Entertainment
Evil Dead Star Bruce Campbell Says He Has 5 Years to Live
Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell is sharing a somber health update after revealing his recent cancer diagnosis.
“I’m in a five-year prognosis,” the horror movie icon, 68, shared on the Wednesday, September 2, episode of “The Adam Carolla Show” podcast. “With the type of cancer that I have, which I don’t want to get into, the current thing is a five-year deal.”
When host Adam Carolla asked the actor if that meant he only has “five years to live,” the star responded in the affirmative.
“Give or take,” he said.
In March, Campbell revealed he has been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer.
Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell revealed he has been diagnosed with cancer. “Hi folks, these days, when someone is having a health issue, it’s referred to as an ‘opportunity,’ so let’s go with that — I’m having one of those,” Campbell, 67, wrote in a statement shared via X on Monday, March 2. “It’s also […]
“Hi folks, these days, when someone is having a health issue, it’s referred to as an ‘opportunity,’ so let’s go with that — I’m having one of those,” he wrote via X at the time. “It’s also called a type of cancer that is ‘treatable’ not ‘curable.’”
Bruce Campbell Getty Images
The Army of Darkness star admitted that his diagnosis was a “shock” before adding that he only decided to share his prognosis publicly due to his various upcoming public appearances.
“I’m posting this, because professionally, a few things will have to change — appearances and cons and work in general need to take a back seat to treatment,” he continued at the time. “My plan is to get as well as I possibly can over the summer so that I can tour with my new movie Ernie & Emma this fall.”
He added, “Regrets on my part. Treatment needs and professional obligations don’t always go hand-in-hand.”
Campbell is the star and director of Ernie & Emma, while his wife, Ida Gearon, serves as a producer. The road-trip comedy follows a widowed pear salesman who goes on an adventure to scatter his wife’s ashes. Ernie & Emma premiered last month in Medford, Oregon, where the project was filmed, with a wider release scheduled for the fall.
Courtesy of Erik Jensen/Instagram The Walking Dead star Erik Jensen is fighting for his life after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The actor, 53, has stage 4 cancer, according to a GoFundMe page created by his wife, Jessica Blank. Stage 4 means the disease is in an advanced state and has spread to different areas […]
“Fear not, I am a tough old son-of-a-bitch and I have great support, so I expect to be around a while,” the actor concluded back in March. “As always, you’re the greatest fans in the world and I hope to see you soon!”
During his Wednesday podcast appearance, Campbell reiterated that when it comes to his cancer diagnosis, he has decided “pretty specifically” to “live with it, not die from it.”
“Cancer is all the rage, but I’ve said plenty and I need to get back to the business of living,” he wrote via X on Saturday, September 5.
Continue Reading
A GoFundMe to support Lindsay Clancy’s parents, Michael Musgrove and Paula Musgrove, has increased its overall goal to $3 million — and continues to raise funds — after a Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial in the mother’s high-profile murder case.
“I’ve decided to raise the goal of this fundraiser since this process has been extended, so is the time Paula and Mike will remain away from their home, continuing to carry the costs that come with being there for their daughter every day,” fundraising organizer Brandee Mulligan wrote in a Friday, September 4, update. “The original purpose of this fundraiser hasn’t changed — it’s simply to take one thing off their plate while they continue to show up for their family.”
The update continued, “If they have to keep showing up longer, I want to make sure the support does too. Thank each and every one of you for showing up for this family. Let’s do this.”
Lindsay Clancy’s defense team is addressing the state of the mom’s high-profile murder case after a judge declared a mistrial. “Well, obviously this is not a time for gloating or bragging, expressing victory. It’s a very sad case,” Clancy’s lawyer Kevin Reddington told reporters on Friday, September 4, after the judge declared a mistrial amid […]
The fundraiser has raised over $1,170,000 at the time of publication.
Earlier on Friday, Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial in the controversial triple-murder trial, in which Clancy stands accused of killing her three children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months — before attempting to die by suicide. Clancy has not denied killing her kids, but instead argues she should not be held criminally responsible for the children’s deaths due to her documented postpartum mental health struggles. The prosecution argues that despite her mental health issues she knew right from wrong when she strangled the children to death.
