I’ve loved stories for as long as I can remember, whether they’re printed on a page or flickering across a screen. Movies and books have been a constant in my life since childhood, and this site is my way of sharing that lifelong obsession.
Physical Media Love
Even in the age of endless streaming options, I’m an unapologetic physical‑media collector. There’s something special about holding a film in your hands: the weight of a case, the artwork, the inserts, the booklets, and the behind‑the‑scenes extras. A disc feels like a complete experience, not just a file.
And yes, I’ll say it. The quality is better. A good 4K disc played through a dedicated player on an OLED screen delivers picture and sound that streaming simply can’t match. Streaming may be convenient, but it’s no substitute for a physical disc with its higher bitrate, higher dynamic range, lower compression rate, and lossless audio capabilities.
What I Watch
My taste in movies is broad, sometimes wildly so. I love arthouse cinema just as much as I love exploitation and grindhouse. I’m drawn to:
- horror
- film noir
- yakuza and gangster films
- strange and surreal cinema
- gialli
- poliziotteschi
- gothic tales
- martial arts, kung fu, and wuxia
- science fiction
- melancholy dramas
I watch films from every era, from silent classics to the newest releases, and from all over the world. Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, France, Germany, Mexico, the United States… if it’s interesting, I’m watching it.
I still enjoy going to the cinema when I can. There’s something irreplaceable about the collective experience of an audience reacting together in the dark.
If you are only interested in movie reviews, see this archive.
What I Read
My reading taste is just as varied as my movie taste. I enjoy everything from classic literature to modern genre fiction, and I’m always looking for stories that linger after the last page. I read horror, crime, noir, science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction, along with the occasional piece of nonfiction when a subject grabs me. I like writers who take risks, explore strange ideas, or build worlds that feel lived in.
I read books from different eras and from all over the world. Translated fiction, forgotten paperbacks, contemporary novels, and older works that shaped entire genres all have a place on my shelves. Much like with movies, I’m drawn to anything that feels distinctive, atmospheric, or emotionally honest.
If you are only interested in book reviews, see this archive (coming soon).
What You’ll Find Here
The Zenn Review brings together my thoughts on the films I watch and the books I read, with an emphasis on the things that catch my attention, spark ideas, or make me want to revisit them. Whether you’re here for movie recommendations, book discoveries, or simply a shared love of physical media, I’m glad you found your way to this site.
More reviews are coming soon. This is just the beginning.