By Robert Scucci
| Published 25 seconds ago

I’ve been running into a lot of unintended movie pairings lately, and 2025’s Ballad of a Small Player makes for the perfect companion piece to 2019’s Adam Sandler-starring Uncut Gems. In this film, Brendan Reilly’s (Colin Farrell) behavior mirrors the same kind of anxiety-inducing gambling spiral that Sandler’s Howard Ratner faces. Instead of sports betting, we’re in Macau throwing hands at baccarat, with equally disastrous results.

Ballad of a Small Player holds its own thanks to its supernatural undercurrent, implying that streaks of bad luck and the acts of desperation that follow are manifestations of hungry ghosts who insatiably feed on greed and opulence. These ghosts operate with no regard for the collateral damage left in the wake of the increasingly reckless decisions made by their human counterparts, making the whole thing feel like the kind of waking nightmare you’d expect after losing hundreds of thousands of dollars and still refusing to give up chasing the high of winning big.

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

Chronic gamblers often cling to their own set of superstitions to trigger a hot streak. Brendan Reilly, for example, won’t play baccarat without his lucky yellow gloves, even though he’s already lost nearly seven figures he either embezzled from his clients back in the UK or racked up from loan sharks in Macau while posing as Lord Doyle, a wealthy aristocrat who always has his sights set on the finer things in life.

Bouncing between penthouse suites, stuffing his face with five-star cuisine, and washing it down with expensive champagne, Brendan finds himself in a tight spot when his debtors, and the casinos they’re associated with, catch wise to his game. They refer to him as the white ghost, a supernatural entity fueled by greed and desire. His habits finally catch up with him when UK investigator Cynthia Blithe (Tilda Swinton) tracks him down, demanding he return the hundreds of thousands of dollars he has stolen, not knowing that his present financial standing is far worse than she could ever possibly imagine.

Brendan has a different idea for navigating his increasingly dire situation, one that involves his fledgling relationship with credit broker Dao Ming (Fala Chen) and the recent trauma she endured when one of her clients committed suicide after failing to repay his debts. Unable to function without the rush of his next big score, Brendan grows increasingly hedonistic, incapable of breaking the cycle that will either land him in jail or send him to an early grave.

An Exceedingly Stylish Downward Spiral

Colin Farrell’s portrayal of a desperate man who does not know when to stop mirrors Sandler’s performance in Uncut Gems while staying firmly in its own lane. It is the same personality type in a wildly different setting. Uncut Gems thrives on New York City grit, while Ballad of a Small Player luxuriates in penthouse suites, colorful casino floors, and elaborate Chinese architecture.

What truly separates the two films is how greed’s appetite is literalized through consumption in Ballad of a Small Player. Brendan is not just hungry for his next big win. He is trying to fill the bottomless pit that is his soul with rich food, the finest spirits, and whatever excess he can grab. When he is up, he cannot pump the brakes. When he crashes, his desperation becomes a force of nature because quitting is never an option in his mind. He believes the world is there for his taking, never fully grasping how far he’s fallen off the edge.

To bear witness to one man’s slow descent as his excessive habits drain the light from his eyes, you can stream Ballad of a Small Player on Netflix. If you want to keep the anxiety going, Uncut Gems is waiting on Max.

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The female chef who alleges she was assaulted by Stefon Diggs has shared a statement as he enters a not guilty plea.

RELATED: Yikes! Stefon Diggs’ Lawyer And New England Patriots Respond To His Strangulation Charges

Female Chef For Stefon Diggs Shares Statement On Alleged Assault

On Friday, February 13, the woman, who has not been identified in news reports, took to Instagram to share a message with the public. Furthermore, she wrote that she is writing to address the “false information that has been shared publicly.”

Additionally, she stated that she is a “professional chef” with 10 years of professional experience, and her “reputation” and “integrity” matter deeply to her. Claims that she engaged in “settlement discussions” with Digg, she says, are “untrue.” And she noted that she “never sought money” from him. Furthermore, she stated that she would “never” make false claims about domestic violence because she knows the allegations are serious and damaging.

“I did not seek public attention and reported this matter through the proper legal channels. This is an active criminal matter, and I will continue to respect the legal process,” she added by noting that she will not engage with “rumors” or “personal attacks.”

Instead, she noted that she is focused on “healing,” her work, and “moving forward with integrity” while trusting the legal process.

Social Media Reacts

Social media users weighed in on the female chef’s statements in TSR’s comment section. Many noted that Stefon Diggs appears to be taking back-to-back L’s with the loss of the Super Bowl and this criminal case.

