There are horror movies, and then there are campy horror movies. Both bring the frights, and both leave you with nightmares, but these B-list horror flicks on this list have a little something extra: they’re just fun as hell to watch. Hauntings, slashers, and evil babysitters — these movies have unlimited imaginations and zero regard for the rules of reality. They’re quirky, funny, and plain ridiculous, which is how they lure you in before scaring the ever-loving sh*t out of you.
Here are the best Halloween movies on Netflix right now, filled with campy fun, B-list horror, and slashers galore.
More spooky than downright terrifying, this Halloween favorite has a theme-song that always slaps and a cast of colorful characters that people almost always borrow costume ideas from come October. The first installment in the franchise introduces us to Morticia (Anjelica Huston) and Gomez (Raul Julia) Adams, a feverishly-in-love couple who live in a gothic mansion with their two children, Wednesday (Christina Ricci) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman), and a handful of other bizarre family members. When Gomez’s long-lost brother shows up, it’s up to Morticia and the children to uncover whether he’s really blood, or just a con-artist hoping to swindle them out of their fortune.
Rob Zombie’s cult classic still manages to scare the ever-living sh*t out of us, even if its main villains are a group of backwater clowns. The film follows two young couples with a murder kink who go on a trip to try to uncover some true crime legends. That whole “be careful what you wish for” saying comes into play when they’re taken hostage and terrorized by a family of inbred circus people who find increasingly inventive, gruesome ways to hurt them. You know, because it’s fun.
Sure, this horror movie about a National Geographic film crew’s run-in with an oversized snake won’t be any Oscars, like ever, but come on … it’s Jennifer Lopez vs. an evil anaconda. You know you want to see who wins this grudge-match. J.Lo plays Terri Flores who, along with Ice Cube’s Danny Rich and Owen Wilson’s Gary Dixon, go searching for a long-lost Indigenous tribe in the Amazon only to be kidnapped by a madman (Jon Voight) on the hunt for the world’s deadliest predator. It’s a generic creature feature but it still delivers the jumps.
One of the better found-footage movies to come down the pike in Paranormal Activity‘s wake is this creepy gem about a videographer (director Patrick Brice) who answers a strange Craigslist ad from a man (Mark Duplass) that requests to be followed around with a camera for 24 hours. There are a few points late in the narrative where suspension of disbelief becomes an issue (a not-atypical problem for the genre), but if you can look past that, you’ll be treated to a very scary turn by Duplass and a supremely-unnerving epilogue.
This Thai horror film follows a young man named Tun and his girlfriend, Jane, who accidentally run over a young woman after a party and are haunted by her spirit. Hauntings and horror go hand-in-hand, but this film digs deeper into the supernatural trope by revealing a surprising, gruesome connection between the woman’s ghost and the film’s protagonist. We won’t spoil anything here, but let’s just say there’s a reason this death follows this guy wherever he goes.
A varied group of people is stuck in a bar after a man is gunned down outside. As the paranoia spreads and they turn on one another, they discover a mysterious sickness could be the culprit. It’s a bottle-type plot that has been done before — locking a bunch of frenzied folks in a cage and let instincts take their course — but this Spanish horror comedy injects its own dark humor and keeps the answers to a minimum, making an entertaining story that unfortunately favors the “dark” over the “comedy” in its final act.
This ’80s Sam Raimi creation launched the director’s career and has since become a cult classic. The story follows a group of college students vacationing in an isolated cabin in a remote wooded area when they find an audio tape that somehow releases a legion of demons and spirits. Most of the group suffer varying degrees of possession which leads to gory mayhem (hence the film’s NC-17 rating).
Samara Weaving (who has another fantastic horror film out called Ready Or Not) stars in this comedy scare about a serial-killer babysitter and the young boy she looks after. Weaving plays Bee, a babysitter who befriends a boy named Cole. While she’s watching him one night, Cole witnesses Bee and a group of her friends kill a man and perform a demonic ritual, which sets off a string of events that end in blood, death, and talk of cults.
This Taiwanese horror flick follows three youngsters, who meet by accident at a mysterious hot springs hotel. When strange occurrences begin to take place, the group must band together to save each other and the family that lives there. This thing starts off scary, but it won’t give you the kind of nightmares that the rest of the films on this list might.
