Rice University’s Student Newspaper — Since 1916

Friday, March 29, 2024 — Houston, TX

Arts and Entertainment


A&E 11/1/23 1:02am

Review: ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ expands a pop triumph

An album that signaled Taylor Swift’s final move from the world of country to mainstream pop music, “1989” was full of catchy tracks, albeit cheesy at times — sorry, “Welcome to New York” — that truly cemented Swift’s pop stardom and fueled an ever-growing Swiftie fanbase. Nine years later to the day, Swift re-released this album as “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” the next stop on her years-long journey of re-recording all of her original masters. 


A&E 11/1/23 1:01am

Meet the ACL artist: Husbands

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, musician Danny Davis’ self-described surfy, beach pop sound might be surprising, given his roots in a land-locked state. Drawing musical inspiration from The Beach Boys, Davis, who’s part of the band Husbands, said the sort of music he most wants to emulate is what people can dance to. 


A&E 11/1/23 1:00am

Review: ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ is a film for devoted fans

Starting off as a standalone lore-filled game in 2014, the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” franchise has expanded to toys, books and now, a much-anticipated movie. The FNaF empire has now revolutionized both the indie gaming sphere and the internet horror genre as a whole. As a result, the investigative journalists here at the Thresher spent a night at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza to determine if this film was a soulless cash grab of an adaptation or if Freddy truly had been cooking.


A&E 10/26/23 11:37am

World’s longest-running play finds its next stage at Rice

First performed at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham, England in 1952 and now holding the Guinness World Record for longest-running play in history, Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” has arrived at Rice Theatre. An esteemed whodunit murder mystery that boasts over 28,000 performances worldwide, the show will run for two weekends at Rice’s Hamman Hall.


A&E 10/24/23 11:40pm

Review: ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is monumental

Even prior to the release of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” online commentators were discussing the merits and, more often, the potential problems of the film’s three-and-a-half-hour runtime. This discourse, however, is entirely missing the point of director Martin Scorsese’s latest masterwork: “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a pointed, harrowing drama based on a true story about the exploitation of Native Americans and a criticism of American ignorance.



A&E 10/24/23 11:36pm

Review: ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ tackles trauma

Justine Triet’s “Anatomy of a Fall” is the most recent recipient of the Cannes Film Festival’s highest award, making Triet only the third female director in history to win the Palme d’Or. Triet’s film joins the ranks of past legendary winners such as “Taxi Driver,” “Pulp Fiction” and “Parasite.” Triet’s stellar screenwriting and lead actress Sandra Huller are truly at the heart of this film, contributing to one of the best movie releases of the year.


A&E 10/24/23 11:34pm

Halloween costume round-up

With Halloween coming up, there are few things more important this week than figuring out what to wear. Whether you’re looking to dress up with company or just going solo this year, the Thresher is here with some costume recommendations for you to don this Halloweekend. 


A&E 10/24/23 11:33pm

ktru debuts spooky Halloween show

ktru is hosting a Halloween show this Friday, Oct. 27 at the Sewall Pit from 8-10 p.m. featuring live music, screen printing and a costume contest. Station manager Keegan Pierce said this spooky event is meant to embody ktru’s “do-it-yourself” nature, showcasing underground artists and providing a taste of local music to the Rice community. 


A&E 10/18/23 12:01am

Horrifying Halloween hits: what to watch this fall

One thing is for sure: The numerous scary movies for horror-lovers to watch in October have definitely contributed to the mysterious allure of the holiday. The Thresher has rounded up a few horror movie classics that are sure to have your whole friend group spooked. Fair warning, though, some of these movies are not for the faint of heart — and we wouldn’t recommend watching alone. 


A&E 10/17/23 11:59pm

Review: Wes Anderson infuses his style into four Roald Dahl shorts

Wes Anderson is one of the best filmmakers today. This summer he released “Asteroid City” was released, a dazzling yet precise depiction of both grief and the artistic process. Anderson has now collaborated with Netflix, and the streaming service released four short films written and directed by the auteur last week. 


A&E 10/17/23 11:57pm

Stale script keeps visually impressive ‘The Creator’ from being memorable

Gareth Edwards is a competent filmmaker. With popular blockbusters like “Rogue One” and “Godzilla” under his belt, Edwards has made the sci-fi action blockbuster his niche. Unlike previous films, though, Edwards had a major role in writing the screenplay for his new movie, “The Creator.” Along with Oscar nominee Chris Weitz, who previously worked with Edwards as a screenwriter on “Rogue One,” Edwards tells a story that attempts to tackle seemingly everything about humanity’s complex relationship with AI, yet accomplishes none of it adeptly.


A&E 10/17/23 11:55pm

Lahiri talks ‘Roman Stories’ collection, translation and belonging

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri read from her newest short story collection “Roman Stories” through the Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading series Oct. 15. Following the reading, she spoke on-stage at Congregation Emanu El with Rice English professor and Italian novelist Andrea Bajani, discussing the themes of immigration, otherness and translation present in her work.


A&E 10/17/23 11:54pm

Review: Sivan makes us feel the rush

Listening to Troye Sivan’s new album makes me want to go down under. The Australian singer-songwriter released his newest album, “Something To Give Each Other,” Oct. 13, marking his third full-length release. Sivan gives us a blissful, eclectic album that celebrates queer culture and demonstrates that pop music can be lustful, escapist and perfect for the club.


A&E 10/17/23 11:53pm

Meet the ACL artist: Gus Dapperton

When Brendan Patrick Rice first started making music on SoundCloud, he went by a variety of aliases. He changed these names based on the sort of sound he was making — everything from hip-hop beats to classical tunes. As he came into his art as a singer-songwriter, he decided he wanted a name that felt more like himself, and Gus Dapperton was born. 


A&E 10/17/23 11:51pm

Check out Houston’s Halloween haunts

Houston weather has just started to cool off, signaling the start of autumn. Although midterms may be getting you down, the Halloween season is now in full swing. From costume contests to haunted houses to fun performances, put down the books and check out these can’t-miss events in Houston made for spooky season enthusiasts.


A&E 10/17/23 11:50pm

Creating compassion and sand mandalas at the Moody

Monks from the Gaden Shartse Monastery in India constructed a Tibetan sand mandala in a series of rituals Monday, Oct. 16. The opening ritual was held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, and the mandala will remain on public viewing until the dissolution ritual Friday, Oct. 20 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.


A&E 10/10/23 8:49pm

Don’t miss these ACL eats

Aside from an impressive slate of artists to see over the next two weekends, you can’t miss the food at Austin City Limits. From sweet treats to savory eats, there’s sure to be something for every friend you’re going with. Here are some ACL dining options you won’t want to miss. 


A&E 10/4/23 12:34am

william cordova explores infinite possibilities at Brochstein

An array of small, colorful squares — each a starkly different shade from its adjacent counterparts — cover Brochstein Pavilion’s south-facing wall. william cordova created this public art installation, titled “2800 dowling-wasi-sangarara,” as the newest piece in Rice’s ongoing art series, “Off the Wall.”


A&E 10/4/23 12:33am

Thresher Declassified: ACL survival guide 2023

Wake up, babe, the newest edition of the Thresher Declassified: ACL Survival Guide just dropped. In what’s becoming a yearly tradition, the Thresher is here to give you the low-down on all things Austin City Limits in case you don’t feel like getting your information on the festival’s website. We just know you’d be lost without us, so here’s all you need to know to survive this year’s ACL.