my favorites of 2024: a pop-culture roundup
'It’s my OPINIONNN!' LOVE LIES BLEEDING, RACHEL CHINOURIRI, INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, DARA ALLEN/HUNTER SCHAEFER, + more.
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This is Bad Bvssy Digest, a new section of bad bvssy containing roundups of art, pop culture, objects, and ideas/moments that spark joy and are curated for your eyes. If you like what you see or read, subscribe for free and consider sharing it with your friends.
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What a year it’s been! With 2024 now closed and 2025 in full swing, I wanted to catch you all up on what I’ve been enjoying and not writing about. Time to take a trip down memory lane to share some of my favorites of 2024 with you all.
Favorite Film of 2024:
Love Lies Bleeding (dir. by Rose Glass)
Undoubtedly one of, if not THE gayest movie to come out in 2024 — Love Lies Bleeding stands out amongst the many films that I loved from this past year, so many of which I have a complicated appreciation of. But my love for Love Lies Bleeding is so wonderfully uncomplicated. Just two sapphics on the run, giving us II MOST WANTED but with murder, ‘roids-induced psychosis, and shitty mullets. It’s so wonderfully stylish, silly, and sexy. Definitely one of those films that had me sitting in the theater saying “I fucking love da movies” to myself.
Rose Glass’s direction captures such a specific flavor of Cronenberg-esque body horror but making it sexier in the process. The film’s Hulk-ish ending (no spoilers, promise) is such a love letter to queers who are fatigued with tragic endings for gays on-screen. A perfect movie in spirit. In case you haven’t already, you can check out my full review here.
Other honorable mentions for films I loved this year include Challengers (Luca Guadignino), The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (Benjamin Ree), Anora (Sean Baker) — just to name a few. Because there were too many movies, I’ll be releasing a separate post soon. Stay tuned.
Favorite Television Series of 2024:
Interview with the Vampire (AMC, Showrunner: Rolin Jones)
We’ve had some fun queer stories hit our TVs this year. But none have been as well-paced, as penetrating, as punchy as AMC’s Season 2 of Interview with the Vampire. Easily one of the best shows of the decade, IWTV re-adapts Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire novel for the screen — this time as a television series, splitting up the story across two seasons. Season 1 may have stuck to its guns as a tragic Gothic Horror/Romance, but Season 2 turns up the dial on gothic political intrigue with Louis and Claudia entering a deadly den of vampiric intrigue and meeting the Theatre des Vampires in 1940’s Paris. If y’all thirst for complex morality complexes, soap opera-level of dramatics, and amazing costumes — look no further than this show. Y’all, whether you’ve seen the 1994 movie starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt or not, give this show a chance. It features some incredible writing about navigating worlds of anti-blackness while embracing the abject and grotesque — as queer, as vampire, as feminine — it is oh-so-juicy. You can watch Season One on Netflix or both seasons on AMC+.
Other honorable mentions for shows I liked included Marvel’s Agatha All Along (let’s go lesbians!) and Heartstopper… it wasn’t a big TV year for me admittedly.
Favorite Book of 2024:
Rifqa by Mohammed El-Kurd
"Poetry was an itch to contextualize, to inform, to hinge severed limbs onto the people to whom they once belonged, to allow those people nuance."
From Palestinian poet Mohammed El-Kurd, Rifqa is an Arabic word meaning companionship, kindness, or gentleness. It is also the name of El-Kurd’s grandmother. Rifqa captures traces of memories about Palestine, about dispossession, about grief. El-Kurd collects these traces from his family, his neighbors, chance encounters, news headlines, from lives lost. It’s a short read (100 pages), but one that reminded me that there’s resistance and a return to power in building families, creating spectacles of disruption, translating hopelessness into rage, writing poetry, making art, creating action.
I’m not a poetry girlie, but I can’t help but to admire the poetry works that I stumble upon. I love poetry’s power to evoke memories through fractured bits of language. And I believe poetry can be powerful — powerful enough to activate, to mobilize, to radicalize. For that exact reason, there’s no doubt that Rifqa was my favorite book that I read in 2024. And if you like poetry too, I hope that you give it a read so that it may possess you the way it did me.
“The youth remind me with firework spectacle: decolonization is not an abstract theory. See: The soldier with a stone in his fascist face. The colonizer car in flames. Surveillance cameras smashed. ‘Checkpoints’ emptied out of their gatekeepers I stand in awe of the hail.”
Favorite Album/EP of 2024:
What a Devastating Turn of Events (Rachel Chinouriri)
Y’all, what a great year for music. Following lockdown in 2020, I found myself stuck in endless loops, listening to the same music over and over. Thankfully, this year has been one of actively seeking out new music, discovering new sounds and artists (no thanks to Spotify’s AI-run daylists).
