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Entertainment

10 Best Film Noir Movies That Are Pure Cinema, Ranked

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Ralph Meeker sitting on the edge of a bed with Maxine Cooper sitting up in the bed behind him in Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

Ah, film noir, that daring, brutal, and cleverly subversive genre. Taking inspiration from pulp crime books and the German Expressionist movement, noir’s sordid scenarios and pessimistic moods echo the character’s internalized conflicts as well as their world’s suffocating corruption. Human fallibility reigns supreme — hence the tough-talking detectives encased in swirling tobacco smoke, the conniving dames who beguile these brooding men, and the outsiders exiled to, and striving to survive, society’s fringes.

Luckily for audiences who couldn’t (and still can’t) get enough, the novelty of noir’s charms goes down like a smooth shot followed by a pleasantly fraught chaser of labyrinthine mysteries and tremendous pathos. From the style’s classic beginnings (which run gleefully defiant circles around the Hays Code’s regulations) to its neo-noir modernization, the conventions are an unflinching exercise in tone, material, and artistic experimentation. If any vintage examples warrant the term “absolute cinema,” it’s these 10 standard-setting gems.

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10

‘Kiss Me Deadly’ (1955)

Ralph Meeker sitting on the edge of a bed with Maxine Cooper sitting up in the bed behind him in Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
Ralph Meeker sitting on the edge of a bed with Maxine Cooper sitting up in the bed behind him in Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
Image via United Artists

Mike Hammer’s (Ralph Meeker) investigation into the murder of Christina Bailey (Cloris Leachman), a hitchhiking stranger a group of men tortured to death, uncovers a conspiracy too immense for even an experienced private detective to fix. At first, the situation looks simple; numerous unscrupulous individuals are chasing after a mysterious suitcase. How unfortunate, then, that their target’s glowing contents (parodied in Quentin Tarantino‘s Pulp Fiction) unleash global annihilation.

Arriving at the tail end of the noir movement, director Robert Aldrich and writer A.I. Bezzerides adapt novelist Mickey Spillane‘s Kiss Me Deadly into an incendiary deep-dive into speculative sci-fi, nuclear paranoia, nihilistic despair, and narcissistic masculinity. Cinematographer Ernest Laszlo’s imposing canted angles squeeze the characters into tighter spaces and send them spiraling down nonsensically winding staircases; every visual sign points toward Kiss Me Deadly‘s petrifying ending, where self-serving people meddle with forces beyond their control and the world suffers for their negligence.

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9

‘Leave Her to Heaven’ (1945)

Ellen, played by Gene Tierney, wearing a white blazer jacket and dark sunglasses, sitting in a boat on the lake and staring ahead with a cold blank expression, in Leave Her to Heaven
Ellen, played by Gene Tierney, wearing a white blazer jacket and dark sunglasses, sitting in a boat on the lake and staring ahead with a cold blank expression, in Leave Her to Heaven
Image via 20th Century Fox

Grieving her father’s recent death, socialite Ellen Berent (Gene Tierney) finds solace by falling for Richard Harland (Cornel Wilde) at first glance. The feeling’s mutual, given the effect Ellen’s intoxicating persona has on the men within her orbit. After a whirlwind romance, the newlyweds’ bliss vanishes inch by inch once Ellen’s all-consuming possessiveness perceives everyone in Richard’s life as a threat to her husband’s affections.

Nothing quite like Leave Her to Heaven exists within the Hollywood movie canon. Martin Scorsese hailed director John M. Stahl’s transgressive composite of noir, psychological thriller, and domestic melodrama as a personal favorite, and it’s a rule-breaking formal masterwork. Before Leon Shamroy‘s Oscar-winning cinematography, the genre’s ethical incertitude wasn’t bathed in luxurious Technicolor splendor. And unlike the black widows who spin their enticing webs for money or power, Ellen craves love no matter the cost. Tierney plays her mesmerizing beauty against type; her green eyes stare with blistering intensity, her frame as still and chilling as a coiled viper. Against saturated Southwest vistas and golden sunsets, the underrated performer delivers a femme fatale all-timer who’s simultaneously toxic and sympathetic.

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8

‘The Big Heat’ (1953)

Glenn Ford looking at Gloria Grahame sitting in The Big Heat.
Glenn Ford looking at Gloria Grahame sitting in The Big Heat.
Image via Columbia Pictures

Beat cop and upstanding family man Dave Bannion (Glenn Ford) refuses to stop pursuing the truth behind a suspicious death, despite pressure from his superiors and the organized criminals who keep his city within a terrified choke hold. Following a personal tragedy, Bannion’s resolute principles devolve into a vigilante justice crusade.

Fritz Lang‘s directorial career helped define industry standards. Between Metropolis, M, and prior film noirs, he matched German Expressionist visuals with his recurring post-war fatalism regarding exploitative leadership and socioeconomic hierarchies. True to form, The Big Heat defines the phrase of staring into a bleak abyss that stares back. Cinematographer Charles Lang‘s symbolic styling is less metaphorical than Lang’s earlier work but just as effective. Stark close-ups, confined spaces, and precisely placed interplay between light and shadow emphasize Lang’s breathtakingly cruel treatise on self-destructive revenge, systemic corruption, police brutality, and sadistic violence against women.

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7

‘Shadow of a Doubt’ (1943)

Charlie (Teresa Wright) glares at Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) at a bar table in Shadow of a Doubt.
Charlie (Teresa Wright) glares at Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) at a bar table in Shadow of a Doubt.
Image via Universal Pictures

For the precocious Charlotte Newton (Teresa Wright), her uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) equals excitement. Named after the relative she idolizes, his exhilarating visits offer a reprieve from her monotonous small-town life. Yet her handsome uncle’s indulgent affection masks his identity as an infamous serial killer devoid of compassionate humanity. As Charlotte shifts from starry-eyed innocence to grieving resolve, her suspicions endanger her life.

