Back in September last year I wrote a blog post that was all about zombies. I hope that you did not think that my horror loving rants were going to end there because eventually I would like to dissect and discuss many horror movie tropes and this time I am sinking my teeth (pardon the pun) into the world of vampires! 
As a kid, and even as a teenager, I was absolutely obsessed with vampires. I actually really wanted to become a vampire when I was 14 years old. The lure of a party all night and sleep all day lifestyle seemed pretty enticing to me and aside from having to occasionally bump someone off, the rest of the vamp lifestyle seemed pretty cool to me. I even made a little hidey spot at the top of my wardrobe where I could close the doors and shut out everyone and just chill with my thoughts in the dark stillness - hello weirdo introvert! I lined the space with pictures of The Lost Boys which met both my need to perv on handsome lads and contemplate the goings on of undead night dwellers.
Thankfully, that deep yearning to join the ranks of the bloodsuckers eventually waned over the years, however my yearning for great vampire films most definitely did not and to this day I am still constantly on the lookout for the next great vampire movie to emerge.
Dare I be so bold as to suggest that it has been years and years since anything remotely close to a decent vampire film has graced our cinemas? I know that leagues of teenagers today would fervently disagree with me on this but I think that the vampire groupies of today have a very different perspective of what a vampire even is.
Gone are the days of the long clawed, sharp toothed and grotesque, bedroom invading Nosferatu type vampires of old; today vampires are shiny in the daylight, handsome, sculpted Twilight lovelies that seem to be more concerned with winning hearts than chowing down on anyone's jugular vein. And don't get me wrong, I am certainly not adverse to sexy vampires (hello Louie from Interview with a Vampire) there is nothing bad about making vampires handsome or attractive, they really should be because they never age after all. However, the element of the 'unnatural beast' in vampires does appear to be have gone astray in recent years.
In most early depictions of vampires, they are considered to be nothing more than evil monsters. In Bram Stoker's Dracula, the vampires are viewed as a scourge on the earth, bottom feeding infestations that need to be killed and destroyed. In the British Penny Dreadful novel "Varney the Vampire" the lead vampire is literally called a monster and could be banished in a range of old school ways with sunlight, crosses, holy water, garlic, silver and the most popular and well played out form of vampiric eradication - the old stake through the heart routine. 
These days vampires are no longer objects to banish and eradicate, they are objects of lust. People aren't trying to keep vampires out of the bedroom any more, in fact if anything, they are looking for ways to get them in there! Many modern day vampires can walk in the sunlight; garlic, crosses and holy water phase them about as much as a cheeky kitten and they don't even need to feed very often to sustain their youthful good looks. To be honest, if this trend to make vampires so sweet and friendly continues, they'll be carrying around fluffy bunnies and making sweet treats for potential suitors soon. 
Call me old fashioned, but I still like my vampires to be erring on the side of utterly terrifying. Good looking is certainly a bonus, but not a necessity and the threat of impending doom and danger should always be present when you are dealing with vampires. The inability to walk in the sunlight is non-negotiable for me, if you're a vamp then you are a night crawler and you have no right to be getting about when the sun is up.
​The garlic, religious iconography and coffins are neither here nor there for me, I can take it or leave it and it is of no real importance to me when I watch a vampire movie. However, the absolute must have when it comes to vampire films for me is the hunger, and there had better be some serious bloodlust going on! Drinking blood and killing is essential if you are making a vampire movie and any vampire film that implies differently isn't a real vampire film, there I said it! 
So who has got it right then? Well, a lot of older vampire movies have certainly gotten it right and here is my list for the best vampire movies of all time should you decide that you'd like to see one: (see full reviews under the horror tab) 

