2026 Media Log
I'm keeping up with all of the media I consume in 2026 here!
Contents:
Movies
TV Shows
Books
Games
Albums
Key:
- Didn't like, little to no redeeming qualities
- Just okay, nothing special
- Pretty good!
- Great! I really enjoyed it.
- A masterpiece
- A masterpiece and also one of my new favorites
🎬 Movies
Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery 2025
I grew up listening to a lot of Lilith Fair artists. This documentary shows that it was more than just a festival; it was a warm, welcoming community centered around art and awareness, a place where women and LGBTQIA+ people could feel safe, seen, and loved.
Final Destination Bloodlines 2025
Not one of the best horror movies ever made or anything, but I really enjoyed it. I'm glad they fully embraced humor, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The send-off for the legendary Tony Todd was beautiful and heartwarming as well. So glad the directors gave him that.
Heart Eyes 2025
This was fun! The chemistry between the two main characters is great, and I love the concept of a romcom-slasher. It was mostly executed (ha) well, but the writing is a little too cringe at times. I think it was meant to be cheesy and silly, but it got in its own way sometimes. Bonus points for using "This Year's Love"! Great song.
Your Monster 2024
I need women to keep making movies about monster boyfriends who bring the fire out of women who've been treated badly. We were really living in 2024 with this and Lisa Frankenstein. This is a comedic Halloween monster movie, a New York fairy tale, a deep psychological horror story, and a weird musical all in one. I'm here for everything Caroline Lindy does from now on, and I was already here for Melissa Barrera.
Predator: Badlands 2025
Aside from an action-movie trope that took me out of the story a bit, I loved this. The visual effects are great, the CGI is not egregious, and the characters are fantastic. This was a great time!
The Call 2020
A Korean horror film about two women 20 years apart who are able to communicate with each other through a cordless phone. I always enjoy media that messes with timelines. This was genuinely scary and gripping, and the performance from Jeon Jong-seo was incredible. Broke my brain a bit at the end, but I thought this was great!
What's Up, Doc? 1972
This is the hardest I've laughed at a movie in a long time. Screwball comedy at its finest with wonderful performances by Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal. Their chemistry is just incredible. The car chase is one of the greatest film sequences of all time. I could've easily watched another hour of it alone.
📺 TV Shows
Pluribus 2025
Probably one of the most important and clever shows available right now. The first season was a whirlwind, and I can't even imagine what comes next. It's best to go into this with no expectations and knowing nothing about it.
📚 Books
Krampus by Brom 2012
Not as good as Slewfoot, but I enjoyed it. A fun combination of European folklore, Scandinavian and Christian mythology, and modern West Virginia. The Indigenous characters should have been more fleshed out, though, which is a glaring flaw.
The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir 2024
This novella was creepy throughout and a deeply moving commentary on societal expectations, especially for women, as well as living in a sibling's shadow.
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark 2020
This had so much good body horror and imagery, great characters, and was just a fantastic read overall. An alternate history about the American south wherein a sword-wielding resistance fighter named Maryse Boudreaux enacts revenge on the Ku Klux Klan.
I Remember You by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir 2010
Half ghost story, half detective story that follows two characters' perspectives. A slow burn and one of the most chilling books I've ever read. The horror creeps up on you and stays with you long after you've turned the page.
In the Miso Soup by Ryū Murakami 1997
Murakami's writing flows well, making this book hard to put down, and it's a fantastic examination of the loneliness that pervades Japan, something that hasn't changed since the book was published. It builds up to an extremely disturbing scene, but then loses momentum a bit after that. Still a good read overall, and I'm glad I read it, even if I'll never pick it up again thanks to that scene.
Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker 2024
Lighter on horror than I expected, but this was a fun ghost story. I appreciated the unique origins of the ghost and Mara as a character, whose aimlessness was relatable. The ending was a bit abrupt and unsatisfying, though.
Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott 1929
Written in 1929 about a recently divorced woman coming to terms with her newfound freedom, as well as the "freedoms" of the roaring '20s, this book was considered scandalous in its time. It broke my heart again and again, just like life, and I loved every bit of it.
