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AADL 2025 STAFF PICS: SCREENS
TV, movies, DVDs, video games, YouTube, streaming, etc.

PHOEBE H. — DESK CLERK

Haikyu!!
(2014)
I’ve watched this show in its entirety four times this year. It takes up 90% of my brain at this point. I went to Japan and made a point to go see a volleyball game at the Deaflympics in Tokyo because I’m so obsessed with volleyball because of this show. The drive! The inspiration! The team spirit! It’s got me missing my high school varsity days. {AADL}

Blue Lock
(2022)
The sports anime that started me down the rabbit hole. It’s so intense, I was sure I was giving myself an ulcer by watching it. Bachira is the GOAT, and I can’t wait for season 3. {Crunchyroll}

ERIN H. — LIBRARIAN

One Battle After Another
(2025)
{Just Watch}

Sinners
(2025)
{AADL}

Mickey 17
(2025)
{AADL}

The Substance
(2024) / HBO
{HBO} {AADL}

XO, Kitty
Seasons 1 and 2
(2023-2025)
{Netflix}

Extraordinary Attorney Woo
(2022)
{Netflix}

When Life Gives You Tangerines
(2025)
{Netflix}

Alien Earth
(2025)
{Hulu}

All Creatures Great and Small
Season 5
(2024)
{PBS} {AADL}

It's Okay to Not Be Okay
(2020)
{Netflix}

AMANDA S. — GRAPHIC ARTIST

Sugarcane
(2025)
National Geographic films. {National Geographic}

The Sound of Music
60th Anniversary
(1955)
I’ve seen this so many times, and it’s a nostalgic connection with my Grandma because we listened to the soundtrack when she’d pick me up every day after school when I was in second grade. Seeing it on the big screen was more emotional than I anticipated! {AADL}

The American Revolution
(2025)
PBS/Ken Burns. {PBS}

MARISA H. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Holiday
(1938)
For lovers of The Philadelphia Story, this film is also based on a play by Philip Barry and stars Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. Johnny falls in love with Julia on holiday, but when he meets her family, it’s clear he’s with the wrong sister. {AADL}

ALLIE H. — DESK CLERK

To Be Hero X
(2025)
A Chinese animation (donghua) that is part of a larger anthology about superheroes, though you need not watch the others to understand (I haven't yet!). Powers are supported based on "faith" and the belief that a hero has that power; both can be that hero's greatest strength and weakness, in turn. The animation of each episode/arc changes depending on the character that arc is focused on, creating an engaging and beautiful 24 episodes with some of the most stunning sequences I've ever seen in an animated series. Watchable on Prime Video, YouTube, or Crunchyroll, or just check out the cool art and characters on the project website. My favorite is X! {TBHX}

KATRINA A. — LIBRARIAN

Down With Love
(2003)
A kooky, zany, colorful, camp screwball comedy in the style of Pillow Talk. Starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor with stylish midcentury production design. {Apple}

LAT B. — DESK CLERK

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
(1993)
The first Star Trek series asked the question, What if we went where no one else has gone? Next Generation asked it again, but in the '80s. DS9, the first Star Trek in a post-Roddenberry era, asks different questions, including: "What if you were stuck in a board game, and it was your bartender's fault?" "What if your mom did business, and it was illegal?" "What if your favorite baseball player from the Holodeck became real?" "What if your clone from an alternate timeline was evil and you had to unionize?" "What if we made Miles O'Brien have a really weird time, a lot of times?" Sometimes it asks, "Was our relentless pursuit of Manifest Destiny and going where no man has gone before a bad idea? Has it made weird ripples in the fabric of the future?" I'm enjoying myself! {AADL}

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
(2016)
{AADL}

ROOSEVELT F.-R. — DESK CLERK

Taskmaster
(2015-)
Series/season 19 will hook you. Watch it for free on YouTube! Then follow with season 4, 5, 7, 14, 18, or 20. Your time starts now. {YouTube}

Harvey
(1950)
{AADL}

CHEYENNE F. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Lurker
(2025)
A psychological thriller (and borderline cringe comedy) about an outsider in LA who's obsessed with getting in the inner circle of a rising musician. I found myself muttering "oh noooo" several times while watching. {MUBI}