Strange, spooky sh*t happens when Tim Burton and Johnny Depp team up and that fact remains true for this re-telling of a particularly haunting legend. Depp plays Ichabod Crane, a detective of sorts who’s sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate three deaths by decapitation. What he ends up encountering instead is a malevolent specter known as The Headless Horseman, who’s been terrorizing the town and now has his sights set on him.
Adam Sandler is back with that signature lisp for this more family-friendly-esque Halloween treat. Sandler plays Hubie Dubois, a small-town screw-up who’s constantly bullied by the locals. Despite this, he loves Salem and its annual Halloween bash, so when a malevolent force tries to crash the party and, ya know, kill everyone, it’s up to him to save the holiday. We doubt this will give you nightmares, but sometimes a good scary movie isn’t just about being scared — you know what we mean?
Making any kind of entertainment has become increasingly difficult in the middle of a pandemic, with case counts rising all over the United States and many worrying that we could be in for a very long and painful winter. But somehow, despite every obstacle that exists in our current world, 2020 will officially be the year when the FX television adaptation of Y: The Last Man finally started filming.
Variety reported on Thursday that the oft-delayed adaptation of the Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra comic book is finally in production in Toronto, amid a pandemic and some changes to both the folks on and off screen for the show. Y: The Last Man, which chronicles a world where every living thing on Earth with a Y chromosome — except a single CIS male and his pet monkey — mysteriously die, has seen a number of setbacks and changes since it was first reported in production at FX in 2015. It also saw various delays in it actually making it to production, including the aforementioned pandemic that’s still happening in real life.
Originally picked up to series last year, production on “Y: The Last Man” was set to start in March, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the latest bump in the road for “Y: The Last Man,” which first began development in 2015. After being picked up to pilot in 2018, Michael Green and Aida Mashaka Croal were named co-showrunners, but later left.
A pilot was ordered in 2018, and a movie version of the series was scuttled before that. But production didn’t officially start until this week, albeit with some casting changes. While Diane Lane reportedly remains involved in the show, a series regular will not take part and Olivia Thirlby will reportedly replace Imogen Poots a main character, Hero Brown.
Timothy Hutton is no longer a part of the cast on FX’s long-gestating “Y: The Last Man,” the network confirmed on Wednesday.
Hutton’s exit comes as several cast members have been swapped now that the show is entering production. Olivia Thirlby has replaced Imogen Poots as Hero Brown, while Ashley Romans takes over the role of Agent 355 from Lashana Lynch.
As Variety notes, the exit of Hutton comes after some disturbing allegations against the actor that came to light earlier in the year. A BuzzFeed report revealed a criminal complaint against Hutton in Vancouver where a woman claimed she was raped and assaulted by Hutton and another person in 1983. It’s unclear whether that factored into the decision to drop Hutton, who was apparently supposed to play the president, but Hutton’s departure is one of a number of changes to the originally-announced cast of what’s still a very intriguing show we may now someday actually get to see on TV.
On Wednesday night, Paramore’sHayley Williams took to Twitter to address a situation within the band, one that explained why it only had three members at the moment. “There’s a reason there are only 3 people left in @paramore. surprise, haters, it ain’t cause of me,” said said. “paramore do not condone religiously/politically dogmatic beliefs which leave our LGBTQ+ friends, fans, & family feeling abandoned and hopeless.” Fans theorized that her comments arrived after a message from former member Josh Farro was discovered in which he compared homosexuality to pedophilia.
Stepping forward to show his support for the LGBTQ+ community and condemn his brother’s comments, drummer Zac Farro also shared a note to fans entitled “Letter to our lgbtq+ fans” on Twitter.
“I want to say I love and support you all and have your back, and and [sic] most of all, stand with you” he began in his letter. “I do not condone any actions that do not love and support your community.” He continued the letter by addressing his direct feelings with his brother’s note.
“When my brother and I left Paramore in 2010, there was a post about the band that I did not fully condone. My name was included on the post yes, But I had not been briefed on what the entirety of that message contained,” he said. “I am openly speaking about this now being not only the founding drummer of Paramore, but also rejoining in 2016. I am saying that I have a voice of my own and my voice stands with our band and our fans, not with words including me in actions I do not agree with.” Farro concluded his note by asking fans to use their voices for “love and peace, not separation and exclusivity.”
You can find Farro’s note in the tweet above.
Hayley Williams is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
After six games of the 2020 college football season, Trevor Lawrence appears to be the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy and the Clemson Tigers are the No. 1 team in the country. Though neither of those outcomes are surprising in the least, news broke on Thursday evening that could impact the landscape of the sport, with Lawrence reportedly testing positive for COVID-19.
#Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence has tested positive for COVID-19, sources tell me and @RapSheet. The No. 1-ranked Tigers are slated to face #BostonCollege Saturday.
It remains to be seen as to how Lawrence and Clemson will respond to this, though the first and most important thing to acknowledge is the hope that he will be healthy and without symptoms. From a football standpoint, Clemson takes on Boston College this week, but a lot of attention will be paid to Nov. 7, when the Tigers are scheduled to travel to South Bend to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a clash between unbeaten teams.
In addition to being one of the best players in college football, Lawrence is also a leading contender to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. In fact, many posited that Lawrence would have been the No. 1 pick in 2020 if he was allowed to declare, with open speculation as to whether he could consider skipping his junior season in preparation for the professional ranks.
Lawrence stayed with the Tigers, though, and had thrown for 1,833 yards and 17 touchdowns in six games this season. In the short term, however, it appears that Clemson will be without their on-field leader, and the next steps will be interesting for all parties involved.
Last month, Ice Cube’s apparent involvement with the Trump administration in helping curate a “Platinum Plan” drew considerable attention online. Ice Cube would later explain that he did not endorse the Trump administration but simply talked to his team after he was approached for suggestions in helping the Black community. Now, Lil Wayne has joined Cube as the latest rapper to speak to the president regarding the “Platinum Plan.”
The rapper took to Twitter on Thursday to share some optimistic words about his meeting with Trump. “Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump @potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform,” he said. “The platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership.” He added, “He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done.”
Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump@potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done. pic.twitter.com/Q9c5k1yMWf
Despite Wayne’s optimism, fans did not appreciate the rapper meeting with Trump less than a week before the upcoming election. As a result, fans took their frustrations to social media to air out. One fan reposted the comment and said, “not this please anything but this,” while another said, “This is also the same guy that said he never experienced racism before,” adding, “Take this endorsement with a grain of salt.” Other fans expressed their disappointment with the beloved rapper. “i called you the goat even after u started wearing neon leggings and this what i get in return?” said one fan. Another user flipped one of Wayne’s most famous lines in a tweet that read, “Weezy f baby and the F is fo F*CKISYOUDOIN.”
HBO finally entered the streaming game with its platform, HBO Max, and for anyone still confused over how this service differs from the O.G. HBO Now and HBO Go, we’ve just got one word for you: more.
More movies. More original series. More classic sitcoms and documentaries. Just more. That’s because HBO Max contains the full catalog of HBO’s original works and all the best stuff from Warner Brothers too — think Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings, Watchmen and Wonder Woman. Of course, because there’s more, you’ll probably need help deciding what to watch first. That’s where we come in.
Here’s a roundup of the best movies currently streaming on HBO Max. Get to bingeing.
New Line Cinema
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Peter Jackson gave fantasy fans a stunning adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic book series which kicked off with this star-studded entry. The main story follows Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), a young hobbit faced with an impossible burden – to destroy the ring of Sauron, a Dark Lord with plans to destroy Middle Earth. He’s joined on his journey by wizards and elves and dwarves along the way as each faction fights their own battle against Sauron’s massive army.
The Wachowski sisters created one of the greatest sci-fi franchises in cinematic history with their mind-bending Matrix trilogy and HBO Max is making it possible to watch all three films so really, you’ve got no excuse. Keanu Reeves plays Neo, a young man unplugged from the matrix — a kind of alternate reality that keeps humans docile, so machines can harvest their life energy. He teams up with a band of rebels fighting the machines (Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus and Carrie-Ann Moss as Trinity) and faces off against a henchman named Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving). The real draw of this trilogy, besides its inventive storyline, is the CGI effects. The movies also sport some of the most imaginative fight sequences you’ll ever see on the big screen.
Visionary director Taika Waititi gives us this World War II-set satirical masterpiece (and Oscar screenplay winner) that follows a young German boy, whose imaginary friend is Adolf Hitler. The kicker is that Waititi plays the genocidal maniac, making him a weak, comedic caricature of the infamous mass murderer, and as Jo Jo (a terrific Roman Griffin Davis) begins to bond with a Jewish girl hiding in his house, his worship of the dictator wanes in hilarious ways. Scarlett Johansson does some of her best work here as Jo Jo’s mother, a woman fighting to help the Jews, and Sam Rockwell steals every scene he’s in, playing a queer Nazi commander. Yet the joy and humor in this belongs to Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, and Archie Yates — the kids who give the film some much needed heart.
