Matt Rogers

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#31DaysOfHalloween Day 8: “Cat People” (1942) exhibited sexual repression and paranoia, an early psychological horror.

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#31DaysOfHalloween Day 7: “The Wolf Man” (1941) continued Hollywood’s monster movie output, this on the duality of man and suppressed fears during wartime.

Wartime #propaganda also meant horror took a backseat to war films, but themes of #paranoia and #transformation persisted.

#1940s – Wartime Horror & Psychological Fear. The horror landscape shifted during #WorldWarII. While monster movies continued, psychological horror gained traction. The war’s existential dread led to horror becoming more atmospheric rather than outright terrifying.

“Perhaps the real lesson is that clarity isn’t an end goal.

No.

Clarity is a practice.”

Tomorrow, I’m dropping a new #Substack article! This one on exclusion, #belonging, and the stories we tell ourselves in the workplace.

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#31DaysOfHalloween Day 6: “Freaks” (1932) challenged societal perceptions of “monstrosity” and normalcy. It was banned in several places due to its depiction of circus performers with disabilities, highlighting cultural anxieties around “the other.”

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#31DaysOfHalloween Day 5: “Dracula” (1931) introduced horror’s first pop-culture icon, reflecting xenophobic fears.

Yesss I do this every October, too! This year I’m doing a decade breakdown to see the evolution of horror over the last century. 🎃💀

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#31DaysOfHalloween Day 4: “Frankenstein” (1931) examined scientific overreach and the fear of playing God.

The genre during this decade balanced gothic horror with new technical innovations, setting the stage for horror as mainstream entertainment.

1930s – Hollywood’s Monster Boom & the Great Depression. With the rise of Hollywood talkies, horror found its first major icons. Universal Studios capitalized on the growing appetite for horror, launching the Golden Age of Monster Movies.

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#31DaysOfHalloween Day 3: “Häxan” (1922) blurred the line between documentary and horror, reflecting ongoing societal anxieties about witchcraft and moral hysteria.

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#31DaysOfHalloween Day 2: “Nosferatu” introduced the first major vampire figure on screen, echoing the fear of the “other” and creeping evil.

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#TheCabinetOfDrCaligari

#31DaysOfHalloween Day 1: “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” played with unreliable narration and psychological horror, foreshadowing later genre tropes.

Films from this era featured exaggerated sets, high-contrast lighting, and distorted perspectives to reflect psychological unrest. With cinema still in its silent era, filmmakers relied on striking visuals and exaggerated performances to convey fear.

#1920s The Birth of Cinematic Horror & Expressionism. Horror in the 1920s was heavily influenced by German Expressionism, a movement shaped by the trauma of World War I.

So this year, I’m doing a historical breakdown: 3 films per decade, starting in the 1920s!

Generally, my ongoing rule is that I can’t have seen the movie before. You can imagine, after 8 years, the good ones are slim pickings.

Every October I watch 31 horror, thriller, or otherwise #Halloween-y movies — 1 per day.

Night #diving in Roatán comes with a little extra magic 🪄

Tiny crustaceans called ostracods produce the bioluminescent dotted lines known as the “string of pearls” around an hour after sunset.

I saw them in my last night dive, where these underwater stars reflected in the sky once I surfaced.

Now I just need to brush up on my lower-scored skills in time for the final circuit (and evaluation!) next week.

It was skill circuit no. 1—where my Divemaster mentor demonstrated how to demonstrate the 24 Open Water scuba skills. And then I demonstrated them. I’m brimming with joy at my scores, considering I haven’t done most of these for a couple of years.

Today was EXHAUSTING yet exhilarating, or maybe exhilarating because it was exhausting… #diveSky #scuba #divemaster

Today’s biggest takeaway: it’s all about anticipating the guests’ needs within the constraints of their certifications and experience. Butter that bread 🥖 (i.e., schmooze!)

Orientation day of #divemaster training! Got my slates, pro bag, and beautiful Caribbean views.

#diveSky

Into Roatán? Onto Roatán? Among Roatán?

The last moments on the descent onto #Roatán. Can’t wait to begin #Divemaster training! #scuba #scubaDiving #Honduras