IT General

Snag a 13-inch M3 MacBook Air at its lowest price yet

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 17:34

SAVE $110: As of April 26, the 13.6-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for $989. That's a 10% discount and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 13.6-inch MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $989.00 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $110.00 Get Deal

Time to pick up a new laptop? A new MacBook might be the way to go, especially since you can get one of the newest MacBook Air models for the lowest price we've seen so far. Just a week ago, the M3 MacBook Air hit a new low of $999, but now it's come down even lower. If you skipped locking in your own when this sale went live, your patience is about to be duly rewarded.

As of April 26, the 13.6-inch MacBook Air (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is now $989 at Amazon. That's $110 off its normal price of $1,099 and a discount of 10%, making this the cheapest price for this MacBook since its debut earlier this year.

SEE ALSO: Apple deals are on the sparse side this week, with MacBook deals offering the most options

This M3-powered laptop is a lightweight yet highly capable computer that's perfect for multitasking. It's slim and sleek, yet it can handle running multiple apps at once with ease (or keep all 46 of your tabs open at once). It has a gorgeous screen and support for dual display if you plan on using it with a keyboard and mouse. With a lengthy all-day battery life and hardy frame, this is an ideal option for a daily driver.

If you've been waiting for the right time to go ahead and bring home a MacBook, let this be your sign to grab the M3 MacBook at an even lower price than last time it went on sale.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get up to 29% off Logitech mice, keyboards, and more at Amazon

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 17:22

GET UP TO 29% OFF: As of April 26, you can score up to 29% off Logitech mice, keyboards, and more at Amazon.

Our top picks: Best mouse deal Logitech M510 wireless mouse $21.99 at Amazon (save $6) Get Deal Best webcam deal Logitech Brio 101 full HD webcam $29.79 at Amazon (save $10.20) Get Deal Best headset deal Logitech H390 wired headset $20.89 at Amazon (save $4.10) Get Deal

Working from home isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sure, it's convenient and gives you a chance to escape the nightmarish commute that so many others are forced to make every day, but staying focused can be a real struggle.

SEE ALSO: The best keyboards for your home office

We all know the temptations: endless distractions like household chores, social media, and personal errands that are just a few steps away. But what makes this whole ordeal even harder is not having the right equipment. A creaky or uncomfortable chair, glitchy mouse, or sticky keyboard can put a real damper on your productivity and make it even harder to stay focused and get things done.

The good news? Upgrading your work-from-home setup with the right equipment can make a big difference. Here's where Logitech comes in. As of April 26, you can get up to 29% off select Logitech products, including keyboards, mice, and more.

Here are our favorite deals from the sale:

Best mouse deal Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Our pick: Logitech M510 wireless mouse $21.99 at Amazon
$27.99 Save $6.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Logitech M510 wireless mouse has more than 29,000 positive ratings and a 4.7-star rating on Amazon. Its ergonomic design and long battery life (two years!) make it perfect for all-day use. And, with three standard buttons and a scroll wheel, you can zoom, scroll, and browse the web without lifting a finger.

This mouse is compatible with Windows, Chrome, and Linux Operating systems.

Best webcam deal Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Our pick: Logitech Brio 101 full HD webcam $29.79 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $10.20 Get Deal Why we like it

The Logitech Brio 101 full HD webcam is way better than the standard webcam built into your laptop or monitor. It features 1080p resolution and advanced Logitech RightLight 3 technology, which adjusts the lighting to ensure you always look your best on video calls. Plus, the privacy slide cover gives you peace of mind when you're not using it.

Best headset deal Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Our pick: Logitech H390 wired headset $20.89 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $4.10 Get Deal Why we like it

The Logitech H390 wired headset is ideal for anyone dealing with a lot of background noise during work calls or video conferences. This headset features a rotating noise-cancelling mic that helps block out unwanted sounds, so you can feel confident presenting mid-month numbers without distractions. If you're worried about the cord getting in your way, don't be — it's long enough to give you plenty of freedom to move around.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Grab a Fitbit fitness tracker at Amazon for up to 53% off

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 17:02

Whether you're new to fitness tracking or are looking for an upgrade from your current model, Amazon has several Fitbits on sale today.

Best Fitbit deals at Amazon today Best deal on an advanced Fitbit Fitbit Sense 2 $139.96 at Amazon with on-page coupon (save $159.99) Get Deal Best deal on a smaller-sized Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $139.95 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal Best deal on a Fitbit for kids Fitbit Ace 3 (black/racer red) $39.95 at Amazon (save $39.05) Get Deal

Fitness trackers do far more than just count your steps. These days, the devices can help determine if you're getting enough sleep, give an overview of average heartrate, and track your workouts with GPS.

If you've been considering buying a Fitbit fitness tracker, Amazon's discounted prices might help out with your decision. Here are some great Fitbit deals to shop today.

Best deal on an advanced Fitbit Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Our pick: Fitbit Sense 2 $139.95 at Amazon
$299.95 Save $160.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Fitbit Sense 2 is on sale for just $139.95 at Amazon with the on-page coupon, marked down from the normal price of $299.95, which translates to a 53% discount. This model comes with some pretty special extras like insights into sleep, a smart wake alarm, and a stress-management score.

Of course, you'll get other fitness tracker features like heart rate readings, GPS, and a daily readiness score to help you plan the day's workout. In addition to the Fitbit Sense 2, you'll also get a six-month Fitbit Premium membership for more advanced analysis.

Best deal on a smaller-sized Fitbit Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Our pick: Fitbit Charge 6 $139.95 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you prefer the look and feel of a smaller fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 6 could be perfect, and it's currently on sale for just $139.95 at Amazon. While smaller in size, it performs well in terms of function. You'll get up to seven days of battery life while the watch tracks your fitness goals, sleep, and heart rate. The Fitbit Charge 6 has automatic exercise tracking, so you don't have to worry about starting or stopping tracking while out on a run, walk, or bike ride. It's also water resistant up to about 150 feet, so you'll have no trouble with taking this watch to swim laps at the local pool this summer.

Along with the Fitbit Charge 6, this deal includes two watch bands, size small and size large, so you can find the most comfortable fit.

Best deal on a Fitbit for kids Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Our pick: Fitbit Ace 3 (black/racer red) $39.95 at Amazon
$79.00 Save $39.05 Get Deal Why we like it

If your kids notice your fitness tracker and want in on the fun, the Fitbit Ace 3 is designed for kids ages six and up. Today's deal brings the black/racer red colorway of the Ace 3 to just $39.95, down from the normal price of $79, which means you'll be saving 49%.

Fitbit animated the clock face of the Fitbit Ace 3 to grow and develop as kids move around throughout the day and get closer to reaching personal goals. The fitness tracker also monitors sleep, helping kids with bedtime reminders and silencing alarms. The tracker is also water resistant so a summer day spent at the pool or the beach is no problem.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Grab the Bose QuietComfort headphones for $100 off

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 16:06

Save $100: Bose QuietComfort headphones are back down to their lowest price on Amazon — just $249 for a limited time. That's a 29% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Headphones $249.00 at Amazon
$349.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal

If you're preparing to jet set this summer, you'll want a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to block out your fellow passengers and lock in to your favorite playlist or audiobook. Luckily, Bose's QuietComfort headphones are back down to their lowest price on Amazon, just $249 for a limited time. That's a $100 saving to pocket for your vacation.

We love Bose's QuietComfort Ultra earbuds that sit comfortably in your ear and provide stellar noise cancellation and sound quality. These over-the-ear headphones offer many of the same features, including an exceptionally long battery life of 24 hours at full charge. The headphones stay powered up from the airport to your final destination — no mid-flight charging when you have to suffer through your neighbor's snores. But if you do need a charge, a quick 15 minutes provides another 2.5 hours of listening time.

The Bose QuietComfort headphones are wireless, connecting via Bluetooth, however they do come with an audio cable for tuning into in-flight entertainment. The noise-cancelling mode can be turned off to go into "aware mode", so you can tune back into your surroundings when necessary.

Don't miss out on this Bose QuietComfort headphone deal and snag them for $100 off.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Jennifer Hudson on surviving in a world with no oxygen in 'Breathe'

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 14:00

Mashable reporter Ty Cole sits down with Jennifer Hudson to discuss her role in Breathe, and what it's like to live in a world without oxygen. Breathe hits theaters and Digital April 26, 2024.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch the 2024 Madrid Open online for free

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 12:52

TL;DR: Stream the 2024 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're entering into a very busy period for the best players in the world, with the French Open and Wimbledon looming on the horizon. Fortunately, tournaments like the Madrid Open present the perfect opportunity to build momentum and fine-tune all the skills players will need to succeed in the Grand Slams.

If you want to watch the 2024 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Madrid Open?

The Madrid Open is an annual professional tennis tournament held in Madrid, Spain. It is played on clay courts at the Caja Mágica in Manzanares Park, San Fermín.

The defending singles champions are Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka.

When is the 2024 Madrid Open?

The 2024 Madrid Open takes place from April 22 to May 5

How to watch the 2024 Madrid Open for free

The 2024 Madrid Open is available to stream for free on RTVE.

RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain. This process makes it look like you're connecting from Spain, so you can access RTVE from anywhere in the world.

Unblock RTVE by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain

  4. Visit RTVE

  5. Stream the 2024 Madrid Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can gain access to RTVE without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream the 2024 Madrid Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTVE?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Spain

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream the 2024 Madrid Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch MotoGP live streams online for free

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 12:30

TL;DR: Watch 2024 MotoGP live streams for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

F1 gets most of the media attention in the world of things-that-move-fast. But it also comes with a lot of pit stops, yellow flags, and predictable finishes. Yeah, we said it. Who wants to watch Max Verstappen win every week?

If you're looking for thrilling and unpredictable racing with two wheels instead of four, you should check out MotoGP. And thanks to a simple hack, you can watch MotoGP without actually spending anything.

Interested in watching MotoGP for free? You've come to the right place.

What is MotoGP?

Grand Prix motorcycle racing (MotoGP) is the oldest established motorsport world championship, with the inaugural season taking place in 1949. Races last approximately 45 minutes, without pitting for fuel or fresh tires.

The likes of Ducati, Honda, and Yamaha do battle for the constructors' championship. Francesco Bagnaia is the reigning champion, sealing his second consecutive MotoGP world title in 2023.

2024 MotoGP calendar

The 2024 MotoGP season features 21 races held all over the world between March and November:

  1. Qatar GP — March 10

  2. Portugal GP — March 24

  3. Americas GP — April 14

  4. Spain GP — April 28

  5. France GP — May 12

  6. Catalunya GP — May 26

  7. Italy GP — June 2

  8. Kazakhstan GP — June 16

  9. Netherlands GP — June 30

  10. Germany GP — July 7

  11. Great Britain GP — Aug. 4

  12. Austria GP — Aug. 18

  13. Aragon GP — Sept. 1

  14. San Marino GP — Sept. 8

  15. India GP — Sept. 22

  16. Indonesia GP — Sept. 29

  17. Japan GP — Oct. 6

  18. Australia GP — Oct. 20

  19. Thailand GP — Oct. 27

  20. Malaysia GP — Nov. 3

  21. Valencia GP — Nov. 17

A wide range of streaming services are offering coverage of this MotoGP season, but there is actually no need to pay anything to follow all the action. You can watch MotoGP for free with the help of a VPN.

How to livestream MotoGP for free

You can stream every MotoGP 2024 race for free on ServusTV.