This reboot from writer Cary Fukunaga manages to do the impossible: improve upon a cult classic horror film. Bill Skarsgard is absolutely menacing as Pennywise, the supernatural clown terrorizing the small town of Derry by pulling innocent children into his sewer-y lair, while the group of bullied kids who form The Losers Club to stop him — Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Wyatt Oleff, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Chosen Jacobs — give the film its emotional center.
In case you didn’t catch it in theaters, or you just want to revisit the chaos and mayhem of Joaquin Phoenix’s troubled clown, Todd Phillips’ Joker is now on HBO Max. This gritty origin story imagines the DC supervillain as a mentally-ill clown-for-hire named Arthur, who spirals when his stand-up career turns sour, and he discovers some details about his lineage. Really, it doesn’t take much to put this guy over the edge.
Academy Award-winning director Spike Lee helms this unique look that gives Broadway fans a chance to see David Byrne’s critically acclaimed show that broke records and sold out crowds earlier this year. The show is based on Byrne’s album of the same name, so if you liked watching Hamilton from home, you’ll probably enjoy this.
Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx both give gripping performances in this drama inspired by real-life events from director Destin Daniel Cretton. Foxx plays Walter McMillian, a Black man wrongly condemned to death row. Jordan plays famed defense attorney Bryan Stevenson who takes on the case and, in the process launches a fight for civil rights that extends far past the courtroom.
Hayley Lu Richardson and Barbie Ferreira star in this road trip comedy with a timely twist. Richardson plays Veronica, a goody-two-shoes who winds up pregnant and in need of an abortion. The only problem: she’s 17 so she can’t get one in her state without parental consent. Enter Bailey (Ferreira), Veronica’s one-time best-friend who agrees to drive her across state lines to get the procedure. Of course, first, they’ll have to outrun the cops, contend with Jesus-freaks ready to kidnap them, and score a ride from limo driver Giancarlo Esposito.
Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke star in this gripping crime drama from director Antoine Fuqua. The film follows Hawke’s Jake, a rookie cop assigned to a narcotics beat on the dangerous streets of L.A. where Washington’s roguish Alonzo will be his boss. Most of the film is spent trying to suss out the real bad guy — the so-called “gangbangers” or Washington’s group of badged thugs — and, as you’d expect, it doesn’t end well for anyone.
David Fincher’s Seven follows a veteran detective on his way off the force (Morgan Freeman) and his begrudging, untested replacement (Brad Pitt) as they travel from poorly lit room to poorly lit room on the trail of a psychotic killer. The sin-driven murders are grizzly and grotesque but seem somewhat at home in the grungy, desolate world that Fincher creates. It’s certainly worth a fresh rewatch on a sunny day that’s a little too devoid of hopelessness.
Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph star in this raunchy comedy about a woman on the brink of marriage and her best friend who’s struggling through a series of failures in her life. Wiig plays Annie, a woman who lost her bakery and relationship in one fell swoop right before her friend Lillian (Rudolph) gets engaged. To make matters worse, there’s competition for the maid of honor spot when Lillian finds a new friend in the wife of her fiancé’s boss (played by the excellent Rose Byrne). Ruined bachelorette parties, Parisian wedding showers, and quite possibly the funniest, most disgusting poop explosion to ever happen onscreen, quickly follow.
Matthew Broderick plays a depressed high school teacher, who tries to manage his imploding marriage while facing off against a determined and cunning student in this dark comedy that features Reese Witherspoon in one of the best performances of her career. Witherspoon plays Tracy Flick, an overachieving student with dreams (of becoming the student body president) that are quickly dashed by the school’s popular jock. Tracy’s willing to go to extreme lengths to win the race, but when Broderick’s Mr. McAllister thinks to intervene, his own failing personal life is put on display.
Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Cameron Diaz star in Martin Scorsese’s historical epic that re-imagines the birth of New York City. DiCaprio plays Amsterdam, an Irish immigrant who returns to the Five Points years following his father’s murder, looking for revenge. To get it, he infiltrates Bill the Butcher’s (Lewis) gang, a group of proud natives tired of the influx of foreigners in their city. Diaz plays a prostitute who forms a relationship with Amsterdam as he befriends Bill, then struggles to follow-through with his plan to kill the man who murdered his father and lead the Five Points in a rebellion against the city’s elite.