Rachel Chinouriri seriously stunned me with her debut record What a Devastating Turn of Events. Oscillating in time between stories of heartbreak, depression, grief — the album journeys through Chinouriri’s memories of youth in the noughties to her adult years today in the 2020s. Composed of 14 tracks, early 2000s British alt-pop (influences like Lily Allen, Kate Nash) infuse itself into the very DNA of Chinouriri’s sound, not to mention while employing a neo-soul & R&B spirit in its storytelling. What a Devastating Turn of Events captures some of Rachel’s deepest and saddest memories, bound together by whimsicality, catharsis, and a hunger for joy and life.
After the angsty and pessimistic album opener ‘Garden of Eden’ (“No matter what, your youth is gonna end / My God, it’s sinking in / There’s no point in anything.”), Chinouriri holds our hand as she walks us through her emotional landscape of growing up feeling out of place in ‘The Hills’ (“When you don’t belong, the hills will know / It’s visible, you don’t belong here”). Having grown up in Croydon, South London as part of an immigrant Zimbabwean-British family, What a Devastating Turn of Events seeks to memorialize the pain she experienced growing up, both as an outcast and as a daughter of an immigrant — while simultaneously writing a love letter to her family for being such a huge force in shaping her into the woman she is today. This album is a beautiful spell being cast to undo narratives of unbelonging — so that one may be able to set themself free.
Other honorable mentions for music projects I loved this year include Mk.gee - Two Star & The Dream Police, Doechii - Alligator Bites Never Heal, CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso - BAÑO MARÍA, beabadoobee - This Is How Tomorrow Moves, and more. Because there were so many albums I loved from this past year, you can expect an incoming post about that. To read more of my thoughts on Rachel Chinouriri’s album and the other projects I loved from this past year, stay tuned.
Favorite Meme of 2024:
SATC ‘Big is moving to Paris’ Memes
I wouldn’t saaaay I’m chronically online. Okay, yes, I’m chronically online. But if anything, I’m always trying to spend less time on my phone (even if that doesn’t go according to plan some months). There’s just no way that I’m not going to enjoy and take part in the great art of memeology. (Shoutout Paula Abdul.)
A lot of the memes and videos I collect tend to be related to new music and film that I’m listening to/watching. And as such, I’ll say that my favorite meme from this past year comes down to the Sex and the City ‘Big is moving to Paris’ memes.
Honestly? Nothing quite hits like reeling from a new dystopian headline taking over my feed and scrolling to find a meme of Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha processing the news, only to be hit with Carrie’s self-obsessed ‘Big is moving to Paris’ line. The news is only going to get more disastrous and the SATC reboot is just not hitting, so I hope we can rely on more SATC memes in 2025.
(I know it’s technically my job to explain these things, but that would just sour the joke, wouldn’t it? If you have yet to see Sex and the City, you can learn more here.)
Favorite Fashion Moment of 2024:
Hunter Schaefer at Cannes Film Festival, May 2024 (Styled by Dara Allen)
I have a hard time with red carpet premieres. For the most part, they leave a bad taste in my mouth as a flagrant display of power and status from the upper class — even if not everyone who walks down them is wealthy themselves. That being said, old habits die hard, and I still find myself wowed by fashion moments on red carpets. I can’t help but love fashion, y’all — and I believe it’s imperative to remain critical of fashion corporations and the way the industry works, even if you admire the creativity and play that goes into the design and styling of it all.
This past May, Hunter Schaefer attended Cannes for the Kinds of Kindness film (the most recent Yorgos Lanthimos film), styled by Dara Allen. These past few years, I’ve been most enamored with Dara Allen’s styling. I find her concepts and her astuteness for play and form to be delectable and exciting. Rarely do I find a combination of kitch and elegance in fashion that makes me smile the way Dara’s styling does.
I was absolutely floored by this custom Armani Privè gown that Hunter Schaefer wore to the Cannes Film Festival last May. This stunning dress was an altered design from Armani Privè’s SS 2011 collection. The fabric (which I assume is liquid silk organza) is the star of the show, shining in a metallic periwinkle, but the silhouette and the gathering along the waist is so my cup of tea. I, too, dream of embodying a shiny glass bottle. Plus, pockets! YES.
And now for some personal bits.
Favorite Photo of Myself in 2024:
I took two photos of myself this entire past year that I loved unconditionally. You might think that’s sad, but honestly: there are some months where I don’t take any photos of myself. Since this was the more recent one (taken in December) — and because I felt like a Victorian coquette — you get this one. One of my goals for the new year is to have more fun dressing myself and to take more photos of myself, no matter how I’m feeling.
Favorite Place I Visited in 2024:
Right before I was hacked on Instagram (it’s a whole story for another time. My new instagram is @badbvssy), I was on O’ahu visiting my sister and other members of my family. My sister took me to visit Waimea Valley, which I was filled with such immense gratitude to be able to witness.
Waimea Valley is an incredibly sacred nature preserve and historical site on the North Shore of O’ahu. It holds O’ahu’s largest heiau temple and has a strong spiritual presence and significance. The Valley is a wide collection of trails, with sprawling paths leading up the mountain or along the main valley path. At the end of these paths is a path leading to the Waimea falls (pictured above), where visitors can swim in the lagoon if desired. Though, I felt uncomfortable swimming in such a spiritually active spot, so my ass stayed dry. Still, it was incredibly beautiful.
