Entertainment
The 10 Greatest Movies From Countries That No Longer Exist
If there’s anything that history proves, it’s that nothing is permanent—not even nations. There have been several countries throughout the years that have disappeared, dissolved, or transformed into something entirely different. That certainly includes a few throughout cinema’s existence in the 20th century, which means that there are many movies out there whose home has vanished since their release.
Many such movies have either been forgotten by time or disappeared altogether, but there are a few masterpieces from countries that no longer exist that are widely counted among the greatest films ever made. From Yugoslav gems like pretty much Emir Kusturica‘s entire filmography to legendary Soviet movies like I Am Cuba, these are cornerstones of movie history that cinephiles should never allow themselves to forget.
‘I Was Nineteen’ (1968) From East Germany
Right before the end of World War II, the Allied powers agreed on the division of defeated Nazi Germany into occupation zones. The Soviet occupation zone turned into East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic, a communist state whose economy soon became the most successful in the Eastern European Bloc. East Germany’s state-owned film studio was called DEFA, and the best movie that it ever produced is undoubtedly Konrad Wolf‘s I Was Nineteen. It’s a fictionalization of Wolf’s experiences, where a young boy who fled Germany with his parents returns as a lieutenant in the Red Army.
I Was Nineteen is easily the best-made and most thought-provoking East German masterpiece.
Due to its emphasis on subjective experience rather than propagandistic clarity, the DEFA disliked I Was Nineteen and tried to get Wolf to revise the screenplay in several ways. Yet, despite their interference, it is easily the best-made and most thought-provoking East German masterpiece. Though episodic, the film feels like a deeply intimate recollection of a man’s recollection of his tumultuous youth. It’s a stunning cinematic autobiography.
‘The Nightingale’s Prayer’ (1959) From the United Arab Republic
In 1958, a political union between Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab Republic. Just three years later, Syria seceded from the union following a coup d’état, but Egypt continued to be known officially as the United Arab Republic until it was formally dissolved in 1971. During these (roughly) 13 years, the United Arab Republic produced several of what have gone down in history as the greatest African movies of all time. The most noteworthy of these is Henry Barakat‘s The Nightingale’s Prayer, a romance drama that follows a woman’s revenge plot against the engineer who destroyed her family’s honor.
It’s an immensely powerful social melodrama that’s surprisingly bleak and anti-patriarchy for its era. The Nightingale’s Prayer, which looks and feels delectably similar to the best of noirs being produced in Hollywood at the time, hasn’t aged perfectly in every department, but it still feels as well-performed, well-written, and well-directed today as it surely must have been back in the 1959 United Arab Republic.
‘Time of the Gypsies’ (1988) From Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia came into existence following World War I, being the first union of South Slavic peoples as a sovereign state in history. Due to a wide variety of factors and after a violent multi-stage process, the country broke up between 1991 and 1992. But during its existence, it was the source of some of the greatest European films and filmmakers of its time, chief among which is the great Emir Kusturica. One of Kusturica’s best movies is the Yugoslav-Italian co-production Time of the Gypsies, a coming-of-age fantasy crime drama about a young Roma boy with telekinetic powers who is seduced by the world of petty crime.
It’s one of those ’80s movie masterpieces that most people have forgotten about, which won Kusturica the Best Director Award at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. Tragicomical, deeply moving, and unexpectedly dense (with a runtime of nearly two and a half hours), Time of the Gypsies is a beautifully chaotic epic that’s definitely a must-watch for history buffs and cinephiles alike.
‘Marketa Lazarová’ (1967) From Czechoslovakia
In 1918, Czechoslovakia was created after declaring its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1992, it split peacefully into Czechia and Slovakia. Throughout those 74 years, Czechoslovakia was the home of some of the greatest and most groundbreaking European films of the 20th century. During the ’60s in particular, filmmakers like František Vláčil led theCzechoslovak New Wave, one of the most notorious European film movements of the era.This movement birthed the country’s greatest cinematic masterpiece: Marketa Lazarová, an epic period drama about a young girl promised to God who is kidnapped and raped by a marauder.
It’s an unsettling and absolutely brutal masterpiece, but a masterpiece nonetheless. Clocking in at nearly three hours long and sprinkling surreal moments into the mix to enhance its psychologically intense atmosphere, it’s a dreamlike, poetic, and utterly mesmerizing work of art. Its score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes is well deserved, since this is one of the most unforgettable period pieces in the history of cinema.
‘The Cranes Are Flying’ (1957) From the Soviet Union
From 1922 until its dissolution in 1991, the Soviet Union was the world’s flagship communist state. The nation’s film industry was fully regulated by the central government in Moscow and, thus, often prone to censorship. Still, such a tremendously large number of cinematic masterpieces came out of that system that one can point to innumerable Soviet movies which could be counted among the greatest of the 20th century. One such movie is The Cranes Are Flying, a war drama about two lovers planning a rendezvous at the bank of a river, only for the man to be drafted into WWII shortly after.
Plenty of war films out there depict the horror and devastation of armed conflict in all manner of thought-provoking ways, as well as somewhat problematic war films that make war seem like an exciting prospect. But movies about the tedium of war, about how slow, boring, and existentially dreadful it can be? There aren’t nearly enough of those in existence, but Georgian-Soviet filmmaker Mikhail Kalatozov made this one, which is great enough to make up for the scarcity of such movies. It’s a timeless cinematic miracle; poetic, visually splendid, and deeply human.
