Seriously? OMG! WTF?

Landlords are all about providing decent, safe housing — but in movies, they’re often portrayed as being greedy, evil, or just plain terrifying.

From satirical comedies to psychological suspense thrillers, Hollywood has used the “cruel landlord” narrative over the past several decades to depict power struggles by tenants and landlords who have their house in hand.

​If you’ve ever dealt with a difficult property owner or simply enjoy stories where the underdog fights back, these films offer plenty of drama, suspense, and sometimes dark humor.

​In real life, there’s no need for life to imitate art. A rental property owner with an apartment unit in, say, Houston, can make things easier for themselves and tenants by hiring a property manager serving Houston apartment owners. It’s about working smarter rather than harder.

​Here are four of the best-ever movies about bad landlords — and tenants for good measure — and why they still resonate today.

​1. Pacific Heights (1990)

​Few films capture the terror of renting horrors better than Pacific Heights. Melanie Griffith and Matthew Modine are a married couple who rent out half of their San Francisco home to what seems to be a fairly good tenant in Michael Keaton. When Keaton threatens not to pay rent, plays the system, and unleashes a reign of terror on his landlords, things get nasty.

​Pacific Heights is the “bad landlord” story turned inside out — in this instance, the homeowners are preyed upon by a tenant gaming the system.

​2. The Super (1991)

​More subtle terror of the lighter sort is personified by The Super, a Joe Pesci comedy. Pesci is a slumlord who has been sent to one of his own run-down apartment buildings by the courts until he brings it up to code.

​Though it’s less terrifying than other entries on this list, The Super offers a comedic but meaningful take on what happens when landlords are held accountable.

​3. Slumlord (a.k.a. 13 Cameras) (2015)

​For a genuinely creepy modern thriller, Slumlord (or 13 Cameras) packs a bunch on the horror front. A creepy landlord installs cameras in a rental unit to monitor innocent renters, unbeknownst to them. The film highlights the loss of privacy, voyeurism, and shaming of renters.

​The movie takes the “bad landlord” theme to new heights by hyping the threat of technology in the wrong hands.

​4. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

​No list of evil landlord films would be complete without the mention of Rosemary’s Baby. The horror movie is about a newlywed couple who rent an apartment in a New York City high-rise apartment complex with the all-seeing surveillance of seemingly benevolent but ever-so-slightly deranged neighbors.

​By happenstance, however, Rosemary, played by Mia Farrow, has landlords who are part of a Satanic cult with nefarious designs on her yet-to-be-born child.

​The film shows how landlords don’t just control a tenant’s apartment but their feeling of security.

​Bad landlord and tenant films work because they play on universal anxieties. On the one hand, landlords fear nightmare tenants who ruin their properties and refuse to pay rent. On the other hand, tenants fear landlords who make occupying their properties a living hell.

​From Pacific Heights and Slumlord horrors to black comedies such as The Super, Hollywood has employed the landlord-tenant conflict to create suspense and social commentary over the last few decades. They remind us how much hangs in the balance in housing and how trust in the landlord-tenant system is often tenuous at best.

​So, the next time you’re enjoying an evening of streaming movies at home, consider one of these flicks about troublesome landlords and tenants. They’ll have you laughing, gasping, or even locking the doors — and they’ll definitely make you appreciate the value of finding a good landlord or tenant.

Motorcycles are undeniably appealing. They offer freedom, speed, agility, and convenience you can’t get with a car. But they’re also extremely dangerous. And while some risks in life are worth taking, the statistics around motorcycle crashes suggest riding isn’t on that list. Riding a motorcycle exposes you to hazards and catastrophic injuries that even the most careful driver can’t avoid. 

Thinking about using a bike for daily commuting or just for fun? Below are the biggest reasons to think twice before getting on a bike.

1. Motorcycles are far more deadly than cars

Although motorcycles make up a small percentage of vehicles on the road, they account for a disproportionately high number of fatalities and injuries. Since there’s no metal cage, bike riders are far more vulnerable in a crash.

 According to the stats, motorcycle riders are 22 times more likely to die in an accident than car occupants. Cars have airbags, seatbelts, and crumple zones. On a motorcycle, your body is completely unprotected.

Worse, motorcycles are extremely hard to see. Car drivers frequently miss bikes in their blind spots and that can lead to serious crashes. And that’s why you see so many lawsuits filed by motorcycle riders. Many of them have experienced devastating and permanently disabling injuries, and filing a lawsuit is the only way they can pay their medical bills.

