Coley-Sudlovenick, De Caria, West among those acknowledged at business awards

Business News

The Nunavut Trade Show wouldn’t be complete without the Qikiqtani Business Achievement Awards.

With approximately 50 attendees at the ceremony, emcee Jen Hayward took the stage with Steve Sullivan, director of hospitality for the Qikiqtaluuk Corporation, to announce the award recipients in the Aqsarniit ballroom during the evening of Sept. 18.

“For everyone who doesn’t speak Inuktitut yet,” said Miali Coley-Sudlovenick, emphasizing the word “yet” and gesturing to her award for Business of the Year, ‘Allurvik.com’ after completing a speech in fluent Inuktitut. “That’s my business. I teach Inuktitut and also have had many opportunities now to be able to share the work that I do.”

Hayward then introduced the “individual who has achieved something out of the ordinary during the 23-24 year, and who has had a positive influence in the business community,” Canadian North’s Shelly De Caria, who earned the Business Person of the Year.

De Caria was born and raised in Kuujjuaq, Que., with Inuktitut as her second language. She became Canadian North’s first Inuk president and CEO last December.  

“Shelly’s leadership is a testament to Canada North’s dedication to serve the needs of the region,” said Hayward. “Her blend of community understanding and operational expertise ensures that she is guiding the airline while staying rooted in its mission. On a personal note, Shelly is a fabulous mom… and these kids help keep her grounded and her perspective focused on what matters.”

De Caria, upon accepting her award, said, “Jen knows how nervous I am in these kinds of things, and she’s very important to me. And I’m grateful for this acknowledgement from my peers, my community and everyone here at the Nunavut Trade Show. When I first arrived at this trade show back in 2017 as a manager, I admit I was nervous and I still am. And while there were nerves, I was also driven by a clear vision of what I wanted to build — a path of success, not only for myself but for any communities as a whole.

“One of my core objectives has always been to support and uplift need in our Northern business communities often, even as I stand here as the president and CEO of one of this country’s largest airlines, I am, and we are, underestimated…

“I am incredibly proud to witness the growth and drive within the Inuit business landscape. Seeing our people and our organizations have evolved motivates me to strive harder to push for greater inclusion for another seat at the table and to ensure that our efforts for our people by our people and with our people… That said, I know there is a lot more work to do,” De Caria added.

This year, there was extra poignance to the awards celebration as it was announced, to the surprise of Nunavut Trade Award Show organizer Chris West, that he would be receiving an award in recognition of his years of dedication with his retirement on the horizon.

“There are a few of us in this community, the business community who wanted to make sure this evening didn’t go past without acknowledging Chris West as this is his last show trade show as the executive director [of the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce],” said Hayward. “We felt it was only fitting to honour him with a Lifetime Achievement Award as well. Thankfully, the board agreed… Chris has been an incredible sounding board for when we have a challenge or even an opportunity. Chris is a great person that we can always go talk to… No one that we spoke to could say a bad word about Chris and we tried to find them. We really did. Chris is an incredible leader, an incredible friend and he’s been an incredible executive director, and his commitment to this business community is deserving of recognizing him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Why Are Medical Costs So High In The United States?

