The Bowling Green Anime-Fest took place in the Corvette Museum on Sunday, Oct. 20. The space was small, but packed wall-to-wall with vendors of every kind. There were people selling figurines, prints and stickers and surprise bags. Anything nerd-related a person could want, they could surely find at this convention. 

The energy throughout the convention was palpable– vendors were excited to share their work, while con attendees were excited to find cool items related to their favorite interests. Everywhere I looked people were buzzing around, excited to be in the presence of so many like-minded people. 

One of the vendors I was able to speak to was Clint Lindsey, owner of Miniclicks. Miniclicks specializes in creating LEGO minifigures one wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. Lindsey said he loved the convention experience for the “wow factor.”

“People walk up to our booth and their eyes light up,” Lindsey said. 

Another vendor I spoke to was Garris. L. R. Coleman, author of the Curse of Crowns book series. Coleman came to the convention hoping to share his book series with more people.

As I wandered the convention and learned more about the vendors and their stories, I found myself falling more and more in love with this small-town convention. Everyone there was devoted to their art, whether it be vendors or the cosplayers. Clearly, the other attendees felt the same. 

Echo Frausto, one of the attendees, shared she came to the convention for the culture.

“[I like] to see all the craftsmanship and creativity that people put into their cosplays,” Frausto said.

Throughout the day, the convention hosted fun activities to get people involved, such as anime-based trivia and a cosplay contest.

Cosplay is when people dress up as characters from various forms of media. It can be seen as performance art; some cosplayers work on their costumes for months at a time to make them as screen-accurate as possible.

The cosplayers at Bowling Green Anime Fest were incredible. As they walked across the stage displaying the costumes they had carefully put together, their passion for their craft was evident. 

All in all, Bowling Green Anime-Fest was a wonderful convention to attend, whether it be for the con newbie or the well-weathered convention veteran. I would highly recommend attending to support both the community and the local artists in the Kentucky area. 

Commentary Writer Emma Hardesty can be reached at emma.hardesty162@topper.wku.edu.

Gender-based discrimination in political spaces has been an issue for years, dating back to the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and even further. However, sexism reared its ugly head the highest for the first time in the 2016 election. 

Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign for president brought her lots of backlash, most of which often manifested itself in the form of one word: “bitch.” “Trump that Bitch” was a slogan often proudly displayed on everything from t-shirts to coffee mugs. The demeaning of Clinton to little more than a dog was an unfortunate side-effect of her campaign. 

And it revolved completely around her being a woman.

When viewing the 2024 presidential candidates, it is impossible to not take a look at one of the key things that divides them and their campaigns; their gender. The disgusting behaviors that plagued Clinton in her campaign have come back to haunt Harris.

Her lack of biological children is one of the things that have been held against the presidential candidate. Harris was criticized by the governor of Arkansas, who said Harris was unable to be humble due to her lack of biological children.

Claims from some conservative commentators about how Harris rose in the political sphere say she “slept her way to the top.” 

Fox News Host Jesse Watters commented that the generals in the Situation Room would “have their way with [Harris].”

Trump himself has done things such as reposting disgusting sexual remarks about Harris on his social media platform, Truth Social. 

People online continually obsess over the prices and types of clothes Harris wears while not once blinking an eye at the repeated, expensive suits and watches Trump wears. 

Clinton and Harris’s campaigns have shown not just the worst side of Republicans, but the worst side of men in the modern era. It’s an almost proud display of disrespect and hatred for people whose only crime is being a woman. 

With the constant sexist behavior towards these, and many other women in politics, it must be asked– what does this show to future generations?

Do we as a society want young children to think it’s okay to proudly display signs saying “Trump that Bitch” in their yards? Do we want the next generation to think it’s okay to demean a woman’s entire career by saying she “slept her way to the top”? 

The fear of the unknown is often a defense for people who are against these women in power, however that cannot be an excuse. There have been numerous female presidents, prime ministers, and other various chief executives across the entire world. The world kept spinning, even with these women at the helm. Women are leaders around the world, yet some Americans act as if that idea is asinine. 

