Media Notes: Roundup for June 2026

 

  

 

Welcome to my somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during June 2026.

Movies and films (links to themoviedb.org for basic information unless noted otherwise). Some of these I watched via TubiTv.com or other online source. The DVDs come from the public library (unless noted otherwise). In addition, I will try to add other trivia notes, such as when a film is based on a book adding the information about the book (at least the WorldCat record if available).

• Sector 7 (2011. Horror. Science Fiction. Action. Korean film). Plot description: "An oil rig crew working off the southern tip of Jeju Island is suddenly forced to battle a deadly creature it finds 2,500 meters deep under the sea." Movie starts a bit slow, mostly a way for us to get to know the crew. When one of the female workers die, they suspect a guy who may have had a crush on her. However, when the rig's doctor dies shortly after, soon clues emerge it may be more than just a crime of passion. There is something aboard with them, and not only that, but we soon find out someone was messing with nature when they should not have. That last detail makes a twist on what is otherwise a horror film like Alien, but in an oil rig. Overall, movie is good enough. Some thrills, but nothing terribly memorable. The ending seemed to stretch a bit more than needed, but it was OK. Other than Hae-Jun, the main character, other characters are not really memorable, mostly there for the monster to pick them off. I'd give this two out of five stars as it was just OK. Not bad, but not that good either. Watched via TubiTv on 6/6.
• Cadaver (2007. Horror. Korean film). Plot description: "Six med students dissect a beautiful cadaver. Now a vengeful spirit is dissecting them one by one. They must solve her murder to survive the class."  Movie starts slow in the build up. Initially the students see things, but we can't quite be sure if it is something supernatural, or just the natural nerves, squeamish feelings, and anxieties medical students may have dissecting their first cadaver. Soon things get more tense as another student dies, others start having dreams and seeing visions as the students start realizing the truth of the vengeful spirit. As we go into the backstory of the dead woman, we learn a somewhat complicated story, and one that one of the professors would rather stay hidden. Because it is not just about a dead girl, but there is also a conspiracy to hide. The film is more thriller than horror, and it is seriously slow at times. It is also almost 2 hours long, and you can feel the drag. On a positive some of the handling of flashbacks is well done. Still, the film feels a bit on the long side. Part of it is it feels they are not sure if to lean in on the supernatural or the conspiracy angle, so at times it feels like they just threw everything in and then some more. The deeper you go, the more you want the movie to just end. The premise on this one is good, and it starts well, but then it just keeps going and going. It is barely OK, but I am still willing to give it 2 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 6/7.
• One on One (2014. Crime. Drama. Korean film). Plot description:  "After the senseless and grisly murder of a high school girl, her seven well-to-do assailants are hunted down and tortured by seven vigilantes." Part of what makes the film interesting is that the vigilantes, who are not exactly pros,  are not all united. They have disagreements at times about what they are doing, so you wonder if they will be able to go through with their task. Also, they have different motivations for joining the vigilante group. However, plot gets complicated when someone finds the vigilante group and starts following them. After a while, the film becomes more a drama about the vigilantes and their individual lives than the tale of revenge suggested. After a while, the movie starts feeling long; it is about 2 hours, and after about an hour in it does start feeling long. In the end, it becomes more of a melodrama than a crime film. Again, this was OK at most, so I am charitably giving it 2 out of 5 stars, mostly because some of the performances, especially Don Lee as the vigilante leader, were good, but the film as a whole was a bit of a drag for a not so satisfactory ending. Watched 6/12 on TubiTv.
