performances and dedication in a movie that could have been better.
​

---

Sometimes Nightmare Become reality

ART BY SHALEN TULLY

---

The Cellar

WRITTEN BY MORGAN STARK
SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

When one thinks of horror, monsters, ghosts, or even creepy clowns come to mind.  When reading  “The Cellar” by Natasha Preston, another version of horror came into the light.  There is a monster, but he is also a human.

Most know this ‘monster’ by Collin, but a select few know him by Clover. He is a lawyer who wants to bring wrong doers to justice, but what he didn’t realize, is that he himself is in fact a wrong doer.  He collected, or rather kidnapped, young girls who he thought had no family and were heading in no direction.  He kept them in his basement to live with him and become the perfect family, to him his perfect little flowers. Summer is a flower that Clover has had his eye on for a while now.  She is beautiful and strong, and to him, she is just perfect. This leads to him kidnaping her.  

The only difference from the rest of his “flowers” is that she has many people that love her.  She has an entire family and community who will never give up their search for her. “The Cellar” gives insight into the mind of the victim, but also into the mind of the monster who takes her.  

This story is not like many others in its genre because it creates events that could not only happen right now, but it also compares a mind that maybe one of the at least 7 billion people on this earth may have. It shows a snapshot of a girl’s scariest moment in her life, is suspenseful and is entertaining.  The emotions are well conveyed because there are three different points of view and outlooks on the situation. The reader is able to enter the minds and see how they view Summer’s disappearance . I recommend anyone to give this book a read and to experience a true horror story.

---

The Dance of this Generation

WRITTEN BY MACKENZIE KONKEL
​SPEMTEMBER 29, 2015

Bored with nothing to do? Sitting in your room listening to songs you can’t really turn up to? Well, there might be a solution. It’s not magic, and doesn’t cost a cent! It’s the dance of this generation - Silento's’ "Whip & NaeNae". The world has ‘’turn't up” to this dance ever since it hit the iTunes store, radio, and even YouTube. This optimistic song was released on May 7, 2015. The song is #3 on the Billboard awards. Silento's’ song has become so popular that Nickelodeon has worked with Silento's to create an all new version of the dance.This song has made a huge difference in teens’, and kids’ lives everywhere!

The creator of "Watch me [Whip & NaeNae]”, Ricky Lamar Hawks, aka Silento's, is from Atlanta,Georgia and is 17 years old. He is a teen icon for young people all over the world. He said on an interview on YouTube, "Strictly no cursing in his song, because why would parents buy a song with cursing in it?" He struck gold when his song is rated #3 on the Billboard Music Awards. He is one of the youngest artist in the music industry. Many people say he's going to change the world with his new type of music. On an interview on Vibe.com, Silento says he is inspired by many artist just like many of us. Silento's has also been an inspiration to many of his fans because he has touched their hearts with his song.

Do you Whip and NaeNae?

Based on the number of videos, you can see everyone does the Whip and NaeNae. You don't have to know how to dance to move to the beat of this song. Everyone has their own style, so bring out yours!

The following questions were asked to two Ronald Reagan students:

"Do you whip and/or NaeNae(if so how often)?"

" Why do you do this dance?"

"Do you do the dance in your own style?"

Freshman student, Brianna Guzman, replied," I NaeNae, not so much of the whipping. I do the dance at least once a week for fun. I'd rather do my own style then what it shown." Brianna also does the sprinkler and prefers to dance by herself. Fellow freshman student, Ah Yu Ya,answered," Yes, I do the dance whenever I'm bored because it's fun. Plus, it's just a attracting dance.I tend to do the dance in my own style." Ah Yu Ya also likes to dance in the Hip Hop style and has no preference on with whom she dances. 

Why do people dance to The Whip and NaeNae?