Another fear of having America’s first female president is a fear of what comes next for her. How will the country react to having a woman in such a powerful position? Will the onslaught of sexism she faces only become worse as she guides the nation? Will her every movement be criticized simply because she wore the wrong pair of shoes that day?

At the end of the day, it shouldn’t matter what type of earrings she’s wearing. It shouldn’t matter that she chose to put on an expensive necklace she bought with her own money. It shouldn’t matter whether she wears dresses or suits, heels or flats, glossy or matte lips. None of it matters. 

What matters are her goals for the country. Her policies matter. Her ambition, her knowledge, all of that matters so much more than whatever she decides to wear on that particular day. They matter so much more than the fact that she is a woman.

If you’re going to criticize Harris, criticize her for things that relate to her policies. Criticize her for her platforms. But don’t criticize her for the one thing that she has no control over; her gender. Have enough respect to see her for what she is: a human being.

Commentary Writer Emma Hardesty can be reached at emma.hardesty162@topper.wku.edu. 

With Halloween just around the corner, many people will be looking for some new horror films to keep them from sleeping too easily or some spooky classics to revisit. 

Here are some modern and classic horror movies to enjoy as the 31st approaches move towards the 31st.

“Freaky” (2020)

Millie Kessler is a high school outcast who swaps bodies with serial killer the Blissfield Butcher, forcing her and her friends to stop the possessed Millie. “Freaky” takes key influence from both “Freaky Friday” and “Friday the 13th,” so much so that the original title of the movie was “Freaky Friday the 13th.”  

Director Christopher Landon brings both concepts together in a slasher comedy that has the staying power of a modern classic. Landon brought much of his style from his “Happy Death Day” duology, and that style earned the movie positive reception from both critics and audiences.

“Freaky” can be watched on Peacock for free or rented on most digital movie retailers. 

“The Evil Dead” (1981)

“The Evil Dead” was the first movie by acclaimed director Sam Raimi who would go on to direct the original “Spider-Man” trilogy and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” 

The movie features Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) and his friends who go to a cabin in the woods where they find a mysterious book in the basement. 

Despite being a micro-budget indie horror film by a first-time director, “The Evil Dead” found large success upon its release. Through this movie, Raimi inspired generations of horror fans and filmmakers with his unique and unpolished style. The legacy of Raimi’s first feature has extended to this day with plans for a sixth movie announced earlier this year.

“The Evil Dead” can be watched on AMC+ with a subscription or rented from most digital movie retailers. 

“The Strangers” (2008)

“The Strangers” is a psychological horror film starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman. Harkening back to home invasion classics from the 1970s, “The Strangers” finds a couple in the midst of a fight for the future of their relationship that turns into a fight for their lives. 

The movie has spawned a sequel and reboot that is fresh out of the theaters. It is an eerie and frightening sendup to a beloved era of horror films.

“The Strangers” can be watched on Max with a subscription or rented from most digital movie retailers.

“Cabin in the Woods” (2011)

Written and directed by Drew Goddard, “Cabin in the Woods” is a loving homage to horror classics like “The Evil Dead,” “The Thing,” “Night of the Living Dead” and many others. 

The movie follows a group of college students going to a cabin in the woods, leading to one of the most inventive horror comedies ever made. The movie stars a young Chris Hemsworth and was written by “Avengers” director Joss Whedon and is a terrific collage of humor and horror that sends up the genre’s long and storied history. 

“Cabin in the Woods” can be watched on Peacock with a subscription or rented from most digital movie retailers.

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is the feature-length debut of Poltergeist director Tobe Hooper and inspired countless horror films. 

Hooper’s horror classic follows a group of teenagers in 1970s Texas who find themselves in the hunting ground of a family of cannibals. 

Despite its name, TCM is not a gore-fest. Instead, the movie is more of an art-house psychological horror that focuses on the human fears of the protagonist.

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” can be watched with a Prime Video subscription, on Tubi for free, or rented from most digital movie retailers.

“Barbarian” (2022)

“Barbarian” was released in 2022 to both critical and commercial success and focuses on Tess arriving at her Airbnb to find a stranger named Keith. To avoid spoilers, I won’t talk much more about “Barbarian’s” plot because the movie is best watched without knowing much. 