• Amityville in the Hood (2021. Horror.) Plot description: "An Eastside gang uses the Amityville property to grow marijuana when they are attacked by a rival gang and their drugs stolen. Soon, it's unleashed on the Westside streets of Compton, where anyone who smokes it suffers one KILLER buzz." Premise overall is pretty simple: two guys steal pot that was growing inside the sort of abandoned Amityville house (yea, that house), but then they get robbed by another gang, who then takes the pot from them to Compton, California. Who was growing the pot? Does not matter. The house is there just to get this plot going. Once people in Compton start smoking the stolen pot, things go from bad to worse as the smokers turn into monsters. Overall this is one of those seriously low budget films with a bunch of unknown actors barely acting. Sadly even that relatively simple plot they can't keep straight as the story goes from the weed to objects from the house that got auctioned, went to other places, and cause all sorts of evil. Kind of like a flashback. The result is a sort of ridiculous mess that we are not quite sure what is going on. The bad acting, well, not quite amusing, and pretty bad. The effects, when you get any, cheap. Overall, this is pretty awful even with a giggle or two here or there. It's a mess you probably should skip. 1 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 6/12. 
• In cheap details, a few minutes in, someone in a mask is laying a curse and using a book that has what appears to be a photo of Anton LaVey on the back cover. I could not make out the title of the book. Anyhow, book is likely used as a quick prop of a grimoire or similar.  
• As often case, a movie that puts all their credits at the beginning is a sign of a bad or cheesy film, and this one does it.  
• In cheap details, in transition moments, they use a really cheap hip hop soundtrack with lyrics somewhat connected to the Amityville theme.
• The Barn  (2018. Horror. Crime. Mystery). Plot description: "A journalist sent to cover a serial killer case causes friction in the town as she discovers an ominous barn owned by two troubled brothers." Film starts stating that after 9/11 there was an epidemic in the nation that cause, among other things, violence and necrosis. As film starts, it is 10 years later or so, and while the epidemic is considered contained, the virus is still active and out there. So the film is a bit more so far than just a serial killer story. It is sort of a zombie movie with a serial killer to complicate things. However, the issue is the story does not  really tie much together. The serial killer angle is relatively minimal. The zombies mostly is the one guy keeps some infected folks in a barn hoping to keep them under control; we've seen this device in places like The Walking Dead and  some other zombie stories of people having a soft side for zombies who are just gone by now. The reporter, aside from being nosy, also not that big a deal. Talking happens here or there. The farm people do chores now and then, and once in a while there is a victim of the serial killer, but no apparent urgency from the local cops, certainly not from the one deputy which is all the law enforcement we see in the movie. This is just a seriously slow drag that does not quite know what it is about. As for the acting, fairly quotidian, but then again, to do a lot of farm chores and some talking here or there does not take that much acting skill. One hour in, for an hour and half movie, and you are still wondering what the heck is this exactly about. Don't expect the ending to make things clearer. 1 out of 5 stars, and that barely. This is one you should skip, and I wish I had. Watched 6/20. Via TubiTv.
• Tarot Curse (2025. Horror. Mystery). Plot description: "After a Tarot reading in New Orleans, a group of students are horrified to realize the cards are predicting their gruesome deaths one by one."  Before we go on, this is not the Tarot film released in theaters recently; this is one of the Tubi original films. The trailer made it seem pretty cheesy, so I figured why not take a chance? To start, the opening sequence and first death seemed a bit silly, but also fun, so we may be to a good start for this type of movie. Once movie starts, we get a bunch of high school seniors taking a last senior trip to New Orleans, for the most part the usual mostly disposable teens. The card reading scene in New Orleans I thought was pretty good; I'd get a reading from her. The character had that blend of elder witch with a bit of the stereotypes of a card reader. Scene is a bit silly and a bit spooky. The transition to the next scene was interesting, was it a dream or not? Anyhow, we get to them returning from the trip, and this is where things now will start happening. Naturally, we got the one teen, the Black guy in this case, who tries to warn others about the cards and what is happening. Naturally, no one wants to listen, even though the signs are there. To be honest, this was better than I thought it would be. A bit by the numbers: they got a card, and then their fate happens, which ends in death. Deaths were somewhat creative, a bit of gore but not too much. Film had a good pace, and while not great, it was entertaining. This could be a movie you might watch as part of a Halloween marathon. Yes, they take some liberties with the card interpretations, but it is a horror movie. Certainly a lot better than other movies I watched this month so far. Simple, entertaining, it works. 3 out of 5 stars. Watched 6/27. 

