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Book Review: Lock the Doors by Vincent Ralph

By Julia Collins

Lock The Doors (2021) is a mystery YA novel recommended for ages 14-18 (though even if you don’t fit the age group, you will still likely enjoy the book and relate to the characters). This is author Vincent Ralph’s second book. Ralph lives in the UK and has a wife and two sons. 

16-year-old Tom Cavanaugh and his family have just moved into a new house. Tom does not like this as he struggles with OCD and anxiety due to seeing his mother abused by her ex-boyfriends. Even though she is happily married to Jay now, Tom is still skeptical about how safe they are. He sees holes on the outside of his bedroom door and thinks that the previous occupant must have been locked in. Then he finds the words “HELP ME” written on the wall. It doesn’t take long for Tom to become scared of the house as something was definitely wrong.

At school, Tom meets Amy, whose family had previously lived in his new home. During their first meeting, Amy’s mother was present, which made her uncomfortable. However, the next time Tom and Amy see each other, she is warm and friendly. Amy and Tom quickly become friends, and they begin to feel very comfortable around each other. Tom learns that Amy used to sleep in the bedroom that is now his own and later, at a party, they dance and kiss. Soon after, Tom walks Amy home and meets her parents. Although she denies it, he can tell that something is off about them. Her mother, Jane, is suspicious and cunning, and her father, Chris, is indifferent to his family. Tom does not trust them and concludes that they used to lock Amy in her room. When Tom has dinner with her family for the first time, he discovers that her younger brother, Will, is an artist. Tom recognizes Will’s handwriting to be the same as the “HELP ME” on his wall. Horrified, Tom begins to spy on Amy’s family to figure out what happened to Will and Amy in their old house. What he finds is devastating. The reader has to read it for themselves to get the full effect, as it is a very intriguing read! 

I would rate this book a 9/10. It was hard to get into, as there is less action, but the climax is stunning. Tom is an interesting character to read about, while Amy is more mysterious, and my perception of her shifted several times. Overall, this is a good book that I enjoyed reading. I am looking forward to more thrillers from Vincent Ralph.★

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A-Compelling Club

By Caleb Tiedemann

It is not uncommon knowledge that Houghton is almost literally located in the middle of nowhere. Due to this common problem which can leave many students bored and with no way to destress, the college is very accommodating when it comes to extracurricular activities. Normally one may spend all their time drinking Java’s near-unlimited caffeine-laced products or spending countless hours on their Organic Chemistry homework. Therefore, it is important to find something calming that still stimulates our young minds. 

Luckily, Houghton has various different clubs for whatever may pique your interest. One of the many clubs that has come to my attention and become quite active is Houghton Heartsong; an Acapella Club. Seeing as how Houghton has an entire building dedicated to the study, creation, and production of music, it seems fitting for there to be multiple clubs dedicated to students who love the musical arts. 

Houghton Heartsong was created by juniors Grace Vuolo, who majors in music industry and minors in vocal performance; and Jon Hutmire, who majors in music industry and minors in business administration. The two act as leaders of the club with Vuolo acting as president and Hutmire as vice president. The mission of Heartsong is, as stated by Vuolo: “A club where people who like to sing of any musical background can come and have fun making music with our voices.” Some students may have already witnessed Heartsong’s musical ability at the Tree Lighting Ceremony prior to Christmas break.

When asked why she wanted to start Heartsong, Vuolo shared her inspiration as the 2012 film: “Pitch Perfect”. During her high school years, She fell in love with the movie and felt inspired by what they did with acapella. At that moment, she vowed that she would not attend a college without an acapella club. Prior to her attending Houghton University, there was no acapella club, so she started one herself, creating Heartsong in her freshman year. She wanted to make a club for everyone on the vocal music spectrum, from lower skill and familiarity to higher. Heartsong is a club for students to learn and grow, developing their vocal skills together. Due to the wide range of abilities, everyone’s skill set, or lack thereof, can be utilized. 