Sinners
(2025)
I saw this movie in theaters five times. {AADL}

Chainsaw Man—The Movie: Reze Arc
(2025)
I've been waiting for this one, and it delivered. Come for the carnage, stay for the gorgeously animated love story. {Crunchyroll}

Dahomey
(2024)
A unique documentary following the journey of several stolen royal Dahomey artifacts from France back to their homeland. {MUBI}

David Lynch: The Art Life
(2017)
Missing him already. {AADL}

When I Saw You
(2012)
Director Annemarie Jacir weaves a sobering and poetic tale of an 11-year-old Palestinian boy and his mother attempting to navigate their new life in a refugee camp. I saw this film at The Arab American National Museum, and I was truly blown away. {AADL}

Mind Game
(2004)
A surreal animated movie about the cyclical nature of life. Even considering the amazing animated movies released recently, I still think Mind Game is one of the best experiments in animation. {YouTube}

Ginger Snaps
(2000)
My absolute favorite werewolf movie. {AADL}

Death by Hanging
(1968)
What happens when you sentence someone to death but they survive? Nagisa Ōshima uses slapstick and absurdity to create a satirical condemnation of nationalism and the treatment of Koreans in Japan. {AADL}

The Vince Staples Show
Season 2
(2025)
I thought season 1 was pretty funny, but this more plot-focused season definitely won me over. {Netflix}

Interview With the Vampire
Seasons 1 & 2
(2022 - 2025)
This is maybe one of the best TV shows on air right now. It's amazing how an actor can change my entire opinion on a character. I truly wasn't familiar with your game, Jacob Anderson. {AADL, Season 1} {AADL, Season 2}

Hades 2
(2025)
They took one of my favorite games and made it bigger and better. What else is there to say? {Steam}

NATE P-M — GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Raising Arizona
(1987)
Filled some of my Coen brothers gaps this year. Raising Arizona is a hilarious gem; Nic Cage and Holly Hunter are terrific. {AADL}

The Hudsucker Proxy
(1994)
More Coens. Zany and fun. You know, for kids! {AADL}

Superman
(2025)
I am a punk rocker, yes I am. {AADL}

Walkie Talkie series by Paulie B
(2021–)
Street photographers walking and talking about their craft. Really good stuff if you're into the genre (and even if you're not). {YouTube}

LUCY S. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Death by Lightning
(2025)
I did not think I would be interested in this four-part historical miniseries that tells the story of James Garfield’s unlikely rise to the presidency and his subsequent assassination by Charles Guiteau.

I was riveted. I laughed. I cried. And when it was over, I immediately wanted to watch it again. Matthew Macfadyen, of Succession fame, is brilliant in his portrayal of Charles Giteau, and ultimately, he's what makes this show so memorable. {Netflix}

ELLE B. – LIBRARIAN

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
(2020 - current)
Real talk: Between RHOSLC and Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Utah is having its moment right now. That said, WATCH THIS SHOW. From marriage to step grandfathers, FBI involvement, and secret-gossip-insta-account-mole-catching ... it has it all. RHOSLC is perfect cinema, and you can't script perfection like this (iykyk). {Peacock}

Survivor
(2000 - current)
I watched my first season of Survivor this year and OH BOY. Jeff Probst is the petty and nosy icon I didn't know I needed in my life. Currently trying to frantically watch all 49 seasons before the upcoming 50th season. {Paramount+}

Blue Prince
(2025)
I have spent a wild amount of time playing this puzzle game and have only reached the tip of the iceberg. Full disclosure: I 100% did have to look up some answers, and I'm not ashamed to say it. {Various platforms}

Split Fiction
(2025)
This co-op game is fun and approachable. I loved the concept of the game, and the alternating level themes kept me into it ... though I could do without the pig level. {Various platforms}

