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Weekend Recommendations

You Need to Check Out 'Stranger Things' and More This Weekend

There's a second season of Netflix's favorite horror show and the new John Maus record awaitin'.
Credit: Netflix

Looking for some stuff to catch up on this weekend? Whether it's TV, movies, books, or anything in between—VICE has you covered. Read on for our staff recommendations on what to take in during your downtime:

Stranger Things 2

It feels like Stranger Things never left, right? The internet, and nerd culture in general, has sustained interest in the Duffer Brothers' smash Netflix hit for the past year and change, to the point where you might ask yourself if a second installment of the 1980s-reminiscing nostalgia-horror-fest is even necessary. But the reviews are in, and people seem to really enjoy it! One notable thing about the first installment of Stranger Things was that, even in the era of Peak TV, it was easily digestible in one sitting and all the more compelling for it. Stranger Things 2 promises to be more, and more—and if you need something to get up to speed while you wait to get to your nearest screen, read our interview with the Duffers here. —Larry Fitzmaurice, Senior Culture Editor, Digital

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Ghoul 3D World Immersive Halloween Spectacular

I haven't been to a legit haunted house in years. That said, I am terrified by Ghoul3DWorld. The "immersive Halloween spectacular" stakes its name from the art-making duo behind it, Cool 3D World, whose work you might recognize from stretchy Danny Trejo getting a foot massage or any one of their distinctly horrifying CGI animations. Supported by GIPHY Arts, the event will haunt Future Space's massive Brooklyn warehouse in Brooklyn from October 27–28. The minds of Brian Tessler and Jon Baken are twisted in the best way, so I can't wait for them to freak me out IRL. Learn more about the event and get tickets here. —Beckett Mufson

John Maus, Screen Memories

Saying that you listen to John Maus for the synth programming sometimes feels like saying you used to read Playboy for the articles—such is the allure of the Midwestern outré-music figure's pretzel-logic philosophical treatises that he espouses in interviews and embeds within his music. But, similar to kindred spirit Ariel Pink, Maus's ear for curious sonics—rubbery bass lines, digital choirs, and enough candied synths to give you a toothache—are always in danger of being overlooked amid the extra-musical antics he dabbles in. Screen Memories is Maus's fourth proper full-length, and I think it might be his best, even though I feel like I only got on his wavelength pretty recently. The melodies are there, the moods are utterly singular, and there's a song called "Pets" about how all of our pets are going to die one day. Cheery guy! —LF

The Sacrifice

This year has me praying the apocalypse away. Not because I want to save everyone, myself included—what I really don't want is for either warring side to be proven right. My best worst-case scenario involves us being made to stick around long enough that we have to coexist and spend the rest of eternity apologizing (or at least robots figure it out for us). Like the protagonist of The Sacrifice, I would give up everything for this, and you, too, can learn what that would entail as Kino Lorber's 4K DCP restoration of Andrei Tarkovsky's final film kicks off a weeklong run at the recently renovated Quad Cinema. —Emerson Rosenthal