At the moment, Heartsong consists of ten members, and students not already involved are more than welcome to attend. I have attended various musical productions put on by the Greatbatch School of Music, and know that there are a lot more than ten people who have been gifted vocally. Large school productions can be very stressful, but Heartsong is a place for students who just want to have fun and relax. You can find Heartsong meeting in room 145 of the Center for the Arts from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Fridays, or you can email either Vuolo or Hutmire with any questions about the club. ★

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Coffee Review

By Victoria Hock

Nestled in Cuba, a town almost 30 minutes from Houghton, is the Perfect Blend, a small coffee shop that features a breakfast and lunch menu as well. On a beautiful fall day, I ventured there with a family member who was in town.

When you walk in, you are immediately greeted by quaint decor. Though there isn’t a lot of seating inside, there was still ample seating outside, giving people the opportunity to enjoy views of Cuba as they enjoy their coffee. The Perfect Blend immediately struck me as a place that would be perfect whether you’re visiting with family or friends or looking for a spot to get some work done.

The ordering process was simple. We walked in, and immediately walked up to a counter to place our orders with the friendly, helpful staff. The menu was written behind us on a chalkboard, and there were a lot of options, without being overwhelming. After we placed our orders, my family member’s drink (I went for a simple bottled iced tea) was placed on the side counter while our food was brought to us.

As I said, I went for a simple bottled iced tea as my drink — there was nothing particularly unique about it. However, the family member I was with selected a raspberry latte. I hadn’t seen a raspberry latte in many coffee shops previously, and with how good she said it was, I was tempted to order one myself.

The Perfect Blend offered a variety of foods, including things like bagels and breakfast sandwiches for breakfast and paninis and bowls for lunch. My family member’s and my eventual food selections were very different from each other, with my family member going for a breakfast item with a simple bagel and cream cheese, and with me selecting more of a lunch item with the garlic fest bowl. Both selections were very good.

Overall, we enjoyed our visit to the Perfect Blend. We look forward to returning in the future. Whether you’re looking to just grab a coffee with someone or as fuel while you get some homework done, or breakfast or lunch, the Perfect Blend is the perfect spot. ★

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Club Highlight: Sigma Zeta Honor Society

By Josh Carpenter

For the fall 2022 semester at Houghton University, the Sigma Zeta National Honor Society is reaching out to diverse audiences as it turns the page to its new Beta Nu chapter. 

According to Sigma Zeta’s official website, “Sigma Zeta welcomes the formation of new campus chapters interested in furthering the purpose of the society as stated in the mission statement: a national undergraduate honor society to encourage and foster scholarly activity and recognize academic scholarship in the natural and computer sciences and mathematics.” 

         Senior Skye Chaapel, who is President of Sigma Zeta’s Beta Nu chapter, explains,“Beta Nu just indicates that this is the specific chapter of the national honor society, Sigma Zeta, here at Houghton University. It doesn’t have any other meaning outside of that.” 

This current chapter of Sigma Zeta adheres to the theme, “To make science more accessible for diverse audiences of all ages,” shares Chaapel.

To accomplish this, Skye hopes that Sigma Zeta members will share their love and appreciation for the math and science fields with others through celebrating days like Pi Day and Mole Day, also by putting on Lab Saturdays once a semester for high school students. 

Karen Torraca, Professor of Chemistry at Houghton University and Sigma Zeta’s faculty advisor, is encouraging the club this semester to participate in community outreach.  

Torraca writes, “I work with local Christian schools, homeschool groups and public high schools to invite high school students to come to campus for a Saturday afternoon of labs in chemistry, biology, and physics.” 

 Leading these labs are members of Sigma Zeta, who come to campus from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. In her observation of them, Torraca writes, “[It’s] fun to watch the Sigma Zeta students interact with the high school students and vice versa. It’s a win-win for everyone.” 

To be eligible for Sigma Zeta, students must be a declared STEM major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher collectively in STEM classes and a 3.0 GPA or higher overall. Students are additionally required to have completed at least 25 credit hours, including 15 hours in the natural sciences or mathematics. If students meet these requirements, they will be selected based on all classes taken through the fall semester, then be invited to join Sigma Zeta during the spring semester after they pay a national membership fee of $35. 