Hades II
(2025)
Nominated for Game of the Year. Play it.  {Various platforms}

ELIZABETH W. — LIBRARIAN

Train Dreams
(2025)
After reading the novella by Denis Johnson, I immediately went to see the newly released film the same day. Perfectly acted by Joel Edgerton in the lead role, you’ll definitely want to bring tissues for this one—but don’t forget to savor the beautiful Idaho scenery and the little moments of humor, too. {Just Watch}

ALYSE P. – PRODUCTION TECHNICIAN

John Candy: I Like Me
(2025)
I knew I enjoyed John Candy’s work before seeing this film, but the documentary definitely portrayed him as a likable guy on top of being immensely talented and very funny, which made his story that much more heartwrenching. {Trailer} 

Friendship
(2025)
When a man becomes obsessed with being friends with his neighbor, things go really wrong and get pretty dark. If you like Tim Robinson, this movie is the most Tim Robinson thing; if you don’t—well, read that a second time. While I Think You Should Leave and Detroiters are both very much cringe comedy, this film digs a little deeper into the uncomfortable and explores a lot of themes—in particular, how difficult it is for many people to make and keep friends as adults. I also recommend checking out Robinson’s new show, The Chair Company. {Website}

I Hope This Helps!
(2025)
This documentary is both very humorous and a bit disconcerting, as it explores many questions, both practical and ethical, about Artificial Intelligence through the lens of a journalist who wants to defeat AI and the chatbot he employs to help him with his mission. The scene where the bot helps Daniel give a presentation at the public library in Kentucky still makes me laugh, just thinking about it. {IMDB}

A Monster Calls
(2016)

“Stories are wild animals... if you let them loose, who knows what havoc they may wreak.” Not sure how I didn’t see this film sooner, but it was one of my favorite things I’ve watched this year. The dark fantasy elements—and the way it portrays grief, loss, and the power of stories—really resonated.  {AADL} 

LOREN B. — DESK CLERK

Nashville
(1975)
{AADL}

The American Friend
(1977)
{AADL}

Traffic Cam Photobooth
{website}

ANNA C. — DESK CLERK

The Outer Worlds 2
video game
(2025)
I played Outer Worlds about four years ago, and I've been waiting for Outer Worlds 2 ever since! It definitely lives up to the hype. {Outer Worlds 2}

HALEY Y. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Nosferatu
(2025)
Eggers does it again with this remake of the classic silent horror film of the same name. Vampire stories are metaphor-heavy, and I saw this one as a beautifully told and beautifully shot metaphor for the shame-addiction cycle. {AADL}

November
(2017)
November is a poetic folk horror film that takes place in a medieval Estonian village. It's so bizarre and so lovely that I wanted to rewatch it immediately after my first viewing. {AADL}

AMANDA S. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

The Lowdown
(2025)
This is Sterlin Harjo’s new show, and it stars Ethan Hawke. Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Hawke portrays bookstore owner, writer, and “truthstorian” Lee Raybon, who goes rogue trying to solve a family murder mystery. Hawke, the writing, and the delightful cast of supporting characters make this noir-comedy a great watch. {FX/Hulu}

IT: Welcome to Derry
(2025)
From the makers of IT: Chapter 1 and IT: Chapter 2, IT: Welcome to Derry sheds light on the entity of IT, its origins, and focuses on the interludes from Stephen King’s IT. It’s not perfect, but it has been a fun ride for this Constant Reader. {HBO}

Stranger Things
Season 5
(2025)
Volume 1 of this new season did not disappoint. I’ve been a fan of this excellent series since it first aired in 2016, and it is great to see the show finally get its big ending. {Netflix}

ANTHONY D. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

American Movie
(1999)
{YouTube}

Smiling Friends
(2022-)
{YouTube}

The Smashing Machine
{YouTube}

Friendship
(2025)
{YouTube}

MATT S. — DEVELOPER

Blue Prince
video game
(2025)
An excellent video game—perhaps even for those who don’t play them. Piece together your uncle's estate, unravel a family mystery, and solve a puzzle inside a puzzle—inside yet another puzzle. {Website}

REENA P. — DESK CLERK

Weapons
(2025)
All but one student in a third-grade class goes entirely missing, and several people in the town become actors in an unfolding occult conspiracy. Directed by Zach Creggar. {AADL}

