By Robert Scucci
| Published 19 seconds ago

Not all genre mashes are created equal, and 2014’s Naked After Midnight (or After Midnight in some markets) is the most baffling one I’ve come across so far. The film is about a stripper who gets murdered at her place of work, The Candy Cat Club, and her news-anchor sister putting on a wig and posing as an exotic dancer to avenge her death. Along the way, she’s manipulated by her producer and therapist, both of whom want to take their one-sided relationships with her to the next level. Unfortunately for them, she’s a little too preoccupied with her poorly planned revenge arc to entertain their romantic advances.

The whole thing plays out like a bad episode of Law & Order: SVU, but with the added melodrama and sexual exploitation of Showgirls. In better hands, Naked After Midnight could have made for a solid comedy or parody film, but it leans hard into mystery thriller territory, stripping the film of any semblance of charm. Still, it’s so laughably bad, for reasons I’m about to get into, that it’s worth a watch if you’re a masochist like me and just want to watch the world burn.

News Anchor By Night, Revenge Stripper By … Also Night?

Naked After Midnight follows Constance (Catherine Annette), who learns about the murder of her stripper sister, Ann (Jeneta St. Clair), while reading the teleprompter at her news network job. Broken by the news, her suspiciously supportive boss, John (Tim Abell), allows her to take some time off to grieve. Her psychiatrist, Dr. Sam Hubbard (Richard Grieco), who is also suspiciously supportive of her (read: both men want her badly), gives her a shoulder to cry on.

Constance has a different plan in mind, though, and it involves avenging her sister’s death. To do this, Constance, who I feel the need to remind you is a public figure, throws on a blonde wig and asks Candy Cat Club owner Rikki (Tawny Kitaen) for a job despite the fact that she doesn’t know how to dance. The other girls at the club, like Misty (Tiffany Tynes), Britney (Cindy Lucas), and Zoey (Christine Nguyen), don’t take kindly to the prospect of a new stripper cutting into their tip pool. None of them seem all that broken up or concerned over the fact that Ann, somebody they worked closely with a day earlier, was murdered in the parking lot outside their place of work. While all of this is happening, Constance is haunted by apparitions of her dead sister, who just comes and goes as she pleases.

One of the club’s regulars, Julian (Bobby Rice), recognizes Constance from her news show and wants to help with the mystery. Constance is too busy talking to her hospitalized, brain-dead sister Sasha (Madison Ivy) about her revenge plot, though, despite the fact that she’s in a persistent vegetative state and has absolutely no clue what Constance is saying. As Constance digs herself deeper into the world of exotic dancing, she discovers truths she isn’t ready for, making her even more unhinged in her quest to find who killed her sister and return the favor.

Where Do I Start?

If Naked After Midnight had better acting, better production values, a better screenplay, and better direction, it could be a solid movie. If you were to scan that previous sentence with a sarcasm detector a la Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons, the machine would detonate in your hands. Every line of dialogue between the strippers feels ripped straight from the Mean Girls playbook, but without any wit or naive teenage charm. Everybody is incredibly mean here except for Rikki, who looks after her girls and always packs heat in her clutch bag.

The weird love triangle between Constance and her two persistent male suitors is laughable because it basically boils down to two grown men repeatedly saying, “Come on, you can talk to me, baby,” to a woman who has absolutely no romantic interest in either of them. The twist ending, which I honestly didn’t see coming, is beyond stupid and arrives so far out of left field that I questioned my own intelligence for a second. Looking back at everything that transpired leading up to it, though, I came to the conclusion that it’s not me. It’s the movie that’s dumb.

Most egregious, though, is The Candy Cat Club itself, which never seems to have more than five patrons inside. The stripper-to-customer ratio is basically one to one, and I have reason to believe that this comes down to budget limitations. Most of the unintentional humor comes from the fact that every single dancer is fighting over turf and tips as if the handful of men in the club have enough dollar bills to go around. The funny part is that they somehow do make it rain, which made me wonder what these guys do for a living because they show up every single night.

Everything about Naked After Midnight is confusing. It’s supposed to be a revenge story, but once you get to the reveal, that premise is completely undermined, making the entire buildup feel pointless. At the same time, it’s so unintentionally hilarious that you kind of have to watch it if you’re looking for something insane to take your mind off things. But be warned: there’s a fair amount of nudity here, and nobody really knows how to dance, which somehow makes the whole thing even more awkward.

NAKED AFTER MIDNIGHT SCORE

As of this writing, you can stream Naked After Midnight for free on Tubi. You’ll need the ad breaks for this one, but you’ll laugh a few times too.

“The Bachelor” alum Colton Underwood is going to bat for his son, Bishop. After sharing a photo of himself posing with his 20-month-old son, a social media troll left a shady comment about the minor that Underwood took issue with. In a series of posts thereafter, Underwood defended his parenting skills and shamed the troll for using “loaded comments to express disapproval” about his lifestyle.

Underwood recently uploaded a photo of himself with his son, Bishop, to his Instagram. According to Us Weekly, one netizen replied to the image, writing, “I feel bad for that kid.” While it’s unclear what the commenter meant, Underwood assumed the user’s comment was a dig at the reality star and his husband, Jordan C. Brown.

Underwood clapped back at the troll, pinning their comment in a separate post and writing, “Genuinely curious what you meant by this. Because if you ‘feel bad’ for Bishop, I’d love to understand why. He’s loved, supported, celebrated, happy and surrounded by people who show up for him every single day.”

Colton Underwood Slams Adults Who Use ‘Loaded’ Language To Belittle Other People Over Differences

That wasn’t all Underwood had to say. Continuing, the 34-year-old implied that he was more than capable of providing his son with what he needed to be successful. “What a child actually needs protection from isn’t a loving family,” he said.

