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GET UP TO 35% OFF: As of May 3, you can get up to 35% off Nespresso machines at Amazon, including the Nespresso VertoPlus and Nespresso Vertuo Next Deluxe.

Our top picks: Best deal overall Nespresso Vertuo Next Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine $146.97 at Amazon (save $62.98) Get Deal Best runner-up deal Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine $174.97 at Amazon (save $74.98) Get Deal Best budget pick Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine $118.97 at Amazon (save $50.98) Get Deal

If you’re tired of hitting the snooze button and rushing out the door with only enough time to grab a mediocre cup of coffee on your way to work, then it's time to treat yourself to a brand-new espresso machine — but not one of those slightly intimidating espresso machines that look like they’re reserved for professional baristas. I’m talking about a Nespresso machine.

SEE ALSO: The best espresso machines for making perfect coffee at home

These compact and user-friendly espresso machines are designed for busy people who love coffee but don’t have time for bells and whistles first thing in the morning. And with up to 35% off select Nespresso machines at Amazon, there’s really no reason not to upgrade your coffee game and start each day with a delicious, barista-quality brew. These deals are so good, you’ll be singing “that’s that me espresso” all the way to the office.

Here are some of our favorite Nespresso machine deals as of May 3:

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Our pick: Nespresso Vertuo Next Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine $146.97 at Amazon
$209.95 Save $62.98 Get Deal Why we like it

The Nespresso Vertuo Next Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine by Breville is definitely worth the investment, especially since it’s only $146.97 right now. I have the original Vertuo Next, and I use it every single day at least three times, and it’s never let me down.

The Next Deluxe features a sleek and modern design and a versatile coffee and espresso brewing system. It can brew 5, 8, and 12-ounce coffees, as well as single and double espressos. I brew mine over ice, but you can also enjoy piping hot espresso beverages.

It’s only 5.5 inches wide, so it’s perfect for smaller spaces and Nespresso offers more than 40 specialty Vertuo brews to choose from.

Best runner-up deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Our pick: Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine $174.97 at Amazon
$249.95 Save $74.98 Get Deal Why we like it

For another $20 or so, you can get the Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine by Breville, which is currently priced at $174.97 (save $74.98). This machine comes with tons of features and accessories like the Aeroccino milk frother, so you can create your favorite lattes and cappuccinos right at home (just like Dina Kalanta).

It takes 25 seconds to heat up and brew, so you can get your caffeine fix quickly. With four brew sizes, you can customize your caffeinated beverages just the way you like.

Best budget pick Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Our pick: Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine $118.97 at Amazon
$169.95 Save $50.98 Get Deal Why we like it

If you’re looking for something a bit more affordable, the Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine by Breville is only $118.97 (save $50.98). This little machine does everything you’d need it to, from brewing single and double espressos to crafting 5- and 8-ounce coffees.

It has a 40-ounce water tank and can hold up to 10 pods in its used pods container.

On The Idea of You's companion album, the film's star Nicholas Galitzine sings, "I think I need a new direction lately," a sly reference to the boy band One Direction.

The album is a clever marketing ploy for a romantic comedy based on a book inspired by One Direction heartthrob Harry Styles. It follows the romance between Styles' stand-in, Hayes Campbell (played by Galitzine), a member of the boy band August Moon, and Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old gallerist and mother. The film's creators aimed to reinvent One Direction with a 2024 twist.

SEE ALSO: 'The Idea of You' review: Anne Hathaway dazzles in rom-com inspired by Harry Styles fandom

When the trailer dropped, Directioners immediately noticed two creative liberties taken by The Idea of You: August Moon's loose pants (One Direction was famously of the skintight black jean persuasion) and the idea that in the film's universe, a boy band like One Direction headlines Coachella. But what about August Moon's sound?

August Moon's music was penned by Savan Kotecha and Carl Falk, the same songwriters responsible for One Direction's smash hit "What Makes You Beautiful." When the first August Moon single, "Dance Before You Walk," dropped fans immediately heard the similarities with Kotecha and Falk's work with One Direction. While Kotecha told Mashable that One Direction wasn't a musical inspiration for the album, the resemblances are undeniable.

I'm here to answer the question, does August Moon have that one thing? Here are seven August Moon songs ranked by how likely they could pass as a One Direction tune.

7. "Taste"

Through the years, One Direction's sound morphed from Euro-pop to pop-rock to the kind of music you play when you're driving with the windows down — but the closest the boys ever got to something as groovy as this was "Never Enough," which is to say not very close. "Taste" is not and will never be a One Direction song, it's too funky. It borrows its sound from a much more modern boy band: BTS. The track has the same groovy bones as the K-pop group's No. 1 single "Dynamite."

Thematically it's on par with One Direction songs of the horny variety like "No Control," "Change Your Ticket," and "Perfect."

Most One Direction lyric: "Any time I'm on the road (road) / Just tell me where to go"

6. "The Idea of You"

One thing the boys never did was get a woman involved. The boy band didn't need to do duets because they were already singing in a quintet. But it's very curious that "The Idea of You" duet is with singer-songwriter Anne-Marie, who's already in the One Direction universe. She released a duet with Niall Horan in 2021 titled "Our Song." Aside from the female singer of it all, "The Idea of You" sounds more like a Disney original song than something by One Direction which can be attributed to the heavy piano presence.

The lyrics of "The Idea of You" are so sappy that maybe with the stretch of the imagination, this could have been a scrapped One Direction song written by Ed Sheeran.

Most One Direction lyric: "So I'll wait a lifetime or two with the idea of you"

5. "I Got You"

Immediately a jump scare. In the first second of the song, Galitzine sounds like he's doing Harry Styles cosplay. That little whisper is very soft-spoken Styles on his first solo album. But as soon as Galitzine's countdown is over, the song shifts into Shawn Mendes territory. The track relies on some guitar slaps between strums, something the boys never did. But this is the first August Moon song to finally feature some boy-on-boy harmonizing, the sacred backbone of One Direction. A singer is trying badly to be Zayn in the song's back half, but no one does it like him.

