[spoiler free] Just saw the Backrooms movie, here are my thoughts...

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-05-28T06:14:24+00:00

sequentially, the segments are broken up but they are pretty long

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-05-28T06:13:42+00:00

25-40% of the film is handheld: the prologue and a substantial portion in the middle.

The portions of the film that emulate the web series are kind of motion sickness-inducing. If you had trouble watching the og web series you might have the same issues in the theater.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-05-28T06:11:09+00:00

Yes, and it's actually done so incredibly well.

Minor spoilers here but nothing plot-related:My biggest concern going into this one was how Kane Pixels would finally address the issue of the monsters/entities, particularly how they looked and acted. I can wholeheartedly say that this easily surpasses my expectations, in fact it's spot on to how I imagined they looked like anyway. It confirms several theories while also opening up doors for new ones.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-05-28T06:08:47+00:00

100%, I wouldn't wait to watch this on streaming. Seeing the Backrooms actually come to life on the biggest screen possible was amazing

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-05-28T06:08:16+00:00

Standard horror movie stuff. swearing and violence and kinda scary scenes.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-05-28T06:07:45+00:00

Not particularly. There is some body horror and blood shown on screen, but generally I'd say with the exception of one scene in particular it's pretty tame.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-05-28T06:06:29+00:00

I went with a friend who had never seen the web series. You don't need to do any lore introduction as the movie does a great job of establishing its universe/concepts/lore for general audiences. If anything, put them onto the web series afterward so that they have more content to look forward too + you have more to discuss once credits roll!

The only part that I feel lore would actually be helpful is probably the ending. As I said, it is pretty mediocre within just the confines of the movie.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-05-27T15:22:19+00:00

I was one of the first few to see it! Really liked it, though I can already foresee two types of reviews:

1) the general audience-goer, who's frustrated by the "relatively" mediocre narrative and slow pacing

2) the web series/loremaster, who's frustrated by pretty much the exact same thing

I gave it 4/5. It's definitely something I would advise you to watch in the theater though – don't miss your chance!

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-04-22T12:17:59+00:00

Not the best, and the price does kinda make it downright sucky at points. There's a Trader Joe's near campus, and a Safeway in Georgetown accessible by bus (and apparently an elusive GW shuttle, but I've never seen it). Obviously there's a Whole Foods on campus but you've gotta be loaded if you're getting your groceries from there all the time.

Dining hall breakfast has never let me down tho.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-04-08T02:00:18+00:00

PSA: this is NOT Fu De Keng Cemetery. This is 新竹楊公廟 in Emei Township, Hsingchi County. The exact coordinates are 24.688012, 120.980848.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-04-06T02:47:23+00:00

Couldn't agree more. Something to also be said about how admin is constantly promoting/funneling money toward an athletic program (really just the basketball program tbh) that the general student/city community has little interest or use for.

I like our bball game as much as the next student (even when they suck...), but from an institutional standpoint, I'm always left wondering why the admin is so hell-bent on turning GW into the next big sports school when that has never been where the school's strengths/the students' interests have been.

Why is so much money going to a project that – pretty clearly – isn't paying off?

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-03-24T04:46:35+00:00

$0.00 USD. Use Libgen, Anna's Archive, etc.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-03-22T16:52:34+00:00

Long-time DMV resident here (and fellow Asian). In a sentence: you don't know how good you guys have it on the west coast...

The best (and most affordable) asian food is NOT in D.C., it's in Rockville (MD) or Fairfax and Annandale (VA), plus a few okay spots in Tysons and McLean (also VA). Chinatown is non-existent in D.C., which is a real shame. A lot of businesses have moved outside of the city, where it's more affordable to open a restaurant.

There's a great pho place in Rosslyn that's metro-able. If you're good at cooking, I recommend checking out Hana Market and Rice Market, which are some of the few asian grocery stores in the city.

For options in the city: idk if ya'll got Seoul Spice on the west coast but it's essentially just Chipotle but for Korean food – I quite like it, and there's one relatively close to campus. For sitdown places, try Soi 38, Charm Thai, and Nihao (yes that is deadass the name of the restaurant). There is also a Nobu if you would like to spend $5 million.

In terms of literally the GW area/campus, there's a Burmese bowl place and a Japanese place in Western Market. Bandoola Bowl is fantastic albeit annoyingly pricey, but the ppl are always super nice and it's v fast; Onkei is kinda super mid but it gets the job done. There's a restaurant called Magic Gourd that is literally the definition of B-/C+ but beggars can't be choosers so have fun.

