Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

May 30, 2025 at 7:08 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

I recently watched Cloud-Paradise (1990)—an arthouse'ish, bittersweet dramedy that defies Soviet-era clichés with wit, warmth, and unexpected brilliance. Here's my gonzo review of it:

#gonzo #postsoviet #dramedy #arthouse #gonzocalls

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/cloud-para...

Cloud-Paradise (1990)

Katana Zero, Harold Halibut, Anna's Obsession, Chasing Static

May 5, 2025 at 6:16 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

Katana Zero, Harold Halibut, Anna's Obsession, Chasing Static
= a failed clone, a slow-burner, one cliché-ridden debut, and a horror that fizzles out

#katanazero #haroldhalibut #одержимостьанны #chasingstatic #gonzo #gonzocalls

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/katana-zer...

[offhand]

April 23, 2025 at 4:10 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

a gory, absurd, tokusatsu-style sci-fi comedy with zero morals and 100% chaotic joy. Cursed in the best possible way

#psychogoreman #scifi #comedy #gonzo #review #stevenkostanski

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/psycho-gor...

Psycho Goreman (2020)

NOKIA 7250 | Liquid DnB / Jungle Mix (2025)

April 20, 2025 at 2:26 AM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

A bunch of DnB producers brought back my 2002 with its PS1/PS2 vibes with that mix. Outstanding.

#drumnbass #nokia #liquid #jungle #gonzo #review

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/nokia-7250...

[music]

April 20, 2025 at 2:24 AM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

a bleakly humorous indie game about janitorial work, existential dread, and the dream of escaping small-town in the middle of nowhere. As I made such a dream come true in my life, I found this game pretty sweet

#panelki #janitor #sliceoflife #russiandoomer

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/panelki-2022

Panelki (2022)

April 19, 2025 at 1:43 AM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

As Lynch'esque it is, as much it delivers as a good alternative comedy, wrapped in a form of a fable. Add to this the variety of mechanics and you'll get a one-of-a-kind game.

#indika #nun #orthodox #church #fable #lynch #oddmeter

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/indika-2024

Indika (2024)

John Dies at the End (2012)

April 19, 2025 at 1:23 AM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

A surreal sci-fi comedy-horror trip that melted my brain in a good way so I kept laughing.

#jonhdiesattheend #horror #comedy #acid #surreal #doncoscarelli

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/john-dies-...

GTA 5 Online, Enhanced (2025)

April 19, 2025 at 1:18 AM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

It was a pile of crap in 2020, now it's an enhanced pile of crap. Solid work, Rockstar, bravo! 👏 @rockstargames.com

#action #gta5 #online #enhanced #gonzo #gonzocalls #rockstar

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/gta-5-onli...

April 4, 2025 at 3:59 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

Someone who rarely sticks with a game for more than 12 hours got sucked in for 70. Hell, Avowed really had some magic — with ingredients that are pure Obsidian: solid writing and tech mastery.
#gonzo #gonzocalls #avowed #obsidian
gonzocalls.substack.com/p/avowed-2025

Avowed (2025)

Frail Whale — found... (2025)

April 2, 2025 at 11:02 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

A mish-mash of hip-hop, house, and experimental. A fusion that, like a conscious being, found me for one purpose — to deliver.

#music #experimental #frailwhale
gonzocalls.substack.com/p/frail-whal...

[music]

The Fifth Element (1997 / 2017)

April 2, 2025 at 10:57 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

Revisiting the classics in a sudden 4k remaster was so worth it. #thefifthelement #lucbesson #scifi #gonzo
gonzocalls.substack.com/p/the-fifth-...

April 2, 2025 at 10:46 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

Maestro Bong Joon-ho delivers solid craftsmanship, but the spark of bold innovation is missing. #mickey17 #BongJoonho #scifi #comedy #gonzo #review

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/mickey-17-...

Mickey 17 (2025)

The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019)

March 30, 2025 at 8:59 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

What kicks off as a nice South Korean thriller then follows through with a discouraging agenda. #thegangsterthecopthedevil #thriller #gonzo #review

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/the-gangst...

March 30, 2025 at 8:55 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

Zombie beavers. That about covers it, right? Alright, move along.

#zombie #beavers #gonzo
gonzocalls.substack.com/p/zombeavers...

Zombeavers (2014)

March 30, 2025 at 8:50 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

A strange case of being a pioneer in mish-mashing genres, Phantasm delivers in some areas, but… For f’s sake, it does it quirky! #scifi #horror #phantasm

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/phantasm-1...

Phantasm (1979)

March 27, 2025 at 10:20 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

Not a new word in the walking sim genre, but it's a beautiful game with witty writing, what else to wish for? Read the full review here:
gonzocalls.substack.com/p/return-to-...

#returntograce #ontariocreates #ontario #walkingsim #scifi

Return to Grace (2023)

March 26, 2025 at 7:27 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

Noir, jazz, a pinch of techno, a lot of the 90's, and one big homage to Jean-Michel Basquiat

#serialcleaners #JeanMichelBasquiat #noir #tacticts #videogame #gonzo #review

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/serial-cle...

Serial Cleaners (2022)

March 26, 2025 at 4:37 AM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

Anna always delivers, couldn't be more happy to see her as a director now! A strong debut it is.

#womanofthehour #annakendrick
gonzocalls.substack.com/p/woman-of-t...

Woman of the Hour (2024)

March 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

Mouthwashing was one hell of a journey. Loved it with all my heart.

#horror #surrealism #mouthwashing #arthouse #psychedelic #davidlynch #gonzo #review

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/mouthwashi...

Mouthwashing (2024)

February 15, 2025 at 2:31 AM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

I’ve just published a new short fiction. “The Fair Light” is a harsh, eerie story set in February. Enjoy (?)

Read:
nikpwrites.substack.com/p/the-fair-l...

#nikpwrites #fiction #drama #magicalrealism #sliceoflife

The fair light

[short story]

nikpwrites.substack.com

February 11, 2025 at 2:08 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

A weird mix-up of ideas which I loved. I got confused, but still
#fable #megalopolis #scifi #arthouse #coppola

gonzocalls.substack.com/p/megalopoli...

Megalopolis (2024)

"Microserfs", Douglas Coupland (1995)

February 11, 2025 at 2:05 PM

Nik P

@nikpwrites.substack.com

I don't know how Coupland does it every time, but he always manages to remind about the main things in life. My gonzo review on his "Microserfs":

gonzocalls.substack.com/microserfs-d...

#corporate #sliceoflife #humor #coding #douglascoupland #gonzo #review #gonzocalls

[book]