Underwood, who came out as gay in April 2021, then blasted the social media user for using their words to put him and his family down.

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“It’s ‘adults’ who use vague, loaded comments to express disapproval they don’t have the courage to say out loud. Words like yours, ambiguous enough to deny, pointed enough to wound, are exactly how kids learn that who they are is something to be ashamed of. That’s the thing worth feeling bad about,” he said.

Underwood opened up even more about the pain comments such as the ones above can cause him and his family. In the caption, Underwood explained that he actually wrote about these moments in his memoir, “Dear Bishop.”

“Some days they don’t affect me. Other days they ruin my day,” Underwood said. “Most days, they remind me why sharing my life this publicly is worth it…because somewhere there’s a kid, or a man, who might find comfort or something familiar in my story. That’s what keeps me living openly.”

Netizens quickly rushed to Underwood’s defense to drown out the negativity, with one cheering, “Keep sharing. The world needs to see it!” Another one of Underwood’s followers wrote, “That boy is sooooo lucky to have yall as his parents.”

Underwood Felt Slighted By His Co-Star During His Season Of ‘The Traitors’

this moment with Michael Rapaport on the newest Traitors episode is so vile. love that Rob Rausch immediately clocked him for the incorrect grammar though

Michael: “Nobody in this room would be better at holding a secret than you”

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Colton Underwood: “There it is. You think it… pic.twitter.com/kDcPZkUfMo

— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) January 16, 2026

Earlier this year, Underwood was the topic of conversation when his “Traitors” co-star, Michael Rapport, said, “Nobody in this room would be better at holding a secret than you,” during one of the show’s heated round-table discussions. While Rappaport later said his comments were taken out of context, many viewers labeled them as homophobic.

According to The Blast, Underwood admitted to being a bit thrown off by Rapport’s comments, saying, “The reason I said yes to doing a show like ‘The Traitors’ is it’s not personal.”

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He added, “The drama and the intensity of the show is always so game-focused, so I think that’s what just threw me a little bit, is when it got personal and he was using me as a human being instead of my gameplay against me. That’s what caught me off guard, and I think you felt that and saw it in the episode.”

Rock Singer Comes Out As Gay

Per The Blast, rock singer Caleb Shomo recently came out as a “proudly gay man” after 14 years of marriage to his wife, Fleur Shomo.

“This is something I’ve been unpacking and reckoning with in my life for quite some time now. It’s been difficult to navigate the feelings surrounding the subject and figure out what to do with this fact,” he wrote in his heartfelt post.

Fleur broke her silence on the news hours after Caleb went public, saying their years of marriage were “wonderful and full of so much fun, adventure, and love.”

“Nobody will know anything about our marriage like we do. And no one can ever truly know what depths of love exist between two people unless they are those people,” she said. “I already miss it & my husband more than anything. Our story was a good one. And now it’s done.”

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An elderly couple in California was found dead in a suspected murder-suicide after the wife had allegedly been scammed by someone claiming to be actor Tom Selleck, according to a longtime friend.

Deputies from the Thermal Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to a home in Bermuda Dunes on May 15 around 12 p.m. to perform a welfare check at the home of Karen Whitaker and Donald Whitaker, according to a news release shared by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

Upon their arrival, deputies found Karen, 79, and Donald, 80, who were suffering with traumatic injuries. Donald and Karen were eventually pronounced dead at the scene.

Their friend Joy Miedecke later told People that Karen asked some of her friends for money one day before their deaths, claiming that Selleck’s manager’s wife had died and he needed financial help.

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“That was the last straw for Donald,” Miedecke, 81, told the outlet. “He was so embarrassed. He could not believe she would ask her friends to participate in this scam.”

Police found evidence that suggests the Whitakers’ deaths were the result of a murder-suicide, per the release. However, authorities have not said who was responsible for the killings.

“Homicide investigators are still actively investigating the incident and will complete a thorough investigation before releasing a final disposition,” the sheriff’s office said in the statement.

The sheriff’s office added that they found no evidence to lead them to believe a third person was involved in the deaths.

Miedecke told the outlet that Karen began communicating with a person or persons impersonating Selleck, 81, in the summer of 2025. The alleged scammer gained Karen’s trust by using information about her that was available on her Facebook profile.

The scammer first came into contact with Karen after she posted a message on Facebook about a friend who had passed away, according to Miedecke.

“Then, the [scammer or scammers] said, ‘We’re going to come out to the desert and have an event, and Karen, you can be first on the list if you just send $80,’” Miedecke claimed.

Miedecke said Karen sent the scammer amounts of money that gradually grew to thousands of dollars, and her friends urged her to stop sending money. However, Karen – who was potentially experiencing early-stage dementia – never believed she was being scammed.

“She thought it was really Tom Selleck,” Miedecke said. “Nobody could stop her.”

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New details have emerged in the wake of Katherine Hartley Short’s tragic death, which has officially been ruled a suicide. Katherine, the only daughter of actor Martin Short, was cremated on Friday, February 27, after she died at her California home on Monday, February 23, according to her death certificate. She was 42. The certificate […]

Miedecke reported the matter to authorities and adult protective services workers visited the couple’s home, which was when Donald first allegedly learned about the scam. Donald and the couple’s adult children cut off Karen’s access to financial accounts once they became aware of the situation, according to Miedecke.

While it has not been confirmed how much money Karen sent the impersonator, Miedecke estimated she sent at least $30,000.

Donald reportedly was unable to convince Karen she had been scammed, and Miedecke said he could not cope with their financial loss. “He had said a couple of times to friends that he didn’t know how to handle this and he couldn’t cope with it,” she said.