🎮 Games
I've moved all of the interactive fiction I play this year over to its own page because it was getting a bit unwieldy.
Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken 2025
A unique marriage of point-and-click adventure and survival horror that I absolutely adored. The atmosphere was top notch, and it struck the perfect balance between heightened eerie tension and more grounded, relaxed moments.
Resident Evil Requiem 2026
No spoilers here because the game is still brand new. I'll just say that Resident Evil 2 Remake is still my favorite in the series, but this one is a close second. It has my heart.
Soul Void 2023
It only takes about three hours to play through this wonderful game. The art is fantastic, and the story has so much heart. I loved exploring the world and helping everyone. Highly recommended for a horror game that's also comforting!
Perfume Atelier 2026
I love perfumes, so I couldn't help but be interested in this game. It's nothing groundbreaking in terms of gameplay, but I did love being able to customize the way my perfumes looked and their names. I spent time getting all the achievements, and I may go back to it in the future just to have fun making new perfumes.
💿 Albums
Albums I listen to all the way through for the first time go here.
Paula Cole: This Fire 1996
After watching the Lilith Fair documentary, I wanted to check out more of Paula Cole's music since I only knew of her two biggest singles. This album is raw and beautiful. Reminds me of Tori Amos. I would've loved it as a teen.
Paula Cole: Ithaca 2010
Quieter and softer than This Fire, but I loved it just the same.
Sheryl Crow: Be Myself 2017
Still on a Lilith Fair kick. This sounds a lot like her self-titled debut album, which I love.
Melissa Bonny: Cherry Red Apocalypse 2026
As a huge fan of Ad Infinitum and Melissa Bonny's other music projects, I'd been looking forward to her first solo album for a while, and it exceeded my expectations. I love the different styles and influences.
Health: Conflict DLC 2025
I finally got around to listening to Health, and this was a banger of an album. If you're into industrial music in any way, shape, or form, this is a must-listen.
Lovebites: Outstanding Power 2026
Brilliant album from an all-women Japanese power metal band. I can't believe I'd never heard of them before now! In parts thrashy, in other parts resembling symphonic metal, this album is basically everything I could ever want from a power metal band.
Hilary Duff: luck... or something 2026
I have a nostalgic love for Hilary Duff thanks to watching Lizzie McGuire obsessively as a kid. After more than a decade, she's finally released a new album. It doesn't always hit for me, either lyrically or musically, but I like the overall sound. It's a bit of an early 2000s indie rock/pop throwback, which I appreciate, but it does feel a bit uninteresting at times.
Katie Gavin: What A Relief 2024
I discovered Katie Gavin because her Tiny Desk Concert was recommended to me on YouTube, and I watched it and fell in love. Her album is reminiscent of older Lilith Fair artists like Ani DiFranco and Fiona Apple as well as her contemporaries like Phoebe Bridgers and Mitski, who features on one of the tracks. Experimental, emotional, beautiful.
Unprocessed: Angel 2025
If I had heard this in 2025, it would've gone into my top albums of the year. I think they'd be defined as pop metal or metalcore, but they have a technical side to their music that's really progressive. It's no wonder they went on tour with Jinjer. They're just as interesting.
Resident Evil Requiem Original Soundtrack 2026
Lots of hearts so far this year. "Memories" is probably my favorite track because it sounds like a broken down, decaying version of the original music from the Raccoon City Police Station in Resident Evil 2, and I just appreciate that a lot.
Epoch: The Needs 2026
After listening to the Paradise Killer soundtrack obsessively for five years, I discovered that Epoch released a standalone album in the same style with musicians he worked with on Paradise Killer. Needless to say, it's my new obsession. It's addictive pop/dance music that's perfect for warmer weather.
I'm With Her: Wild and Clear and Blue 2025
A gorgeous folk album that deservedly won a couple of Grammys. It's deep and resonant with lyrical themes about appreciating the natural world. There were so many instruments used but they weave together perfectly without feeling overdone, accompanied by beautiful harmonies from Sarah, Sara, and Aoife.