Shadow of a Doubt distills Alfred Hitchcock‘s thematic and tension-driven essence into a trim 108 minutes. Charlotte’s traumatizing coming-of-age maturation hinges upon a young woman discovering the malicious predators lurking just past suburbia’s white picket fences, traditionally suave American masculinity, and even one’s dearest kin. Cinematographer Joseph A. Valentine underscores key emotions (claustrophobic threats, power imbalances, implied unconsummated incest) through classic techniques and subtle metaphors: fastidious zooms, lingering close-ups, Uncle Charlie’s imposing form towering above Charlotte, and the recurring imagery of couples sweeping across a dance floor like uncle and niece waltz around one another — first as seemingly entwined souls, then in a sinister duel.

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6

‘The Maltese Falcon’ (1941)

Sam Spade, Joel Cairo, Brigid O'Shaughnessy, and Kasper Gutman gathered around the Falcon statuette in The Maltese Falcon
Sam Spade, Joel Cairo, Brigid O’Shaughnessy, and Kasper Gutman gathered around the Falcon statuette in The Maltese Falcon
Imagery via Warner Bros. Pictures

Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) just wants to get paid, throw back an excessive amount of alcohol, and go home. He doesn’t even care about his detective partner’s (Jerome Cowan) murder. Nevertheless, the deadly event tosses the reluctant, but sharply curious, gumshoe into the path of three duplicitous gold-diggers. The trio seeks the Maltese Falcon, a legendary statuette artifact said to house an extraordinary treasure trove.

Future two-time Oscar winner John Huston commands The Maltese Falcon with such consummate authority, you’d never guess it’s his directorial debut. The definitive adaptation of Dashiell Hammett‘s novel either launched the noir template into widespread popularity or cemented its clarifying turning point. Everything one expects and desires from a mystery caper operates at an impeccable peak: character archetypes, cinematic atmosphere (cinematographer Arthur Edeson‘s velvet-rich shadows, disorienting compositions, a flowing seven-minute take), hard-boiled dialogue, and convoluted thrills. As for The Maltese Falcon‘s lightning-in-a-bottle cast, Bogart dazzles as a world-weary, deliciously cunning master of acidic one-liners. Set him loose against the slippery Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, and Sydney Greenstreet, and you have an uproariously entertaining fencing match between four onscreen titans.

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5

‘In a Lonely Place’ (1950)

Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame in 'In a Lonely Place'
Laurel (Grahame) watching Dixon (Bogart) on the phone in In a Lonely Place
Image via Columbia Pictures

Failing screenwriter Dixon Steele’s (Humphrey Bogart) history of volatile rage makes him the primary suspect in a young woman’s (Martha Stewart) murder. His neighbor, Laurel Gray (Gloria Grahame), provides an alibi, and their blossoming romance reinvigorates Dixon’s creativity for the first time since World War II. Meanwhile, Laurel glimpses the softer, redeemed man her lover could become — until her fears about his capacity for violent physical abuse turn their engagement perilous.

Director Nicholas Ray and writer Andrew P. Solt‘s suspense thriller sheds all expectations. In a Lonely Place structures its central mystery around astonishingly mature emotional depth and profound uncertainty, but the focus shifts to a different kind of harrowing tragedy. Known for a tough-guy persona that often leaves his finer-tuned talents unsung, Bogart delivers his career-best performance as a haunted, self-sabotaging, and insecure leading man whose bloodthirsty inner demons are psychologically dissected rather than lauded. He inhabits a palpable vulnerability, like he’s peeling back his skin to reveal Dixon’s self-loathing bones.

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4

‘Out of the Past’ (1947)

Robert Mitchum as Jeff and Virginia Huston as Ann inside a car in Out of the Past.
Robert Mitchum as Jeff and Jane Greer as Kathie inside a car in Out of the Past.
Image via RKO Pictures

Accomplished criminal overlord Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas) hires Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum) to retrieve Kathie Moffat (Jane Greer), the young woman who stole Sterling’s money and what little remains of his heart. Jeff knows better than to fall for an insidiously magnetic temptress, yet the detective plunges head-first into a dangerous affair regardless. Years later, Jeff lives under an assumed name, complete with a new profession and a good-girl-next-door lover (Virginia Huston) — all too aware he’s stealing moments until the living ghosts of his past inevitably corner him.

With Out of the Past, Jacques Tourneur demonstrates the same remarkable directorial mastery over art direction, intricate blocking, and melodically despondent atmosphere as his horror masterpieces (Cat People, I Walked With a Zombie). Likewise, older noir has rarely looked more exquisite than under Nicholas Musuraca‘s eye; his chiaroscuro perfection rivals fine art paintings with their contrast between sun-drenched panoramic countrysides and enclosed, menacing urban architecture. Not to be undone, Daniel Mainwaring‘s poetically brittle screenplay leaves a dozen figurative paper cuts. Although Out of the Past‘s winding plot can be an intimidating head-scratcher, one needn’t comprehend the ins-and-outs to be swept away by one of the genre’s defining zeniths.

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3

‘Double Indemnity’ (1944)

A woman, barbara stanwyck, in sunglasses and a man, Fred MacMurray, in a hat hide behind a bar in Double Indemnity, 1944.
A woman, Phyllis, in sunglasses and a man, Walter Neff, in a hat, hide behind a bar in Double Indemnity, 1944.
Image via Paramount Pictures

What happens when two amoral opportunists stumble into sexually charged intrigue? Cataclysmic results, of course. Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) coaxes insurance agent Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) into helping her murder her boring husband (Tom Powers) so they can claim his life insurance policy. Craving the fortune and the alluring girl, Neff willingly obliges. However, Neff’s only friend, claims investigator Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson), zeroes in on the pair’s not-so perfect crime.