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Miedecke claimed Donald was open about his thoughts to take his own life, though he said he would never go through with it because he could not leave Karen with access to their money.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department asked that anyone with information regarding the case contact Central Homicide Investigator Hood at (951) 955-2777 or Thermal Station Investigator Gutierrez at (760) 863-8990.

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Young and the Restless has Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) determined to reunite with Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman). And she might have a ruthless new plan in motion to make it happen that involves kidnapping Diane Jenkins Abbott (Susan Walters) and holding her hostage until she gets what she wants.

We’re going to talk about whether Patty might have kidnapped Diane so she can use her as a bargaining chip to get Jack to marry her.

Kyle Tells Jack That Diane Is Missing

All right, so this week we’ve got Kyle Abbott telling Jack that he’s worried about Diane. That comes later this week. Something is off according to Kyle because his mom Diane skipped two days of work at Jabot without checking in. And then Kyle went over to see Diane at the GCAC and he went in her room and he saw that her bed hasn’t been slept in either.

So Kyle tells Jack none of this is normal for Diane and he definitely thinks that something is wrong. And last week, Patty sent Jack a big bouquet of flowers with a note saying that Patty’s going to take a step back and give Jack some space. But then Patty’s note also said that she hopes Jack has reason to reach out to her soon. Well, Diane might be that reason.

Patty might think if she gets Diane out of the way, then Jack may assume Diane gave up on their marriage and left town. But we know Diane wouldn’t leave without at least telling Kyle. However, Patty might try and convince Jack that Diane abandoned them just like she did when she faked her death. In Patty’s warped mind, she really thinks if Diane is gone, then poof, Jack would get back with her. She’s delusional, obviously.

Young and the Restless: Jack Says Patty Hasn’t Changed

This week, Patty runs into Jack and asks if he got the flowers. Jack snaps that yes, and he threw them in the trash. And then he just walks away from her. Patty goes running after him to ask if Jack still wants to work with her to take down Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). And he says that Patty didn’t seem interested. And then Jack slams Patty for helping Victor ruin his marriage.

Jack says Patty hasn’t changed. She starts saying she can prove it. And then she brings up that Jack forgave Diane for lying and faking her death. But Jack says Diane was redeemable where Patty’s not. Jack says he still loves Diane. And of course, he doesn’t love her. Of course, this doesn’t faze Patty, who says she loves a challenge and says Jack’s going to be surprised at how things work out. That’s another red flag.

Patty Tells Victor She’ll Be The Next Mrs. Jack Abbott

So, it sure sounds like Patty’s cooking up a big batch of crazy because she is determined to get Jack back. And next, Patty headed over to see Victor Newman and tells him she’s staying in Genoa City. She’s going to be a prominent citizen and she wants Newman’s support. And then Patty doubles down on the nuttiness and tells Victor she’s going to be the next Mrs. Jack Abbott.

And that has Victor laughing right in Patty’s face. He calls her delusional. But she reminds Victor that she already married Jack twice. Now, if you recall, first time he married Patty, he didn’t love her. He was still sleeping with Diane on the side, and he was trying to prove to his dad, John Abbott, that he wasn’t just a playboy. Yet, Jack was late to their wedding because he was in bed with Diane. And the second time Jack married her, he didn’t even know it was Patty.

There was plastic surgery, trickery, and she had a new face and a new name and lured Jack in. So clearly, Patty is never going to give up on Jack. And in her bag of cats brain, Patty is already seeing herself in a wedding gown with Jack as her groom. So, I’m thinking that Patty snatched his wife when Diane was on her way to the mansion to try and work things out with Jack as she had left on a message.

Patty Is Dangerous And Capable Of Kidnapping

And Patty might be keeping Diane somewhere out of the way. My first thought is the Abbott Cabin because Patty was held there once while she was kidnapped. And by the end of this week, Kyle and Jack begin to realize something’s up and that Diane might legit be in trouble.

I’m sure Jack’s going to make some calls to see if anybody’s seen Diane. And then Jack might really think about that note with the flowers and realize, oh, maybe this is what Patty was referring to, the reason that Jack would contact her. The reason being Diane is missing. And yes, Patty is totally capable of kidnapping Diane. Just a little Young and the Restless history.

Young and the Restless: Patty’s Past

Back in 2009, Patty herself was kidnapped, stashed at the Abbott cabin, and Jack’s niece, Colleen, who’s Traci’s daughter, was looking for Jack, but she found Patty instead, and then she freed her. Instead of thanking her, Patty took Colleen hostage, dragged her to a remote camp, and Patty tied her to a tree. So, Colleen was in a panic, she got loose, she stole a canoe, and she paddled out onto the lake trying to get away before Patty found her.

Then Colleen fell out of the canoe. She nearly drowned. She suffered total brain damage. And it was her uncle Jack who found her like that and rushed her to the hospital. At the same time, Patty was running around unhinged and she shot Victor. And then he needed a heart transplant. And Traci relented and let Colleen’s heart save his life because her daughter would never recover.

Young and the Restless: Victor Goes Off the Rails

This is the level of dangerous crazy that Victor invited back into everybody’s lives when he brought Patty to town, and Victor re-energized her fixation on Jack by setting it up so Patty could sexually assault Jack. So, I suspect that if Patty reveals she has Diane, then Jack’s going to take it very seriously because she’s dangerous. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Patty said the price of Diane’s freedom and safety is for Jack to marry her. And of course, he would be appalled.

But yeah, I think Jack would do it, whatever he had to do to keep Diane safe. And I think Patty knows that. And I don’t think she cares how she gets Jack as long as she gets Jack. I’m sure Patty’s got a whole twisted happily ever after scenario in her head for her and Jack. In Patty’s crazy brain, Diane is the only obstacle in their way. Because Patty will never accept that Jack simply doesn’t want her, doesn’t love her, and will never ever want to be with her. That sexual assault on the yacht only has Patty even more convinced that Jack wants her and there’s still something there. And threatening Diane’s life would probably be the quickest way to get what she wants.

