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Harbingers’ Magazine is a weekly online current affairs magazine written and edited by teenagers worldwide.

harbinger | noun

har·​bin·​ger | \ˈhär-bən-jər\

1. one that initiates a major change: a person or thing that originates or helps open up a new activity, method, or technology; pioneer.

2. something that foreshadows a future event : something that gives an anticipatory sign of what is to come.

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< culture

film & tv

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May 16, 2025
Forget horror movies, psychological thrillers are what linger after the credits
There’s a difference between horror films and thrillers. The latter don’t rely on the aforementioned factors and tend to focus on keeping the viewer in a constant state of anxiety, as suspense and anticipation build. If done correctly, this can feel genuinely disturbing
16-year-old Sofia Vorobei explains why suspense and mind games are far more frightening than jump scares
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May 16, 2025
To boldly go: Has the latest Star Trek movie gone too far?
“To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before”. So goes the professed mission of the American TV series Star Trek; or so it went at its 1966 inception. The controversial 2025 movie release, Star Trek: Section 31, signals a break in tradition
17-year-old Olivia Campbell explains why Star Trek: Section 31 is worth your time, despite the naysayers
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May 09, 2025
Young filmmaker’s animation about the war in Ukraine to premiere at Cannes
Born and raised in Kharkiv and now based in Berlin, Piddubna is a filmmaker, artist and activist of Ukrainian and Central Asian Tatar and Bashqort heritage. She has a BA in animation and is currently enrolled in the MA programme as an animation director at the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf in Potsdam. Her work often explores themes of identity, memory and resilience
17-year-old Klaudia Bacza interviews Polina Piddubna on her debut film and the personal story behind it
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April 25, 2025
Mufasa: Disney returns to the Pride Lands to complete the story
Marking the 30th birthday of the world-famous Lion King, a prequel to the original movie was released by Disney in December 2024. Mufasa: The Lion King tells the story of the childhood of brothers Mufasa and Taka, who would become known as the villain Scar in the future
18-year-old Ashley Solace reviews the prequel to the Lion King, which shows the tragic relationship between Mufasa and Scar
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April 11, 2025
Is 1984 happening again? Why we should heed dystopian warnings
The relevance of dystopian novels in the world today is frightening and devastatingly upsetting. Current political and social landscapes bear an unbelievable resemblance to some of the greatest pieces of literature. Are we living out dystopian predictions?
18-year-old Maria Mitko on how dystopian fiction mirrors our world today and why that’s terrifying
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April 11, 2025
Why Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With the Wind is my role model
Scarlett O’Hara is not only one of the most famous fictional female protagonists of all time, but one of the most controversial too. The main character of Margaret Mitchell's epic novel Gone With the Wind has been a subject of debate since the book was first published in 1936
17-year-old Ashley Solace argues that we should admire and applaud Scarlett, despite her many flaws
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March 20, 2025
The death of movie etiquette: Why I dislike going to the cinema
It’s a known fact that, for many, going to the cinema represents the pinnacle of entertainment. For me, however, it feels more like an exercise in endurance than an enjoyable experience
15-year-old Sofia Vorobei explains why going to the cinema nowadays isn’t the pleasure it should be
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March 13, 2025
Is this real life?
While this article does not intend to approach that question or give you an existential crisis, as with such mind-bending movies as Inception (2010) or The Matrix (1999), I do intend to explore the question of how film can affect our reality. The big question for film fanatics like myself is: do movies mimic life or does life mimic movies?
17-year-old Reva Sobti asks if films and the media reflect society or magnify its darkest issues
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March 13, 2025
My very Jewish Christmas
In my household, the 25th of December is dedicated to every holiday movie Netflix has to offer, especially the cheesy, guy-gets-the-girl romcoms. It’s our tradition and I’m a sucker for a running-through-the-airport scene. But there’s always something missing
16-year-old Noa Gomberg dives into the history of antisemitic tropes in culture and entertainment
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March 07, 2025
Spectacular acrobatics, but without the story or magic of The Greatest Showman film
As a fan of the 2017 movie musical The Greatest Showman, I was an obvious candidate to see the new Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular at the Empress Museum in London. I have to say that I was greatly disappointed, as many elements of it failed to reach my expectations
16-year-old Klara Hammudeh reviews a new show that fuses songs from the hit movie with circus acts
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January 24, 2025
I am entertained, but I am not impressed
With Gladiator II, the sequel to the hugely successful Gladiator (2000), the coin rattles and spins on the table, teetering dangerously back and forth before landing disappointingly within the latter class of Ridley Scott films
17-year-old Justin Sau reviews Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, sequel to his 2000 mega-hit Gladiator