Helmed by comedian Zach Cregger, the movie fuses the styles of David Fincher and Sam Raimi to create a truly unique film. 

You can watch “Barbarian” with a Prime Video subscription or it can be rented from most digital movie retailers.

“Scream” (1996)

“Scream” is a tried and true classic that I recommend to everyone. The whole movie is a send-up to the horror genre, specifically the golden age of 80s slashers. 

“Scream” follows Woodsboro teen Sydney as she and her friends are tormented by a serial killer wearing a ghostly mask. “Scream” is filled to the brim with good scares, creative kills, funny jokes that don’t feel out of place, a terrific cast and terrific direction from Wes Craven.

If you haven’t watched it, you absolutely should. If you have, you should watch it again. “Scream” deserves all the hype it’s been given as one of the best horror films of all time.

“Scream” can be watched on Max with a subscription or rented from most digital movie retailers.

“Hush” (2016)

Mike Flanagan, director of “Doctor Sleep” and “Haunting of Hill House,” brings his A game with this movie. 

“Hush” follows deaf writer Maddie as she faces off against a sadistic serial killer who tries to get into her house. Flanagan succeeds on every front with “Hush.”  He brings suspense, likable characters, visually engaging chase scenes and well-earned scares. 

There isn’t much else to say about “Hush” besides how highly I recommend it.

“Hush” can be rented from most digital movie retailers.

“Nope” (2022)

Most people know who Jordan Peele is, whether it be from his successful comedy career or his Oscar-winning directorial debut, “Get Out.” While “Get Out” is an amazing movie, I would argue that “Nope” is even better. 

“Nope” is a fusion of blockbuster and horror that results in a movie that goes between impressive and beautifully shot setpieces and genuinely eerie horror. 

The movie follows OJ and his sister Emerald who try to take a picture of the alien living above their farm. It boasts amazing performances from Steven Yuen, Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer. This is a movie that truly anyone can enjoy, so you shouldn’t stop yourself from doing so.

“Nope” can be watched on Starz with a subscription or rented from most digital movie retailers. 

“Halloween” (1978)

Directed by WKU alumn John Carpenter, this classic film ignited the popularity of slashers. 

Though it is not the first slasher, that honor arguably goes to “Black Christmas,” “Halloween” brought the subgenre to prominence and critical success. 

Laurie Strode is the victim of escaped serial killer, Michael Meyers, on Halloween night of 1978. 

This movie is a classic for a reason, and it would be borderline sacrilegious to not include it on this list. So my recommendation is to enjoy October 31st watching John Carpenter’s “Halloween.”

“Halloween” can be found on AMC+ and Philo with a subscription, on Crackle and Plex for free or rented from most digital movie retailers. 

News Reporter Malone Farmer can be reached at james.farmer674@topper.wku.edu. 

This is my first year in Bowling Green, which has given me an entirely new town to explore. Of course, there’s Target, TJ Maxx and Barnes and Noble, which are great, don’t get me wrong. However, on my autumnal adventures, I’m searching to shop smaller. 

Below, I’ve compiled some of my favorite underrated beauties of Bowling Green.

Hard Copies

What it sells: Vinyl Records, CDs

Hard Copies was the first place I found here in BG that gave me the cozy vibe I was searching for. Nothing screams aesthetic quite like flipping through vinyl and CDs while bundled up in a warm sweater. My love for Pinterest-perfect moments aside, Hard Copies is an all-around incredible place to visit. 

Located in Greenwood Mall, this store has a host of different vinyl and CDs spanning multiple genres. It also hosts listening parties for new albums, which is advertised on its Instagram. The people who work there are all so friendly and excited to talk about music or any of their upcoming events. 

One of the best things about the store, however? The prices. Collecting any type of physical music is an expensive hobby, and I’ve seen records marked up for prices that make me nauseous. At Hard Copies, they sell their vinyl and CDs at reasonable prices that can let you come in again and again to check out what’s new. In addition to that, WKU students get a discount on their purchases. 

From the welcoming environment, friendly employees, to the unbeatable prices, Hard Copies is a place sure to make even the newest vinyl enthusiast feel right at home.

