The Ugly Monster (Oscar)
theuglymonster.bsky.social
The Ugly Monster (Oscar)
@theuglymonster.bsky.social
Movies + TV | Gaming | Comic Books | News Media | Other Indecent Pursuits
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"The only way that the devil, whether in the form of blues music or a literal vampire, can get in is by invitation. You have to let him in by choice."

#movies #gaming #NoPaywall #NewYear2026

medium.com/theuglymonst...
2025: Superhero Sex, Vampires, and Burning Books
Our ugliest, most monstrous stories of the year
medium.com
"...this facet of tabletop gaming holds the entire hobby back. Too many designers and publishers fail to consider a game’s table presence and user friendliness."

#TTRPG #tabletopgames

medium.com/theuglymonst...
The Art of TTRPG Character Sheets
D&D, Daggerheart, and other roleplaying game character sheets should be critiqued for their aesthetics, legibility, and vibes
medium.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:59 AM
"Based on the polarising reaction that Mustang was met with in its home country, it would appear that it was made for Western audiences unaccustomed to these social attitudes."

#Turkey #film #Medium

medium.com/theuglymonst...
‘Mustang’ Is a Moving, if Inconsistent, Rebuke of Gendered Oppression
Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s 2015 feature is a fiery critique of Turkey’s repressive attitudes
medium.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:19 AM
"Despite the film being a propaganda piece, it’s still one of the most profoundly poetic works of a generation."

#Cuba #filmmaking

medium.com/theuglymonst...
Soy Cuba: Profoundly Poetic Propaganda
Beyond the political surface, Soy Cuba is first and foremost a cultural film, highlighting the unending beauty of the country it portrays.
medium.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:15 AM
"The dialogue is tight and gripping. Not a single line is wasted, meticulously carrying multiple layers of in-universe information about characters’ history, relationships, and aspirations."

#movies #Sinners #horror

medium.com/theuglymonst...
‘Sinners’ is a Bloody, Blues-Infused Rollercoaster
Ryan Coogler’s ambitious genre blend of Period Drama, Action, and Horror strongly delivers despite stumbling a bit in the second half
medium.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:32 AM
"All-Star Superman teaches us that fighting to be better in the face of ultimate defeat is true heroism."

#comic #death #GiftArticle

medium.com/theuglymonst...
How Superman’s Death Became a Stirring Celebration of Life
'All-Star Superman' colours the Man of Steel's final days with an earnest warmth
medium.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:08 AM
"If you’ve read an older Punisher comic, you know this guy can wax poetic about all the weapons he has and how he plans to use them."

#Marvel #comic #Medium

medium.com/theuglymonst...
The Punisher is Back, Baby!
But what’s with all the ads?
medium.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:14 AM
"The combination of a horror roguelike climbing game is one of the coolest ideas I’ve heard of. Plus, the developers have perfected the creepy atmosphere this type of game needs."

#gaming #GiftArticle

medium.com/theuglymonst...
‘White Knuckle’ — Survival Horror meets Climbing Sim
You’re being chased in this roguelike horror climbing game. The only way to go is up.
medium.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:11 AM
"Routine feels like it’s about a lot of things. Most prominently, perhaps, is that the events that take place on the lunar base serve as an allegory for birth and re-birth."

#gaming #scifi

medium.com/theuglymonst...
‘Routine’ is a Cold and Uncomfortable Look at Human Nature
Lunar Software expertly shows us a history we’re doomed to repeat
medium.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Reposted by The Ugly Monster (Oscar)
I was blown away by #Pluribus. I've literally never enjoyed or responded more strongly to a first episode of #television ever, and I had to figure out why that was.

It's easy. I'm a narcissist, and Carol reminds me of me.

Read: medium.com/theuglymonst...

#TVSky #TV #TVShow #AppleTV+ #streaming
Carol in ‘Pluribus’ Was Written For Me
A few things I learned about life and storytelling from a streaming show I’m pretty sure is about me💁‍♀️
medium.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:16 PM
"...American and global upheaval through right wing propaganda will produce several landfills worth of jingoistic garbage in its wake."

#comics #politics #immigration

medium.com/theuglymonst...
‘Private American’ is Anti-Immigration Trash
Tomorrow’s jingo relics today
medium.com
January 4, 2026 at 9:09 AM
"Fire and Ash, easily this film series’ weakest entry, wastes its new arrival of villains."

#sciencefiction #movies #Medium

medium.com/theuglymonst...
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Drifts Aimlessly Without Storytelling Spark
James Cameron’s latest CGI-filled extravaganza is occasionally a visual feast, but it’s also a slog to sit through
medium.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:34 AM
"Molloy distills and satirises several lifetimes worth of information into a series of astute zingers. Fan-favourite quips include ‘Anne Frank meets Stephen King’ as a description of Claudia’s memoirs..."