Technology

The cost of medical treatment in the United States has been a topic of concern for decades. With soaring healthcare bills and insurance premiums, many Americans are left struggling to understand why they pay significantly more for medical care compared to other developed countries. The reasons for this are complex and multi-faceted, with a range of contributing factors that influence the high price tag on health services. In this article, we’ll explore the key drivers behind these costs.The Role of Administrative CostsOne of the main reasons healthcare in the U.S. is so expensive is the administrative burden. The complexity of the American healthcare system, which involves multiple payers, both public and private, creates inefficiencies. According to a report by the Center for American Progress, administrative costs account for roughly 25% of total healthcare spending in the U.S. This includes expenses associated with billing, insurance processing, and compliance with regulations. These costs are much higher in the U.S. than in countries with more streamlined systems, such as those with a single-payer model.Moreover, medical providers often need to employ extra staff solely to manage billing and insurance claims. This additional layer of bureaucracy drives up costs, which are ultimately passed on to patients in the form of higher medical bills.Pharmaceutical Prices Are Sky-HighPrescription drugs are another major factor in the high cost of healthcare. The U.S. pays some of the highest prices for pharmaceuticals in the world. Americans spend about $1,300 per person annually on prescription drugs, more than twice the amount paid in other high-income countries. Why?One reason is the lack of government regulation over drug prices. Unlike many other nations, the U.S. government does not negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, leaving the market to set its own rates. This often results in pharmaceutical companies charging exorbitant prices, especially for brand-name drugs. Additionally, patents and market exclusivity rules allow drug manufacturers to maintain high prices without competition from generics, further driving costs.The High Price of Medical Technology
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The U.S. healthcare system is heavily reliant on cutting-edge medical technology. From advanced imaging machines like MRIs and CT scanners to robotic surgery systems, hospitals often invest in the latest equipment to offer the best care possible. However, these technologies come at a steep price. Hospitals must cover the cost of purchasing, maintaining, and operating this equipment, which can cost millions of dollars. These expenses are then passed on to patients in the form of higher fees for diagnostic tests and treatments.While technological advancements have improved the quality of care, they have also contributed to higher healthcare costs. The frequent use of expensive medical equipment, even when not absolutely necessary, has been criticized for inflating prices without always improving patient outcomes.The Impact of Defensive MedicineDefensive medicine refers to the practice of ordering unnecessary tests or treatments to avoid potential lawsuits. In the U.S., the threat of malpractice litigation looms large for healthcare providers, leading many to take extra precautions that might not be medically necessary. While defensive medicine is meant to protect doctors from legal repercussions, it often results in patients undergoing additional tests and procedures, driving up their medical bills.The cost of malpractice insurance is also a significant factor. Physicians pay substantial premiums to protect themselves from lawsuits, and these costs are often passed on to patients. Although reforming malpractice laws could help mitigate this issue, it remains a deeply entrenched aspect of the American healthcare system.Hospital Fees and Profit MarginsHospitals in the U.S. are another source of high medical costs. Unlike in many countries where hospitals are non-profit or publicly funded, many American hospitals are run as for-profit businesses. This business model drives the need for hospitals to generate revenue, which often results in higher fees for services such as surgeries, overnight stays, and emergency room visits.Hospital fees are notoriously opaque, making it difficult for patients to understand what they are being charged for. The same procedure can cost vastly different amounts depending on the hospital, even within the same city. In some cases, hospitals mark up prices significantly, sometimes as much as 20 times the cost or more, according to a study published in Health Affairs.Lack of Transparency in PricingAnother significant issue contributing to high healthcare costs is the lack of transparency in pricing. Patients often don’t know how much a treatment or procedure will cost until after it has been performed, leading to unexpected bills. This opacity not only makes it difficult for consumers to shop around for the best prices but also leaves many struggling to keep track of what they owe.It’s not uncommon for individuals to find unpaid medical bills months after receiving care, as they often get lost among various statements from providers and insurance companies. Without clear, upfront pricing, patients are left in the dark, unsure of how much their medical care will ultimately cost.Efforts have been made to improve transparency, such as recent federal regulations requiring hospitals to post prices for common procedures. However, these measures have yet to make a significant impact on reducing overall healthcare costs.ConclusionThe high cost of medical treatment in the United States is the result of multiple factors, from administrative inefficiencies and pharmaceutical pricing to the expense of medical technology and hospital fees. While there is no single solution to reducing these costs, reforms in areas such as drug pricing, administrative streamlining, and transparency could help ease the burden on American patients. Until then, the U.S. will likely continue to grapple with the issue of expensive healthcare, leaving many wondering how to afford the care they need.

Historian Stacy Cordery Returns to Monmouth to Discuss Her Biography of Business Pioneer Elizabeth Arden