‘I Am Cuba’ (1964) From the Soviet Union
A co-production between the Soviet Union and Cuba, I Am Cuba is proof that propaganda cinema isn’t inherently bad. In fact, it is widely recognized by cinephiles and film historians as one of the greatest films of the 1960s,an anthology film and political drama with some of the most revolutionary cinematography in the history of the art form. Also directed by Mikhail Kalatozov, it follows four vignettes about the lives of the Cuban people during the pre-revolutionary era.
The film was almost completely forgotten until it was rediscovered by American filmmakers in the ’90s, and Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola were actually instrumental in its restoration and re-release in 1995. Politically radical, full of jaw-dropping visuals, and so ideologically profound that film scholars will probably continue to study it deeply for the rest of history, I Am Cuba is a must-see for all those who would say they love cinema.
‘Stalker’ (1979) From the Soviet Union
Andrei Tarkovsky was perhaps the greatest of all Soviet filmmakers, a poet with a camera who loved to work on his own terms. So much so, in fact, that he exiled himself from the Soviet Union in the early ’80s due to the unrelenting censorship and artistic interference from the government. The last film he made in the USSR was Stalker, one of the best and most beautiful arthouse sci-fi masterpieces of all time, full of the same kind of poetic pacing and philosophical depth that makes Tarkovsky timeless.Aside from being one of the sci-fi films with the strongest acting ever, the most gorgeous visuals ever, and the best dialogue ever, Stalker is a thought-provoking exploration of themes of faith, societal decay, and spiritual redemption. Its production was notoriously difficult (and led to Tarkovsky’s untimely death from cancer at 54 years old, since they shot in highly toxic locations), but the result is one of the most transcendental works of art in film history.
‘Underground’ (1995) From Yugoslavia
The biggest masterpiece that Emir Kusturica ever directed was the satirical epic war film Underground, about two underground black marketeers who sell weapons to the Communist resistance in wartime Belgrade. Admirably genre-bending and enthralling throughout its nearly three hours of runtime, the film earned Kusturica his second Cannes Palme d’Or victory (after 1985’s When Father Was Away on Business), making him one of only ten directors in history to have won the award more than once.
It was a well-deserved victory, too, since Underground is an exhilarating masterpiece that offers an insightful look at life in Communist Eastern Europe. Hugely ambitious, disorienting, energetic, and carnivalesque, it’s movie magic in its purest form. Funny though it may be, Underground is also epically operatic and emotionally enthralling, making it one of history’s greatest cinematic masterpieces.
‘Come and See’ (1985) From the Soviet Union
Yet another Soviet masterpiece, the anti-war thriller coming-of-age Come and See is not only the highest-rated European film on Letterboxd, but the 4th-highest-rated movie on the platform in general. It’s a horrific, absolutely harrowing epic where, after finding an old rifle, a young boy joins the Soviet resistance movement against German forces during WWII. Plenty of movies make war seem like hell, but none nearly as effectively and potently as this one.
Directed by Elem Klimov and starring Aleksei Kravchenko, who delivers the most transformative and emotionally devastating child acting performance in film history, Come and See is not for the faint of heart. But daunting though it may be, it’s obligatory viewing for movie fans. It’s an unforgiving waking nightmare that you simply can’t forget, visually striking and full of hard-hitting scenes. Soviet cinema was rarely ever this good.
‘Andrei Rublev’ (1966) From the Soviet Union
Actually, Soviet cinema was only ever slightly better than Klimov’s Come and See once, and that was when Andrei Tarkovsky made his magnum opus, Andrei Rublev, arguably the greatest movie of the last 100 years. It’s a three-hour-long arthouse biopic about the life, times, and afflictions of the titular Medieval Russian icon painter, though the movie is far more focused on Medieval Russian history than on Rublev’s life in terms of historical accuracy. However, Tarkovsky is even more interested in the thematic depth of this thought-provoking film about art, religion, spirituality, and where those things intersect.
Andrei Rublev will be an obnoxious bore for those who hate slow-burning cinema, but for people who love arthouse films that take their time and aren’t afraid to slow down and let the narrative breathe, it will be an unforgettable experience. The acting is phenomenal, Tarkovsky’s direction is so transcendentally powerful that it almost doesn’t feel human, and the long runtime doesn’t have a single second where it’s not absolutely fascinating. The Soviet Union may not exist anymore, but Tarkovsky’s work will prove eternal.
Continue Reading
Some television shows are entertaining to watch, but still have a few filler episodes thrown in. This can be due to storytelling issues or a desire to make a series last a specific number of episodes. But any weak episodes in the bunch can throw off the whole vibe of a series. Luckily, Apple TV released one science fiction thriller that is eight episodes of pure perfection. Shining Girls premiered on the streamer back in 2022. Created by Silka Luisa, the series was adapted from a 2013 novel of the same name by Lauren Beukes, and with multiple twists and turns, this underrated series deserves some attention after quietly dropping on the streamer four years ago.
What Is ‘Shining Girls’ About?
The limited series follows Kirby Mazrachi (Elisabeth Moss), who works as an archivist at the Chicago Sun-Times. Kirby’s life is stuck in a rut, and she finds herself still living at home with her mother. But the reason she seems so despondent is that several years prior, Kirby was brutally attacked and left for dead. The worst part is that her perpetrator was never found. At first, it seems like Kirby is just affected by the extreme trauma she endured, possibly displaying symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. But it then becomes apparent that the difficulties she’s facing are no simple manifestations of her trauma. The aspects of Kirby’s life seem to change from one day to the next (her cat becomes a dog, she’s married to her co-worker instead of being single, etc.) As we dive deeper into Kirby’s world, we discover that there are multiple realities at play, and Shining Girls becomes a science fiction narrative where you never know what to expect. There is also a mysterious serial killer (Jamie Bell), who just might have something to do with these rips in Kirby’s reality.