SEE ALSO: 'The Idea of You's August Moon gives us the boy band bops we deserve

Lyrically, this is an updated version of "Little Thing" — an Ed Sheeran number — for the internet era with a sprinkling of "Don't Forget Where You Belong," which features the band's most profound lyrics, "If you ever feel alone, don't."

Most One Direction lyric: "Baby when you're feeling lonely I got you"

4. "Dance Before We Walk"

The extremely wordy title immediately signals a likeness to One Direction, and this is the song that spurred conversation about the sonic parallels between August Moon and One Direction. The introduction and instrumentation are very Four, but the voice modulation detracts from its likeness. However, the fact that you can hear Galitzine's English accent shine through when he sings, "Walk," tilts the scale towards One Direction. The nonsensical lyrics score major One Direction points, as well. It also features a bridge, something the August Moon songs are deficiently lacking compared to One Direction's robust catalog of bridges.

There are moments in which the electric guitar is so reminiscent of One Direction that you can imagine Niall in all his fried-hair glory performing the song on guitar while the other boys rough house on stage.

Most One Direction lyric: "Ooh, what you gonna do, what you gonna do, over, baby?"

3. "Go Rogue"

A solo moment from Galitzine, "Go Rogue" is reminiscent of Niall-forward tracks like "Fools Gold," but this is more of a ballad than any song One Direction ever produced. It's like "Once in a Lifetime (Piano Version)," and it also reminds listeners of "Over Again," "Summer Love," and "Moments," a.k.a. the sad ones. The fact that the song is all about being a song is painfully One Direction, who wrote the inspired track "I Want to Write You a Song."

Most One Direction lyric: "Is it alright if I play a song for you tonight?"

2. "Closer"

From the first 10 seconds, you can tell Galitzine is channeling his inner Harry Styles, his vocal prowess evident in the strain of his croon. The similarities continue with "Closer" featuring One Direction's trademark musical pause.

One Direction's musical journey was marked by significant changes across their five albums. "Closer" resonates with the boy band's later phase, when they began writing more of their music and honing their unique sound. With the inclusion of Zayn's ad-libs and a bridge, "Closer" could seamlessly fit into the Four album. Notably, the song earns bonus points for its clever use of "girl" and its "moonlight" references. 

If there's one thing One Direction did, it's release earworms, and "Closer" is the stickiest August Moon track. The second post-chorus is the perfect soundtrack for five boys to dance to exclusively with their elbows, à la the "One Thing" music video.

Most One Direction lyric: "Girl, we could keep it going the whole night / Or do a little more in the moonlight"

1. "Guard Down"

"Guard Down" starts like any great pre-"Stockholm Syndrome" One Direction song: with a guitar riff that's immediately abandoned in favor of a drum. Like much of One Direction's catalog, it's rock-inspired and sounds like it's by another well-known band that pre-dates them — One Direction's original secret sauce. There's one moment that is deliciously reminiscent of Zayn's part in "She's Not Afraid." It will have you kicking your feet and reminiscing on the boys' glory days.

And "Guard Down" being Galitzine's favorite track off the album can't be a coincidence...

Most One Direction lyric: "Night after night she takes control"

UPDATE: May. 3, 2024, 9:30 a.m. EDT We've updated this article with the hottest deals available. Be sure to check them out!

GET UP TO 70% OFF SELECT TOYS: It's Masturbation May, which means discounts on sex toys, accessories, lube, and more.

Our top picks Masturbation May at Lovehoney Lovehoney Up to 50% off select toys Shop Now Masturbation May at Lovers Lovers BOGO 50% off We-Vibe and Playboy Pleasure products Shop Now Masturbation May at Babeland Babeland Up to 70% off Shop Now Masturbation May at Femme Funn Femme Funn $50 off the Intro to Funn bundle Shop Now

If you've ever needed a commercialized reason to celebrate self-pleasure, here's one: It's officially Masturbation May.

It's time to prioritize self-care and give yourself the attention and pleasure you deserve. (We hope you're doing this anyway, but maybe a national observance will encourage you to go beyond your usual routine.)

SEE ALSO: The best sex toys for masturbation that anybody can enjoy

As of May 3, you can browse hundreds of deals on sex toys, accessories, lube, lingerie, and more to make the most of Masturbation May. Whether you're looking for a new vibrator, some high-quality lube, or a wedge to make getting into position even easier, there's a little bit of something for everyone out there.

Need help finding a trustworthy retailer? We've rounded up some of our favorite sales and promotions from popular brands like Lovers, Lovehoney, and Fun Factory.

Lovehoney Opens in a new window Credit: Lovehoney Masturbation May at Lovehoney Up to 50% off sex toys, free gift when you spend $79, $100 off sex toy bundles, more Shop Now

Lovehoney is one of the largest sex toy retailers on the internet. The company is known for its wide selection and affordable prices. It's got everything from cock rings to vibrators to bondage gear — you could literally scroll the site for hours (we definitely have).

Right now, Lovehoney is offering some pretty good deals for Masturbation May (though none of the promotions specifically mention the holiday, so we expect to see even more deals roll out throughout the month).

Here's a quick look at some of Lovehoney's current deals:

• Get a FREE gift when you spend $79 or more. There's no code needed; just shop and choose your gift at checkout.

• Get up to 30% off LELO products, including the popular LELO Smart Wand 2 Large (which we included in our best sex toys for women roundup) and the LELO Hugo.

• Get up to 50% off select sex toys and lingerie.

• Build your own sex toy bundle and save $100.

Lovers Opens in a new window Credit: Lovers Masturbation May at Lovers BOGO 50% off We-Vibe and Playboy Pleasures, BOGO 10% off performance enhancers, more Shop Now

Lovers is a chic online boutique (though they have physical locations, too) where your fave vibrators, dildos, and other goodies are just a click away.

The images and descriptions make you feel like you're shopping on Instagram or some other trendy platform meant for community rather than just transactions. Plus, the selection is carefully curated, so it's not a random mix of products (we're looking at you PinkCherry).