All superlatives for Billy Wilder‘s Double Indemnity are valid, whether those descriptors are “the quintessential noir” or “a perfect movie.” Double Indemnity‘s enduring legacy as a tense, intoxicating elixir without equal would be enough on its own, but Wilder’s first masterpiece arguably popularized the genre’s trademarks and originated the erotic thriller. Walter and Phyllis’ illicit dalliance manifests as sizzling verbal warfare, while the voyeuristic appeal for audiences emerges from watching terrible people indulging their worst impulses. A never better Stanwyck delivers the femme fatale to end all femme fatales — divinely calculating, enigmatic, and assured, strutting like a sultry panther with its claws extended, alternatively carnivorous and playing with her food. John Seitz’s camera either halos Phyllis in beautific light or drenches her in blood-curdling shadows.

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2

‘Laura’ (1944)

Marc McPherson (Dana Andrews) staring longingly up at a portrait of Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) on her wall in Laura
Marc McPherson (Dana Andrews) staring longingly up at a portrait of Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) on her wall in Laura
Image via 20th Century Studios

In an ironic turn of events, detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) becomes infatuated with a dead woman while investigating her murder. Without anyone to advocate on her behalf, business executive Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) is memorialized through a single glamorous portrait and the biased recollections of enemies wearing friendly faces — specifically, Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb), Laura’s ostentatious and self-appointed mentor, her social-climbing fiancé (Vincent Price), and her disdainful aunt (Judith Anderson).

Laura brims with melancholic yearning, depraved perversion, class awareness, and the ways patriarchy crafts an idealized feminine image while oppressing the personality and agency behind the fantasy. For all this solemnity, Otto Preminger‘s disciplined director’s pacing, writers Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Betty Reinhardt‘s silver-tongued wit, and the underhanded dexterity through which both parties choreograph the mid-way twist are second-to-none. Joseph LaShelle’s hypnotizing work behind the camera sparsely utilizes elongated shadows, preferring to glide through well-lit interiors and place the two-faced ensemble in allegorical profiles. As cinematic as movies come, Laura‘s another pristine triumph that dabbles in, but avoids adhering to, every whodunit rule.

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1

‘The Third Man’ (1949)

Harry Lime wearing a coat and hat and looking severe in The Third Man
Harry Lime wearing a coat and hat and looking severe in The Third Man
Image via British Lion Films

American novelist Holly Martins (Joseph Cotton) plans to reunite with his old friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles) in Vienna. Upon arriving, Martins discovers Lime allegedly died in a car accident. The eyewitness testimonies, however, are too contradictory for either Martins or Lime’s loyal girlfriend, Anna Schmidt (Alida Valli), to ignore — while the truth about their shared acquaintance is darker than either bargained for.

Shot on location in an Austria freed from Nazi control but divided into four Allied occupation zones, Carol Reed‘s seminal philosophical thriller The Third Man roots itself in the fragile individual ethics and fractured geopolitical landscape of a Europe teetering on the cusp of the Cold War. Welles’ wily smirk personifies the film’s skein of skewering cynicism as much as Reed’s sublime proficiency, Graham Greene‘s crackling dialogue, and Robert Krasker’s baroque framing of the city’s crumbling architecture and scattered debris; the latter, in particular, evokes the scars only war can leave. An indelible and pivotal contribution to movie history, The Third Man remains as fresh and relevant as the day it first hit theaters.













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Collider Exclusive · Oscar Best Picture Quiz
Which Oscar Best Picture
Is Your Perfect Movie?

Parasite · Everything Everywhere · Oppenheimer · Birdman · No Country
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Five Oscar Best Picture winners. Five completely different visions of what cinema can be — and what it can do to you. One of them is the film that was made for the way your mind works. Ten questions will figure out which one.

🪜Parasite

🌀Everything Everywhere

☢️Oppenheimer

🐦Birdman

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🪙No Country for Old Men

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01

What kind of film experience do you actually want?
The best movies don’t just entertain — they leave something behind.





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02

Which idea grabs you most in a film?
Great films are driven by a central obsession. What’s yours?





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03

How do you like your story told?
Form is content. The way a story is shaped changes what it means.





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04

What makes a truly great antagonist?
The opposition defines the protagonist. What kind of opposition fascinates you?





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05

What do you want from a film’s ending?
The final note is the one that lingers. What do you want it to sound like?





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06

Which setting pulls you in most?
Where a film takes place shapes everything — mood, stakes, what’s even possible.





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07

What cinematic craft impresses you most?
Every great film has a signature — a technical or artistic element that makes it unmistakable.





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08

What kind of main character do you root for?
The protagonist is the lens. Who you choose to follow says something about you.





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09

How do you feel about a film that takes its time?
Pace is a choice. Some films sprint; others let tension accumulate slowly, deliberately.





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10

What do you want to feel walking out of the cinema?
The best films leave a mark. What kind of mark do you want?





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The Academy Has Decided
Your Perfect Film Is…

Your answers have pointed to one Oscar Best Picture winner above all others. This is the film that was made for the way your mind works.

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Parasite

You are drawn to films that operate on multiple levels simultaneously — that begin in one genre and quietly, brilliantly migrate into another. Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite is a film about class, desire, and the architecture of inequality that manages to be darkly funny, deeply suspenseful, and genuinely shocking across a single extraordinary running time. Your instinct is for cinema that hides its true intentions until the moment it’s ready to reveal them. Parasite is exactly that — a film that rewards close attention and punishes assumptions, right up to its devastating final image.

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Everything Everywhere All at Once

You want it all — and this film gives you all of it. The Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of the most maximalist films ever made: action comedy, multiverse sci-fi, family drama, existential crisis, and a genuinely earned emotional core that sneaks up on you amid the chaos. You are someone who responds to ambition, who doesn’t want cinema to choose between being entertaining and being meaningful. This film refuses that choice entirely. It is overwhelming by design, and its overwhelming nature is precisely the point — because the feeling of being crushed by infinite possibility is exactly what it’s about.