‘Shining Girls’ Is a Twisty Thriller With an Impressive Cast
Shining Girls would be a fascinating enough drama if it were merely a mystery about a dangerous man who hunts women. Instead, it becomes a unique, compelling sci-fi story where the real world is not set in stone. We’re never sure whether Kirby should trust her experiences, and that goes for the viewer watching as well. The series begs the question: what would your life feel like if you couldn’t even rely on everyday structures to keep you stable? This type of narrative creates an imbalance that adds to the series’ intensity and off-kilter terror. The tone lends itself perfectly to an ever-changing world inhabited by a treacherous man intent on snuffing out the bright lights that are his victims. Each episode not only contains plenty of intrigue but also captivates because it continuously transitions back and forth between different genres. Whether Shining Girls feels like a dark psychological drama, a mind-bending sci-fi puzzle, or a simple exploration of the generational trauma that stems from violence, the series is completely and utterly bingeable.
‘Shining Girls’ Review: A Slow Burn That Bends Genres and Expectations
Elizabeth Moss and Jamie Bell star in an urban fantasy true-crime series.
A show this inventive would tend to feel like it could go off the rails at any moment. The reason Shining Girls is so effective is its incredible cast. Moss has starred in some pretty impressive roles over the past couple of decades, but this series allows her to show off even more of her range. She perfectly captures Kirby’s out-of-control spiraling, as well as her inner strength, proving that Moss can certainly take on any role she chooses. Kirby’s partner-in-crime is a colleague who helps her unravel her past; played by recent Oscar nominee Wagner Moura, the role is grounded in vulnerability and determination. The cast also consists of fantastic performances by Phillipa Soo, Chris Chalk, and Amy Brenneman, and Moss’ Handmaid’s Tale co-star Madeline Brewer also pops up in a small but powerful role. And of course, no mention of the show would be complete without praising Bell, who is an absolutely terrifying and creepy villain.
Although you’ll want to speed through every episode to find out what will happen on Kirby’s journey, this masterful drama is a series that demands to be savored for its inventive storytelling and its nuanced performances. Plus, because it’s merely eight episodes, it’s a lot easier to binge than some other sci-fi thrillers. By the time you reach the finale, you’ll have to agree that there’s not even one subpar episode in the entire show, proving that Shining Girls is a must-see.
Shining Girls is available to stream on Apple TV in the U.S.
What started as a shocking child abuse investigation in Kentucky is now drawing major attention online. Authorities say disturbing new details continue to emerge surrounding the case. Brook McDaniel, 27, is at the center of the allegations after an incident involving her toddler and an alleged tattoo that has left many stunned.
RELATED: Did It For The Plot?! Kentucky Man Reportedly Releases Raccoon In Packed Bar After Getting Bounced
Kentucky Mom Arrested After Toddler Found With Tattoo
According to Kentucky State Police, Brook McDaniel was arrested on May 4 after troopers responded to a child abuse complaint at a Monticello home near the Tennessee state line. When officers arrived, they located McDaniel and her 22-month-old child, who reportedly had a black dot tattoo on his right forearm with visible redness around the area. McDaniel allegedly told authorities she had been tattooing herself when the child “walked up to her and stuck his arm in the way of her tattoo gun.” However, witnesses gave a very different account of what happened.
“Party Dot” Claim Triggers Police Investigation
Witnesses reportedly told investigators that McDaniel claimed the toddler “wanted the tattoo,” calling it a “party dot.” That detail quickly raised red flags for law enforcement, who also noted concerning conditions inside the home. Troopers later contacted the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services after describing the residence as “deplorable.” And, this further escalated the seriousness of the case.
McDaniel has since been charged with fourth-degree assault (child abuse) and booked into the Adair County Detention Center. She is currently being held on a $5,000 cash bond as the investigation continues. Now, officials are still reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident and the child’s welfare.
Chile…There’s Always Something Going On In Kentucky
As previously reported, what was supposed to be a routine medical delivery in Kentucky turned into a disturbing mix-up. It all started after a woman reportedly received a package containing human remains instead of urgent medication. Additionally, officials confirmed the shipment included “arms and fingers” tied to transplant materials. The outlet further explained that such shipments can be used for transplants or medical research, and per local outlets, the body parts have since been redirected to their correct destinations, though their exact intended use remains unclear. And once again, the situation has people pointing out that it feels like there’s always something strange or unsettling happening in Kentucky.
RELATED: Say, WHAT?! Kentucky Woman Calls 911 After Reportedly Finding Human Arms & Fingers Inside Package Delivered To Her Home
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
After Netflix’s Most Controversial Movie, Jacques Audiard’s Mystery Thriller Deserves a Second Look
For better or worse, mainstream audiences were exposed to French auteur Jacques Audiard last year for his Oscar-winning dark musical dramedy, Emilia Pérez. Marked as a highly divisive film coming out of the Cannes Film Festival, the movie, released on Netflix, was met with more disdain as time went on, leaving viewers baffled that major awards bodies were throwing all their love toward his misguided and tonally off-kilter movie about everything and nothing simultaneously. Due to its portrayal of transgender issues and drug trafficking, Emilia Pérez felt like a scientifically created piece of provocation, but viewers were not amused, even with an Oscar-winning performance by Zoe Saldaña.
Setting aside the bad taste that his latest film left in everyone’s mouth, there’s no doubting Audiard’s chops as a visionary filmmaker with an expressive eye for visual language and intimate character drama. Nowhere are his unique talents more evident than in one of his early films, Read My Lips, an inventive film crossed with a romantic drama waiting to be discovered.