Here's a quick look at some of Lovers' current deals:

• BOGO 50% off We-Vibe and Playboy Pleasure products with the code UPGRADE.

• BOGO 10% off 3 Single Pack Performance Enhancers with code BOGO10.

• Get 20% off the Svakom Hannes Neo Masturbator, no code needed.

It's the beginning of the month, so if you don't see something that catches your eye right now, keep checking back. More deals are likely to be added throughout May (according to our sources, the next wave of promotions will be announced on the Lovers website on May 9).

Babeland Opens in a new window Credit: Babeland Masturbation May at Babeland $20 off $150 or more, up to 70% off sex toys, more Shop Now

Babeland has some of the cutest sex toy shops you'll ever see in cities, including New York and Seattle. Founded in 1993, Babeland is a well-established and respected feminist sex toy store that offers some pretty sweet deals on the reg.

They prioritize inclusivity, education, and pleasure in their product offerings and create a safe and empowering environment for customers, and you can feel that on the website.

Here's a quick look at Babeland's current deals:

• Give your hand a hand this Masturbation Month with $20 off with code DIY20. (Note: A $150 minimum purchase is required for the discount.)

• Get up to 70% off (yes, 70%!) select sex toys and accessories in Babeland's Deep Discounts section.

• Get 20% off Good Vibes toys, no code needed.

• Get the INYA Ripple Rabbit for just $35.50 during Babeland's Flash Sale.

Femme Funn Opens in a new window Credit: Femme Funn Masturbation May at Femme Funn $50 off the Intro to Funn bundle Shop Now

If you haven't heard of Femme Funn, we encourage you to take a peek at its website. This company is all about female empowerment (and power in every sense of the word). Femme Funn was one of the first sex toy companies to offer an all-silicone (read: no seams) bullet vibrator and has since expanded its product line to include a variety of innovative toys.

We also heard that the company plans to release quite a few discounts this month to celebrate Masturbation May. (This is pretty unheard of because the brand rarely offers discounts.)

Right now, the brand is kicking off Masturbation May with $50 off its Intro to Funn bundle which includes the Ultra Bullet, Booster Rabbit, and Ultra Wand.

The Handy Opens in a new window Credit: The Handy Masturbation May at The Handy 30% off all sleeves with the code SLEEVES30 Shop Now

This one’s for all the men out there who are looking for a hands-free experience. The Handy is a revolutionary male masturbator that offers a unique and immersive pleasure experience — the site says it “bridges the gap between fantasy and reality.” You can sync this stroker with interactive adult content, use it with a remote control, or use it manually offline.

The Handy is like a Fleshlight on steroids. You can buy different sleeves to customize your experience, and a desk mount is available for hands-free play.

Here's a quick look at some of The Handy’s current deals:

• Get 30% off all sleeves with the code SLEEVES30.

• Get 40% off Handy Lube, no code needed.

• Get 20% off The Handy between May 24 and May 31, no code needed.

Even more Masturbation May deals:

• Get 10% off sitewide at AdultVibeToys.com with code PLAY10.

• Get 10% off any Fun Factory toy, including the all-new Share Vibe Pro, with the code MASHABLE10.

• Get 15% off select toys at Dame, no code needed.

• Get 15% off any product at Good Vibes all month with the code MAYPLAY.

• Get 15% off sitewide at ZALO with the code ZALOLOVE.

• Get 20% off the AMO and the ATOM at Hot Octopuss with the code MMAY20.

• Get 30% off the KURVE and PLEX at Hot Octopuss with the code MMAY30.

• Get 50% off the Maya bullet vibrator at Love Not War with the code MMMAYA50.

• Get 50% off the PULSE SOLO INTERACTIVE at Hot Octopuss with the code MMAY50.

• Get up to 50% off plus a FREE toy at LELO, no code needed.

• Get 50% off the CAPO vibrating metal dildo at L'ACIER, no code needed.

• Get up to 60% off select sex toys at Unbound, no code needed.

• Get up to 70% off select toys at Le Wand, no code needed.

Tomorrow is Star Wars Day. Whether you plan to celebrate by binge-watching the iconic space saga or indulging in some amusing wordplay wishing your friends a happy "May the 4th," the LEGO Store is offering a host of deals that will take your day to the next level.

Opens in a new window Credit: LEOG LEGO Store Star Wars Day sale Shop Now

As of today, May 3, the LEGO Store is gearing up for Star Wars Day with free gifts, discounts on select sets, and opportunities for LEGO Insider members to win 2x-4x points on purchases. Shoppers have until Sunday, May 5 to take advantage of these offers either in-store or online.

Shoppers can earn free gifts by spending money on select LEGO Star Wars sets. As with most promotions, the more money you spend, the more sophisticated your free gift will be. When you spend $40, you'll receive an AAT buildable. From there, you'll have the opportunity to score a Battle of Yavin Collectible when you spend $90, and a Trade Federation Troop Carrier set when you spend $160.

To take advantage of discounts on sets, shoppers must first become LEGO Insider members. However, the good news is that the program is entirely free. Once you sign up, you'll be able to score Chewbacca for $35 off as well as the Emperor's Throne Room Diorama for $15 off by using a unique promotional code that is delivered to each member.

With each purchase, shoppers will earn double or quadruple the regular amount of Insider Points, which can then be put towards future purchases to earn discounts and rewards.

Now is a great time to be earning points since LEGO is also dropping new releases that shoppers will want to put on their wish list, including the TIE Inceptor.

Save money and celebrate a galaxy far, far away when you shop the LEGO Store's Star Wars Day sale now through Sunday.

Did you know that when someone blocks you on X (formerly Twitter), they can still reply to your posts? This opens up the possibility of abuse, with someone blocking you and then slandering, impersonating, or otherwise abusing you on the very same platform without you seeing it.

