The Cabin in the Woods

What to say? This film is a self-aware teen horror, mocking its genre, setting and characters. It references various other horror films. It works on three connected levels: a large international corporation; a weekend away by five teens; an ancient underworld whose evil gods threaten humanity's existence. The action occurs in various distinct chapters (eg. 1. Pre-Cabin) and none of them prepare you for what's coming next.

It makes political comment on consumerist society, America's foreign policy etc. It makes you consider morality.

Joss Whedon is one of the minds behind it, so I kind of knew it would be awesome.

I have been analysing it over and over for about 24 hours. And while actually in the cinema, I was a nervous wreck - the Cabin's self-consciousness doesn't enable its audience to escape the very compelling fear. But every so often, you guffaw as well.

See it, please. (Though possibly not if of a nervous disposition. If I'd watched this at 15 I'd have pooed my pants. Just saying.)

Live Below the Line

Have bitten the bullet and signed up with a £150 target for Live Below The Line.

In order to raise awareness about extreme poverty around the world (1.4 billion people live in that state), LBTL challenges participants to live on £1 a day for all food and drink, for 5 days. Sponsors donate money to them and it goes to one of a number of participating charities fighting global poverty. I've signed up on behalf of Christian Aid. Follow the link in this post title for more info.

People in extreme poverty survive on the equivalent of 80p per day or less, for everything (basic services, housing, food, the lot.) So really the challenge is luxury in comparison. But I expect I'll find it tough. Getting enough to eat will be ok. But all caffeine and flavour will be out. As will anything fairly traded or organic. And I expect I'll be relying on Tesco Value quite a bit.

Please sponsor me or do the challenge yourself. It's easy to give or sign up, again via the site linked above. When the time comes, on May 7th to 11th, I'll blog about the experience on here.

Redeem the time. But not too much.

Yesterday was one of those days....

Found myself sitting on the sofa at 7pm trying to think of what was the best way to redeem a couple of hours after a day of frustration. Something productive, energy-inducing, guaranteed to make me feel life is worthwhile and I have much to offer. Considered praying; making a family or long lost friend phone call; practising a musical instrument; reading one of the theology books I have waiting; exercising ferociously; looking into some sort of phd I might do in future.

But plumped for:

• watching The Devil Wears Prada for the third time, some of Four Lions, two X files episodes
• eating an alarming amount of plain and white chocolate and lots of Pringles
• drinking a glass of wine and two whiskies.

 Felt better. There's a lesson in there somewhere.