JP Mangalindan
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JP Mangalindan
@jpmanga.bsky.social
Culture Writer
TIME | ELLE | L.A. Times | Bloomberg Businessweek
Scene and Unheard newsletter
Proud Dog Dad
Saw 'Black Phone 2' last night...

This sequel turns the basement into a blizzard and the Grabber into a ghost, trading jump scares for dream logic, faith, and frostbite.

Messy and mesmerizing, it’s a haunted hymn about trauma that refuses to stay buried.

#BlackPhone2
October 16, 2025 at 12:28 AM
L.A. has officially made the hard shift to fall—and I’m here for it.
October 9, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Caught an early screening of 'Tron: Ares.'
October 7, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Even if you think you’ve seen—or heard—it all in true crime, 'Monster: The Ed Gein Story' will test you.

Not for the faint of heart, this season digs deep into one of America’s most disturbing cases and doesn’t flinch. Even true crime devotees might find their stomachs churning at points.
October 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Just saw 'The Conjuring: Last Rites,' and if this really is the end of the line, they went out the right way.

Classic franchise energy. Real jump scares. Eerie set pieces.

A respectful farewell. A solid send-off.

One last blessing before the lights go out… at least for now.
September 7, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Rewatched 'The Silence of the Lambs' last night at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in L.A.

Decades later, it’s still as creepy and disturbing as ever. Hopkins chills, Foster steadies, and the film just doesn’t loosen its grip...
September 1, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I’m launching 'Scene and Unheard,' my new culture newsletter about the way TV and film linger—what we watch, what we miss, and what stays with us.

The first essay looks at Disney’s 'Freakier Friday' and why body-swap movies still move us...

substack.com/profile/6450...
August 18, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Watched 'Alien: Earth', premiering on FX on August 12. When it clicks, it really clicks—eerie, tense, and true to the 'Alien' legacy.

Some dips in momentum, but the paranoia, world-building, and Sydney Chandler’s performance make it a strong, eerie new chapter.
August 5, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Pedro Pascal suits up as Reed Richards on the cover of TIME, balancing intellect, authority, and soft masculinity.

An inspired choice for 'The Fantastic Four: Next Steps.'

#TheFantasticFour
July 14, 2025 at 8:04 PM
One of the best parts of James Gunn’s Superman? Krypto.

Part guardian, part comic relief, all heart. There’s something perfect about the Man of Steel having an overpowered dog who only cares about loyalty and love.
July 13, 2025 at 3:59 AM
James Gunn’s Superman is everything you want a reboot to be, reclaiming the character’s sincerity without a trace of cynicism, balancing impressive action sequences with human stakes.

In a superhero landscape full of snark and shadows, this one dares to look up.
July 11, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Rooftop screening of Superman.

Dogs allowed!
July 11, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Brad Pitt’s 'F1' is the ideal summer movie: fast, sleek, and emotionally charged.

It’s not just about racing. It's about heart, risk, and the thrill of chasing something bigger than yourself. A total win.
July 7, 2025 at 2:09 AM
TFW your First Look feature for TIME gets featured on MSNBC's Morning Joe:
June 17, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Spending Saturday exploring the far flung reaches of the galaxy at an Andor screening + cast reception.
May 31, 2025 at 10:01 PM
An overcast Saturday in LA = just hanging out
May 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
More films and tv shows should do outdoor screenings in LA.

The summer/fall weather is ideal for them.
August 9, 2023 at 3:19 AM
Noshing on bites at the low-key premiere of Paramount+’s ‘Love in Taipei.’
August 9, 2023 at 3:00 AM
Off to a white party
July 16, 2023 at 1:13 AM
First personal training session (ugh)
July 2, 2023 at 1:49 AM
Thrilled to have my first PEOPLE Magazine feature hit newsstands this week!
June 15, 2023 at 1:37 AM
Saturdays in the park
June 3, 2023 at 8:14 PM
Weekend work
June 3, 2023 at 5:46 PM
Thursday nights are for ube soft serve cheesecakes
June 2, 2023 at 4:21 AM
A lazy Thursday night
June 2, 2023 at 3:17 AM