Now, X is changing the way blocking works. On Thursday, the company's Engineering account explained the changes as follows: "If a user who has blocked you replies to one of your posts, you will now be able to see their reply. This change enables you to identify and report any potential bad content that you previously could not view, safeguarding both your account and the overall integrity of our platform."

Tweet may have been deleted

X owner Elon Musk previously said the block functionality on X "makes no sense," and that it's going to be "deleted as a 'feature' except for DMs." While that hasn't happened yet, it appears that X is working towards changing the block feature until it's more in line with Musk's idea of the platform functioning as a "public town square."

SEE ALSO: Twitter/X might charge all new users a 'small fee' before they can post, like, and reply

"Our goal is to allow users to control their experience while maintaining the public visibility of posts," the post from X's Engineering team added.

An unresolved issue remains: Reporting abuse on X doesn't seem to do much. I've reported numerous scam accounts over the past couple of months, and they seem to just keep on appearing. The company's strategy of charging users for the "verified" blue checkmark hasn't done much to fix the problem, either.

Doja Cat appeared on "The Tonight Show" and played a game of "Musical Genre Challenge" with Jimmy Fallon.

TL;DR: Live stream Taylor Fritz vs. Andrey Rublev in the 2024 Madrid Open for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Madrid Open has been thoroughly entertaining, with some standout performances as top players look to prepare for the French Open. Two of those impressive performers meet in the semi final, with Taylor Fritz and Andrey Rublev set to battle it out for a place in the final.

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

When is Fritz vs. Rublev?

Taylor Fritz vs. Andrey Rublev will meet in the 2024 Madrid Open at around 10 a.m. ET / 3 p.m. BST on May 3.

How to watch Fritz vs. Rublev in the 2024 Madrid Open for free

The 2024 Madrid Open is available to live 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 Taylor Fritz vs. Andrey Rublev 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 services do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these offers, you can gain access to RTVE without committing with your cash. This is clearly 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.

Live stream Taylor Fritz vs. Andrey Rublev for free with ExpressVPN.

These dissolvable devices ‘tag’ organs to monitor abnormal activity and can help detect post-surgery complications.

Nida Manzoor's lauded comedy series "We Are Lady Parts" is back for Season 2. Watch the trailer.

Conan O'Brien interviewed his "Hot Ones" physician Dr. Arroyo during the latest episode of his podcast.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for May 3 SEE ALSO: 'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for May 3

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, May 3, 2024:

AcrossBaseball level just below the majors

• The answer is aaa.

Letters written on a bottle of poison, in the cartoons

• The answer is xxx.

Three, on a grandfather clock

• The answer is iii.

Tic-tac-toe winner

• The answer is ooo.

"Delicious!"

• The answer is mmm.

Down"What goes up must come down," e.g.

The answer is axiom.

x + y = y + x, e.g.

• The answer is axiom.

This is a given

• The answer is axiom.

Picture this: Two tennis players lock eyes across the court. One is an elite athlete feeling the pressure to win a title on his home turf. The other is a down-on-his luck "bad boy" who hasn't cracked the top 100 in the rankings. Both are flagging at the tail end of a grueling match, but animosity still hangs thick in the air between them. This game isn't just crucial to their careers: It's a chance to settle a score.

No, I'm not describing the tense showdown between Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O'Connor) in Challengers. I'm talking about the central match of HBO's tennis mockumentary, 7 Days in Hell.

SEE ALSO: 'Challengers' most WTF moments: From Tashi's knee injury to those sexy churros

Andy Samberg and Kit Harington lead this 40-minute-long special about two rival tennis players locked in a brutal week-long match. While it originally came out in 2015, it's relevant once again as the perfect companion piece to Luca Guadagnino's latest film. Think of it as Challengers' much sillier cousin.

What is 7 Days in Hell about? Andy Samberg and Kit Harington in "7 Days in Hell." Credit: John P Fleenor / HBO / Kobal / Shutterstock

7 Days in Hell centers on a pair of tennis stars who couldn't be more different from one another. Aaron Williams (Samberg) is the adopted brother of Venus and Serena Williams (the latter appears as herself in several talking heads). He's tennis's American bad boy, happy to showboat around the court and shred on his racket like it's a guitar. But after killing a man with his powerful serve in the Wimbledon final — this is the level of absurdity we're working with here — his career takes a sharp nosedive. Think lawsuit-worthy underwear lines, PCP, and stints in prison.

On the other side of the net is Charles Poole (Harington), a prodigy who became the youngest player to ever turn pro. His overbearing mother (Mary Steenburgen) claims she'll only love him if he becomes top-ranked in the world, and he's currently England's greatest hope at a British man winning Wimbledon. Needless to say, the pressure is on for the upcoming tournament.

SEE ALSO: 'Challengers' love triangle is 'Twilight' for people not afraid to see boys kiss

A surprising set of circumstances pits Charles and Aaron against each other in the first round of Wimbledon, but what everyone thought would be a blowout victory for Charles suddenly becomes something much more intense. Rain delays, nonstop rallies, and progressively stupider interruptions drag the match out for seven days, the two men locked in eternal battle.

If Challengers is about tennis being sexy and emotionally charged, then 7 Days in Hell is about tennis being stupid and emotionally charged. Tennis rackets become murder weapons, lines on the court become places to hide lines of cocaine, Queen Elizabeth II (June Squibb) shows up to flip players off. The humor tends towards the ridiculous and juvenile — there are so many penises, both real and CGI — making for a great contrast to tennis etiquette.

7 Days in Hell sends up the documentary genre as well, including an inspired segment where the film's talking heads, including Fred Armisen, Will Forte, and John McEnroe himself, get really passionate about Swedish courtroom drawings. But like in Challengers, it's that final face-off on the court that really gets the blood pumping.

How is 7 Days in Hell similar to Challengers? Kit Harington and Andy Samberg in "7 Days in Hell." Credit: Mashable composite: John P Fleenor / HBO / Kobal / Shutterstock

Challengers and 7 Days in Hell have a surprising amount in common. Their pivotal games are a chance to unleash all the pent-up hostility between the two players, from one sleeping with the other's partner to one disrespecting the other's skill. A current of homoeroticism runs through both as well, but while Challengers takes a cheekier approach with sexy churros, 7 Days in Hell goes balls to the wall with all-male prison orgies. (It makes sense in context. Kind of.)

