deerstalker
https://blackgirlnerds.com/podcast-tatiana-obey-author-of-sistah-samurai/
In this week’s episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome author Tatiana Obey.
Tatiana Obey writes badass characters slaying dragons. Her debut novel, Bones to the Wind, is a 2022 BBA Award Winner and a 2022 Indie Ink Award Finalist. She taught English in South Korea, studied abroad in Japan, and worked as a marketing specialist for a woman-owned law firm. The one thing she loves as much as writing is traveling the world.
Host: Ryanne
Music by: Sammus
Edited by: Jamie Broadnax
Sometimes it’s fun to be the bad guy. It’s a statement that can come off as a little irresponsible, but it’s not as if many of us haven’t wanted to step into the dark side. Well, that’s where the focus of this piece is. We’re taking the time to give flowers to the Black villains of the silver screen that both sent shivers down our spine and had us cheering them on.
Dr. Kananga aka Mr. Big: Live and Let Die
Say hello to the first black Bond villain. Portrayed by American actor Yaphet Kotto, Mr. Big was a businessman through and through. Between his restaurant chain in New York, being the head of one of the most vicious gangs in Harlem, and being the de facto dictator of a Caribbean island, you’d think this man would have more than his hands full. But no, he’s a master plate spinner and a criminal mastermind. He also has one of the most disturbing endings in the franchise, and as they say: if you’re going to leave, leave in style. You can see Mr. Big in Live and Let Die on MGM+.
Erik Killmonger: Black Panther
What’s better than a pure evil villain — a villain whose descent into evil was marked by an event completely out of their control. Erik does some heinous things over the course of Black Panther, but the scary thing is as an audience member it’s not that hard to understand why he is the way he is, especially so when we’re given a proper backstory for his intense anger at T’Challa. It doesn’t make all of the atrocities he’s committed acceptable, but on a certain level, fans can at the least see where Erik is coming from. You can see Black Panther on Disney+.
Candyman: Candyman (1992)
This is a villain so frightening, so sinister, that it’s dangerous just to speak his name aloud. So let’s keep utterances of his formal title to a minimum. He who must not be named is a horror movie icon, and the title is well earned. The one whose name must never be spoken is a vengeful spirit that thrives off of the legend of his existence and the faith of those who would deny his power. Being haunted and destroyed by a ghoul that gets more powerful when you speak his name is a ghoul worth his salt, or more fittingly, his honey. Yes, Daniel Robitaille uses powers such as hivemind and mind control to have others do his bidding. So not only will he take you out, but he just might use you as his own personal puppet to perform violent acts on his behalf. You can shiver in fright while watching Candyman on Peacock.
The Prowler: Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse
No one is prepared to learn that one of the people they love most in the world is a supervillain. It’s no surprise that it came as a world-shaking shock to Miles that his Uncle Aaron is not only a villain but the henchman to Kingpin. Aaron starts the movie as Miles’s uncle and mentor, but later on we learn that Aaron has always been the more rebellious between him and his brother. It was this rebellious streak and Jefferson’s decision to join law enforcement that drove a wedge between the brothers. Getting to see the contrast between Aaron as the supportive uncle and Prowler the villain is something that gave Into the Spiderverse it’s emotional core. The loss of Aaron is the driving point that inspires Miles to continue his role as Spiderman and keep working to be better not just for the city but for Miles himself. You can see Aaron’s story unfold in full on Hulu or Sling TV.
Akasha: The Queen of the Damned
Hot take? The Queen of the Damned is not as bad as people make it out to be. Yes, it has it’s sticking points that are plain to see while watching the movie, but it’s not an outright disaster as many reviewers have tried to paint it out to be over the years. Aaliyah was able to perfectly capture the sultry and sensual aura of the ancient vampire with ease, mainly as that was a facet of Aaliyah herself that she tapped into with her music and her videos. The Great Mother is herself the first vampire in existence; all vampires we meet in The Vampire Chronicles are her descendants. What makes Akasha such an iconic villain? She’s not in it for the thrill or the desire to cause chaos. She just needs to sustain herself, nothing personal about it. There’s something interesting about seeing someone exist solely for themselves, unattached from morality and empathy. Akasha is described as the one true monster because she doesn’t acknowledge or see herself as a monster. It’s not personal, it’s just a need to feed and create more fledglings. You can watch The Queen of the Damned on Hulu.
Popular video game franchises adapted into feature films or TV shows can either be a hit or a miss. One notable example of a hit is the HBO series The Last of Us, which came with critical acclaim after its season premiere. And one striking miss is the feature film Uncharted that was panned by both critics and fans of the video game.