‘Read My Lips’ Is a Seductive French Noir Built on Manipulation and Desire
With notoriety comes an increased awareness of an artist’s previous work. For most, audiences are perplexed as to how the director of bold dramas and crime thrillers like A Prophet and Rust and Bone could turn out such a grave misfire in Emilia Pérez, miraculously his first film to receive major awards recognition in the United States. As part of the spotlight on Audiard last year, the Criterion Collection began restoring his early films, including The Beat That My Heart Skipped and Read My Lips, a lean, captivating, and seamless concoction of genres that is the perfect counter to the bloat and excess of Emilia Pérez.
Available to stream on the Criterion Channel, Read My Lips stars Emmanuelle Devos as Carla, a hard-of-hearing secretary, and Vincent Cassel as Paul, an ex-con on parole working in Carla’s office. The two start a transactional romance, where Paul uses Carla’s lip-reading skills to spy on his criminal associates, while Carla recruits Paul to perform dirty tricks to climb the corporate ladder after being wronged by her boss. Devos would go on to win a César Award for Best Actress (along with Audiard for Best Screenplay), and French mega-star Cassel was on the cusp of becoming a mainstay in Hollywood in films like Ocean’s Twelve and Black Swan.
Like any good shadowy film, Read My Lips centers around characters who think they have their plans all figured out, only to have disastrous consequences awaiting them. While Jacques Audiard is known for his distinct voice behind the camera, he restrains his style to focus on the strength of two stirring performances by Devos and Cassel, who play off each other like romantic partners and toxic enemies simultaneously, a dynamic that is the center of the narrative. You never know where the film is going to take you, an element that can make any rudimentary crime thriller into an immersive cinematic experience, and Audiard lets the characterization and meditative reflections on capitalism carry the momentum. There’s a loose quality to Read My Lips that is reminiscent of films of the French New Wave.
Are Carla and Paul Really in Love in ‘Read My Lips’?
What’s clear, however, is that Carla and Paul are plunging into a world of senseless violence. Paul’s intrigue with Carla’s lip-reading is a probing examination of our fascination with the human body, a proclivity that only enhances the life-or-death stakes of the overarching mission involving his goal to obtain money to pay back his former boss. Furthermore, Carla, stricken with loneliness and alienation, is touchingly entranced by Paul’s rebellious, “bad boy” spirit, a feeling that clouds her practical judgment.
Audiard blurs the line between true love and manipulation in Read My Lips. It’s up to the viewer to decide whether the two are genuinely in love or simply desperate to use each other to settle scores with threats in their lives, a crime boss, in Paul’s case. They clearly strike a bond, but at what point are they trying to serve their own interests? The film updates the familiar brooding character archetypes, with Paul acting as the hard-boiled, down-on-his-luck grifter and Carla acting as the manipulative and manipulated femme fatale. Thanks to Audiard’s attention to the peculiarity of social connections, the romance is not a creative device, but rather, a confirming notion that love transcends all class and behavioral divides.
Emilia Pérez, another film about people on opposite sides of the law and society with a strange kinship, was unfortunately hindered by needless flash and provocation. Read My Lips succeeds where Emilia Pérez stumbled because Audiard trusts ambiguity, intimacy, and character over spectacle. The result is a romantic noir that lingers long after its final act of violence.
Read My Lips
- Release Date
-
October 17, 2001
- Runtime
-
115 minutes
- Director
-
Jacques Audiard
- Writers
-
Tonino Benacquista, Jacques Audiard
Cast
-
Emmanuelle Devos
Carla Behm
-
-
-
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
These days, reboots have a bad reputation, and rightfully so. Hollywood keeps cranking out bad remakes of classic movies like RoboCop and Total Recall, and Disney has created an entire cottage industry of turning its classic animated films into lazy, live-action abominations. On the small screen, reboots ranging from Gossip Girl to The Munsters have accomplished nothing but make audiences want to watch the original show. Everyone watching at home keeps asking the same question: why remake a classic show if you can’t make it better than the original?
However, former Star Trek scribe Ronald D. Moore squared this circle by rebooting a middling TV show into a modern masterpiece. The original Battlestar Galactica has a fairly dedicated fandom, but it only lasted one season before fizzling out with a crappy, low-budget spinoff. But in 2004, Moore rebooted the show into the greatest sci-fi show of the last quarter-century, one that changed genre storytelling forever. It’s a series that has lost none of its edge over the years, and you can now experience its brilliance for free by streaming it on Pluto TV.
Humanity Is On The Brink
The premise of Battlestar Galactica is that humanity has colonized multiple worlds and made amazing technological advancements, including building robot servants called Cylons. Unfortunately, they rebelled and started a bitter war with humanity that resulted in them disappearing, seemingly forever. But the Cylons come back and use their technology to destroy every human-occupied world in a galactic-scale genocide. Now, all that’s left of humanity are a relative handful of civilian ships, all of which must be protected from constant Cylon attacks by the brave men and women of the Battlestar Galactica, the last bastion of human military might in the entire galaxy.
Part of what makes Battlestar Galactica so compelling is that it’s the polar opposite of Star Trek. In Trek, everyone lives in a state of constant abundance: replicators can make whatever you want or need, and everyone more or less gets along while exploring the final frontier. In BSG, resources are constantly limited because every human world has been wiped out, forcing the crew to scavenge and salvage what they can. Moreover, there is constant tension between (and amid) military forces and civilian government, all of whom are on edge because they are the last of humanity and could die at any time.