Even Challengers' much-discussed three-way kiss between Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), Art, and Patrick has similarities to 7 Days in Hell. When faced with two streakers, Aaron playfully makes the pair kiss, calling to mind Tashi's memorable power play. A confused Charles looks on, erection protruding — not unlike Art, post-makeout scene!

But where Challengers' threesome remains metaphorical, 7 Days in Hell goes right for the literal. Tennis is sex, the former says, while the latter points out, "sex is also sex." Challengers may be a more sensual movie, but boy oh boy, is 7 Days in Hell more explicit.

So if you're still buzzing from seeing Challengers and craving more outrageous tennis stories, 7 Days in Hell is the ideal bite-sized treat. Watch it, love it, then cook up some Aaron Williams/Charles Poole/Art Donaldson/Patrick Zweig/Tashi Duncan fanfic. It's the crossover we need and deserve.

7 Days in Hell is now streaming on Max.

TL;DR: Through May 5, amp up your resume with this Python programming course bundle, on sale for $24.97 (reg. $120).

You don't have to attend an expensive boot camp to learn how to code. Whether you're looking to start a career in programming or enhance your current coding skills, there are opportunities to learn that don't involve signing up for a pricey class and leaving home to attend it.

This comprehensive 10-course bundle lets you learn Python from industry experts from the comfort of your own home. Even better, this Python online learning bundle is priced at $24.97 (reg. $120).

Python's simplicity and versatility have made it a favorite for both beginners and professionals. It is used at Google, Facebook, DropBox, and many other top names in tech. It’s used in web development, data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and more. In fact, knowing Python is essential in many coding environments.

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TL;DR: Through May 5, learn more about AI for generating text, images, automating tasks, and streamlining your workload when you enroll in the ChatGPT and Gemini AI course bundle for $29.99. 

Knowing how to use ChatGPT isn't the same thing as being an expert in AI. Just getting the AI to respond to a prompt is simple. Being able to use AI for advanced projects and automation may require a bit more practice. 

If you want to enhance your own understanding and AI skills, consider enrolling in this ChatGPT and Gemini AI online learning bundle. This comprehensive introduction to AI shows you how to use AI tools for marketing, social media, education, automation, and more. All content is available for life, so you can set your own pace. And for a limited time, you can sign up for just $29.99. 

Use AI like a pro

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We should note that the "e-degree" offered by the course isn't the same as getting a formal degree from a university. The certificate is for course completion only.

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Let the robot do your taxes

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Again, you can get a three-year subscription to FlyFin AI Tax App for $44.97 until May 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon needed to get the best price online. 

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Two of the best VPNs around are WireGuard and OpenVPN. To the casual VPN user, they essentially offer the same results: faster VPN connections, security, and reliability, right? Not exactly. 

While WireGuard (released in 2015) is a more modern protocol that’s been vastly adopted by several of the best VPN services, OpenVPN (released in 2001) is still widely used and is considered to be more secure. 

In the grand scheme of things, one isn’t truly better than the other, as it depends on what you’re using your VPN for. This analysis will help you decipher the key differences between the two. 

WireGuard vs. OpenVPN: Speeds

When it comes to internet and VPN connection speeds, WireGuard is the go-to choice. It was specifically designed to offer higher speed performance and be lighter than OpenVPN. To put that into perspective, WireGuard only uses 4,000 lines of code, whereas OpenVPN uses around 70,000.

This lightweight process makes it easier to package and send information, making it faster to browse through websites, stream content, play online multiplayer games, and more. 

It isn’t to say OpenVPN is slow, but WireGuard can pull off speedier connections. So if speed is a priority, you’ll want to switch to a WireGuard VPN protocol.

Winner: WireGuard

WireGuard vs. OpenVPN: Security

Security is a priority for OpenVPN, as its Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption protocol makes it hard for anyone to break through. It supports military-grade AES-256 encryption, has the ability to bypass nearly all firewalls, and is adaptable enough to include several additional security features, such as a kill switch. 

While WireGuard is arguably just as secure, its ChaCha20 cryptography uses fewer lines of code, which is shorter than AES-256. It also doesn’t obfuscate your connection as a matter of course, meaning it’s apparent that you’re actually using a VPN. That said, many prominent VPN services have these features included anyway, like obfuscated servers or dynamic IP addresses.

Overall, if you’re using public Wi-Fi, or need a secure way to access heavily restricted websites, it’s best to use OpenVPN. 

Winner: OpenVPN

WireGuard vs. OpenVPN: Reliability

Both WireGuard and OpenVPN are open source, meaning that anyone can delve into their codes to see if everything is in order. This alone makes them reliable protocols to use, as developers and experts can see if there are any vulnerabilities or backdoors that can be exploited by threat actors. 

Winner: Draw

Other VPN protocols

WireGuard and OpenVPN aren’t the only protocols you can use, as there’s also IKEv2/IPsec, L2TP/IPsec, and PPTP. Now, major VPN services have also tried their hand in creating their own VPN protocols, namely ExpressVPN and NordVPN — and with notable success.

ExpressVPN has its very own Lightway protocol, which is touted to be faster, more secure, and more reliable. Launched in 2020, this open-source protocol uses wolfSSL cryptography that’s been vetted by third-party companies for transparency and security, is lightweight for speedier VPN connections, and is less prone to connection drops. 

NordVPN rivals this with its proprietary NordLynx protocol. It’s built around the WireGuard protocol, but provides even faster VPN connection speeds while still keeping privacy and security a priority. According to NordLynx’s speed test results, it makes it one of the fastest VPNs around. 

Both VPN protocols are available on a majority of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. If you’ve opted to subscribe to ExpressVPN or NordVPN, it’s worth giving these protocols a try over WireGuard and OpenVPN. Besides, it only takes a couple of clicks to switch VPN protocols. 