St. Teresa Thrift Store

What they sell: Donated clothes and homeware

I love shopping, but as I get older, I’m becoming more aware of the impact the clothes I buy have on the environment. I have turned to thrifting more and more, as being able to repurpose someone’s old clothes and get more use out of them makes me feel so much better. 

When searching for great places to find some thrifting, I was introduced to St. Teresa Thrift Store, located in Fairview Plaza Shopping Center. 

The inside of the store is clean and all the clothes are organized in neat rows. Every time I have gone in, I’ve found at least one thing I couldn’t leave without. I’ve gotten a chic leopard print bodysuit and an adorable pair of Mary Janes for a Halloween costume. In addition to clothes, they offer a variety of housewares.

If you’re searching for a new place to thrift with some of the cutest items, St. Teresa is the place for you. 

Just Love Coffee Cafe

What they sell: Artisanal coffee, breakfast and lunch

A long day of shopping is not complete without stopping for coffee and food.

Just Love is located on Scottsville Road. When I stepped inside the building, my eyes were immediately drawn to the art lining the walls. That, and that the line to order was out the door. I knew immediately whatever I was waiting for was going to be good.

The menu was expansive, with all sorts of different meals and types of coffee. I got a chocolate chip waffle and a latte, and both were heavenly. My waffle was stuffed with chocolate chips and came drizzled in sticky sweet syrup. My latte was delicious and gave me all the energy I needed to complete my day of shopping. The line to the door had been telling the truth– my meal was wonderful.

If you’re searching for a delicious bite to eat on a cool Sunday morning, I would point you immediately in the direction of this joyful cafe.

Replay Toys

What they sell: Collectible figurines, vintage toys, action figures

Deep in my heart, I am a nerd. One of the hardest parts about leaving my hometown was realizing that I’d also have to be leaving my local “nerd store” behind. When I moved to Bowling Green and found Replay Toys, all that sadness was gone. 

Replay Toys recently opened their new location in Greenwood Mall. It offers such a wide variety of things to browse and has sections full of items related to Star Wars, Power Rangers, and Star Trek. When I went in, they had an entire horror section dedicated to the upcoming spooky holiday. 

Browsing the anime figures was another favorite of mine; I was practically planning my upcoming purchases as I looked. Yet another area of the store was dedicated to vintage toys. I saw some things I’d longed to play with when I was a child. 

If you’re ever wanting to see some of the coolest nerd-related things, wander over to Replay Toys.

Vette City Vintage

What they sell: Vintage clothes

Vette City Vintage is located in Downtown Bowling Green and let me just say, the vibes of this place are immaculate. The minute I walked in and took in the racks of clothes set against the brick wall, next to the TV playing old music videos, I had only one thought:

“Dang, this place is cool.”

Cool is the best word to describe Vette City Vintage. This store has a supply of mainly mens clothes, but when I visited, the owner shared with me that he hopes to expand the women’s collection. The owner is such a friendly and personable character, chatting with every customer that enters the store as if they were an old friend. 

Vette City Vintage frequently restocks, posted on its Instagram stories almost every day.

Even if I weren’t to be shopping, I could see myself sitting at the sofa in the window, hanging with friends and soaking in the good energy. 

Commentary Writer Emma Hardesty can be reached at emma.hardesty162@topper.wku.edu.

I believe the debate was the best major political debate I’ve seen. It was substantive and both candidates argued policy and, for the most part, avoided making personal attacks. It was refreshing to finally see candidates exercise some civility on the debate stage.

Vance and Walz sparred on a variety of topics that are important to voters including foreign policy, the environment, the economy, abortion and gun control. Both candidates provided actual policy proposals which, disappointingly, we aren’t used to in this country. Amazingly, both candidates showed up with more than “concepts of a plan.” This debate was a look into what political discourse in the United States should look like, and for that, I applaud both men. 

While both candidates performed well in this debate, Vance won decisively. Vance’s performance on Tuesday was the best debate performance I have seen. He seemed to have an answer for any question thrown at him.