Now, I will say maybe Patty didn’t snatch her. Maybe Y&R is doing something really boring as crap, which would be typical. Maybe Diane took an unplanned trip to San Francisco and she didn’t tell Kyle, or Diane decided to take a no phone spa weekend and didn’t let Kyle know or she left a message and it never got delivered.

Young and the Restless: Victor’s True Colors?

But I kind of doubt it because the last time we saw Diane, she left Jack a voicemail saying that she’s still hurt but she loves Jack and she wants to find a way forward. Now, maybe that message got deleted somehow by Patty and then Diane had said in the same message that she was coming to the Abbott mansion to talk things over. That’s the last we saw or heard of her.

So, Patty might have grabbed her, managed to delete the message, and she’s stashed Diane at the Abbott cabin or in a dingy warehouse or even has her tied up in her bathroom in her suite at the GCAC. I am expecting the reveal of something crazy with Jack, Diane, and Patty very soon.

Now, one thing I hope is if she has kidnapped Diane and does something violent to her, that Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) will realize the depths of depravity that Victor has unleashed and that she will truly understand once and for all that the man will never change. He is not redeemable and he does not deserve Nikki.

Yung Miami has the gals and guys in a chokehold over her new song ‘Spend Dat!’ And while she’s encouraging folks to spend that bread, she’s no stranger to watching her lyrics unfold in real life. Most recently, she revealed that a man once dropped $2.3 million on her in a single date. While she didn’t say WHO went in their Goyard bag to make it happen, the internet is speculating the big spender is her ex, Diddy.

RELATED: Four Times Diddy Wooed Yung Miami From A Gifted Maybach To A Lavish Vacation

Yung Miami Reveals Her Most Expensive Date Yet

Miami shared her pricey date experience during an appearance on Jordyn Lucas’ livestream. They were sitting on the outside part of what appeared to be the Miami restaurant, Crab Shack, when Lucas asked, “So what’s the most you done got out of a n*gga? Money-wise?” After a small smirk, Yung Miami spoke about a particular date night.

“I’m not gon’ lie, like I had a date night. It was like $2.3 million,” Yung Miami said. She doubled down to someone off-camera, saying, “Like, I ain’t even lying. Swear to God on my kids b***h.”

When Lucas returned from taking a shocked walk around the restaurant, Yung Miami tripled down on the amount. Jordyn responded by saying she’s entertaining the wrong men.

Social Media Mentions Diddy After $2.3M Date Reveal

That particular clip from Jordyn Lucas’ livestream has been going viral on social media. The main question has been: WHO spent $2.3 million? Despite the viral curiosity, Yung Miami has yet to name the big spender. But between her fans and the internet in general, Sean Combs has been a strong contender.

In The Shade Room’s comment section, nearly 5,000 roommates weighed in and Diddy’s name, including his nicknames, was all over it!

Roommate @browngirlz74 commented, “Diddy we know spent a 💰.”

“The Diddler was definitely the Spender 🤑 💃🏾,” @waxingqueenadventures wrote.

“We know it was Diddy if anything,” @_monika2you said.

“I believe it …Diddy money long 😂,” @nayknowsitall added.

“Girl Diddy was a Billionaire we know it was him 😭,” @f0reverr_alize commented.

@konyiaa said, “That’s why she wrote that letter to the judge 😂 iykyk,” referencing the character letter she wrote about Diddy amid his sex trafficking trial.

@jugginsworth added, “When you realize it’s Diddy 😭😂.”

@s.elizaaaa wrote, “Diddy went in that Goyard bag.” 

“Definitely was the baby oil master that spent it 😂😂,” @cartier_215 commented.

“I believe it, I saw that video of Diddy taking her shopping 🙌🏾🙌🏾,” @93thug_life said.

“It definitely was diddy and he upgraded her lifestyle and mindset as it should be,” @__gracefullybroken__ added.

“Only one man gave her that and we know this,” @bra.titude wrote.

“She got the best version of him after everyone done experienced hell😭Miami really got lucky but PERIOD💅🏽,” @kyrathelibra commented.

“Yeah, she definitely talk about P. Diddy. He beyond tricking he’s giving you a new identity.😂😂,” @richlifeshawtydred said.

“Diddy was her trick how yall surprised? Lol,” @thatstrixie added.

“Just say Diddy.. let’s not play the guessing game,” @omegablack79 wrote.

“Oh Didd-He?? 👏🏾,” @_b_reese commented.

“We know it was Diddy ❤️,” @envy.meb said.

See additional X reactions HERE. 

Diddy Used To Have Caresha Living Lavishly

Again, there’s no confirmation from Yung Miami on whether Sean Combs was her $2.3 million sponsor. However, what we do know is that before the flood of sexual assault lawsuits, his viral trial and shocking conviction, Combs was spending a bag on Caresha! Here’s a lil’ recap. In 2022, he gifted her a custom ‘LOVE’ diamond chain by the famous jeweler, Benny. That same year, Diddy gifted her a Maybach SUV.

Awkay! Diddy got Yung Miami a chain 🥶 (🎥: @bennydajeweler) pic.twitter.com/LlkubGFyf6

— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) September 14, 2022

Then, there were the vacations, including adventures on his super yacht. He also aided her in launching her award-winning show, ‘Caresha Please,’ on Revolt, which led to other ventures like her popular card game.

RELATED: Yung Miami Speaks On Diddy & Why She Wrote Character Letter Supporting Him Despite Footage Of Him Assaulting Cassie

Days of Our Lives brings some hot couple chaos ahead as we head into the lazy, hazy days of summer. We saw Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) in his Marine dress blues looking quite hunky on Memorial Day, and he put Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) in her place when she was trying to low-key flirt with him.