Business News

Stacy Cordery speaks to a large audience at the Buchanan Center for the Arts in downtown MonmouthMONMOUTH, ILLINOIS (September 19, 2024) — If pressed to condense the life of her most recent biographical subject into three words, historian and former Monmouth College professor Stacy Cordery said the phrase “Beauty is power” would be an apt description for Elizabeth Arden.Fortunately for the large crowd that turned out September 18 to hear Cordery deliver a book talk at the Buchanan Center for the Arts, she was able to provide many more words in recounting the life of Arden, who rose to world fame from very humble beginnings in rural Canada.Cordery’s book, Becoming Elizabeth Arden: The Woman Behind the Global Beauty Empire, which was published earlier this month by Penguin Random House, joins biographies the Iowa State University history professor has written on Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Girls Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low. Those books were both published during her 22-year tenure at Monmouth, which spanned from 1994-2016.She’s not making this upCordery devoted several years of research to her 512-page rags-to-riches tale, which was not immune to a delay due to the COVID pandemic. Born Florence Nightingale Graham, Arden’s career was already on a solid trajectory at her “tony” Fifth Avenue location in New York City. What helped propel her to becoming “a household name on six continents” was eliminating the stigma connected to wearing makeup and elevating its application to an art form.”In those days, the only women who wore makeup were prostitutes and actors,” said Cordery. “They wore a ‘false face.’ If they lied about that, what else would they lie about? But Arden thought, ‘They look good,’ and her question to other women was, ‘Wouldn’t you like to look like that?'”So Arden taught women how to apply makeup and, said Cordery, “That gave birth to the Arden look. Every woman she worked with would come back to her salon with three of her friends saying ‘I want to look like that.'”What Arden did was make makeup acceptable. You have to understand, this is a sea change.”Cordery signs a copy of her book for her former Monmouth faculty colleague Jim De Young and his wife, JanArden made sure that her business momentum continued, expanding from her base in New York City with salons in Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Soon, she had more than 350 up-market salons across the United States, as well as locations in several foreign countries. She created a successful international business empire before women gained the vote and at a time when virtually no woman owned or ran a national company.Her products stood out, and so did what Cordery called the “instantly recognizable” red doors on her storefronts and the packaging of her products in containers with a color that became known as “Arden pink.”Helping Arden peddle her products were a select group of women.”Her traveling demonstrators were the most beautiful women you’d ever seen — she sought them out,” said Cordery, who noted that Arden reached out to consumers in rural America through those demonstrators. “They’d be in Des Moines or in Galesburg, and people would come (to department stores) just to see these beautiful women.”More of the storyDuring her talk and the Q&A session that followed, Cordery touched on several other aspects of Arden’s life, including her two marriages. Her first, said Cordery, ended when her husband “tried to take over her business.” The second, she said, was ill-fated from the beginning.”It failed because she discovered he was gay,” said Cordery. “He brought his boyfriend along on the honeymoon. The longer story’s in the book, but that’s the shorthand version.”On a related note, men weren’t part of the picture for what Arden sought to provide for women.”She studied women and her field, not so that she could follow other women, but so she could lead them,” said Cordery, who noted that Arden developed the first luxury spa. “And her belief that beauty is power was not so that women could land a man. Her ads didn’t mention men. She believed in health and beauty because if you feel good and you think you look good, you can conquer the world.”Cordery also shared Arden’s love of thoroughbred horses, which included owning the 1947 Kentucky Derby winner, Jet Pilot.”She never had children,” said Cordery. “She said her horses were her babies.”The author said her favorite chapter in the book detailed Arden’s efforts during World War II, which included encouraging women to serve and providing, free of charge, lotions, makeup and other products for the women’s service centers she helped to start, in partnership with the Kappa Kappa Gamma women’s fraternity.Today, the company founded by Arden, who died in 1966 at the age of [perhaps] 84, is owned by Revlon.“Arden” admirersCordery’s book is receiving favorable feedback, including a Kirkus review that called her work “a lusciously long and lively biography. . . Cordery makes a convincing case that Arden was responsible for many of the innovations taken for granted in the beauty industry today. As beguiling as a day of luxury beauty treatments.”Publisher’s Weekly wrote, “The detailed insight into (Arden’s) business practices — including how she framed her treatments as a gateway to the elite — intrigues. Beauty buffs will be rapt.”More information about the book and the author is available at stacycordery.com.

Top 5 Bong Joon Ho films: Parasite, Memories of Murder and more

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

The South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho got widespread recognition after his 2019 film Parasite, but the first movie to come under his name was almost two decades before that. Let’s take a look at some of his best films.

posters of Bong Joon Ho films Parasite, Memories of Murder Okja (left to right) (Source: YouTube)

