Entertainment
Creepy Netflix Thriller Brought Us The Scariest New Movie Monster In Decades
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

For a long time, Hollywood was missing one of its big-screen mainstays: the iconic horror villain. That is slowly changing with the addition of characters like Art the Clown, but it can be tough to take this Terrifier villain’s particular brand of mystic-flavored gore porn very seriously. A few years ago, though, an entirely different scary movie introduced us to a foe who was much more down-to-earth and that much scarier for it.
That movie is The Black Phone (2021), which seizes on one of our most heart-stopping modern-day fears: that powerful forces are hurting children, and there’s nothing we can do about it. It does so while wrapping those fears in the cloak of a new horror villain, one who is even more viscerally disturbing than Art the Clown. To experience the most potent cinematic terror in years, all you have to do is stream The Black Phone on Netflix today.
Time To Pick Up The Phone

The premise of The Black Phone is that in the late ‘70s, the streets of suburban Colorado are stalked by a creepy child snatcher known only as The Grabber. We follow the misadventures of a group of kids, one of whom is abducted. When the police have trouble turning up leads, it’s up to the abducted boy’s sister to use her psychic dreams to lead a rescue, but one wrong move may get these youngsters killed (or worse).
Fittingly enough, the cast of The Black Phone is primarily filled with rising stars like Mason Thames (best known outside this movie for the show For All Mankind) and Madeleine McGraw (best known outside this movie for the show Outcast), who play the dynamic duo at the heart of this bleak drama. Speaking of bleak, veteran performer Jeremy Davies (best known for Saving Private Ryan) does an excellent job as an alcoholic father who doesn’t believe his children’s warnings about the local child murderer. That character is played to chilling perfection by Ethan Hawke (best known for Training Day), and his performance effortlessly elevates what might have
A Horrific Hit With Critics And Audiences

When The Black Phone came out, it earned $161.4 million against a budget of only about $17 million. That’s the kind of horror movie that studios love to see: one that earns nearly 10 times its budget while becoming a breakout pop culture hit. Because of this, a sequel quickly got the green light, and The Black Phone 2 slashed its way into theaters in 2025.
While horror movies often fail to impress critics, The Black Phone was the exception: on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has an 81 percent, with reviewers praising it for being as frighteningly well-acted as it is bone-chillingly scary. They also commended the movie for being an effective adaptation of a short story written by Joe Hill over two decades ago. Notably, The Black Phone has an 88 percent audience score, proving that audiences hungry for fresh horror love this iconic thriller even more than the critics do.
Horror Has A New Face

If you’re a fan of the horror genre, there is plenty to like about The Black Phone, starting with Ethan Hawke’s hypnotically creepy performance as The Grabber: while his fearsome mask and gruesome proclivities help make him frightening, he elicits a very different fear from villains like Jason Voorhees or Freddie Krueger. He’s not some dream demon or resurrected zombie out to cause as much mayhem as possible. Rather, he’s a very human threat, and a cancerous community presence that targets children specifically because they are so vulnerable.
Speaking of which, a big part of what makes The Black Phone work so well is that it constantly emphasizes the vulnerability of our young protagonists. You know that skin-crawling feeling you get when a killer (say, Art the Clown in Terrifier 3) is attacking someone in the shower? That feeling comes from knowing the characters are helpless in the face of something almost unstoppably malevolent. That malevolence permeates The Black Phone like a shroud, creating an atmosphere of menacing suspense that is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat.
The Scary Movie You’ve Been Looking For

Finally, The Black Phone is great because the film never glosses over the grit and grime of its period setting. Everything looks palpably dirty, which helps give the film its gritty texture while serving as an extension of The Grabber’s malign influence. This is a town where nothing ever looks or feels clean, and why should it? After all, the dirtiest thing of all, a child predator, hides in plain sight among his victims.
Will you agree that The Black Phone is a creepy thriller from beginning to end, or is this one horror movie you’d rather hang up on? The only way to find out is to stream it on Netflix today. Just do yourself a favor and don’t watch it too close to bedtime; otherwise, I won’t be held responsible for the weird nightmares you end up having!

