Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2270

STRANGER THINGS Releases First Cast Photo From Season Two

After several months of fevered fandom, endless mash-ups, and taking over Halloween this year, Stranger Things continues to not quit its pop culture domination, creeping back into our lives with a titillating new photo. Netflix’s smash hit of the summer has had quite a year, with everyone and their mother falling for its synthy score, deftly done 80s pastiche, and the sweet, mystery-solving kids at the heart of its sci-fi premise. To continue this banner achievement, the Duffer brothers have released the first official cast photo from season two (currently in production in Atlanta), and—of course—it’s not just any photo, but an enigmatic tweet that’s entirely flipped: a nod to the terrifying alternate dimension from the show, the Upside Down.

sƃuıɥʇɹǝƃuɐɹʇs#
ɹɐǝʎ ʇxǝu noʎ ǝǝs
uoıʇɔnpoɹd uı ʞɔɐq pic.twitter.com/jYd1tDsPRi

— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) November 4, 2016

The photo, when flipped, shows Stranger Things’ original cast of youngsters, including Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven)—whose fate was unclear at the end of last season—Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, and Noah Schnapp. We also get our first glimpse at Sadie Sink and Dacre Montgomery, the two new kids on the block, who will be joining season two. And while Queen of the Macabre Winona Ryder and the scene-stealing sheriff David Harbour are not pictured here, we do know they’re returning to the show next season. Sadly, everyone’s favorite best friend, Barb (Shannon Purser), is nowhere to be seen—looks like she really is lost to the Demogorgon’s clutches forever.

Take a look at the photo right side up below, and make sure you peruse all our favorite Stranger Things stories from the past few months while we eagerly await season two.

Learn more about the real-life conspiracy that inspired Stranger Things!
Additional details about the two new characters from next season.
Childish Gambino rapping over the Stranger Things theme is incredible.
Awesome yet revolting Stranger Things-inspired recipes from Netflix.
Stranger Things meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Yes, please!
ICYMI: Jean-Ralphio (Parks and Recreation) is Steve’s father.
Everything we know about Stranger Things season two so far.

Plus, could the Upside Down actually exist?

Image: Netflix

Rachel Heine is the Editor-in-Chief of Nerdist and co-host of Alpha Book Club and Fangirling! Chat with her about scary kids movies and television on Twitter.

BLACK MIRROR Creator Responds to SAN JUNIPERO Fan Theory

Within hours of the Netflix debut of Black Mirror‘s third season, the deliciously nostalgic and endearing episode “San Junipero” became a newly minted fan favorite. But the surprisingly sweet tone of this romance-driven story made some suspicious, spawning a fan theory Nerdist took to the man himself, “San Junipero” writer/Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker.

WARNING: spoilers For “San Junipero” lie ahead!

Starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Mackenzie Davis, the California-set “San Junipero” follows tourists Kelly and Yorkie as they fall in love against the backdrop of 1987 glamor. Of course not all is what it seems. We soon learn the titular party town is not real, but a heavenly simulation where the uploaded consciousness of the dying and dead are placed so they might “live” out eternity in youth and bedazzled ’80s attire.

In the third act, Yorkie goes from tourist to resident when she passes away. But will Kelly follow? Or will she choose to die the way her husband and daughter did before her, surrendering to nature and possible nothingness?

To our relief, the episode concludes with a happy ending. The pair romp about the beach in white dresses, seemingly taking their IRL marriage to the virtual plane for all time. However, Reddit user bgrizz101 argues this finale hides a”secret downer ending.” In a multi-point theory,bgrizz101 posits the Kelly frolicking with Yorkie in the final scenes isn’t the real thing, but just part of the titular simulation meant to keep Yorkie happy.

Could it be? Was “San Junipero”‘s uncharacteristically upbeat ending a clue? In New York, we sat down with Brooker to discuss this very ep. When we presented the fan theory, the ep’s writer quickly and enthusiastically shot it down.

“Wrong!” Brooker proclaimed. “They are together.”

Addressing the episodes’s origins, he went on, “As I was doing it, I wasn’t sure what the ending was. I thought, ‘Let’s gift these characters (a happy ending).’ It was the first one I’d written in this season as well. And I wanted to reinvent what I thought a Black Mirror episode was, because I’d read people grumbling, ‘Oh the show’s going to Netflix. What if it gets all Americanized!?’ I thought, ‘Right.” Mugging, Brooker gives the double Vs sign, then mimes typing furiously as he continues. “‘It’s California! Ha!’ And then I wanted to give it a very different tone, almost as a sort of clearing of the pipes…and it sort of came out quite quickly, the story. The reaction to it’s been really pleasing.”

