Popular Culture

The Psychology of “Paradise” (2023) | Movie Analysis

If future technology would make it possible, would you sell years of your life to make living easier for yourself and those you care about? This is the synopsis of the German movie “Paradise”, a sci-fi thriller that managed to take a good idea and turn it into cinematic mush in a little under two …

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The Psychology Behind “Barbenheimer”

The Pink and the Black. Two very different movies, same release day. An online phenomenon was born. “Barbenheimer” is the term created by internet users to label the rivalry between Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, both released on July 21st. A bubbly comedy versus a dark biopic. Barbie’s pink world versus the darkness created by Oppenheimer’s atomic bomb. Opposites …

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SKEPTIC’s REVIEW: “Stutz” (2022) | NETFLIX Documentary | Movie Analysis

The Premise Jonah Hill’s documentary “Stutz” is an insight into the psychological practice of Dr. Phil Stutz. It shows the main techniques, called Tools, used by him throughout the years to help patients live healthier, happier lives. The kicker is that Stutz is Hill’s long-time therapist, and the focus of the documentary quickly shifts from …

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SKEPTIC’s REVIEW: “The Anarchists” (2022) | HBO Original Documentary | Movie Analysis

The Premise Anarchy is an ideology that appeals to many individuals with libertarian views. According to Dictionary.com, the term means “a state of society without government or law“. The individual is therefore under no influence from so-called authority figures or centralized systems such as banks. In anarchy, no one is in charge and there are …

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SKEPTIC’s REVIEW: “The Vow” (2020) | HBO Original Series | Movie Analysis

The Premise I wasn’t sure whether to cover this documentary in the SKEPTIC’s REVIEW segment. Even though the analysis of video materials regarding cults is a perfect fit for the category, I tend to see Keith Raniere’s NXIVM more as a dysfunctional group that brought together Hollywood rejects and entitled trust-fund kids with a puerile …

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Contrary to Widespread Perception, Horror Fans are not Less Empathetic or Compassionate, New Study Shows

Go ahead, give Annabelle a hug. Whether we’re talking about books or movies, fans of the horror genre are widely perceived as less empathetic and compassionate than non-horror fans. This is because of the nature of the content they consume. Horror films often portray violence and gore, which many thought could potentially desensitize viewers to …

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Ricky Gervais’ “SuperNature” Was Moderately Funny — But Definitely Not Aggressive Toward Any Group

Not my favorite stand-up comedy special, but not the worst I’ve seen either. Yet another comedy show triggered a shitstorm on social media, so I felt I should watch it and draw my own conclusion regarding its allegedly outrageous content. This time it was Ricky Gervais’ “SuperNature” Netflix special which many considered not funny, boring, …

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The Psychology Of “The Haunting of Bly Manor” (2020) | Movie Analysis

There’s nothing better in the horror movie genre than a classic gothic ghost story. After “The Haunting of Hill House” (2018), the follow-up drama series “The Haunting of Bly Manor” (2020) excels at delivering the same high-quality thrills to audiences worldwide. Along with the scary story, the exceptional aesthetics, and the supernatural romance, the 9-episode …

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SKEPTIC’s REVIEW: “Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru” (2016) | NETFLIX Documentary | Movie Analysis

The Premise Over the years, I have heard Tony Robbins’s name but knew very little about his activity. I knew he is some sort of motivational speaker or life coach, but the only specific information I had on him until two days ago was the fact that he encountered some legal issues after participants at …

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Thoughts on “Searching for Sheela” (2021) | Documentary | Movie Analysis

Like many others who have watched the “Wild Wild Country” (2018) mini-series, I decided to also watch the complementary biographical documentary “Searching for Sheela” (2021). While the series presented the controversial events surrounding the Rajneeshpuram community founded in the 1980s USA by followers of spiritual leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (later known as Osho), the new …

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