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Entertainment
Fans Think She Reacted To Nique & NBA YoungBoy
Whew! Some folks post selfies, and others post statements. Jania Meshell had the internet reading between the lines after she dropped a new TikTok that quickly made its rounds online — and let’s just say, the energy was loud without her saying much at all.
RELATED: Not Pressed? Jania Meshell Returns To The ‘Net As Social Media Urges Her To Get Her Lick Back On Nique After NBA YoungBoy Pop-Out
Did Jania Meshell Just Throw A Subliminal In New Clip?
On Saturday, Jania Meshell shared a clip of herself rapping along to the lyrics, “If I gave a f***, I’d probably be in h*ll or in jail but I ain’t,” while standing in what appeared to be a white-walled room, possibly her bathroom. Rocking a white tank top with black trim and black pants, she served a full face beat and long, curly hair flowing effortlessly. But it wasn’t just the glam that caught attention — it was the attitude. Sis was giving very much “don’t play with me” as she mouthed every word with precision.
The post didn’t come with a long caption or explanation, but fans know Jania doesn’t move without intention. Whether she was simply vibing to a song or subtly addressing chatter, social media users wasted no time sharing opinions and speculating about who — or what — the message might’ve been for. One thing about it, though: Jania looked unbothered and stood ten toes behind every lyric.
Fans Debate If She’s Really Unbothered
Chileeee, you already know fans sprinted to TSR Teens’ Instagram comment section and clocked IN. Some folks were saying Jania is trying to give “unbothered,” but in their eyes, posting the clip was a reaction in itself. Meanwhile, others chimed in that she should be over her ex by now. But, a separate group defended her, saying she always posts content like this and people are just reading way too deep into it.
One Instagram user @jaylensauntie wrote, “Jania you have a whole man sis! Let that go!“
This Instagram user @mermaidvibezz2 said, “I mean if you didn’t give a damn then you wouldn’t speak on it😂 yall be doing everything to swear you aren’t bothered while seeming bothered😂😂”
And, Instagram user @weirdazz_aquarius added, “Bothered by your married ex online is wild behavior 🤣🤣🤣 especially when you’re in a ‘happy relationship’“
Meanwhile, Instagram user @norfside.j4z shared, “I mean when you don’t care , you don’t address is . But she aint wrong lol that sh*t weird“
While Instagram user @arindanyelle claimed, “Keep it cute cause she always posting TikTok’s like that! Stop reading so much into it!“
Lastly, Instagram user @skydadondada said, “You was quick to make tweets about her when you thought it was about her tho“
So… What Was Jania Possibly Reacting To?
As previously reported, just a few days ago, Jania had posted fresh TikTok videos shortly after a viral clip showed Nique riding around with NBA YoungBoy, which sent social media into a frenzy. While folks online dragged Nique and speculated about “home girl” codes, Jania stayed noticeably silent, instead popping out in a matching cheetah-print two-piece, dancing and twerking with what fans called straight unbothered energy. Even without captions, her followers filled in the blanks, debating whether she was plotting her next move or simply minding her business.
Nique threw out a few clap backs of her own and made it clear where she stands with Jania, telling folks “My homegirl wouldn’t try to throw dirt on my name online but go off.” Then, finally after much speculation about her link up with NBA YoungBoy, he ended up revealing that she made a cameo in his ‘Highly’ music video. The video shows Nique in the same car she was cruising in with NBA and popping up in other spots throughout the visuals.
RELATED: New Ink? NBA YoungBoy Shares PSA About His Wife As The ‘Net Thinks His “Jania” Tattoo Now Says “Jazlyn” (VIDEO + PICS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Marshals’ Arielle Kebbel Teases ‘Shocking Reveals’ in Yellowstone Spinoff
Yellowstone fans are in for plenty of surprises in the show’s newest spinoff Marshals.
Arielle Kebbel spoke exclusively to Us Weekly about what to expect from the show — and her character Belle Skinner.
“We pull the layers back very slowly with Belle and she relates to [Luke Grimes’ character] Kayce because they’re both the local folks from Montana. Folks out there have a different way of doing things,” Kebbel teased. “We learn that she also comes from a very wealthy family — and with that comes a lot of secrets and responsibility.”
The story will continue to unravel throughout the season.
“There’s a big piece of her that is — not necessarily hiding from her past — but hiding it from other people. She is very protective of her past and her family — and also because she started her own family now. Belle doesn’t want to get her kid involved in some of the messy stuff of her past,” Kebbel teased. “As the season goes on, we learn all the reasons why she is so secretive and closed off and protective of herself and her family. We peel back the layers of what’s going on with her.”
She continued: “Both she and Kayce have a lot of secrets. They have a lot on the line and they also really want justice. Sometimes that’s a hard line to walk. So as the season goes on, we definitely learn more about her. There’s a few shocking reveals.”