Students who think they meet the requirements but were not contacted about joining the club should contact Dr. Karen Torraca, the chapter advisor. ★

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Alien (1979): A Horror Classic

By Caleb Tiedemann

“I admire its purity.” – Science Officer Ash

Alien is just that. Purity. Through and through, it is perfect. At this time in film history, space was a relatively unexplored concept. Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey and George Lucas’s Star Wars were the only predecessors in the space genre. Horror in space had not been done. However, in 1979 Ridley Scott delivered Alien.

Alien is a horror classic that follows the crew of the Nostromo when they intercept a distress signal from a planet of unknown origin. Ordered by their superiors, the crew lands and begins to explore. When one of the crew is attacked by an unknown creature, he is quickly rushed back to the ship, unaware of the impregnation of a parasite that will explode from his body and terrorize the rest of the crew. 

The plot follows the typical “last survivor” trope. To be fair, this is a trope of the 2000s and not really of the 70s, which leads me to wonder if Alien had a hand in kickstarting that. One of the complaints I’ve heard before is that the movie is slow, and I completely agree. But that’s where some of the mastery comes into play. The calm before the storm, so to speak, lets each character be established so you can gather their general personality. That being said, all of these actors are wonderfully handpicked, and each manages to bring personality and genuine humanity to their characters, no matter how long or short they are on screen. Each character is wonderfully alive, until they aren’t, of course, but their journey of survival is one that you latch onto with the hope that your favorite will come out on top. 

Another beautiful aspect is the costume for the alien known as the Xenomorph. A hulking black skeletal creature that skulks around silently, blending into the darkness before lunging out to kill you with its dangerous appendages. The cinematic aspects are enormous. The sets and scenery are absolutely perfect. A dark and cluttered ship offers the perfect environment for anything to hide. The clutter adds a paranoid claustrophobic element, as there is truly no escape from the horror. The use of lighting in this movie is amazing. Darkness completely covers the sets which work another fear in the movie, a silent terror in the darkness. 

The lack of computer-generated imagery (CGI) is also something to be praised. In a world where a movie without CGI is unthinkable, it is always refreshing to view classics and learn how filmmakers used special effects to achieve their desires. The alien costume is horrifying and looks far superior in live action, whereas the later alien movies used CGI for the Xenomorphs and therefore lost some of its distinctiveness. The space scenes use models just as George Lucas did for early Star Wars and honestly, in its own special way, it stands far superior to many movies that do not. The combination of these elements works tremendously well for the movie. 

The final aspect that sets the movie aside is the sound design. Combined with the factors above, the sounds of the ship are a whole new addition. All of your senses are preoccupied with sounds, sights, or lack thereof. The score is a horrifyingly eerie one that builds up tension. Sometimes it’s all for nothing, other times it doesn’t build up well enough until you see the Xenomorph take another victim. The movie does a great job of keeping you guessing whether or not you’re genuinely in for a scare. 

Overall, Alien is a classic horror movie that is essential for any horror lover. A 1979 classic that embodies all the essential emotions and fears of a horror movie, sucking you into this nightmare with the crew of the Nostromo. I truly believe this movie is “pure” in all the right ways and offers an experience that few movies can. 

Final Grade: 10/10 (A+) ★

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Creative and Comfortable: Deitrick’s Approach to Fashion

By Megan Brown

While the first day of a new school year may mark a time for new classes and new friends, for senior theology and communications major Grace Deitrick, it marks a chance to express her truest self through her first-day-of-school outfit.

“Even from preschool,” she said. “I loved picking out my first-day-of-school outfit.”

As with many kids, Deitrick’s mom chose and purchased most of her clothes, and as she grew up, Deitrick began to discover what her own style was. At the end of high school, she found what went on to make the biggest impact on what she wears today: a local vintage store.

“I started shopping there more regularly,” she said. “And I was like, wow, look at how creative these [pieces] are. There’s so much history in each piece of clothing. And that really inspired me to develop my style more in college.”

While Deitrick spoke, she wore a creamy short sleeve button-down with a muted floral pattern, jeans, and black slip-on shoes. These types of clothes are representative of what she currently loves to wear, a style which she describes as “grandma living on the French Riviera.”

But what makes Deitrick’s choices unique is how she mixes the posh clothing choices of an older woman with a college-aged woman’s practicality. This grandma hasn’t only lived on the iconic Mediterranean coastline.