• Let the Right One In - 2008  (4.5 Chilli Peppers - Swedish version) 
• Bram Stoker's Dracula - 1992 (4 Chilli Peppers)
• Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror - 1922 (4 Chilli Peppers)
• Interview with a Vampire - 1994 (4 Chilli Peppers)
• Only Lovers Left Alive - 2013 (4 Chilli Peppers - Art House list)
• Shadow of the Vampire - 2000 - (3.5 Chilli Peppers)
• The Lost Boys - 1987 (3.5 Chilli Peppers) 
• A Girl Walks Home at Night Alone - 2014 (3.5 Chilli Peppers - International list) 
• What We Do in the Shadows - 2014 (3.5 Chilli Peppers)

Honourable Mentions:

• Night Watch - 2004
• From Dusk 'til Dawn - 1996
• Fright Night - 1985
• Byzantium - 2012

There are a couple of things that always tell me that the long and greatly coveted Summer holiday break is rapidly drawing to a close. The first of those is Australia Day because the return to work for all people working in the education sector will generally occur within a day of this annual event. This year, educators return the day after that public holiday which means that it will not be a good day for tipples or overindulging of any fashion because that first week back is always hella challenging after such a lengthy respite. 
The second red flag event for me is the annual Triple J Hottest 100 which I listen to religiously every year and again falls just before the dreaded end of Summer vacation. This year the Hottest 100 happened yesterday, heralding a foreshadowing and awareness that my days of self indulgence and pleasure seeking are rapidly coming to a close. In short, I have two days left of Summer break, however on the upside the first week back has been reduced to a very manageable 3 days which is actually quite heavenly and very welcome.
And in spite of COVID-19 still looming about in the shadows like an repugnant stalker I have actually had one of the most relaxing, productive and deeply enjoyable Summer holiday breaks of my life, and my sights are now firmly fixed on making this year - my year to shine! When I say shine, I really don't mean in the spotlight, I mean that this year I really want to feel like I have a better handle on my own wellbeing in every possible way. 
Last year I had my hysterectomy and it felt a lot like of a year of repair for me. I spent a lot of time resting, doing meditation and generally getting myself well and strong again. This year I really want to up my game and add some more things into my everyday regimen that will serve me well in many different ways. Of course I will not be dropping my daily meditation or yoga sessions, that stuff has become non-negotiable for me now and I couldn't imagine not doing those things on the daily. However, this year there are a few other key ingredients that I want to add into the mix, or should I say that I have already added into the mix this year and want to continue to stay committed to doing from here on out. 
They aren't really huge changes, but over a long period of time, they will deliver grow into my life and should make me healthier and happier in the long run. Here is a list of the new things that I have added to my personal regimen and committed to doing for myself  in 2021:

• 10,000 steps a day
• 20- 30 minutes of cardio three times a week 
• 10 -15 minutes of brain training daily (Elevate) 
• 10-15 minutes of learning another language (French) 
• Drink 1.5 litres of water/ herbal tea a day  
• Cut back my alcohol consumption

See these are hardly huge changes, however if you add them to my daily journaling, meditation, yoga, allocated time that I schedule with my children, husband, mother and friends, as well as my blog and my volunteer job, well its getting pretty busy right? Wrong, it's actually pretty manageable, well it's been manageable but I haven't been at work and I think that trying to fit these extra few things in once I am back is going to require a little more effort, especially at either ends of the day. However, I am up for the challenge and very determined use the time that I have wisely. And anyway, if things don't fit well and it's a total car crash well...that's okay too because I can always go back to the drawing board and revamp. 
Let's hope I am writing a blog about the successes of my extra self commitments over the coming weeks and not about navigating the pitfalls of an over scheduled life - but hey I will keep you posted about that, watch this space!

ON THE ROCKS
Release Date: 2020
Rating: M 
Running Time: 96 mins 
A comedy/drama written and directed by Sofia Coppola that delivers a short, sweet tale about a father-daughter relationship. Not nearly as memorable as Coppola's previous endeavours, On the Rocks is a much lighter and more mainstream approach than we have seen in previous times, however it still has Coppola's keen eye for excellent male-female relationship dynamics all over it, which makes it quite enjoyable. 
Laura (Rashida Jones) has a growing suspicion that her husband who travels a lot for work may be engaging in an affair.  She confides her concerns in her father Felix (Bill Murray) who decides that her husband is clearly cheating and the two set out on a covert mission to discover the truth. 
Jones and Murray are truly great here together with a deeply plausible onscreen connection and a good smattering of humour which really elevates the story greatly. Sure it's no game changer, but it is a fun exploration of child/parent bonds, marriage and fidelity.  
FINAL SAY: It must be very nice to be you. 
3 Chilli Peppers ​