Stefon Diggs Enters Not Guilty Plea In Alleged Assault Against Female Chef

Meanwhile, The Guardian reports that Stefon Diggs entered a not guilty plea to the strangulation and assault charges on Friday, February 13. His arraignment reportedly went down at the Dedham District Court in Massachusetts. Additionally, he was ordered to reappear in court on April 1.

Per the outlet, the chef alleges that on December 2, 2025, she confronted Diggs over money he allegedly owed her for her services. In turn, he allegedly smacked her in the face. And he allegedly tried to choke her by wrapping his elbow around her neck. Per PEOPLE, the chef reported the assault to police on December 16, 2025.

The Guardian adds that Diggs has denied the claims, and the New England Patriots have expressed their support for him.

RELATED: Stefon Diggs Breaks His Silence Following Strangulation Allegations From Former Private Chef (VIDEOS)

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem
Logistics Company CEO Steps Down …
After Epstein Link Revealed

Published
February 13, 2026
11:44 AM PST

James Van Der Beek‘s close friend is describing his family’s “urgent” need for money after his death.

“I’m just so happy and grateful that so many people feel moved in their hearts the way that those of us close feel,” designer Erin Fetherston told ExtraTV on Thursday, February 12, as the actor’s family raised more than $2 million in donations via GoFundMe. “There is a sincere and urgent need here for the family. They have really been through it, and I just want to thank everyone on their behalf who has given and who may feel inspired to give.”

Following his battle with stage III colorectal cancer, James’ wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and loved ones are struggling to stay afloat.

“These are six children who are facing life without a father,” Fetherston, 44, added. “Their amazing mother Kimberly has been a devoted wife and mom. She’s had six children and been public about losing babies along the way. She has been in the space of motherhood and supporting James all of these years. Now, she’s really left to pick up the pieces.”

Fetherston continued: “By supporting them, you’re helping them just maintain some stability in their life after going through a terribly challenging, painful, and heartbreaking journey that has ended in the loss of their father.”

Kimberly, 43, shared kids Olivia, 14, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 3, with James. The couple, who got married in 2010, previously revealed that Kimberly suffered five pregnancy losses.

In November 2024, James announced his stage III colorectal cancer diagnosis, writing via Instagram, “I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family. There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”

James was candid about his efforts to raise money for his treatment, which included selling memorabilia from his roles on Variety Blues and Dawson’s Creek. Fetherston told ExtraTV that James wasn’t able to work for the past two years.

“They tried everything to save his life,” she said. “And it’s just so hard that he’s gone now and also to be facing after already losing such a tremendous parent is nothing that I want to see them go through.”

Fetherston offered insight into her final moments with James, who died Wednesday, February 11, at age 48.

Related: How James Van Der Beek Dealt With Financial Stress of Cancer Diagnosis

James Van Der Beek dealt with significant financial strain before his death from stage III colorectal cancer at age 48 in February 2026. The former Dawson’s Creek actor and his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, shared six children — daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia and Gwendolyn and sons Joshua and Jeremiah — so they were forced […]

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“We all really held faith for a positive, miraculous outcome until the very end. James and Kimberly maintained such positivity through this journey, such high consciousness, always holding for a miracle, doing everything they could, trying everything,” she shared. “I mean, James, he put so much effort with all his strength to do this, and he did it with such grace, with a smile, still taking time to ask, ‘How are you doing? What can I do for you?’ I just did not imagine that this could happen.”

Fetherston expressed gratitude for the time she spent with James before his death, adding, “I had the chance to do that and say goodbye and see him. And even at the end, you know, I said to Kimberly, like, ‘He’s still beautiful.’ After everything he’s been through, he’s still emanating his love.”

Seeing such a “beautiful community” rally around James was meaningful for Fetherston.

“I think he really felt supported by all the love and the people who were able to be there at the end,” she continued. “He was just absolutely his authentic self until the very end — including people, making everyone a family, helping us all connect to one another.”

She concluded: “He leaves behind this incredible legacy of the most beautiful, kind family, and the most beautiful family of friends that would have never found one another had it not been for James and Kimberly and their open-hearted, generous way of living.”

Kimberly revealed on Wednesday that friends set up the GoFundMe for her family, sharing the link to donate via her Instagram Story “with gratitude and a broken heart.” Derek Hough, Zoe Saldaña and Steven Spielberg were among the A-list contributors.

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General Hospital has got a major leak and rumor roundup and we want to share with you from a very reliable inside source. We have a huge kidnapping to talk about, three big exits, and one despicable character coming back that you’re going to absolutely hate to hear about.