“But also she lived on a farm before she moved to the French Riviera,” Deitrick said, continuing her analogy. “So she’s got a little bit of that salt-of-the earth in her.”

This parallels Deitrick’s own life as she grew up in rural eastern Pennsylvania but traveled to London her freshman year for Houghton University’s London Honors program.

“Living in London for a little while almost gave me permission to branch out because I saw the full extent of the creativity,” she said. “Since I’ve been in college, I’ve spent more time in different cities. And I always get really excited to go to a city because I can wear whatever I want, and it won’t be the weirdest thing there.”

Deitrick prioritizes unique pieces that stand out, but she also prioritizes comfort. This has been an essential aspect of her clothing choices since she was young because she has always been an active person.

“I’ve always been just throwing myself wholeheartedly into what I do,” she said. “And so that usually results in some kind of stain or rip.”

However, for women, fashion has not always been about practicality. In a recent book study, Deitrick explained how a section discussed how women’s clothing has historically been decorative whereas men’s was functional. She noticed this subconsciously, but facing it plainly written in a book put words to cues she didn’t know she had been observing.

“I don’t think how you do fashion is limited by your gender,” she said. “It shouldn’t be weird for a guy to wear a bracelet or a necklace, and it shouldn’t be weird for a girl to wear what makes her comfortable.”

The clothing that makes Deitrick comfortable is “ratty old button-downs,” blazers, dresses, and statement earrings. While some of these might seem in contrast with one another on paper, it all makes sense to Deitrick and helps her express what is to her the ultimate aspect of fashion: creativity.

“It’s really exciting to have an area of my life that I can just release all the creative energy that I want to, and it doesn’t take that much time out of my day,” she said.

College mars our schedules with homework, extracurriculars, and social events, and makes it difficult to find areas of pure joy. That’s why, for Deitrick, the task of getting dressed in the morning feels so special.

“This is the theology major in me coming out, I think it’s really cool that God puts these little glimpses of beauty that we can find every single day,” she said. “And we can just find joy in the way that something looks.” ★

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Review-Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

By Caleb Tiedemann

There is no doubt about it, Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is amazing! Typical of Tarantino, it’s a fun film full of heart and love. Of course, those interpretations are subjective if you know anything of his filmography. Tarantino is very much one to push the limit in movies, a fact that I admire and love about his work. His lack of care about what other people think of his films really just unleashes him to create the wildest movies ever. OUATIH is probably Tarantino’s most relaxed film, toned down in violence, it delivers wonderfully in ways completely unexpected from the director. However, it should be of no surprise that he would flip the script and surprise audiences with something so uncharacteristic of himself.

OUATIH is a simple film. There are no real convoluted plot points or anything out of the ordinary. The movie takes place in a day of the lives of actor Rick Dalton and his stunt double, Cliff Booth in late 1960’s Hollywood. Rick, played by the marvelous Leonardo DiCaprio, is an actor who has fallen out of the limelight after leaving the television show that made him famous to pursue his acting career in movies. As with any gamble, there is a chance it does not pay off and, in this case, it does not. By his side, is his stunt double/friend Cliff Booth, played by Brad Pitt who offers both support and understanding in his buddy’s time of hardship. As an aging television star, Dalton has to come to terms with the fact that he is not only older but also not as popular as he used to be. Being in the limelight for so long makes this transition incredibly hard for him, and DiCaprio plays the part of a struggling and insecure actor so unbelievably well. There’s irony in there somewhere. The situation is made worse for Dalton when, living next door to him is up-and-coming movie star Sharon Tate and her husband, big-name director Roman Polanski. In a world of shining and fading stars Rick struggles with where to take his career, often abusing alcohol as his vice. 