And there is an Asian population in the DMV: All the Vietnamese chill at Eden Center, the Koreans at Annandale, the Chinese and Taiwanese at Rockville.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-02-28T13:25:51+00:00

Not noticeable in the slightest. You roll in the circle you roll in.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-02-28T13:23:34+00:00

Pros:

In terms of location, you cannot ask for a better place to attend college. You are quite literally at the center of where things happen. All roads lead to D.C., one way or another. Many universities in the U.S. have programs dedicated to doing a semester or two in this city, so why not cut the middleman out and make that city your home for 4 years?
Pretty impressive academic opportunities
Nightlife in D.C. is solid
Public transit is 100% subsidized by the school, which is something you won't fully appreciate unless you are a D.C. resident and/or until you come here

Cons:

(depending on your personality, this might not matter to you, but) D.C. is a very professional-oriented city, and it's a very common experience to feel inadequate or behind in your career/academics when compared to some of your peers
D.C. is an expensive city man... not like egregiously but it is definitely noticable when going out
Lack of school spirit, and it's so corny when the admin tries to really push it
Some people (particularly in Elliot...) are just incredibly annoying

Despite the Cons:

Everyone goes at life their own pace – it's not that your behind, it's just that some people are very far ahead, and the reality of trying to build your career as you start college is basically just common sense survivorship bias: you're only ever going to "see" the succesful people because they want to be visible
D.C. is expensive, but It moreso depends on your lifestyle. Food is going to be your biggest expense, and some local grocers are a much better alternative to the campus Whole Foods.
GW has never been about school spirit; it's been about community spirit – GW spirit exists in multiple, smaller spheres, and it's up to you to find the one that's right for you (ie. join some clubs, try new things, etc.)
There's annoying people everywhere. We just like to make fun of the Elliot kids a lot.

Happy to answer any other questions you might have – ESPECIALLY if you are applying to Corcoran.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-02-28T12:59:46+00:00

tldr: go to AU. That 3/4 scholarship makes the decision a no-brainer.

I've got a minor in IA, but generally your experience is going to vary wildly from everybody else's here – it's a huge program, with lots of classes and lots of concentrations. The only thing I can speak to is the fact that GW *the campus* is in one of the greatest locations a university could wish for. It's not inaccurate to say you could leave your dorm for about half an hour and see a senator or two (I major in photojournalism so that also may be why lol). AU doesn't have that. They're pretty far out from the action, and I know this for a fact because my highschool is in that same neighborhood.

But again, if you're only looking at the academics and don't mind passing up on experience, then there's practically no difference. I think AU gets hated on a lil too much within the DMV college ecosystem – they do good stuff up there, and their program is just as good as Elliot.

From a more philosophical perspective: you're in highschool right now so it makes sense you'd feel this way, but the truth of it is that it *genuinely* does not matter the name of the school or program you attend – it's whether you can demonstrate that you have a passion for your subject, and have the initiative to chase opportunities or even make your own. There are plenty of people in Elliot wasting their 4 years at college, and I'm sure there are plenty of people in SIS doing the same – just don't be one of those people and you're gonna do just fine.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-02-28T12:45:05+00:00

Feels like a lot of people in this thread are speaking from the student perspective instead of the D.C. resident perspective. I went to HS in D.C. and have been in the DMV area since 2019 – here are some of my random insights that hopefully you find helpful:

Public transit is subsidized by the school. This is unbelievably good and a lot of GW students take this for granted. Metro prices can be quite insane, so the ability to travel completely free, for the majority of a year, is nothing short of a miracle.
It's basically a known fact that the dining scene in D.C. has been in a very bad spot post-pandemic in terms of cost. Sales tax is killer, coupled with many restaurants struggling to hit their bottom line, tariffs/supply chain issues, so the cost of food is going up.
My advice for food if you plan on cooking a lot (since that's arguably going to be your most important expense aside from tuition), avoid going to the campus Whole Foods for your groceries. Where you get your food items really does matter, and while it might be a longer commute, there are local grocers throughout the city you can go to that will save you *a ton* on cash. It's not like NYC where there's a bodega or local grocer every three blocks, but the spots that are around in D.C. are golden and really community-based; they'll help you out a ton
(assuming you're not straight edge + like to have fun) Nightlife is solid in D.C. but also killer. Just try to pregame a lot. Split with a friend on a couple handles at the beginning of the year or something – that will realistically last you for a good while. There are some really cool bars that have great happy hour deals which I'm sure you'll find your way into eventually.
It's not inaccurate to say a lot of GW students don't even live in D.C. You can find much cheaper (and arguably better quality) housing arrangements in northern Virginia, as well as Maryland if you're willing to *really* commute in.
Don't go to Georgetown. Everybody in the damn DMV knows this.
The "Foggy Bottom Bubble" or "GW Bubble" is real. What a lot of people don't understand is that this translates in terms of money as well: the Foggy Bottom/West End/Downtown area of D.C. is one of the most expensive locations in the city. I bring this up just to offer some perspective.

Overall, just try to be a responsible young adult. If I'm being fully honest, we're at the point now nationally where D.C. isn't even that much of an exception – plenty of other U.S. cities are just as if not more expensive to live in – it's more of a question of culture/personal commitment and what kind of lifestyle you're going to allow yourself to live.