New Delhi: The South Korean filmmaker Bong Hoon Ho is a name that runs synonyms with excellence. Filmmakers and critics around the world are of the opinion that anything and everything that this guy puts out is nothing short of spectacular. Hollywood legends such as Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorcese have several of his movies on their watchlist. His films are known for their emphasis on class division, social justice, and capitalistic greed. His morbid sense of humour is pretty evident in his filmographic style, mixed with sudden tone shifts that help take the edge off of the gruesome topics that are otherwise difficult to talk about. Although the Korean maestro has made only a handful of films in his career, every one of them is a masterpiece in its own right.
Bong Joon Ho’s top 5 films
Let’s take a look at 5 of his top-rated films:
1. Parasite (2019)
IMDb rating – 8.5/10
Parasite is a dark comedy thriller in which a poor family infiltrate the life of a wealthy family. The movie is based on a play by Bong Joon Ho written in 2013, which was later adapted into a film. Parasite premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, where it became the first Korean film to win its top prize, the Palme d’Or. Parasite created history by winning the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020 and became the first non-English-language film to win the award. The movie also won the Oscars for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. Bong tied with Walt Disney for the most Oscars awarded to a person in a single night. It has since gained the status of one of the greatest films of all time.
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2. Memories of Murder (2003)
IMDb rating – 8.1/10
Set in a rural district of South Korea in 1986, Detective Park Doo-man and Cho Yong-koo are determined to solve a series of rape and murder cases. Memories of Murder is the film that put Bong Joon Ho on the radar. With this movie, he was able to blend the familiar crime genre with comedy and social satire. This movie serves as a perfect entry point if you’re looking to take a deep dive into the excellence-driven cinematic universe of Bong Joon Ho. There’s a slew of great, highly rated crime thrillers out there but what makes this film quite possibly the best crime/serial killer movie out there is the realistic and flawed portrayal of the detectives that is inherent to human nature. Which more often than not is missing from films of this genre, most filmmakers take the easy route by painting an untarnished picture of the hero. Famed Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino named this movie as one of his favourite top 20 movies to watch along with Bong Joon Ho’s 2006 film The Host. 
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3. Mother (2009)
IMDb rating – 7.7/10
Mother is a story of a disabled boy who gets accused of the murder of a young girl, and his single mother attempts to find the killer and free her son. This movie displays the art of genre-bending that Bong Joon Ho has mastered over the years. Mother is a slow-burn thriller that weaves suspense and drama together like no other, at times it’s a crime movie that keeps you at the edge of your seat with your mouth wide open and at the same time it also is a chilling character study. The sheer depth that this movie has makes you feel like you’re falling into an endless pit. Add on top of that the absolute unpredictability which leaves you baffled at times. This film stands as a testament to why he’s an Academy Award-winning filmmaker.
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4. Okja (2017)
IMDb rating – 7.3/10
Okja is the story of a young girl from South Korea named Mija who does everything in her power to save her best friend and pet Okja, a genetically modified pig. This movie further pushes the envelope for Bong Joon Ho’s coverage of topics and genres. Dealing with environmentalist themes, this movie and a commentary on capitalistic greed. Okja features an elaborate Hollywood star cast with names such as Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Steven Yeun, Lily Collins, Shirley Henderson, Daniel Henshall, Devon Bostick, Giancarlo Esposito, and Jake Gyllenhaal along with Ahn Seo hyun who plays Mija. Okja leverages the imaginative world of sci-fi fantasy to ask some really uncomfortable yet fundamental questions about ethics and morality.
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5. Snowpiercer (2013)
IMDb rating – 7.1/10
Snowpiercer is a post-apocalyptic action thriller science fiction film set in the year 2031, based on the French novel Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob. Snowpiercer is the name of a train that circumnavigates the planet after a climate engineering experiment to control global warming goes wrong, and plunges the Earth into an ice age. Bong Joon Ho uses this fictional story to depict class inequality and all the horrors that come along with it, where the locomotive serves as a fascist kingdom on wheels. This film marks Bong Joon Ho’s debut in English filmmaking, with a star-studded cast including Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Song Kang Ho, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Ed Harris and John Hurt among others. With this film, the Korean maestro delivers yet another genre-bending masterpiece that intertwines capitalism and climate change.
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The word auteur refers to an artist with a distinctive approach, who has their own way of doing things. Being called an auteur is a huge accomplishment, and calling Bong Joon Ho is nothing short of appropriate. With his extraordinary approach towards filmmaking that’s unlike anybody else, he’s an auteur in its true sense.

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Upcoming Friday movie release: What to watch in theatres and OTT on 20 September

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Looking for this Friday’s OTT and theatrical releases? From Jo Tera Hai Woh Mera Hai to Transformers One, check out all the films debuting on September 20 across platforms and theatres.