Brooker also confessed how the happy ending meant even more as the script developed, saying, “In the first treatment, it was a heterosexual couple…And then I was trying to think for this season, ‘Let’s just try to revisit my initial thoughts.’ So then I thought, ‘What if it isn’t (a heterosexual couple)?’ And that gave it an extra level of thematic relevance, because gay marriage wasn’t possible in 1987.”

So no points to fan theories this time. But on the plus side, this denouncement is great news for the growing Kelly/Yorkie fandom, confimring that heaven can be a place on Black Mirror’s Earth.

More from this interview–as well as others with the Black Mirror cast and crew–will be coming soon.

What’s your favorite Black Mirror episode?

Image: Netflix

9 of the Quirkiest Events in GILMORE GIRLS’ Stars Hollow

It’s impossible to make a complete list of all of Gilmore Girls’ charming aspects. Such a list would have dozens of entries. I know what would be near the top of the list though, right next to Lorelai’s coffee habits and Kirk’s off kilter behavior: Stars Hollow. The small town Lorelai and Rory call home is a character in the series. Stars Hollow represents the most appealing ideal of a quaint village. It has unique residents, lively town meetings, adorable shops, and a gazebo. Why would Lorelai ever want to leave?

One of the utterly fantastic parts about Stars Hollow is the town’s penchant for hosting festivals, marathons, and everything in between. They go all out with decor. Town Selectman Taylor Doose seems to have no problem with getting citizens to participate; everyone but Luke is enthusiastic about donning costumes or putting themselves through physical stress to contribute to the community. We saw a variety of celebrations and fundraisers in seven seasons of Gilmore Girls, but in no particular order, these are nine of the quirkiest:

1. 24 Hour Stars Hollow Dance Marathon

It’s not enough to have an annual 24 hour dance marathon with few breaks. Oh no. Stars Hollow made the event, which is basically a super long exercise session, extra special by requiring participants to dress up and adhere to a theme before they took to the dance floor. Ah, tradition.

2. Bid On a Basket

Want a lady and a picnic basket? You can get both in Stars Hollow’s annual Bid On a Basket auction. Ladies put together picnic baskets filled with homemade goods (Sookie’s) or stale Pop-Tarts (Lorelai’s), and men bid on them. The winning bidder got to share the basket with the basket-maker. Yeah. If this event reappears in the revival, I hope we see some dudes on the auction block.

3. End of Summer Madness Festival

I love when Taylor decided Stars Hollow’s calendar wasn’t full enough and added a new festival. That’s what happened with the End of Summer Madness Festival and its “Lazy-Hazy-Crazy-Days of Summer.” Oof. Is it possible to get that song out of your head?

4. Revolutionary War Reenactment

Stars Hollow gets a big thumbs up for constantly celebrating its history. They raise a glass to the past annually with a Revolutionary War reenactment. The town’s key role in the war? A woman of questionable morals lured a general to her bed and kept him occupied. Kirk ended up playing her in the reenactment. Because of course.

5. The Old Muddy River Bridge Knit-A-Thon

What do you do when you need to repair a bridge? Raise money from the townsfolk. I like to imagine Taylor has a dartboard filled with random activities, and when it’s time to host a new fundraiser, he just closes his eyes and throws. Knitting won the toss this time, which means the town square was basically covered with yarn… until Christopher ruined it.

6. Movie Night in the Square

Getting the town together to watch a movie outside sounds like a lovely idea, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, there were a whole lot of restrictions about what can be shown, so they watch The Yearling at every Movie Nigt in the Square. It’s like a unique version of hell. But it’s okay, Kirk debuting his bizarre short film made up for it.

7. Founders Firelight Festival

Not enough cities celebrate when they were founded, but Stars Hollow didn’t let the momentous occasion get past them. They make the anniversary memorable with a bonfire and Miss Patty’s founders’ day punch.

8. Spring Fling Festival

Stars Hollow is big on having bash for each season, so spring got Spring Fling. Everyone seemed to be looking forward to the festival, but we’ll never know what it should have been like because Taylor changed the plan. He poured the entire budge into a town-wide hay bale maze.

9. Rory’s Graduation Party

Look, I think Rory is swell. She gets a tad selfish, but overall, she’s plucky and smart. But why is she the most special kid in Stars Hollow? I hope they have big town-wide parties like Rory’s graduation/bon voyage shindig for all the young adults who matriculated and scored a degree.