Parents of Lindsay Clancy, Michael and Paula Musgrove Getty Images
The jury deliberated for nearly seven days and more than 30 hours, but ultimately remained deadlocked 11-1 and unable to reach a unanimous decision.
“I’m kind of a history buff and during World War II, Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of England when England pretty much stood against Nazi Germany alone,” Judge Sullivan said on Friday while addressing the jury for the final time. “So Churchill [often] had to talk to the citizens and let us brace for our duties. I always like that phrase, and I thought of that phrase when all of you were agreeing to be on this jury. You agreed to brace for that duty and each one of you knew how long the case was going to go, you knew how difficult the case was going to be to listen to, facts-wise. But still, you braced for that duty.”
He continued, “I watched every day, day after day, week after week, [and] all of you [were] performing that duty that you braced for. And I kind of wanted to let you know: I understand how hard everyone worked in this case. I understood you all gave everything you could and probably more than you thought you could … I just want to thank you so much. You should be proud of what you did. You braced for that duty. You performed that duty.”
Shortly before a Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy case, her defense team filed an emergency appeal asking for the removal or further questioning of an allegedly biased juror. “Petitioner asks this court to order the Plymouth County Superior Court, in Commonwealth v. Lindsay Clancy … to inquire into the ability of […]
When speaking to the press after the mistrial, Clancy’s defense attorney Kevin Reddington gave an update on his client and her parents’ wellbeing amid the possibility of another trial.
“It’s not right what she had to go through, because she grieves the loss of those three children, Cora, Dawson and Callan,” Reddington said at the time, adding that both Clancy and her parents are not doing well. “Every time somebody had something to say about those young kids, Lindsay would smile and say, ‘I’m glad.’ She wants them to be remembered.”
He continued, “I’m representing a woman who is a fantastic, wonderful individual. This woman is so brave; so awesome. Every day she came into this courthouse, stood tall — no pun intended, the poor thing is in a wheelchair as we all know for the rest of her life — sat there through seven weeks of a trial where nobody had anything bad to say about her except for the two prosecutors and apparently [Plymouth County District Attorney] Tim Cruz.”
Another hearing has been scheduled for September 29 as the future of the case remains unclear.
If you or someone you know is pregnant or just had a baby and is in crisis, help is available. Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline for free, confidential support 24/7 in English and Spanish at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).
Us has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
We always love a matching set, but none have ever looked quite as polished as Amal Clooney’s recent look. Ahead of the Venice Film Festival, Clooney stepped out in a monochrome shorts set in a rich, deep green.
While her exact look has been tricky to track down (and is likely a little out of our budget), we lucked out and found a similarly polished combo on Amazon in the same luxe hue — and it’s under $60.
Get the Prettygarden Button-Down 2-Piece Matching Set for $59 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
This set features a square-neck, vest-style tank top and matching shorts. The top feels extra elevated with textured gold buttons and sleek faux pockets, and the shorts include real pockets so you can keep your phone, credit card or lip gloss handy while you’re on the go. Both the shorts and the top are lined, so you don’t have to worry about any wardrobe mishaps.
If you’re bored with solid-color frocks but aren’t in the mood for busy florals, you’re not alone. Luckily, the richest, most fashionable gals remind Us that polka dot dresses are a ‘thing’ — and the print is chic enough to earn Amal Clooney‘s approval. Polka dots balance playful and polished, and Clooney’s midi dress is […]
Reviewers say this set is an ideal pick for travel, especially since it “does not wrinkle” and you can “wear it right out of [your] suitcase.” It comes in an olive green shade that perfectly channels Clooney’s look, but is also available in 14 other colors so you can find one that complements your wardrobe.
The top “lays flat and the neckline is flattering without being revealing,” one shopper said, adding that the shorts have “elastic on the back” and the front has “a fitted flat band to lay flat under the top.” Unlike some other sets, you don’t have to stress about weird gapping or fit issues.