ServusTV is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can access ServusTV from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ServusTV by following this quick and easy process:

  1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Austria

  4. Connect to ServusTV

  5. Watch MotoGP for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees. By using these money-back guarantees, you can watch MotoGP live streams without fully committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch individual races without actually spending anything.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for MotoGP?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking streaming sites, and it offers a generous money-back guarantee. That means you can effectively live stream MotoGP for free with ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN is tough to beat when it comes to streaming MotoGP, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Austria

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Impressive streaming speeds without buffering

  • Up to five simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can sign up to watch MotoGP and then recover your investment when the race weekend is over.

Stream MotoGP 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Rare POV footage captures polar bears in their melting habitat

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 12:24

This incredible POV footage, captured in Canada's Hudson Bay, is helping us learn more about how climate change is affecting polar bears.

The climate in the Arctic is warming about two times faster than the rest of the planet. As a result, polar bears in the Hudson Bay are forced to spend more time on land, recently reaching 130 days of terrestrial life – a three-week increase since the 1980s.

So far, scientists have suspected that the iconic marine mammals may be able to adapt to iceless life. New research that used collar POV cameras to track the bears' behavioural changes on land, however, portrays a different reality. In this video, Mashable spoke to Dr. Anthony Pagano, a Research Wildlife Biologist and co-author of the study, about the results of their findings.

Categories: IT General, Technology

'The Exorcism' trailer teases a horror movie actor going a little bit too method

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 12:03

Russell Crowe plays an actor who takes the word "method" to a whole new level in The Exorcism, Joshua John Miller's film about a man spiralling while shooting a horror movie.

In the trailer above Crowe plays Anthony Miller, a star whose past addictions lead to his daughter Lee (Ryan Simpkins) unsure whether her dad is struggling psychologically or if there's something supernatural afoot. Sam Worthington, Samantha Mathis, Adam Goldberg, Chloe Bailey, and David Hyde Pierce also star.

How to watch: The Exorcism is in theaters on June 7.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best smart scale for your fitness journey

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 11:00

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

Many fitness journeys begin at the same starting point: on the bathroom scales. Stepping on and off those scales and getting into shape is easier said than done, but it's worth the hard work. What you need is focus, commitment, and a helping hand. In this day and age that means tech-based assistance.

Indeed, there are plenty of products that will help make your journey a little easier. Everything from running watches to protein powders can give you the advantage. What about a set of smart scales? With all the advanced tech included, stepping onto a smart scale could be that first crucial leap towards your ultimate fitness goal.

But before you jump ahead and start shopping, let us help take some weight off your mind — and maybe your body — by explaining what makes these scales so smart.

What are smart scales?

Regular old scales only measure your weight, which is fine if that’s all you need. Smart scales provide you with extra data that helps tailor your weight-loss plan, with apps or online services to track various metrics and store information for you.

Most of the apps are compatible with the likes of Fitbit, Apple Health, and Google Fit, so you can sync your data to provide a clearer picture of your progress. Smart scales can provide the motivation to lose, maintain, or even gain weight.

Once you step on the scale, your information is recorded and sent to the accompanying app. These apps track your weight, providing charts that let you set goals for yourself. The ability to see goals and monitor progress can motivate you in ways that simply jotting down your weight can't or won't.

How do smart scales work?

Some scales use bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) technology to measure body composition. This technology uses electrical currents to gather measurements, so consult your doctor before hopping on if you are pregnant or have a pacemaker.

The number of measurements that are tracked will vary from scale to scale. Some only track a handful of metrics, like weight, fat, lean mass, and body mass index (BMI). Others, such as the RENPHO scale, track 13 different body composition metrics.

Some of these measurements might not be necessary for you to keep tabs on. If you are just casually watching your weight, for instance, you probably don’t need to track bone mass and skeletal muscle. Finding the right smart scales depends on which specific metrics you want to track, which features suit your lifestyle, goals, and medical history.

What is the perfect weight?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this, because it depends on your size and various factors, such as age, muscle-fat ratio, height, sex, and body shape.

The best way to determine whether you’re at a healthy weight is to measure your BMI. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy. A BMI over 30 is considered obese. BMI measurement is standard on smart scales.

It's important to not obsess over these numbers. Everyone has a different set of circumstances that may influence where you fall on the scale. The most important thing to remember is that you're on your own personal fitness journey, and things take time. Focus on feeling fitter and healthier, and the rest will fall into place.

Which app do you need for smart scales?

The best app will depend on which smart scale you purchase. Some will need you to download and use a specific app, while others will have universal compatibility that syncs with popular fitness apps such as Garmin Connect, Nike+, and Google Fit.mCheck this out before making any purchase, because this could mean extra costs.

What is the best smart scale?

There’s a whole world of smart scales out there – and lots of brands you’ve probably never come across. You might feel more comfortable going with a brand you know, such as Fitbit or Garmin. These are well-trusted, top-of-the-range fitness tech manufacturers and their smart scales sync with their other devices.

We've scoured the internet and tracked down some of the very best smart scales from some of top brands. There should be something for everyone and every budget in this list. All you need to do is pick a favourite and jump on.

These are the best smart scales in 2024.

Categories: IT General, Technology

'Boy Kills World' review: Awesome action, but…

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 11:00

If you buy a ticket purely to experience the action scenes of Boy Kills World, you might get your money's worth. They're spread out at irregular intervals, but they're usually a treat. One of them even features Yayan Ruhian, aka Mad Dog from The Raid, one of the defining action movies of the 21st century. This buys the film — which stars IT's Bill Skarsgård and boasts horror legend Sam Raimi as a producer — some fleeting credibility, if nothing more. Yet there's no getting around the fact that Boy Kills World can be a difficult watch.

The fights, drawn from the deep well of Southeast Asian action cinema, are generally shot and choreographed with expertise. However, getting to them requires sitting through an amateurish dystopian comedy-drama with flimsy political wallpapering. There's a stark difference between what debuting director and co-writer Moritz Mohr brings to the table and the flourishes provided by stunt coordinator and second unit director Dawid Szatarski. The result is two wildly disparate approaches being smashed together with reckless abandon.

Only one of these stylistic halves really works, and without the foundation of the other in place, Boy Kills World seldom stands on its own. The brutal, tongue-in-cheek action scenes are a roller coaster, but Mohr's beats of drama, dialogue, and even comedy repeatedly bring this ride to a jarring halt. 

'Boy Kills World' plays like a half-baked 'Hunger Games.' Famke Janssen in "Boy Kills World." Credit: Roadside Attractions

The film draws from an array of influences from Japanese anime and American YA fiction — specifically, The Hunger Games — leading to an attempted synthesis of East and West that never fully melds. The film's equivalent of Katniss Everdeen is the unnamed protagonist, "Boy" (Bill Skarsgård), a revenge-driven martial artist, trained by a mysterious shaman (Ruhian) in a forest ever since he was a child.

Boy’s single-minded mission is to take down the Van Der Koys, an ostentatiously dressed media family led by sisters Hilda (Famke Janssen) and Melanie (Michelle Dockery). Their jack-booted thugs run the nearby capital city, and frequently round up civilians for a ritualistic "culling." Such a slaughter killed Boy’s mother and sister several years ago, maiming him and leaving him unable to hear or speak. However, Boy's acerbic inner voice narrates much of the film, commenting on each development.

This internal monologue is voiced by H. Jon Benjamin (Archer, Bob's Burgers), whose timing and raspy, caricatured intonations create comedic expectations at every turn. The film certainly tries to follow suit, starting with drug-fueled training montages, and scenes of Boy arguing with the specter of his slain younger sister (the angel on his shoulder, played precociously by 10-year-old Quinn Copeland). However, as soon the plot kicks into high gear and Boy begins violently working his way up the Van Der Koy family ladder, the perspective widens to encompass a number of half-baked supporting villains who are far less entertaining.

Brothers-in-law Glen (Sharlto Copley) and Gideon Van Der Koy (Brett Gelman) bicker in the form of "jokes" that are usually expletive-laden insults with no real set-up. The more they're on screen, the flimsier the movie’s world-building becomes. The social mechanics of Boy Kills World's premise leave plenty to be desired: The only real information we have about the fascist Van Der Koys is their white ethnicity, their Dutch last name, and their use of a militarized, mostly white police force to oppress numerous non-white extras from multiple backgrounds (though plenty of white extras can be seen as well). None of this feels accidental. These echoes of real colonial power might suggest the movie is set in an alternate South Africa where apartheid never ended. (It was also filmed on location in South Africa.) But in the end, these ideas never quite come together in any meaningful way.

Mohr shows little interest in what these political images mean — let alone what it means for Boy, a white liberator, to be the only one seen standing up to the Van Der Koys for most of the runtime. This is a distinctly "turn your brain off" kind of movie, though in flipping that switch, what's left to pass through the lizard brain isn't always entertaining enough.

Boy Kills World is a completely malformed comedy-drama. Brett Gelman in "Boy Kills World." Credit: Roadside Attractions

The POV through which the story is told is a joke half-considered. Benjamin is an accomplished voice actor with impeccable comic timing, but he's given little to work with. Boy, it turns out, can read lips, and his internal monologue provides wry observations for the benefit of the audience. These serve to make Boy an amusing anchor for the story. Skarsgård’s eyes were his most terrifying tool when he played Pennywise the Clown. Here, he uses them to guide the viewer through the film's mile-a-minute jokes, including the ones that might not fully land. It's a performance composed of reaction shots, even though the character is reacting to his own sarcasm at times.

However, apart from one small gag about a character who speaks in mumbles and thus can't be understood, Boy Kills World isn't really a movie where disability is meaningfully woven into its story, nor it is one where sound (or lack thereof) plays an important part in its craft. 

Boy's lip-reading is taken for granted in practically every scene, with staging paying no attention to how he might be able to view people's lips moving. Yet he absorbs every bit of information conveyed in dialogue, and his hearing impairment plays practically no function within the plot, which makes for uninteresting drama. There are few misunderstandings in the process, and only one memorably funny gag; it involves a cheese grater, which dovetails nicely into some vicious action too. But it has little to do with the way Boy exists within the world he kills, or communicates with the people he fights.

The disconnected storytelling of Boy Kills World kills its charms.  Bill Skarsgård in "Boy Kills World." Credit: Roadside Attractions

Mundane dialogue carries too much of the film's storytelling to keep things compelling — or even clear. What the senior members of the Van Der Koy family actually do, or how they rule with an iron fist, seems known to everyone, including Boy. But left unspoken, this isn't meaningfully established in any way until it's immediately relevant to the plot. For instance, a Hunger Games-esque TV broadcast where the cruelty is the point turns out to be a central fixture of this world. However, it arrives so late and suddenly that rather than strike fear through anticipation, it feels like an afterthought. 

This approach also knee-caps any plot twists. Boy Kills World's out-of-left-field reveals aren't hard to understand, but they are built on character dynamics so flimsy that figuring out plot implications takes precedence over confronting personal betrayals. There's plenty of "what" but very little "who," "how," or "why."

That said, when the chips are down, and the movie switches from dialogue to action mode, like a video game returning from an overlong cut scene back to its game mechanics, Boy Kills World temporarily bursts to life. 

The action in Boy Kills World is worthwhile.  Yayan Ruhian in "Boy Kills World." Credit: Roadside Attractions

Along his fight up the Van Der Koy ladder, Boy befriends an enslaved factory worker, Basho, played by Warrior's Andrew Koji, an actor with plenty of on-screen action chops. Together, they engage in some pretty fun and gnarly fisticuffs, including against a prison guard who inhales some mysterious drug that turns him into a rage zombie. This drug is neither established beforehand nor does it come up ever again, but in the moment, it's delightfully silly.

