Talia Saley is the Lake Morning Show host for 89.5 The Lake in Kenora. She grew up in Toronto but lived in South Korea for six years, and loves sharing stories about her mixed culture and food. She loves all things Pokémon, K-pop and rom-coms. Talia enjoys talking about topics that are important to you and is always eager to hear your stories!
Halloween is the best time to watch some classic Halloween movies like Coraline, Hocus Pocus, Monster House, Casper, The Nightmare Before Christmas, or Corpse Bride.
But what about some classic Halloweenepisodes from some of your favourite TV shows?
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
“Halloween” – Season 1, Episode 6
“Halloween II” – Season 2, Episode 4
“Halloween III” – Season 3, Episode 5
“Halloween IV” – Season 4, Episode 5
“HalloVeen” – Season 5, Episode 4
“Cinco de Mayo” – Season 6, Episode 16
“Valloweaster” – Season 7, Episode 11
“The Last Day” – Season 8, Episode 9-10
Gilmore Girls
“Twenty-One Is the Loneliest Number” – Season 6, Episode 7
Grey’s Anatomy
“Thriller” – Season 10, Episode 7
Stranger Things
“Trick or Treat, Freak” – Season 2, Episode 2
Supernatural
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester” – Season 4, Episode 7
My Life With the Walter Boys
“Allhallowtide” – Season 2, Episode 9
Bob’s Burgers
“The Hauntening” – Season 6, Episode 3
Friends
“The One With the Halloween Party” – Season 8, Episode 6
Romance is one of my absolute favourite movie genres. it’s all about the chemistry. It lets you connect emotionally with characters who are purely fictional. That’s what makes it feel so human.
Here are my top 5 romance movie recommendations for your weekend:
Serendipity
Serendipity is a romance film about destiny. One evening, after Jonathan Trager(John Cusack) and Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) bump into each other, Sara insists on letting fate decide their future. Years later, both are in other relationships, until fate brings them back together.
I watched this film over the summer after my dad sent me a long list of movie recommendations, and I have to say, this one definitely made my top romance movie list!
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Crazy, Stupid, Love starts with Cal Weaver (Steve Carell), he’s an ordinary guy with a family, a house, and a gorgeous wife. But when he finds out about his wife’s affair and she asks for a divorce, his world turns upside down. Now single in his 40s, Cal meets player Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling), who shows him his ways.
This is one of my favourite romance movies for several reasons. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone’s chemistry is off the charts. If they’re not made for each other in real life, they’re at least made for each other in cinema. They’ve proven it not only in Crazy, Stupid, Love but also in La La Land. Second, the movie concept is like no other, and Ryan Gosling pulls off his role as Jacob so well.
This is the kind of movie you can rewatch a million, or might I say a billion times. So, if you’re looking for off-the-charts chemistry, a good plot, and some laughs, give this one a watch.
Me Before You
After Louisa “Lou” Clark, played by Emilia Clarke, is fired from her job, she sets out to find a new one to support her family. She’s then hired for an exceptionally well-paid caregiver position, taking care of Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), who became paralyzed after a life-altering accident. Every day is a challenge for Will, but Lou does everything she can to change his life for the better.
Finding a really good romance movie can be a challenge, but this one will leave you satisfied. It has a well-deserved 4.7 stars based on 3,832 ratings on Google Reviews. One thing that Emilia Clarke does extremely well is convey emotion through her distinct and expressive facial features.
Again, chemistry is simply phenomenal, and Will’s character development after meeting Lou is what’s truly moving. If you’re looking for movie to let out all those tears, this one’s for you.
She’s the Man
She’s the Man is a classic go-to rom-com, more on the comedy side, I’d say.
When Viola (Amanda Bynes) finds out that her high school cut the girls’ soccer team, she disguises herself as her twin brother, Sebastian (James Kirk), to play for the boys’ team. That’s when she meets Duke (Channing Tatum) and instantly falls in love.
What makes the movie is so great is how effortlessly Amanda Bynes nails the quirky comedic role and brings joy to viewers. Her expressive facial reactions, high energy, and ability to light up every scene make her a natural fit for rom-coms.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
This 2003 rom-com stars Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) and Ben Berry (Matthew McConaughey). Andie, who writes for a magazine, pitches a story about how to lose a man in 10 days. After the go-ahead from her boss, she searches for the perfect guy for the job and meets Ben, who also makes a bet to make a woman fall for him in 10 days. Until, of course, their plans change.
Did you find any of your favourite romance movies on this list?
A new Netflix series, BOOTS, launched just two days ago on Oct. 9.
It consists of eight episodes, each running between 40 and 50 minutes. Currently, it ranks No. 7 on Netflix’s TV shows chart.
The show is set in the 1990s, where a bullied teen, Cameron Cope (played by Miles Heizer), joins the U.S. Marine Corps with his best friend and discovers newfound purpose and brotherhood along the way.
When I watched the trailer for the show, the first thing I thought was, “Is that Alex from 13 Reasons Why?” If you were thinking the same, your senses are spot on. Heizer also appeared in Parenthood and Love, Simon.
True Haunting
True Haunting is another new series on Netflix, currently in fifth place on the platform’s top 10 TV shows chart.
The show has five 30-minute episodes, making it an easy watch for your long weekend.
