Devin Laye

MCL Top 5: Spooky Movies YOU Should Watch this Month

October 12, 2021 by Devin Laye

Horror movies are always a great choice if you’re in need of a thrill, but what better time to cuddle up for a nice scary movie than October? Spooky Season is all about getting into the Halloween spirit (no pun intended), so you should definitely check out these Top 5 movie choices before the month ends!

1. Halloween

As the name suggests, Halloween is a classic for the month of October. Michael Myers is one of the staples of slasher films, so no matter how much you love or hate horror movies, Halloween is a must-watch! Although there have been several remakes and sequels, the original 1978 version cannot be surpassed. There’s even a new 2021 sequel coming out this month, so there’s no better time than the present to watch (or re-watch!) the classic Halloween.

2. Scream

Scream is absolutely iconic! So iconic, in fact, that there have been 4 sequel movies and even a spin-off TV show. With all that said, the 1996 film that set the ball rolling on the Scream legacy is a true masterpiece. From the opening Drew Barrymore scene to the beautiful plot twists to the haunting mystery of what lies beneath the killer’s mask, you’ll never be able to forget Ghost Face and his terrifying massacres.

3. Hocus Pocus

If slasher films aren’t your thing, Hocus Pocus is a spooky (yet family-friendly) choice for Halloween. On All Hallows’ Eve in Salem, Massachusetts, the Sanderson sisters – a trio of witches – are reawakened. After their execution in 1693, Winifred, Mary, and Sarah spent three centuries dormant until teenaged Max makes a fateful mistake. As Max rushes to save his sister, the town of Salem, and Halloween itself, Hocus Pocus includes elements of fantasy and comedy for the whole family to enjoy.

4. The Shining

The Shining is an oldie but a goodie! Based on Stephen King’s novel, The Shining aims to unsettle the viewer, both psychologically and visually. After taking a job to watch over a gigantic hotel during its off-season, Jack brings his wife and young son Danny along with him as they shut themselves inside the hotel for the winter. As Jack slowly falls into insanity throughout his stay, Danny begins to have visions that reveal the horrific past of the hotel and estate. The Shining is definitely not for the faint of heart, but I truly cannot recommend this cinematic masterpiece enough!

5. Scooby-Doo! and The Goblin King

Last but not least, Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King is indisputably a Halloween gem. Everyone loves Scooby-Doo, but this special Halloween feature takes the spooky mysteries of Scooby’s gang to another level! Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby must save Halloween after a failed, power-hungry magician steals goblin magic and attempts to turn everyone into monsters.

If you’ve made it this far, I hope you’ll end up watching at least one of these amazing spooky movies. And if you ever need any horror movie recommendations, I’m your gal! Remember to stay tuned for more Halloween content throughout the month of October, and don’t forget to stay 🎃spooky🎃!!!

MCL Top 5: Spookiest Locations in Nashville 👻

October 5, 2021 by Devin Laye

Buckle up, y’all… it’s officially spooky season!

The month of October has just begun, and the crisp joy of autumn in starting to brush the air. Halloween is coming up, so what better way to get into the spooky spirit than to visit some of the most haunted locations around Nashville?

1. Honeysuckle Hill Farm

Honeysuckle Hill Farm is home to the gigantic ‘Nashville Country Music Corn Maze,’ and this year the artist theme is Loretta Lynn (pictured above). In addition to getting lost in this legendary corn maze, guests can visit the farm’s pumpkin patch, enjoy the Fall Festival, warm-up by the bonfires, and even marvel at the huge firework shows!

http://honeysucklehillfarm.com

2. Nashville Haunted Ghost Tours

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about Nashville’s history, then one of the city’s Haunted Ghost Tours is the place for you! Whether you choose a downtown walking tour, a haunted tavern tour, or even a hearse passenger tour, get ready to be severely creeped out by local legends and true ghost stories that’ll have you sleeping with one eye open.

http://nashvilleghosttour.com

3. Haunted Canoe the Caney

You may have heard of haunted hay rides before, but what about haunted canoe rides? Embark on this epic adventure, where you’ll explore an old abandoned military recreation base, tip-toe through a haunted town that flooded long ago, and paddle over the dark waters of Cemetery Cove (where a sunken graveyard houses many lost and vengeful spirits).

http://www.canoethecaney.com/haunted-canoe-trip.html

4. Devil’s Dungeon

Devil’s Dungeon is revered as one of the scariest haunted houses in all of Tennessee, and its surprises hiding behind each and every corner do not disappoint. As you venture through the 50+ horror scenes, you’re sure to experience the Halloween transformation from Nashville to Slashville.

http://slashvillehaunts.com

5. Beast House

Beast House is NOT for the faint of heart… This site is actually a real haunted house with its own spooky history. The Beast House attraction includes access to two haunted houses, and, if you’re feeling brave enough, you can even make the terrifying free-fall Beast Jump or attempt the notoriously daunting 3-stage Beast Challenge. Few have lived to tell the tale… will you be the next?

http://beasthouse.com

If you’re anything like me, you’ll definitely be checking out all of these haunted Nashville locations during this spooky season.

For more spooky season content, check back here at mycommons.life for fall/Halloween updates throughout the month of October. And — you heard it here first, folks — we have a BIG surprise coming up for our October 27th edition. Stay tuned, and stay 🎃spooky🎃!!!

I SURVIVED – A First-Person Account of the 2021 Gen Chem Massacre

September 28, 2021 by Devin Laye

September 23rd, 2021. The time was 7:00PM. Over half of the freshman class shuffled into the exam room in a crowd of palpable anxiety. Students were crying, dying, trying to remember every single polyatomic ion.

No matter who you were or how much/little you had studied, we were all scared to death. It was an uphill battle, but we SURVIVED.

…and we lived to tell the tale.

Here’s what some of our fellow first-years have to say about their survival stories:

BEFORE

“I was so anxious on my walk to the exam that I crapped my pants. No, actually. We’re talking full on bowel incontinence.”

“I seriously almost threw up when they handed me the exam.”

“I couldn’t even fit all my papers on my desk…”

DURING

“I had to swallow my gum and take it like a pill. At that point, it tasted disgusting and I couldn’t focus on my exam.”

“I dropped my hairclip during the exam and it went CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK…”

“I FORGOT THE DE BROGLIE EQUATION! HOW DID I FORGET THE DE BROGLIE EQUATION?”

AFTER

“I considered jumping off the Vanderbilt bridge on the walk back. Into oncoming traffic.”

“The studying was far from worthwhile…”

“I WAS Pre-Med, but I’m definitely not anymore!”

OVERALL THOUGHTS?

“I’m [screwed].”
(edited due to expletives)

“I’m as uncertain as Heisenberg was.”

“That really sucks, but don’t beat yourself up too hard here. First exam, and now you know what to expect. There’ll be plenty more chances. (…that’s what I’m telling myself lol)”

With all that said, the professors have revealed that this has been the highest Exam1 average in Gen Chem for 3 years. Maybe we didn’t do so badly after all?

Nonetheless, Vandy Class of 2025, I’m proud of you. We did it – we survived.

But how much do you *actually* know about the different types of squirrels that call Vanderbilt home? What kind of squirrel would YOU be based on your personality and habits?

Take this quiz to find out!

[viralQuiz id=27]