#InterviewWithTheVampire #journalism

medium.com/theuglymonst...
What ‘Interview with the Vampire’ Teaches About Journalism
There’s so much more to it than pressing ‘record’
medium.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:40 AM
"If you’re looking to make a commentary on the brutality of war or totalitarianism, then why not choose a real-life example to hammer home their consequences?"

#movies #A24 #NoPaywall

medium.com/theuglymonst...
‘Civil War’ is a Visceral and Heart-Wrenching Exploration of a Fractured Nation
Alex Garland’s latest film eschews preachy politics for a harrowing take on a divided world and the people struggling within it
medium.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:44 PM
"...Carol Sturka is the most relatable character I’ve ever encountered in fiction."

#Pluribus #NoPaywall

medium.com/theuglymonst...
Carol in ‘Pluribus’ Was Written For Me
A few things I learned about life and storytelling from a streaming show I’m pretty sure is about me💁‍♀️
medium.com
January 3, 2026 at 9:26 AM
"...it wasn’t quite what I hoped it would be, but in the time since seeing the film I begun to appreciate the story more. The chaos takes a good amount of unraveling and processing."

#MartySupreme #movies

medium.com/theuglymonst...
‘Marty Supreme’ Battles the Consequences of Ambition at All Cost
We all have dreams that don’t pan out. Marty won’t let that happen.
medium.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:29 AM
Reposted by The Ugly Monster (Oscar)
You all know what we have to do now, right?
Not a chance, ya fucking dork
January 2, 2026 at 8:41 PM
"...Badgermole Cub. In addition to regular earthbending, he adds one special feature: Any creature you tap for mana (including your new earthbent friend) taps for an additional green courtesy of the Cub."

#MagicTheGathering #AvatarTheLastAirbender

medium.com/theuglymonst...
Magic Arena x Avatar: the Last Airbender | An Earth-Shattering Standard
“Everything changed when the Badgermoles attacked…” — wait let me see that script
medium.com
January 2, 2026 at 11:46 PM
"...one should at least expect revolution from a film ostensibly about it. And yet the story here is not one of revolution; the revolution is held at a distance, relegated to the backdrop."

#OneBattleAfterAnother #movies

medium.com/theuglymonst...
‘One Battle After Another’, ‘Eddington’ and the Neo-Silent Cinema of the 2020s
Silence can be both loud and inspire revolution, or quiet and inspire complicity
medium.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Reposted by The Ugly Monster (Oscar)
Hop in friend! We’re going to YouTube for a new #ComicPressing video!

#ComicSky #SpiderMan #Marvel #YouTube
What If Spider-Man’s Clone Lived!? - Dry clean, wet clean and press.
YouTube video by Flàtenkleen
youtu.be
December 18, 2025 at 3:36 PM
"Shen’s particular backstory and villainous trajectory raise interesting food for thought about the nature of free will and the amount of responsibility we have over our operating systems."

#KungFuPanda #movies #GiftArticle

medium.com/theuglymonst...
Kung Fu Panda 2: Reconciling the Clash between Freedom and Destiny
Analyzing Lord Shen — Malicious Villain or Victim of Fate?
medium.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Reposted by The Ugly Monster (Oscar)
Snowpiercer is the best New Year's movie.
January 1, 2026 at 8:21 AM
"Making roleplaying game characters you’ll never play is the original solo gaming... My old roommate would make piles of characters he’d never play while quarantined during drug trials for pharma companies."

#Superman #TTRPG

medium.com/theuglymonst...
Superman Wants to Save Everyone (even not-very-good dogs)
The Man of Steel meets Daggerheart, DIE, and FIST
medium.com
January 1, 2026 at 7:44 AM
"The only way that the devil, whether in the form of blues music or a literal vampire, can get in is by invitation. You have to let him in by choice."

#movies #gaming #NoPaywall #NewYear2026

medium.com/theuglymonst...
2025: Superhero Sex, Vampires, and Burning Books
Our ugliest, most monstrous stories of the year
medium.com
January 1, 2026 at 3:24 AM
"In the end, Marty Supreme was much less about the sport itself and more about how Marty changes on a personal level."

#movies

medium.com/theuglymonst...
‘Marty Supreme’ Battles the Consequences of Ambition at All Cost
We all have dreams that don’t pan out. Marty won’t let that happen.
medium.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:20 AM
"...that’s the beauty of blitz chess. It’s raw, emotional and unforgiving, yet incredibly rewarding. Playing those games inside the Emirates, with the quiet hum of activity all around, made the experience unforgettable."

#gaming

medium.com/getting-into...
Playing Blitz Chess at the Emirates Stadium
Chess, football and belonging at the London Chess Classic
medium.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:19 PM