When the bright, beautiful Central Oregon sun finally burns off the High Desert-ified frosted chill, I have a ritual that reawakens the warmth in my bones and sheds off my Seasonal Affective Disorder like so many discarded layers of North Face. I find a patio in Bend, bring a book and either drink coffee or […]
Jared Rasic
Film critic and author of food, arts and culture stories for the Source Weekly since 2010.
Posted inFilm
20th Century Kids
“Masters of the Universe” and “Scary Movie” hunt that hot nostalgia dollar
Going to the movies this weekend made me feel like I was living through a cultural event horizon of the late 20th century, where Hollywood desperately picks up and shakes my inner child just to see if any more loose change falls out. This week, the box office gave us two diametrically opposed flavors of […]
Posted inFilm
Liminal Memories
Backrooms, the future of theaters and the art of the mindf**k
The theatrical release and box office explosion of the new A24 psychological horror film “Backrooms” represents a landmark moment in modern cinema. It serves as the intersection of three major contemporary cinematic trends: the box office dominance of horror, the mainstream acceptance of a new YouTube-to-cinema pipeline and a successful push to get Gen Z […]
Posted inFilm
Star Skirmish
The continuing adventures of “The Mandalorian and Grogu”
Whether you enjoy “The Mandalorian and Grogu” depends entirely on what you want from your “Star Wars” these days. Don’t get me wrong, the film is entertaining and it’s easy to get lost in director Jon Favreau’s version of Star Wars, where every frame is packed with stunningly designed aliens and monsters. Yet, it’s hard […]
Posted inFilm
Shut Up and Scare Me
Obsession and the modern golden age of horror
I don’t think this is a very controversial statement, but we are absolutely living in the golden age of horror movies. We exist in a time where a grimy, bluesy vampire movie like “Sinners” can become the most Oscar-nominated film in history and a bonkers, singular vision like “Weapons” can nab Amy Madigan her first […]
Posted inFilm
A Good Yarn
The Sheep Detectives is a shear delight
Every once in a while, a movie comes along with a premise so fundamentally weird that you can almost hear the studio executives break into a flop sweat, wondering how many Happy Meals and cross-promotional merch to make the juice worth the squeeze. “The Sheep Detectives” is exactly the kind of movie that, when you […]
Posted inFood & Drink
A Redmond Chinese Classic
Yi’s Wok is a low-key comfort
When thinking about Chinese food in Central Oregon, too few names come to mind. The region’s culinary landscape is often defined by its omnipresent craft beer culture and farm-to-table Pacific Northwest fare, but tucked into the streets of Redmond and Bend is an underrated Chinese food scene, bridging the gap between classic American comfort and […]
Posted inFilm
Streep, Hathaway, Blunt and Tucci: Still a Perfect Combo
The “Devil Wears Prada 2” is a welcome return to a different world
As someone who has dressed like a color blind retiree since childhood, I know next to nothing about couture, modern fashion, or why one designer brand outranks another. Watching “The Devil Wears Prada” all the way back in the year of our lord 2006, I knew the film really wasn’t “for me,” yet I still […]
Posted inFilm
I Tell You Once Again, It’s Bad
Michael, Michaela and McKellen — together for the first time
Everyone who goes to the movies is after something different. Relaxation, stimulation, escapism—all are valid. That’s why it’s hard for me to reconcile exactly who “Michael,” the Michael Jackson musical biopic, is meant for and if its existence is healthy for culture and society at large. The film ends in 1988, at the height of […]
Posted inRestaurant Guide
Restaurant of the Year: Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot
Hospitality forward
Several things make Sen a remarkable dining experience, but it’s the combination of all of them that solidifies it as the Source’s restaurant of the year. First among everything, as delicious and groundbreaking as the food is, the hospitality is what is immediately apparent. There is a genuine warmth to the staff that makes Sen not just a destination location in Bend, but reminds […]