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Oppenheimer

You are drawn to cinema on a grand scale — films that understand history not as a backdrop but as a force, and that place their characters inside that force and watch what happens. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a film about the terrifying gap between what we can do and what we should do, told with the full weight of one of the most consequential moments in human history behind it. You want your films to feel important without feeling self-important — to earn their ambition through sheer craft and the gravity of their subject. Oppenheimer does exactly that. It is enormous, complicated, and refuses easy comfort.

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Birdman

You are drawn to films that foreground their own construction — that make the how of the filmmaking part of the what it’s about. Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman, shot to appear as a single continuous take, is cinema examining itself through the cracked mirror of a fading actor’s ego. You respond to formal daring, to the feeling that a film is doing something that probably shouldn’t be possible. Michael Keaton’s performance and Emmanuel Lubezki’s restless camera create something genuinely unlike anything else — a film that is simultaneously about creativity, relevance, self-destruction, and the impossibility of ever truly knowing if your work means anything at all.

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No Country for Old Men

You are drawn to cinema that trusts silence, that refuses to explain itself, and that treats dread as a form of meaning. The Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men is a film about the arrival of a new kind of evil — implacable, arbitrary, and utterly indifferent to the moral frameworks we use to make sense of the world. It is one of the most formally controlled films ever made, and its controlled restraint is what makes it so terrifying. You want your films to haunt you, not comfort you. You are not interested in resolution if resolution would be dishonest. No Country for Old Men is honest in a way that most cinema never dares to be.

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The Third Man Movie Poster
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The Third Man

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Release Date

February 1, 1950

Runtime
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93 Minutes

Director

Carol Reed

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The Best Horror Movie Of The Decade Is In Theaters Now

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The Best Horror Movie Of The Decade Is In Theaters Now

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Acclaimed horror writer Stephen King had nothing to do with Obsession. Nonetheless, I kept thinking about something the author once said while I was watching this harrowing horror movie. In his wonderful “Why We Crave Horror Movies” article, King argued that every human’s brain is filled with “hungry alligators,” and watching terrifying movies is a safe and cathartic way to feed those alligators. If we don’t feed these carnivorous critters, King argues, we might just make like Jack Torrance and go a little crazy. In a weird way, that’s what Obsession is about: the dangerous darkness hidden within the most unsuspecting souls, just waiting to get out.

In a fun twist, that darkness doesn’t come in the form of a crazed killer. Instead, it’s all about a young man who would do anything to get his childhood crush to love him more than anything else. He gets his wish, however, and is forced to realize how selfish and downright dangerous his desire really was.

Obsession is captivating from beginning to end, solidifying director Curry Barker as one of the best and brightest new voices in horror. Moreover, it’s one of the scariest films of the last decade, making it perfect for anyone looking for a few good screams.

Escaping The Friendzone At Any Cost

The premise of Obsession is deceptively simple. “Bear” Bailey is a young man who works at a music shop with his childhood friend, Nikki. He has romantic feelings for her, but like many dudes, he’s been effectively friend-zoned.

Instead of legitimately asking her out or simply moving on to another girl, Bear decides to use a “One Wish Willow,” which promises to make any wish come true. He wishes for Nikki to love him more than anything in the world, hoping this will secure her affection. It works, but as Nikki’s devotion becomes both dangerous and deadly, Bear learns the oldest lesson of them all: be careful what you wish for. Like some of the best horror movies, Obsession is a very grounded, lo-fi production. There are no dazzling special effects or distracting CGI, and this helps the actual horrific moments stand out that much more.

Before the film descends into full-blown body horror territory, it mines much of its terror out of the scariest thing of all: cringe. After Bear’s wish takes effect, Nikki begins acting increasingly erratic around their shared friend group, and these scenes can be brutally difficult to watch. Without knowing the weird black magic wish Bear invoked, his friends can only ask themselves one question: what the hell is wrong with this guy’s girlfriend?

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An Oscar-Worthy Horror Performance

These scenes of quiet social terror work well largely because Obsession has a killer cast. Michael Johnston is best known for his voice acting, but he is pitch-perfect here as Bear, a guy whose hapless everyman quality makes him relatable. It’s hard not to sympathize with a man whose cat died and who just can’t get laid.

The character gets less sympathetic as time goes on: not only does he magically enslave someone, but he doesn’t hesitate to sleep with Nikki even when he knows she’s not herself. In peak “nice guy” mode, Bear doesn’t really care about what he did to her until it starts to affect him.

As good as Johnston is in the movie, Obsession is really a master showcase for Nikki actor Inde Navarrette. With only one feature film under her belt, I didn’t know what to expect from this young actor, and I was absolutely blown away by her versatility: she expertly animates both the “normal” Nikki and the obsessed version, sometimes alternating between them in the space of a scene.

Nikki can be absolutely terrifying (especially when her obsession drives her to acts of self-mutilation), but Navarrette underscores this relentless performance with notes of haunting vulnerability. In short, while horror is often overlooked by the Academy, Navarette turns in a performance fully worthy of Oscar consideration.

Some Wishes Really Do Come True

Of course, her odds of getting nominated are greater than you might think because of how successful Obsession has been. The movie was made for about $1 million and has made (as of this writing) nearly $28 million. Furthermore, it’s gotten rave reviews from the critics and currently has a 95 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Impressively, the movie also has an audience score of 94 percent, indicating it’s a crowdpleaser that general moviegoers love just as much as professional reviewers. But why wouldn’t they? With this film, Curry Barker just established the new benchmark for modern horror.

