My NERDy Favorites: MAY 2026
- Chase Gifford
- 12 hours ago
- 8 min read
MAY 2026
One of the best things about being nerdy about something (passionate) is the hope of sharing it with others. Since my own family is sick of hearing about the endlessness of my collections which include but are not limited to: physical movie collection, pop culture art prints, popcorn buckets, Batmobiles in both Lego and Hot Wheels, I’ve decided to dump all this worthless (but still cool? Maybe?) rigamarole onto an unsuspecting internet. That’s you, dear reader! Anyway… this was my month of May in NERDom.
From movies to music to video games and whatever other related nonsense I’ve gotten myself into.
MOVIE (Theatrical): Obsession
Everyone seems to be talking about this one and rightfully so. This is an incredible and unexpected debut by YouTuber and TikToker, Curry Barker. He’s yet another example of the funniest among us possessing something of the darkest imaginations out there. Jordan Peele, Zach Cregger, John Krasinski, and now of course Curry Barker. Comedy and horror flex the same muscles – to exploit subversion and instigate strong reactions. To laugh or to scream, it’s all reactionary and if done properly, wholly unexpected.
Obsession’s trailer left me feeling luke warm about the whole thing but ultimately I decided I’d give it a chance because you just never know. For every ten underwhelming releases, there is that one that comes out of nowhere and shocks the hell out of you. Obsession is psychologically draining and jarring. Its imagery is still and lingering giving your imagination the opportunity to panic. And then of course there’s Inde Navarrette as Nikki. In one fell swoop we get to experience the rise of a new and exciting voice in horror and to witness the emergence of a burgeoning star. How exciting!
MOVIE (Home Release or Streaming)
This will include anything I’ve watched but also what I’ve added to my collection. Admittedly Netflix has kind of ruined me for the weekly episodic release that was common on television back in the day. I like to binge and so just after its season finale hit Disney+, I finally took in the long awaited second season of DareDevil: Born Again. What a phenomenal series! I love the gritty anti-hero stories. Speaking of, I also watched The Punisher special “One Last Kill.” Both deal with heavy themes and extraordinary physical violence that is visually merciless and endlessly entertaining. I fear a neutered Frank Castle in the upcoming Spider-Man but I still welcome his appearance in the friendly neighborhood. As for DD, season 3 is already underway and I’m sure it will be every bit as excellent.
Now… for my ever-growing collection.
It’s been a busy month so don’t think I’m always this fiscally irresponsible. But a NERD has his urges like anyone else.
- Blazing Saddles (4K) 1974
An absolute classic and a must-have for any discerning movie collector. "You’ve got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know… morons. "
- The Deer Hunter (4K-Steelbook) 1978
Funny story: I have well over a thousand films and this is only the second movie I’ve ever bought that stars Meryl Streep. For such a tremendous actor, she never really stars in anything I’m a fan of. But there’s no denying this one.
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (4K-Steelbook) 2026
One of the best horror films of the year and apparently no one saw it. As usual, great job everybody. This is why we can’t have nice things. The third chapter of this new trilogy was all but guaranteed until low box office numbers. “wE wAnT oRiGiNaL cOnTeNt!” BULL. SHIT. Buy anyway, if you saw it you understand. It’s fantastic. Nia DaCosta took the reins from Danny Boyle and she absolutely delivered. And of course there’s Ralph Fiennes.
- Sleepers (4K-Steelbook) 1996
A heavy story but there is no denying that cast. Kevin Bacon, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Patric, Brad Pitt. Directed by Barry Levinson. The mistakes of youth can change everything.
- M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs (4K) & The Sixth Sense (4K)
I was a longtime defender of Shyamalan. Even when his movies were beyond awful (Airbender…) And while I’ve become more critical of his movies I still defend him to the extent that for all of the unoriginality in Hollywood, he is a voice for new and unique stories. The execution may be lacking at times but he’s nothing if he’s not original. Of course these particular efforts are what defined him. The Sixth Sense is one of the best thrillers ever made and Signs is phenomenal as well. (I saw Signs in theaters 6 times. Most of any movie.) These are a must have in the collection.
- Carlito’s Way (4K-Steelbook) 1993
Brian De Palma, director of Scarface. Al Pacino. Gangster flick. A questionable Pacino accent but that aside, an absolute classic.
- Marty Supreme (4K) 2025
My favorite movie of 2025. Another Safdie classic. As the heirs to the crime drama genre that was molded by creators like Martin Scorsese, this is another notch in the belt. And it’s about ping pong of all things. This is proof that when you have the right people behind and in front of the camera, no matter the subject matter, extraordinary things are possible.
- Blade Runner (4K-Steelbook Voight-Kampff Edition) 1982
One of the greatest Sci-Fi movies ever made. I have several copies of 2049 (My favorite Movie) and needed to upgrade my copy of the original. I finally got it! It’s Ridley Scott. Harrison Ford. And Rutger Hauer delivers a tremendous performance and ends it with one of the most memorable monologues of all-time. “...like tears in rain… time to die.”