We have the latest leaks for you. This is the same leaker who told us months before the reveal that Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober) is the one who killed Sam McCall (Kelly Monaco). They leaked Maxie Jones’ (Kirsten Storms) medical leave and Chade Duell quitting as Michael Corinthos before that all rolled out, and we’ve reported it here.

This source is legit and has a good track record. Remember, with leaks and rumors, these are not confirmed spoilers, but we trust the source enough to share it with you. Unless it’s direct from the network, we still call it a rumor.

Now, let’s get into it. Let’s start with those three exits. One of them you’ve probably heard about is Jason Morgan (Steve Burton), but we’ve got additional details. Another one we’ve mentioned before seems to be manifesting. The third is brand new, really shocking, and is being compared to Chad Duell’s exit.

Steve Burton’s Temporary Exit from General Hospital and Jason Morgan’s Kidnapping Plot

News recently broke that Jason Morgan is taking a couple of months—two to three months—off of GH to spend time with his family and his new wife, Michelle Lindström. We’re going to have maybe 12 weeks of no Jason Morgan in Port Charles. That is not a rumor; that is definitely happening.

We have some details on his exit. The good news is that it is not another fake death story as Jason Morgan leaves. He has already taped his last episode, and our leaker said he needs the time to move from California back to Tennessee. He’ll be back to taping as Jason Morgan in late May or early June, which puts him on air roughly in July.

To facilitate Steve Burton’s exit, our leaker says that Jason is going to be kidnapped. That’s not totally surprising, but what is surprising is that it’s not Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) or the dirty WSB director, Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes), who kidnaps Jason. We will talk about this kidnapping in its own video coming soon, so check back for that.

Is Harrison Chase Leaving General Hospital? Detective Harrison Chase’s Future in Port Charles

The other exit that was leaked before is now feeling like it’s about to happen. We shared a while back that our leaker said Harrison Chase is leaving Port Charles and Josh Swickard will be leaving General Hospital. That rumor feels timely because Chase was demoted to beat cop and his marriage is hitting the skids soon.

Plus, Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) warned Chase to stay out of Michael’s investigation, but Chase is already in it because of Drew Cain Quartermaine’s (Cameron Mathison) house key. I suspect Chase is going to drop a hint to Mac Scorpio (John J York) about that because he’s the one overseeing the search for evidence against Michael.

I suspect Wiley Corinthos (Viron Weaver) may rat Chase out, and then he could end up losing his job. That might be too much for Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) because Chase’s devotion to Willow has really irked his wife. Plus, BLQ isn’t moving forward with adoption plans and there are already a lot of issues there.

Josslyn Jacks Exit Rumors: Is Josslyn Jacks Saying Goodbye to GH?

The third exit shared by the leaker is huge and one I didn’t see coming: Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy). Our source says Eden McCoy is leaving General Hospital, potentially for the same reason as Chad Duell did. I think that’s a reference to the Michael Corinthos actor’s father dying, after which he decided to step away from GH long-term to grieve and be with his family.

If you remember, Eden’s mom passed away in November 2023 after a more than two-year battle with cancer. In mid-December, about five weeks after her mom died, we said goodbye to Joss for six weeks when Eden McCoy took some time off. The rumor seems to indicate that she may be ready to leave the role of Josslyn full stop. We’ll see if that manifests.

Emma Drake Returns for Robert Scorpio’s Memorial Service on General Hospital

This next leak is to dispel another rumor floating around. There’s chatter that Braedyn Bruner is leaving GH as Emma Scorpio-Drake. The character exited temporarily to go to San Francisco and tell her parents, Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough) and Patrick Drake (Jason Thompson), about the Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) crisis. Anything you see about Emma leaving the soap is clickbait.

Emma is coming back. She’s also already confirmed to be present for her granddad Robert Scorpio’s (Tristan Rogers) memorial service. Regarding that service, we had heard they were scheduling Robert’s memorial and Robert’s offscreen death around Kimberly McCullough and Emma Samms’ schedules.

They play Robin Scorpio and Holly Sutton. However, rumor has it Emma Samms may not be available to film. The Holly Sutton actress has been battling long COVID for a while and she lives in England. I hope Emma Samms can be there as Holly, but we’ll see.

Anna Devane GH Update and the Sonny Corinthos and Valentin Cassadine Collaboration

An update on Finola Hughes: she is still on an extended break. That’s why Anna Devane is offscreen for the most part. However, Finola is still on contract. She will be filming this spring as Anna again full-time.

The leaker also said Cullum is picking up where Victor Cassadine (Charles Shaughnessy) left off with his corrupt reign as head of the WSB. We also heard that when they recast the new Charlotte Cassadine (Bluesy Burke), it was specifically for this Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) and Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) story.

