My Favorite Things: July
My Favorite Things is a monthly segment where I share my personal and current favorites in seasonal products, health & beauty, food, decor, movies, TV, and more. I hope you enjoy these personal picks!
Movies
Interview With the Vampire
Born as an 18th-century lord, Louis is now a bicentennial vampire, telling his story to an eager biographer. Suicidal after the death of his family, he meets Lestat, a vampire who persuades him to choose immortality over death and become his companion. Eventually, gentle Louis resolves to leave his violent maker, but Lestat guilts him into staying by turning a young girl — whose addition to the “family” breeds even more conflict.
So even though I have had this DVD in my movie collection for years (it feels like eons), I didn’t watch it until the holiday weekend. We lost power because of an intense storm so I relied on reading books by book light and watching DVDs via my laptop. Why did I wait so long to watch this movie. It felt like a diary of sorts as Louis recounts his story of how he became a vampire and reckons with his past/decisions. it was engaging at all times, full of action, and I loved the attention to detail for the period reenactments. There were a lot of plot twists I didn’t see coming. I definitely want to check out the TV show after watching this movie (and also want to a re-watch session soon)!
Totally Killer
Thirty-five years after the shocking murders of three teens, an infamous killer returns on Halloween night to claim a fourth victim. When 17-year-old Jamie comes face-to-face with the masked maniac, she accidentally time-travels back to 1987. Forced to navigate the unfamiliar culture, Jamie teams up with her teenage mother to take down the psycho once and for all.
This movie is an immersive viewing experience as it takes you back to the 1980s through a time travel incident. It’s got a great blend of comedy and horror, along with social awareness (recognizing things from the decade that have aged poorly). It felt like a fish out of water story watching Jamie navigate an unfamiliar time and place. She does her best to stop the killer from claiming victims all while walking a fine line of trying to change the future too much. The movie is thrilling, suspenseful, fun, and a tad gory (heads up!). I love how it leans on familiar horror tropes while poking fun at the genre.
TV
The Witch’s Diner
At 28, Jung Jin’s perfect life crumbles as she loses her job, boyfriend, and direction. After a failed restaurant venture with her mother, Jin meets Cho Hui Ra, a sorceress who offers to take over the restaurant to serve magical, wish-granting dishes. The business thrives, but Jin begins to question the steep cost of Hui Ra’s meals.
This web drama is the perfect blend of spooky things, romance, and melodrama. It’s short episode run feels great for the story that is told without dragging plot points out as some shows do. The setting of a magical diner feels gorgeous yet ominous at the same time. Viewers become intertwined with the characters who desperately flock to the restaurant for a wish to be granted. But each wish comes with dire consequences as we soon find out. The show felt reflective as it makes the characters reflect on their actions of what their heart truly desires. The chemistry between the actors was great and the writing was done very well throughout the show.
Yasuke
In feudal Japan, a samurai warrior of African descent must return to his life of sword and violence in order to protect a mysterious girl from dark forces.
This anime has been on my watchlist since it released back in 2021, but I’m finally just getting to watch it. Even though the anime is short (6 episodes total) it still packs powerful punch. The story blends actual history with fantasy elements (especially the supernatural. In real life, Yasuke is the first known African to appear in Japanese historical records. He served who served Oda Nobunaga between 1581 and 1582, during the Sengoku period, until Nobunaga’s death. The show touches on this element while also adding in a story of Yasuke returning to a life of a samurai to defeat evil. The animation is sleek, the action/fight scenes had me on the edge of my seat, and I enjoyed the charaters. Highly recommended!
Podcasts
The Tape Library
A documentary-style series exploring the paranormal, the strange, and the unexplained. Each biweekly episode blends immersive storytelling with firsthand accounts and historical research. From haunted houses to UFOs and forgotten legends, it investigates the line between myth and reality.
If you like your podcasts on the spookier side, check out the Tape Library. I love the storytelling aspect of this podcast and its soothing narration style. Each episode gives its subject matter the proper attention and I love how you even learn some history too. It’s been cool to discover some local lore of Michigan while listening to some episodes.
Music
Eve Tiny Desk Concert
I forgot to share this Tiny Desk concert since it was released during Black Music Month (in June), but here it is now. Eve is one of my favorite female rappers growing up and I recently read her memoir which I also enjoyed. She hasn’t released much new music so the set features songs that are more than 20 years old, but they felt brand new. Eve still has the bars, rhythm, and charisma that she started with back in the day. This concert was excellent!
Horror Queen – Phantom Sita
I have been listening to Phantom Sita for a while now, but this is the song that really caught my eye. They are “retro-horror” Japanese idol girl group formed in 2024 and are produced by Ado (who has released some legendary anime soundtracks). I love their vocal style and this song is so catchy! The retro sounds really stand out in this track.
Warwick Avenue – Duffy
I love rediscovering old songs that I used to listen to nonstop. It’s a breakup love song which has a simple MV, but powerful lyrics. The song tells the story of tells the story of a woman taking the London Underground to meet her partner at the Warwick Avenue tube station to have one final goodbye. I hope she is able to heal and come back to the music industry one day after the tragic incident that halted her life and career. Her voice is amazing!
What are some of your favorite things from July? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