The Sexiest Cast In Sci-Fi
It’s a bleak premise and a bleak show, but the cast really rises to the occasion. Tricia Helfer is particularly captivating as a sexy Cylon who uses her buxom beauty as her most reliable weapon in the fight against humanity. Katee Sackhoff, meanwhile, is all swinging swaggering as a hotshot pilot who is only really at peace in the cockpit of a Viper. James Callis captivates as a scientist whose brilliance may either save or doom all of humanity. But nobody is quite as compelling as Edward James Olmos, whose cool, gravelly confidence holds the entire fleet (not to mention the show) together.
While Battlestar Galactica is styled as the anti-Star Trek show, it does have one important thing in common with Gene Roddenberry’s killer sci-fi franchise: almost every episode is devoted to exploring the crunchiest philosophical questions facing mankind. For example, the show constantly examines whether religion is a valid way to provide hope to humanity or just a way to grift and prey upon the weak-minded. BSG also questions many post-9/11 arguments, including whether sacrificing freedom for security is worth it and the morality of both occupation and occupied resistance. Hovering over all of it is an eerily prescient exploration of mankind’s relationship with AI and the dangers of relying on technology we cannot fully understand or control.
Top Gun In Space
If all of this sounds too philosophical and abstract, don’t worry: Battlestar Galactica is famous (and rightfully so) for its killer action sequences. Ground-based battles are more exciting than almost anything in Star Wars, showcasing how terrifying it would really be to get hunted down by killer battle droids. But where BSG really shines is its space battles, which use Newtonian physics (another major departure from Star Trek) to showcase human Viper pilots completing one life-and-death maneuver after another against relentless Cylon Raiders. These battles are a microcosm of BSG as a whole: tension and heartbreak punctuated by moments of buoyant, triumphant joy.
While Battlestar Galactica is rightfully dubbed a modern sci-fi masterpiece, it’s not a completely perfect show. I have often joked that it has about three perfect seasons within its four-season runtime. Some parts of Season 3 and 4 are plodding, especially if you’re not a superfan of Baltar, whose character gets more or less reinvented every season. Plus, the series finale is controversial enough that fans are still griping about it to this day (and with good reason). But the ratio of good episodes to bad is nearly unparalleled in genre storytelling, and every sci-fi fan owes it to themselves to watch this groundbreaking show at least once.
Whether it’s your first time streaming it or you’ve lost count (it’s not just me, right?), Battlestar Galactica is always worth watching. Better still, it’s currently streaming for free on Pluto TV, where you can watch every episode on demand. It’s a show unlike anything else in science fiction, and after more than two decades, we haven’t had anything nearly as brilliant. Plus, we live in an age where the robots have won and AI has taken over almost everything. Why not watch a show where humanity learns how to put those clankers in their place?
So say we all!
By Brian Myers
| Published
Stephen King is anything but shy about his opinions. Whether it’s politics, current events, or cinematic adaptations from his own massive body of work, the publicly acclaimed “Master of Horror” typically leaves little to the imagination when it comes to his thoughts. So, when the bestselling writer gives kudos to the Netflix Thriller Lord of the Flies, his words are seen as a giant stamp of approval.
The Salem’s Lot author took to X to post his stamp of approval for the limited series. “I had my doubts, but it’s remarkable. Captures all the horror and mystery of lost children descending into… well, you decide,” King tweeted on May 5. And when new audiences dig into the episodes, they’ll quickly catch on to what he was alluding to.
The story begins when a group of adolescent boys finds themselves stranded on a deserted island following a plane crash into the Pacific Ocean. With no adult survivors, the band of boys organizes itself into a makeshift society in order to overcome the harsh conditions thrust upon them. A fundamental difference of ideas between two of the older boys leads to a schism in the group, pitting the two factions against each other. As the society they build begins to evaporate into fear and violence, it’s a battle between the virtues of intellect and civility and the base animal instincts of dominance and survival.
The four-part series is based on the 1954 novel by William Golding. The 2026 adaptation stays loyal to Golding’s source material, save for the series taking creative liberties with several of the characters’ backstories and some rearranging of the timeline of events that unfold.
With a cast of virtually unknown British actors, Lord of the Flies is able to bring a sense of horrific realism to the small screen that an ensemble cast could not. When watching, it’s as though these young men and boys could pass as ones we know in our everyday lives, working to make the tragedies they have faced all the more harrowing and the social deconstruction they work to survive even more terrifying.
The 2026 series was produced by the filmmakers at Eleven for the BBC. It was released in early February in the United Kingdom, before debuting in the United States on May 4 on Netflix. Soon after its debut, fans and critics alike weighed in, leading to the new release holding a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95%.
The BBC show isn’t the first time Lord of the Flies has been adapted for the screen. In 1963, British director Peter Brook led a cast of unknown performers in a critically acclaimed film that was listed as one of the top films of the year by the National Board of Review. In 1975, the Filipino release of Alkitrang Dugo served as a loose adaptation of the novel and went on to secure several award nominations in the Philippines.
Fifteen years later, Lord of the Flies was released in theaters by Castle Rock Entertainment. The American adaptation received mixed reviews from the critics of its era, and hasn’t fared much better in retrospect. Bringing in $13M over a $9M budget kept it from being a box office flop, but the short theatrical run and lower-than-expected ticket sales held it back from being a success.
You can stream the 2026 Lord of the Flies series with a subscription to Netflix.
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Most television spinoffs are, by definition, very similar to the original show. For example, Star Trek: The Next Generation gave us new characters and a new ship, but it still had all the fundamentals of The Original Series: an intrepid crew seeking out new life and exploring strange new worlds.