The leaker also said Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Valentin are going to join forces. That makes sense because Sidwell is in bed with the WSB, which means Valentin probably shouldn’t work with him. The Sonny and Valentin collab ties into the bomb at Sonny’s apartment that burned Michael and is also supposed to tie up loose ends from the long-dragging Pikeman storyline.

Scout Cain’s Living Situation and a High-Stakes Incident for Danny Morgan

The next leak tidbit is that Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) and Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) debate where Scout Cain (Cosette Abinante) should live long term—whether it’s at Alexis’ house or at the Quartermaine mansion to be close to her brother, Danny Morgan (Asher Jared Antonyzyn). It’s unclear why they are hashing this out. It points to Drew still being locked in, or him losing custody, and maybe Willow going away for what she’s done.

This next leak is about an incident at a school, and it includes Jason Morgan, Danny Morgan, Dante Falconeri, and Alexis Davis, plus the PCPD cops and a stunt actor. The leaker said Danny may be in trouble. Plus, we heard that Jason is up on a roof in March. Maybe it’s for this plot or his upcoming kidnapping.

New Romance for Jason Morgan and Drew Cain Quartermaine’s Dark Pivot on General Hospital

There’s a rumor that they may be testing out a new love interest for Jason because allegedly Britt Westbourne’s (Kelly Thiebaud) comeback isn’t going quite as the powers that be hoped. I love Kelly Thiebaud and Britt is always fun. I personally love Jason and Britt together, so I hope it’s not true, but I report all the rumors, even the ones I don’t like.

Our source says Drew will not be redeemed with this Willow tournament story. Instead, he is going to pivot and go off in a different direction. If you were hoping Drew was going to exit, that’s not happening; Drew sticks around. One particularly wild rumor is that there might actually be two Nathan Wests (Ryan Paevey)—a real one and a fake one.

Is Peter August Alive? The Latest GH Casting Leaks and Resurrections

We have some good news and bad news on resurrections and casting. First, the good news: the leaker said Cesar Faison (Anders Hove) is not alive and is not coming back. We know they had Anders Hove taping audio for that episode with Anna in her room on Spoon Island. He did that Cesar Faison voice work remotely from Denmark, and Anders Hove is not coming back to reprise the role in person on General Hospital.

But here’s the bad news. Faison’s not alive, but the leaker says his awful son, Peter August (Wes Ramsey), is. To be honest, I kind of suspected that might happen since Britt and Nathan were both revived, but I know a huge pile of GH fans do not want Peter August back.

The leaker also said that Valentin knows Peter is alive and is sitting on that and some other big secrets. I could see him keeping it secret that Peter is alive. Valentin has been like a real dad to Peter. He’s been in Peter’s life practically since birth—mentoring him, protecting him, and trying to shield him from Faison because of the residual guilt Valentin had for his role in Faison getting his hands on Peter.

That’s the whole rumor roundup. Again, none of these are confirmed spoilers, just leaks from an insider with a really good track record. We will wait to see what manifests from this latest round of leaks.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 24 seconds ago

Looking for a neo-noir sci-fi thriller hinging on a time-traveling serial killer who only appears once every nine years, causing victims to bleed out of their eyes for no real rhyme or reason? I know you are, which brings me to the good news. 2019’s In the Shadow of the Moon will take you on this exact journey, and it’s an absolute trip. Think True Detective Season 1, but instead of an elite cabal of corrupt Louisiana officials operating a human trafficking ring behind closed doors, the primary antagonist is a mysterious figure who only surfaces during specific lunar cycles to go on a killing spree.

Is it an alien? A human from the future? Or is it simply a figment of our unraveling protagonist’s imagination as he becomes so obsessed with the case that he alienates everybody he once cared about, turning into a shell of a man over the course of a decades-long investigation that nobody else seems interested in solving?

It’s Happening Again … 

In the Shadow of the Moon tells a time-hopping story in a progressive linear fashion, beginning in 1988 Philadelphia and concluding in 2024. We’re introduced to rookie cop Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook), heading out for his graveyard shift with his partner Maddox (Bokeem Woodbine) while leaving his very pregnant wife Jean (Rachel Keller) at home. What starts as a routine night quickly spirals when multiple victims die under the same bizarre circumstances.

Each victim bears puncture wounds, and their brains hemorrhage catastrophically, leaking from every facial orifice exactly how you’d expect. With the help of Thomas’ brother-in-law, Detective Holt (Michael C. Hall), they track down the woman they believe is responsible (Cleopatra Coleman). Before they can get answers, she jumps in front of a train, but not before telling Thomas intimate details about his life, including the fact that Jean will die during childbirth that very night.