Plus, we have Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson) waiting in the wings. And also, Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) is spending time with his baby and his baby mama while Stephanie Johnson is in China.

Gabi And Philip Split Up After Corporate Spying Reveal

So things finally blew up in Gabi’s face when sneaky Anna DiMera spilled the beans to Philip that Gabi’s corporate spying nearly wrecked Titan’s future. She reported back to Tony DiMera who took the info about the forged letter from Victor and of course he used it against Philip and Xander Kiriakis (Paul Telfer). And let’s be clear, Gabi did this 100% on purpose because she wanted to be DiMera’s CEO even though she didn’t need it and she already had Gabi Chic.

Of course, Anna was trying to help Tony. But she messed things up. And now he thinks Gabi will assume that he told Philip and that she won’t take the job. Ironically, Gabi does not suspect Tony. She thinks that Theo Carver did it even though Gabi lost her shot with Philip. At least, you know, Gabi will have piles of cash to console herself because Philip gave her verifiable proof that Vivian forged the divorce papers and that Gabi is in fact Stefan’s widow.

Days of our Lives: Gabi Gets No Grace?

Plus, if she wanted it, Tony would absolutely still give Gabi the CEO job. And that would drive EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) off the deep end. But if Gabi takes the job, then there’s no chance in hell that Philip would ever ever take her back. Now, as it stands, I’m not sure he would ever take Gabi back no matter what. So, she may have nothing to lose where Philip is concerned.

The breakup was messy and Gabi got dumped in broad daylight right in the middle of Horton Town Square after Philip confronted Gabi and she finally confessed the ugly truth. Philip even told Gabi that he might have forgiven her if she had confessed on her own rather than being forced to come clean. If you remember, she almost told Philip on that Valentine’s Day trip he took Gabi on to Miami. But then she chickened out and now she’s eating crow. So, we’ve got Philip and Gabi split up. They’re both single and soon things may take a turn for them both.

Theo Has A Crush On Gabi

Right now, she thinks that Theo betrayed her trust and ratted her out to Philip because Theo has a crush on her. And if you remember, Gabi read Theo’s journal that day when he left it at the pub. And Gabi saw him talking about this woman that he was really into, and he just called her G, capital G. So, it’s clear who Theo meant. And soon, Gabi is going to confront Theo about her blow up with Philip and getting dumped. But as we know, Theo never betrayed Gabi’s trust. He’s known for a long time that she was doing dirty work for Tony and then his uncle double-crossed Gabi. And obviously Theo will deny telling Philip because he didn’t.

And I’m guessing Gabi will bring up his crush and Theo may confess, okay, fine, I’m into you. But that’s why he would never betray Gabi’s trust like that. Theo would never manipulate or hurt Gabi like that. And I think she’ll feel horrible for blaming Theo, who’s been nothing but good to her. From there, he may console Gabi over her heartbreak over losing Philip. And we might get a slow-burn romance for Gabi and Theo once her heart begins to mend. I bet we could even see Gabi and Theo enjoying some very personal fireworks by July 4th if they move it along.

What’s Next For Philip?

But the question is, where does that leave Philip, who’s single and may soon be ready to mingle? I could see a couple of options for him. First, there’s his ex, Belle Black, who Philip’s been crazy about for many years. They’ve been off and on. And Belle is low-key annoyed that Shawn Brady (Brandon Beemer) moved in with Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) while he’s recovering from the gunshot wound.

And of course, Belle had that lackluster zero chemistry date with Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd) that seems unlikely to go anywhere. But Belle also thinks Philip’s dodgy over the whole forgery thing. So, it may be a no for Belle on dating Philip again. And he seems committed to leaving Gabi in his rearview. So, I don’t think he’s going back in that direction.

Days of our Lives: Alex and Joy Get Closer?

However, another ex who might soon be possibly available is Stephanie Johnson. Her marriage may be on the rocks soon. She left Alex in Salem while she went to Hong Kong for her brother Trip’s wedding, and she told Alex to spend time bonding with his daughter Kelsey, who he’s supposed to have for his first solo visit. But we know Joy Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins) going to come along and she and Alex do some bonding as parents as they care for Kelsey together, according to official Days of our Lives spoilers.

And even though Joy insisted to Philip that she just wants a good life for her daughter with her dad in it, we all know Joy would love to have Alex in her life romantically with them happily hitched and raising their daughter together. Jeremy’s the one who brought Joy to town for just that reason.

And while Stephanie seems to be warming up to the idea of being Kelsey’s stepmom, this could take a bad turn soon because Stephanie could come back from her Asian adventure and decide she’s just not ready. Or while she’s gone, Alex and Joy get much closer and Stephanie doesn’t like what she sees when she gets back.

Days of our Lives: Stephanie is Stressed

The problem is even if she’s annoyed, her hands are tied. I mean, what can she do to tell Alex she doesn’t want Joy and Kelsey around because they’re a package deal and no way is Alex going to be apart from his daughter Kelsey ever again. Bottom line is despite Alex and Stephanie having that sweet sendoff, things could go awry. Did you guys see that heart box Alex gave her? It looked like the Days prop designer went to a middle school shop class with an old phone, some red Legos, and a pine box from Michael’s Arts and Crafts.

And if Stephanie is stressed out about the baby bombshell in her life, she might talk to her ex Philip, who would be more than happy to comfort her. Now, I don’t think that he would actively try and break up his cousin Alex and Stephanie’s marriage. But then again, maybe he would. We all know what he’s done before. Philip just opened up to Amy Choi about faking his death.