The aforementioned horror-comedy-inspired scene also exemplifies the kind of gonzo action glimpsed throughout Boy Kills World. Skarsgård delivers a committed physical performance, jumping and leaping around in animalistic fashion — he's the real Monkey Man — while Szatarski stages and captures each fight with both geographical clarity and an emphasis on impact. It's a low bar that many American action movies fail to clear (Monkey Man included). Boy Kills World excels beyond this bare minimum, thanks to some loopy, psychedelic imagery that only seems to crop up during fights, as well as momentum-filled drone photography that makes each combat sequence feel truly alive.

Then again, these are strung together by dead dramatic weight, and a story that grows increasingly somber and self-serious as the film goes on, without any thematic or emotional resonance. Were Boy Kills World released as a mere supercut of its action scenes, it would be an incredibly worthwhile watch. Unfortunately, that just isn't the case. The result is a movie split down the middle, torn between the stellar action choreography of a stunt coordinator who could very well make the jump to directing (à la John Wick filmmakers David Leitch and Chad Stahelski) and a filmmaker whose debut would be dead on arrival were it not for Szatarski's skills. 

Boy Kills World opens in theaters April 26.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This $30 PowerBand has a built-in MagSafe-compatible charger

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: Through May 1, the PowerBand watch band has a built-in MagSafe-compatible charger for your Apple Watch and is on sale for just $29.97 for Mother's Day.

Mother's Day isn't about finding any old thing at the store because you waited too long to think of a gift. Giving her a gift should be about celebrating her with something that speaks to who she is or something she's into. If your mother, wife, grandmother, sister, or mother-in-law relies on her Apple Watch, this could be the gift for her. The PowerBand is on sale for just $29.97 (reg. $49) for Mother's Day when you order through May 1.

The genius of this watch band is that it has a hidden MagSafe-compatible charger built into the design. The small, flat MagSafe-compatible part is made to be ultra-thin, so it doesn't get in the way. Simply attach it to your Apple Watch magnetically when you want to charge it.

PowerBand's durable, lightweight nylon construction is adjustable. And the elasticity helps it form to your wrist comfortably.

The USB needed for your charge is built into the band itself, so you always have both pieces on the band whenever you need a charge. This is a game changer for those who live by their Apple Watches. This flexible, sturdy USB connector remains covered and protected when not being used.

This high-tech watch band is compatible with all Apple Watch series and could make a terrific gift if the special mom in your life relies on the Apple Watch for fitness, work, or communicating with the family.

This year, think outside the box and gift mom with the PowerBand watch band with a built-in MagSafe-compatible charger for $29.97, with guaranteed delivery before Mother's Day when you order by May 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: WonderCube PowerBand: Apple Watch Band with Built-In MagSafe Charger $29.97 at the Mashable Shop
$49.99 Save $20.02 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

This grade-A refurbished MacBook Air is just $300

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: Through April 30, this grade-A refurbished Apple MacBook Air is on sale for just $299.97 (reg. $599).

Whether you saved up enough to get your first computer, your old one is not working as well anymore, or you'd like an extra for the home office, you can get a reliable, powerful machine without paying a premium for the latest tech. Refurbished electronics are kind of a win-win in that you pay less, and the world gets one less computer in landfills — shout-out to Earth Day.

This refurbished MacBook Air is only from the model year 2017. It also has a grade-A refurbished rating. This means it should come in near-perfect condition, having been tested and cleaned, but could possibly have some minor (or zero) cosmetic blemishes. It's on sale for just $299.97 (reg. $599) when you order by April 30.

It runs a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, which gives you a smooth ride whether you're creating slides for your work presentation or editing photos from your last family vacation. The Intel HD Graphics 6000 and 128GB SSD allow for easy streaming and storing, while the battery is designed to last for up to 12 hours.

Get online via WiFi networks or hotspots. You can also connect to your peripherals or transfer files using Bluetooth.

True to its name, the MacBook Air boasts a thin, lightweight design at just under three pounds. Its portability makes it ideal for users who need to carry their laptop to class, work, or their local cafe. Despite its easily portable size, it features a 13.3-inch display to deliver vibrant visuals with impressive clarity.

Don't miss this quality computer from a top-of-the-line name at this limited-time 50% savings.

Get yourself or the soon-to-be graduate in your life a grade-A refurbished Apple MacBook Air while it's on sale for just $299.97 (reg. $599) until April 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 13.3" (2017) 1.8GHz i5 Core 8GB RAM 128GB - Silver (Refurbished) $299.97 at the Mashable Shop
$599.00 Save $299.03 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Get a grade-A refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny Core desktop for $180

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: Through April 30, update your home office with this grade-A refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Core desktop for $179.97.

If you're redoing your home office for spring, replacing a clunky desktop with a more compact model can free up some space. An easy way to elevate your office setup is with a small but powerful desktop like this Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Core, now available at a remarkable 49% discount when you order through April 30.

This little refurbished powerhouse blends performance, compactness, and sustainability, making it an ideal choice for professionals, students, and gamers looking for a high-quality computer without the steep price tag. It also comes with a keyboard, mouse, AC adapter, and WiFi dongle.

While some may be hesitant to buy a refurbished desktop computer, it might help to know that this has a grade-A refurbished rating. That means it is in near-mint condition, with minimal cosmetic blemishes possible on the body.

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 offers a robust computing experience with its 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-6400T processor and 16GB RAM. The 256GB SSD storage also allows you to store apps, photos, and other files locally without relying on the cloud. It also comes with Windows 10 Pro, so you can get going nearly right out of the box.

Buying a refurbished device is a smart choice, both economically and environmentally. If you're looking to maximize your home work space and don't want to bust your budget, this could be an option worth considering. 

You can pick up this grade-A refurbished Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Core desktop with mouse and keyboard for just $179.97 (reg. $349) until April 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Core i5-6500T, 16GB RAM 256GB SSD - Black (Refurbished) $179.97 at the Mashable Shop
$349.99 Save $170.02 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Get Mom this LED teeth whitening kit on sale for $37

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: Through May 1, order the Auraglow Complete LED teeth whitening kit for just $36.99 with guaranteed delivery for Mother's Day.

This Mother’s Day, gift something unique and thoughtful — the confidence that comes with having a radiant smile. The Auraglow Complete LED Teeth Whitening Kit, just $36.99 (reg. $48), offers a practical way to show your appreciation for the special women in your life.

Whether she’s your mother or wife, this non-traditional Mother's Day gift might be something she'd like to try but wouldn't splurge on for herself. The last day to order this to guarantee on-time delivery before Mother's Day is May 1, so don't wait too long.

Auraglow is said to help you whiten your teeth up to ten shades in as little as seven days, according to a clinical study. This kit uses a 35-percent carbamide peroxide dentist-grade teeth whitening gel, along with the acceleration gained from LED light, to deliver a fast change. The LED activates the gel to help remove stains and do it at a faster rate. It can even help get rid of those tougher-to-remove stains caused by coffee, wine, soda, and smoking.

It's made to be perfectly safe for those with dental work such as crowns, bridges, and caps. The people at Auraglow claim it shouldn't cause any sensitivity, pain, or irritations when used correctly. For best results, you'll need to use the treatment for thirty minutes per day. This kit includes twenty treatments. 

Made in the USA and including all your mom needs to whiten her teeth from the comfort of her own space, it's an affordable gift that you'll be glad you purchased everything you see her smile.

Don't miss the chance to get this dental-grade whitening kit while it's on sale for Mother's Day.

The Auraglow Complete LED Teeth Whitening Kit is just $36.99 (reg. $48), with guaranteed delivery before Mother's Day when you order by May 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Auraglow Auraglow Complete LED Teeth Whitening Kit $36.99 at the Mashable Shop
$48.00 Save $11.01 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Summer Movie Preview: Every film you oughta know

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 11:00

Can you feel that? Like the tremor that runs through the earth when a T-Rex tromps about, the oncoming summer is shaking us up!

Summer movie season means all kind of things: Pulse-pounding thrills! Heart-racing romance! Blood-curdling horror! Brain-melting plot twists! And summer 2024 is full of films that are sure to excite and entertain. Whether you're looking for epic action sequences (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), superhero mayhem (Deadpool & Wolverine), bombastic buddy comedy (Bad Boys: Ride or Die), tender true stories (Jim Henson Idea Man), enthralling animation (Inside Out 2), or ruthlessly scary horror (A Quiet Place: One Day), we've got you covered.

But hey, the best thing about summer can be the surprises along the way. So be sure to check out our full guide for the indie treasures and hidden gems that'll be hitting amid the could-be blockbusters.

Everything you need to know about summer movies 2024 is below: What films are coming? When? Why should you care? And where can you to watch 'em?

The Idea of You

Anne Hathaway and One Direction fan fiction make for one of this summer's most winning combinations in the rom-com The Idea of You.

Directed by Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) and based on Robinne Lee's 2017 novel (and earlier Harry Styles fan fiction), this swoon-worthy flick follows the romance between 40-year-old mother Solène (Hathaway) and 24-year-old boy band star Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine, Mary & George). Their chance meeting at Coachella swiftly spirals into something more — but can their relationship withstand heightened scrutiny and judgment from the general public? Tune in for the surreal One Direction similarities, stay for Hathaway and Galitzine's sparkling chemistry, then get way too invested in the many bops from fictional band August Moon. (Stream "Dance Before We Walk" for clear skin.) — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, Annie Mumolo, and Reid Scott

How to watch: The Idea of You premieres on Prime Video on May 2.

Turtles All the Way Down

YA fans, get pumped! Author John Green's work returns to the screen in the upcoming Turtles All the Way Down, directed by Hannah Marks.

As with many Green works, Turtles All the Way Down takes us inside the mind of a teenager navigating life's countless wonders and woes. This time around, that teenager is Aza Holmes (Isabela Merced, Madame Web), a young woman with OCD who is constantly navigating a stream of intrusive thoughts. As she and her best friend Daisy (Cree, And Just Like That…) embark on an adventure to claim a reward for a missing billionaire, she'll reconnect with her childhood crush (Felix Mallard, Ginny & Georgia), find solace in a professor's (J. Smith-Cameron, Succession) lectures on consciousness, and re-evaluate her own potential for love, friendship, and happiness. — B.E.

Starring: Isabela Merced, Cree, Felix Mallard, Judy Reyes, Maliq Johnson, J. Smith-Cameron, Poorna Jagannathan

How to watch: Turtles All the Way Down premieres on Max May 2.

The Fall Guy

Stunt man turned director David Leitch is campaigning hard for stunts to finally get their rightful due at the Academy Awards with this love letter to movie magic and madcap stunt work. Inspired by the 1980s TV show about a stunt performer who moonlighted as a bounty hunter, The Fall Guy is an action-packed romantic comedy that stars Ryan Gosling as Colt Seavers, the eponymous hero, and Emily Blunt as the movie director he's fallen for. When her directorial debut is put in jeopardy by an MIA movie star (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), it's up to Colt to hunt him down, save the day, and not get killed along the way. 

In Mashable's review out of SXSW, I wrote of this romp, "Together, Gosling and Blunt create a could-be couple that's alluring not only for their looks but also their awkwardness. Dumb jokes and fumbling flirtations shrewdly undercut what could be a glossy, unnatural rom-com to make a movie that's endearing and entertaining." — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, and Stephanie Hsu

How to watch: The Fall Guy opens in theaters May 3. 

I Saw the TV Glow

In 2021, director Jane Schoenbrun earned critical praise for their trippy thriller We're All Going to the World's Fair. Earlier this year, their follow-up, the mind-bending I Saw The TV Glow, got radiant reviews out of Sundance. In Mashable's review, Siddhant Adlakha declared the eerie thriller "a new queer and transgender classic." But what's it all about?

Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine star as a pair of misfit teens who bond over their love for a fictional TV show called The Pink Opaque. Playing as a cross between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, the YA series gives them space to connect and imagine a world beyond their depressing lives in the cage that is suburbia. But could there be more to this show than meets the eye? Find out when I Saw the TV Glow plays on the big screen. — K.P.