Fans wear the set everywhere: work, weddings, trips to Costa Rica, sightseeing tours and more. It’s the ideal versatile silhouette. Toss it on with sneakers for a look that’s polished but still comfortable, or dress it up with espadrilles or loafers. And when the weather cools down, just throw a blazer over the top like Clooney did in her look, or add a cozy cardigan or structured denim jacket.
The styling possibilities are endless!
Get the Prettygarden Button-Down 2-Piece Matching Set for $59 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more from Prettygarden here and more sets here! Don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
UsNow Fall Sale Alert: These chic fashion finds are up to 60% off – plus free shipping
Welcome to fall with our biggest sale of the season. Our favorite dresses, tops, handbags, and shoes are all on sale + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.
Amanda Kloots is showing off her redesigned engagement ring — and reminding mourners that there’s no timeline to grief — following her late husband Nick Cordero’s 2020 death.
“You don’t have to stop wearing your engagement ring just because you took it off and years have gone by,” Kloots, 44, said in a video shared via Instagram on Friday, September 4, before showing off the customized ring. “Guys, I took my engagement ring off after, like, about a year and it was sitting in my jewelry box collecting dust until one day I was just like, ‘I want to wear my ring again.’”
She continued, “I contacted the jeweler, Stephanie Gottlieb, and we co-created a new design for my engagement ring into a ring that I can wear every single day. You can, at any time, take this piece of jewelry and recreate it into something that is still so meaningful.”
Cordero died in July 2020 from complications related to COVID-19. Months prior, Cordero was admitted into Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and diagnosed with pneumonia before testing positive for coronavirus at the height of the pandemic. He spent over 90 days in the hospital before his death. He was 41.
Amanda Kloots has found a deeply personal way to keep her late husband, Nick Cordero, close to her heart. The television personality, 44, revealed she created a lasting tribute she can always wear and cherish for years to come. “I used some of my husband’s ashes to grow this beautiful diamond so he could be […]
The pair, who shared son Elvis, were married for two years prior to his death.
“My diamond was a heart-shaped diamond, we put it in a bigger heart — my heart is always in his — and it’s a ring now that I wear on this finger all the time,” Kloots continued of her redesigned engagement ring on Friday. “And it’s so special, still so special, and I love it so much.”
Kloots’ candid video was accompanied by a substantial caption, encouraging those who are healing from a loss to take their time and decide what is best for them instead of attempting to adhere to someone else’s journey.
“After celebrating my wedding anniversary yesterday, it got me thinking that I should reshare what I decided to do with my engagement ring,” she captioned the post. “These questions after loss can sometimes be the hardest to answer. How long do I wear my ring? When should I take it off? Can I keep wearing it? What should I do with it now?”
She continued, “The short answer is: YOU DO YOU! There are no rules when it comes to grief, and you need to do whatever feels right and makes YOU happy. Four years after loss, I decided to redesign my engagement ring into something I could wear and love every day instead of keeping it tucked away in a box. I am SO glad I made this decision.”
In July, Kloots marked six years since her late husband’s untimely death.
“Today marks six years since Nick passed away,” she wrote via Instagram on July 5. “If you knew him, you were lucky. If you didn’t and you’ve been following me, hopefully you have an idea of what a magnificent human being he was. Everyone loved him. He loved everyone. He truly lived life to the fullest, although it was cut short at just 41 years old. His face graced stages and screens, and his voice could be shrill like rock and roll or smooth like Frank Sinatra. He taught me to slow down. To listen to music. To be curious. To believe in myself.”
She added at the time, “I know it might seem weird to say, but even though he is gone from this earth, I almost feel more connected to him spiritually now. It has made me believe that we don’t have to say goodbye. We don’t have to stop talking to the people we love. We don’t have to close the chapter. It may look different, yes, but I feel closer to him now, six years after his death. He sends me signs almost daily. I ask him for them, he responds and I talk right back! Nick was always up in your business if you were his good friend or family, so it does make sense that he’s still up in mine.”