There’s so much more to say about this amazing movie (the sound design alone will send shivers down your spine), but I don’t want to spoil anything. It’s definitely worth seeing Obsession on the big screen, preferably with your girlfriend or wife. For added irony points, be sure to ask them afterward whether they love you more than anything else. By the time the credits roll, you’ll know just how scary the answer to that question can be!

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Lil Poppa’s Mother Speaks Out After Autopsy & Toxicology Reports

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Rihanna Seemingly Addresses Baby Rumors, Talks "Little Pouch"

Almost three months after Lil Poppa’s tragic passing, his family and fans are still trying to keep his legacy alive. Loved ones and supporters continue struggling to come to terms with him no longer being here. Following the release of toxicology and autopsy reports, Lil Poppa’s mother spoke out about the dangers of drug use, especially during mental health battles. 

RELATED: Rick Ross’ Daughter Shares Emotional Tribute To Her Son’s Father Lil Poppa While Blasting Those Blaming Her For His Passing

Lil Poppa’s Mother Opens Up Following The Release Of His Toxicology & Autopsy Report

Lil Poppa’s loving mother, Ms. Lynn, took to Instagram earlier this week while trying to keep her son’s legacy alive. She also hoped to bring awareness following the release of his toxicology reports. In the post, she revealed that methamphetamine was found in Lil Poppa’s system at the time of his passing. Ms. Lynn shared that she believes the drugs played a major role in what happened, especially while he battled depression and anxiety.

She explained that her family decided to share the information not to shame Lil Poppa, but to help others understand the dangers of substance abuse and mental health struggles. Ms. Lynn also reflected on the rapper as a loving father, son, and a good-hearted person.

“To everyone who has continued to support and pray for our family since the passing of my son, Lil Poppa, I want to finally speak on the autopsy and toxicology reports.

The reports confirmed that methamphetamine was in his system at the time of his passing. As his family, we truly believe the drugs played a major part in what happened.

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Although he did struggle with depression and anxiety, we know in our hearts that the substances affecting his mind and judgment made an already difficult battle even harder.

The son we knew and loved would never have wanted to leave behind his child, his family, or the people who cared about him so deeply if he had been in the right state of mind. Substance abuse can change a person’s thinking, emotions, and decisions in heartbreaking ways.

We are sharing this not to shame him, but to tell the truth and hopefully bring awareness to how dangerous these drugs truly are, especially when someone is already struggling emotionally or mentally.

Beneath everything, he was still a loving father, son, and person with a good heart. We ask everyone to continue remembering him for the love, talent, and light he brought into this world, not just for the way we lost him.

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Please continue to keep our family, especially his child, in your prayers as we navigate this pain day by day. If sharing his story can help even one person, then speaking honestly about it matters.

Rest easy, son. We love you forever.”

Amid her statement, TMZ also shared an update from the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s report. According to documents obtained by TMZ, Lil Poppa passed away from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound. This, reportedly to the left side of his head, sustained while sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle.

Orieon Shares Heartfelt Message About The Impact Drugs Had On Her Brother Lil Poppa’s Mental Health

Lil Poppa’s little sister, Orieon, also took to social media to reflect on her brother’s legacy and mental health struggles. She shared throwback photos while opening up about how deeply drugs impacted Lil Poppa before his passing.

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In her emotional message, Orieon shared that she believes the drugs changed her brother’s mindset. And contributed to the heartbreaking situation. She also reflected on Lil Poppa’s love for his son, Kofi, his relationship with God, his dreams, ambition, and the future she believes he still wanted.

“Although that bullet killed you, deep down I know it was the drugs.

You wouldn’t have done this if you were in your right state of mind, and that’s the most painful part. Just off the strength and thought of Kofi alone, I know for a fact this would’ve NEVER happened.

You loved too hard and cared too deeply to ever willingly leave behind the people who needed you most. That’s why it’s so hard for me to make peace with any of this. Those drugs changed you in ways you never intended. They clouded your mind and spirit, and I hate that they got such a hold on you like this.

Your relationship with God was too deep. You just wanted to be happy, and you were getting there. Through all of this, I still saw the version of you that would’ve done anything for Kofi. The version of you that still had dreams, plans, and people counting on him. I SAW THE REAL YOU, P.

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That’s the version of you I’ll never stop grieving. Because I truly believe, with my whole heart, that if those drugs never entered your life, none of this would’ve happened.”

Fans Continue Grieving As They React To The Latest Update 

Many of Lil Poppa’s supporters gathered under The Shade Room Teens. This, as they reacted to the latest updates surrounding his passing. While many continue mourning the rapper’s loss, others shared shock after learning what was found in his system, leaving some supporters with even more questions.

Instagram user @nanii.g wrote, “METHHHHH POPPA WTF”

Instagram user @its.teriahh wrote. “nahhh im not fw this, yall should’ve kept that in the family”

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While Instagram user @whinstarr wrote, “Very well written, I applaud her for sharing her son’s story to hopefully save someone else’s.”

Instagram user @mssheartbrk wrote, “i just want yall to know if you do x pills meth will show up in your system. NOT justifying it at all but i don’t think he was heating spoons up like yall making it seem 🥴”

Instagram user @streamwithnell added, “Instead of judging him as a human being, Lets pray for his family during this difficult time! 🙏🏾”

While Instagram user @rareseed_baby wrote, “Yall so delusional in the comments, it could be in any kind of pills ! !   and this not the post for all that anyway be fr 🙄

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Instagram user @theeoriginalprettigyrlb wrote, “I’m still so broken 💔 behind this Poppa I Pray you found peace within 💜 💜 💜 

Instagram user @gorgeous_astt added, “Rip poppa we love u regardless 🥺💔depression is so real”

While Instagram user @lifeofa.mari_ wrote, Substance abuse and mental illness go hand in hand 😢 💔 we, as a community, have to do better and get the help we rightfully deserve. Keep resting in heaven Poppa 🙏🏾 

RELATED: Fans Weigh In After Toie Roberts Reveals Lil Poppa’s Belongings Were Reported Missing Following His Passing (PHOTO)

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Bruce Willis’ Daughter Talks Silver Lining Of Dad’s Dementia Battle

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Bruce Willis' Daughter Talks Silver Lining Of Dad's Dementia Battle

Rumer Willis has opened up about how her father Bruce Willis’ battle with frontotemporal dementia has changed her perspective on family and connection.