Starring: Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Helena Howard, Danielle Deadwyler, Lindsey Jordan, and Fred Durst

How to watch: I Saw the TV Glow opens in theaters May 3. 

Lost Soulz

Having premiered at Tribeca Film Festival last year, Lost Soulz is finally hitting cinemas. The film follows aspiring Texas rapper Sol (Sauve Sidle), who joins up with a collective of hip-hop artists touring America — a journey penned by director/writer Katherine Propper from Sidle's own experiences. Even watching the trailer, with dreamy cinematography from Donald Monroe and lo-fi SoundCloud rap running through every scene, makes you want to join this crew on the road. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Sauve Sidle, Siyanda Stillwell, Aaron "Seven" Melloul, Krystall Poppin, Alexander Brackney, Micro TDH, Malachi Mabson, Tauran Ambroise

How to watch: Lost Soulz is in cinemas May 3.

Evil Does Not Exist

Drive My Car director Ryusuke Hamaguchi's latest film was a critical standout and Grand Jury Prize of last year's Venice International Film Festival, the tale of a man trying to protect his alpine home outside Tokyo from thoughtless development. Reviewing for Mashable, Lex Briscuso wrote, "Evil Does Not Exist is a sobering folk tale of the power of the natural order — and what humans must do to heed it, lest we pay the price. Hamaguchi is undoubtedly back with a strong, well-earned precision in this work, unafraid to show us what we stand to lose." 

In Evil Does Not Exist, Takumi (Hitoshi Omika) finds his village life with his daughter, Hana (Ryo Nishikawa), disrupted by the arrival of a glamping company, which has little time to care about the environmental impact it will have on the community and the surrounding ecosystem. — S.C.

Starring: Hitoshi Omika, Ryo Nishikawa, Ryuji Kosaka, Ayaka Shibutani, Hazuki Kikuchi, and Hiroyuki Miura

How to watch: Evil Does Not Exist opens May 3.

Prom Dates

Best friends making pacts about prom is a bit of a trope, but Kim O. Nguyen’s film promises to breathe new life into it. Prom Dates sees the Never Have I Ever/Survival of the Thickest director bringing best friends Jess (Ginny & Georgia's Antonia Gentry) and Hannah (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' Julia Lester) up to the day before their finale high school hurrah, when they both break up with their dates. Is prom ruined, or will they figure out it's not the worst thing in the world? — S.C.

Starring: Julia Lester, Antonia Gentry, Kenny Ridwan, JT Neal, Jordan Buhat, Zión Moreno, Terry Hu, John Michael Higgins, Chelsea Handler

How to watch: Prom Dates premieres on Hulu May 3.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

If Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire whetted your appetite for ape action, you'll want to mark your calendar for the fourth installment of the rebooted Planet of the Apes franchise. Set generations after 2017's War for the Planet of the Apes, this sequel sets up after the age of Caesar to a time of feral decline. Here, a young chimpanzee named Noa (Owen Teague) calls into question the ways of this planet. With a human sidekick known as Mae (Freya Allan), this brave hero will go on a journey that changes the future of ape and mankind forever.

The Maze Runner trilogy director Wes Ball takes the helm, promising rousing action and serious drama.*K.P.

Starring: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy

How to watch: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes opens May 10.

Poolman

Not every movie on this list will be a winner, but sometimes you've gotta see for yourself what the fuss is all about.. The directorial debut of Chris Pine, Poolman failed to make a splash out of its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall. The noir-comedy about a pool cleaner who stumbles onto a conspiracy in Los Angeles earned only a wave of bad buzz. 

From Mashable's review: "That the plot barely makes sense might’ve been forgivable if Pine could elicit from his performers the kind of exhilarating energy and distinctive wackiness we’ve seen in the works of the Coens and Anderson. Instead, his cast, while charismatic, dances between a blurry line of broad comedy and nuanced parody that can't find its footing. Theirs is a world vaguely interesting but never sharply realized. And as such, we, the audience, are always treated as outsiders." — K.P.

Starring: Chris Pine, Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, DeWanda Wise, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Jennifer Jason Leigh 

How to watch: Poolman opens in theaters May 10.

Gasoline Rainbow

A coming-of-age road trip movie drenched in youth, promise, and freedom, Gasoline Rainbow created quite a buzz out of its premieres at Venice International Film Festival and SXSW last year. It's from the directorial duo behind the lauded documentary Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets, the Ross Brothers, who wrote the screenplay, handled cinematography, and edited the film, too. Having finished school and with their whole lives ahead of them, five Oregon teens hit the road in a van to drive along the Pacific Coast, chatting shit the whole way through the vacillating landscapes of America's West. — S.C.

Starring: Tony Aburto, Micah Bunch, Nichole Dukes, Nathaly Garcia, and Makai Garza.

How to watch: Gasoline Rainbow opens in cinemas May 10.

Babes

Pamela Adlon (Better Things) makes her feature directorial debut with Babes, a comedy about female friendship fronted by Survival of the Thickest's Michelle Buteau. Broad City's Ilana Glazer co-stars and co-wrote the script with Josh Rabinowitz. Playing besties since childhood, these fiercely funny queens of comedy explore some complicated and comical issues of being a grown-up in New York City. This includes everything from the (literal) shit show of homeownership to the excruciating awkwardness of small chat with your gynecologist, not to mention the whole wild ride of pregnancy and parenting toddlers. And it does all this with the outlandish humor we've come to expect from all three of these badass babes.

In our review out of SXSW, I cheered, "Babes is a comedy that is unabashedly outrageous and rambunctiously heartfelt. While you may howl with laughter and gasp at a gross-out gag, you'll also walk away with a big smile — and maybe a bit more appreciation for your own quirks." — K.P.

Starring: Ilana Glazer, Michelle Buteau, Hasan Minhaj, Stephan James, and Oliver Platt

How to watch: Babes opens in theaters May 17.

Back to Black

Amy Winehouse's songs "Back to Black," "You Know I'm No Good," and "Rehab" demanded the world sing along, but do you know of the real-life pain behind them? Director Sam Taylor-Johnson reunited with screenwriter Matt Greenhalgh, who penned the script for her John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy, for this take on the Camden icon. Industry's Marisa Abela stars as the beehived Brit who rocketed to fame with jazzy, endlessly catchy songs and an unforgettable style before dying tragically young in 2011.

Back to Black offers a look at the behind-the-scenes drama in Amy's life as she goes from struggling chanteuse to global sensation caught in a tumultuous relationship. This biopic is made with the support of The Amy Winehouse Estate and Sony Music Publishing.*K.P.

Starring: Marisa Abela, Jack O'Connell, Eddie Marsan, and Lesley Manville

How to watch: Back to Black opens in theaters May 17.

IF

Having handed off the reigns to A Quiet Place, writer/director John Krasinski has turned his sights to monsters who are less menacing and more whimsical. Krasinski offers a family-friendly adventure about a little girl (Cailey Fleming) who discovers she can see everyone's imaginary friends (IFs for short). See, when we grow up, we can't see our Imaginary Friends any more. But far from the horror scenario of Imaginary, IF offers a story of reclamation, as this little girl could help these lost friends find new buddies. 

Steve Carell, Krasinski's co-star from The Office, is just part of a star-stuffed ensemble lending their voices to a variety of wacky imaginary besties, while Ryan Reynolds plays the IFs' (imaginary friends) ally. — K.P.

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Cailey Fleming, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Maya Rudolph, Jon Stewart, Sam Rockwell, Sebastian Maniscalco, Christopher Meloni, Richard Jenkins, Awkwafina, and Steve Carell

How to watch: IF hits theaters May 17.

The Strangers: Chapter 1

They're baaaaaack. The three masked killers who first terrorized Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman in 2008's The Strangers have gotten a remake for the kickoff to a new trilogy. Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez star as a road-tripping couple who hope a rustic cabin will be a great setting for romance. Instead, a home invasion with some very familiar elements turns their night-in into a nightmare.

Renny Harlin, who directed such '90s action romps as Cliffhanger, Cutthroat Island, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and the shark-infested Deep Blue Sea, is set to helm all three chapters of this horror relaunch. So, expect some expanded lore from what little we know about the titular intruders. — K.P.

Starring: Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Gabriel Basso, Rachel Shenton, Ella Bruccoleri, Ema Horvath, and Richard Brake

How to watch: The Strangers: Chapter 1 hits theaters May 17.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Thanks to the rip-roaring success of 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road, breakout badass Furiosa is getting her very own spinoff prequel. Fury Road director George Miller is back in the fray for what's sure to be a summer blockbuster, and he's brought along Anya Taylor-Joy to slap on the greasepaint for the starring role. Chris Hemsworth is also on board as the warlord Dementus, bearded and nearly unrecognizable. This saga focuses on Furiosa's early life, after she's kidnapped from the Green Place of Many Mothers but before the events in Fury Road.

It's hard to imagine how Miller might top his last Mad Max epic. But from the trailer, it looks like Furiosa will have action fans feeling very shiny and chrome, indeed.*K.P.

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Alyla Browne, and Tom Burke

How to watch: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga opens in theaters only nationwide on May 24.

The Garfield Movie

Our favorite feline from the Sunday funnies is returning to the big screen with a new computer-animated adventure from Mark Dindal, of Chicken Little and The Emperor's New Groove acclaim. Chris Pratt makes the leap from The LEGO Movie and The Super Mario. Bros Movie to The Garfield Movie, continuing his tireless campaign at voice-acting domination.

Pratt voices the titular cat as he goes on a wild outdoor adventure with his long-lost dad, Vic (Samuel L. Jackson), a street cat who is even bigger and stripier than our lasagna-loving hero. We also learn about his origin story, which involves a fiasco at an Italian restaurant. Along with riling his owner Jon (Nicholas Hoult) and pestering poor pup Odie (Harvey Guillén), Garfield sets forth on an adventure with Vic that gets him way outside of his comfort zone. We assume hijinks ensue. — K.P.

Starring: Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Brett Goldstein, and Bowen Yang

How to watch: The Garfield Movie opens May 24.

Hit Man

If you loved watching Glen Powell deploy his rom-com chops in Anyone But You (or in 2018's delightful Set It Up), brace yourselves for the charm bomb that is his performance in Hit Man.

Powell co-wrote Hit Man with director Richard Linklater (Before Sunrise, Boyhood) in their fourth collaboration. He also stars as Gary Johnson: mild-mannered psychology teacher by day, fake assassin-for-hire by night. Gary takes on these fake hit man personas for sting operations, but when he finds himself catching feelings for Madison (Adria Arjona, Andor), a woman who wants him to kill her husband, he'll have to work overtime to keep his many secret identities in check. What follows is, as Siddhant Adlakha wrote in his Mashable review, "nothing short of a perfect crowd-pleaser." — B.E.

Starring: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta, Sanjay Reo, Molly Bernard, and Evan Holtzman

How to watch: Hit Man opens in theaters May 24 and hits Netflix on June 7.

The Dead Don't Hurt

Viggo Mortensen clearly loves Deadwood, because when it came time to cast his Western, The Dead Don't Hurt, he peopled the ensemble cast with the show's stars, including Garret Dillahunt, W. Earl Brown, and Ray McKinnon. However, this Wild West set tale of romance and revenge doesn't play like the HBO epic. Mortensen, who also wrote the script, headlines as Danish carpenter Holger Olsen, who finds love with Vivienne Le Coudy, a spirited French immigrant who makes her life on the American plains in the 1860s. But harsh terrain and the lure of war aren't the couple's biggest trouble. That would be a spoiled gunslinger with an eye for Vivienne. 