Marshals, which premieres on Sunday, March 1, follows Kayce (Luke Grimes) as he leaves “ranching life behind to join an elite unit” of the U.S. Marshals while “combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana, where he and his teammates must balance family, duty and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence.”
In addition to Kebbel and Grimes, the show stars Ash Santos, Tatanka Means, Brett Cullen and Logan Marshall Green. Marshals is the newest spinoff of Yellowstone — which aired from 2018 to 2024 — and starred Grimes.
“It’s all the same world. You have the ranch and we always incorporate and go back to that in the show. But this world is really about bringing together this new team of Marshalls. They don’t really all know each other. They’re all very different in their ways,” Kebbel teased. “It’s fun to watch how they work as a team and it’s fun to watch the personality clashes. When the show starts, it’s not a team that’s been working together before so it’s not necessarily a well oiled machine.”
Kebbel promised an evolution on screen. “Part of the fun of the journey is learning how they learn how to work together along the way. So you’ve got these Marshals going out on missions — but with the beautiful backdrop of Montana and horses and mountains and rivers,” she noted. “The closest comparison would be combining a Yellowstone with Lioness.”
Marshals also served as a reunion for Kebbel and Grimes after 50 Shades Freed.
“Our time together on that was brief but I got to know how he worked and he’s a total pro. He’s very welcoming and very kind to everyone but he also gets right to work,” Kebbel shared with Us. “I knew if I need to ask anything, he’ll absolutely guide me and be there for me. But also, he’s one of those people who really gives room for people to do their thing. It’s one of those sets where everyone knows you show up and you get to work — there’s no time to waste.”
She continued: “We’re have a lot to do every single day to make our days. Knowing that we’re going to work every day with the backdrop of the Yellowstone legacy behind us definitely adds a layer of pressure that you feel — or at least that I felt — going to set. But that’s a good thing. It was this unspoken thing where you want to always make sure you’re rising to the occasion. So I hope that we did.”
Marshals premieres on CBS March 1 and will air Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
Entertainment
Actor Awards 2026 winners announced: See the full list (updating live)
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Kristen Bell hosts Netflix’s ceremony, where Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, Michael B. Jordan, and more will duke it out for awards season glory.
Entertainment
Guess Who the Popular Pop Star Is!!!
Guess Who
This SuccessFul Pop Star Is!!!
Published
TMZ.com
This successful pop star couldn’t believe how big her third studio album blew up back in 2017 … can you guess who she is?
We caught up with this star at LAX back in the day … and congratulated her on all her success.
When asked if she ever thought she’d be back on top, this star told us she believed the clock has TikTok’d down on her time on top — but, boy, was she wrong.
Can you guess who she is???
Entertainment
Even TV’s Scariest Business Executive Is “Concerned” By the Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger [Exclusive]
The entertainment industry is still reeling from fear and uncertainty after news that Paramount will purchase Warner Bros. Discovery, following a months-long battle with Netflix for the home of HBO, DC, Harry Potter, and more. While the deal has a long way to go before being finalized, many, both in and out of the entertainment world, have expressed concerns about how this mega-merger between two of Hollywood’s oldest and most historic studios will impact both artists and consumers. Now, Oscar-winner Patricia Arquette (who happens to play a cuthroat business executive in Severance), has some scathing thoughts on Hollywood’s ongoing “monopolization.”
Speaking to Collider’s Perri Nemiroff on the red carpet at the Actor Awards (formerly the SAG Awards), Arquette was asked what she would change about the movie and TV industry if she could, and why. Arquette responded:
“I’m concerned about all this consolidation. First of all, it’s gonna hamper artists, and it’s very politicized, and I think it’s gonna limit their creativity and the stories that they’re telling. But besides that, I think it’s really bad for the consumer, besides the freedom creatively. Once you start monopolizing and ending up with like four networks, they can drive up your prices, and you’re gonna be paying a lot more for entertainment. So it’s not even in your best interest in the long run to allow these things to happen. But I’m also concerned that there doesn’t seem to be any looking at monopolization, and if it starts with this industry, it’s just going to steamroll across all industries.”
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to Collider as the updates come in.
- Release Date
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February 17, 2022
- Network
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Apple TV
- Showrunner
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Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman
- Writers
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Anna Ouyang Moench, Wei-Ning Yu
Entertainment
Stars Stun on Red Carpet at Recently Renamed Actors Awards