If you’re looking for a hit with Five Nights at Freddy’s, sadly you’re not going to get that here. There’s not much of a hit happening with this snoozefest adapted from the horror-fiction video game of the same name. The potential to make this movie as engaging and compelling as its video game predecessor was missed by a lackluster plot. The film’s protagonist Mike (Josh Hutcherson) is dealing with post-traumatic stress and anxiety around his brother Garrett’s (Lucas Grant) disappearance. When Mike was a child, he saw his younger brother abducted in broad daylight during a family outing. Garrett was never seen nor heard from again. Sadly this tragedy is still haunting Mike as an adult and he has recurring dreams about that fateful day. He takes sleep medication which ironically provides clarity to his dreams and he’s able to capture more details. His ultimate goal is to find the man who took his brother and find out what happened.
While the overall story structure of Five Nights at Freddy’s is centered around this theme of Mike’s loss and endless search for his brother’s abductor, the heart and soul of what makes the video game franchise successful is missing from the film. The eponymous animatronic bear — mascot of the pizza establishment Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza — is more of a footnote in this story than a substantial part of the plot. While we do get to see the terrifying robots in action, their presence throughout the film is minimal. And that’s where it falls flat as a riveting horror flick. Due to the direction of this movie being focused more on Mike’s conflict, it impacted the pacing so much so that it was hard to stay awake through some scenes.
There is a key part of Mike’s story as it relates to his younger sister Abby (Piper Rubio). She’s a bit withdrawn and doodles images in her room while talking to imaginary characters. Her personality as well as her quirky way of communicating is what inevitably ties her to the animatronic puppets. The puppets — inspired from Chuck E. Cheese and Showbiz Pizza in their heyday — perform musically in robotic motion inside of a dilapidated pizzeria set in late 80s/early 90s Nebraska.
And while the truncated performances of the cyborg-like animals leave the script more two-dimensional and stale than it intended, the appearance of Matthew Lillard as Steve, is also bland. No disrespect to Lillard’s performance, which I think was decent, his character lacked nuance and substance. Steve Ragland is a career counselor who helps Mike get a job position at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. This comes off the heels of Mike losing his last job after physically assaulting a man who he thought was kidnapping a child. At first the reaction to punching the daylights out of the man seems pretty extreme, but as you learn Mike’s backstory and childhood trauma, the knee-jerk reaction of being so violent to the poor innocent guy makes sense. It’s after this that Steve is assigned to assist Mike in finding work. Steve’s character however, was incredibly predictable and left no room for the imagination.
And then there’s Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), a local police officer, who lacks any instinct a person in law enforcement should have, helps Mike in his new security guard role at the pizza establishment. She’s oddly friendly to this strange man, and the sight of blood on Mike when she first meets him doesn’t raise any red flags. Like I said, her instincts are poor for someone with a job aided to serve and protect.
If you are a fan of the video game, which I’ve never played myself, you may be disappointed as you would likely expect more action and horror from these demonic androids. There are a few jump scares here and there, but not enough for me to actually jump in my chair. I will say that I did like the creepy look of these animatronic creatures. The slow turning of their heads and the menacing look they deliver as they slowly close their eyelids was pretty frightening to watch. I just wish they had more screen time, which would have added another dose of horror to an already terrifying story.
Five Nights at Freddy’s is a slow-paced horror film that offers a bunch of monotonous storytelling, and little to no chills and thrills that a film of this genre is supposed to deliver.
The film is directed by Emma Tammi. Written by Scott Cawthon, Emma Tammi, Seth Cuddeback. The film is produced by Blumhouse and Universal Pictures.
Five Nights at Freddy’s is currently playing in theaters and available to stream on Peacock.
Halloween is finally here. Time to let loose, binge Tim Burton, and fulfill your childhood dreams of dressing up as your favorite pop culture hero. If you’re looking for costume inspo inspired by original Black characters in fiction, check out the 30 entries on this list. They’re fun, they’re nostalgic, and more importantly, they’re for the culture.
30. Mortal Kombat: Jade
Whether you go with the OG MKII look or a skin from MK11, nothing would make a bolder statement than pulling up in Jade’s signature bodysuit. Throw in her pink staff for added attention to detail.
29. Tekken: Eddy Gordo
Eddy is one of the flyest video game characters around. Just look at this skin from Tekken 7. The cheetah print jacket with the metal rings!? Slay.
28. Hey Arnold!: Gerald
You can never go wrong with a Gerald costume. Whether you go with the everyday look or a giant strawberry suit, any variant will do.
27. The Boondocks: Various
The Boondocks oozes Halloween inspo with its iconic line-up of original Black characters. A Pimp Named Slickback would be a good one.
26. The Rugrats: Susie Carmichael
Susie Carmichael is one of the greatest Black mascots to ever grace children’s programming. Although she has a few costumes, the signature yellow top with purple leggings would really hit home.
25. Rocket Power: Reggie Rocket
A Reggie Rocket costume would eat! For this look, pair your favorite camos with a pink cropped tee (bonus if you can stitch the rocket). Throw in the matching pink shades to really pull the look together.
24. Major Payne: Major Payne
A Major Payne costume would be a riot! Throw in the accent and gold tooth for accuracy.
23. Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood: Loc Dog
A Loc Dog costume is simple yet, fun idea. With the random miscellaneous items he hangs in his hair, creatives will have a great time with this one.
22. Entergalactic: Various
With costumes reportedly designed by the late Virgil Abloh, dressing up as the characters in Entergalactic would be a great excuse to show off your flyest streetwear.
21. Atlantis: The Lost Empire: Kida
A childhood hero in the ’90s, a Kida costume would be such a cute throwback. The blue tribal dress and staff will bring out the Atlantean in you.
20. My Hero Academia: Mirko
A Mirko costume would be a showstopper, for sure. The No. 5 heroe’s stacked physique and adorable bunny accents have even been replicated by Megan Thee Stallion.
19. Avatar: The Last Airbender: Katara
In a span of three seasons, Katara gave us plenty of Halloween looks to choose from. Her Fire Nation look is pretty popular.
18. Blankman: Blankman
A Blankman costume would have people falling out. Not only is it fun, but it’s super low-budget since it’s made of everyday household items.
17. Hercules: The Muses
Bringing the Muses to life would be just like dressing up for a toga party. With five distinctive looks, styles, and personalities, grab the girls and do it together.
16. Wendell & Wild: Kat
The Alt Black queen from the stop-motion horror Wendell & Wild is a must-try look for spooky season. Her funky green hair and platform boots provide an edgy touch to one of the spookiest nights of the year.
15. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse: Spiderpunk
After his introduction in the web-slinging Blockbuster Across the Spider-verse, Hobie Brown has become a mascot for the punk rock Blerd. His leather vest and spiky hair would be a refreshing sight among mass-produced superhero costumes.
14. Clueless: Dionne
Years before Migos coined the term, Dionne embodied the term “bad and boujee.” Since she graces the streets of Beverly Hills in some of the flyest looks Hollywood has ever seen, you’ll have an ample of amount of stylish Halloween inspo.
13. The Fifth Element: Ruby Rhod
Who can forget sci-fi’s messiest radio host: the lavishly flamboyant Ruby Rhod? His leopard print bodysuit and blonde pompadour would guarantee a night of fun.
12. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella: Cinderella
Years before live-action adaptations became a trend, Brandy played Cinderella in the ’90s telefilm Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Her signature ballroom gown and bold blue eye shadow are a nice throwback for Halloween.
11. House Party: Kid N Play
This dynamic hip-hop duo is so iconic, you’ll be recognized instantly. An homage to their pajama party rager from the sequel would be fire.
10. B.A.P.S.: Nisi & Mickey
Dressing up as Nisi and Mickey from this ’90s classic would be fun. Their elaborate hairstyles and loud costumes would definitely get a rise out of friends and family.
9. Queen of the Damned: Queena Akasha
Follow in the footsteps of Blerds like Issa Rae and throw together Queen Akasha’s sultry look. Gracing the floor as a vampire queen would definitely awaken your Halloween spirit.
8. Bring It On: The Clovers
This iconic look from the teen classic Bring It On is a costume that never misses. Grab your squad, and prepare to embody some of the hottest, fiercest, most competitive cheerleaders pop culture has ever seen.
7. The Last Dragon: Shonuff
When I say “Who’s the master?” you say: “Shonuff.” Shonuff is a certified rockstar in Black cinema. As Shonuff, you’ll get to tap into your inner bad guy as you step out as the flashiest Shogun Harlem has ever seen.
6.The Matrix Reloaded: Niobe
Halloween is the perfect time to finally dress up as one of sci-fi’s most badass heroines, Niobe. Her signature snakeskin suit, black shades, and bantu knots are guaranteed to slay.
5. The Matrix: Morpheus
Only the coolest of cool can pull off a Morpheus costume for Halloween. Truthfully, it wouldn’t take much. Combine your long black overcoat with rounded shades and skinny black tie, and bam. When you’re Morpheus, it’s less about the clothes and more about the attitude.
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest: Calypso
Calypso’s signature locs and blackened teeth will help you tap into your wicked side. With this look, don’t worry about being perfect: the grungier the better.
3. Purple Rain: The Kid
This Black ’80s classic is full of fun retro looks that can be recreated for Halloween. Prince’s stylish flamboyant looks would make the crowd go crazy.
2. Poetic Justice: Justice
Janet Jackson’s signature jumbo braids in this ’90s classic are the blueprint. The influence of this iconic look is still felt in hair braiding shops to this day. Justice’s down-to-earth vibe would be a refreshing touch of realism among a sea of fantasy heroes and witches.
1. Bebe’s Kids: Bebe’s Kids
Dressing up as the cast from the ’90s classic Bebe’s Kids would be a fun blast from the past. Tapping into your inner Khalil, LaShawn, or Pee Wee would give you an excuse to run wild and free as you recreate some of the baddest kids in Black cinema history.