Following its festival run, The Dead Don't Hurt will come to theaters to offer a character-driven Western that's moving — but not best suited to a date night. — K.P. 

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Vicky Krieps, Garret Dillahunt, W. Earl Brown, Ray McKinnon, Solly McLeod, and Danny Huston

How to watch: The Dead Don't Hurt opens in theaters May 31.

Flipside

On its surface, Flipside is about a record store, once important but now quietly dying in relevance and solvency. But on the flipside, this daring documentary is about that jarring time in middle-age when you look back at your life and wonder what happened to you — and those youthful ambitions. 

Documentarian Christopher Wilcha takes a personal approach to art and getting older — or maybe the art of getting older. Tying together a bunch of his abandoned past projects and interviews with luminaries like comedy master Judd Apatow, Deadwood creator David Milch, and fan favorite podcaster Starlee Kine, Wilcha offers a story that is surprising, funny, and thought-provoking. As I wrote in my review out of TIFF, which is quoted in the above trailer, “It's beautiful and inspiring, and it might just spur you into some mind-fucking self-reflection." — K.P. 

Starring: Judd Apatow, David Milch, Starlee Kine, Christopher Wilcha, Ira Glass, Herman Leonard, and Uncle Floyd

How to watch: Flipside opens in theaters May 31.

Jim Henson Idea Man

Who was the man behind the Muppets? Director Ron Howard explores the genius and humanity of Jim Henson in this documentary, which will feature interviews with some of the puppeteer's closest friends and family. Looking back on a legacy that includes The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, and much, much more, Jim Henson Idea Man will undoubtedly be a must-see for every Muppet lover. — K.P.

Starring: Jim Henson

How to watch: Jim Henson Idea Man debuts on Disney+ on May 31.

Robot Dreams

Pablo Berger's animated film Robot Dreams promises a heartfelt ride through the power of loneliness and the giddy highs of a new friendship. Even if it's a DIY one. Based on Sara Varon's graphic novel, the dialogue-free film follows Dog, a New Yorker who decides to order a buddy to build — that's Robot. Set in '80s Manhattan, the film weaves the tale of inseparable bond between canine and robot over the summer of a lifetime, through Central Park, the subway, and those unmistakeable streets. — S.C.

Starring: Ivan Labanda, Albert Trifol Segarra, and Rafa Calvo

How to watch: Robot Dreams hits cinemas May 31.

Backspot 

Bring It On, but raise the stakes. The intense world of professional cheerleading lies at the heart of Backspot, the new sports drama from debut director D.W. Waterson, who co-wrote the film with Joanne Sarazen. Reservation Dogs' Devery Jacobs plays Riley, a talented cheerleader who is picked for the all-star squad known as the Thunderhawks along with her girlfriend. Leading the squad is formidable coach Eileen McNamara (Evan Rachel Wood), whose need for perfection clashes with Riley's anxiety. — S.C.

Starring: Devery Jacobs, Evan Rachel Wood, Noa DiBerto, Kudakwashe Rutendo, Thomas Antony Olajide, Oluniké Adeliyi, Wendy Crewson, Shannyn Sossamon, Adrianna Di Liello, and Marlee Sansom.

How to watch: Backspot opens in cinemas May 31.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence first thrilled audiences with their buddy cop action-comedy Bad Boys way back in 1995. This hit and its sequel Bad Boys II were helmed by Michael Bay, and brought with them the action auteur's signature explosive style. In 2020, however, Bay handed over directing duties for Bad Boys for Life to emerging directing duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. They turned in a threequel that made over $426.5 million at the box office.

Often billed as Adil & Bilall, the pair were set for a super-powered follow-up with a Batgirl movie. But Warner Bros./Max infamously canceled the movie despite it being in post-production, leaving its final cut never to be seen. Bad Boys: Ride or Die is Adil & Bilall's return to theaters, and a backhanded chance to prove to Warner Bros. just what they're missing out on. This go-round, Miami PD detectives Mike and Marcus are out to clear the name of their trusted captain (Joe Pantoliano) when he's posthumously accused of corruption. Naturally, there will be much action and punchlines, hitting hard and hilariously. — K.P.

Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Joe Pantoliano, Tiffany Haddish, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, and Eric Dane

How to watch: Bad Boys: Ride or Die opens in theater June 7.

Cora Bora

One of our faves out of SXSW 2023, Cora Bora stars Hacks scene-stealer Megan Stalter as an aspiring musician whose long-distance relationship is fizzling out. To revive it, she goes back to her hometown to reconnect with her girlfriend (Jojo T. Gibbs). But once there, she must confront some stressful complications, including a new girl in her partner's life.

In our review out of SXSW, I wrote, "On this quest of self-love and reclamation, Cora will fumble into group sex, accidental dognapping, and wonky flirtations with a suspiciously kind while hot stranger (The Good Place's Manny Jacinto). The circumstances are absurd yet familiar, because we all have that friend who can turn a simple errand into major drama. (If you don’t have that friend, I regret to inform you that you may be that friend!) Whatever her wobbles, the film roots for her, even as we may cringe at her catastrophic social interactions." — K.P.

Starring: Megan Stalter, Thomas Mann, Chelsea Peretti, Manny Jacinto, Margaret Cho, and Jojo T. Gibbs

How to watch: Cora Bora opens in theater June 14.

Inside Out 2

In the 2015 hit Inside Out, much Joy and Sadness was explored inside the head of a young girl named Riley who was trying to cope with moving across the country — and the terrible pizza she finds there. Now, the feelings crew is back as Riley hits puberty, and so comes a new array of emotions!

The first teaser introduced Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke (Stranger Things). Then the second trailer (seen above) revealed Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment. As Riley attends a hockey camp and confronts some tough decisions about friends, the old emotions and the new get into a power struggle. And as you might predict, that conflict expresses itself through some emotional meltdowns on Riley's part.

It's OK, girl. We've all been there! And good luck, Riley. As Turning Red showed with its Red Panda plotline, growing up can be a wild ride. — K.P.

Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Paul Walter Hauser, and June Squibb

How to watch: Inside Out 2 opens in theaters June 14.

The Watchers

Summer 2024 means family fun — specifically Shyamalan family fun. The Watchers is not only the latest film produced by mind-bending moviemaker M. Night Shyamalan, it's also directed by his daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan, who wrote the screenplay, adapted from the A.M. Shine novel. So, we're expecting this horror thriller to get twisted. 

Dakota Fanning stars as Mina, a young woman whose life is derailed when she is stranded in a forest in Ireland. There, she is taken in by a band of humans who live to perform for unseen creatures, the watchers. What they are — even what they look like — is unknown by their captive players. But if Mina wants to escape, she'll need to disrupt this gnarly nightly ritual of voyeurism and torment. — K.P. 

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Oliver Finnegan, and Olwen Fouéré

How to watch: The Watchers opens in theaters June 14.

The Bikeriders

If Dune: Part 2 has you yearning for more Austin Butler as a badass fighter, you won't want to miss The Bikeriders. For his latest, writer/director Jeff Nichols — who has delivered such riveting character-focused dramas as Take Shelter, Mud, and Midnight Special — found inspiration in the Danny Lyon photo book The Bikeriders, which captured portraits of a 1960s Chicago-based motorcycle gang.

In the film, Butler stars as a biker named Benny who runs with a gang led by the surly Johnny (Tom Hardy). As teased in the trailer, much of the story's insights come from Benny's best girl, Kathy, played by Killing Eve's Jodie Comer, conquering another tricky accent with aplomb. Together, this ensemble ignites onscreen, bringing to life a time of machismo, rebellion, and fatally impulsive decisions. — K.P.

Starring: Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Norman Reedus, Tom Hardy, Mike Faist, and Michael Shannon

How to watch: The Bikeriders opens in theaters June 21.

Fancy Dance Isabel Deroy-Olson and Lily Gladstone star in “Fancy Dance.” Credit: Apple TV+

Following an Oscar-nominated turn in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, Lily Gladstone stars in Fancy Dance, the directorial debut of Native American filmmaker Erica Tremblay. 

The drama, set on the Seneca–Cayuga Nation Reservation, follows Jax (Gladstone), a woman desperately trying to hold her family together once her sister goes missing. While helping her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) prepare for an upcoming powwow, Jax also seeks to discover what happened to the girl's missing mom. And when Roki's dad (Shea Whigham) threatens to take custody of her, auntie and niece hit the road in search of their missing family member. With rave reviews out of film festivals, Fancy Dance seems sure to be treasured this summer. — K.P. 

Starring: Lily Gladstone, Isabel Deroy-Olson, and Shea Whigham

How to watch: Fancy Dance opens in theaters June 21; premieres on Apple TV+ June 28.

Janet Planet

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker makes her directorial debut with Janet Planet, a remarkable mother-daughter story.

In the summer of 1991, 11-year-old Lacy (newcomer Zoe Ziegler) observes her mother Janet (Julianne Nicholson, Mare of Easttown) as she connects with boyfriends and old friends. This simple slice of life set-up allows Baker to explore the layers of Lacy and Janet's very close relationship, one that can seem sweet one moment, cloying the next. Boasting Baker's trademark silences and standout performances from Nicholson and Ziegler, Janet Planet's quiet thoughtfulness makes for a nice bit of counterprogramming to summer blockbuster fare. — B.E.

Starring: Julianne Nicholson, Zoe Ziegler, Elias Koteas, Will Patton, and Sophie Okonedo

How to watch: Janet Planet hits theaters June 21.

Kinds of Kindness

Hot off their much acclaimed and Oscar-winning collaboration on Poor Things, director Yorgos Lanthimos and Academy Award-winning actress Emma Stone have reteamed for Kinds of Kindness. Honestly, that alone is enough for the Mashable team to be stoked about this one. The cast list (seen below) is just gravy.

But if you want some sense of a plot, here's the official log line:

Kinds of Kindness is a triptych fable, following a man without choice who tries to take control of his own life; a policeman who is alarmed that his wife who was missing-at-sea has returned and seems a different person; and a woman determined to find a specific someone with a special ability, who is destined to become a prodigious spiritual leader.

— K.P.

Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Joe Alwyn, Mamoudou Athie, and Hunter Schafer

How to watch: Kinds of Kindness opens in theaters June 21.

Thelma

Imagine if Mission: Impossible were about a nonagenarian retiree determined to get her stolen money back from a batch of scammers in Los Angeles. The delightful and daffy result is Thelma, in which June Squibb and the late Richard Roundtree dodge concerned family members and aid workers to pursue their destiny! 

In Mashable's review out of Sundance, I wrote, "Following in the footsteps of action-comedies like the sports spoof Shaolin Soccer and the student heist flick Bad Genius, Thelma treats its low stakes with a tongue-in-cheek intensity. Action sequences — like a mobility scooter chase around a retirement home — are less nerve-rattling and more rib-tickling. Remarkably, the joke is never on the old folks at the movie's heart." — K.P.

Starring: June Squibb, Richard Roundtree, Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, and Clark Gregg

How to watch: Thelma opens in theaters June 21.

The Devil's Bath

Austrian filmmaking team Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala first knocked horror fans out with their unforgettably chilling tale of twin terror, 2014's Goodnight Mommy. (Not to be confused with its underwhelming English-language remake!) Afterward, they delved into anthology horror with a vignette in The Field Guide to Evil, then delivered icy frights with The Lodge. Now, well, they have us hooked by the title alone: The Devil's Bath

SEE ALSO: Comparing ‘Goodnight Mommy’: remake vs. original

But hey, if you need a plot to get pumped, here goes: A young bride is initially pleased to wed her beloved. But when the reality of the duties of being a rural wife sink in, she feels trapped. Could an act of horrid violence be her only way out? — K.P. 