He began the debate with a monologue about himself, telling voters he was raised in a middle-class family and was raised by a mother who struggled with addiction. His introduction made him much more relatable and helped him to resonate with viewers. Vance is often criticized as coming off as over-rehearsed or robotic, but throughout the debate, he seemed human in a way voters hadn’t yet seen. 

Before this debate, Vance was viewed favorably by only about a third of Americans. However, I believe his performance will largely change his public perception. 

One of Vance’s best moments came when he was fact-checked by one of the moderators. When challenged, he was assertive, rebutted the point and seemed in control of the room. A point I imagined would be difficult for him to overcome was his previous criticisms of President Trump. However, when questioned about it, Vance brushed off the statements by merely saying he was wrong about Trump. While this seems like an obvious response, admitting previous errors seemed to give him an extra sense of honesty and credibility.

Before the debate, I wasn’t sure Trump had made the right pick for his running mate, and I definitely wasn’t sure about JD Vance as the future of the Republican Party. However, my concerns have been put to rest. On Tuesday, Vance proved he deserves to be at the top of the GOP’s depth chart now and for elections to come.

I now feel that  I will see a Vance Presidency during my lifetime. I’m not the only person who recognizes Vance’s success in the debate. In a poll conducted by USA Today, a majority of voters said Vance won the debate. Interestingly, they also found that over a third of voter’s opinions of the candidates were swayed by the debate.

While I believe this debate was a huge success for Vance, I want to reiterate both candidates performed well. The nation would be much better if every debate looked something like this. While Walz’s performance should be applauded, Vance proved he is the young, rising star the Republican party believed him to be.

If you are a Kentucky resident, you can register to vote here until October 7.

Commentary writer Caleb Neitzel can be reached at caleb.neitzel426@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on X at @caleb_neitzel.

If you would like to submit a reaction to a piece, Letter to the Editor or other submission, please send it to Editor-in-Chief Price Wilborn at herald.opinion@wku.edu or edwin.wilborn835@topper.wku.edu.

“The Dead Romantics” by Ashley Poston, a New York Times Bestseller, is a romantic comedy read that will cause even the cynical romantics to giggle in anticipation of a hopeful and dreamy romance. The magical romance makes for the perfect cozy fall read with its magical realism, paranormal elements and heavy themes involving grief and the celebration of life and love.

Florence Day is a ghostwriter with the special ability to talk to ghosts, who no longer believes in romance due to heartbreak. However, she meets Benji Andor, who turns out to be a ghost, and one of my favorite fictional hopeless romantics. 

I fell in love with how this novel made me feel hopeful for the complex character developments. The way that Poston wrote made it feel as if readers have known these characters because of how relatable they are. I also loved Florence’s family dynamic. Her family is definitely on the weird side, but there is something quirky about this family that keeps you invested. 

This book might just be my favorite read of 2024. After chapter six, I knew this book would change my life because I felt close to the female main character. Florence and I are so similar in personality, the way we think and our responses to unfamiliar feelings, especially grief. Reading this novel forced me to face feelings of grief that were seven years past due. 

My favorite, and what I consider the most realistic statement Florence made in the book, is “Love wasn’t a whisper in the quiet night. It was a yelp into the void, screaming that you were here.” That line explains exactly how it feels to experience heartbreak and the grief of a loved one. 

Although this novel is a romance with Benji and Florence’s paranormal love story, it’s also a novel about accepting and experiencing grief. 

If you’re interested in this novel but don’t have the time to read a physical copy, “The Dead Romantics” is also available on Audible. 

Make sure to spread love today, and happy reading! 

Commentary Writer Tazha Mattingly can be reached at shatazha.campbell962@topper.wku.edu. 

“The Wild Robot” is directed by Chris Sanders (“Lilo & Stitch,” “How to Train Your Dragon”) and tells the story of a robot named Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o), who is learning to adapt to challenging surroundings following a shipwreck, eventually adopting and raising a baby gosling who grows up named Brightbill.