While reflecting on the emotional challenges of his diagnosis, Rumer shared that the experience has also revealed a softer, more tender side of the actor she had not seen before.

She also spoke about the importance of family support, the realities of living with FTD, and how Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma, is helping raise awareness through advocacy and research efforts.

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Rumer Willis Opens Up About Spending Time With Her Father

Instagram | Rumer Willis

While speaking on “The Inside Edit” podcast alongside her close friend and stylist Maeve Reilly, Rumer said she understands that things will “never be the same” since Bruce was first diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, which later progressed to frontotemporal dementia in 2023.

However, the actress emphasized that she feels thankful she is still able to spend time with her movie star dad.

She also reflected on a meaningful family milestone, expressing gratitude that her daughter, three-year-old Louetta “Lou,” has been able to meet her grandfather.

“I’m so grateful that I have a child who got to meet him,” she said, adding that not all of her siblings may have that same opportunity with future children.

As the eldest daughter of Bruce and Demi Moore, Rumer explained that the family has leaned on one another throughout the journey.

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Bruce also shares daughters Mabel and Evelyn with his wife, Emma Heming Willis. Despite the emotional weight of the diagnosis, Rumer said the family continues to make an effort to stay connected and support each other through what she described as an unprecedented experience.

The Actress Reflects On Bruce Willis’ Health And The Softened Side Of His FTD Journey

Support Pour In For Bruce Willis & Family After Dementia Announcement
Instagram | Demi Moore

Rumer also revealed that the disease has uncovered a softer side of her father that she had not fully seen before.

Although FTD has brought painful changes, she said it has also given way to a new “sweetness” and “tenderness” in him that contrasts with the tough, “macho” image he carried throughout much of his Hollywood career.

The 37-year-old also admitted she had no idea how common FTD was until her father received his diagnosis.

She explained that since speaking publicly about it, many people have approached her to share their own experiences with the disease affecting parents, uncles, and other loved ones.

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Back in November, Rumer gave another update on Bruce’s condition during an Instagram Q&A, saying that while the illness has undeniably changed him, there is still a visible “spark” in his personality.

She acknowledged the harsh reality of FTD, noting that no one dealing with the condition is truly “doing great,” but added that her father is managing as well as can be expected for someone living with the disease.

Emma Heming Willis Explains Why Bruce Willis Is Unaware Of His Frontotemporal Dementia Diagnosis

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Willis at Comedy Central Roast of Bruce Willis in Los Angeles
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Bruce was first diagnosed with aphasia in 2022 and later confirmed as having frontotemporal dementia in 2023.

His family has been open about his condition, including his wife, Emma Heming Willis, who explained that he also lives with anosognosia, a neurological condition that prevents a person from recognizing their own illness.

She noted that the “Die Hard” star is not aware of his diagnosis, which she views as a difficult but important part of the disease.

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Emma explained: “People think this might be denial; they don’t want to go to the doctor because they’re like, ‘I’m fine’ — this is where the anosognosia comes into play. It’s not denial, it’s just that their brain is changing. This is a part of the disease.”

“He never connected the dots that he had this disease, and I’m really happy about that. I’m happy he doesn’t know about it,” she added, per Entertainment Weekly.

Emma Heming Willis Launches Foundation To Support Families Affected By Frontotemporal Dementia

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Willis at Motherless Brooklyn premiere at 57th NYFF
Lev Radin / M10S / MEGA

In addition to caring for her husband, Emma has also established a foundation aimed at improving “understanding of FTD and ensuring families facing it feel seen, supported, and less alone.”

The initiative is focused on three key areas: increasing public awareness, funding promising scientific research to speed up discoveries, and providing assistance to caregivers who often carry the emotional and physical burden of the condition.

Speaking at the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration’s Hope Rising Benefit in New York on March 12, she shared how the experience has reshaped her understanding of what many families go through when dealing with FTD.

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Bruce Willis’ Wife Talked About The Importance Of The Research Fund

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming arrive back at the Covent Garden Hotel in a black cab having had had dinner at The Ivy restaurant
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The former model emphasized her strong belief in the importance of “supporting research while also showing up for the caregivers who carry so much every day.”

Emma added that the goal of the fund is to foster greater understanding of the disease and to ensure that families navigating it feel seen, supported, and less alone.

She noted that Bruce has always been known for his generosity and compassion, and she believes he would be proud of the efforts that aim to support others facing similar challenges.

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Jennifer Lopez Jacket Costs $1,500 — Get the Look for $45

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Spring weather conditions are a fickle friend. One day, it’s practically summer, the next, you’re reluctantly dipping back into your outerwear collection to stave off the chill. Luckily, with bomber jackets like the one Jennifer Lopez wore during the Office Romance press tour, you don’t have to sacrifice the integrity of your outfit to do so.

The actress was spotted wearing the Auter Paperweight Batwing Bomber while walking the streets of New York City and looked cool, calm and completely unbothered by the dip in temperature. The designer jacket is constructed from lightweight Italian wool (which explains Lopez’s comfort), with stylistic features like batwing sleeves, a concealed front closure, a gathered hem and a stand collar with a snap, giving it a fashion-forward look. Unfortunately, the green statement piece retails for a whopping $1,450, but we found a similar option that lets you channel Jenny from the Block at a small fraction of that price.