Meanwhile in the outskirts of Hollywood, trouble grows in the form of the Manson family cult. Charles Manson was a talented manipulator and white supremacist who feared an “apocalyptic race war.” He formed his cult in college by targeting those who were socially inept or emotionally insecure. Over the next couple of years, he formed a “family” of about twenty individuals; through LSD and “unconventional sexual practices,” he was able to turn them into his dedicated and devoted followers. For those of you who are unaware, this was a real cult. They were responsible for the deaths of seven individuals, namely actress Sharon Tate. Though the only events depicted in the movie are the attempted murders of Sharon Tate, it is nonetheless important to provide a backstory of history. Under the commands of Manson, he ordered his followers to “kill them as gruesomely as you can.” Later one of the murderers admitted that they killed Tate because, “we wanted to do a crime that would shock the world.” So, when watching this movie, I knew how it was going to end. Or I thought I knew. Tarantino often rewrites history in wonderful ways and this movie is no different. The end of OUATIH is one of the most absolutely insane things Tarantino has done. 

The acting in this movie is wonderful, DiCaprio and Pitt both manage to be loveable and relatable as they realize their place in a tumultuous movie industry is constantly changing. Meanwhile Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate is a wonderful depiction of the golden age of Hollywood, its beauty, elegance, and grace, all destroyed by a senseless act of violence. It was what truly changed movies forever. The setting is beautiful. Tarantino completely remodels all of Los Angeles to fit his 1960’s childhood dream. The scenery, the sets, the costumes, it’s all gorgeous. Getting a behind the scenes look at how movies are made is an interesting change of perspective. The score and soundtrack are also great; using classic songs that just helped me to fall in love with this movie. It is a completely unique experience that had me fascinated and intrigued all the way through.

When I first saw this movie, I was kind of disappointed; this was the guy who gave us Pulp Fiction, Inglourious Basterds, and Django Unchained, where did it all go wrong? Yet at the same time I was completely smitten with this world he built, and I had no idea why. It was not his style, but at the same time it was, it felt different and that’s why I loved it so much. Throughout it completely subverts your expectations and builds up tension in an amazing way with fun characters and a real story. It’s magnificent. This movie has since become a comfort movie to me, one that is relaxing and fun until the final act of mayhem. Ultimately it is a movie I enjoy completely and sometimes competes with Pulp Fiction in my mind for the best Tarantino movie. It offers everything I want and amazes me with every watch. I strongly recommend this movie. ★

Final Grade: 10/10 (A+)

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Review- The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

By Caleb Tiedenmann

Now I may absolutely adore film, but I have very high standards for what constitutes a “good” film, which is why I am always wary of films that fall into the comedy genre. However, when searching for movies to watch this year, I stumbled upon a film that goes by the name of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. After watching the trailer about a week before actually seeing the movie I was interested, and the marketing only made me more excited. So I sat down hoping to see something enjoyable and funny. Lucky for me, it was just what I wanted. 

When it comes to comedy, you get a mix of movies. Many claim to be comedic, but are just worthless and unfunny outings. I am sure the first time a guy got hit in the crotch on TV was like Jesus healing the blind man to comedic writers who believed they struck gold. Now, let’s not deny, that is peak comedy, but today if you see that in a movie, it will not have nearly as funny of an effect as it did ten years prior. You’re probably wondering why I made this whole paragraph, but there is a point. The point being that Massive Talent is genuinely funny. It does not rely on cheap gags alone. It relies on the fact that you have some knowledge about film and culture.

The movie stars Nick Cage as Nick Cage (a daring casting choice) who is running out of luck and experiencing burnout. His career is dying as well as his marriage and relationship with his daughter. On the verge of financial collapse, he accepts an offer to make an appearance at a rich billionaire’s birthday party. However, there is a twist: the billionaire, Javi (played by Pedro Pascal)  is a super fan of Nick Cage, as well as a crime lord wanted by the US government. While Nick is pestered for information about Javi, the two of them start to become close friends and form a wholesome brotherhood, attempting to write a movie together. 

From that brief synopsis alone you can tell that this movie is already something interesting. The whole movie is one big love letter to two things: movies and film, and Nick Cage. There are multiple references to Nick Cage’s wacky and wild career, from his hits such as Face Off and The Rock to things like his voicework in Croods. It talks of movies, classic and non, poking fun at them and the cinematic “system.” Nick Cage is just awesome in this movie, he seems to enjoy his time on screen and really sells his act. But the star of this movie has to be Pedro Pascal as Javi. The whole time he acts like the biggest nerd and is super convincing in every way, I literally loved his performance. 