Meanwhile, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and the other countless spinoffs of Law & Order retain the original show’s killer combination of police investigative work and courtroom drama. The logic behind this is, of course, that you shouldn’t rock the boat too much with a new spinoff, and it should deliver the formulaic comfort food that audiences crave.
And then there’s Angel (1999), the spinoff of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While the original show was about a happy-go-lucky group of young people fighting both external and internal demons, Angel was a grim neo-noir centered on a centuries-old vampire with a soul.
If that’s not bold enough, this show reinvented itself almost every season, keeping its most fervent fans on their toes. For this and many more reasons, this decades-old show remains the most ambitious spinoff in television history.
Angels and Demons
Angel was introduced in Season 1 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and he quickly became a fan-favorite character. Not only did audiences dig looking at hunky David Boreanaz, but they ate up the premise that he was a tortured vampire with a soul who inexplicably fell in love with a vampire slayer. Star-crossed lovers with a supernatural twist, the Buffy/Angel pairing would (for better or for worse) go on to inspire literature ranging from Twilight to A Court of Thrones and Roses. Sadly, their union wasn’t meant to be, and at the end of Buffy’s third season, Angel left Sunnydale to hang a shingle in Los Angeles.
He becomes a private detective seeking to “help the helpless,” and he is soon joined by Buffy’s former frenemy, Cordelia. The spinoff’s cast changes over time, introducing brand-new characters like Charles Gun and Winifred Burkle along with returning character (and former Watcher) Wesley Wyndham Price. While the faces and locations changed over time, one thing remained the same: Angel continued to expand everything we know about the beloved universe of Buffy. The final season completely changed things up, giving our heroes the keys to an evil law firm they hope to redeem with the help of Spike, who is inexplicably alive again after his heroic death in the final episode of Buffy.
New Enemies, New Allies
Ironically, Angel’s greatest strength is that it’s almost completely different from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Sure, there are some familiar elements, including colorful characters and quirky, Whedon-esque dialogue. But the show takes its tonal cues from its title character: while Buffy was as silly and quippy as its titular Slayer (Season 6 notwithstanding), Angel is as dark and brooding as its titular vampire.
Additionally, doing the right thing always comes at a price in Angel. Sure, your favorite characters save the city and save the world, but this often comes at the cost of their souls and even their lives.
While Buffy the Vampire Slayer notoriously has an ultra-depressing, ultra-edgy sixth season, Angel evenly spreads its existential despair throughout the entire series. That’s why the show isn’t for everyone: if you’re expecting something as bright, happy, and funny as Buffy, you’re going to be disappointed.
However, if your vampire tastes are a little darker (more like Nosferatu than Dracula: Dead and Loving It), you’ll likely appreciate this more mature take on supernatural storytelling. It helps, of course, if you’re a big fan of neo-noir. Even if you don’t care that much for the deep Buffyverse lore, you can enjoy the show for its episodic, mystery-of-the-week stories.
Call Your Friends And Watch It Together
Without giving too much away (seriously, you need to watch this show for yourself), part of what makes Angel unique in television history is its constant reinvention. There are multiple cast shake-ups, and the show goes from being a small-time detective procedural to morality play to family reunion to bonkers legal drama. This can admittedly be off-putting if you prefer static TV shows. Personally, I really enjoyed the fact that, quite literally, I had no idea where this show was going to go from its humble beginnings to its unhinged finale.
While the rest of the cast is great (I particularly enjoyed Alexis Denisof and the late, great Andy Hallett), Angel only works because of David Boreanaz. He has gone on to headline multiple successful shows, but Angel remains his best work. Boreanaz doesn’t have the most range as an actor, but he is pitch-perfect as a vampire with a soul: he broods with the best of them, he’s a convincing action star, and he has charisma to spare. He’s absolutely compelling in this role, and Angel remains proof that Boreanaz can be (with the right material) one of the most captivating leading actors in television.
Obviously, Angel isn’t for everyone, especially if you want something more in the vein of Buffy’s earlier seasons. But it remains the most ambitious spinoff in TV history, fleshing out the borders of this universe while stretching the boundaries of genre storytelling.
Fortunately, you don’t have to give up your soul to experience this show for yourself. Angel is currently streaming for free on Tubi, meaning you’re just one click away from watching the coolest, creepiest, and absolute craziest show on television. With this vampiric masterpiece, the storytelling stakes (pun full and bloody well intended) have never been higher!
Entertainment
Dua Lipa sues Samsung for $15 million for using her image to sell TVs without her consent
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Dua-Lipa_BRIT-Awards-051026-0aa6f509cc1d4afd8f15a986f145d130.jpg)
The singer, whose face has been featured prominently on packaging for the products, has accused the company of profiting from an endorsement she hasn’t given.
Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
Florals are cute, but nothing screams ‘Hamptons rich mom’ like gingham print. Whether you’re running errands, grabbing brunch or working at the office, gingham instantly elevates your aesthetic. Many gingham-print pieces cost hundreds, but we found a secret hub with picks starting at just $5.
Equally sleek and playful, these classy blouses, dresses, pants and skirts look much more expensive than they are, and it doesn’t matter how you style them. Our favorites add character to any outfit, including the basics you already have in your closet. Read on to find your new go-to spring-to-summer pieces!
13 Gingham-Print Pieces to Nail the Trend — From $5
Gingham-Print Blouses
1. Pretty Peplum: With a classic peplum shape, this puff-sleeve blouse has a naturally flattering silhouette for every figure. The sleeves add soft drama.