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Get the Xunger Women’s Faux Suede Bomber Jacket for $45 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

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Related: Get Heidi Klum’s Cool-Girl Bomber Jacket Look for Just $37

Heidi Klum knows a thing or two about elevated dressing, often slipping into sleek separates that include modern design details, chic tailoring and bold pops of colors. But Klum’s refined taste isn’t just reserved for red carpets — and her recent bomber jacket serves as proof. Better yet? I found a lookalike silhouette for just […]

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It’s an unfortunate truth that, at this point in the season, we’re still wearing jackets out of necessity rather than as accessories. Irritation aside, the best way to combat unpredictable forecasts is to invest in pieces that can pose as both, and this Amazon version of JLo’s sage bomber jacket fits the bill. It’s made from faux suede and boasts the same batwing sleeve.

The Amazon bomber also offers a relaxed fit that channels the 56-year-old’s effortless street style. Lopez paired the utilitarian accessory with black thigh-hugging capris, Etnia FC Barcelona sunglasses, a ruby-colored snakeskin bag and red open-toed mule slides, creating a casual look peppered with elevated details. That’s the beauty of this bomber style: it can be dressed up with heels or down with sneakers.

Just as clothes should fit you (not the other way around), they should also fit your style, and the versatility is what customers say they love most about this jacket. One Amazon reviewer described it as “very versatile,” noting they wore it with “leggings and tennis shoes as well as with wide jeans and boots.” Another admitted that they wore the bomber to an outside wedding. “You can dress [the jacket] up or down,” they assured potential shoppers, adding that it’s “very comfortable” and, for the price, you simply “can’t beat it.”

If the flip-flopping spring forecasts continue to mess with your warm-weather wardrobe, Lopez’s sage bomber jacket is the answer to dressing practically while simultaneously staying true to your style. Copy her look with this $45 batwing bomber, which will likely come in handy this fall, too!

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Get the Xunger Women’s Faux Suede Bomber Jacket for $45 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more bomber jackets here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: Jennifer Garner, attends Apple TV's "The Last Thing He Told Me" Season Two Special Event at The West Hollywood EDITION on February 12, 2026 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage)


Related: Jennifer Garner Wore a Spring-Perfect Denim Jacket — I’m Copying Her Look

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Jennifer Garner is the poster child for uncomplicated dressing, gravitating toward laid-back staples like simple pants, comfortable footwear and easy T-shirts. And while the actress’ latest spring look stuck to the theme, her trend-forward denim jacket added a surprising twist. Better yet? I found a lookalike version for just $37. Spotted out and about in Los […]

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NFL Insider on ‘Public Thirst’ of Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini

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NFL Insider Ian Rapoport is weighing in on why the nature of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini’s relationship has become a hot topic.

“I don’t blame the media. I really don’t because the public thirst is there,” the NFL Network journalist, 46, said during a recent appearance on the “Between the Tackles” podcast. “The media isn’t getting people interested [in this story], they’re already interested in it. They’re feeding the beast.”

Rapoport continued, “Watching this play out in public is much sadder than I ever anticipated. I would not wish anybody to go through what everyone involved in this is going through.”

Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, made headlines last month after the pair — who are married to other people — were photographed holding hands at an Arizona resort in April. When the images first made headlines, told the New York Post, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”

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Russini also released a statement to the outlet saying, “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”

After seemingly downplaying their connection, another batch of photos were published via Page Six two weeks later that showed Vrabel and Russini seemingly kissing inside a New York City bar in 2020.

A third set of images published by TMZ showed the duo on the dock of a private boat rental company in Putnam County, Tennessee, in June 2021. At that time, Russini was pregnant with her and husband Kevin Goldschmidt’s first child. The couple share two sons: Michael, born in August 2021, and Joseph, born in October 2022.

Both Vrabel and Russini have denied having a romantic relationship.

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Related: NFL Insider Confirms Investigation Into Dianna Russini as Questions Linger

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Dianna Russini’s employer confirmed an investigation into the NFL insider’s alleged conduct with NFL head coach Mike Vrabel. “The Athletic is investigating the conduct of a senior N.F.L. reporter, Dianna Russini, after the publication of photographs that showed her with Mike Vrabel, the head coach for the New England Patriots, according to a person familiar […]

In April, Russini resigned from her role at The Athletic after the outlet had an internal investigation amid the scandal.

Vrabel, for his part, told NFL reporters that he had conversations with his loved ones about the matter. (The coach who shares two children with wife Jen.)

“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people that I care about: my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,” he said in a press conference ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. “Those have been positive and productive. We believe in order to be successful on and off the field you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of distraction. What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, the coaches, our fans, most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward.”

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“Survivor 50” star Tiffany Ervin explains why she was crying the entire finale day

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“I woke up really sad on finale day. I cried in the shower in the morning time. I cried on Cirie’s shoulder in the dressing room.”

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Beans from “Even Stevens” competes on game show amid wrongful firing claims against Universal Studios

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Steven Anthony Lawrence played the quirky character Beans on “Even Stevens” from 2001 to 2003.

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Kyle Busch, legendary NASCAR champion, dies at 41 after sudden illness

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The revered racing pro’s “sudden and tragic passing” was mourned by his family and NASCAR, calling him a “rare talent” who “comes along once in a generation.”

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Star Trek’s Most Ambitious Director Humiliated A Cast Member In His Very First Scene

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Star Trek’s Most Ambitious Director Humiliated A Cast Member In His Very First Scene

By Chris Snellgrove
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One of the most important directors in Star Trek history is someone you’ve likely never heard of: James L. Conway. He made a splash by directing some major TNG episodes like “The Neutral Zone” and “Frame of Mind,” and he later became one of DS9 showrunner Ira Steven Behr’s favorite directors for helming killer episodes like “Duet,” “Way of the Warrior,” and “Apocalypse Now.” In fact, he was so important to the franchise that he nearly directed First Contact, and he only lost that gig because Patrick Stewart personally pushed for having Jonathan Frakes in the director’s chair.