2. Head injuries are a serious threat

Even with a proper motorcycle helmet, head injuries are a risk. They are the leading cause of death and disability among motorcyclists. However, according to the CDC, helmets do reduce the risk of head injury by 69% and the risk of death by 37%. But even so, at highway speeds, even the best helmet won’t absorb all the impact. Riders wearing a helmet are still at risk of a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Crash survivors with head injuries are often left with permanent disabilities and cognitive issues. These are life-altering impairments that impact mood, independence, and memory. Riders underestimate the risk until it happens to them. 

3. Road hazards hit bikes harder

Road hazards that a car can avoid easily are often deadly obstacles for motorcycles. For example, wet leaves and loose gravel can make a car skid a little, but they’re deadly for motorcycles. And a pothole has to be pretty big to do damage to a car. For a motorcycle rider, even a small pothole can send them flying off their bike.

Vehicles with two wheels have less stability, and even a small slick patch of paint can cause a crash. And when you factor in weather (like rain, snow, ice, and mist), there’s even less traction. Most roads weren’t designed for bikes, and even a routine ride to the grocery store can become a hazard.

4. Drivers are distracted

Even riders who drive their bikes safely can’t control distracted or aggressive drivers on the road. Unfortunately, many drivers are distracted by their phones, and that makes them less likely to see a motorcycle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving killed 3,275 people in 2023.

Another common issue is left-turn collisions. Cars turning left at intersections often fail to yield to oncoming motorcycles. Perhaps the worst situation is when the driver of a car is speeding or drunk. These accidents happen so fast and are so severe that they’re almost impossible to avoid.

5. Insurance costs are high

Motorcycle insurance is costly, and prices are determined based on the high risk. Getting a motorcycle insured can cost up to 72% more than car insurance in some states. But even with insurance, coverage for catastrophic injuries is typically limited because insurance companies know it’s a huge possibility. That’s another reason why so many injured bikers file personal injury lawsuits. They have no other choice if they want to pay their bills.

Insurers also consider repair and theft risks. Bikes are much easier to steal and usually cost more to repair than the value of the bike. Everything about riding a motorcycle is risky, and insurance companies aren’t going to treat them the same as cars.

6. The financial fallout after a crash is huge

If you’re injured in a motorcycle accident you can expect higher medical bills, mostly because injuries are more severe and recovery times are long. You may have to go through rehab and physical therapy. You may even need in-home or long-term care. And if you can no longer work, you’ll need to go on disability and downsize your life to make up for the income loss.

Think twice before riding a motorcycle

While they’re appealing, motorcycles are extremely risky. Between the lack of protection and unpredictable roads, riding isn’t the thrill it’s made out to be. 

Tuesday was the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars. Even though that was the first night of the dancing competition, the producers have already mapped out the rest of the season, at least when it comes to the themes.

Alfonso Ribeiro, Julianne Hough, and last year’s winner Joey Graziadei announced this season’s themes on the Official Dancing with the Stars Podcast.

So what are they? Next week, it is One-Hit Wonder Night, followed by TikTok Night, Disney Night, Dedication Night, Wicked Night, Halloween Night, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night, The 20th Birthday Party in Celebration of DWTS’s 20th Year, and the last theme before the finals is Prince.

Which theme night are you looking most forward to? I can’t wait for TikTok night! Although I watch their TikToks all the time, so it is almost like I have already seen them.

Who is Emmys worst dressed? – Celebitchy

Emmys best dressed – Paulette Cohn

Is Shailene Woodley single? – The Cut

Did you miss this Emmys joke? – Pajiba

Game of Thrones is getting a spinoff – Screen Rant

Spinal Tap explains where they’ve been? – George Pennacchio

Why was Benson Boone’s cameraman man arrested? – WDJX

Niall Horan is back on The Voice this season, along with Reba McEntire, Michael Bublé, and Snoop Dogg. However, he is not like the other three.

If this were Sesame Street, they would be asking us how, “One of These Things (Is Not Like the Others).” Is it because he was not born in North America? No! Is it because he is not old enough to be a member of AARP (Bublé turns 50 next week)? No! Is it because he was in a band and they weren’t? No! Is it because he was discovered on a Reality show? No!

So what is it? His co-judges sent out a memo to each other telling them to wear all black and leather, and forgot to tell him. So he showed up wearing all green. And he stood out like a four-leaf clover.

Will he be lucky this season like he was during his previous two, and win for a third time? We will have to watch NBC starting on September 22nd to see if the third time will also be the charm for the One Direction singer.

« Previous entries Next entries »