Dancing With the Stars pro Britt Stewart is ready to MMM-bop her way to the mirrorball with celebrity partner Taylor Hanson.
“It was a very early morning [for pro rehearsals] and then Taylor and I had rehearsal after that,” Stewart, 36, began a video shared via her Instagram Stories on Friday, September 4. “It’s going really well for someone that’s never danced before.”
She continued, “I’m just really impressed with him and I’m just very excited for him and for this season. I cannot wait, and on top of that, I just feel like Taylor is such a good human.”
The Hanson singer, 43, was announced on Wednesday, September 2, as a member of the season 35 cast of ABC’s hit reality dance competition. The former early aughts singer joins a slew of famous contestants, including Jenna Dewan, Tyler Cameron, Julia Stiles, Harry Shum Jr. and Ciara Miller.
Taylor Hanson confessed his brothers were surprised to hear he would be competing on Dancing With the Stars season 35. “My brothers were pretty shocked that I would consider honestly putting myself on the dance floor,” Hanson, 43, exclusively told Us on Wednesday, September 2, following the official DWTS cast announcement. “But everybody’s supportive. Everybody’s […]
Since the big announcement, Stewart has been preparing Hanson to foxtrot across the ballroom ahead of the season’s highly-anticipated premiere.
“Obviously, Taylor and I just met and we’re still getting to know each other, but it’s been really nice to just share space with him,” she said on Friday. “We’re finding that we have actually a lot in common. It’s pretty wild, and I am so grateful. I’m feeling very blessed that he’s my partner.”
According to Stewart, it already feels like there’s “a lot of alignment” with Hanson.
“You know that I believe that everything happens for a reason, and there’s definitely a reason why Taylor is my partner this season and that he’s coming into my life,” the former High School Musical performer mused. “Not to get, like, too deep but you guys know. If you know me and you follow me for a long time, you know this about me. I find purpose and intention in pretty much everything in life.”
Hanson, for his part, has been equally stoked to learn how to dance under Stewart’s tutelage.
“We are here to have a great time. I have a great teacher,” he exclusively told Us on Wednesday of the partnership. “There’s really no loss in this for me. Every day were going [this] it’s a win. … I’m here to leave it all on the dance floor, so my only competition is the challenge of being excellent.”
Dancing With the Stars season 35 kicks off with a two-night premiere on ABC and Disney+ Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET.
Bachelor Nation’s Joe Amabile is continuing to document his ongoing health journey, revealing the five daily struggles the reality TV star is facing as he continues to recover from brain surgery.
“I wanted to make this video mainly because, overall, I’m doing wonderful, but has it all been great? No. There are things I struggle with,” Joe, 40, said in a video shared via Instagram on Saturday, September 5 — four-and-a-half months after he had surgery to remove a tumor from his brain.
“Number one: Overstimulation,” he continued. “if I’m scrolling too much on social media. If, I have a big TV in this room, if I watch it for too long I do get a little lightheaded. I have to go in my bedroom, turn the lights off.”
He added, “Socializing is another thing that I’ve been hesitant to do. I’m starting to get back into it — next week there is going to be a lot of people in New York. I’ve been on the more cautious side.”
Joe Amabile is sharing more details of his brain cancer journey. Appearing on Good Morning America on Friday, August 28, the Bachelor in Paradise alum, 40, described experiencing “struggles” with his speech after undergoing surgery to remove a “blueberry size lesion” on his brain. Joe explained that doctors found the lesion in the area of […]
Joe announced via Instagram on July 13 that doctors discovered “a blueberry size lesion” on his brain, which appeared to be a tumor, during an MRI scan. On August 6, Joe revealed that doctors “got it all” after operating on his brain. He was later diagnosed with “an astrocytoma, but it’s very low grade.” (Astrocytoma is a type of tumor found on the brain or spinal cord that starts in cells called astrocytes and may result in headaches, seizures, nausea or changes in mood or behavior, according to the Mayo Clinic.)
In his Saturday update, Joe continued to break down the daily struggles he is facing as he continues his recovery.