2. Fun Flutter: Sleeveless tops make you feel exposed, but full sleeves run hot. This flutter-sleeve number hits the sweet spot, covering the upper arms and leaving the rest bare.
3. Square-Neck Stunner: This square-neck blouse gives your wardrobe a different shape to work with, and it does so while highlighting your collarbone. Yellow is optional, but not really!
4. Office-Friendly: Bell sleeves and a crisp collar take this button-front shirt beyond basic. The structured fabric holds its shape through long meetings.
5. Trendy Queen: Toss this beachy blouse in your vacation tote and you’ve got a poolside cover-up and dinner top in one. It’s $5 well spent.
Take one trip to the Hamptons and it becomes clear: Lilly Pulitzer dresses are part of the rich mom summer uniform. If you want the look without the triple-digit price tag, these 17 Lilly Pulitzer-style dresses deliver the same billowy silhouettes, preppy details and eye-catching color palettes, yet start at just $8. You’ll look like […]
Gingham-Print Dresses
6. Classy Act: Maxi dresses often need shapewear, but this slimming smocked maxi does the work for you. It cinches the waist while skimming everywhere else.
7. Rich Mom: Channel country club energy in this collared midi dress that screams ‘East Coast money.’ It takes you from the beach to brunch without a wardrobe change.
8. Center of Attention: Picture this flouncy maxi dress at a vineyard or rehearsal dinner. People will think you dropped hundreds, but no, just $33 on Amazon.
9. Sporty-Chic: Pair this long-sleeve mini dress with white sneakers for errands or chunky sandals for weekend shopping. You’ll look like a Pilates mom either way.
Gingham-Print Pants and Skirts
10. Bye, Jeans: Jeans have no place in a warm-weather wardrobe. These billowy wide-leg pants are the secret to staying cool, delivering airflow and a put-together look at once.
11. Frills and Fuss: 100% cotton fabric and an elastic waist make these ruffle-hem pants incredibly comfortable. The frilly hems add a flirty finish.
12. Boutique Find: Pair this A-line gingham skirt with a tucked white shirt for the office or a basic tee for date night. The utility pockets make it look like a pricey boutique find.
13. Wardrobe Staple: These classic gingham pants feature a smocked waist that stretches while still defining your middle. You’ll reach for them at least twice a week.
Stiff trousers had their time in the sun, but the office dress code is finally shifting. Corporate queens are ditching tight trousers for loose, flowy jumpsuits that deliver all of the polish with none of the squeeze. Better yet, our favorites start at just $13 on Amazon! The chic jumpsuits we found take the decision […]
What was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime cruise quickly turned into an international health scare after concerns surrounding the Hantavirus. All we know is that it left passengers stranded at sea and sparked a massive multi-country emergency response. Now, after days of uncertainty and growing fear onboard, travelers are finally beginning to leave the ship.
RELATED: Hantavirus Cruise Deaths Spark Fear As Officials Push Back On Panic & The Internet Has Flashbacks
Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak Linked To Cruise Ship Arrives In Spain
The Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius reportedly arrived in Spain’s Canary Islands early Sunday morning following a deadly hantavirus outbreak linked to the vessel. Health officials confirmed at least nine suspected or confirmed cases connected to the spread, including three deaths involving a Dutch couple and a German woman. Despite the alarming situation, authorities said no additional passengers currently onboard were showing symptoms as evacuation efforts officially began.
Passengers Evacuate As Officials Urge Public Not To Panic
According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship is carrying nearly 150 passengers from more than 15 countries, including 17 Americans. Officials launched a carefully coordinated evacuation plan using small launch boats before transporting passengers directly from buses to flights out of Tenerife. American passengers are expected to return to the U.S. aboard a specialized medical repatriation flight coordinated by the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services before entering quarantine in Nebraska for monitoring.
Health experts have stressed that the public should not panic, with both the World Health Organization and CDC emphasizing that the risk of widespread transmission remains low. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesusstated that this outbreak is “not another COVID.” He further explained that hantavirus typically spreads through contact with infected rodents and that human-to-human transmission is considered extremely rare. Officials believe the outbreak may trace back to a Dutch couple. They reportedly traveled through parts of South America on a bird-watching trip before boarding the cruise in Argentina.
Health Agencies Investigate Cruise Ship Virus Outbreak
As investigations continue, more details have emerged about the terrifying timeline onboard the ship. Several passengers reportedly became seriously ill during the voyage. Furthermore, multiple emergency medical evacuations took place across different countries as the cruise continued its route through remote South Atlantic islands. The outbreak has now triggered international coordination involving the WHO, CDC, and several health agencies. Ultimately, authorities are working to determine exactly how the virus spread aboard the vessel.
RELATED: Disney Cruise Staffers Among 28 Detained In Child Exploitation Investigation Amid Federal Probe (PHOTO + VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
After Marshals revealed that Monica died off screen, another Yellowstone OG addressed if they are worried about their own character getting killed off.
Gil Birmingham weighed in on Yellowstone fans being worried about his character’s injury in the Marshals premiere, exclusively joking to Us Weekly, “I’m going to make sure they put that in my contract [that Thomas Rainwater can’t get hurt].”
Birmingham recalled how “dramatic” the reveal about Rainwater was.
“It still makes me laugh when people think I got shot,” he noted. “I took on shrapnel from the explosion.”
Yellowstone‘s spinoff Marshals killed off Kelsey Asbille‘s character Monica, but what was the reason for her onscreen death? The Sunday, March 1, episode of Luke Grimes‘ new CBS show revealed that Kayce Dutton’s wife previously died after she got cancer as a result of toxins dumped onto the Broken Rock reservation. Amid a strong reaction […]
Despite Rainwater surviving the accident, the moment was meant to set the scene for something bigger, with Birmingham explaining, “What we’re letting the audience know is that the responsibility of Rainwater now has increased to the point where he’s now a target exactly where John Dutton was.”