The SAG Awards may have a new name … but stars are bringing the same old elegant fashion to the 32nd edition’s red carpet!
Emma Stone stunned in a sleek pink dress with a matching coat slung over her shoulders … while Demi Moore peacocked in a black cocktail dress adorned with a big plume of feathers. Michael B. Jordan channeled Smoke (or maybe Stack?) in a three-piece suit while waiting to hear if he’ll win an award for “Sinners.”
Sheryl Lee Ralph and Dove Cameron stunned in classic black and white outfits … while Mia Goth opted for a bit more color in a shimmering marron ensemble.
Goth’s impassive face didn’t let on any feeling about her estranged husband Shia LaBeouf‘s arrest in New Orelans on Saturday.
And, “Hacks” star Megan Stalter seems to be in her (faux) diva era … posing with a cigarette in her mouth — after previously admitting she doesn’t really smoke anything and can only have a sip of champagne before getting a splitting headache.
Teyana Taylor and her date were attached at the hip on the carpet … quite literally — because her daughter Rue Rose Shumpert wrapped her arms around her mom’s waist.
Among the other bold-faced names in attendance … the show’s host, Kristen Bell, Irina Shayk, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Seth Rogen, Sofia Carson, Odessa A’zion, Kathryn Hahn, Kevin O’Leary, Quinta Brunson and Ted Danson.
As you know, this event used to be called the Screen Actors Guild Awards but was changed to the Actor Awards in November to “better reflect its true spirit and position as the only industry honor given to actors, by actors”
The show kicks off on Netflix at 5 PM PT … but, before it does, check out our gallery of the best month from the show’s past — because, while it hasn’t always been called the Actors Awards, it’s always brought out the biggest in the business!
Entertainment
Apple TV’s Most Important Sci-Fi Series Levels Up With Major Season 3 Update [Exclusive]
Apple TV has plenty of sci-fi hits under its belt during its first few years as a massive streaming competitor. Just last year, the tech-funded streamer aired the first season of Pluribus, the new creation from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul writer Vince Gilligan. The show stars Rhea Seehorn, and it smashed records on its way to becoming Apple TV’s biggest sci-fi show in history. Apple TV also recently aired new seasons of Foundation and Invasion, both of which feature big stars and have accrued sizable audiences during their first few seasons. One of Apple TV’s original sci-fi hits, For All Mankind, is also set to return with its long-awaited fifth season soon. Apple TV’s biggest sci-fi misfire to date is Constellation, the thriller backed by Stephen King and starring Noomi Rapace, which was canceled after only one season despite plans for future seasons.
Many would argue that the most impressive show in Apple TV’s sci-fi arsenal, though, is Severance. Starring Adam Scott and directed by Ben Stiller, the show has aired two successful seasons and has a third on the way. Collider reported not long ago via an interview with John Turturro that production on Severance Season 3 was scheduled to begin this July, and now we’re back with another update for fans of Apple TV’s best sci-fi show. Collider’s Perri Nemiroff recently caught up with Severance star Jen Tullock, who portrays Devon Scout-Hale in the show, and she asked how Season 3 will challenge the cast in a brand-new way:
“I feel kept on my toes on that show generally just because I think we have the best cast in the business, and I’m working with people I’ve revered and respected for so many years. So, regardless of what happens story-wise, I always feel challenged by the writing, and I always feel challenged by the people I’m lucky enough to have scenes with, so that’s generally the vibe.”
She continued, diving deeper into what we can expect to see from Devon in Season 3 after watching her brother Mark (Adam Scott) go through so much during the first two seasons, “Specifically, I’m excited to let my character get a little bit angry and a little more into the nitty-gritty of what’s happening at Lumon. We saw that a little bit towards the end of last season, so I have no idea where it’s going to go. But, I know it’s going to be good.”
‘Severance’ Season 3 Is on a Tight Schedule
Severance Season 1 aired its Season 1 finale in April 2022, and the show didn’t return with its second season until almost three years later, in January 2025. When Apple TV renewed Severance for a third season around the same time as the Season 2 finale, Ben Stiller promised that the gap between seasons would be shorter for Seasons 2 and 3 than it was for Seasons 1 and 2. Unfortunately, we’re nearly a year removed from the Season 2 finale and the show won’t resume shooting for a few months, so a gap of at least two years is to be expected at this point.
Stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Severance Season 3 and check out the first two seasons on Apple TV.
- Release Date
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February 17, 2022
- Network
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Apple TV
- Showrunner
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Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman
- Writers
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Anna Ouyang Moench, Wei-Ning Yu
Entertainment
Forgotten Anthology Is The Perfect Video Game Film, Now Streaming Free
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