Think of all the festivals Stars Hollow hosted in Gilmore Girls, and then head to the comments to tell me which ones you most want to attend.

Images: Warner Bros., Mjolnir Sammy, Julia, FND, Stacy

HEARTHSTONE’s New Expansion Features the “Mean Streets of Gadgetzan”

Things are about to get wild in Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft. Blizzcon 2016 kicked off with a bang with the reveal of the fourth major expansion for the incredibly popular card game. As you can probably guess by the name, Mean Streets of Gadgetzan, this expansion’s theme will be the city of Gadgetzan, and the factions that run the streets of this trade center. Long time fans of the game will be happy to know that this new addition will not only introduce new cards, but will also bring new gameplay features along with it. But before we dive into what to expect, enjoy the insane cinematic trailer above.

Each class will go under one of three factions, which will have their own unique twist: Grimy Goons (Hunter, Paladin, Warrior), Kabal (Mage, Priest, Warlock), or Jade Lotus (Druid, Rogue, Shaman). Also, some neutral minions will be tri-card class cards that are exclusive to each faction. For example, the Kabal will have a card that can be used in either a Mage, Priest, or Warlock deck. This has the potential to lead to some really interesting strategies that were never possible in Hearthstone before. For example, The Kabal Curior (new card belonging to Kabal faction) has a Battlecry that lets you discover a mage, warlock, or priest card.

There is no set release date yet, but we do know it’s coming by the end of the year, and you can pre-order 50 packs right now for $49.99! As someone who plays this game several hours a day, I can say that this could easily be the most transformative expansion to hit Hearthstone, yet.

Are you going to pre-order Mean Streets of Gadgetzan? What are you most excited about with this new expansion? Do you like the idea of having your favorite class belong to a certain faction? Do you like the idea of tri-class cards? Reveal your hand in the comments section below.

Image: Hearthstone

JUSTICE LEAGUE Casts Ciarán Hinds as Steppenwolf

Next year, DC’s Justice League will finally come together on the big screen for the first time as they go up against a common enemy. Now, we finally know which villain is going to menace the Earth in the League’s first movie.

The Wrap is reporting that Ciarán Hinds has joined the cast of Justice League as Steppenwolf, the leader of Apokolips’ military. We’ve reached out to Warner Bros. for comment on this report, but we have not yet received a reply. Hinds has previously starred in Rome, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Political Animals, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. But Game of Thrones fans probably know him best for his role as Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall.

According to The Wrap, Steppenwolf will be a CGI-created character based on Hinds’ motion capture performance. Steppenwolf will also have a different design than the one used in a deleted scene from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Casual comic book movie fans have to be wondering who Steppenwolf is, as he is far from the best known villain in the DC Universe. The good news is that if Steppenwolf is in this movie, it means that Darkseid can’t be far away. Both Steppenwolf, and his ruler, Darkseid, hail from Apokolips, home of the evil Gods in Jack Kirby‘s New Gods. Steppenwolf is actually Darkseid’s uncle in the comics, and that family relationship may carry into the film as well.

Steppenwolf isn’t considered to be one of the DC Universe’s top villains, but he played a key role in restarting the war between Apokolips and New Genesis (home of the benevolent New Gods). One of Steppenwolf’s signature weapons is his electro-axe; which will almost certainly show up in the Justice League movie as well. Kirby didn’t seem to have much use for Stepphenwolf in his stories, as he was killed off fairly quickly. But Steppenwolf was subsequently revived, and he even got his own action figure in the ’80s as part of the Super Powers TV show and comic book.

While Steppenwolf has been a fifth-string villain through most of his career, the New 52 Steppenwolf was presented as a more formidable adversary in the Earth 2 comic book series, where he invaded Earth on Darkseid’s behalf and helped kill that world’s Superman and Batman, as well as personally murdering Wonder Woman.

The biggest reason that Steppenwolf will be the villain in Justice League is that director Zack Snyder is probably saving Darkseid for either the second or third film in the series. That approach makes sense, because Darkseid is one of the biggest and baddest villains that DC has. But we’re still eager to see Darkseid make the leap to the big screen as well. We’d say that chances are pretty good that Darkseid will at least have a cameo appearance in this film.

Are you excited to see Steppenwolf in the Justice League movie? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

Images: DC Comics/HBO/Warner Bros.

We’re stoked for Justice League!

How Will DOCTOR STRANGE Change the MCU?

