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Hot Topic Prepares to Turn 30

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Can you believe it, Hot Topic is almost 30.  If Hot Topic was a Goth child it can now legally drive, vote, drink (even though we know it didn’t wait until 21 for that!), and officially rent a car.  Now it’s about to kiss the big 3-0 on the ass and enter those painful third life crisis years.

How will Hot Topic handle its early thirties?  Well if its last few years are any indicator it’s going to continue to transition into the geek world and keep pulling further and further away from the Goth roots us 90’s mall kids remember so fondly.  Sadly those days have been long gone for years.

Gone are the days of velvet dresses rimmed in lace and long black trench coats.  No more black chunky platform knee high boots with buckles running up the side.  No more bondage pants that would wrap around your school chair and keep you from standing up to leave.  You can’t even find a horror t-shirt unless it’s from American Horror Story or The Walking Dead.  What happened to the Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and Evil Dead shirts I filled my drawers with?  And is anyone else sick of those Pop figures taking up space?  In addition, I’m a huge Disney fan, but it’s place is not in Hot Topic.  Long gone are the days of Hot Topic past, and boy do we miss them.

No more spiked collars or ball chained necklaces that were so common in the hallways of high schools across America.  Even those rubber bands you’d wear around your wrist and trade with friends are difficult to find on their accessories wall.

Sure, you can still find a tube of black lipstick and matching black nail polish, but so can you at your local drug store.  Even a few colors of punk hair dye remain, a brand that used to be Manic Panic which many of us once used to switch our hair colors from week to week.  How fortunate we are to still have hair after those shenanigans!  But now Hot Topic has taken another route, a path filled with geek fandoms and bright neon colors.

Hot Topic is entering its thirties, and that means adulthood.  For real this time, not the “I’ll get to it eventually” when you’re in your mid twenties and still eating pizza for dinner four times a week.  Products that are sure to sell and pay the bills stock the shelves, even if that means leaving behind some of the things that made it cool and different in its adolescent years.

Namely nostalgia television and geek fandom products have replaced the items of its youth.  Nostalgic cartoons such as; Invader Zim, Care Bears, and old school Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line the walls.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the cartoons from my childhood, but it has a time and a place, and it should have a much smaller display space in the store.  Geekdom such as; Doctor Who, Pokémon, and anything pertaining to successful DC and Marvel movies hang on their racks.  If it brought in millions in the box office and had a PG-13 rating, you can be sure to find at least a t-shirt pertaining to it at your local Hot Topic.

The ‘powers that be’ behind the store seem to have forgotten about the crowd that helped make them who they were when they started out as seedlings.  We grew up as well, but that doesn’t mean our tastes and interests have changed.  We still go out on the weekend in our best black dresses and high heel horror themed shoes, even if they are a bit more sensible than the stilettos we wore in our early twenties.  We’re always on the look out for a new black handbag that expresses our darker interest in life.  We are still here, and we are still willing to purchase your items if they grew up with us.  Where are us thirty-something going to wear a Rugrats t-shirt?  We get it, you want to focus on those with a disposable income, namely teenagers, but don’t shun the audience that helped cater to your initial success.

I miss the days when the store would blare its music so loud it would shake the wall to the neighboring Pac-Sun.  I miss the sideways glares it would receive from adults and old people as they passed carrying their Macy’s bags.  And I really miss freaking out my deeply Christian step mother with the possessed Reagan poster from The Exorcist sandwiched between their black light absorbent and band posters.

Perhaps what I miss the most is having a place I felt like I belonged and wouldn’t be judged for my black hair, fishnets, and white face powder.  Hot Topic used to be a place a lonely teenager like myself needed in their misunderstood life.  It taught me about the comic books Johnny the Homicidal Maniac by Jhonen Vasquez, as well as Gloom Cookie and Nightmares and Fairytales which were both penned by the talented Serena Valentino.  It was a safe haven to be myself and inspire inner creativity and uniqueness, even if we (the Goth crowd) did ironically blend in with ourselves with our reoccurring clothing styles, hair colors, and make up techniques.  Above all, it was a safe place to hang out with friends and make new ones.

It’s ok Hot Topic, being 30 years old is scary, but you don’t have to follow the same path as your friends.  You don’t need to be married and have babies, nor do you need to take out a mortgage and buy your first house.  Apartment living is totally acceptable!  You didn’t really want to mow your lawn every week and adjust the chemicals in your pool anyway, did you?  So what if you’re starting to get a couple of grey hairs, or if spanx are replacing your sexy satin and lace lingerie?  It’s ok that you haven’t been carded at the bar in years.  We love you for who you were Hot Topic, you didn’t need to change for anyone.

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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