The term “video game film” makes many movie lovers shudder, and for good reason: box office history is filled with awful game adaptations, including the notoriously grungy Super Mario Bros. and the confusingly disjointed Wing Commander. Between these and other flops (including Double Dragon and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation), it’s easy for gamers to think there are no good films based on their favorite titles. However, the perfect video game movie dropped 15 years ago, and it’s been quietly gaining a cult following ever since.
That movie is Halo Legends (2010), an animated anthology that explores the world of Master Chief; he’s a Spartan charged with protecting humanity from an encroaching alien menace, but even he can’t take on an entire space empire by himself. This is a film that helps you learn more about the fictional universe of Halo, bringing to life one of the most successful franchises in video game history. Whether you want to help Master Chief “finish this fight” or just vibe out to beautiful animation and killer fight scenes, you should stream Halo Legends for free on Tubi!
Time To Finish The Fight

The cast of Halo Legends is full of some fun surprises for anime fans, including David Wald (best known for voicing the titular protagonist of Golgo 13) as Master Chief. Meanwhile, Atsuko Tanaka (best known for voicing Major Kusanagi in Ghost in the Shell) plays Dr. Haley, Chief’s mother figure and the creator of Cortana. Speaking of which, Ai Maeda (best known for voicing O-Ren in Kill Bill’s anime sequence) plays Cortana, Chief’s own AI-powered Girl Friday.
There is no singular premise for Halo Legends: rather than telling one story, this anthology is broken up into seven smaller films focusing on different aspects of the Halo universe. Some of these are lore-heavy films that expand our knowledge of everything from Covenant culture to the relationship between Flood and Forerunners. Other short films are just cool side stories featuring marines, Spartans, Helljumpers, and more.
Little Movie, Big Impact

Even though it went straight to video, Halo Legends quickly proved itself a Spartan-sized financial success. It earned $11 million in DVD and Blu-Ray sales, and it was ranked as the second top-selling Blu-Ray the week of its release. Sadly, this ambitious anthology never got a sequel, though most Halo fans would certainly prefer these animated adventures over the later, live-action series.
When Halo Legends came out, it proved to be a hit with the most important audience of them all: the fans. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an audience score of 72 percent, with viewers praising it for its unique combination of different animation styles and different stories. According to most who watched Halo Legends, this approach helped to flesh out one of the coolest fictional universes (video game or otherwise) ever created.
A Buffet Of Cool Animation Styles

Even if you’re not a huge fan of the video game franchise, it’s worth watching Halo Legends for the same reason it’s worth watching any good anthology: there’s a little something for everyone! Like The Animatrix before it, this film presents a series of different vignettes in different styles and even genres. You may not like every short film, but you’re sure to love at least a few of these slickly-produced stories.
Speaking of slick, the animation and production quality are high throughout the entirety of Halo Legends. The short films each look and feel different, but what they share in common is killer animation and immersive voicework. Even if you’ve never picked up a controller and walked in the virtual boots of Master Chief, this movie is a great way to discover what makes this fictional universe so compelling to its legion of fans.
Rocking Some Big Sword Energy