 

Television and other series (basic show information links via Wikipedia unless noted otherwise). Some of these come in DVD from the public library. Others may be via YouTube, which, as noted before, I keep finding all sorts of other old shows in it, often full episodes:

•  Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back (2018-2020. Reality. Restaurants. Cooking). Plot description: The premise here is Ramsay will attempt to fix a restaurant and get it back on track in 24 hours. To do so, his team and him travel in a giant truck that serves as command center and mobile training kitchen. Before fixing the place, he visits it undercover, wearing a disguise, often with guests, to assess the place. If you liked shows like his Secret Service (see above) or maybe Kitchen Nightmares (I tend to prefer his original British show, but 24 Hours is closer in style to the American version of Kitchen Nightmares), you may like this one. I saw Tubi had it, read a bit about it, took a chance and started it at the end of last month, May 2026. It has three seasons, and I managed to finish the series this month.
• Next Level Chef (2022- . Reality. Cooking Competition). Tubi just got in the recently finished 5th season. I commented on the 4th season here. So far I have liked this series, so started watching the 5th season this month. This season has 15 episodes. As before, first three episodes are auditions: one episode each for professional chefs, home chefs, and social media chefs. I zipped through it and finished it this month. I think I tend to  like this series because, so far, has a bit less drama and less asshole behavior from the contestants than shows like Hell's Kitchen where there is always at least one arrogant obnoxious asshole competing. I understand the show has been renewed, so I will be watching it sometime next year. 
• Shipping Wars (2012-2022. Reality TV). Plot description: "The show follows various independent shippers who have discovered that money can be made transporting large/bulky/unusual items that traditional carriers either cannot or will not haul." I remember watching some of the episodes when the show was on the air. For me, what was interesting was the objects and items they hauled from museum pieces to just unusual things. Episodes last about 22 minutes without ads. Tubi has the first four seasons, out of nine in total, which is where I started watching this month.
• Side note, I checked Roku Channel, and they got seasons 8 and 9 of the series.

 

 

Deck Review: Human Spirit Oracle

Jenna Dellagrottaglia and Laurence Toner, Human Spirit Oracle: Learning to Reconnect. NSW, Australia: Rockpool Publishing, 2023. ISBN: 9781922785176. 

Genre: oracle decks 

Subgenre: spirituality 

Format: Kit with small paperback book and deck.

Source: I own this one. 

 

This kit includes a paperback companion book and a 44-card deck. The deck's theme is "about what we all universally experience as humans, and reminds us that we are all connected" (from back of box description). The cards art drew me to this deck, and it has become a favorite. Jena Dellagrottaglia is listed as author and artist, so that drew me to the deck too. She has done artwork on some of Colette Baron-Reid's decks. However, inside the book, on the next to last page mentions Laurence Toner as author; it seems he wrote some or all of the text. This is not fully clear. 

The book is 104 pages long and is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction. Describes the deck's concept. 
• How to use the cards. Brief instruction on how you can use the cards. Instruction is open-ended. Note this deck can be read reversed. Upright and reversed meanings are provided. Section also includes instruction to do a one-card pull and two additional card spreads. 
• The cards. Each entry includes a color card image, card number and title, upright and reverse meanings. Each entry is two pages long. 
• About the creators. 
• Acknowledgements. 

Book pages are in color, and it is a nice book with various small illustrations throughout. It is a very easy read. Card messages are mostly positive and uplifting, but they also look at darker moments in life. If you need messages to comfort you a bit and live within the human condition, this book and deck are a good option. There are some humorous cards and moments too. 

The card art blends collage with a surrealist style and feel. Art is colorful and expressive with good attention to detail. Cards can work well for intuitive readers. I find I can read them intuitively. I still read the book, and I'd read the entries after my initial reading reading of the cards. I usually rotate decks every month. I kept this one in rotation for two months. I'll probably take it to my work office to use in my small altar for a while.  

The cards measure about 5 inches by 3 1/2 inches. The card back is in green with a circular Celtic style circle. Card back is reversible. The cards have a bright green gilded edge, which is a nice touch. 

Overall I really like this deck, and it is now a favorite for me. For me it works well for my path with the Cosmic Joker. I love the art, and I find it easy to use. I do recommend it. 