Half a Loaf of Kung Fu
The Young Master
Police Story
Police Story 2
(1978, 1980, 1985, 1988)
The Criterion Channel has a selection of some of Jackie Chan's greatest movies from his younger days. I gave many a watch this year—they do not disappoint. Some of the most thrilling stunts are in Police Story, which the library has! {AADL: Police Story and Police Story 2; Criterion Collection Link for others}

Of the Devil Episode 1
video game
(2025)
In 2086, the famous android developer and designer David Ashur is found dead in his corporate apartment, and all signs point to suicide. Evangeline Morgan, a defense attorney and a close friend of the deceased, seeks to uncover the truth. This court drama mystery visual novel has clear inspirations from genre staples like Ace Attorney and Umineko while building out its own unique personality with a slick, cyberpunk presentation, a grim, neon-draped setting, and a strong ensemble cast. The prologue is free to play, so you can try before you buy! {itch.io, Steam}

Silent Hill 1
Silent Hill 2
video games
(1999, 2001)
Silent 2 Remake and Silent Hill f are recent entries to the series and have been released to critical acclaim, so I went to play the old games just to see the hubbub. These seminal works really have stood the test of time! {New releases on Steam}

OCTAVIA S. — DESK CLERK

Night of the Living Dead
(1968)
Anyone who tells you it's just a zombie movie hasn't been paying attention. {AADL}

Lord of Misrule
(2024)
Classic story of a matriarch vicar who meets a patriarch pagan who meets a deer skull. A tale as old as time. {AADL}

The Wedding Banquet
(2025)
Maybe I found a flaw or two, but still the absolute sweetest, closest to our sense of reality, queer movie I've ever watched. {AADL}

Arctic Eggs
video game
(2024)
Ya ever wanted to do nothing but cook eggs and condiments for eggs in a present-apocalyptic arctic police state? What do you mean, yes?? Well, all right, then this game's for you! {Steam}

Secret Little Haven
video game
(2018)
I replayed Secret Little Haven earlier this year, not long after Mich Med's announcement to discontinue trans care for youth, including adults under the age of 19. A labor of love by Victoria Dominowski, we go back to the brightly colored forums of the late '90s and a high schooler trying to figure it all out in the small pocket of the internet that's been afforded. Not only an aesthetic throwback, but in its familiarity, a reminder that we are not so far away from painful ideals of an assumed past. {Steam}

ELI N. — DIRECTOR

Stugo
Disney TV Animation
(2025)
Six overachieving middle schoolers think they're going to an exclusive summer camp on a remote island ... but it turns out that mostly-evil scientist Dr. Lullah has just tricked them into being her lackeys all summer. With outstanding design, great music, and very clever writing, Stugo is everything TV animation should be, and every episode is a delight. Unfortunately, it's just been announced that a second season won't be produced, but you can see Season 1 on Disney XD or Disney+! {First episode on YouTube}

AJ Goes to the Dog Park
by Toby Jones
(2025)
Toby Jones worked on Regular Show, OK K.O., and Jellystone; his pilot, AJ's Infinite Summer, wasn't picked up for production but is a charmingly unique short based on Jones' high school friends. AJ Goes to the Dog Park is a quirky, live-action labor of love, and there's just nothing else quite like it. AJ lives in Fargo, North Dakota, and when his favorite Dog Park is turned into a Blog Park, AJ knows he has to fight for his lifestyle. Eventually, his dogs go off to college, and there's a high-stakes sap-gathering contest. The director and cast brought a special screening to the Michigan Theater this summer on their brief tour, and it was a delightful evening. Ridiculous and recommended. {Free on Tubi}

EMMA M. — DESK CLERK

Tár
(2022)
{AADL}

In the Mood for Love (Hua Yang Nian Hua)
(2002)
{AADL}

MARA A. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

Sinners
(2025)
This was by far my favorite movie this year. Ryan Coogler is an outstanding storyteller and master of his craft. Sinners is a Southern Gothic vampire film with a fantastic and good-looking cast. It is a treat to the eyes, as well as to the ears. The soundtrack will make you feel alive, and it will make you fall in love with Miles Caton's voice. {AADL}

