Human art
Liam Stretch - culture editor
Kicking off in November was the Court Theatre’s rendition of Rent. I was lucky enough to attend opening night. Thanks to a flawless show by the Court’s wonderful troupe of creatives, performers, musicians, and supporters, it is still cemented as one of my favourite musicals. I love its storytelling and the very human approach it takes to crises, both public and personal. Just as Jonathan Larson instilled humanity into his art with Rent, I’ve, this month, looked to others who have done the same and achieved incredible works while keeping true to the human condition. There’s my favourite TV show for 2022, a masterpiece expertly created by Guillermo del Toro, a book that will have you glued to its pages, and a song from the archives bringing back the almost haunting harmonies of The Beach Boys. Rent is on ’til 21 January, get along.
CABINET OF CURIOSITIES
Reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, Guillermo del Toro presents a range of odd stories by different directors in Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. This series on Netflix skates through various horror genres and captures the unique talents of individual filmmakers. It is absurd, a little scary, and in some places, it’s just plain brilliant.
5 stars
ARCHIVAL ARRIVAL
Originally recorded for The Beach Boys’ 1973 album Holland, Carry Me Home laid dormant and was unreleased until this year. I can understand why it wasn’t released initially, as it centres around a soldier dying in Vietnam and has a very different feel from the other tracks on the album. Its haunting harmonies will send a shiver down your spine.
4 stars
PACED PERFECT
Real, relevant, and relatable. Better the Blood by Michael Bennett is an excellent thriller with a real New Zealand at its core. It’s modern and moving, twisted and tense. You won’t put this book down thanks to its near-perfect pacing and the ease it takes to visualise every plot element. You’ll be transported into the protagonist’s world and absorbed in the thrill right to the very end.
4 stars