The cinematography was just gorgeous as the whole movie takes place in an exotic country. The costumes were nothing special, but I just really love floral button ups so the whole movie was tailored to my choice of summer ware. The humor was funny and it had me laughing throughout the entire film. Overall, I strongly recommend the movie. If you do not want to take it from my word alone, check out the trailer because that was enough to convince me to see it. In my mind, it is the perfect 100 minutes to kick back and put your brain on autopilot. I strongly recommend the movie with one of the longest titles ever: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

Final Grade: 9/10 (A-)

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The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

By Caleb Tiedemann

To end the year I wanted to find a good movie, one that I could recommend as a finale to all the reviewing work I have done throughout the year. Luckily I was able to find one through the constant ads and marketing on Instagram, which weirdly knows my tastes better than my own family. A film that goes by the name of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. After watching the trailer about a week before actually seeing the movie I was interested and all the marketing only made me more excited. So I sat down hoping to see something enjoyable and funny. Lucky for me, it was just what I wanted. 

When it comes to comedy, you get a mix of movies, many claim to be comedic but are just worthless and unfunny outings. I am sure the first time a guy got hit in the crotch on TV, was like Jesus healing the blind man to comedic writers who believed they struck gold. Now, lets not deny, that is peak comedy, but today if you see that in a movie, it will not have nearly as funny of an effect as when it did ten years prior. You’re probably wondering why I made this whole paragraph, but there is a point. The point being that Massive Talent, is genuinely funny. It does not rely on cheap gags alone. It relies on that fact that you have some knowledge about film and culture.

The movie stars Nick Cage as Nick Cage (a daring casting choice) who is running out of luck and experiencing burnout. His career is dying as well as his marriage and relationship with his dughter. On the verge of financial collapse, he accepts an offer to make an appearance at a rich billionaire’s birthday party. However, there is a twist, the billionaire, Javi (played by Pedro Pascal)  is a super fan of Nick Cage, as well as a crime lord wanted by the US government. While Nick is pestered for information about Javi, the two of them start to become close friends and form a wholesome brotherhood, attempting to write a movie together. 

From that brief synopsis alone you can tell that this movie is already something interesting. The whole movie is one big love letter to two things: movies and film, and Nick Cage. There are multiple references to Nick Cage’s wacky and wild career, from his hits such as Face Off and The Rock to things like his voicework in Croods. It talks of movies, classic and non, poking fun at them and the cinematic “system.” Nick Cage is just awesome in this movie, he just seems to enjoy his time on screen and really sells his act. But the star of this movie has to be Pedro Pascal as Javi. The whole time he acts like the biggest nerd and is super convincing in every way, I literally loved his performance. 

The cinematography was just gorgeous as the whole movie takes place on an exotic country. The costumes were nothing special, but I just really love floral button ups so the whole movie was tailored to my choice of summer ware. The humor was funny and it had me laughign throughout the entire film. There is a plot point where in order to come up with ideas for their movie script Nick and Javi take LSD and I have not laughed out loud that much in possibly any movie theater. Overall, I strongly recommend the movie. If you do not want to take it from my word alone, check out the trailer because that enough convinced me to see it. In my mind it is the perfect 100 minutes to kick back and put your brain on autopilot. I strongly recommend the movie with one of the longest titles ever: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

Grade: A

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer, I’ll see you all in the Fall!★

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Senior Art Show

By Mary Hannah Kennedy

On Friday, April 22nd from 6-8 pm, the Ortlip Gallery will host a public reception for this year’s show for the Houghton art majors. There are 12 art seniors this year: Jessie-Fay Abbott, Nicole Dubay, Zoey Kasper, Mary Hannah Kennedy, Elisabeth Kettinger, Elise Koelbl, Zach McKay (Mixed Media Painting and Watercolor), Sarah Mertzlufft, Caroline Oakes, Rachel Smith, Julia Wilmot, and Chelsea Wood. The work featured ranges greatly in style, scale, and medium. The seniors have been working towards this group show for the past 4 years and are very excited to share their art with the Houghton community. The gallery is open weekdays from 8-6 pm and the senior show will be open to the public until the end of the school year.★