Starring: Anja Plaschg, Maria Hofstätter, David Scheid, and Natalija Baranova

How to watch: The Devil's Bath hits Shudder June 28.

A Quiet Place: Day One

After the success of A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II, the frightening franchise is expanding with this prequel. While director/star of the first two, John Krasinski, has a "story by" writing credit, Day One centers around new characters and has a new writer/director in Michael Sarnoski, who brought us the tense and unique culinary thriller Pig in 2021. 

Bringing together stars from Stranger Things, Hereditary, and Us, this prequel is set in New York City, where the noise-chasing creatures arrival brings absolute havoc. How can anyone survive in this city that never sleeps? We'll find out this summer. — K.P.

Starring: Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou, and Lupita Nyong'o

How to watch: A Quiet Place: Day One opens in theaters June 28.

Gassed Up

The Hard Stop director George Amponsah teams up with writers Archie Maddocks and Taz Skylar for Gassed Up, a London-set crime drama about a group of teens who find themselves turning to robbery. The film hinges on Ash (Boiling Point's Stephen Odubola), who finds his way into a gang run by Dubz (Skylar). It's a means to provide for his younger sister Jas (Rawdat Quadri) as his mother struggles with addiction. But things quickly get more hectic than they began — first stealing smartphones on mopeds but quickly moving up to bigger things. — S.C.

Starring: Stephen Odubola, Taz Skylar, Craige Middleburg, Rawdat Quadri, Mohammed Mansaray, and Tobias Jowett

How to watch: Gassed Up opens in cinemas and VOD June 28.

Horizon: An American Saga

Fresh from the immensely popular Yellowstone series, Kevin Costner's back in the director's chair. Following 2003's Open Range and 1990's Dances with Wolves, Costner's about to launch a two-part Western epic, Horizon: An American Saga. Co-written with Jon Baird, the films are set during a 15-year period that includes pre-and post-Civil War expansion and the settlement of the American West. Notably, this includes the war's impact on Indigenous nations, communities, and families. — S.C.

Starring: Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Owen Crow Shoe, Tatanka Means, Ella Hunt, Tim Guinee, Danny Huston, Colin Cunningham, Scott Haze, Tom Payne, Abbey Lee, Michael Rooker, Will Patton, Georgia MacPhail, Douglas Smith, Luke Wilson, and Isabelle Fuhrman

How to watch: Horizon: An American Saga will be released as two films, the first of which is in cinemas June 28, the second out Aug. 16.

Despicable Me 4

You can't stop the Minions or their extended family. Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage have been part of this franchise in one way or another since the beginning, and now they're co-directors on this fourth installment.

Despicable Me 4 brings the audience back into Gru's house, where he (Steve Carell), his partner Lucy (Kristen Wiig), his adopted daughters Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), and Agnes (Madison Skyy Polan), and their lovable Minions are joined by a bouncing baby boy named Gru Jr. But their idyllic life is thrown into chaos when an old enemy resurfaces. Naturally, this will lead to a heist and much hijinks, as well as the age-old battle of baby versus badger. — K.P.

Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Madison Skyy Polan, Will Ferrell, Sofia Vergara, and Steve Coogan

How to watch: Despicable Me 4 opens in theaters July 3.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Eddie Murphy's Axel Foley returns for the fourth film in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, paired with new partner Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). With Axel's daughter in trouble in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, the detective calls on some old friends — Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton) — for assistance. Directed by Mark Molloy, the film was written by Zack Snyder's Justice League/Aquaman scribe Will Beall with Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten, who wrote The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (which Gormican directed). — S.C.

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, and Kevin Bacon.

How to watch: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F hits Netflix July 3.

MaXXXine

First Ti West and Mia Goth brought us the sexed-up slasher X. Then came their campy prequel, Pearl. Now, the final entry in the X trilogy is going to make summer hotter than ever.

Goth reprises her role as the first movie's sole survivor, Maxine Minx. This time, far away from the blood-soaked Texas farm, this porn starlet is chasing her dreams of fame in Los Angeles. But with the notorious serial killer known as the Night Stalker on the prowl, her brush with brutality is far from over. What fresh hell does West have in store? We can't wait to find out. — K.P.

Starring: Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Collins, Halsey, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon

How to watch: MaXXXine opens in theaters July 5.

Fly Me to the Moon

Talk about star power! Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum reteam up for Fly Me to the Moon, a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race. Directed by Greg Berlanti (Love, Simon), this movie boasts a stellar premise. He's the hard-nosed director of NASA, prepping for the much anticipated launch of Apollo 11. She's a sassy marketing specialist, looking to give the government agency a glow-up — which includes plotting a fake moon landing in case the launch goes sideways. 

With a wonderfully wacky premise, A-list movie stars, and plenty of '60s flare and fashion, Fly Me to the Moon seems to harken back to the winsome rom-coms of Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Rock Hudson, and Doris Day. Tatum and Johansson have shown their appreciation for classic Hollywood before in the Coen Bros comedy Hail, Caesar! So, we're confident this romantic reunion will be out of this world. — K.P. 

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Nick Dillenburg, Anna Garcia, Jim Rash, Noah Robbins, Colin Woodell, Christian Zuber, Donald Elise Watkins, Ray Romano, and Woody Harrelson

How to watch: Fly Me to the Moon opens in theaters July 12.

Longlegs

Director Osgood Perkins has brought horror fans such wicked treats as The Blackcoat's Daughter, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, and Gretel & Hansel. Next up, he offers Longlegs, a cryptic tale of a serial killer. 

It Follows star Maika Monroe headlines as FBI agent Lee Harker, investigating an unsolved homicide case in 1974. Is the occult involved? Does her past give her a clue to the undiscovered killer? And what role does Nicolas Cage play in all this? We can't wait to find out! — K.P. 

Starring: Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Alicia Witt, and Blair Underwood

How to watch: Longlegs opens in theaters July 12.

National Anthem Charlie Plummer and Eve Lindley fall in love in "National Anthem." Credit: TIFF

Directed and co-written by Luke Gilford, National Anthem is a tale of queerness in a rural setting. Drawing from his own experiences, Gilford spins a story of a young cowpoke (Charlie Plummer) who is working tirelessly to support his little brother and single mom. But when he comes across a ranch where a chosen family of LGBTQ+ folk aren't just surviving, they're thriving, his eyes are opened to a life-changing romance with a beguiling cowgirl named Sky (Bros' Eve Lindley).

In Mashable's review out of TIFF, I wrote, "Grounded by vulnerable yet effervescent performances, National Anthem is a celebration of rural queerness. It's not a rallying cry, but instead a firm declaration of existence and the pursuit of happiness. Wrapped in the sunny hues of the New Mexican desert and floating on the charisma of a sexy and vulnerable ensemble, this drama charts its own path with clear eyes and queer hearts." — K.P.

Starring: Charlie Plummer, Eve Lindley, Mason Alexander Park, Rene Rosado, and Robyn Lively

How to watch: National Anthem opens in theaters July 12. 

Sing Sing

Hot off his Oscar-nomination for Rustin, Colman Domingo returns with Sing Sing, a moving drama based on a true story of men who are incarcerated and found a new lease on life through an in-prison theater program. Director Greg Kwedar explores identity and the healing power of creation with a cast led by Domingo and people who were formerly incarcerated. 

Out of film festivals, Sing Sing has been gathering rave reviews. Siddhant Adlakha wrote for Mashable out of SXSW that the film had a boldly documentary feel and a humane approach, concluding, "Kwedar, through his gentle visual approach, affords each imprisoned character (and formerly imprisoned actor) the room — and just as importantly, the time — to tell their own stories, in ways that cinema seldom does. The result is a heartrending, visually enrapturing balm for the soul." — K.P. 

Starring: Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Sean San José, and Paul Raci

How to watch: Sing Sing opens in select theaters July 12, with a nationwide debut to follow.

Touch

Icelandic filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur has got serious range. Not only does he helm gripping action movies like the heist hit Contraband and the buddy action-comedy 2 Guns, but also he's brought to the big screen the stranger-than-fiction true story of survival that was Adrift. So, following the Idris Elba-fronted man-versus-lion thriller Beast, it's hard to guess what he might have coming next. But would you have wagered a tender tale of romance and regret?

Based on Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson’s best-selling novel of the same name, Touch centers on Kristofer, an Icelandic man who once found love with a Japanese woman named Miko in 1960s London. Decades later, he looks to reconnect with this lost love, setting forth on a new adventure while reflecting on his past. As some in the trailer asks bluntly: What if he can’t find her? Oh. But what if he can?! — K.P.

Starring: Egill Ólafsson, Kōki, Pálmi Kormákur, Masahiro Motoki, Yoko Narahashi, Meg Kubota, Tatsuya Tagawa, Charles Nishikawa, Sigurður Ingvarsson, Benedikt Erlingsson, Kieran Buckeridge, Ruth Sheen, María Ellingsen, and Masatoshi Nakamura

How to watch: Touch opens in theaters July 12.

Twisters

Back in 1996, audiences went wild for the cow-flinging disaster movie Twister. Now, 28 years later, Warner Bros. is stirring up a franchise with this standalone sequel helmed by Lee Isaac Chung, who won critical praise and an Oscar nod for his semi-autobiographical family drama Minari.

As a powerful tornado threatens to touch down, a squad of storm chasers ready for action. The first trailer teases a look at the weather-centered drama, a windstorm romance, and a star-studded cast led by Normal People's Daisy Edgar-Jones and Hit Man's Glen Powell. But that's not all. As the title teases, this isn't just one twister. As one excitable adventurer cries in the above trailer, "We've got twins! TWINS!" — K.P.

Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Katy O'Brian, Anthony Ramos, Maura Tierney, Brandon Perea, Daryl McCormack, Sasha Lane, Kiernan Shipka, and Nik Dodani

How to watch: Twisters opens in theaters July 19.

Deadpool & Wolverine

Who would have ever thunk watching the detested X-Men Origins: Wolverine that Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds would once more reprise these roles together? After a pair of successful R-rated Deadpool movies, Marvel is risking this gambit for a team-up that's sure to be absolutely outrageous.

SEE ALSO: 'Deadpool & Wolverine' Super Bowl trailer promises to save the MCU

The teaser for this new adventure shows Wade surrounded by loved ones (and familiar faces) when trouble comes literally knocking at his door. Now officially a Disney character, Deadpool has come to be — uh — "Marvel Jesus" and save us from superhero fatigue. How does that connect to Wolverine? Hard to say at this point! But Reynolds has been having a blast online sharing cheeky "leaked" photos from set. Sure, they're fake, but they suggest that the irreverent fun of previous Deadpool movies is going strong in this one too. — K.P.

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Morena Baccarin, Brianna Hildebrand, Karan Soni, Emma Corrin, and Jennifer Garner

How to watch: Deadpool & Wolverine opens in theaters July 26.

Kneecap Credit: Obscured Pictures

Winner of the NEXT audience award out of Sundance 2024, Kneecap is a raucous comedy that unfurls the stranger-than-fiction origins of the Irish hip-hop band for which it's named. 

Big picture: the Belfast band Kneecap was coming up as the debate around their mother tongue was becoming a hot topic. Their rap lyrics, which integrated English and Irish with a flurry of curse words and references to sex and hard drugs, became an unexpected point of pride for the "ceasefire babies." But don't let the political element of this movie fool you. In his directorial debut, writer/helmer Richard Peppiatt brings early Guy Ritchie energy (think Lock, Stock, and Two Smokin' Barrels) to his high-energy romp. Even more compelling, band members Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí play themselves in the film, and do a bang-up job — even when appearing opposite a sneering Michael Fassbender as a tough-as-nails dad. Trust us: this one rocks.* — K.P. 