“Three: Anxiety is something I have been dealing with my whole life, but it’s definitely ramped up now,” he continued in the candid social media video. “Any time I read anything about the certain tumor that I have I just get — my hands sweat, I get anxious.”
He added, “I feel 100 percent at times and then I do tend to overdo it. I’m an over-doer. I’m struggling making this video, is what I’m doing.”
Bachelor Nation alum Joe Amabile is offering a glimpse into his recovery process after undergoing brain surgery. “So, it’s true. Do you really have the … the scar?” Joe’s wife, Serena Pitt, lip-synched a line from Harry Potter in a social media video shared on Saturday, August 15. (Harry Potter famously has a lightning bolt-shaped […]
The reality TV star, who was lovingly known as “Grocery Store Joe” on season 14 of The Bachelorette, went on to share that prior to his health scare he could “operate on very little sleep,” noting that he can no longer run on a limited amount of rest.
“Five: I’m someone that has always been able to operate on very little sleep — I can’t do that anymore. At least not right now, so I need — my sleep is really important,” he continued. “And I think that’s it really.”
He added, “And you know — honorable mentions, this is going to be with me for the rest of my life but that is a video for another time.”
With anticipation at a fever pitch for Avengers: Doomsday, directors Joe and Anthony Russo have begun work on its direct sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars. Details about Secret Wars have remained as scarce as Doomsday, though it’s been confirmed that the Russos are drawing inspiration fromJonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic’s Secret Wars series. However, Secret Wars just took its biggest step forward with the news that Noah Jupe (A Quiet Place) has been cast in a mystery role.
Jupe’s casting has sparked a flurry of speculation online, as is par for the course with MCU casting news. Some have theorized that he might play a character connected to the X-Men, particularly since the mutant team’s slated to be the center of an upcoming reboot. This speculation also stems from the fact that Secret Wars will potentially feature the return of X-Men characters like Hugh Jackman‘s Wolverine. However, Jupe could also play a teenage version of Franklin Richards, and Hickman and Ribic’s Secret Wars supports this theory.
Franklin Richards Plays a Major Role in Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic’s ‘Secret Wars’
When 2015’s Secret Wars begins, it’s with a truly apocalyptic event. Earth-616, the mainstream Marvel Universe, and Earth-1610, the Ultimate Marvel Universe, collide in a reality-shattering event that leaves both worlds utterly destroyed. However, Doctor Doom uses the godlike powers he recently gained to pull the fragments of reality together into a new Battleworld, which he rules as God Emperor. As part of Doom’s machinations, he rewrites reality so that Sue Storm is his consort, and Franklin Richards is one of his children. In the aftermath of the storyline, Franklin uses his reality-warping powers to reconstruct the Marvel Universe. Joe Russo previously confirmed that both the 2015 Secret Wars and the original 1984 miniseries would serve as inspiration for the movie:
“Well, we always create our own version of the story. So, we use the comics as loose inspiration. “But, you know, I grew up on the original run. That’s something that got me into Marvel comic books. The Hickman run is also fantastic [and they’re] very different from each other in a lot of ways, so we’ll draw inspiration from both of them.”
If Noah Jupe is playing a teenage Franklin Richards, then Avengers: Secret Wars is more than likely going to adapt the storyline where he and Sue become Doom’s new family. It would give Secret Wars plenty of emotional heft, as Reed Richards fights to free his family from Doom’s clutches while Doom potentially gains a measure of peace following the tragedies he’s suffered in life. Avengers: Secret Wars is also shaping up to be a potential reboot for the MCU, and what better way to introduce that concept than featuring a character who can literally reshape the universe with his fingertips?
A Recent MCU Movie Sets the Stage for Franklin Richards’s Upgrade
The groundwork might have already been laid for Franklin Richards’ appearance in Avengers: Secret Wars, thanks to The Fantastic Four: First Steps. That movie features Franklin in a key role, as his birth draws Galactus to Earth. Though the Fantastic Four manage to defeat the Devourer of Worlds, the effort leaves Sue Storm on the verge of death…until Franklin brings her back to life with his powers. The mid-credits scene for First Steps also features Doctor Doom coming face to face with a younger Franklin, hinting that the metal-clad monarch intends to use the child for his plans. This might also be why the Fantastic Four leave their reality in Avengers: Doomsday, as they race to save Franklin whileconfronting an old foe in Doom.