And of course, we all know he did that out of jealousy to frame Brady Black for his murder, so that Philip could run off with Chloe. So, never say never. But I think if Stephanie and Alex were on the outs already, Philip would definitely scoop her up on the rebound if he could.

Other Summer Romance Shakeups

I’m also expecting to see Xander and Sarah get closer over the summer since they’re still deeply in love. But just can’t seem to make it work. And that’s going to leave Brady Black out of luck at some point between summer and fall. EJ DiMera is chasing Cat Green. But she’s still hot for Chad DiMera, who is custody agreement blocked from dating her.

EJ’s about to get hypnotized this week and uncover some more memories of him and Cat. That should be interesting. We’re also going to see Jada and Shawn really starting to heat up among some other pairs. So, it looks like a sizzling summer of romance, including some breakups, makeups, and shakeups for several Salem couples.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s wedding plans remain under wraps, but that hasn’t stopped one star from offering his services.

John Rzeznik, the founder, guitarist, and frontman of the rock band Goo Goo Dolls, recently expressed willingness to perform at the power couple’s highly anticipated union.

The singer is no stranger to Taylor Swift, as they previously collaborated during the “Bad Blood” hitmaker’s 2011 Speak Now tour. John Rzeznik’s comments follow claims of some guests possibly skipping the upcoming wedding.

Rzeznik shared his desire to perform at Swift and Kelce’s wedding during an interview at the 2026 American Music Awards in Las Vegas. “If I were asked, I would do it,” the singer declared. His relationship with Swift began in 2011 during her Speak Now World Tour.

At the time, Rzeznik and Swift performed the Goo Goo Dolls’ 1998 hit song “Iris” at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The younger singer hailed the track as “one of the best songs ever written,” but it wasn’t this statement that made her unforgettable in Rzeznik’s heart.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame honoree told PEOPLE that what impressed him the most about Swift was her maturity. “At the time she was still very young, and I expected a bunch of handlers to come and deal with me because I was a guest, but she did,” Rzeznik recalled, adding:

“I just remember thinking, ‘This woman’s got her sh-t together.’”

The Soon-To-Be Groom Is Allegedly Still Struggling With One Aspect Of His Fiancée’s Life

While Rzeznik is happy to perform at Swift and Kelce’s wedding, the soon-to-be groom is reportedly still trying to get used to his fiancée’s celebrity world. Sources spilled the tea on Rob Shuter’s “Naughty But Nice,” claiming Kelce wasn’t used to Swift’s security detail.

According to these sources, Kelce understands why Swift needs extraordinary protection, but it still feels unnatural to be surrounded by bodyguards. “Taylor’s life operates like a military operation. There are armored SUVs, armed guards, advance teams, private entrances, constant surveillance,” one insider said.

They shared that the heavy-duty protection was “still shocking” to Kelce, who also struggles with leaving Swift’s protection to the pros. “He wants to be the one protecting her. That’s part of how Travis sees himself,” the source added. Friends echoed similar sentiments, noting Kelce has become more protective of Swift.

The NFL Star’s Love Is Greater Than His Displeasure

Another source explained that Kelce “is happiest when life feels normal,” noting he has a naturally spontaneous personality. However, he could not have random nights out or make last-minute plans with Swift, whose “every movement has to be coordinated in advance.”

Despite these restrictions, the source stressed that Kelce remains committed to walking down the aisle with Swift. “He hates the limitations. But he loves Taylor more than he hates any of it,” they declared. The couple’s feelings go both ways, with Swift reportedly in love with her fiancé’s wild side.

Sources sang tales of Swift’s love for Kelce to Shuter after many speculated that she was embarrassed after the NFL star chugged a beer on camera. One source explained that Swift has always been aware of Kelce’s loud and playful personality and “she adores every bit of it.”

The Grammy Winner Loves Her ‘Refreshingly Real’ Fiancé

Another insider weighed in on Swift’s feelings for Kelce, noting that fans who assumed she was embarrassed by him were off the mark. According to the insider, people needed to stop comparing Kelce to Swift’s exes.

They described the singer’s ex-lovers as “polished” and “artistic,” stressing that Kelce’s spontaneous personality made him stand out from Swift’s past flames. “After years of complicated, image-conscious relationships, Travis feels refreshingly real,” the insider said.

They hailed the NFL star as “confident, grounded, and completely comfortable in his own skin.” Other sources agreed, claiming Kelce’s authenticity is one of the reasons why his romance with Swift grows stronger daily. These claims followed a wild moment at the Cavaliers game, where Swift covered her face while Kelce chugged a beer.

Some Guests Are Allegedly On The Fence About Attending Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Wedding

The love between Swift and Kelce is set to be officially cemented at their union; however, the details about the event remain unknown. Days earlier, The Blast reported that a source had shed light on the guest situation for the big day, revealing some attendees were not allowed a plus one.

The restriction sparked feelings of frustration and unfair treatment, with the source noting that they felt uncomfortable attending the event without a partner. On that note, some guests were allegedly contemplating making a solo appearance at the wedding.

The restriction aside, the venue of the wedding ceremony remains unknown, with sources claiming guests would likely learn the location on the wedding day. So far, July 3 has been widely reported to be the D-day, but Swift and Kelce remain silent about their preparations.

Will Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce take John Rzeznik’s offer?

A Louisiana woman was found guilty after she fatally beat her boyfriend’s 4-year-old daughter in a dungeon-like room.

The Vernon Parish District Attorney’s Office announced in a press release on Thursday, May 21, that Terrie Ann Gray was convicted of first-degree murder and second-degree child abuse in connection to the death of Athena Miller. Gray, 49, was also found guilty of second-degree child cruelty for abusing Athena’s 2-year-old brother.