Starring: Naoise Ó Cairealláin ("Móglaí Bap"), Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh ("Mo Chara"), JJ Ó Dochartaigh ("DJ Provaí"), Josie Walker, Fionnuala Flaherty, Jessica Reynolds, Adam Best, Simone Kirby, and Michael Fassbender

How to watch: Kneecap opens in theaters Aug. 2.

Borderlands

For those who love the action role-playing video game, which has gained fans for its addictive loot-and-shoot missions, the Borderlands movie promises to be a giddy celebration of violence and spectacle. For those who are new to this world of alien monsters, eccentric bandits, and unchecked mayhem, it seems the stuff of a Hollywood Mad Libs.

Two-time Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett teams up with 13-time Teen Choice Award nominee Jack Black and gory horror director Eli Roth for this riotous video game adaptation. In the film, Blanchett stars as a flame-haired bounty hunter named Lilith whose latest gig is finding the daughter of an infamous outlaw. Unfortunately, this requires her to return to Pandora, "the most chaotic planet in the galaxy." Jack Black voices Claptrap, an absurd robot sidekick from the game. And it just gets weirder from there.

With a trailer full of color, attitude, and Guardians of the Galaxy vibes, Borderlands is looking to deliver a bombastic popcorn movie this summer. — K.P.

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Olivier Richters, Jack Black, Jamie Lee Curtis, Gina Gershon, Ariana Greenblatt, Edgar Ramirez, Bobby Lee, and Cheyenne Jackson

How to watch: Borderlands opens in theaters Aug. 9

Cuckoo

Body horror, an isolated mountain resort, and Euphoria's Hunter Schafer in full scream queen mode? Say no more, Cuckoo. I'm hooked.

Director Tilman Singer's upcoming horror film stars Schafer as Gretchen, a moody teenager on a family trip to a mysterious resort in the German Alps. The strange owner (Dan Stevens, Abigail) hooks her up with a receptionist job to pass the time, but it's not long before strange things begin to go bump in the night. Chilling screeches erupt from the nearby forest, and a red-eyed woman chases Gretchen — what sinister secrets could this resort be hiding? — B.E.

Starring: Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens, and Jessica Henwick

How to watch: Cuckoo opens in theaters Aug. 9.

Trap

M. Night Shyamalan, who brought us such dark thrills as The Sixth Sense, Signs, and Knock at the Cabin, returns with Trap. And he's bringing terror to a frenzied space. With Beyoncé's Renaissance tour and Taylor Swift's Eras tour, parents around the world scrounged up big bucks to treat their daughters to a show-stopping concert they'd never forget.

This is what one devoted dad (Josh Hartnett) is looking to do when he brings his rosy-cheeked daughter (Ariel Donoghue) to see her fave performer, Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan — M. Night's real-life daughter!). But something sketchy is going on behind-the-scenes as security is out in force and police seem to be congregating. Turns out, the cops got a tip that the on-the-loose serial killer "The Butcher" is at this concert, and they've set a trap to catch him. Where some filmmakers might center on a panicked dad looking to keep his kid safe from a known murderer, the trailer for Trap suggests this dear ol' dad is that killer. But with Shyamalan pulling writing and directing duties, we're assuming there's more than meets the eye here. — K.P. 

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, and Hayley Mills

How to watch: Trap opens in theaters Aug. 9.

Alien: Romulus

It's a face-hugging, chest-bursting kind of summer, because we're getting a new film in the Alien franchise.

Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede Álvarez (Don't Breathe), promises another tale of spacefarers versus Xenomorphs. This time, we're tagging along with a group of young space colonizers as they undertake a scavenging mission on an abandoned space station. Only it may not be quite as abandoned as they thought! The film's trailer teases plenty of alien encounters, not to mention star Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla, Civil War) embracing her inner Ripley. Bring it on (and be sure to keep your mouth shut around any face huggers you may meet). — B.E.

Starring: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu

How to watch: Alien: Romulus opens in theaters Aug. 16.

Close to You Elliot Page stars in "Close to You." Credit: Greenwich Entertainment

Elliot Page headlines and produced this family drama, in which he plays a trans man returning to his hometown after years of estrangement from his family. Page is also credited as a co-writer alongside Close to You's director Dominic Savage. However, as our review out of the film's world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival noted, the movie is largely improvised, boasting an ambitious 53-minute take that was considerably cut down to fit into the frictional story of a fractured family reunion. While the drama is raw and the intimacy admirable, the lack of structure and script can make for a very uneven viewing experience.

Still, fans of Page will be at rapt attention. — K.P.

Starring: Elliot Page, Hillary Baack, Andrew Bushell, Daniel Maslany, and Wendy Crewson

How to watch: Close to You opens in theaters Aug. 16. 

The Crow

It's been 30 years since The Crow awed audiences with its stirring tale of love and revenge — and an absolutely epic soundtrack. This summer, Eric Draven returns in this curious reboot, with Bill Skarsgård donning the iconic black-and-white face paint for his performance as the murdered rocker returning to wreak havoc on those who killed him and his beloved Shelly (FKA twigs).

Director Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman, Ghost in the Shell) will be bringing a different spin to the source material, James O'Barr's cult-adored comics. Could this resurrect a franchise that's already boasted a string of sequels and a short-lived Canadian TV series? We'll find out this summer. — K.P.

Starring: Bill Skarsgård, FKA twigs, and Danny Huston

How to watch: The Crow opens in theaters Aug. 23.

Kraven the Hunter

When the trailer for this Spider-Man spinoff hit last summer, we were quick to rejoice. Where the MCU has been wallowing in grief post-Snap and the DCEU got bogged down in dramas onscreen and scandals off, Sony was chasing the weird spirit behind the Venom movies with this story about an animalistic anti-hero who oozes sex appeal and rips off his foe's noses without blinking an eye. And we've been stoked to see it since then, even though it got bumped nearly a full calendar year without explanation.

Sure, Madame Web (another Spidey spin-off) got thrashed in theaters and online. But hey, it was better than Morbius. So even with this delayed release, we're cautiously optimistic. — K.P.

Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe, Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, Alessandro Nivola, and Christopher Abbott

How to watch: Kraven the Hunter opens in theaters Aug. 30

Oddity Credit: Shudder

One of our favorites out of SXSW 2024, Oddity is an Irish horror film from emerging auteur Damian McCarthy, who gave us the terrifically creepy 2021 movie Caveat. This follow-up, which seems set in the same sinister world, begins with an impossible predicament: Stay in a home where an intruder may lurk or flee with a stranger who came knocking at night. 

Combining elements of ghosts, slashers, witchcraft, folk horror, and psychological thriller, Oddity gives viewers plenty of scares. As I wrote in my review, "McCarthy takes each of these elements and uses them as a hue in his distinctive palette of horror. He blends them beautifully and harrowingly, pulling us in with their mystique and making us howl with their darkest revelations." — K.P. 

Starring: Gwilym Lee, Carolyn Bracken, Tadhg Murphy, and Caroline Menton

How to watch: Oddity opens in theaters in August.

* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

'Challengers' review: You're not ready for Zendaya's horny love-triangle drama

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 11:00

This isn't a judgment, more of an observation: Challengers has come to leave you ragged. 

The first time I watched Luca Guadagnino's Challengers, I was so overwhelmed by its titillating sexual tension and exhilarating interpersonal drama that I struggled to find the words to describe it. The second time, I was very aware of the audience members around me who were audibly shocked and awed by the sweaty game this love-triangle drama plays. Some clucked, metaphorically clutching pearls, whenever child-star-turned-cinema-It-Girl Zendaya snarled a curse word or slid into a sexy scene. Behind me, an older man grumbled anytime things between leading men Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor got homoerotic. And this is a Luca Guadagnino movie, so that happened often. 

American audiences might mistake Challengers for a sexy American sports movie, like Bull Durham. After all, it's a U.S.-set tale of tennis, produced by MGM, and headlined by one of our nation's hottest actresses, as well as one of the heralded stars of Steven Spielberg's West Side Story. They might assume they know what they're getting into. But the Sicilian filmmaker behind Call Me by Your Name and Bones and All has used both peaches and cannibalism (separately) as visual metaphors for the carnal nature of lust. Naturally, his version of a sports movie is far more lurid, feeling distinctly European. 

Sensual longing radiates in every scene of Challengers, even though the love scenes are most shocking in how little sex they actually show. And yet, you will be scorched by the heat, as Guadagnino has put together one of the hottest love triangles cinema has ever seen... if not the very hottest. 

What is Challengers about? 

Written by Justin Kuritzkes (the husband of celebrated Past Lives writer/director Celine Song), Challengers explores the complicated relationship between three young tennis players. Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O'Connor) relish playing together, even though they are miles apart in personality. Where Art is clean-cut, hardworking, and earnest, Patrick is a bad boy whose serves are as wild as his impulsive pronouncements. As adults, they'll face off with the former looking like a polished god of the sport, clad in sparkling tennis whites bearing his own logo, and the latter looking like a down-and-out loser, with scruffy facial hair and an outfit that is so wrinkled and grungy you can practically smell the stale sweat. 

At the start of this story, they've been best friends since boarding school and are closer than brothers. Then they meet Tashi Duncan, an "18-year-old phenom" who plays tennis with a ferocity that stops them in their big-talking tracks. When both of them ask for her number, she warns she's "not a home-wrecker," immediately sensing the bond between them. Still, she promises her digits to whoever wins their next match. But Tashi is no trophy to be won. Kuritzkes paints her as a brilliant and brutal strategist on the court and off. By the time they're in their early thirties, she'll be married to one of these men, while the other is left on the sidelines. But that's far from the end of their story. Kuritzkes' script nimbly leaps back and forth between their teens and twenties and the present, never missing a beat to put them — and us — through the emotional wringer. And as these three flirt, fumble, fuck, and break each others' hearts, Challengers tantalizes with its ambush of raw emotions and gnarled repressions. 

Challengers is hot, horny, and smart.  Credit: Niko Tavernise / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures

As teased in the trailer that set the internet ablaze, Tashi, Art, and Patrick share a chaotic chemistry that leads to a life-changing three-way kiss. Those hoping for a threesome throw down might initially be disappointed here, as there is no literal group sex — neither on screen nor implied offscreen. However, using tennis as a metaphor, every grunt, groan, and drip of sweat (all of which are generously dispersed) has a sexual implication.

In the first act, it's Tashi's intensity and confident athleticism on the court that not only make Patrick and Art stand to attention, but also clutch at each other in uncontrollable excitement. When she scores the winning point, she doesn't cheer; she yells deep and loud, "COME ON!" It's primal, and when asked about it later, she's unashamed. Tashi explains that to her, tennis — good tennis — "is a relationship" that's honest. "We understand each other," she says of her opponent, comparing the connection on the court to being in love. But when it comes to love off the court, none of these three can dare be so open. There's too much to lose. 

The metaphor plays out on the court and in dorm rooms, hotel rooms, and secret rendezvous, through a heated exchange of frenzied kisses and hands groping with firm passion. When the men offer confessions of love or attraction to her, Tashi hits back with whip-smart remarks. "You'd have a better shot with a handgun in your mouth," for example, is a cold line that earns a laugh from the audience, but there's heat underneath it all, building and burning. Over the course of a story that stretches over a decade, and a movie that bounces from a tennis showdown to the love triangle at its breaking point, the sexual tension between its leads is unrelentingly electrifying. 

Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor set the screen on fire in Challengers.  Credit: Niko Tavernise / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures

There's a powerful balance struck in this trio. Faist plays the romantic, his eyes — which yearned for Tony in West Side Story — are now hopefully locked in on Tashi's banging backhand. Shaking off the macho posturing of Riff, Faist is almost achingly vulnerable as the athlete who plays by the rules with his heart on his sleeve. But there's a cruelty in Art's lovestruck quest, and that is not lost in Faist's performance. A steeliness enters his gaze. A stiffness intrudes on his walk as he strives to cover his tracks or hide his heartbreak. 