It might feel a bit obvious, the message of Ryusuke Hamaguchi's latest film Evil Does Not Exist. But nonetheless, it hits home hard. 

The prolific Drive My Car director's reputation for deeply impactful films precedes him, and his new film, which casts a sense of survivalist dread upon the natural world amid corporate development, doesn’t mince words with its warning. Evil Does Not Exist is an exciting step forward for Hamaguchi, pushing the boundaries of dramatic tension with a project a long time in the works.

What is Evil Does Not Exist about? Credit: NEOPA, Fictive

Evil Does Not Exist tells the story of Takumi (Hitoshi Omika), who resides with his daughter, Hana (Ryo Nishikawa), in a small village outside of Tokyo, where they live in harmonious accordance with nature and its wills. But when a development plan to erect a glamping — as in glamorous camping — site near Takumi's home is discovered by the villagers, the effects of the misguided project have negative effects on the local water supply and, in turn, wreak havoc on Takumi and his community in ways he never saw coming. 

SEE ALSO: Summer Movie Preview: Every film you oughta know

Hamaguchi's latest film is a robust parable that questions as much as it accuses, wielding both impulses wisely. On the surface, the concept of glamping — and its truly negative effects beyond just being tacky and opulent — is definitely one of curiosity, but when you dig deeper, it becomes the perfect backdrop for the kind of lesson Hamaguchi wants to impart.

At its core, Evil Does Not Exist is a cautionary tale about the price of disrespecting nature, and it doesn’t hold back in indicting our own culpability despite our efforts. Evil does, of course, exist, especially when it comes to the disregard, disruption, and dominance of the natural world by humans.

Eiko Ishibashi's score is to die for.

Though its narrative is compelling and unique enough to intrigue, one of the most captivating elements of the film is the electrifying score by Eiko Ishibashi, with whom Hamaguchi collaborated on Drive My Car. From the film's opening moments, music blankets the forest imagery, imbuing the scene with a grand, foreboding power. But these meticulously beautiful compositions aren't afterthoughts, they've been embedded in the story and framework from the beginning through collaboration. 

Featured Video For You How Hans Zimmer's genius made ‘Dune’ a musical masterpiece — Supporting Players

The film was conceived by Hamaguchi after he was approached to create visuals for one of Ishibashi's live performances in 2021, so it's no surprise that the compositions feel part of the intrinsic fabric of the feature film's effective story. Hamaguchi was reportedly researching the rural village where Ishibashi grew up to create the visuals, and decided to shoot a formal feature during the process. This seamlessness and collaboration intensifies the film's dramatic turns that much more, heightening its message of respect within the natural world.

The film's visual language is rich and foreboding.

Not only is the film a slice of auditory heaven, but it is also a visual feast. Yoshio Kitagawa's sharp and rich cinematography is at once lush and muted, highlighting the natural beauty of the village and its surrounding areas but marring it with a wash of pallid, shadowy light. These angles work with Ishibashi's score to amplify the film's sense of foreboding, cementing its atmospheric tone. Kitagawa's eye feels wholly in tune with Hamaguchi's vision for both the beauty of the natural world and the hovering threat of evil and destruction that surrounds it. 

The central performances of Evil Does Not Exist are the film's foundation.

Last, but certainly not least, Evil Does Not Exist is anchored by a set of fantastic leading performances. Omika does a wonderful job as the film's leading patriarch, so much so that few might believe that this is his first role as an actor. He's worked with Hamaguchi before, but in the second unit as an assistant director as well as production manager. Yet he melts seamlessly into his part, both as a believably caring father and a steward of the natural order. It's hard not to feel the weight of his strong performance, as well as that of Nishikawa, who plays his daughter Hana. 

Credit: NEOPA, Fictive

The young Nishikawa has an almost omnipotence about her character, and she brings that same sense of instinctive ability to her performance. She toes a magically effective line as a harbinger of things to come and a being of free will at the same time, and her role in the story becomes more and more crucial as events progress. Nishikawa is certainly a young actor to watch, and her familial chemistry with Omika is what seals the film's parabolic and important message in stone: that we must respect the world around us like our own. Rounding out the central characters, Ryuji Kosaka and Ayaka Shibutani stand out as Takahashi and Mayuzumi, representatives of the impending development and most unwelcome visitors to the village. 

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.

Evil Does Not Exist opens in theaters May 3.

UPDATE: May. 2, 2024, 1:46 p.m. EDT "Evil Does Not Exist" was reviewed out of its world premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival.

It takes guts to attempt an action-packed romantic comedy. For every Romancing The Stone, there's a barrage of forgettable imitators. (See: Argylle. Well, don't see Argylle. It's awful.) 

It's a tricky thing to strike a satisfying balance of thrills and laughs with a love story that gets our hearts (and/or loins) engaged. But David Leitch, the former Brad Pitt stunt double turned director of such gonzo action movies as John Wick, Bullet Train, and Atomic Blonde, doesn't scare easily. And now he's delivered the gonzo gift to cinema that is The Fall Guy. 

Adapted from the 1980s TV series of the same name, this action-comedy centers on one of the unsung heroes of Hollywood: the stuntman (Barbie's Academy Award-nominated Ryan Gosling) who takes all the hits so that the arrogant A-lister (Bullet Train's Aaron Taylor-Johnson) doesn't have to. But don't fret if you aren't familiar with the small-screen inspo. The Fall Guy is making its own fun, thanks to a crackling script from Drew Pearce, and the dazzling chemistry between Gosling and Emily Blunt. 

How does The Fall Guy movie relate to the TV series?  Ryan Gosling is under attack in "The Fall Guy." Credit: Eric Laciste / Universal Pictures

Ryan Gosling plays Colt Seavers, a stuntman character originated by Lee Majors in the show created by Glen A. Larson. However, where Majors' hero was moonlighting as a bounty hunter when he wasn't on set, Gosling's version is more a hapless nobody who stumbles into a criminal conspiracy. And it's love that keeps him there. 