As a malihini (someone new to Hawaii) with family on the island, it was not lost to me how lucky I was to be able to visit Waimea. It is already a privilege to be able to be on the island due to the way the tourism industry and US imperialism has made the island inaccessible to indigenous Hawaiian people. So it meant a lot to me to be able to be on-site and to be with family I love and to sit with the trees.
Favorite Food I Ate in 2024:
I was super lucky to have been selected to participate in Toronto International Film Festival’s Media Inclusion Initiative this past Fall and I got to stay in Mississauga, just outside of Toronto, to be with family. I definitely ate food in Toronto, but ironically the best food I had was in Mississauga.
My favorite meal was from the Taiwanese restaurant Mabu Generation in Mississauga. I ordered the Mabu Egged Suyaki with Rice, which wasn’t sukiyaki exactly but rather like a hot pot broth with egg and tempura cooked in the broth. My mouth is currently watering as I’m writing this. Truly I think about this dish every few weeks. This had tempura, onions, eggs, suyaki sauce, and seaweed, along with some white rice and what I initially thought was tofu but can’t be tofu because it was far too gelatinous and sweet. I don’t think it was rakugan or any sort of Japanese confectionery. If anyone has a clue, please let a girl know!
Favorite Memories of 2024:
When I look back on 2024, the first thing that comes to mind is the hardships: friendships that ended or loved ones I lost and continue to grieve. There were a lot of chapters closed, but in the wake of loss there was also so many milestones, so many blessings, and so many tests of character and of my values.
This year:
I got to celebrate my birthday with my friends and chosen family who I love so deeply, even despite being in the storm of tragedy. Joy and love persists even in the face of devastation!
I got to witness my younger brother’s graduation from middle school! It was so sweet to witness his growth and give him his flowers as he continues to develop as a young person.
I got to visit my sister in Hawaii for Christmas and spend time with my young niblings. I so love being in community with children and each visit I get, I feel us all grow closer and myself learning more about myself.
I started volunteering at my local community garden in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago! If you’re based in Chicago and you live nearby Pilsen, feel free to join us at La Huerta Roots and Rays Garden or follow us on Instagram for community garden days later this Spring/Summer!
I was granted the Emerging Critics Grant from Rotten Tomatoes and the Chicago Film Critics Association for my writing on Bad Bvssy! This recognition helped me feel more confident in the work I was doing as a writer.
I was chosen to be part of OTV’s 2024 Fellowship of Global Intersectional Storytellers, where I worked on developing my short film project Not Like Other Vampires!
Coincidentally, I also was chosen to participate in OTV’s Pitch, Please! virtual pitching event to pitch my film, where I was awarded $10k to go towards production costs of my film! This was craaaaazy. I’m so so excited to be able to share more about the film with you all in the near future!
Additionally, I was also selected for the Toronto International Film Festival’s Media Inclusion Program, which allowed me to fly to Toronto and report on the films at TIFF! I had a really amazing time and I’m hoping to attend again soon. If you are an emerging writer and are curious about learning more about what my experience was like, don’t hesitate to reach out!
All these blessings and opportunities have been a great call to power within myself, to take ownership over my work and to move with intention and fervor in the new year. I step into 2024 with a clearer sense of who I am and which of my goals and aspirations have needed to shift to make room for my new dreams and aspirations.
In 2025, I’m aiming to:
Get another job, girl. It’s hard out here.
Make more pickles. Yes, bitch, you heard me. Pickle more, cook more, bake more, have more fun with food, even if that means sticking to my guns some weeks and only cooking recipes that make me happy and nourished.
Say hello to strangers when walking on the street. I hate the sensation of living in America and not saying hello or recognizing another human’s presence when we pass on the street. I think it’s easy to psyche yourself out of saying ‘hello’, especially if you’re not feeling great. But since doing this, I’ve found that it often lifts my spirits a bit.
Secure more funding for my film and lock down a team! If you’re a producer or work in the film industry, please feel free to DM me on Instagram at @badbvssy.
Invest more into relationships with my neighbors and peers, so that we may be able to support each other when the days get tough.
Create more opportunities to go on dates with my platonic friends and experience more together.
Make art and write at my own pace, even if it means that I get less opportunities for taking too long as a creative.
Prioritize creative play rather than creation for consumption. Share music, art, and film in interest of exploration and curiosity, rather than being concerned with cultural or creative elitism.
I want to listen to more music, watch more movies, and read more books. I’m cultivating systems to help me do so and I’m excited to see how they work or how they can change to ensure a balance between exploring new art and still being present with those I love!
There’s always more, of course, but that’s all I got for you today. Stay tuned for newer posts and let me know what were your favorites of 2024, puh-lease. I love an ever-growing list of things to check out.
Ciao! xx Laya
I want all my friends to do blog posts like this so I don't have to ask how they are. /hj