The meter is running on your life, right now, in this very moment, in every moment that you have ever lived and breathed, it has been running.  When a meter is running we know that it means that a cost or expense is accumulating urging us to make a decision or pay the fare. However, when it comes to our actual lives, we rarely if ever consider the amount of time that we have already used up or how much we still have on the meter and at our disposal. 
I am fairly sure that if I told you that your meter was going to run out in say a month, or even six months to a year that you would definitely start to look at your life very differently. You'd possibly make some radical changes to the way that you do things, reprioritise your life and desperately try to milk as much out of the time that you left on the meter or even attempt to reverse it or change that outcome somehow. But you would never have done any of that without the threat of your meter running out on you. 
Big surprise here, your meter is actually running out. And I am not saying that to try and make you feel insecure, hysterical or paranoid, I'm telling you because it is completely and utterly true. All of our meters are running out, they were from the day that we arrived. Mine is, yours is,  everyone's is. None of us, not even the rich, famous and intellectual are going to be able to cheat the sands of time and no-one in the history of all of humanity has been able to live forever. Unfortunately, we all have an expiry date and although that is going to be different for everyone, it is going to be inevitable. 
So, with that in mind let's have a look at how you can enjoy a long and healthy life according to the people that have kept their meters running for so long that they are now called centenarians. Centenarians are people that have lived for 100 years or more, they have survived pandemics, depressions, financial crisis, war and loss; and yet they have emerged almost unscathed, and their resilience offers us all a first hand perspective into the secrets of longevity. Unsurprisingly, there really are some very common dominators in the lives of all centenarians and I believe that these commonalities are clearly the recipe for a long life and a great way to keep your own meter running. 
​Firstly, people who have lived long lives have been cheerful most of their lives. Sure, you can't avoid getting burnt by life every now and again and even the best of us face financial difficulty, loss, illness, failed relationships and stress, but it is how we deal with those setbacks that determines our happiness. Most centenarians have supportive families and friends and a community around them that they are actively involved in. They have powerful, protective social structures that buffer and care for them. So the work that you do to build meaningful relationships with your family and friends is never wasted time, it's actually essential to your own longevity. 
Most centenarians claim that they have managed to stay cheerful by never comparing themselves to others. They all have positive mindsets that are devoid of jealousy, envy and resentment. They are living their best lives every day and taking joy in all of the little things and not getting hung up on the petty stuff. They also swear by removing toxic relationships from their lives. People who are not trustworthy should go first, followed by anyone that continuously hurts your feelings, belittles you or makes you feel unlovable. It's very simple really, only keep people in your life that lift you up, respect and value you as you are, otherwise they will be a scourge on your life meter. 
No surprises here, but centenarians also have a healthy diet, however they also like to consumed one or two alcoholic beverages a day, usually as a night cap of some sort. They all imbibe in moderation, never overindulge and rarely, if ever, smoke. None of them have ever had a gym membership but all of them have lead very active lifestyles. Most centenarians walk every day, some of them still taking up to 10,000 steps a day. Most of them take in other regular gentle exercise like swimming, yoga or tai chi and generally keep busy by tending to their own yards, doing their own shopping and maintaining their own homes. 
Almost all centenarians have hobbies that give them pleasure. Undertaking something relaxing and enjoyable that you do without looking for gain or return is paramount to these people's lives. And finally, they all kept a tight budget and never, ever spent more than they earned. A lot of them have never even owned a credit card and have always saved for a rainy day.  Being financially sound and not having to worry about money is a great way to keep stress levels low and to eliminate unnecessary worry  and uncertainly about the future. 
However, let's be honest, there is really no one way to ensure that your meter will keep running for a very long time because life is risky and unpredictable and all any of us can really do is hope for the best and try to be our best. However, there is no denying that the recipe for long life outlined above by our beloved centenarians certainly does seem like a great and logical place to start if you are trying to get more mileage on the meter.
​Whether you adopt or adapt any of these tips is of course completely up to you, and no matter your choices, I do wish you all a long, prosperous and healthy life with a meter that runs for at least 100 years or more!

PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Release Date: 2021
Rating: MA 15+ 
Running Time: 113 mins 
An American crime thriller that was written, produced and directed by Emerald Fennell in her feature directorial debut. This boldly provocative thriller received generally favourable critical acclaim for it's dynamic writing and Carey Mulligan's committed and strong portrayal of a woman that has been wronged. 
Cassie Thomas (Mulligan) is exacting her revenge upon the people that were involved in a vicious attack on her best friend and she is also taking down a few other douche bags along the way. 
It's the terrific mix of dark humour and appallingly abhorrent assholes getting their comeuppances that makes this film so great. Mulligan is at her absolute best here as Cassie, a character that has tenacity and personality in bucket loads and it was just so fantastic to see a female delivering some kick arse vengeance in such colourful and unique ways. 
The supporting cast are also strong here with Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Laverne Cox and Clancy Brown all rounding out the story and making it something genuinely memorable and deeply affecting. 
FINAL SAY: Can you guess what every woman's worst nightmare is?
4 Chilli Peppers ​

In order to be free and completely unburdened, we must be able to embrace our whole self. Easier said than done when you live a world that praises perfection over humility, accepts self mutilation as a form of beauty and makes people strive for basic rights like equality and acceptance on the daily. However, even in a tainted world like ours it is still possible to find an acceptance of the self and the ability to embrace the power and freedom that comes with that. But how? How can you truly embrace your whole self without glancing over your shoulder, questioning yourself or second guessing yourself? Well, the secret to that lies in finding the things about yourself that are worth celebrating and focusing on those.
When it comes to embracing the whole self, first and fore mostly you have to focus on how far you've already come in this life rather than how far you believe that you still have to go. Instead of comparing yourself to anyone else, compare yourself to your old self. By doing that you will start to gain a very clear picture about how much you have changed. Who were you ten years ago? Five year ago? Or even one year ago? Odds are that you have done some pretty significant evolving, you'll not be the same person that you were and you will have learned a lot along the way.
You may have grown physically stronger, collected more skills, gained better health or wellbeing, become a kinder and more patient person, the potential list is endless really. However, I guarantee that if you really start to look, you'll see that you have actually come quite a long way and you are definitely a better version of yourself now that you used to be. Breathe that in for a minute and think about what that is going to look like in another year from now, or in five years or ten years, assuming that you stay on the same trajectory.  Pretty good right? You're on your way, embrace that. Being able to focus on how far you've come is the beginning of embracing of the self. 
Next, and I know that I've said this before, but I'm saying it again, get rid of the word perfect and replace it with better. Striving to be better is plausible, admirable and healthy and will bring you closer to embracing yourself than any push for perfection. Perfection is bullshit, it does not exist. No matter how far you get, the bar will just continue to raise if you are seeking perfection. You will constantly feel inadequate and you will find yourself on a treadmill of comparison and disenchantment. If you are striving for perfection in your life right now, please stop immediately. Aim for self improvement instead. Go ahead and improve your station, work hard on you and you'll see that you will gain a lot more confidence and self worth if you aim for better over perfect. 
Once you've done that, then it is time to embrace your power, your individual power, the one that you were born with. You do have power, quite a lot of it actually. You have your own set of unique abilities, talents and skills. Why there is no-one else on the entire planet that is identical to you, you're an original, a one of a kind masterpiece and you have passion, purpose and ambition to ignite in this world. As Dr Seuss said, there is no-one  alive who is more youer that you. And that is so true and beautiful and 100% worth embracing.
When you embrace your individual power, you'll find that you will unlock your goals and visions for your own future. Finding what makes you feel alive will do that and if you're lucky you might even get to live your passion daily and even make money from doing it. However, it might be a hobby or talent that you do part time that ignites your power and that is just as good. When you are doing something that you feel passionate about in the world you will also be embracing your whole self, perhaps without realising that you are. And that is because you will be embodying your authentic self.
Your authentic self is at the core of who you are and it is actually made up of a whole lot of really cool things. Things that you probably forget that you have in your tool kit a lot of the time. Whether you realise it or not, your authentic self is pure hearted, kind, empathetic, interested and understanding. You authentic self doesn't compare or complain or compete, why would it? Your authentic self is confident, calm and clear minded because it feels embraced and accepted. So allow yourself to be your authentic self, embrace the whole truth of who you really are, embrace your individual power and embrace the amazing journey that you've already made thus far. If you can do that, then you will be living your best life every damn day. And you know that you deserve to, so dare to embrace your whole self and raise your vibration, take your whole self to the next level. 