The biggest praise I can give “The Wild Robot” is its animation. Dreamworks always puts out high-quality animation and this film is no different. Every scene is gorgeous to look at and what I love about the animation is that it blends 2D and 3D animation, a technique that has been done in Dreamworks’ more recent films such as “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and “The Bad Guys.” One of the best sequences is towards the final act involving a forest fire. The colors vibrantly pop off the screen

The humor throughout the film was surprisingly hilarious. I didn’t expect to laugh as much with the audience. Many families who took their kids to the screening were thoroughly enjoying it. What was surprising about the humor was just how dark it was at times, particularly involving the situations Roz finds herself in, such as being with other animals including foxes, bears, opossums, etc.

The voice cast is also really good with Nyong’o and Kit Connor each being the highlights. Nyong’o does a great job of bringing humor yet a lot of heart into the character of Roz. Connor puts a lot of emotional baggage with his character of Brightbill wanting to be accepted.

Despite all of the critical acclaim the film has been getting, it isn’t one of Dreamworks’ best films as it didn’t have the emotional impact some of its other films did. Despite dealing with great themes on parenthood and finding your place in the world, I wanted it to have a better emotional impact. I also wanted more chemistry between Roz and Brightbill as I didn’t feel it until the second half. Some of the most memorable moments in DreamWorks films were the chemistry and banter between characters. What would films like “Shrek” and “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” look like without the chemistry between its characters? The buildup during the first half wasn’t that investing and it didn’t grab my interest until halfway through the film in a scene where Brightbill got into an argument with Roz about his actual upbringing. That was the moment I was interested and wanted to see what the film was going to do. 

Another problem I have is that the villain Vontra, voiced by Stephanie Hsu appears way too late in the film and her motivation needs much more background. Vontra’s motivation is to bring Roz back to her programming so they can study her. A great villain in any animated film has personality, motivation and complexity that can make the audience get behind even if we condemn their actions. 

Despite this not being as great as everyone says it is, “The Wild Robot” is still a good film for the whole family. Kids will love it, adults will appreciate its themes, it has fantastic animation as always, unexpectedly funny moments and a good message at its’ core earning the film a solid B.

Commentary Writer Linden Lansberry can be reached at linden.lansberry988@topper.wku.edu. 

Blissful For the Brain

Dark Chocolate: Great choice for a quick energy boost and a bit of a memory boost. Whether you need a quick sugar rush before a test or between classes, dark chocolate has your back.

Just be mindful of the sugar content—choose dark chocolate with a higher cocoa percentage for the most benefits. 

Energizing for the Eyes

Sunflower Seeds: Excellent for eye health thanks to their high Vitamin E content. An ounce of sunflower seeds provides about half the recommended daily intake of Vitamin E—now that’s eye-opening! They’re also a great snack for when you’re on the go. 

Healing for the Heart

Yogurt: Yogurt, whether it’s Chobani, Go-Gurt or Activia, is a true love for your heart. Packed with probiotics, yogurt can help reduce the risk of heart disease. It is also beneficial for gut health. Opt for low-sugar or plain varieties to keep it heart-healthy.

Beneficial for the Bones 

Prunes: After a long trek up the Hill, your bones might feel like they’re trudging through the desert. To strengthen your bones, consider snacking on prunes. They’re surprisingly good for bone health due to their high content of vitamins and minerals. They also make for a sweet and satisfying snack. 

Amazing for Antioxidants

Nuts: Packed with antioxidants and fiber, nuts are great for overall health. Walnuts and almonds are particularly good for maintaining heart health and reducing inflammation. Just 7 grams of fiber can decrease your stroke risk by 7%—that’s significant! 

A Recent Research

Doritos and Food Dyes: A recent study found that a food dye in Doritos, Yellow No. 5, can make mouse skin translucent. It hints at potential benefits for the medical community through visual assistance in viewing veins for blood draw and providing hopes for early cancer detection. While this is a fun fact, it’s always a good idea to enjoy processed foods in moderation. The potential medical benefits of food dyes are still being researched, so keeping a balanced diet is key.

Enjoy your snacks and meals, and good luck with your lab work and tests!

Commentary Writer Vidhi Parekh can be reached at vidhi.parekh134@topper.wku.edu.

The debate was held in the National Constitution Center in downtown Philadelphia. Because the campaigns had agreed that the debate would have no live audience, no one was allowed in the Constitution Center except campaign officials and ABC News staff members.