In comparison, Zendaya's Tashi might seem stoic. But her eye is on the ball, as it were. As a girl, her physicality has a lightness, but no naïveté. When she enters the hotel room shared by Patrick and Art, she's no lost lamb among lions; she's on the prowl. Within tennis's world of whiteness, wealth, and its associated privileges, Tashi knows she — as a Black woman whose family isn't old money — plays by different rules than these white boys. Subtle nods in Kuritzkes' script scratch at racial and economic tension, like Tashi noting matter-of-factly that another contender is a "racist bitch" or curtly explaining her family couldn't afford to send her to a boarding school. What's unspoken is that her place here is more precarious than theirs. So, even when she's off the court, her mind is in the game. Zendaya expresses this pressure through sharp glares, icy delivery, and a tendency to swallow her bottom lip, as if she's sucking back the righteous rage she'd be judged for letting out. 

In the face of this fury, Patrick might come off as a clown by contrast. Devoted to not taking anything – especially himself — too seriously, he's a charming hedonist who gleefully rejects every boundary and social nicety. When visiting Art in college, Patrick bounds onto the court in jeans, whooping and chasing his friend like they're kids again. In the mess hall, he gobbles Art's churro (this is not a euphemism) with a mischievous smile. And towards Tashi, his ravenousness is just as rampant. O'Connor, who wowed critics in 2017 with his performance in the gay drama God's Own Country, is feral with charisma, bursting with bravado and allure, yet carrying a dizzying anxiety in every twitching smile. 

On a first watch, O'Connor is dynamic, and a terrific scene partner. The same can be said for all three leads. But on a second watch, he's the MVP. Though Patrick has a big mouth, he doesn't dare admit what he really feels in his core. Instead, O'Connor reveals the truth in fleeting moments of reckless vulnerability with a tell, a twitch in his smile. Then Guadagnino underscores these driving but unvoiced emotions through cinematography and an immersive soundscape. 

Luca Guadagnino's Challengers is one of 2024's best.  Credit: Niko Tavernise / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures

Melding music with the moans of the court, Guadagnino brought on two-time Academy Award-winning composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to deliver a score that envelopes audiences in adrenaline. While the Challengers soundtrack is peppered with hit dance songs from Donna Summer, Lily Allen, and Nelly, the score from Reznor and Ross is house music unleashed. While the screen fills with close-ups of the tennis players' faces, or long shots of them loping across the green in slow-motion, the music is a heady thrum of synth keyboards turning the court into a dance club. It's a musical soundscape that screams of exhilaration, pumping into our veins so our hearts might race along with the characters'. 

Likewise, the cinematography of Sayombhu Mukdeeprom (whose credits include Call Me by Your Name and Guadagnino's Suspiria) emphasizes intimacy on the court and the intensity of verbal volleys off it. Cowboy close-ups bring us inches away from the sweating brows of these lovers, inviting us to look into their eyes and intuit what feelings roar behind them. A heated exchange in a sauna is heightened by blocking that puts Art up high and Patrick down low, reflecting not only their status in the moment but also a provocative sense of sexual supplication, emphasized by dueling POV shots. A particularly harsh argument between lovers includes a whip-pan from one player to the other, as if we are watching the tennis ball zing back and forth. 

All of these meticulous details build something alive and miraculous. Challengers is not just a sexy love story or a suspenseful sports movie. Imbued with adrenaline in every frame, note, and beat, it is a breathtaking cinematic experience that thrusts you into the center of this love triangle, bounces you about like a ball that lives for the racket's smack, and leaves you breathless with a finale that is indulgent yet deeply satisfying. While it may be too much for some audiences to handle, there's no doubt Challengers is hands down one of the best and sexiest movies of the year. 

Challengers opens in theaters April 26. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

'Late Night with the Devil' review: '70s flare and Satanic Panic bring horror home

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 11:00

There's a madcap magic to late-night television, where the stars come out to shine before an applauding live audience, and the rules of decorum seem relaxed in a studio setting modeled after a crisp, clean living room. We know that every guest is there to promote themselves and their latest product, but between the practiced smiles and strategized banter, there's the heady possibility that something unsanitized and real — something shocking, even — might slip through as we click closer to the Witching Hour. This is the slippery, surreal space of television celebrated in Late Night with the Devil, a tidy and trembling horror movie where talk shows and terror collide. 

Writers/directors Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes (aka the Cairnes Brothers) precisely position their film in the sweet spot of 1977. On television, Johnny Carson with his broad smile and sharp wit was the king of Late Night, a charming ambassador to all of Hollywood and its fame-chasing shenanigans. As Carson graciously extended his living room into our own, so too did the homespun horrors of '70s cinema. Frightful films like Carrie and The Exorcist terrorized theater-goers with twisted tales of innocent-looking young girls irrevocably bent toward evil and devastation right before our very eyes. 

SEE ALSO: 'Late Night with the Devil's disturbing ending, explained

With Late Night with the Devil, the Cairnes Brothers bring these worlds of fear and fun together into one lean, mean, and sickly satisfying thrill ride. 

What's Late Night with the Devil about?  Credit: IFC Films and Shudder.

Character actor David Dastmalchian (The Suicide Squad, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) strides into the spotlight as talk show host Jack Delroy. A suave talent with the gift of gab, his show might have rivaled Carson's chokehold on late night, if not for a personal tragedy the previous year that broke Jack's heart and derailed the show's popularity. Desperate to revive his falling prospects, he plots a Halloween show that the world will never forget. 

Along with a psychic (who might be a scam artist) and a professional skeptic (who lives to cause trouble), Jack books a controversial interview with a mysterious young girl. Lilly (Ingrid Torelli) was once a part of a Satanic cult devoted to a dangerous demon. Once they went up in smoke, she was the only one to survive. Now, under the care of her guardian/therapist (Laura Gordon), Lilly has come on late night to share her story…and maybe introduce us to her special friend, Mr. Wriggles. 

Late Night with the Devil is a throwback in the best way.  David Dastmalchian plays a talk show host in "Late Night with the Devil." Credit: IFC Films and Shudder.

Planting their plotline as a precursor to the Satanic Panic of the '80s, the Cairnes Brothers swiftly establish a sense of foreboding for their hep audience members, who know all too well the wild rumors of devil worshippers, ghouls, ghosts, and pigs named Jodie that are to follow. The precursor to moral panic and paranoia is naivete punctured by piercing fear. And what better cozy bubble to puncture than the feel-good atmosphere of a celebrity talk show? 

A shrewd production design carefully reconstructs this era. Warm but muted hues of browns, yellows, and oranges swirl around the set. Sharp suits and denim overalls place the guests in a time of swinging style and seeming innocence, when a teen girl would do press dressed like a doll instead of a supermodel. 

SEE ALSO: The 'Late Night with the Devil' AI controversy, explained

Meanwhile, the cinematography harkens back to the age of video, complete with analog glitches that could be nothing...or could be a warning that something is going awry. All of these details carefully capture the era so thoroughly that if you don't recognize the actors, you might mistake Late Night with the Devil for a forgotten cult classic, the legit kind once found on coveted VHS tapes. 

Yet the most crucial ode to this era is the tone of the talk show. With a breezy bravado, Dastmalchian swaggers into the role of unflappable host. Whether flashing a false smile for the crowd or bantering with his bickering guests, he feels deeply embedded in this bouncy brand of entertainment and salesmanship. By grounding the first act in the familiar realities of the '70s chat show, the Cairnes Brothers and Dastmalchian creep under our skin to rise goosebumps as they raise hell. 

Late Night with the Devil delivers restrained but ruthless horror.  David Dastmalchian in Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes' "Late Night with the Devil." Credit: IFC Films and Shudder.

Be warned: This movie won't get as splashy in its demonic spectacle as Carrie or The Exorcist, which boasted buckets of pig blood and vociferous vomit, respectively. But that's part of this movie's charm. Like Rosemary's Baby, it's an atmospheric brew that festers with emotional trauma. Fret not; there will be bursts of bile, blood, and some climactic carnage. However, those gory bits wouldn't be as hard-hitting were it not for the dramatic tension going on behind the scenes of Jack's plagued talk show. 

In a sense, Dastmalchian must shoulder two roles: the consummate professional and the personal trainwreck. Beneath his bespoke suit is a trembling heart that yearns for more than big ratings from this devilish publicity stunt. He yearns for proof that there is something more than this life, something beyond. And he'll risk anything, even his soul, in pursuit of this revelation. 

Dastmalchian has frequently played creepy men (see Prisoners) and quirky criminals (Pick an Ant-Man, any Ant-Man). His signature intensity stirs beneath the surface even as Jack plays nice for the studio camera. In his eyes flickers a chaotic fire of grief, hope, and ambition that cannot be squelched. And it is reflected in the unnerving stare of a little girl who claims to house a demonic spirit. They are a match made not in heaven but hell. And witnessing their face-off is nail-biting fun. 

Paying tribute to '70s horror, Late Night with the Devil is steeped in the era's aesthetic and its emerging moral anxiety, as well as the methodical pacing that draws us in, grabs on tight, and won't let go until that final ghoulish moment. Tune in and hang on. Dastmalchian and his demon are coming for you.

Late Night with the Devil is now streaming on Shudder.  

UPDATE: Apr. 25, 2024, 4:03 p.m. EDT "Late Night with the Devil" was reviewed out of its World Premiere at SXSW 2023. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't feel like cooking? Collect the best DoorDash promo codes of the week.

Mashable - Fri, 04/26/2024 - 11:00

UPDATE: Apr. 26, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EDT This article has been updated with the latest DoorDash promo codes from across the web. Note that some of these codes are location-specific or exclusive to new users.

Best DoorDash promo codes this week: Best deal for new users Use code US25SAVU1Q24 Get 25% off your first order ($15 minimum) Get Deal

We all love a good, home-cooked meal. But who has the time to make one every single night? Couldn't be us. That's why we always keep our delivery apps at the ready. Our app of choice at the moment? DoorDash. There's a constant bounty of promo codes, scoring you savings not just on takeout, but also on grocery delivery and select retail stores.

You can find our favorite DoorDash promo codes from across the web below, so take a look and then chow down while booting up your favorite streaming service or video game. Oh, and a lot of these codes will be exclusive to new users, so if you already have an account, you may want to consider creating a new one (you didn't hear that from us). Also, because some codes are location-specific, they may not work for everyone. Just test them out and see which ones stick for you!

SEE ALSO: The best deals on streaming services this week How do I use a DoorDash promo code?

Before we get into our picks for the week, let us quickly go over how to use a DoorDash promo code, because if you don't know how to do that, you won't benefit from any of the great deals we're about to show you. Thankfully, the process is really easy. (If you already know how to do this, feel free to keep scrolling to get straight to the latest DoorDash coupons.)

All you need to do is load up your shopping cart with whatever is on the menu for the night and head to the checkout screen. Once you get there, scroll down to the bottom where you'll find a section labeled "Summary."

The 'Summary' section lives at the bottom of the checkout screen. Credit: DoorDash

Tap on that section and you'll be brought to a separate screen titled "Promo codes, rewards & gift cards." Then, just input your promo code (and gift card, if you have one) and head back to the checkout screen. You should now see your discount applied automatically.

This is where you'll use your promo code and get those sweet benefits. Credit: DoorDash

Congrats! You just scored some savings, and that takeout order is going to taste so much better because of it. Now, on to this week's promo codes — take a look below, and enjoy your meal.

Best DoorDash promo codes this week
Categories: IT General, Technology
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