Amy Adams turns in a haunting performance as a woman being, well, haunted by her ex-husband. More specifically, by her ex-husband’s novel, a violent thriller she assumes is some kind of threat or tale of revenge. As Adams’ Susan reads the novel — which plays out as a kind of separate film — she reminisces on her relationship with her ex-husband (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) and her current relationship with her cheating spouse (Armie Hammer). It’s a beautifully-shot neo-noir that feels like the most dangerous break-up drama you’ll ever see.
Embraced by critics and filmgoers alike, Wonder Woman is living, breathing, ass-kicking proof that the DCEU is capable of providing superhero fare that doesn’t have to lead to shouty arguments over a Rotten Tomatoes score. Gal Gadot stars as Diana Prince (the titular woman of wonder) in Patty Jenkins’ exhilarating comic book motion picture set during World War I. Leaning into charm and fun alongside scenes of villain thumping, Wonder Woman sees our heroine as something too special not to stand out in her surroundings and the film is all the more captivating for it.
Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Berman star in this cinematic classic. It’s on every must-watch list. It’s a national treasure. We really don’t need to sell it at this point but in case you’re unfamiliar, it’s the story of a cynical American expatriate who struggles to decide whether or not he should help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape French Morocco. Bogart and Berman’s chemistry is off the charts and the writing here is so smooth, so well-done, it makes you wonder why any other film ever tried after this thing came out.
Bruce Willis stars in this action classic that gave birth to a genre-defining franchise. Willis plays John McClane, an NYPD officer tasked with rescuing his wife and children from a group of German terrorists who hold a Christmas gathering hostage at an LA hotel. Alan Rickman plays the group’s leader, and it’s his bad guy that makes this thing so enjoyable to watch. That, and Willis’ iconic one-liners.
This ’90s sports documentary remains one of the most inspiring looks at the game of basketball, even 30 years after it first premiered. The film follows the lives of two inner-city Chicago boys who struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional. It’s filled with grit and emotion, joyous triumphs and devastating loss, and it feels like a relevant watch, especially right now.
Leonard DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, and Alec Baldwin star in this crime thriller from Martin Scorsese about an undercover cop and a mole in the police department who attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in Boston. DiCaprio plays the good guy (or as close as) with Billy, a disturbed officer playing the part of a criminal to get close to Nicholson’s kingpin, Frank. Damon plays the rat, Sullivan, who serves as a police officer on the force, but really works for Frank. The two unknowingly thwart each other at every turn, playing a thrilling game of cat and mouse before their secrets eventually come out.
Ridley Scott basically invented sci-fi horror with this alien thriller about a crew on a commercial space tug who must battle a violent extraterrestrial being that’s infiltrated their ship. Sigourney Weaver plays Ripley, an officer aboard the Nostromo, who’s forced to face down the titular Alien, an aggressive life form intent upon killing the ship’s human crew. Most of the action revolves around Weaver’s attempts to destroy the creature and save her shipmates, but it’s Scott’s direction behind the camera that creates the suspense and terror this film has become known for.
Sure, FX pretty much skewered the X-Men franchise in recent years but this origin story with James McAvoy playing a young Charles Xavier and Michael Fassbender bringing Erik Lensherr to life is a bright spot. It follows Charles as he befriends a young Raven (later played by Jennifer Lawrence) and assembles a team of gifted individuals to turn the rising anti-mutant tide. He also befriend Magneto, offering him a chance at redemption that, obviously, doesn’t end well.
Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix star in M. Night Shyamalan’s alien thriller about a family plagued by supernatural signs sent from space. The buildup is worth more than the reveal with this one, and Gibson, in particular, sells the scared-sh*tless-single-dad trying to parent his children while battling an invading alien race.
With just a few bars on the piano and an oversized mechanical shark, Steven Spielberg terrorized generations of moviegoers with Jaws. The film follows a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer who team up to hunt a great white shark who has a worrisome bloodlust and seems to be targeting a small beach town during the busiest time of the year. Spielberg’s camera work — the lingering, underwater shots, the quick cuts of flesh being torn from bone and rows of teeth flashing to the surface — make this exercise in inciting aquaphobia even more chilling. You’ll never look at a carefree day at the beach the same way again.