Is this song just for fun, or does it really help people? We can all agree that music helps us cope when we're down or sad. This song doesn't just help you with your feelings, but it also helps you get active. Your physical health is as important as your emotional health(getting quote from Mr poltrock) The more energy you have, the more you want to move. And the happier you are, the more you will want to get out and do stuff. The beat to "Watch me" just makes people want to move and get up and dance. It also helps with creativity. Since you can have your own style with the dance, then your mind gets challenged to think of different ways to do the dance. So this dance isn't only for fun, but it also helps your physical, emotional, and creativity levels increase.


How do you do the dance?

This dance has 9 steps total. For safety and health reasons, you will want to make sure you are properly hydrated.

Steps:

#1 The Whip - Bend your knees with your legs shoulder length apart and feet outward. In very subtle front stroke motions, bring your right arm in front of you with your fist clenched. Begin with the right arm each time Silento starts a new verse of The Whip. Rotate arms only when Silento says “whip” multiple times in a row.

#2 The Nae Nae - Keep you knees bent with your legs shoulder length apart and feet angled outward. Bring your The Whip arm above your head, bent slightly, while you rock your body from side to side, swaying gracefully. Your left arm should be to your side diagonal from your right.


​

#3 The Watch Me - The Watch Me, which is Silento’s only original move, is the same as The Whip, but you cock your head to look to your side with every "watch me" part during the rap.


#4 The Stanky Leg - Both your legs should still be in the same position as steps 1-5, but now lift your right heel up slightly and lean your body in the opposite direction. Move your right leg in a circular direction. This is the stanky leg. Switch legs each time Silento says to do the move.


#5 The Break Your Legs - Put your feet together and bend your knees together. Bend your knees left, then right and so on. With your arms down, let them sway from side-to-side as you wish.


#6 The Bop - Bend your knees with your legs shoulder length apart and feet outward. Shake your knees in and out. With both arms down, let one sway in front of you each the song says “bop.”


#7 The Crank That - When the song says “watch me yua,” crank your wrists with both your arms out together to the right of you. While you do this, your right leg steps out in the same direction. Repeat these moves, but reverse to the left when he says the line again.


#8 The Superman - Step your right leg out with your body angled with it. Begin the breast-stroke movement with your arms, but pull them behind you. Step out to the left and do this move again.


#9 The Duff - Stand straight with your legs together and hands at your side. Bend your left arm swing so that it is parallel in front of you. Raise your left knee at the same time so that it is parallel to your waist. Return to standing position. Now repeat the move using your right arm and leg.

Now you know the steps to the dance, try it out! You now also know how it can benefit you from fun and well-being. Don't be scared to be yourself while dancing because all you have to do is go with the flow!

---

Flower

ART BY KRISTEN LEER
SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

---

​Can you truly trust your own thoughts?

WRITTEN BY MADILYN LARSH
SEPTEMBER 29, 2015
HUSKY HOWLS: 7/10

Have you ever murdered somebody? No? This time, really think about it. Is your answer still a no? I bet you’re thinking that you would know if you had killed someone. But you see, Jerry Grey is earnestly questioning if he has committed such a heinous crime.

“Trust No One”, written by Paul Cleave, is a fictional novel about a forty-nine year old man who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, or ‘Captain A’, as he wishes to call the disease. Alzheimer’s is a mental disease in which your memories begin to deteriorate. In the present time that this story takes place, Jerry’s been withholding Alzheimer’s and has been living in a nursing home for a year.

Jerry Grey, the novel’s main character,  has written twelve thriller/crime novels by the pen name, Henry Cutter. Such stories include various characters and strategies used to complete the crimes; most crimes recurring in his books are homicidal. A common stereotype conceived about crime writers is that they can only generate such stories of murder and tragedy if they are previously ‘screwed up’. Society in the date of this story, conducts that you had to have had a heavily grim experience in your life to have the ability to conjure up such misfortune.  

The real mishappenings occur when Jerry begins to confuse his reality with those in some of his books. He begins confessing to nurses and officers that he has killed somebody, when in reality, we find he is just describing a certain scenario from one of his written books. It doesn’t take long for the reader to  begin to question if it really is just a scene from one of his books.