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January 10, 2025
Exploring Nepal through its tradition of multiple genders and matriarchal values
The 88-minute film explores Nepal’s matriarchal heritage through the figure of Ajima, a grandmother goddess in the Tantra tradition who embodies wisdom, protection and fertility
17-year-old Jefferson He reviews the 2024 documentary Ajima and 6 Gender Identities
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January 03, 2025
Is The Wild Robot the best animated movie of 2024?
As much as I’m looking forward to becoming an adult, I’m obviously completely terrified. After almost 18 years of constant familial care, I feel like an astronaut soon to be jettisoned from the shuttle, left to float in the vast expanse of space. When I sat down to watch a children’s animated movie, I wasn’t expecting it to capture these feelings so perfectly
17-year-old Justin Sau sheds a tear at Dreamworks’ latest offering, a heartfelt coming-of-age story
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January 03, 2025
Wicked: a visually stunning musical that lives up to the hype
Personally, I was really excited to see the film adaptation, because Wicked was the first stage musical I ever saw. I went with my mom when I was six, and was completely awed. I wanted to find out how the film compared with the Broadway show: better or worse? Or was the all marketing and the Wicked-themed candles just a way of getting into the heads of ‘theatre kids’?
16-year-old Klara Hammudeh reviews Wicked, the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical
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December 12, 2024
Best of 2024: Five must-read articles from the Culture section
Every article published in the Culture section this year has had its own spark, but a few stand out for their exceptional writing, unorthodox subject, worldwide relevance – or all three. As editor of the section, I’ve compiled a list of five articles that I think everyone should read, presented in chronological order
17-year-old Justin Sau shines a spotlight on his favourite Culture articles from the past year
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November 29, 2024
Why Speak No Evil 2024 fails to outshine the original
Conversely, while watching Speak No Evil from 2024, I was glued to the screen due to the amount of chaos and improbability. Now, while I still believe the remake doesn’t hold a candle to the original, it allowed me to reevaluate my appreciation for the Danish film
17-year-old Maria Mitko reviews a recent American remake of a Danish psychological thriller
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November 22, 2024
How I dived into the heart of American capitalism from a theatre seat
In three hours and fifteen minutes (including two intervals), we witness a sweeping epic of 150 years of American history. It starts with the arrival from Bavaria of Henry Lehman to Ellis Island in New York in 1844, soon followed by his two brothers
16-year-old Klara Hammudeh reviews a rerun of Sam Mendes’ award-winning play The Lehman Trilogy
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August 01, 2024
Revisiting Amy Winehouse: Unpacking the biopic Back to Black
Back to Black’s vivid portrayal of Amy Winehouse has reignited the debate over the ethics of biographical filmmaking, while challenging audiences to confront the complexities of fame, addiction, and artistic brilliance. In death as in life, Amy defies easy categorization, leaving an untouchable mark on music and memory alike
15 year-old Sofia Vorobei asks if the recent movie does justice to the iconic singer Amy Winehouse
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July 11, 2024
A Japanese volleyball film that’s too fast for its own good
Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle is an exhilarating romp for well-versed fans, but for those who are going in blind, or have forgotten much of the anime, it can be confusing. With a limited runtime, the audience is left to fill in the gaps of many individual rivalries and character relationships
17 year-old Justin Sau reviews the animated volleyball movie Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle
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July 04, 2024
Seeking closure: why open-ended movies are frustrating
Unlike traditional movies, which typically tie up loose ends, these films often leave many questions unanswered. While some argue that this ambiguity allows characters to leap off the screen and into our imaginations, I find it puzzling rather than enlightening
16 year-old Klaudia Bacza expresses her dissatisfaction with open-ended films
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June 27, 2024
The creation and evolution of Superman
‘It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… Superman!’ Perhaps the most iconic superhero ever created, spawning millions of comic books, films, television shows and merchandise, the Last Son of Krypton has captured hearts and imaginations all over the world for decades
17 year-old Justin Sau explains how the ‘Man of Steel’ created the superhero genre, 90 years ago
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June 27, 2024
Passion. Tension. Match point.
The film is not really about tennis, but about the tense, to-and-fro relationship that tennis represents. That sense of tension only adds to the desire-ridden love triangle that Italian director Luca Guadagnino paints in his sexy sports drama Challengers
18 year-old Anatolii Mishustin reviews Challengers, a romantic tennis drama filled with desire
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May 16, 2024
Dev Patel’s directorial debut goes bananas
In the world where John Wick and its imitators dominate the action movie genre, Dev Patel picks up a camera, directs and stars to deliver a unique piece full of passion and flare. Monkey Man might not push the boundaries of the genre, but it has everything to become an action cult classic