If you are already a major fan, though, you’ll likely enjoy how Halo Legends expands the lore of Spartans and Covenant in new and interesting ways. Sure, some of this information is buried in the robust library of Halo books, but let’s face it: it’s cooler to see the deep background of this action-centric series brought to life in a more visceral way onscreen. After all, this is a gaming franchise founded on the holy trinity of “run, shoot, and toss grenades,” and it’s fun to see Halo’s signature frenetic gameplay brought to life in short films like “Prototype” and “The Package.”
Will you agree that Halo Legends is the perfect video game, or would you like to tag this nostalgic anthology with a sticky grenade? You won’t know until you grab the remote (you left it between the Assault Rifle and the Battle Rifle) and stream it for free on Tubi. Whether you’re one of the gamers keeping Halo Infinite alive (there are dozens of us, dozens!) or are completely new to this sci-fi franchise, this anthology is guaranteed to surprise you right up until the credits.

Entertainment
3 Dead, 14 Others Seriously Wounded in Mass Shooting at Austin Bar
A mass shooting outside an Austin, Texas, bar has left three people dead — including the suspected gunman — and another 14 seriously injured, Us Weekly confirms.
Gunfire broke out during the early morning hours of Sunday, March 1, outside Buford’s, a popular beer garden on West Sixth and Rio Grande streets, Austin Police said.
According to authorities, officers responded to the scene just before 1:40 a.m. and eliminated the suspected gunman, whose name has not been publicly released.
Police also haven’t released the names of the deceased victims.
Eyewitness video shared on social media and allegedly captured from the scene appears to show officers pinning a man to the ground while emergency medical workers rendered aid.
The person recording the footage claims “that’s the piece of s**t” who shot up the bar.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis spoke to the media at 5 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. press conferences and said that first responders were on the scene less than a minute after the first 911 calls were received by dispatch describing a “male shooter” at the popular nightspot.
“They definitely saved lives,” Davis said.
Authorities confronted a man fleeing the scene with a gun upon arrival and “returned fire, killing the shooter,” Davis explained.
EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said that three people were found dead at the scene, while 14 others were injured and transported to nearby hospitals. Three of the wounded, he said, were listed in critical condition.
“We received a call at 1:39 a.m. and within 57 seconds, the first paramedics and officers were on scene actively treating the patients,” Luckritz told reporters.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson also spoke to reporters, applauding the rapid response of the city’s police officers and EMTs.
“I’m very thankful for the speed with which our public safety officials responded to this,” said Watson. “I don’t think there’s any question that it saved lives.”
Members of the Austin Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were still at the scene of the shooting late Sunday morning. A pistol and a rifle were both said to have been recovered from the scene.
Law enforcement sources claim to CBS News that the shooter has a history of mental health issues and are currently investigating whether the shooter was influenced by extremist ideology, specifically Islamic extremism.
An official motive for the mass shooting remains unclear.
“My condolences to those that have been touched by this. This is a tragic, tragic incident,” Davis said.
Anyone looking to reconnect with loved ones should call the Austin Police victim services unit at (512) 974-5037.
If you have any information about witnesses to the shooting or videos that may have captured what happened can submit the evidence here.
Tipsters can also call Austin Police at (512) 974-TIPS. You may submit your tips anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by calling (512) 472-8477.
Entertainment
AMC’s Quiet Crime Masterpiece Just Extended One of TV’s Rarest Streaks With Its Season 4 Debut
With its Season 4 debut, AMC’s Dark Winds has done the unthinkable and extended one of television’s rarest streaks. Since its premiere in 2022, each season has consistently earned—and maintained—a perfect critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Though not all critic reviews are in yet, it stands to reason that as the show’s new season continues to unfold, its 100% scoring streak will remain firmly in place. As one of the best psychologically thrilling mysteries on television today, the quiet crime masterpiece is created by Graham Roland, executive produced by George R.R. Martin and the late, iconic Robert Redford, and is based on the Leaphorn & Chee novel series by Tony Hillerman.
The show’s seasonal mysteries wrapped in clever stories with emotionally complex characters full of multi-layered depth aren’t the only things capturing viewer attention and earning praise. The cast’s powerhouse performances—most notably that of Reservation Dogs’ Zahn McClarnon—are one of Dark Winds‘ greatest strengths, and they make it impossible to pass on watching. Also, the fact that four seasons have aired in a little under four years is quite astounding.