By the Vishanti, Doctor Strange is finally in theaters and the Marvel Cinematic Universe just became a much weirder place, and even more intriguing than it was before. While it should be interesting to see how high the box office goes for this film, we’re more excited about the storytelling possibilities that came out of it. Doctor Strange not only set up the rest of Marvel’s Phase 3 films, it may have also given us a glimpse of Phase 4. Today’s Nerdist News is throwing open the forbidden texts and predicting the future of the MCU!

Before we go any further, you should know that are major spoilers ahead! Seriously, we’re talking about some of Doctor Strange‘s biggest secrets, so you should probably wait to see the movie before watching the video or reading the rest of this post. You’ve been warned!

FOR REALS, WE’RE WARNING YOU.

Join Nerdist News host, and Stephen Strange’s next mystical apprentice, Jessica Chobot, as she takes us to the Dark Dimension and beyond. First off, we totally called that Strange’s Eye of Agamotto was an Infinity Stone. Considering that Thanos needs it for his Infinity Gauntlet, we now know exactly how Strange will be drawn into Avengers: Infinity War. The power to rewind time could be very useful against Thanos, assuming that Thanos doesn’t steal it first! Marvel Studios has already been teasing a meeting of the two Sherlocks: Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey, Jr. in that movie, which should give us a very entertaining team up between Strange and Tony Stark.

But we don’t have to wait until 2018 to see Strange meet an Avenger, because it happened in this film! That’s right, the mid-credits scene appears to be a preview from Thor: Ragnarok, as Chris Hemsworth‘s title character comes to Strange looking for a little help. That sequence may have also set up some potential conflict between Strange and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, as he’s only giving Thor a hand in exchange for a promise that he’ll leave Earth with his family when he’s done.

The Time Stone and the multiverse glimpsed in this movie could also set up alternate MCUs that could be explored in the future, or perhaps as a way to introduce the next generation of heroes like Miles Morales as Spider-Man or Riri Williams as Ironheart, the heir to Tony Stark’s legacy.

On a side note, today marks the third birthday of Nerdist News, and we’re celebrating by teaming up with IMAX to give away a Doctor Strange Superpack. One lucky fan will walk away with an Eye of Agamotto, two tickets to an IMAX screening of Doctor Strange, and a mini poster signed by director Scott Derrickson, executive producer Kevin Feige, as well as cast members Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton, Benedict Wong, and Mads Mikkelsen. All you need to do to enter is to click on this twitter link, and let us know which mystical relic from the Marvel Universe would choose you.

 

Are you excited about all of the strange possibilities to come in the MCU? Let’s discuss in the comment section below!

TRAIN TO BUSAN Takes the Zombie Outbreak to Disturbing Places (Review)

You think your morning commute is hell? Imagine taking a train packed with ravenous zombies. What with this past summer’s barrage of showy wannabe blockbusters, you may have overlooked one of the best horror movies that 2016 has to offer. Lucky for you, Train to Busan has been granted a re-release, giving zombie fans a second chance to get scared stupid.

By setting his zombie outbreak story aboard the titular train, South Korean writer/director Yeon Sang-ho has created an intense and intimate thrill ride that plays like Snakes on a Plane meets 28 Days Later. On the rails, people from all walks of life mingle indifferently with no idea how drastically their worlds are about to change. Elderly sisters bicker over snacking. A high school baseball team hoots over a flirtatious cheerleader, while a brawny dad-to-be tends to his pregnant wife, and a sneering businessman criticizes a wild-eyed vagrant. Amid all this casual commotion stumbles the emotional core of this chilling thriller, a teary-eyed girl (Kim Soo-an) desperate to reconnect with her ever-distracted financier father (Gong Yoo). When a voracious infection turns passenger after passenger into a flesh-craving fiend, these strangers will fast become enemies or allies.

The train device is brilliant. Not only does it allow Yeon a sharp focus to his zombie apocalypse tale, but also it creates a dizzying sense of claustrophobia as characters are forced again and again to race car to car, sheltering in tiny bathrooms to avoid the deadly maws of the undead. When the train does make a stop, Yeon loses no momentum, transforming train stations and escalators into accidental traps, and thereby centerpieces for shriek-inducing action sequences. And while these setups create teeth-chattering suspense, the zombies themselves are what makes this horror truly traumatizing.