It follows real-life paranormal experiences, featuring side-by-side interviews with the actual individuals involved and dramatized reenactments performed by actors. The first three episodes, titled “Eerie Hall,” follow Chris DiCesare’s haunting at a college in New York during the 1980s. The last two episodes, titled “This House Murdered Me,” tells April Miller’s true story after she and her husband move into a Victorian house, where strange things begin to happen.
James Wan, who directed Saw, executive produced the series alongside Neil Rawles, who directed the “Eerie Hall,” and Luke Watson, who directed “This House Murdered Me.”
I started this series earlier this week and am nearing the end of “Eerie Hall.” I’m enjoying the overlap between the real interviews and the dramatizations, which add credibility and raw emotion to the horrific events portrayed.
If you’re not good with horror, you might want to skip this one. It’s pretty spooky.
Adolescence
Adolescence is a 2025 Emmy-winning limited series with just four episodes, each running between 50 minutes and an hour.
If you’re wondering if this show is based on a true story, it’s not. But it is inspired by real-life events. Stephen Graham, co-creator of the series and the actor who plays Eddie Miller, said the story idea came from news reports about young boys connected to knife attacks.
“I really just wanted to shine a light on it, and ask, ‘Why is this happening today? What’s going on? How have we come to this?” said Graham in an interview with Tudum.
What makes this series stand out, and may explain its multiple Emmy wins, is its use of continuous shot sequences. Most scenes are filmed in one take, lasting up to an hour, requiring the cast to memorize incredibly long dialogue and convey complex emotions in a single sitting. To be able to capture it seamlessly, the team used a DJI Ronin 4D camera, which allowed for fast, fluid movement, especially during montages that involve running and multiple moving parts.
You may have heard people talk about Wayward, a thriller/mystery TV series that’s now hit the No. 1 spot on Netflix with 8.2 million views.
The story follows multiple perspectives — one focuses on Leila and Abbie, two best friends who both end up at an institute for troubled teens called Tall Pines Academy. Another follows a couple, Alex and Laura, who move to Tall Pines to start a new chapter of their life, with a baby on the way. As the show progresses, Alex begins to suspect that something isn’t quite right at Tall Pines Academy…
Mae Martin, who plays Alex Dempsey and is the creator, writer and producer for the series, said most of the inspiration stems from their personal experiences. In an interview with Time Magazine, Martin expressed that their friend Nicole Simon and writer Misha Osherovich were sent to troubled teen institutes, and it was important to do thorough research while being sensitive to people’s different lived experiences.
After binging the show, I’d have to say I found it incredibly compelling. There was a lot of twists and turns, something that I look for in a well-written TV series. Watching the show sparked my curiosity about these troubled teen institutes in real life, which led me to a true documentary series called The Program on Netflix, a 2024 limited series that uncovers the dark truth behind the Academy at Ivy Ridge in Ogdensburg, New York. I’m sure other Netflix users were led to this series after watching Wayward and were surprised to learn more about what really goes on inside these institutions. Although the plot behind Wayward is fictional, it helps spread awareness about survivors of troubled teen schools and the lasting trauma many have had to endure.
Final thoughts
As a fan of thriller and mystery TV shows, Wayward has the following:
Twist and turns (you’ll be looking for “The Ending Explained” videos after finishing the series…trust me).
Great acting, especially from Toni Collette, who plays Evelyn Wade (she also played Annie Graham in Hereditary, another great horror film).
An important message about the truth behind troubled teen institutes.
Out of 10, I’d rate this TV series a solid 8 stars.
Monday, Sept. 22, marked the first day of autumn, and you know what that means: fall-time movies!
Every season brings different movies to mind. In the springtime, maybe you’re reminded of La La Land, Notting Hill or Enchanted. In the summer, you might think of The Notebook, Dirty Dancing and The Parent Trap. Now that it’s fall, what are some movies that come to mind?
Here’s a list of some fall-time favourites you might want to put on your watchlist for the season:
The Goonies
The Goonies is a classic 1985 film, and it actually takes place during October, making it perfect for a fall-time movie!
This film revolves around a group of kids who discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find hidden treasure to save their homes from being demolished. It’s not until they bump into pirate One-Eyed Willy that they realize what they’re getting themselves into…
I grew up watching movies with my dad, and this is one of the memorable ones that bring out child-like wonder, adventure, and the importance of friendship and family.
The Intern
If you love Anne Hathaway movies like I do, The Intern is a great one.
In this 2015 film, Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) is finding new things to do after retirement. He finds a senior intern position at an online fashion retailer and works alongside Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). At first, Jules thinks he’s wasting his time and doesn’t have much to contribute, especially since she’s juggling a busy schedule. But they soon get along and she learns something much more valuable — friendship.
So if you’re looking for a feel-good movie, find some time this weekend to watch it!
Coraline
This 2009 film was, and still is, a classic fall-time animated movie contender.
Coraline, voiced by Dakota Fanning, is the main character who lives in a house where both parents are too busy to give her attention and love. One night, she follows a mouse that leads her to a secret passageway behind an abnormally small door. In that alternate world, her button-eyed parents treat her the way she always dreamed of. But that’s when she realizes things are too good to be true….
I remember watching this film for the first time as a kid, as terrifying as it is, it’s incredibly well-written, with twists and turns that take you by surprise. I felt in tune with the characters’ emotions, which brought out a lot of empathy in me as a kid.
It has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 91 per cent and an audience rating of 74 per cent. I usually trust Google reviews more, which rate it a 4.7 out of 5.