Tom Hanks leads an all-star cast in this Oscar-winning war drama from Steven Spielberg. Hanks plays Captain Miller who’s in charge of a unit directed to bring home Matt Damons titular Private Ryan after the man’s two brothers are killed in battled during World War II. It’s brutal and the cinematography is epic and Hanks gives a defining performance.
If you’re old enough to remember VHS players, then you’ll probably have not-so-fond memories of having to switch out tapes midway through this behemoth of a movie. That’s because there’s a lot to get through — the American Civil War, the Reconstruction — and it all plays a part in the movie’s main romance between a Southern heiress and her roguish lover. Luckily, since it’s on HBO Max now, you won’t have to press pause on all of the action, drama, and romance contained in this thing.
Another classic, this Judy Garland starring staple is a fantasy adventure that never gets old. Garland plays Dorothy, a restless young woman, tired of living on her family’s farm, who gets swept by a tornado to a magical land filled with witches and cowardly lions and scarecrows and tinmen and all-powerful wizards. It’s a childhood classic and a nostalgic re-watch.
Another Kubrik classic, this sci-fi adventure set the tone for so many space flicks that followed it. The film follows a crew of galactic explorers, who set out to find the origins of a mysterious object buried beneath the Lunar surface. Part thriller, part futuristic drama, there’s a lot to love about this genre entry, even if some of the special effects are a bit outdated.
So, Studio Ghibli is one of the most legendary Japanese animation house in the film industry and fans have begged for years for some of its most popular films — Ponyo, Spirited Away, and Castle in the Sky — to be made available. Well, beg no more animae geeks, because HBO Max has got pretty much every Ghibli creation you can think of.
If you’re looking for some nightmare fuel, HBO Max has this horror classic which should do the trick. From the truly disturbed mind of Wes Craven, this story follows a small town terrorized by a murderous spirit that invades people’s dreams, and well, you can probably guess the rest.
Why is a movie about a talking pig, who’s raised by a sheepdog and dreams of managing his own herd, on this list you ask? Because it’s a damn masterpiece, that’s why. Babe is a farm animal who has dreams of a better life, and he works to make it happen with help from his friends James Cromwell’s Farmer Hoggett. If you don’t cry at least five times while watching this movie, then you’re not human.
As I was doomscrolling through Twitter yesterday, the wording of an Associated Press post caught my eye. “The Supreme Court will allow absentee ballots in North Carolina to be received and counted up to 9 days after Election Day, in a win for Democrats,” it read.
A win for Democrats? Surely they meant a win for Americans? For voters? For democracy?
The Supreme Court will allow absentee ballots in North Carolina to be received and counted up to 9 days after Elect… https://t.co/YqxuEB0yFB
— The Associated Press (@The Associated Press)1603929515.0
I wasn’t the only one who noticed that phrase, as comment after comment expressed the same reaction. What the heck, AP?
A follow-up tweet gave some context to the AP’s share text on the original article, as the outlet explained, “The Supreme Court justices, by a 5-3 vote, refused a request from Republicans to disturb a decision by North Carolina’s State Board of Elections to push back the deadline for ballots postmarked on or before Election Day to be received by Nov. 12.”
Since it was a request from Republicans that was denied, I suppose one could argue that it’s a win for Democrats. But is that really where we are? Where one party’s request being denied by the courts is automatically a “win” for the opposing party? Have we just completely internalized a binary, partisan world where anything that’s a loss for one “side” is good for the other?
At the same time, it’s hard to completely argue with the AP’s statement when Republicans actually are beating the “let’s figure out every way we can to make it harder for people’s votes to count” drum.
It sure seems that way, anyway.
And what’s really sad is that it’s not even like not wanting the largest number of Americans possible voting is a secret. Influential conservative activist Paul Weyrich famously said in 1980, “I don’t want everybody to vote. As a matter of fact, our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down.”
Paul Weyrich – “I don’t want everybody to vote” (Goo Goo)
President Trump himself said that Republicans would “never” win an election again if it were easier to vote, such as by implementing all mail-in voting. Though he was likely implying that Democrats would cheat—as if Democrats somehow have a corner on the statistically miniscule issue of voter fraud or magically know how to game a mail-in system—the reality is that neither thing is true.
Bernie Sanders also tried to say that Democrats win more elections when voter turnout is higher, but again, it’s just not true. There actually is no clear correlation between voter turnout and partisan wins.