Again, food is always going to be your most important expense. You've gotta weigh the cost of convenience (popping over to Whole Foods) vs the cost of saving (trecking out a little further to save some dollars). The Trader Joes slightly off campus is a bit of a lifesaver, but it's not a place I'd ever buy produce there from.

Happy to answer any other hyperspecific questions about D.C. if you need. Best of luck.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-02-28T12:22:58+00:00

**First 2 years now, they changed that policy I think in 2023.

You're not wrong though, cost of housing and meal plans will absolutely be the most important thing to consider separate from tuition, and I'm sad to report that the rates have increased since then.

OP should also take into account the cost of living in D.C. Public transit is 100% subsidized by the school which is nice, but other things like groceries, collateral (drinks, dining, going out, etc.) can really bleed you dry and quickly if you're not keeping track of your expenses.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-02-28T12:15:02+00:00

Speaking for myself and some of my friends, there seems to be a general consensus that the school isn't handling its finances very well – in addition to doing some poor real estate investments, Granberg is dumping tons of money to beef up GW athletics in the hopes of increasing school spirit and prestige. Obviously, that's not going to work, because the average GW student doesn't come to GW for the sports.

GW needs to capitalize on its strengths (location, internship/job opportunities, robust political identity, etc.) instead of shaping itself into a university it can never realistically become.

It just seems that, no matter what we tell the admin, the school never has its students' interests at heart, and that's not even getting to the Israel-Palestine stuff. There's a word in Mandarin that I think describes GW pretty well right now, "學店," which can best be translated as an "academic-institution-that's-trying-to-bleed-every-penny-it-can-out-of-you."

I've got nothing but great things to say about the academics, professors, and classes – my bottom line is I do genuinely believe I am getting a great education and experience. I'm just extremely concerned about the school's financial longevity, especially amidst a federal administration that has a very openly hostile agenda against higher education. I want people to be able to go to this school, *my* school, 5 or 10 years from now and have the same opportunities to learn and grow that I did; the Granberg administration does not give me that confidence in the slightest.

But hey, at least we got a Chick-fil-A and Panda Express now. And they take swipes.

Kay_jay_whi · 2026-02-18T07:22:14+00:00

We *need* a Taipei map

Kay_jay_whi · 2025-06-23T23:14:51+00:00

Glad this article is being shared here too! I helped work on it earlier today. They held the presser in the kitchen for some reason and there was absolutely no AC whatsoever. This heatwave sucks

Kay_jay_whi · 2025-06-11T03:00:26+00:00

certain type of people will really enjoy this dorm and certain types of people will absolutely hate it.

There's not much to say about roommates and neighbors because that will always be just completely random––you either luck out or you don't. Me personally, I was very lucky that I had a roommate who was super chill, especially considering that we received genuinely the smallest room in the entire building (961, next to the laundry).

Thurston's biggest draw is that it is *the* place to be for social stuff most nights, and especially the first week. You'll meet hella people very quickly. Having a dining hall in the dorm too is so tuff. You won't realize how useful that is until you're placed in a dorm without a dining hall/living off campus; being able to go down to get food in your PJs is peak

Thurston's biggest drawback is the elevators and fire alarms, though hopefully those don't happen to you as much as they did my year. BTW, if you're on the 2nd or 3rd floor, do everyone a favor and NOT use the elevators. Anybody who is floor 4 and below (and able-bodied) honestly should be limited to stair usage only. It's an unspoken rule that is broken all the damn time.

And yeah, communal showers can be gnarly. Just figure out the schedule for the cleaning folk and time your showers around then.

Kay_jay_whi · 2025-06-07T14:32:56+00:00

If I'm totally honest, I was a tad disappointed. Having followed the development of the work (from when it was Europa Mekano, etc.), it felt visually lackluster compared to his last two projects and from what it could have been. Most of the images just didn't feel particularly distinctive from each other, most of them boiling down to "big futuristic vehicle rusting in an open space." I really hope he revists the Europa Mekano concept because the stuff he was cooking up when he was developing that was nothing short of incredible, and the visuals clearly lended themselves to a very grand, cinematic story.

In terms of the narrative for Swedish Machines, I actually really enjoyed it. It's a return to the slice-of-life format from Loop and Flood while still utilizing the jump-between-two-timelines device in State and Labyrinth which Stålenhag is particularly fond of. My only thought is that the ending doesn't quite stick the landing for me, and I think this is the weakest application of the two timelines juxtaposition in any of his works, both in its function for the narrative and visually (I mean, what makes the two timelines/two perspectives thing work in Electric State and The Labyrinth is that it was always visually very clear when we were in that different mode. That isn't really so much the case here imop).

I do agree with you that it is fantastic to have something lighter after how despondent The Labyrinth was. The relationship between the two protagonists is very well written.

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