Upcoming Friday [20 September] releases this week: Yudhra, Thangalaan and more

[Photo Credit: Instagram]

New Delhi: This Friday, September 20, we have a slate of captivating films that are set to release on OTT platforms and theatres. From Thangalaan to Paresh Rawal’s Jo Tera Hai Woh Mera Hai, we have curated a list of movies and TV shows released on various OTT platforms and in theatres this Friday.
So, if you are wondering how to spend your weekend, then here’s your cue. Just sit back and relax on your couch to binge-watch these movies and TV shows on OTT. In case, you are planning a weekend outing, then grab a tub of popcorn and visit your nearest theatres to watch the upcoming releases of the week.
Friday releases this week
Friday OTT releases
1. Jo Tera Hai Woh Mera Hai – JioCinema
Starring Paresh Rawal and Amit Sial, Jo Tera Hai Woh Mera Hai, is a slice-of-life drama that is arriving on JioCinema this Friday, September 20. The film revolves around a tea seller who turns into a hustler. However, his plan to reverse the mortgage goes for a toss when an old man refuses to die.
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2. Thangalaan – Netflix
Vikram and Malavika Mohanan starrer Thangalaan, which was appreciated by audiences and critics alike, is all set to premiere on September 20 on Netflix. The film centres around a fearless tribal leader who embarks on a quest to baffle an alleged sorceress after he helps Britishers to find gold in the village.
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3. Klass 95: The Power of Beauty – JioCinema
Klass 95: The Power of Beauty is an edge-of-the-seat that centres around a woman who sets up her modelling agency but her life turns upside down when a mobster tries to be a partner in the buisness. The film will be released this Friday on JioCinema.
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4. Lal Salaam – Sun NXT
Rajinikanth’s Tamil film, Lal Salaam, centres around aspiring cricketers who are thrown out of the team despite being talented. The film is set to release on Sun NXT on September 20.
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5, Thalaivettiyan Paalayam – Prime Video
The Tamil remake of Jitendra Kumar starrer Panchayat, Thalaivettiyan Paalayam, will premiere on Prime Video on September 20. It is one of the much-anticipated shows of the week, especially after the success of Panchayat.
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6. His Three Daughters – Netflix
His Three Daughters is a comedy-drama starring Elizabeth Olsen of Marvel’s Wanda Vision fame along with Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, Rudy Galvan, Jovan Adepo, and Jasmine Bracey. The film revolves around three sisters who reunite to take care of their ailing father and bond with each other.
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7. The Penguin – JioCinema
The Penguin is a mini-series that focuses on the rise of Oswald Cobblepot. The series is a spin-off on Robert Pattison’s Batman (2022).
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Friday theatre releases
1. Yudhra
Yudhra stars Siddhant Chaturvedi, Raghav Juyal, and Malavika Mohanan. The film is set to release in theatres this Friday, September 20. The film revolves around an ex-prisoner, who has major anger issues. He is then asked to work with a drug cartel.
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2. Transformers One
The animated movie, Transformers One, centres around the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron, whose bond changed the fate of their planet. The film is set to release in theatres on September 20.
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3. Never Let Go
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Never Let Go is a horror-thriller that revolves around a mother and her twins who live in a secluded house and are haunted by an evil spirit.
Here’s our well-curated list of upcoming Friday releases on OTT platforms and theatres. What’s your pick for this weekend?

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Africa Tourism Leadership Forum & Awards concludes the three year tenure in Botswana

Travel

The 7th Africa Tourism Leadership Forum (ATLF) in Botswana concluded successfully, focusing on enhancing intra-Africa travel, tourism, and investments from September 3-6, 2024.

After three consecutive years in Botswana, the 7th Africa Tourism Leadership Forum (ATLF) & Awards held at The Grand Palm Hotel Casino Convention Resort in Gaborone, Botswana, from the 3rd to the 6th of September 2024 concluded with resounding success.
Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, Slumber Tsogwane.
Themed “Charting a new path forward for Intra-Africa travel, tourism & investments,” ATLF 2024 was officially opened by the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, His Honor Mr Slumber Tsogwane, UN Tourism Secretary General – Zurab Pololikashvili, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Botswana, Hon. Nnaniki Wilhemina Tebogo Makwinja and the AfCFTA secretariat and was hosted by Botswana Tourism Organisation in collaboration with UN Tourism, AfCFTA, BDO and Africa Tourism Partners.
In his statement during the official opening of the ATLF 2024, the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, His Honor Mr. Slumber Tsogwane acknowledged ATLF’s significant role as avehicle in boosting economic growth across the African continent. “Africa Tourism Leadership Forum is a Pan-African dialogue platform that unites key stakeholders from Africa’s travel,tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors to network, share insights and devise strategies for growing intra-Africa travel and tourism while enhancing the brand equity of destination Africa”.
The ATLF hosts senior pan-African government dignitaries including Heads of States, Ministers, senior African government tourism officials, policymakers, Directors of Tourism, DevelopmentAgencies, Principal and Permanent Secretaries CEO’s and executives of travel, tourism, aviation, youth, startups, women in tourism, travel and hospitality companies.