There are some so-so visual effects to be found the closer we get to the Train to Busan‘s final destination. However, the meat of its scares comes from perturbing practical effects that feel so authentic they’re actually sickening. The design of these zombies is simple: glassy eyes, bloody mouths, bite wounds, and spreading corruption in the veins. But an army of contortionists, dancers, and go-for-broke stunt people has created a uniquely scary physicality to these monsters. Their gray limbs jut out at unnatural angles as their bodies thrash like things possessed, and their faces smash into the ground with such force you’ll forget your watching fiction—you’ll feel the frenzy, and it’ll rattle around in your bloodstream long after the credits have rolled.

Like The Raid, Train to Busan feels exhilaratingly unsafe and illicit, as if you’re watching something the world was never meant to see. And because this is no glossy Hollywood horror flick, this low-budget but terrifying treat is delectably unpredictable, barreling toward its big finale with no promises of safety for even its most lovable characters.

The plot is thin, the characters archetypes. But Yeon’s script is shrewd enough to give us just enough of the father-daughter tale to be emotionally riveted to this survival struggle, and moves his film swiftly enough to keep us breathless. All in all, Train to Busan is a lean and mean zombie movie that is freshly frightening, bloody gruesome, and deliciously raw.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Image: Well Go USA Entertainment/StudioCanal

SUPERNATURAL Recap: Humans Are the “American Nightmare”

Warning: This post contains spoilers for the Supernatural episode “American Nightmare.” If you haven’t watched it yet, jump into the Impala and drive away.

The Winchesters are down to a party of two again. With Mary gone and taking some time for herself to get used to not being dead, Sam and Dean got back to the family business. (It’s how I’d cope, so I don’t fault them.) “American Nightmare” revisited one of the more horrifying monsters in Supernatural: humans.

The brothers have faced vampires, werewolves, the Darkness, and many other creatures that take human life in the years they’ve been hunting things. I expect a certain level of cruelty and violence from those beings. But when a human is actually the villain, it’s harder to digest. The Winchesters have encountered some terrible specimens of our race over the past 11+ years, and they added a name to the list with the new episode.

They’re brought to the scene by the usual, a death no one can explain. The victim, Olivia, had stigmata and a flayed back, and her brain had been turned into mush. Though Dean suspected a coworker had her eyes on the victim’s job, another person fell prey to the strange affliction and died. And he didn’t have any connection to the suspect.

Olivia’s job did lead the Winchesters to what they would eventually learn was the source of the problem. Olivia worked in Child Protective Services and had her eye on a devout religious family living off the grid. They were so dedcated to their beliefs they even shunned hospital care for their sick daughter, leading her to pass away. (Hence the attention from Child Protective Services.)

Sam and Dean dressed in their preppy Sunday best to visit the family, the Petersons. Though they were all kind, it was apparent something was off. Of course, the “Then” segment before the episode hinted at someone having psychic abilities (those segments are cool because they show how dots connect over the series, but they’re also a li’l spoilery), and it seemed likely one of the Petersons was the psychic. The boys didn’t uncover anything explicit, but Sam raised his eyebrow at Mrs. Peterson. He lost his temper with her “everything is God’s will” attitude, which was especially surprising after he’d just scolded Dean for being a dick. Then again, look at what he’s seen. He’s literally BFFs with God. He knows how the world works and knows the Petersons should have taken their kid to the hospital.

But wait! There’s a twist. The Petersons’ dead daughter, Magda, actually wasn’t dead. In fact, she’s the psychic. Okay, it may have been telegraphed and pretty obvious, but the knowledge didn’t make the reveal about Magda’s circumstances any less disturbing. The whole family knew Magda was locked in the basement. Mrs. Peterson was the one making Magda punish herself for her “sins,” but Mr. Peterson excused her behavior by saying she was doing God’s work. The son was the only one who raised an eyebrow.

While Sam was nosing around the Petersons’ property looking for Magda’s bones, he happened to be in the right place at the right time to hear Elijah talk to his dad about Magda. He took the conveniently dropped information and found the imprisoned girl, but he got knocked out by Elijah and thrown in the basement with Magda for his trouble.

Of course, she wasn’t at all evil. She didn’t know what her powers were about and believed all the bull her mother fed her about having the devil inside her. Her mother had spent years hiding Magda away and treating her like an untouchable. It sort of reminded me of Frozen. Instead of helping Magda deal with her powers and learn to control them, they went to the opposite extreme. They locked her up and also convinced her she was evil and made her flog her own back to punish herself. That’s what manifested upon the victims. Magda was trying to reach out to them for help and inadvertently caused their deaths. I’d argue Mrs. Peterson was more responsible than Magda.

