April 1, 2025
Birdemic: Shock and Terror
When thinking of some of the greatest films of all time, there’s no doubt that Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010) comes to mind. Even if you haven’t seen the film, it’s likely you’ve seen countless movies that have taken inspiration from it. The film expertly combines romance and horror, taking you on a whiplash adventure of some of the best acting, special effects, sound design, and writing that cinema has ever seen.
The film opens with the blossoming of a relationship between the main characters Rod (Alan Bagh) and Nathalie (Whitney Moore). Between the line delivery and the camerawork, the exposition feels so personal, getting you deeply invested in their romance. As Rod and Nathalie grow closer, so does the danger. The pair wake up to find their city being attacked by horrific birds that have mutated to the point where they explode and spew acid. Things look grim for these two lovebirds — you’ll have to watch yourself to see how they survive.
Something that makes Birdemic such a stand-out film is the dedication to atmosphere. As the whirlwind romance ensues, the tension slowly builds. The birds don’t even show up until over halfway through the 90-minute movie. They aren’t even hinted at. The audience is left only with the knowledge of the title to tell them there is an impending birdemic. This brilliant exposition choice creates a “shock and terror” like no other when the birds finally appear within the blink of an eye. I’m not kidding when I tell you I leapt out of my seat. The special effects are top-notch —quite possibly the best I’ve seen for the time. Even though Birdemic was made over a decade ago, it’s impressive how much the effects hold up today — you could convince me this was a 2025 production with some of these remarkable CGI feats. I assure you, no real birds were harmed in the making of this film, but the hyper-realistic effects are rather harrowing.
Birdemic is more than an awe-inspiring sight to behold; it’s also a think piece. The battle between humans and birds creates an impressive allegory for war and peace, leaving us viewers pondering the nature of warfare for weeks to come. It would take me pages to explain to you everything that makes Birdemic: Shock and Terror such a masterpiece, but you should just go watch it. Seriously. You’ll never be the same after you do.
Available for free on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, Pluto TV, Tubi, Fandango at Home, and Redbox.
Throughout the first years of my elementary school life, the only thing that would get me to finally stay seated for breakfast before school was an incredible animated Badger named Frances.Frances (2008) is a short-lived TV adaptation of the children’s book series by Russell Hoban. Recently, I was lucky enough to stumble across one of the books in an antique store, which is what reminded me of all the lessons, and nostalgic animation, that this show provides young minds. It is genuinely one of the greatest children’s shows — in my opinion — that demonstrates children’s emotions and how to navigate them at such a young age.
Alfred Matthew, better known as “Weird Al” Yankovic, is one of the world’s best-known parody artists. He has been making silly, joke versions of popular songs since the late ’70s, when his first single, “My Bologna” — a parody of the Knack’s “My Sharona” — was released. Two years after his initial release, he was able to find his spot on the music charts with a parody of the Queen song “Another One Bites the Dust,” which was titled “Another One Rides the Bus.” He has spent the last four-and-a-half decades spoofing our favorite artists and using his unique humor to bring a little more wonderfully dumb goofiness to the world. In 2022, he was also a writer for and subject of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which is a satirical biopic on the life of the silly songwriter.
With spring break coming up March 17th through the 24th, you may have been thinking of how to spend your free time off from school. Want to do something fun but don’t want to travel far? Here are a few places at home in Green Bay you can check out for an affordable price!
If you’ve driven past the enormous glass and steel building in downtown DePere, now might be the time to go inside. The Mulva Cultural Center features arts and culture exhibits from all around the world, as well as classic films and documentary movies shown on one of only three Samsung Onyx screens in the country!
General admittance is free for Brown County residents with proof of residency from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month. Below are some of the events the Neville has going on in March. Check the website for times, charges, and other details.
If you’re on the literary scene, then chances are you’ve heard of 1984. Written by George Orwell in 1949, 1984 has stood the test of time as an absolute classic, warning readers against totalitarianism and extreme government control. This is accomplished through The Party, a political group that has successfully brainwashed the citizens of Oceania into worshipping Big Brother, the nation’s all-seeing dictator. The consequences of this brainwashing are severe. The media is polluted with propaganda. History is rewritten to favor The Party. Citizens are kept under 24-hour surveillance. Even their thoughts are policed by the aptly named Thought Police, who possess the authority to arrest a citizen for harboring negative thoughts about The Party. Society is a living nightmare, and all hints of freedom have been extinguished. But unbeknownst to them, a faint ray of hope yet remains in their bleak, uninspired world.
“The day the first corpse was discovered in the Mercer Williams House, the old town of Savannah was already a ghost.” John Berendt uses this line to introduce readers to the historic and allegedly haunted town of Savannah, Georgia. In Berendt’s nonfiction novel — and later a movie — Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil readers learn of a 1981 murder and follow its trial. This book was on the 2009 banned books list. While the ban only lasted four days, it’s a testament to its shock value and contribution to literary history.