A recent fan theory also hints at Franklin playing a major role in Avengers: Secret Wars, though it takes a tragic turn. According to Bam Smack Pow, Avengers: Doomsday could end with Franklin and his uncle, Johnny (Joseph Quinn), being two of the few characters who survive Doom’s wrath. The evidence for this comes from a shot in which Johnny shields Franklin from a dizzying white light, implying the two are witnessing the final incursion that shatters reality. Whatever happens to Franklin in Doomsday and Secret Wars, it’s very likely that Noah Jupe might be playing the character.
Avengers: Doomsday premieres in theaters on December 18, 2026, while Avengers: Secret Wars premieres on December 17, 2027. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
- Release Date
-
December 17, 2027
- Writers
-
Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Stephen McFeely
- Franchise(s)
-
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Us has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
Whenever we’re tempted to wear tight jeans, Jennifer Lopez reminds Us that loose is just as chic, if not chicer. Lopez’s ultra-wide-leg denim style is equally trendy, comfy and flattering, and we found her box-checking look on sale for 50% off. Run!
Enjoying brunch in Manhattan’s West Village, the Office Romance star wore the outfit of our dreams. She half-tucked a slouchy sweater into stylish wide-leg jeans, finishing the look with a woven clutch.
The entire getup was flowy, but somehow, her waist appeared snatched. This denim style is the secret, and we’re stocking up in multiple colors before the deal ends!
Get the Levi’s 94 Baggy Wide-Leg Jeans for $42 (originally $85) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Like Lopez’s, these Levi’s 94 Baggy Wide-Leg Jeans feature billowy wide legs, faded detailing and a rich blue color, not to mention the same baggy silhouette that flatters from every angle.
Jessica Alba just reminded Us why flattering wide-leg jeans remain one of fashion’s most powerful wardrobe staples. The right pair can instantly lengthen the legs, smooth the silhouette and create that coveted model-off-duty effect — and her latest look delivered exactly that. Her pair proved that wide-leg denim isn’t just trendy, it’s one of the […]
By adding volume to your lower half, these wide-leg wonders create the illusion of a smaller waist. Even if you wear them with a drapey tee or a sweater like Lopez, your middle will look cinched by default.
Better yet, the fabric itself has fans. One happy fan wrote, “The denim is a medium thickness, so they are perfect for all year round.” They added, “The fit is flattering, booty looks great and the just-right amount of baggy in the legs.”
Another five-star reviewer wrote, “I’ve been wearing them for about three months now, and they’re my go-to whenever I want an outfit that’s casual, but still feels put together. They’re really comfortable, and the relaxed fit gives them that trendy, effortless look without sacrificing comfort.”
Most celebrity-approved looks aren’t practical for everyday life, but Lopez’s bold jeans style changes the game. It’s the comfy-chic staple our wardrobes need for errands, pumpkin patches and beyond.
The catch? This wear-everywhere look is selling out. If you see your size, snag it ASAP!
Get the Levi’s 94 Baggy Wide-Leg Jeans for $42 (originally $85) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more chic jeans, and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
UsNow Fall Sale Alert: These chic fashion finds are up to 60% off – plus free shipping
Welcome to fall with our biggest sale of the season. Our favorite dresses, tops, handbags, and shoes are all on sale + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.
With its 1970s setting, Starve Acre is a modern folk horror that leans into its inevitable comparisons with films like The Wicker Man and Don’t Look Now. Even so, Starve Acre becomes more a litmus test of dread – for audiences and characters alike – than a formulaic folk horror. Where folk horror films like Midsommar invoke a kind of thrill in piecing together what tapestries and paintings will come to mean, Starve Acre forces viewers to see it coming and to sit in that unease. Director Daniel Kokotajlo supports his environment of disquietude with still shots of Yorkshire’s beautiful, but oppressive landscapes between the slow, deliberate camerawork that punctuates the story.