5 out of 5 stars.  

Kit qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

Deck Review: Gregory Scott Tarot

Gregory Scott (author) and Davide Corsi (Artist), Gregory Scott Tarot. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2020.  ISBN: 9780738767369. 

Genre: Tarot decks, cartomancy

Subgenre: fantasy

Format: 78-card deck with little white book

Source: I own this one  

The Hermit-IX 

I first used this deck in August 2025. The deck comes in a tuck box with the 78-card deck and a little white book (LWB). In typical Lo Scarabeo fashion, the LWB is written in multiple languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. The LWB has 63 pages; 22 pages are in English. 

The LWB includes the following: 

• A description of the deck's concept and author's vision.
• Brief instruction on how to use this deck. 
• Basic instructions on how to read Tarot. It includes a basic 3-card spread. 
• Major Arcana entries have a keyword or phrase followed by a short interpretation paragraph.
• Minor Arcana entries are arranged by suits: cups, pentacles, wands, and swords. The entries' format is the same as for the Major Arcana.
• A short note on reversals. 

I do recommend reading the LWB. The deck's images fall somewhat within Rider Waite Smith (RWS), but there are some significant differences. There are also some differences from traditional meanings. I found those interesting and a way to expand my understanding of Tarot. So read the LWB. You may get some new insights. 

The main reason I got the deck was for the art, which was done by Davide Corsi. If you like Corsi's art from other decks, you'll probably like this deck. The art is colorful and expressive. It provides good detail, so the deck can work very well for intuitive readers. If you read in RWS, the deck can work well for you, but as I mentioned there are some differences. I was not sure about this deck when I got it. As I wrote, I got it mainly for the art. 

Seven of Cups 

The deck grew on me, and some of the different interpretations gave me food for thought. As the LWB states, one of Scott's concepts for a Tarot deck is positivity. While the deck is very positive, don't be fooled. It can deliver some hard truths and some darker messages. Still, if you want a deck that leans into beauty and positivity, to see the good even in the Hard Times, this may be a deck for you. 

The cards measure about 4 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches. The art is borderless with a small black edge on bottom of the card with white lettering to identify a card. Card back design is reversible. The card stock is a bit thin. The cards have a soft glossy finish, and the cards shuffle with ease. 

Overall, I really like this deck, and I would recommend it. I would rate this as a deck for beginners, but some beginners may make it work. I am glad to have it in my collection. I would back it up. 

5 out of 5 stars.  

Side note: Apologies for the Amazon link, but it seems the deck is out of print now. Neither Llewellyn, the US distributor, nor Lo Scarabeo the publisher has it listed on their sites, sure sign it is out of print. I got lucky as Half Price Books had it discounted. It retailed for $24.95, and they were practically giving them away at $9.99.  At that price, yea, and due to the art, I did go back and get a second back up copy. From what I see you can still find it at the Big A and a few other online places, but it may not be for long. If you want it, I'd say get it now if you can. 

Photos are mine from my copy of the deck. 

 

 

Deck Review: Tarot of Sacred Kingdoms

Jennifer Agostini (writer) and Florian Bernard (illustrator), Tarot of Sacred Kingdoms. Earth Moon Magick, 2023.  

This independent deck kit comes with a small companion book and an 80-card deck. The two extra cards are The Phoenix and The Celestial Weaver. The extra cards are not numbered. You can either leave them in the deck, as I did, or you can remove them for your practice. 

The small book features 153 pages. The book features the following: 

• Introduction. This is a bit of an authors statement and description of the deck's concept. 
• Spreads. We get a 6 small spreads. We get the prompts, no spread diagrams. The authors encourage you to "place the cards in the way you are intuitively called to" (4). We get two 2-card spreads, two 3-card spreads, a 4-card spread, and a 6-card spread. 
• Major Arcana. Entries here include card name and number, three keywords, a small color image of a card, and interpretation text. Text length is a page to page and a half in length. 
• Minor Arcana. Entries are same as the Major Arcana entries. 
• Special cards. Entries about the same as other card entries. 
• The book also includes a QR code for a free meditation. I will note at this time I have not checked the QR code.