18 year-old Anatolii Mishustin reviews Monkey Man, a gritty action movie with a rush of adrenaline
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May 02, 2024
Hollywood, please stop making movie musicals!
While stage-to-screen adaptations attempt to capture the essence of the original stories, there is a lingering sense that something is lost in translation – the raw and real energy of live theatre. Hollywood’s attempt to please everyone continually leaves no one satisfied
17 year-old Abigail Gonzalez Zavala bemoans the adaptations of stage musicals to film
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April 25, 2024
An adventurous meditation on love soaked with Italian magic –La Chimera review
Every frame of Italian director Alice Rorhwacher’s La Chimera (a chimera is an illusion or invention of the mind) is permeated with the mythical magic and dizziness of the scorching Italian sun. It manages to be fantastical, amusing, and romantic all at once
18 year-old Anatolii Mishustin on the captivating and dreamy Italian film
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March 22, 2024
Netflix’s release strategies are dangerous to auteur cinema
As the 2023 award season comes to an end, Netflix has once again gained global recognition for its original content. But could the streaming giant in its pursuit of acclaim pose a danger to the future of cinema?
18 year-old Anatolii Mishustin explores the dangers of a never-ending stream of content
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March 15, 2024
A medium for kids? Why we should award more Oscars to animated films
Many anime films have received universal praise for their unique storytelling, emotional depth, and thought-provoking themes, yet are largely ignored in other categories at the Oscars. As one of the leading authorities on film, the Academy must spearhead the effort to challenge preconceived notions that animation can’t be taken seriously
17 year-old Justin Sau on the greater recognition animated films deserve
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March 08, 2024
Dune: Part Two achieves the impossible, delivering the grandest space opera to date
Dune: Part Two is a testament to what the medium of cinema stands for. Breaking the boundaries of the sci-fi genre, the film results in one of the best sequels in history
18 year-old Anatolii Mishustin reviews the second installment a sci-fi great
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March 01, 2024
Miyazaki’s perfect blend of magic and existentialism –The Boy And The Heron Review
Beautiful both visually and story-wise, The Boy And The Heron is a must-watch. It is suitable for every age as almost everyone will find something in the film to relate to
18 year-old Anatolii Mishustin on tantalising cinematography in an emotive animated film
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February 23, 2024
Simple, sexy film that brings new life to the rom-com genre. Anyone But You Review
Charming leads, an intriguing set-up and a “parent trap” meets enemies-to-lovers trope, what more is there to wish for?
17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin on the explosive chemistry of the newest grand rom-com
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February 09, 2024
Media depicting women holds one main aim: Giving a space for women to be judged
Defining a woman starts with using words like ‘trailblazer’ and ‘independent’ and ‘controversial’. A set of words is quite a small frame to describe everything that a person could be
16 year-old Sanjana Senthil’s award-winning essay on Women’s Rights
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February 02, 2024
What’s the whole buzz about? The Grammy Awards explained
As we approach the 66th edition of the Grammy Awards, held annually by the Recording Academy, here are the things you need to know to fully appreciate the upcoming ceremony
15 year-old Klara Hammudeh looks under the red carpet of Recording Academy awards
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January 26, 2024
Why I hated Poor Things but will watch it again and again
The star-studded cast movingly invokes the sense of the uncanny, something that lies at the heart of this modern ‘Frankenstein’ tale
17 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko on female depictions in Yorgos Lanthimos’s film
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January 12, 2024
Has the movie industry transformed into a risk-averse machine?
As the tsunami of reboots and remakes continues to threaten to overwhelm us, it's crucial to recognize the consequences of this trend. While nostalgia can provide moments of joy and familiarity, it should not be a substitute for genuine creativity
16 year-old Justin Sau criticises the culture of remakes
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January 12, 2024
Messy biopic where only battlefields shine: Napoleon review
Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby put on grand performances that are still not enough to save the film from coming across as bloated
17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin reviews the latest box office disappointment
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January 05, 2024
She is your mirror, and both of you will mirror our reality: May December review
Netflix dropped its Oscar contender, an eerie drama by Todd Haynes which delivers a slow-burner that hits you in the guts
17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin on the masterfully crafted new film
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December 22, 2023
A film equivalent to a long hug encapsulates the Christmas spirit. The Holdovers review
The story of three unlikely individuals finding a family bond in uncertain circumstances is medicine for a broken heart. And with its emotional warmth and sentimentally cheerful ending, ‘The Holdovers’ still touches on severe topics of grief and depression - and does that quite well
17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin on a future Christmas classic