If You Aren’t Watching ‘Dark Winds,’ Here’s Why This Rare Streak Matters
Over the years, sure, there have been plenty of shows that have achieved a perfect critics’ score. The difference between those and Dark Winds is that most other shows to achieve a 100% RT rating did so across just one or two seasons, often not consecutive, and certainly not across the series’ entire run. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag is an exception, having maintained a rare perfect streak across its two-season run. Dark Winds has done it for four consecutive seasons and will likely continue to do so right up to its conclusion. In the television world, to achieve such an accolade is extremely rare, and this is why the success of Dark Winds matters.
The fact that every single season of the hit gritty crime masterpiece has maintained critical perfection isn’t just impressive, it’s downright significant. It’s a huge testament to the show’s consistent exceptional writing and production quality in what has become an overcrowded TV landscape. It also speaks to the stellar cast performances, the show’s authentic, respectful portrayal of Navajo culture, and its status as a must-see hidden gem among standard procedural dramas. Furthermore, its extension of TV’s rarest streaks cements its reputation as a top-tier neo-Western crime drama, indicating a dominating viewership (that you’re not part of if you’re not watching!), which is an extremely difficult achievement. That alone makes it a big deal.
Set in 1971, Dark Winds follows Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon) of the Tribal Police of the Navajo Nation and his deputy, Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon), as they work to solve a series of unrelated, increasingly violent crimes while not only battling the forces of evil, but also each other and their own personal demons. The human transformation in the face of chaos is remarkable.
This Gritty, Daring 7-Part Detective Noir Show Is Your Next Weekend Binge
Does the line between good and evil exist at all?
What’s Ahead for ‘Dark Winds’ Season 4
In Season 4, Dark Winds is entering its darkest era yet, with Leaphorn, Chee, and Sgt. Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) investigating the disappearance of a Navajo teen named Billie Tsosie (Isabel Deroy-Olson). Their efforts take them across New Mexico state lines, deep into 1970s Los Angeles, where they face an obsessive killer and the sprawling underworld of gritty organized crime… but that’s not all.
We’ll also experience the personal strife of the lead characters slowly chipping away at their bond. Leaphorn is at an impasse, still trying to figure out how to bring himself into balance while also working to confront who he is apart from his identity as a cop. As he considers retiring and making Bernadette his replacement, this will put a strain on her developing romantic relationship with Jim Chee. Speaking of Chee, Season 4 will also see him handling quite an overwhelming load: injury, stress, love, tragedy, and a reckoning with his Navajo heritage. Expect to experience the gamut of human emotion.
The show has always been rooted in grit and grace, but Season 4 will see all that intensify before turning extremely grim with the introduction of a relentless, unleashed assassin (Franka Potente) on a violent rampage. Beyond that, expect plenty of plot twists and turns and more of the dark supernatural elements and trademark focus on Navajo culture for which Dark Winds is famous. Withstanding the test of time, Season 4 will also continue its focus on memory and reconciliation in the face of buried pain and trauma.
While the first three seasons featured more slow-burn mysteries and character-driven development nestled within some pretty gnarly atmospheric tension, it was Season 3 that introduced the more horror-driven elements—creepy suspense, dark lighting, a haunting soundscape, more layers of generational trauma, and a dead body. In Season 4, we’ll see those elements deepen, expand, and intensify as our lead characters navigate their fish-out-of-water scenario in a fresh change of pace. Each will be pushed to their own personal edge, giving our actors the space to deliver what is being hailed as career-best work and Season 4’s greatest strength.
If you’re among those who’ve yet to indulge in the Dark Winds because you aren’t an AMC+ subscriber, don’t sweat it. Seasons 1, 2, and 3 are currently available on Netflix. Given how quickly the streaming giant picked up those seasons, it’s fair to expect to see Season 4 arrive on the platform sooner than you think. Can (and will) the quiet crime masterpiece continue to extend its rare streak into future seasons? Only time will tell, but that answer feels like a hard yes.
- Release Date
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June 12, 2022
- Network
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AMC
- Directors
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Michael Nankin
- Writers
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John Wirth, Steven Judd, Max Hurwitz, Rhiana Yazzie, Thomas Brady, DezBaa’
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