ATLF 2024 was preceded by Intra – Africa Travel and Tourism Business-to-Business Sessions, Exhibition, Destination Showcase and Entrepreneurial MICE Masterclass. The Forum wasattended by over 800 physical and over 2000 virtual delegates cumulatively over the four days from over 95 countries.
ATLF 2024 celebrated the Africa Tourism Leadership Awards in 9 categories, recognizing the progressive contributions of individuals and organizations to the African tourism industry. Thewinners were selected based on their exceptional achievements in sustainability, innovation, entrepreneurship, and community engagement. Mr. Roger Foster, CEO and MD of Airlink, South Africa won the Destination Africa – Lifetime Award while Ms. Keitumetse Setlang, CEO, Botswana Tourism Organisation and Ms. Elcia Grandcourt, Director, Africa Department, UN Tourism received special recognition awards for their immense contribution to the growth of tourism in Africa.
Additionally, winners of the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge were announced at the ATLF. Joseph Owiredu from Ghana emerged the winner while Rosalia Haufiku Laudika from Namibia and Ajena Jafar took the 1st and 2 nd runner up positions respectively. The Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge aims to empower young people to develop their projects from ideation to the implementation of bankable solutions in the tourism and travel tech sectors.

The Five Scariest Moments of Alexandre Aja’s Filmography

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Alexandre Aja is one of those filmmakers whose work I’ll always sit up and pay attention to. It’s because the man has consistently created horror movies that have scared, fascinated, and downright pissed me off as a human being. He’s provocative, in all the right ways.
So, with Alexandre Aja’s latest horror movie Never Let Go releasing in theaters this week, we thought we would take a look back at his five most haunting horror movie moments.

Double Entendre – High Tension (2003)

Mere minutes into Aja’s second feature film, we’re smacked in the head with a horrid act that will set the tone for things to come. With almost nothing about the plot being divulged yet, the camera pans over and into a field where a vehicle reminiscent of the creepy truck from Jeepers Creepers sits on a dirt road. We see the truck moving back and forth a little bit; best case scenario, there’s a metal head in there headbanging or something. Not exactly…
We’re quickly treated to one of the most haunting visions of our lifetime when we realize it’s a large man using a woman’s severed head (that he presumedly proactively removed himself) to give himself, well, head. We are forced to listen to him wrap up his dark deed and he unceremoniously tosses the head out of his driver’s side window as if it were a half-eaten burrito.
Look, I know this is a quick scene, and that “scary” typically requires something in the way of suspense. But a tone-setter like this at the very start of a film is extremely disconcerting. And to do it so nonchalantly. This was a warning shot. And it worked.

The Family Massacre – High Tension (2003)

It’s a bit of a struggle calling this a “scene” in itself, considering it takes up such a substantial amount of High Tension’s running time. Regardless, the first moment our killer strikes is the defining moment of the film. Even with the outlandish twist ending on the other side.
As our main character, Marie (Cecile de France), is having some headphone alone time in her bedroom, a large mystery man stomps up to the front door of the friend’s house she’s staying at. A house consisting of her, her friend Alex, and Alex’s mother, father, and younger brother. We are about to watch Alex’s entire family be hunted down and brutally murdered.
The killer shows up with a Michael Myers type brutality to him. But instead of a mask, there’s just a frightening human face and an everyday ballcap. When the dad answers the door he’s immediately struck in the head. The killer follows up by entering the home and inserting the dad’s head in between the rails on the upstairs steps. Before we have a chance to gather our bearings, the killer then violently shoves a large, wooden piece of furniture directly into the dad’s head. His head pops off in such a way that makes you want to ponder the violent physics of it all… if only there were time. The killer is already stalking his way upstairs towards the mother’s screams.
We switch POVs to Marie in her room and are forced to listen to the blood-curdling screams of the mother while the killer has his way with her from the other side of the home. It’s an effective tactic used by Aja that reminds you of Craven’s use of sound in The Last House on the Left. This is an Alexandre Aja production, however, and eventually….he’s going to make us watch.
A few moments later as Marie moves throughout the house looking for a phone to call the authorities, she finds herself trapped in a closet with slats in it (as tends to happen to horror movie characters). The mother, already injured, walks into the room and attempts to open the closet for her own reprieve, but she isn’t so lucky. We watch along with Marie as the killer slits her throat far more deeply than I’m comfortable with. He then butchers her in a way that calls to memory some of Art the Clown’s most heinous offenses, only without the dancing glee.
We again listen to all the ripping and tearing before we’re treated to the aftermath through Marie’s eyes. He not only guts her body but has completely severed the lower portion of her arm.
Despite all the dismemberment and screaming, the biggest gut punch of this massacre comes from a simple gunshot when the killer follows the young boy screaming for his mother into the corn fields. It’s a moment that leaves you hopeless. Damn, we’re not even going to let the kid escape? No. Not even the dog survives today. The killer finally retreats to his truck-o-death after kidnapping Alex, carving out a picture of her to take with him as well, and mercifully ending a scene that’s such a brutal display of violence it’ll have you checking the locks on your own doors.