Haunted Hotel
(2025)
An adult animated show with a lot of heart and a fantastic sense of humor, by Matt Roller, the creator of Rick and Morty. It has become my new comfort show. A single mom of two inherits a hotel full of ghosts, monsters, cryptids, and an adorable demon trapped in the body of a 9-year-old 18th-century boy. It is as funny as it is heartwarming. You can catch it on Netflix. {Netflix}

RICH R. — COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING MANAGER

Dave the Diver and Dredge
video game
(2023)
Our household really got into fishing games this year, starting with the loveable Dave and his sushi restaurant, before dredging the deep as an unhinged and unnamed fisherman. We have Cast n Chill up next, and on our wishlist for when it goes on sale. {Dave the Diver} {Dredge}

DALTON B. — SAFETY ASSISTANT

Underrail
video game
(2015)
A brutally difficult isometric RPG. Underrail's gameplay is unmatched for the genre, and the story and worldbuilding are even better. It will eat up 100 hours of your free time and leave you wanting more. I would advise playing on the easiest difficulty. {Steam}

CRYSTA C. — DESK CLERK

He Knew He Was Right
(2004)
And he will die on that hill! A BBC series based on the book by Anthony Trollope with an amazing cast, including Bill Nighy and a baby-faced David Tennant. The bonus feature biography doc about Trollope was surprisingly fascinating. {AADL}

The Thin Man
(1934)
A very funny crime-comedy with memorable characters that is perfect to watch in December. {AADL}

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
(2011)
Though based on a book by one of my favorite authors, this is not that book. However, I do like how the director put his own spin on the story. I think it worked. Emotional storytelling, nuanced characters, and some very interesting history! The DVD bonus features were also fun to watch. {AADL}

Late Night With the Devil
(2024)
Very spooky. Fun to try to spot the ghost hidden in the background and reflected in objects around the set. {AADL}

The Trouble With Harry
(1955)
The trouble with Harry is that he won't stay buried! A dark comedy for sure, but very funny if you like that kind of thing. {AADL}

KIM G. — DESK CLERK

Any Austin
videocast
(2012-present)
Apparently, I am not the only one who plays video games and wonders about all the little "boring" parts of them, going off on tangents and adventures into the "unknown" of open-world games to see what there is to see. Any Austin's videos include "Where do Hyrule's rivers go?" and "The most boring place in GTA 5." If you have ever wondered about the most unremarkable places and things in video games, he's got you covered. {YouTube}

ALLISON J. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Extraordinary Attorney Woo
(2022)
Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a great K-drama that follows Woo Young-woo, an autistic rookie attorney, as she learns to navigate her first job at a fast-paced law firm in Seoul.  Woo Young-woo is expertly played by Park Eun-bin, and I really enjoyed the performance of Kang Ki-young as well (Attorney Woo’s boss).  The cases they solve are both interesting and nuanced, and I loved seeing how smart, strong, and capable Woo Young-woo is. {Netflix}

Reply 1988
(2015)
The best K-drama I’ve ever seen!  We follow five friends and their families living in the same neighborhood in Seoul as they navigate tough times and rely on each other for support. An amazing cast and carefully plotted, heartwarming stories. It will make you homesick for the neighborhood of Ssangmun-dong by the time you finish this excellent series. {Netflix}

When Life Gives You Tangerines
(2025)
A romantic slice-of-life K-drama starring superstars IU and Park Bo-gum (who also stars in Reply 1988). We follow Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, two children living on Jeju Island in 1951. The two grow up and fall in love … the series is the story of their lives from beginning to end. I think I cried during every episode, so bring tissues!  A heartbreaker but also extremely life-affirming and sweet. {Netflix}