There's trouble on the set of Metalstorm, a sci-fi epic/romance that stars the obnoxious Tom Ryder (Johnson) as a daring space cowboy. But when the mercurial movie star goes MIA, his old stunt double is called back into action. Not only is Colt tasked with doing intense stunts to keep the movie's production schedule on track, but the high-strung producer Gail Meyer (Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham) asks him to unearth the missing actor. 

It's not just the movie Colt is trying to save. You see, this is the directorial debut of his former flame, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). With his heart on his sleeve, this stuntman throws himself into the fray to make her dreams come true, all in hopes of scoring a second chance at romance. 

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt are perfectly paired in The Fall Guy.  Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt star in "The Fall Guy." Credit: Eric Laciste / Universal Pictures

Crucial to a good action/rom-com is a dynamic where conflict and chemistry collide. You need the stars to click on screen so the audience is invested in their getting together. But they need to be believably pugnacious with each other so the why of not being together is clear. 

Smartly, Blunt and Gosling gave the world a preview of their chemistry at the 96th Annual Academy Awards, where they playfully bickered over the Barbenheimer rivalry. In The Fall Guy, the characters are less openly hostile. Jody favors passive-aggressively dressing down Colt over a megaphone on set, while he pushes back with sheepish flirtations. (Look, he knows what he did.) While this sounds less than romantic, it is nonetheless enchanting. 

There is some suspension of disbelief required, of course, but not in the movie's premise — it's that Gosling is supposed to look like he's not a movie star, while he still basically looks like Ken, albeit with some scruffy facial hair. However, as he did playing Ken or the battered detective in The Nice Guys, Gosling has a looseness to the physicality in his comedy that plays divinely. The stunts here are done by a top-notch stunt team, which the movie's promotional tour is keen to celebrate. But Gosling brings to banter scenes and other comedic moments an ego-free display of mugging, an earnest thumbs-up gesture, and even crying to Taylor Swift's "All Too Well" that establishes Colt as a goofball as much as a tough guy. When Blunt coolly instructs him to drive her to her car — parked just feet away from where they idle — you can see the core sense of humor they have in common. 

After a couple of Quiet Place movies and the sternness of Oppenheimer, it's a delight to see Blunt back in comedy. She's got terrific comedic timing that pairs perfectly with her well-placed hard stare. Her Jody isn't made to be an ambitious bitch in the way of broad '80s movie stereotypes, but she has her moments of playing rough. Yet Jody is chiefly defined by trying to maintain her cool under incredibly stressful circumstances, which makes little moments where she breaks down burst with humor — be it a karaoke jam to Phil Collins or literally grasping at a straw. 

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. 

The Fall Guy is a winsome showbiz comedy.  Ryan Gosling, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and several stuntmen from "The Fall Guy." Credit: Eric Laciste / Universal Pictures

True to his reputation, Leitch provides plenty of outrageous action scenes once again. Some are for the movie-within-the-movie, including a car roll that broke a Guinness World Record. Some are part of Colt's off-set misadventures, which include swordplay, fire fights, daring escapes, and a speedboat chase. 

As the discourse around including stunts in the Oscars rages on, The Fall Guy will definitely be a major talking point for advocates of the category addition. However, the stunt community representation within the film feels a bit thin, being just Colt and his stunt coordinator, played by a jovial Winston Duke. They're a terrifically funny duo, but as the third act leans hard on the concept of community, I wished the broader stunt team were more present to make a big leap land more powerfully.

Winston Duke kicks ass in "The Fall Guy." Credit: Eric Laciste / Universal Pictures

The Fall Guy is about more than stunts, folding in the bonds that form across departments on set, including a horny VFX supervisor (Zara Michales), a too-Method ingenue (Teresa Palmer), and a perturbed personal assistant (Everything Everywhere All at Once's Stephanie Hsu). As a whole, this movie delights in giving a peek behind the scenes to reveal the messy human conflicts (which also make for great on-screen drama), as well as the absurdity inherent in playing pretend for a living. What is never mocked is the dream of making movies. 

Whether she's furious at Colt or frustrated by outrageous obstacles, Jody is driven by making the movie that she's dreamed of her whole life. Colt isn't just dedicated to her but also to her vision, as is much of the supporting cast of characters. And in this, there's an enveloping exhilaration, as if we the viewer are part of this collaboration too. This energetic sense of inclusion welcomes us into the twists, fails, and breakthroughs the characters face in an electrifying way. All of that barrels into a finale that is not just exciting but enthralling. 

The Fall Guy is action/romantic-comedy done right, a rare gem in the crown of this challenging subgenre. 

The Fall Guy opens in theaters May 3. 

UPDATE: May. 2, 2024, 1:04 p.m. EDT "The Fall Guy" was originally reviewed out of SXSW 2024.

Tilman Singer's Cuckoo is a fun midnight genre romp that works despite its goofiest elements. A mountainous horror film reminiscent of The Shining — albeit with far more overt body horror — it follows the travails of a family of four as they take up residence near a fancy lodge in an isolated corner of the German Alps.

When strange sounds emanating from nearby forests begin to have bizarre bodily effects on some of the guests, moody 17-year-old Gretchen (Hunter Schafer of Euphoria) ends up stumbling upon an ongoing investigation into something both silly and sinister. With its tightly wound atmosphere and an impeccable ensemble that throws everything at the wall, Cuckoo emerges as a largely unique work despite its many familiar elements, thanks in part to its increasingly twisted implications surrounding gender and biology. It's incredibly strange and deviously fun.

What is Cuckoo about?

Before introducing its central characters, Cuckoo's mysterious prologue orients the viewer in a realm of familial and bodily dysfunction. In a rural cottage in the dead of night, silhouettes of an unhappily married husband and wife yelling at one another dovetail into shots of a teenage girl — presumably their daughter — waking up in her bedroom and stepping outside to avoid the unpleasantries. Suddenly, a prolonged screeching somewhere in the distance begins to take hold of her, as she writhes and seemingly begins moving against her will.