He continued: “So anybody that’s going to be a hindrance in terms of these outside forces that want to come in and utilize extract resources — be they people or minerals. That’s the politics and that’s the violence of the West. I’m glad I survived but it’s a new story line for Rainwater.”
The actor was interested in seeing how showrunner Spencer Hudnut evolved the stories introduced in Yellowstone.
“Spencer is entering — in terms of the Native communities — as not quite as familiar with it as Taylor [Sheridan] was. He didn’t live on the reservation with the Native community when he was younger like Taylor did. So kudos to him,” Birmingham said. “It’s a realistic portrayal too. There is a lost and there’s a lot of grief on our reservation and some of these things are very much tied into toxins that are being allowed to be dumped on to the reservation.”
Birmingham recalled being “crushed” when he found out that Monica was dead in the spinoff, adding, “At the same time, these things really hit you in the heart and they’re real things in real life.”
Paramount Network’s Yellowstone, which aired from 2018 to 2024, introduced Us to Kayce (Luke Grimes) and Monica (Kelsey Asbille), who remained at the center of the show until the finale. After teaching at a local school on the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, Monica went on to become a professor at Montana State University while navigating life with Kayce, who moved them back to the Yellowstone Ranch following his past tension with dad John (Kevin Costner).
Following John’s death, Kayce, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, became the new owner and operator of the Yellowstone Ranch. Kayce and Monica ended the show alive — and were still together — before Marshals began.
When the series premiered in March, fans were shocked to learn that Monica died after battling cancer.
“Kayce really needed — not that it wouldn’t have been great to have Monica back — but it kind of isolated him more akin to what his father was. He’s a single father trying to raise his family,” Birmingham said. “The kind of emotional trauma that must have been there for Kayce sets up not knowing what his purpose in life is. It was a great setup for going down that trail of how Kayce is going to redeem himself or find purpose in his life, which very much allows the integration of Rainwater and Mo.”
Birmingham also told Us about how Marshals has attempted to platform the Native community, saying, “It’s a delicate balance to run because we don’t want to be a show of messages. We really want to engage an audience and we want to entertain.”
He concluded: “But let’s use the opportunity to educate so it’s being handled so respectfully and honorably. Mo [Brings Plenty] is the Native consultant and he really has a hand in guiding it that way. He brings in his brother Joe as well. It’s important that we portray the importance of what traditional grievance is for us and how we honor those that have passed on.”
Marshals airs on CBS Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
Sports2 minutes ago
Barcelona vs Real Madrid LIVE, El Clasico: Marcus Rashford Scores Stunning Free-Kick, Barcelona Take Early Lead | FCB 1-0 RMA
Tech3 minutes ago
Anthropic Mythos AI finds thousands of zero-day vulnerabilities as Fed and Treasury convene bank CEOs on cyber rik
Entertainment4 minutes ago
Apple TV’s 8-Part Sci-Fi Thriller Doesn’t Have a Single Bad Episode
NewsBeat2 months ago
Manchester United reach agreement with Casemiro over contract clause amid transfer speculation
Politics1 month ago
US brings back mandatory military draft registration
NewsBeat1 month ago
Steven Gerrard disagrees with Gary Neville over ‘shock’ Chelsea and Arsenal claim | Football
-
Crypto World2 days agoHarrisX Poll Found 52% of Registered Voters Support the CLARITY Act
-
Crypto World3 days agoUpbit adds B3 Korean won pair as Base token gains Korea access
-
Fashion2 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Marianne Dress
-
Tech6 days agoImage AI models now drive app growth, beating chatbot upgrades
-
NewsBeat3 days agoNCP car park operator enters administration putting 340 UK sites at risk of closure
-
Business1 day agoIgnore market noise, India’s long-term story intact, say D-Street bulls Ramesh Damani and Sunil Singhania
-
Politics2 days agoPolitics Home Article | Starmer Enters The Danger Zone
-
Crypto World7 days agoBlackRock Buys $284M In Bitcoin On May 1 As The Best Crypto To Invest In For 2026 Sits Below A Pending Binance Listing
-
Entertainment7 days agoOlivia Wilde Reacts To Viral ‘Corpse’ Comparison
-
Sports7 days agoInter Milan Win Serie A Title After Victory Over Parma
-
Sports7 days agoLa Liga: Vinicius Jr scores twice as Real Madrid win to keep Barcelona waiting for title
-
Crypto World5 days agoUAE Free Zone Deploys Blockchain IDs to Verify Registered Firms
-
Sports7 days agoEvery word of Arne Slot’s heated rant after Manchester United win vs Liverpool
-
Sports7 days agoJoel Embiid urges Sixers fans not to sell playoff tickets to Knicks fans
-
Sports6 days ago2026 NHL playoff picks: Second-round predictions, series odds, Stanley Cup bracket
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Jennifer Lawrence’s Mary Jane Sneakers Are Spring’s It-Girl Shoe
-
Entertainment7 days agoMoroccan Reacts To Nick Cannon’s Dating Rules For His Sister
-
Entertainment7 days agoKylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet Hold Hands in NYC Outing
-
Crypto World4 days agoBlackRock CEO Larry Fink Discusses a New Asset Class
-
Crypto World7 days agoWarren Buffett Calls Stock Market a Casino and Warns U.S. Dollar Is Not Safe in 2026
You must be logged in to post a comment Login