Sinners
(2025)
Horror movie of the year and a cinematic feat!  Michael B. Jordan plays a dual role as twins Smoke and Stack, gangsters returning to their hometown in the Mississippi Delta in 1932. The first part of the movie starts as a period piece/drama, but midway through, they encounter and confront a supernatural evil.  This is the kind of movie you probably don’t want to know much about ahead of time.  I was impressed on my first watch, but on subsequent watches I’ve been blown away. Excellent! I hope it wins many awards this year. {AADL}

Strange Harvest
(2024)
This is a super-low-budget found-footage horror movie, so I had super low expectations going into it. But I was pleasantly surprised! Great atmosphere and creepy, gory imagery. {AADL}

KPop Demon Hunters
(2025)
I mean, come on!  The movie of the year! (sorry, Wicked). Amazing art direction and animation, killer songs, soooo many references to Korean culture, and a heartfelt message about accepting and believing in your true self. {Netflix}

Exhuma
(2024)
One of my new favorite horror movies.   It’s a mix of Korean folklore and modern horror influences with a twisting, winding plot.  In the film, a Korean shaman joins forces with a feng shui master and geomancer (played by Choi Min-sik of Oldboy fame) to rid a newborn baby of a curse set by a vengeful ancestor’s spirit who is haunting him.  And from there it gets crazy! {AADL}

Final Destination: Bloodlines
(2025)
I saw this with friends in theaters, and we had a rip-roaring good time!  Fun for fans of the franchise, as there are a lot of Easter eggs and references to the past five movies.  Super gory (of course) but also hilarious! (in a dark humor sort of way). If this is your type of horror, Final Destination: Bloodlines is a must-watch. {AADL}

Smile 2
(2024)
The smile curse continues as it latches onto pop sensation Skye Riley.  This one was surprising to me because I did not like the first Smile movie.  It was predictable to me, and when you take a step back, I feel like the overall message regarding mental health is … not good!  I had very low expectations going into Smile 2, but I enjoyed it (and was proud that I guessed the ending within the first 15 minutes of the movie … usually not a good sign, but in this case, I was glad they went there!) {AADL}

CHRISTOPHER B. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Aftersun
(2022)
This story is based on the director’s own memory of her father. It conveys all the confusion, love, and sometimes anger of a child who can’t understand the failings of a parent. Set during a trip to Turkey, where Sophie and Calum try to connect emotionally—sometimes they do, and sometimes they don’t. When they don’t, the loneliness they feel is utterly heartbreaking. {AADL}

Possession
(1981)
The fact that I am still thinking about this so many months after watching it and still wondering what I saw puts it in a special category. Beautifully shot in Berlin during the Cold War, this movie is the story of a screaming divorce between characters played by Sam Neil and Isabelle Adjani. There is just so much yelling. Then we find out who Adjani’s lover is. I can’t tell if this is a movie with a political message, a horror, or says something about marriage, but it sure leaves an impression. If you’re going to watch it, see the uncut version that includes even more shouting. {Website}

Klute
(1971)
I watched Klute for the first time shortly after Donald Sutherland died. The scene where Jane Fonda turns the tables on Donald Sutherland after they have sex and he realizes he has been totally played is fascinating. His confusion and sudden realization of his own fallibility are something I haven’t seen repeated in any other movie. And the ending is wonderfully ambiguous. I’m not much for thrillers, but Jane Fonda’s acting really makes this one a standout. {AADL}

This Is GWAR
(2022)
Instead of the light joke I thought this movie would be, it turned out to be a serious look at art, money, and especially creative differences. Don’t worry, there’s still a lot of puppet decapitation, spraying blood, and adolescent nicknames. {AADL}

Lake Michigan Monster
(2020)
This movie was shot on a budget of $7,000 and is more entertaining dollar-for-dollar than almost anything else. Filmed in Wisconsin and Muskegon, Monster is partly a tribute to the Midwest and partly just a goofy sailor yarn with lots of spyglasses and piratey stereotypes. The special effects are amazing and show real ingenuity. If Ryland Brickson Cole Tews never made anything else, he could still be proud of having made this as his first movie. {Website}

More AADL Staff Picks:
➥ 2024
➥ 2023
➥ 2022
➥ 2021
➥ 2020
➥ 2019
➥ 2018
➥ 2017
➥ 2016