SWALLOW
Release Date: 2020
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 94 mins
An unforgettably affecting independent psychological film that was written and directed by Carlo Mirabella-Davis. Swallow seeks to explore a very real affliction called pica, a psychological disorder that compels sufferers to consume indigestible objects. 
Beautiful and passive Hunter has just married a wealthy CEO and her new life affords her the luxury of not having to work, lots of free time and extra money at her disposal. However, after swallowing a marble one day, Hunter feels exhilarated and begins to consume more and more inedible objects, eventually putting her life and that of her unborn child in danger.  
Be warned, this movie is really hard to watch at times. Between the main characters obsession with swallowing harmful objects and the appalling treatment and lack of emotional support that she receives from the people around her, this film just goes from bad to worse. 
Haley Bennett's performance of Hunter is Oscar nomination worthy and she projects the immaculately groomed 'Stepford wife' persona hiding a deep secret so well that it is downright eerie. Swallow certainly provides us with a glimpse into the strange and disturbing world of pica sufferers and will be a film that I won't ever forget seeing. 
FINAL SAY: Are you happy, or are you pretending to be happy? 
3 Chilli Peppers ​

Normally at this time of the year I would have been able to recount all of the wonderful things that I did and the people that I shared my time with throughout the year, and write a really amazing blog post reminiscing about those events; this year however - not so much! To say that 2020 was a difficult year would be a massive understatement, but for those of you that are out there reading this, well at least we survived it right?
Equally it was a strange year of cinema to say the least! I cannot deny that the viewing opportunities in 2020 grew wider and faster than anyone (even myself) could possibly have kept up with. However, this year I only watched 185 movies in total, which does sound like a lot but it was actually 30 less than I watched in 2019. This was mainly due to the quality of the films on offer, which in opinion were not nearly as consistently great as they were in 2019 and I found myself wading through a lot mediocre movies this year. 
However, television was a whole other ball game, and I watched 153 television series (some of which were more than one series of catch up as well) which was a lot more TV than I viewed in 2018 or 2019, so it all balances out to the same amount of couch smashing in the end and still translates to me being a serious media addict. 
You will notice that there are a lot of TV series listed below that got 4 chilli peppers or more, certainly more than movies did and that is simply because there were a lot more excellent TV experiences to be had this year. The influx of genuinely high level television in 2020 was literally never ending and because of COVID19 lockdowns across the globe we were given the best TV streaming opportunities that we have ever had before. My 'to see' list is pages long these days as I struggle to keep ahead of the game and the movie reviews that I still need to add to my blog, but alas it is a labour of love and I have enjoyed every moment of media escapism that I have indulged in this year. 
2020, just like 2019 managed to deliver greatness across all genres, for which I am very grateful. The international films, independent films and animated films were amazingly good this year and it was great to see so many excellent films and series from those genres. And so, without further ado....here is my selection for the best viewing experiences of 2020. 
BEST MOVIES (2020 release):
Soul - Kids  5 Chilli Peppers (Hall of Fame)
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers 
Sound of Metal - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers 
Onward - Kids  4 Chilli Peppers
Black is King - Musical  4 Chilli Peppers
The Vast of Night - Sci-Fi   3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Invisible Man - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers 
The Willoughbys - Kids  3.5 Chilli Peppers
His House - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers 
Colour Out of Space - Sci -Fi  3.5 Chilli Peppers
Da 5 Bloods - War 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Enola Holmes  - Crime 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Deadwood: The Movie - Crime 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Save Yourselves! - Sci-Fi/ Comedy   3.5 Chilli Peppers