While Conway didn’t get to direct a major Star Trek picture, he did get to do the next thing by directing “Broken Bow,” the movie-length premiere of Enterprise. He did an excellent job, and many (including beloved franchise writer Brannon Braga) consider it the best pilot from the Golden Age of Star Trek. However, one Enterprise actor had a less-than-stellar time making this episode: John Billingsley, who got humiliated by Conway on set during his very first scene!

The Galaxy’s Most Quirked-Up Doctor

On Enterprise, John Billingsley plays Dr. Phlox, a genial alien physician with a very warm bedside manner. However, the doctor isn’t without his quirks, including a creepy, CGI-enhanced smile that has haunted Star Trek fans for years. But it turns out that the actor wanted his character to be far, far quirkier than anyone could have imagined. While performing in his very scene, Billingsley began squawking like a bird. Malcolm Reed actor Dominic Keating happened to be on-set, and he later reported how the squawking sounds sent director James L. Conway into an angry tailspin.

In the special feature on the Enterprise Season 1 Blu-Ray, Keating claims that Conway, when he heard the squawking noises, began repeatedly and immediately screaming out “Cut!” The director had been inside the video control room, but he allegedly stormed out and stood directly in front of Billingsley. Keating claims the director looked the actor directly in the eye and asked a brutally humiliating question: “Are you sh*tting me?!” All Billingsley could do was mutter, “Listen, I’m not married to it.” They finished the scene as written, and Billingsly never again squawked when playing Dr. Plox.

Humiliation: Star Trek Style

It’s wild to imagine an acclaimed Star Trek director humiliating an actor on set like this. Still, you might be on Conway’s side: the squawking really does sound goofy, and it would have made every scene with Dr. Plox distractingly weird. But here’s the thing: John Billingsley had made those bird-like noises throughout his entire audition process, which included performing them in front of Conway. The director seemingly decided in the moment that the squawking didn’t work for this performance. Again, this was probably the right call, but he made it in such a way that Billingsley was left downright mortified.

This bizarre tale is a reminder of the paradox at the heart of every Star Trek series. These shows are all about “seeking out new life and new civilizations,” but audiences have trouble relating to anything that’s a little too alien. That’s why Trek is filled with so many not-so-exotic species that look mostly human: it’s easier for those of us watching to relate to. In the case of Dr. Phlox, James L. Conway decided that Enterprise audiences were ready for weird head bumps and even an alien smile straight out of a creepypasta. But a doctor who squawks like a really loud bird? That, sir, is a starship bridge too far!

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Katie Bates ‘Lost’ Family Relationships After Past Incident

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Katie Bates is opening up about experiencing family strain after addressing an incident from her childhood.

“I’ve been getting flooded with messages like this from people who are genuinely concerned for me so I want to answer this as honestly as I can,” Bates, 25, wrote via her Instagram Story on Wednesday, May 20, when answering a user’s question about her decision to leave Tennessee. “A lot of people are confused by my decision to leave Tennessee, especially because from the outside it may look like I have a big support system here. The truth is, sometimes things happening behind closed doors are a lot more complicated and painful than what people see publicly.”

She continued, “Recently I chose to address something that happened throughout my childhood that I wish I had the strength to address years ago. Unfortunately after doing so I lost relationships with about 90 percent of my family. This has been incredibly heartbreaking and heavy to walk through. I’m not going to share details online, but I’m also done pretending everything is OK just to protect appearances.”

Bates noted that staying in Tennessee is “no longer healthy” for her at this moment.

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Related: Katie Bates Is Doing ‘Therapy Intensive’ After Husband’s Cheating Scandal

Bringing Up Bates star Katie Bates is seeking professional help navigating husband Travis Clark‘s cheating scandal. “I’ve wanted to come on here and say something for a while but I honestly haven’t really known how to put words to any of this,” Bates, 25, wrote via her Instagram Story on Sunday, February 22. “This year […]

“I’m choosing to move forward, finally heal and build a peaceful life for myself and my children,” she wrote. “More than anything, I’m desperately leaning on God right now even when things feel painful, confusing and lonely. I don’t have every answer right now, but I believe God can bring healing and peace out of even the hardest situations.”

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“Sadly I’ve learned that not everyone will support your choices when you finally choose honesty and healing and that’s OK,” she concluded. “Right now I’m focused on protecting my peace, my children and the life I’m trying to rebuild moving forward.”

In a separate Instagram Story, Bates responded to a user asking how she and her husband, Travis Clark, are doing. (In January, Clark revealed he had cheated on Bates. The pair have been married since 2023 and share two children.)

“Marriage can be hard at times and unfortunately what Travis did certainly did not make things easier,” she wrote. “Trav and I are working through things and making really good progress, but there are definitely still hard days. With God’s help we’re both continuing to show up for each other and our children as we work through this difficult time.”

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Related: Katie Bates Reveals Family Move After Husband Travis Clark’s Affair Scandal

Katie Bates and her family have opted for a permanent change of scenery following her husband Travis Clark’s admitted affair and subsequent scandal. “Life has looked different lately, but I’m really excited for what’s ahead!” Bates, 25, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, May 16, sharing a video diary highlighting her family’s impending move. “The last […]

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Bates went on to note that she’s still going through therapy, which she hopes to continue “consistently for a long time.”

“The first time I really got connected with a therapist was back in February and it’s genuinely been life changing for me,” she wrote in a separate Instagram Story, while answering a user’s question. “I didn’t realize how much I needed it until I finally started opening up and working through things. It’s helped me understand myself better, process difficult emotions in a healthier way and I truly think it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made for myself.”

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