Want to find out more? Check out “Trust No One” written by Paul Cleave in a Barnes & Noble, or order on Amazon Prime!

---

malala

WRITTEN BY MORGAN STARK
​SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

Here in America, almost every child starts school because it is a right for every boy or girl of every race or religion currently living here in the United States. While this may be the path in America, many countries do not have the resources to educate their youth, or when they do, the money is mainly used to educate young boys, who will soon be men.  


One of these countries is Pakistan. Traditionally in their culture women do not receive education. No one spoke up about this inequality between men and women until the Yousafzai family.  It all started with Ziauddin Yousafzai, Malala’s father. He spoke out against violence against women and standing up for women’s rights. All was well; he had opened a school where all of his children were educated. This was until the Taliban invaded; they tried to completely transform Islam and Malala’s community. Because of Ziauddin and Malala’s actions during this time, they both became figureheads for women’s education rights.


The tensions were growing between the Taliban and those that supported women and their education. On October 9, 2012, this reached a climax when Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban. The Taliban was hoping for a death, but Malala came back and she was stronger than ever. Since the shooting Malala was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, opened a school, and wrote the book “I am Malala: The Girl who Stood up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban.”


Although this book is about an incredible woman, it lacked the opinions of other people who influenced her life, such as whether her friends supported her opinion or if her family was looked at differently in her village and country. Looking past this, Malala is a true inspiration because she speaks up for what she believes in, which is women's rights and education for all. She speaks up and takes action despite the dangers and the many people who oppose her. At such a young age, Malala Yousafzai is one of the greatest inspiration not only for women, but for people across the world.

---

Shadows

ART BY CHLOE HAAPLA
SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

---

Got goosebumps? 

WRITTEN BY JACQUELINE JONES 
​SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

“Goosebumps” is has more than meets the eye. The writer of this  book  series, R.L. Stine, has written many other things such as as follow up series, a Goosebumps Special Edition series, the  Fear Street collection, two follow up series to the the Fear Street series and many other book collections, all with  thrilling twists. Not only has he written many very successful books but some have even been made into movies, such as the “Haunting Hour: Don’t Think About It.” There are television shows based off of his book series        
“Goosebumps” and the “Haunting Hour.” But the first and most loved is the “Goosebumps” series, and there is an upcoming movie called “Goosebumps”, coming out October  16.

​In the movie, there is a city boy named Zach (played by Dylan Minnette),  who moves to a small town with his mother. Although he was against moving to the small town, he soon finds that there is a pretty girl living next door door, Hannah (played by played by Odeya Rush). He becomes interested in her, but soon finds out about her father, R.L. Stine (played by Jack Black) and about her odd behavior. With his curiosity motivating him, he finds his way into the his house and finds out who Hannah's father is when he finds out that he is R.L. Stine. When he sees old manuscripts, Zach accidentally releases the monsters and they all have to work together to trap them back in their books.

This book series is interesting because, it not only was popular in the time, it was made in but is still popular now, but not exactly to the same generation it was before. I conducted  a survey in and out of school on the movie. I wanted to see how if people were actually see this and their age groups. With my survey, I found out that many people were interested. The main age group was the 13-19 age group and there  were less in the 20+ age group.

I think that from what I have seen in the commercial that the movie will be a hit among young readers. I also think that it will be great for people who loved to book, the television series and the other book series that were made by R.L. Stine. This movie seems to be focused on all audiences with its PG rating. This seems to be a great movie, and I can't wait to see it.

​Goosebumps is a book series that have gone on for generations and will go on for generations to come. It  has been a favorite for many years and will always be.

GENDER FLUIDITY

ART BY EMMA DUFFY
SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

GENDERFLUID: a gender identity which refers to a gender which varies over time. A gender fluid person may at any time identify as male, female, neutrois, or any other non-binary identity, or some combination of identities.