2020 HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
The Platform - Gritty/ International  3 Chilli Peppers
Swallow - Gritty 3 Chilli Peppers
Palm Springs -  Romance/ Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers 
Vivarium - Sci-Fi 3 Chilli Peppers 
#Alive - Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
American Murder: The Family Next Door - Doco 3 Chilli Peppers 
Relic - Horror 3 Chilli Peppers 

Here are my top recommendations for pre-2020 releases that I didn't see until 2020:
1917 - War 5 Chilli Peppers (Hall of Fame) 
Parasite - International 4.5 Chilli Peppers 
Shadow - International 4.5 Chilli Peppers
The Nightingale - Gritty  4 Chilli Peppers
Uncut Gems - Crime 4 Chilli Peppers
The Lighthouse - Art House  4 Chilli Peppers
The Farewell - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers 
Burning - International 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Ford v Ferrari - Drama 3.5 Chilli Peppers 
Chasing Coral - Doco  3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Peanut Butter Falcon - Drama 3.5 Chilli Peppers 
Mid90s - Drama   3.5 Chilli Peppers
Zombieland 2: Double tap - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Dr Sleep - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers 
Rocketman - Musical  3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Gentlemen - Crime 3.5 Chilli Peppers
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie - Crime  3.5 Chilli Peppers
Hail Satan? - Doco  3.5 Chilli Peppers
3 Identical Strangers - Doco  3.5 Chilli Peppers
Mystify: Michael Hutchence - Doco  3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Lodge - Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
The Night Eats the World - Horror 3 Chilli Peppers

BEST TELEVISION SERIES 2020:
Succession S2 -  Drama 5 Chilli Peppers
Ozark S3 - Crime 5 Chilli Peppers
Lovecraft Country - Horror 5 Chilli Peppers
This Country S3 - Comedy 5 Chilli Peppers
Raised by Wolves - Sci- Fi 4.5 Chilli Peppers
The Queen's Gambit - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers
The Mandalorian - Sci-Fi 4.5 Chilli Peppers 
Better Call Saul S5 - Crime 4.5 Chilli Peppers 
Morning Wars - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers 
I May Destroy You - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers 
DEVS - Sci-Fi  4 Chilli Peppers 
The Magicians S5 - Sci-Fi 4 Chilli Peppers
The Great - Period Drama 4 Chilli Peppers 
What We Do in the Shadows S2 - Horror/Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Mythic Quest - Comedy/Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
Kidding S2 - Art House 4 Chilli Peppers
Awkwafina is Nora from Queens - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
The Boys S2 - Super 4 Chilli Peppers
Ramy S2 - Comedy/ Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
The Haunting of Bly Manor -  Horror 4 Chilli Peppers
The Undoing - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
Wayne - Crime/ Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Unorthodox - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
​It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia S14 - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
High Fidelity - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers

2020 TV HONOURABLE MENTIONS: ​
Ratched - Thriller  3.5 Chilli Peppers 
SEE - Sci- Fi  3.5 Chilli Peppers 
Avenue 5 - Sci-Fi/ Comedy  3 Chilli Peppers 
Dave - Comedy  3 Chilli Peppers
The Servant - Thriller  3 Chilli Peppers
 The Umbrella Academy S2- Fantasy 3 Chilli Peppers
The Third Day - Thriller  3 Chilli Peppers 
After Life S2 - Comedy  3 Chilli Peppers 
Killing Eve S3 - Crime  3 Chilli Peppers 
Breeders - Comedy  3.5 Chilli Peppers