A few blocks away from the Constitution Center is the Pennsylvania Convention Center, which is where all media were stationed. At 5 a.m., the morning of the debate, media was allowed inside the building. To enter the convention center, reporters were required to pass through a Secret Service security checkpoint. Here, Secret Service agents looked through everyone’s bags, and reporters had to walk through a medical detector and past bomb sniffing dogs. 

Once inside the building, media members had access to two rooms: the media filing center, and the spin room. The media filing center contained hundreds of desks, one for each approved member of the media, where reporters could sit and work on their coverage of the event. Inside the filing center were large projector screens, where journalists watched the debate.

In the room directly adjacent to the filing center was the spin room. The spin room is where each campaign sends representatives, called surrogates, to “spin” (hence the name) the media coverage in favor of their side. While it does occasionally happen, candidates typically do not come into the spin room, instead relying entirely on their surrogates to create a narrative. 

At about 3 p.m., six hours before the debate began, I got a text from a reporter with sources close to the Harris campaign saying that the campaign would be bringing in Anthony Scaramucci as their first surrogate shortly. Scaramucci was, for a short time, the director of communications for the Trump White House. However, he has in recent years advocated against Trump. Upon reading the text, I rushed to the spin room, finding a small crowd of reporters waiting for his arrival. Fifteen minutes later, Scaramucci arrived. He was immediately swarmed by reporters and gave his testimony of why he believed that Trump shouldn’t be president.

Shortly after Scaramucci’s appearance, the Trump campaign released the first few of its surrogates to the spin room. First was Congressman Byron Donalds of Florida who sat down for an interview with ABC before stepping onto the spin room floor to answer questions.

Entering the room soon after Donalds was a relatively new Trump ally, former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who did multiple interviews with news stations and spent a significant portion of the night campaigning on behalf of Trump. Kennedy ran for president during this election cycle as an Independent, campaigning largely on the popularity of his uncle, President John F. Kennedy. Last month, amid declining support, Kennedy suspended his campaign for president and endorsed former President Trump. He has since been named to Trump’s presidential transition team.

After these appearances, it was almost time for the debate. Media members packed into the filing center to watch and campaign surrogates exited the room to attend their respective campaigns’ watch parties. When Trump and Harris took the stage, the crowd of reporters went silent. For the next 90 minutes, the candidates debated policy and took personal jabs at each other. Some moments brought laughter throughout the room while others brought gasps. When the debate was over, the general consensus among the media was that Harris had won the debate. I was told, this would mean her campaigns surrogates would not stick around as long in the spin room. With the debate now over, it was time for the action. 

Shortly after the debate, security set up a taped off perimeter. We were told that Senator JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, would be addressing the media after the debate, so we all assumed this perimeter was for him. About 15 minutes later, Vance and his Secret Service detail entered the room. He then gave his brief remarks before answering questions from the media.

As Vance was speaking, surrogates from both campaigns entered the room. One of the first to enter was Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican candidate for President, who many see as a rising star in the republican party. It seemed that Ramaswamy largely hit Trump campaign talking points in an effort to spin the media’s perception of the debate.

Additionally, both campaigns sent prominent governors to speak on their behalf. For the Republicans, this meant Kristi Noem, Gov. R-SD, and Doug Burgum, Gov. R-ND. For Democrats, this meant Gavin Newsom, Gov. D-CA.

Noem is the young governor from South Dakota. She was reportedly one of the candidates on Trump’s shortlist for Vice President before he ultimately selected Vance.

Doug Burgum is the Governor of North Dakota and a former Republican candidate for President. He recently opposed Trump in the Republican primary election, but has endorsed him in the general election. It is worth noting that when I had a chance to speak to Burgum, his last words in our conversation were “Go Tops.” 

Before the debate, I had heard rumors that President Trump would make an appearance in the spin room later into the night. However, I wasn’t sure of the validity of these rumors. At about 11:15 p.m., I noticed that another speaking area had been taped off but we were not informed who it was for. Shortly after I received a text saying Trump was en route to the spin room. As the news spread through the room that the former President would be addressing the media, a crowd began to form around the taped off area. At 11:30, about an hour after the end of the debate, Trump entered the room. He spoke to the media saying that he believed it was his best debate performance yet and claimed victory. He then took a few questions from reporters before sitting down for a TV interview and leaving the room. There was a surge of energy when Trump entered the room as everyone rushed to take pictures and ask questions of him.