Authorities learned about the abuse when cops were called to a home in Leesville on November 6, 2024, after they received a call about an unresponsive child, per the release. Athena was rushed to a local hospital and was later transferred to a trauma center, where she died on November 7, 2024.

A medical examiner ultimately determined Athena’s cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head.

Related: Couple Drove Corpse of Girl, 8, Across the Country After Death From Abuse

A woman and her boyfriend from Washington state learned their fate after they were arrested for taking her 8-year-old adopted daughter’s body on a road trip across the country after she died from abuse and starvation. The Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said in a statement that Mandie Miller was sentenced to serve 32 years […]

Athena and her brother started living with Gray just a few months before the young girl’s death. Their father, Logan Miller, has also been charged with abuse and is scheduled to go to trial beginning on October 19.

The girl died from “cardiopulmonary arrest, intracranial bilateral hemorrhaging, and non-accidental injuries from child abuse,” according to a courtroom report by KPLC.

Child-abuse pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Rodriguez took the stand and told jurors that Athena suffered from bruises, abrasions, lacerations and burns, which covered her body from head to toe. Rodriguez added that Athena’s injuries were clearly inflicted by someone else and were not the result of an accident, per the outlet.

Rodriguez also told the jury that the case had made a major impact on her. “I have not had many cases where it took me a while to be OK days after,” she said, according to KPLC.

Miller also reportedly took the stand during the trial, though he refused to answer questions about the case and pleaded the Fifth Amendment.

However, he initially confirmed while being questioned that he lived at the address on record, that he and Gray were in a romantic relationship and that he stayed with Gray, Athena and her younger brother at the time of the girl’s death.

Prosecutors said that Gray and Miller held the children in a dungeon-like room, claiming that Gray “hated Athena.” During the closing arguments, prosecutor Lea Hall reportedly showed photos of the horrific injuries that Gray inflicted on Athena.

Related: Couple Drove Corpse of Girl, 8, Across the Country After Death From Abuse

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A woman and her boyfriend from Washington state learned their fate after they were arrested for taking her 8-year-old adopted daughter’s body on a road trip across the country after she died from abuse and starvation. The Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said in a statement that Mandie Miller was sentenced to serve 32 years […]

However, defense attorney Antonio Sparks said there was no evidence that Gray was the one who inflicted the abuse on Athena and there was no proof that she hated the child.

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After Gray was found guilty, Vernon Parish District Attorney Terry Lambright issued a statement about the case’s outcome.

“I want to thank everyone involved in the investigation, preparation, and prosecution of this case. I would especially like to thank the family of the victims. My office will continue to seek to hold people accountable for horrific crimes such as these,” Lambright said, per the release. “This was a very difficult case for everyone involved to include the jury who had to view all of the evidence as it was presented at trial. Dealing with the mistreatment of children is one of the hardest things we have to face. I am very thankful the jury listened to the evidence and returned a just verdict.”

Gray is scheduled to be sentenced during a hearing on August 25. The only possible sentence for first-degree murder under Louisiana law is mandatory life in prison without the benefit of probation or parole, per the release.

Lots of science fiction movies slip through the cracks because they arrived at the wrong time, only finding audiences years or even decades later. Often, these are the films that took strange risks: paranoid identity puzzles, philosophical nightmares, low-budget cosmic mysteries, or surreal dystopias.

This list looks at some of these films, from neon-soaked cyberpunk thrillers to existential mind-benders. While the titles below aren’t that obscure, they’re still the kinds of movies that many sci-fi fans might not have gotten around to seeing yet. They provide fascinating, thought-provoking stories guaranteed to stay with the audience long after the screen fades to black.

‘The Face of Another’ (1966)

Image via Toho

“Do you think a face is just something you wear?” This Japanese New Wave gem centers on a disfigured man (frequent Akira Kurosawa collaborator Tatsuya Nakadai) who undergoes an experimental procedure to receive a lifelike mask, allowing him to re-enter society. However, as he adopts a new face, he also adopts a new personality and a new identity, testing boundaries he never would have crossed before, including attempting to seduce his own wife (Machiko Kyō).

The sci-fi elements are minimal here, used more as a springboard for existential musings. Who are we without the face others recognize? How much of morality is tied to identity? On release, The Face of Another flopped internationally, with most critics finding it inferior to director Hiroshi Teshigahara‘s earlier effort, Woman in the Dunes. However, it rewards those who stick with it with a lot of food for thought.

‘Enemy Mine’ (1985)

Image via 20th Century Studios

“You are my enemy… but you are also my friend.” In this one, two soldiers from opposing species crash-land on a hostile planet and are forced to survive together. They are human pilot Davidge (Dennis Quaid) and his reptilian Drac enemy, Jeriba (Louis Gossett Jr.), and they must overcome mutual hatred if they hope to have any chance of enduring the planet’s harsh conditions. This quirky space-opera setup builds up into an entertaining story about friendship.

Enemy Mine was directed (of all people) by Das Boot‘s Wolfgang Petersen, and he gets ambitious with the themes, going way beyond your average ’80s sci-fi flick. The film delves surprisingly deep into Drac psychology and society, telling us a lot about their religion, family structures, and ideas about lineage and honor. Ideas aside, Petersen also serves up some wonderful practical effects here that give the movie some old-school charm.

‘The Hidden’ (1987)

Image via New Line Cinema

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“How do you like being human?” What if a violent criminal could jump from body to body, leaving a trail of chaos behind while wearing the faces of ordinary people? That’s the pulpy, kinetic premise of The Hidden, a movie that confidently blends sci-fi, action, thriller, and even touches of horror. Kyle MacLachlan and Michael Nouri lead the cast as the FBI agents tracking the killer, who turns out to be a parasitic alien that transfers between hosts.