The Bath Tub Scene – Mirrors (2008)

Amy Smart had quite a fun horror movie run in the late 90s and 2000s. She appeared in Campfire Tales, Strangeland, and The Butterfly Effect. She’s an actress who I’m always happy to see on the screen, and I admire her willingness to go anywhere with her roles. She’s been game for some wild scenes in her career that a lot of folks would have balked at (see: Crank, 2006). Though Mirrors itself for whatever reason didn’t carry the bite of Aja’s previous litany of horrors, her demise in the film is as gnarly as they come.
As Smart’s character is getting ready for a bath in front of a mirror in a movie about mirrors who kill people, the Final Destination vibe washes over us in a wave of terrible foreshadowing. As she moves on to her bathtub, her reflection remains in the mirror with sinister repose. Her reflection then begins to grab itself by the upper and lower jaw, ripping its mouth wide open.
And yes, we see every agonizing bit of the violent torture.
Amy Smart acts the hell out of an uncomfortable scene where one minute she’s chilling in a bathtub; the next, her entire face is split in half. Those of us with anxiety can relate. The sounds and the general physical unnaturalness of it all is searing on the senses. And it just….keeps….going. The effects team outdoes themselves in a scene that looks as practical as it does abhorrent. We watch as her head is ripped in half, just dangling there swollen for the world to see. Mercifully the scene eventually ends but not before Aja makes us watch the entire gruesome scene play out, up close, and to its bitter end.

Another Family Massacre – The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

There was something about mid-2000s horror that felt as if it wanted to reclaim some kind of edge, and there’s no doubt Aja did his part to enforce it. Apart from the Cannibal Holocaust’s of the world, this scene in the remake of Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes is one of the meanest the genre offers.
A family has broken down in the middle of a desert that is controlled by a group of mutated cannibals who are the result of nuclear testing. The mutants might be sadistic monsters but they’re still able to apply a tactical approach to their crimes.
After kidnapping the dad (the great Ted Levine) and setting him on fire to divert the rest of the family’s attention, several of the mutants sexually assault and attack his youngest daughter back in the camper. There’s a small baby in its crib just a few feet away, Aja taunting us with the idea of what could happen next. He’s already let us know that pets aren’t safe.
It gets worse before it gets better. When the baby’s mother (and the person we were led to believe would be our final girl) shows up, she is also assaulted as the monsters hold a gun to her baby’s head. Her mother tries to intervene but is shot in the stomach before the mutant turns the gun on her as well and shoots her in the head unceremoniously. The movie stops to rub its boots in your face and lets you know that it is not going to show any mercy to anyone, whatsoever.
And then they run off with the baby…
The entire idea of whether or not something like this should go this far is debatable. But isn’t it also arguable that it is sometimes necessary for a movie to come along with no limits so that we feel less safety in the genre going forward? I feel like sometimes these types of shocking movies are necessary for the genre to keep audiences from getting too comfortable.