- David Fincher’s Fight Club (4K-Steelbook) & The Social Network (4K-Steelbook)
A Fincher double-feature. Two very different films. Two modern classics. These are the movies that put Fincher on the map. Some of them anyway. One of my favorite directors of all-time. I cannot wait for The Adventures of Cliff Booth. I was fortunate enough to see The Killer in theaters before its Netflix debut but this will be the first official theatrical release of his in over ten years. With films like Fight Club and The Social Network, Fincher’s work belongs on the big screen.
- Send Help (4K) 2026
Sam Raimi’s triumphant return to horror! And what a glorious return it is. Rachel McAdams is transcendent. Dylan O’Brien is deviously douchey. Together they create something truly special. With Raimi’s direction, this became something that only he could deliver. As the director of the original Evil Dead, you can see the influence throughout and it’s all the more amazing.
- Licorice Pizza (Blu-ray) 2021
P.T.A. Cooper Hoffman’s debut performance and a surprising turn by musician turned actor, Alana Haim. Although a questionable love story, it’s undeniably charming. In support is Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper, and Benny Safdie. Underrated.
- Greenland 2: Migration (4K) 2026
As a fan of the first, I was excited to see the story continue. This isn’t exactly what you’d call high art but it’s exciting and does the disaster genre a service by making its overall story, from the first movie to this one, about the family at the center of it all. Less about destruction and more about survival. The concept of community and perseverance.
- Little Nicky (Blu-ray, Steelbook) 2000
I liked the artwork and honestly thought I was buying a 4K upgraded version. Turns out it’s only Blu-ray. It’s a movie that made me laugh back in the day and while I haven’t seen it in over a decade, I’m glad to have it in the collection. It’s a movie that makes me wonder: was Adam Sandler ever actually funny or were we just young enough to not know any better?
- The Warriors (4K-Steelbook) 1979
“Warriors! Come out to play-ay!” From the writer of Aliens, Walter Hill directs a classic.
- The Phantom (4K) 1996
A classic in its own right. Movies like The Phantom and Blade are the reason why we have the superhero genre we have today. For better or worse. Billy Zane. The purple suit. The double pistols. The loyal wolf. It’s cheesy but somehow still bad ass. I grew up with this movie and now to have it in the collection is wonderful. In glorious 4K no less.
MUSIC: New music to checkout
- Haste the Day: Dissenter
Starting the month off strong, HTD is one of my early bands when my musical tastes started craving the heavier side of rock ‘n’ roll. They are a tried and true guaranteed good time. ‘Dissenter’ is their first record in eleven years. It’s been a long time but the record proved to be well worth the wait.
- Like Moths to Flames: I Don’t Want to be Here Anymore (Single)
This is just a single but I’m hopeful it’s a sign of things to come. I’ve been a fan of this band since 2010 before they even signed to a label. They’ve gone through slight style changes here and there but the energy and angst has always remained. Their most recent full-length ‘The Cycles of Trying to Cope’, released in 2024, is an excellent record but a slight change in what I feel is the best music of their career (so far) with an EP titled ‘Pure Like Porcelain’. This latest single feels like a triumphant return to that 2021 release that despite it only being an EP became an AOTY contender for me.
- Cal Scruby: The Devil You Don’t
I thought I should include some variety in my choices so I’m including the underrated Cal Scruby with the second album of a two-part album release. Now, this album was released in April but I completely forgot about its impending release until the month of May. (First Album: The Devil You Know / Second Album: The Devil You Don’t) He’s an insanely talented lyricist in an age when ridiculous mumbling is considered passable as rap. He puts these imposters to shame. Definitely check out the album duo.
Most Disappointing:
Admittedly I wasn’t exactly anticipating this one all that much. I didn’t really care for the first but I was hopeful for a pleasant surprise. It did not deliver whatsoever. A link to my review:
Most Anticipated For June:
- Scary Movie (June 5th)
Everything after Scary Movie 2 is questionable at best. I can’t lie, they did make me laugh but as for a lasting quality… eh. I’m very excited however to have the Wayans back in the driver’s seat. I expect crass and highly offensive humor. I expect the professionally outraged to have an aneurysm from its sheer audacity. I want comedies back. I want the fearlessness to return more audacious than ever before. Karens be damned.
- Disclosure Day (June 12th)
As far as I’m concerned if you don’t get excited for a new Steven Spielberg movie you’re either lying to yourself and everyone around you or you don’t actually like movies. He IS movies. He’s practically his own genre. Cinema itself wouldn’t be what it is without him. And he’s finally returning to the blockbuster after years of Oscar hopefuls. I want a return to the imaginative, child-like wonder Spielberg who gave us E.T. and Close Encounters. Disclosure Day looks like a mix of War of the Worlds and A.I. and I am here for it.
- MUSIC
August Burns Red: Season of Surrender (June 5th)
ABR is a metalcore mainstay and one of the best to ever do it. They never release anything but absolute bangers. This promises to be nothing less.
TRAILERS:
Resident Evil (9/18/26)
Evil Dead Burn (7/10/26)
Tony (8/7/26)