By 1997, Thomas is a widowed detective struggling to raise his 9-year-old daughter, Amy (Quincy Kirkwood). He’s convinced the 1988 massacre was a one-off freak occurrence until the same pattern resurfaces on the nine-year anniversary. This time, the investigation expands to include a physicist named Naveen, who insists the killings are connected through time travel. Thomas, Maddox, and a now-promoted Lieutenant Holt dismiss the theory, but the nine-year cycle continues, tightening its grip on Thomas’ life.

We next see him in 2006, worse for wear after leaving the force to work as a private investigator focused solely on this case. By 2015, he’s a husk, still chasing answers while everyone else has moved on. The pattern persists, the obsession festers, and Thomas remains the only one who refuses to let it go.

If True Detective Were A Netflix Sci-Fi Original

As much as I want to root for In the Shadow of the Moon, a couple of things pulled me out of it. While this may sound nitpicky, the 1988 and 1997 sequences lack the kind of texture that really sells those eras. I’m not saying it needs to function as a full-blown period piece, but you’d be hard-pressed to distinguish the ’80s from the present day outside of the absence of smartphones, which bothered me more than it probably should have.

Minor criticism aside, In the Shadow of the Moon earns serious points for its ambitious premise and hard-boiled neo-noir vibe. The mystery is compelling enough to keep you locked in, and Boyd Holbrook’s physical portrayal of a man slowly losing everything in pursuit of answers is the selling point. Whoever handled his makeup in the later sequences deserves serious credit, because you can practically chart his decline through the lines of age etched across his face.

In the Shadow of the Moon takes familiar mystery-thriller beats, injects them with a bold sci-fi twist, and delivers a time-spanning character study that’s messy in places but undeniably intriguing. It’s currently streaming on Netflix, ready for anybody who wants their crime dramas with a side of lunar-induced chaos.

The tragic death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a Carnival Cruise ship has taken a shocking turn. Her stepbrother was recently arrested in connection with the case, according to Anna’s father, Chris Kepner. And, the story is leaving the internet reeling. As more details remain under wraps, the teen’s death—initially ruled a homicide—has ignited widespread speculation and concern.

RELATED: Teen Suspect In Stepsister’s Carnival Cruise Ship Death Claims He Doesn’t Remember What Happened, Texts Claim

Stepbrother Arrested After Teen’s Carnival Cruise Death

Authorities arrested and charged the stepbrother of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, who tragically died aboard a Carnival cruise ship in November, the teen’s father, Chris Kepner, confirmed. Sources say authorities released the teen into a guardian’s custody, but they have not clarified the exact charges, leaving the investigation—and family drama—shrouded in secrecy.

Stepbrother Spotted In Court Amid Ongoing Investigation

Additionally, the stepbrother of Florida teen Anna Kepner appeared in federal court in Miami on Friday, as investigators continue digging into the shocking circumstances of her death aboard a Carnival cruise ship. Three months after 18-year-old Anna Kepner died aboard the Carnival Horizon during a family vacation, authorities saw her 16-year-old stepbrother leaving juvenile court and entering adult federal court, dressed in a camouflage hoodie with his face hidden beneath a low-pulled baseball cap and hood.

Anna Kepner’s Mom Speaks Out

Heather Wright, the biological mother of Anna Kepner, has walked back her earlier claim that her daughter’s stepbrother had been charged in connection with Anna’s death, admitting she was “misinformed.” She added that prosecutors and her ex-husband haven’t updated her on the case or provided any new details, leaving her frustrated and in the dark. Meanwhile, the stepbrother’s mother slammed his release from custody. She called it “deeply painful and disturbing” that someone she claims is responsible for Anna’s death is apparently walking free. Authorities have not yet formally accused the teen of any wrongdoing.

More Details From Anna Kepner’s Case

As previously reported, just weeks after Anna’s death during a Caribbean vacation in November, authorities named her stepbrother a “suspect” in court filings from an unrelated custody case. Sources briefed on the investigation say authorities found the Florida teen under a bed. Investigators found her body wrapped in a blanket and covered with life vests.

Furthermore, the family released a statement expressing gratitude to the FBI and Department of Justice for their handling of the case. Meanwhile, court records remain sealed due to the suspect’s juvenile status. Questions remain about the exact charges, and authorities, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local prosecutor, have declined to comment.

RELATED: Cause Of Death Reportedly Revealed For Slain Carnival Cruise Teenager As More Claims Surface About Her Stepbrother