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November 10, 2023
Is Hollywood saved now the writers’ strike has ended?
Strikes of actors and writers have cost the industry over $6 billion. After all the developments, many teenagers who dream of putting their stories on the big screens began to wonder: is entering the writing industry a good choice?
17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin explores the aftermath of the writer’s strike
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November 03, 2023
"We can drive systemic change" - Filmmaker urges youth to take action in climate crisis
A feature documentary in production, ‘1.5 Degrees of Peace’, aims to start conversations in the fields of climate justice, peace and disarmament through the power of storytelling
17 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova interviews Kasha Slavner
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October 27, 2023
It’s Haunting. Killers Of The Flower Moon review
Released last week, ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ delivers an ultimate epic of love, betrayal, and the nature of evil - unveiling this dark, twisted chapter in American history
17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin praises new film from Martin Scorsese
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August 09, 2023
Oppenheimer review: Three-hour long biopic nothing short of mind-blowing
In unity with cinematography, sound design, and the soundtrack Nolan creates a horrifically immersive experience which controls every atom in the viewer's body
17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin reviews Nolan’s newest blockbuster
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July 28, 2023
Barbie review: A must-watch, the allegedly ‘anti-men’ pink extravaganza will make you cry
Barbie is a must-watch for everyone, for young and for old, for women and men. It’s a beautiful story with a powerful message which will leave you thinking about your own experiences and understanding of the patriarchy and how it in fact isn’t about horses
17 year-old Sofia Radysh reviews the record-breaking box office film
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July 21, 2023
Actors joined striking writers to save Hollywood as we know it
With actors’ walk-outs – including at the notable premiere of Oppenheimer in London, where Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and Florence Pugh all left the theatre – and arrested productions, the entertainment industry is suffering colossal stock price losses
17 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko reports on the ongoing strike
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July 14, 2023
'Barbenheimer': is this the most important box office battle in a decade
Barbie is winning, and it is hardly surprising. After all, one film is about dealing with mortality, the sense of self purpose, and challenging American elites, and the other one is a historical thriller titled Oppenheimer
17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin on ‘counterprogramming’ movie marketing
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June 30, 2023
A story that will keep you webbed to the seat. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse review
The sequel takes everything the audience loved about the first Spider-Verse movie and turns it up a notch – if not more
17 year-old Anatolii Mishustin reviews the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe
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June 30, 2023
Rare glimpse into 21st century politics of sex and desire. The Right to Sex review
Amia Srinivasan’s collection of six nonfiction essays is an impressive debut. Writing about rape culture, student-professor relationships, prostitution, and pornography, Srinivasan is unafraid to linger near the precipice of taboo
17 year-old Sophie Elliott reviews the 2022 Orwell Prize shortlisted book
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June 23, 2023
Animal testing made its way onto the big screen. It may be a sign of change
Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 is more than a great movie - it also offers insight into cruelty disguised as animal testing
17 year-old Sofia Radysh on animal testing
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April 07, 2023
Navalny should not have been a winner of an Oscar award
This movie being recognised and celebrated is unacceptable, no matter how good the quality of it might be. Such distinguished organisations with influential platforms like the Academy should consider the context of the movie before representing it
16 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko on the political messages of award-winning films
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March 24, 2023
Babylon’s storytelling of early Hollywood failed to hit the mark - it instead made me gag
While I am not a particular fan of graphic and aggressive movies, I was excited for Babylon. So obviously, my expectations were high, and I decided to throw away my initial biases against Babylon and its gruesomeness. So what did this three-hour long extravaganza provide me with? Nothing but disappointment.
Sofia Radysh's take on the all-star Hollywood film Babylon
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August 15, 2022
Bat girls for life? — Nothing about Batgirl said ‘cancel worthy’
Movies are not viewed as a piece of art anymore, they are investment assets. If something doesn't work out they can simply be dumped
16 year-old Sofia Radysh reports on what Batgirl’s cancellation could mean for the film industry
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August 10, 2022
Ersatz Austen of cheap laughs and romance. Persuasion review
The greatest failing of Netflix's film is that it neither commits to being a faithful adaptation of Austen’s regency, nor a modern rendering loosely based on original content
16 year-old Sophie Elliott reviews streaming giant's take on Austen’s classic novel

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