In reality, every American should want as many of their fellow citizens to vote, because that’s how free elections are supposed to work—with the majority of Americans expressing with their vote who they want to rule for a while. We can’t know what the majority prefers if only half the electorate shows up at the ballot box. Even in an easily won election—say 60% or 70% of actual voters voting for one candidate—if only half of eligible voters show up, the candidate that got the majority of the vote might still represent a minority of the electorate. We simply have no way of knowing the preferences of the majority unless the vast majority shows up.
Voting matters. And we know that it matters because partisans have worked hard to skew voting processes to benefit their own side. Both parties engage in gerrymandering, which I still can’t believe is allowed. And various forms of voter suppression, especially of minorities, have long been a problem, from the racist Southern Democrats of the pre-Civil Rights era to the current GOP.
And a lot of voter suppression is blatant. I live in a town of less than 35,000 people and we have several ballot drop boxes—and this is in a state with universal mail-in voting. While our county has actually added more drop boxes due to the pandemic, the governor of Texas worked hard to remove drop boxes from Texas counties this election, leaving just one single drop box for all 4.5 million people in Harris county, home of Houston, when they previously had a dozen.
That’s preposterous. There’s no reason for that kind of voter suppression, except for fear of democracy working exactly the way it should.
Voting should be secure, but simple. It should be made as easy as possible for everyone. Enabling early voting has helped make voting easier in many states, as has implementing universal mail-in voting. There is simply zero reason that people should have to wait five, eight, 11 hours in line to vote. It’s just ridiculous. Some have suggested making Election Day a national holiday so people don’t have to get out of work to go to the polls. Let’s open more polling places. Let’s end partisan tricks to make voting harder.
Let’s celebrate our representative government and treat voting like the sacred right that it is—by encouraging and enfranchising every eligible voter in America.
Rachel Bloom’s no stranger to musical entertainment, as her Crazy Ex-Girlfriend featured some of the best original songs to hit televisions in years. But her latest project is working with an actual boy band member to create a movie about two friends going on a “musical road trip” following the band around the world.
Variety reported on Thursday that Bloom, who created and starred in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and wrote many of the show’s songs with the late Adam Schlesinger, will write the script for a film retelling the real-life tale of two *NSYNC superfans. The movie, apparently an idea developed by *NSYNC member Lance Bass, will tell the story of two friends who actually followed the boy band’s last world tour.
Based on an idea by band member and producer Lance Bass, Bloom is tackling the project about real life best friends Meredith Sandberg and Winter Byington, who spent a summer following *NSYNC on their last world tour.
“I’m so excited to work on this road trip musical that will explore the nature of early 2000’s nostalgia and if the past was, indeed, actually better. Also, I GET TO WORK WITH LANCE BASS!” said Bloom.
Nostalgia is all the rage, well, always, so there will be some considerable interest in the project from both boy band fans and those who know what Bloom can do with a few bars. It will certainly be fun to see Bloom’s take on boy band fandom, and whether any members of *NSYNC actually end up on camera for the project as well.
A hugely divisive election, a pandemic that’s getting worse, a looming holiday shopping season amid an economic crisis… back before 2020 hit, a pleasant trip could offer plenty of respite from your life’s stresses. That isn’t quite the case anymore. We’re in the Good Place-universe now — the world is too complex for simple fixes. What’s worse, anyone with any sens is very wary about most types of travel.
The best we can do at the moment is dream of the days when we’ll all be able to jump on a plane again, fly somewhere amazing, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. (Like a true Kardashian!)
Travel influencer and 2nd stewardess on Bravo’s Below Deck Mediterranean, Christine “Bugsy” Drake, is fantasizing about post-pandemic adventures just like the rest of us. The travel bug is strong with her — thanks to over six years of yachting experience that’s taken her through the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Atlantic. We asked Bugsy for some simple travel recommendations and she dropped a few gems.
Read on and stoke your travel thirst, even if there’s no real way to slake it just yet.
Favorite Beaches
Barceloneta Beach, Barcelona Spain
Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona — the water is gorgeous, and the vibe of the people is incredible. Grab a stand-up paddleboard while you are at it and have some fun!
While in Barcelona, a cycle up to Tibadabo Cathedral or a hike to the Monserrat cathedral is a must-do!
My favorite place to grab a smoothie is 3 Natives in Palm Beach, Florida. For coffee, I love a coffee from Press & Grind in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I also love just grabbing a morning coffee and croissant at any cute Italian Café in Italy.