The Entirety of Crawl (2019)

With Aja’s previous filmography, he showed us that he could be as gory and depraved as they come. But with Crawl (and later with Oxygen) he showed us he could handle suspense and thrills all the same.
I originally intended to make sure a scene from Crawl made our list today, but with its refreshing one-hour and twenty-seven-minute run time, the entire movie is suspenseful. Once the gators show up, it’s pretty much all gators, all the time. And it’s awesome. Kaya Scodelario gives one of the most underrated final girl performances in modern horror for my money as her character tries to save her dad (Barry Pepper) from a group of alligators during a hurricane in Florida.
What starts as an isolated location horror movie, with them both trapped under the house, ends up in a full-fledged disaster horror movie as they branch into the town that’s also swamped by the creatures. Whether it’s the storm or the gators, Crawl had me on the edge of my seat for the entire brisk running time and proved Aja could conjure up fear out of the audience in more ways than one.

Whether it’s over the top gore-horror or suspense, or even horror-comedy (shout out to Piranha 3D and Horns), Alexandre Aja has proven he’s no one trick pony. I can’t wait to see what he’s capable of doing next. Lucky for us, it’s releasing this week with Halle Berry and Never Let Go on September 20th. Here’s hoping we can add another one to the list.
‘Never Let Go’

I’m a flight attendant — travelers should never do this with their luggage tag

Travel

Jet-setters are sure to flip over this hot tip.  

Losing a bag while flying the friendly skies is an upset most travelers go above and beyond to avoid. 

While some tech-savvy globetrotters pack mini locator devices in their suitcases, hoping to quickly recover any lost luggage with the gadgets, others still prefer the tried-and-true method of inking their personal info on bag tags. 

Flight attendant advises travelers against putting privileged information on the exterior of their suitcases. Ãâ¢Ã²Ã³ÃµÃ½Ã¸Ã¹ ÃÂÃâ¬Ãâ¦Ã¸Ã¿Ã¾Ã² – stock.adobe.com

But an airways expert warns that publicizing one’s name, number and address on the laminated labels can be an invitation for stranger danger. 

“Always, always, always flip your information on your luggage card backwards,” American Airlines flight attendant Ally Case begged her 850,000 TikTok viewers in a viral advisory. 

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She plugged the pointer as one of her “top travel safety tips.” It’s advice she often shares with her nearly 160k followers online. 

“I cannot tell you how many people I see, on a daily basis, with their information displayed for anyone to see,” continued the in-flight crew member. 

“I don’t even like strangers to know my name,” she added in the caption of the post. “No chance I’m going to have my phone number and home address on display.” 

And although her word-to-the-wise might seem a bit extreme, frequent flyers may be wise to take heed.  

Air-commuters have recently gone viral detailing their cringe-worthy encounters with “creeps” while soaring through the clouds. 

A blond bombshell took to X last month, claiming a co-passenger passed her a “weird” note, in which he complimented her long locks and slipped her a $100 bill. 

A number of flyers and flight attendants have recently gone public about being in uncomfortable situations with strangers in airports and on planes. NFstock – stock.adobe.com

Even more hair-raising, on August 2, a derelict followed a mom Lauren Benton and her young daughter into an airport bathroom in Washington, D.C., then onto a Delta flight. The man entered the aircraft without a valid boarding pass, but was subsequently given the boot by security. 

“I have empathy toward the mental health crisis that we have in the United States,” said Benson in a statement following the incident. “But I will not allow mental health to be used as an excuse for the [compromising] of my family’s safety.”

And Case, alongside her followers, seem to echo those sentiments when it comes to protecting their identities on luggage tags. 

In fact, her safety-conscious commenters weighed in with unique ways they’ve learned to conceal their IDs on the baggage cards. 

Folks online revealed the creative hacks they use to keep their private info private during air travel. peopleimages.com – stock.adobe.com

“I use my work address not my home address,” on cautious vacationer wrote. 

“I also don’t put my home address on that tag. I’ve set up a dedicated email address instead,” said another, prompting virtual praise from Case. 

“My tag has a flap that covers [my personal information],” an equally careful tripper noted. 

“I just slide my business card into the holder. That has enough info to get it back to me,” another viewer revealed — to which Case said, “love that idea.”

And when the skyway savant isn’t busy spreading suitcase safety awareness, she’s sharing tricks for minimizing mile-high anxieties. 

Here are her top five for taming your nerves before takeoff. 

Arrive to the airport early to reduce any unnecessary stress 

Sir towards the front of the plane or over the wings to feel the effects of turbulence less 

Noise-cancelling headphones are really good for blocking out any unfamiliar airplane sounds

Tell the crew you’re a nervous flyer 

Do breathing exercises or mediation before the flight