And she got worse! When Sam tried to explain Magda’s abilities, Mrs. Peterson decided the entire family was going to die together. She dumped rat poison into their dinner. Her actions led to the death of her husband and son, and she got carted away. Ugh. Humans can be awful.

But when it seemed like Magda was safe and in the clear, Mr. Ketch of the British Men of Letters caught up with her and killed her. He said he was cleaning up the Winchesters’ mess. Magda was only a teen. If they’re willing to kill in cold blood without leaving any wiggle room, how are they any different from monsters? I imagine we’ll be asking the question a lot as the season progresses.

What did you think of this case of the week story? Are you feeling nervous about the British Men of Letters? Tell me in the comments.

Images: The CW

The Supernatural cast talks season 12’s big changes

Colour Pop x Hello Kitty is the Cutest Collaboration in Beauty

Hello Kitty’s birthday was November 1 and what better way to celebrate than with a fun makeover? Sanrio’s iconic character is teaming up with ColourPop cosmetics to launch an adorable collaboration of beauty products. As an avid collector of both makeup and Hello Kitty, this team up is a dream come true.

Inspired by Hello Kitty and seasonal shades, the ColourPop x Hello Kitty is a collection of super kawaii shades that will look great on Sanrio fans of all ages. I use ColourPop’s Ultra Matte Lip colors for my daily makeup so I know the colors on this line with definitely pop and stay perfect all day.

ColourPop has one of my favorite lip lines because it goes on easy and is long lasting when you have a full day. The Hello Kitty line will come in daily wear like Ultra Satin which comes in two colors, a saturated fuschia called Lock Diary and a baby pink color called Tiny Chum. Named after Tiny Chum, Hello Kitty’s little bear friend, obviously.

Their popular line of creamy Lippie Stix are for fans who want a more subtle daily wear out of their makeup. The creamy lipstick comes in a good selection of Hello Kitty pinks and reds. Eye shadows with distinctly Sanrio names like Rainbow, Small Gift, as well as shimmery face blushes are also available.

For more intense makeup users ColourPop is offering up Ultra Metallic Lip and Ultra Glossy which gives an extreme shine. All the items in the collection come in beautiful bright colors and adorable packaging, as fans of the popular cat would expect no less.

Hello Kitty fans won’t be disappointed as all the pieces are moderately priced and would also make great gifts for the holidays. The new collection ranges from $5 to $42 with limited edition makeup bags also available online. I definitely need to pick up one of those.

Check out more of the collection in the gallery below. The Colour Pop x Hello Kitty collection is available on colourpop.com.

Are you excited for the Colour Pop x Hello Kitty collection? Let us know in the comments and tag @nerdist and @justjennrecipes on instagram to show us your makeup collection!

Images: ColourPop

Life-Sized Skeleton Pencil Reminds Us All of Our Own Mortality

It’s been a few days now since the end of 2016’s Diá de Muertos. What does that mean? Literally, in English, it means “Day of the Dead.” Figuratively, well, there’s a really nice farm upstate where your childhood dogs, outdated iPhones, and eventually you, dear mortal coils, all end up. Yes, we’re talking about the big D—no, not the Death Star—simply death itself. And what better way to think about death than with a giant skeleton pencil that draws itself into oblivion?

The skele-pencil in the above video and image gallery below (which vibrated our way via Gizmodo), is the work of San Francisco-based artist Agelio Batle. It’s titled Ash Dancer and is essentially a life-sized graphite skeleton that makes drawings of itself on a vibrating table covered in Vellum paper (parchment made of calf skin or other animals).

It’s hard to top the description of the installation given by the Jack Fischer Gallery—where Ash Dancer will be shown November 5-December 29—so here is just a tiny taste of the philosophical musings that the skele-pencil inspires:

“For Ash Dancer, its graphite has made a long journey. First, exhumed from a deep, million-year hibernation, it is incarnated briefly into a skeleton body. Through its eroding dance, it will perish once again, while simultaneously resurrecting its body through the resulting ‘figure’ drawings.”

Ash Dancer will be the featured artwork in Batle’s solo show at the Fischer Gallery (titled murmur / tremble), which will also include sculptures and paintings by the artist—a few of which you can check out here. There’s no word on cost of entry, but contemplation of your own demise is certainly free.

What do you think about this graphite skeleton pencil that literally draws itself to death? Did it remind you of any particular pop-culture skeletons, like maybe Skeletor or that angel-skeleton thing from The Simpsons episode, “Lisa the Skeptic”? Pull all of your skeletons out of their respective closets in the comments below!

Images: BatleStudioSF