The flick moves with relentless momentum from its opening scene, hitting us with one killer chase sequence after another. It becomes a tense cat-and-mouse game, with the entity constantly shifting identities, forcing the protagonists to think on their feet. It’s the kind of movie that should not work but does thanks to committed stars and some confident direction.

‘Cube’ (1997)

Image via Cineplex Odeon Films/Trimark Pictures

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“There is no conspiracy. Nobody is in charge.” Another simple but juicy setup: a group of strangers wakes up inside a massive, maze-like structure made of interconnected cubes, many of which are rigged with deadly traps. The characters attempt to navigate the shifting labyrinth, but international tensions and eroding trust threaten to be almost as dangerous as the cube itself. This powerful concept keeps us hooked, proving good sci-fi doesn’t need elaborate effects.

Indeed, despite its tiny budget, the production design creates an iconic sci-fi setting using little more than a single modular cube room lit in different colors. That said, the real focus is on the characters and their psychology. Cube is a study in human dynamics under pressure. Each character represents different ways people respond to crisis: rationality, aggression, fear, compassion, selfishness and denial. They’re a microcosm of society facing calamity.

‘Mystery Men’ (1999)

Image via Universal Pictures

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“We’ve got a blind date with destiny… and it looks like she’s ordered the lobster.” The gleefully absurd Mystery Men tells the story of an incompetent team of second-tier superheroes who become their city’s last hope. These wannabe crimefighters (each with a barely useful power) include Shoveler (William H. Macy), whose weapon of choice is, you guessed it, a shovel; the Blue Raja (Hank Azaria), who throws cutlery; and Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), who draws power from anger.

The movie flopped hard on release, bringing in just $33.5m against a $68m budget. However, that failure was partly because it was ahead of its time, satirizing comic book tropes long before the genre became dominant. Today, though, Mystery Men feels remarkably modern, and you can see traces of it in later genre comedies and unconventional superhero stories. A fun send-up of/love letter to the genre.

‘Seconds’ (1966)

Image via Paramount Pictures

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“How many times have you wanted to start over?” This one has some parallels with The Face of Another, even coming out in the same year. Seconds follows Arthur Hamilton (John Randolph), a middle-aged banker who is secretly recruited by a mysterious organization offering clients a second chance at life. He becomes “Tony Wilson” (Rock Hudson), a younger, more artistically inclined version of himself, and is placed into a carefully constructed new existence.

At first, it feels liberating, but cracks begin to form almost immediately. The relationships are hollow, the experiences curated, and the protagonist’s sense of self grows increasingly unstable. Wish fulfillment curdles into existential horror. The visuals reflect sp, with stark and surreal black-and-white imagery and distorted wide-angle lenses. Many of Seconds‘ ideas ring even truer today in our world of online personas and social media performance.

‘The Faculty’ (1998)

Image via Miramax Films

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“I always thought it would be the jocks or the popular girls who’d take over the world… but it’s the teachers.” This banger from Robert Rodriguez fuses teen drama with invasion horror, mostly pulling off its tonal balance through sheer confidence. In it, a bunch of high school students (played by the likes of Jordana Brewster, Elijah Wood, and Josh Hartnett) begin to suspect that their teachers are being taken over by a parasitic alien species.

The characters are forced to work together as the infection spreads, testing who is still human and who has already been replaced. It’s like Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets The Thing meets My So-Called Life. What makes the movie endure is its self-awareness. It clearly loves older sci-fi invasion films and constantly references them, but it never feels smug or cynical about its influences.

‘Dark City’ (1998)

“First, there was darkness. Then came the strangers.” Dark City, directed by The Crow‘s Alex Proyas, is one of the great sci-fi noirs. The underrated Rufus Sewell leads the cast as a man who wakes up with no memory, in a city that never sees daylight, pursued by mysterious figures who can reshape reality itself. Soon, both the police and the “Strangers” are hunting him for reasons that slowly begin to reveal themselves. Around him, the city shifts, buildings rearrange, identities blur, and memory becomes the key to understanding everything.

From here, the movie feels like a nightmare assembled from memories of classic detective stories, German Expressionism, dystopian sci-fi, Edward Hopper paintings, and psychological horror. The atmosphere is immersive, the visual design is creative and memorable, and the philosophical aspects get surprisingly deep. The protagonist’s journey becomes a search for authentic selfhood in a manipulated reality.

‘Strange Days’ (1995)

Image via 20th Century Studios

“This is life. It’s a piece of somebody’s life. Pure and uncut.” Ralph Fiennes turns in a typically strong lead performance here as Lenny Nero, a former cop turned dealer of memory recordings. This technology allows people to experience someone else’s life as if it were their own. However, he gets more than he bargained for after receiving a particularly disturbing clip that entangles him in a murder conspiracy.

Another case of a movie arriving before audiences were ready, Strange Days made a devastating loss at the box office, but it feels uncannily prophetic in hindsight. Long before conversations about social media addiction, doomscrolling, VR escapism, and livestream culture became mainstream, the film was already warning about a society obsessed with consuming reality secondhand instead of actually living it.

‘Coherence’ (2013)

Image via Oscilloscope Laboratories

“I think this night is not going the way it was supposed to.” Coherence is a poster child for economical filmmaking, creating a fantastic sci-fi tale with a small cast, a single location, an 89-minute runtime, and a micro budget. It’s about a group of friends who gather for a dinner party on the night a comet passes overhead, and slowly realize that reality itself is beginning to fracture. They discover that multiple versions of their house, and themselves, may be overlapping, with dark consequences.

The rules of the phenomenon are never fully explained, but they’re consistent enough to create a sense of escalating dread, and a big part of the fun is watching the characters try to figure out ways of enduring this ordeal. It all builds up to a brilliantly grim conclusion, the perfect payoff for everything that’s come before.