 

The World-XXI

Entries interpretation focus on a bit of advice and reflection. Text is easy to read, and the esoterica is kept to a minimum. The book has a good index to find card entries right away. The card illustration is a bit small, so it may not be easy if your vision is not great. Still, the book is a good read overall. It is a nice reading in the entries. It is a nice small book you can read cover to cover. The art on the cover features nice art too.

The cards are the reason to get this deck. Each card is truly a work of art. The art somewhat follows Rider Waite Smith (RWS), but it also has some interesting departures and differences. The art is very intuitive friendly. This is a deck intuitive readers can easily pick up and read right out of the box. It may be good for beginners, but I would recommend it more for intermediate and advanced readers. However, with some work a beginner could make a go with the deck. 

The art, beautiful as it is, is a bit on the dark side. I mean it can be a bit too shadowy at times. You may need to look closely to get a few details now and then. Overall deck features beautiful, colorful art that draws you in. If you do meditation with your cards, this deck is a great choice. It is a joy to look at the cards. I found the cards to be very responsive and easy to read. It give me clear readings, and they got me writing in my journal. 

The cards are done in a matte finish card stock, a bit on the thick side, so they feel durable. In addition, according to their website, the cards are made with recycled paper and soy-based ink. The card deck is edged in black. The card art has a very light line border that I think works well to highlight the art quality. All cards, except the two special cards, are numbered and identified by name with a simple, light print. 

At this time, the deck's retail price on their site is $69, which is usually a price out of my range, butt they had them on sale for $49 on Amazon and their site. I had a gift card, so I took a chance, and I am glad I did. This is a high quality deck that works well as a reader and as an art piece for collectors. 

Would I get a backup copy? Definitely yes. Would I buy another of their decks? I would. I was very satisfied, and I see myself using this deck again. I'd add it may also be a good deck for shadow work. For what you pay, this is as good or better than certain overpriced indie decks you see out there I won't mention. 

A solid 5 out of 5 stars. 

Book Review: The Warehouse

James William Kilgore (author) and Vic Liu (graphic artist), The Warehouse: a visual primer on mass incarceration. Oakland, CA: PM Press, 2024. ISBN: 9798887440422. 

Genre: primers, reference

Subgenre: mass incarceration, criminal justices, social justice, sociology, politics

Format: trade paperback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College  

 

The book's epigraph, which sets up the rest of the book very well: 

 

"All over the world, the institution of the prison serves as a place to warehouse people  who represent major social problems. . . . Prison serves as an institution that consolidates the state's inability and refusal to address the most pressing social problems of this era." --Angela Davis, Freedom is a constant struggle.

 

As the subtitle states, this is a "visual primer on mass incarceration." There are many books, articles, and resources on mass incarceration. An average reader may feel a bit overwhelmed, wondering where to start. I suggest anyone wanting to learn about the topic to start with this book. 

The book is arranged in three major parts: 

• The Big Picture.
• Journey Through Incarceration.
• Dismantling the System and Building Anew. 

The book combines text, statistics, and visual elements to take readers on a learning journey. Part One gives the big picture of what is mass incarceration, its history in the United States, and how it works. The second part takes readers through the process of incarceration from arrest to imprisonment. Part three looks at how the systems of mass incarceration can be dismantled. 

This is a very accessible book. The combination of visual elements such as graphs, art, and photos with text works well to make the book easy to read. The combination also works well to emphasize key points, which helps readers remember what they learn. 

On campus, we often have at least one or two students in fields like social justice and sociology researching the topic. This is a book I can give them to provide a good start. In addition to the information, the book features a good set of note that students can use to read further and add other sources to their research. Thus I recommend the book for academic libraries, especially for undergraduate programs. 

I would also recommend it for public libraries. This can be a good resource for patrons seeking to learn about the topic in a well written, well researched, and visual way. The author is a researcher and activist who has written another book on the topic, A People's Guide to Mass Incarceration. The visual artist has experience using art and visuals to convey complex topics. They are a good team to teach readers on this topic. 

Overall this is an accessible, excellent, and very informative book. 

5 out of 5 stars.