Ristorante Pizzeria L’Oasi in Imperia, Italy the setting is incredible, you are seated in amongst and under gorgeous bougainvillea while waiters walk around with fresh pizza and pasta and allow you to simply choose.
L’Opera In St Tropez is an absolute vibe. While you enjoy your meal- gorgeous dancers dance on your table, hang from the ceiling and get the late-night party going.
I absolutely adore “Bon Vivants” in the Bahamas. Another favorite of mine is “Alchemy” — Ballito, Durban, South Africa.
Best Places For A Hike Or Amazing View
Bugsy Drake
I love to hike!! My favorite hikes and views in no particular order are:
The hike from La Ciotat to Cassis, in the South of France.
The hike up to the Kotor Fortress, in Montenegro.
Nusa Penida, Bali is an amazing sight to see. After, take the long hike down to the remarkable Kling Kling beach.
Table Mountain/ Lions Head, Cape Town South Africa.
Hike up to the Acropolis in Athens, Greece — it’s a piece of history and the views are amazing.
Favorite Thing To Do While Traveling To A New Place?
Explore Local Markets
My favorite thing is to explore and search for beautiful and unique items at local Markets- one of my favorite markets to date is the UBUD market in Bali.
Best Adventure You’ve Ever Been On?
White Water Rafting Down The Zambezi
I love to white water raft down the Zambezi River. It is exhilarating as you hold on while you get tossed and tumbled in an inflatable raft — making your way down the crashing, flowing river rapids between Zimbabwe and Zambia, in Africa. While you are in either Zimbabwe or Zambia another must is to visit Victoria Falls, known as “The Smoke that Thunders.”
Something Every Lover Of Travel Should Experience?
Hike up/ catch the cable car up Table Mountain, Cape Town South Africa for a breathtaking view and walk around in amongst rock dassise — little furry balls which are part of the rodent family. It is also an incredible sight to see the light clouds which barrel over Table Mountain, which itself resembles a tablecloth.
A safari is also a must when visiting South Africa, where you get close and personal with all the wild animals and the “Big 5” (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard). Swim with the sharks in Staniel Cay or visit “Pig Beach” and feed or swim with the pigs in the Bahamas
On the latest episode of The Masters, Uproxx Style Editor Eli Morgan Gesner sat down with skate legend and HUF founder Keith Hufnagel for what would end up being his final video interview before dying of brain cancer late last month. Despite the sad news of Hufnagel’s death, the interview is full of all sorts of gems for true HUF heads and anyone passionate about skate culture and the streetwear scene. It acts as a bittersweet send-off of an icon, and it’s great to see Hufnagel smiling, joking, and reminiscing on his ascendance from NYC skate rat to world-famous pro to streetwear entrepreneur.
Across nearly twenty minutes, Hufnagel chronicles his early days growing up and exploring the cracked city sidewalks of 1980s New York City, how he stumbled into the streetwear scene after relocating to San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, and how he eventually settled on naming the brand after himself.
“HUF was my tag name,” Hufnagel explains. “I was a semi graffiti kid growing up in New York… When I turned pro I would put HUF on my boards and I was coming up with the fucking worst names for the store… I think I thought about it for weeks… everything on the paper looked like shit so I said ‘lets do it.’”
It’s no surprise that Hufnagel came up with the brand name so organically — every milestone in his storied career grew out of his authentic passion for skate culture. There was never any fakery.
“I just wanted to skate. And, of course, you love skate product because you want to represent and wear things… I’ve been traveling the world, going to LA, New York, Japan, London, all over and I’m like … ‘I love sneaker culture, I love skateboarding and I love streetwear, let’s do that.’”
Other highlights from the interview include an exploration of HUF’s weirdest products, from the HUF x TENGA masturbator to the ridiculous concept behind the now-legendary HUF “weed leaf” socks.
“The whole concept was you go to a party, you take off your shoes at someone’s house, you have these fucking weed socks on and chicks are going to come up to you like ‘I love your fucking socks.’ … It didn’t really take off in the beginning… it was just selling the bare minimum for years. We even talked about not doing it anymore, and then all of a sudden… the next season someone wore them somewhere, and now all of a sudden every kid has to have them… every high school kid wanted them, every girl wanted them… all of a sudden we couldn’t keep up with the demand.”
Watch Eli Gesner chop it up one last time with Keith Hufnagel’s above and catch the rest of The Masters episodes here.
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