For any explanations for these oddities, you'll have to wait well over an hour into the film's mere 102 minutes. In the meantime, Singer crafts an alluring character drama the moment he introduces his central cast. As Luis (Marton Csókás), his wife Beth (Jessica Henwick), and their selectively silent daughter Alma (Mila Lieu) drive their family car up the hillside to their new home on a lush resort, Gretchen — Luis's daughter from a previous marriage — rides behind them in the moving van. This dynamic conveys an immediate sense of disillusionment with the family unit. Where Luis, Beth, and Alma dress in fancy, earthy sweaters and put on polite fronts, Gretchen's loose, baggy clothing and flailing, irritable body language set her apart. She feels like an outsider, rejected by her own clan, and she wants nothing more than to return to her mother's home in the U.S.

Once the family arrives, they're greeted by the resort's owner, Mr. König (Dan Stevens), a cartoonishly seedy sort clearly hiding something twisted beneath his welcoming demeanor. It's as though Stevens had been directed to play Victor Frankenstein by way of Christoph Waltz. His vibes are immediately rancid and uncanny, lacing every exchange between him and Gretchen's family — especially his interest in young Alma — with a sense of leery possibility. It feels like anything can happen in Cuckoo, even before anything actually does.

König eventually finds Gretchen a receptionist job at the lodge nearby, though he gives her strict instructions not to stay too long after dark. Gretchen, being a snotty, unhappy teenager, does exactly as she pleases. But when she bicycles home late one night, she ends up being chased by a shadowy figures only seen in glimpses. Gretchen's pursuer inexplicably appears to be a well-dressed mid-century starlet, "normal" in every way except for her ferocity and her glowing red eyes.

No one seems to believe Gretchen, despite her scars and injuries from the encounter. That is, no one except for local police detective Henry (Jan Bluthardt), who not only takes it upon himself to protect Gretchen, but inexplicably enlists her help in what appears to be an ongoing investigation. Before long, Cuckoo becomes a bizarre buddy-cop movie of sorts, with each scene resulting in a more ghastly injury for Gretchen, akin to Homer Simpson plummeting off a cliff and hitting every branch on the way down. It's a treat to watch, even before the film offers any indication whatsoever about what's going on.

Cuckoo's eerie filmmaking is incredibly effective.

A nestling rejected by her own family, Gretchen becomes the center of a distinctly avian-themed work of sci-fi horror. Not only does König have an affinity for discussing the biology and sociology of specific birds, but the peculiar screeching that seems to rattle Gretchen and her half-sister has a bird-like quality, too. Its arrival is also usually marked by dim, disconnected close-ups of a woman's vibrating chest, as though it were a kind of mating call.

However, even when the film isn't directly confronting this animalistic theme — and its eventual implications about "natural order," which comes up plenty in the dialogue — Singer's roving camera never stops searching empty spaces for a place to land and perch itself. Its slow zooms and push-ins feel mischievous. The film has few (if any) traditional jump scares, because it depends largely on inducing a creeping dread, both visually and thematically, as its tale of conspiracies and experiments unfolds.

Much of the tension Singer builds springs from the doubts and reflections he carefully seeds into his script. From the familial rejection and personal isolation felt by Gretchen to her brief, liberating respite when she meets and secretly falls for a boyishly dressed older lesbian at the resort (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey's magnetic Ed), the specter of conformity and the confines of nuclear family loom large over every scene. Even Cuckoo's monstrous, red-eyed woman has a distinctly and traditionally feminine appearance, adding to the sense that deep-seated notions of gender are forever biting at Gretchen's heels. Eventually, when the plot's specifics come into view — via some rather clunky exposition — these notions are not only further centered, but become perverted in delightful ways. You've never seen a film make vaginal discharge seem this sinister.

That Schafer is a trans woman only enhances this subtext, even though her character’s identity in this regard goes unmentioned. However, what she brings to the role is much more exceptional than nominal representation, given the amount of emotional legwork involved.

Hunter Schafer delivers an incredible performance.

Cuckoo doesn't always work. It's rife with jagged edges and thuddingly obvious metaphors about the long-standing, deep-seated nature of gendered expectations.. However, what's practically indisputable is Hunter Schafer's arrival as a major movie presence, writing entire treatises on the body and the way it keeps the score, even in her stillness.

Take, for instance, the positioning of her hands at her sides, stiff and motionless except for a few twitchy movements of her fingers. At first glance, it's textbook teenage "awkward," a choice that flirts with self-parody, until its function becomes clear. Gretchen happens to carry a switchblade for her protection, and when she finally swishes it around, the motion of her fingers suddenly makes perfect sense. These movements are mirror images of one another, as though Gretchen were always on guard, always at the ready to defend herself from bodily harm. Schafer brings a sense of paranoia to every frame, as if Gretchen had previously been a victim of some sort of targeted harassment — once again, enhancing the film's queer subtext without uttering it out loud.

Equally noteworthy is the way Schafer navigates the emotions of simple domestic scenes, accepting her father's rejection — and his seeming preference for Alma, his more traditionally feminine daughter — with a sense of resignation, as though it were her lot in life. Her teenage jadedness is always rooted in something deeply, fundamentally human that lives just beneath the surface of her body language, like she's telling the story with her arms, her shoulders, her eyes.

That she goes to some difficult emotional places in addition to this, places that require enormous on-screen vulnerability, is just the cherry on top. It's also what prevents Cuckoo from flying entirely off the rails when it gets too caught up in its own ridiculous lore (which, unfortunately, never reaches the freakish apotheosis it seems to promise). Whatever the film's more overt horrors, whether its chilling atmosphere or its attempts at amusing moral and visceral obscenities, they're all bound by Schafer's increasing physical and emotional despondency. She doesn't just save the movie. She is the movie, making it all the more remarkable to watch.

Cuckoo opens in theaters May 3.

UPDATE: May. 2, 2024, 1:24 p.m. EDT "Cuckoo" was originally reviewed out of the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.