Trump spoke to the media for about seven minutes before leaving for his interview. By the time he had left, so too had most of the Democratic surrogates. As previously mentioned, I was told that the Democratic surrogates would leave earlier because of Harris’s strong performance in the debate. Many Republican surrogates stayed until the room closed at 1:00 a.m. This, along with President Trump’s appearance, indicates that they likely believe their candidate lost the debate, or at least that it was close. 

As the night began to come to a close, it was interesting to see the cross-partisan interactions increase. Many mainstream Republicans and Democrats began to speak and seemed to have a friendly relationship with each other. It’s an excellent reminder that public figures who appear to be enemies may be good friends in private. 

This can serve as a reminder for the need to reach across the aisle. It seems as though oftentimes, voters are left hating each other, even when the figureheads they support don’t. 

This historic night will certainly have a huge impact on the future of the country. Discourse such as in what occurred in the debate is what makes our democracy unique and strong.

Commentary Writer Caleb Neitzel can be reached at caleb.netizel426@topper.wku.edu.

“Speak No Evil” is directed by James Watkins (“The Woman in Black”) and stars Scoot McNairy (“Gone Girl,” the upcoming “A Complete Unknown”) and Mackenzie Davis (“Terminator: Dark Fate,” “Blade Runner 2049”) as an American couple who, along with their daughter (Alix West Lefler), go on vacation with a charming British family, Paddy and Ciara played by James McAvoy (“Split” “It: Chapter Two”) and Aisling Franciosi (“The Last Voyage of the Demeter”). But what starts out as peaceful slowly turns into a horrifying nightmare.

The premise of people going on vacation and realizing that it’s a horrifying nightmare is not particularly anything new in the genre, but where it really exceeds expectations is in the execution of the storyline. As the film goes on, it does a great job of making you increasingly uncomfortable in the situations. Not only that, but it makes you root for the characters which can be hard for a film to do. Yes, they have problems affecting their personal lives, but you want them to succeed. You feel like a fly on a wall in several scenarios where there is a great amount of subtext as the protagonists try to conceal their true feelings.

Everyone in the cast is a standout, particularly McAvoy and Franciosi. Their characters are initially presented as charming but are later revealed to be twisted psychopaths. Even from the first few scenes you can tell that something is not right with them. McAvoy and Franciosi do a great job of making the audience uneasy yet captivated. They’re also darkly funny, which was very unexpected for a horror thriller. 

Davis and McNairy also sell their performances as believable. As the film goes on they hide their inner feelings by pretending everything is okay when in reality they are desperate to escape Paddy and Ciara’s clutches. Even Dan Hough, who plays Paddy and Ciara’s “son,” gives a great performance. In the opening scene he has this specific look on his face and you can tell that his parents aren’t actually his parents and the reason for him not being able to speak is both heartbreaking and messed up.

One of the things I was hoping for was that it wouldn’t copy the original film’s ending. I won’t give it away, but the ending to the original is highly disturbing to say the least. Thankfully the remake avoids this and has a more crowd pleasing ending. My theater even applauded at a couple moments. If it ended the same as the original, it would’ve ruined the entire movie.

From a technical standpoint, “Speak No Evil” is a visually beautiful movie. The fact that it takes place mostly in a remote setting adds an extra layer of tension as the family has to rely on their wits to survive. 

As for issues, there were some minor pacing issues in the middle of the film and there could’ve been more suspense in the first half. The suspense is thrilling with a final act that will leave you breathless and cheering, but there could’ve been more suspenseful elements within that first half.

What could’ve been just another generic horror remake is surprisingly well acted, well paced (for the most part) and gorgeously shot while not feeling like a cheap imitation. It’s one of the most surprising films of the year earning “Speak No Evil” a B+.

Commentary writer Linden Lansberry can be reached at linden.lansberry988@topper.wku.edu.