Streaming on Shudder, Starve Acre features Richard (House of the Dragon’s Matt Smith) and Juliette (Morfydd Clark, Rings of Power and Saint Maud) as a couple. They move back to Richard’s childhood home in the countryside of Yorkshire to give their son, Owen, fresh country air to help with his severe asthma. But two years into their move, Owen still hasn’t adjusted to country life and his behavior takes a turn for the worse. This culminates with stabbing the eye out of a horse. In a visit with a child psychologist, Juliette reveals that lately, Jack has mentioned an imaginary friend named Jack Grey. This unsettles Richard, who is no stranger to Jack Grey. It’s a name from his childhood, featured in the opening poem that sets the course of the film, written by none other than Richard’s father, Neil. Soon, the family experiences death, and the film makes grief a central character and spins Richard’s archaeological position at a university as a vessel for exploring his own childhood abuse.
‘Starve Acre’ Makes Symbolism Unsettling
Where other modern folk horror presents symbols or the whole of folklore up front with a nod and a wink, Starve Acre jumps straight to tragedy, then spends the last hour of its runtime with a twisting ambiance that doesn’t shy away from the disturbing. Everything – from hidden bones to long-buried tree roots, and of folk horror’s favorite trope, an ominous animal, this time a menacing hare – becomes a tangible presentation of Richard’s childhood abuse and the resulting grief. Perhaps the greatest of these is a cut-down oak tree on the Starve Acre property. Owen is drawn to the remains of the tree, much to Richard’s dismay. What is a mystery to Owen is an immense trigger for Richard. To Richard, it represents the superstitions that his cruel father believed justified the ways he brutalized him from a young age. It was a popular meeting place for Neil and his friends, making it a painful reminder of the many ways his community failed to protect him from his father and, at times, even encouraged him.
The film twists Richard’s own work against him, forcing his comforting, mundane relationship to archaeological research to become a kind of liability that prevents him from walking away from these childhood emotional wounds and the beliefs that his father attached to them. As he finds himself drawn to the bones of a hare among his father’s things, Juliette takes a chance on a medium who uses meditation to navigate her dwindling mental health. Through this contrasting framework – a professional life and a spiritual need – both Richard and Juliette are moved closer to folk tragedy in ominous baby steps.
Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark Sell the Atmosphere of Fear
Richard’s revelations about his past are brought to life by Matt Smith with a quiet and stubborn resistance. When memories of his past finally break him, and he opens up about his father’s pagan ramblings and superstitious cruelty, it offers only enough breath to sustain the sinister atmosphere. His unfurling dismay works in harmonious contrast with Morfydd Clark’s transparent portrayal of his wife, Juliette. Similarly to Sissy Spacek in Carrie or Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby, Clark makes an unavoidable breakdown painfully watchable. The few moments of comfort they offer one another are well-calculated by director Daniel Kokotajlo. As their exploration of the mystery and tragedy of Starve Acre becomes more and more disjointed, it’s clear that togetherness might have been a way out. With revelations about the nature of parenthood and the ways any individual can justify cruelty in the past and the present, Starve Acre makes folk horror and pagan fears as human as emotion.
Starve Acre
- Release Date
-
July 26, 2024
- Runtime
-
98 Minutes
- Director
-
Daniel Kokotajlo
- Writers
-
Daniel Kokotajlo, Andrew Michael Hurley
Bridgerton star Luke Newton and his girlfriend, Antonia Roumelioti, are hitting back at alleged fan harassment.
“For the past three years, I have faced relentless scrutiny and countless false narratives about both myself and the people closest to me,” Roumelioti, 25, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, September 5. “Although speaking out may not change anything, I will no longer ignore this unacceptable behavior.”
She continued, “You do not know me, nor do you know anything about my personal life beyond who my partner is. Following someone’s life does not give you the right to spread lies, making cruel comments or tear another woman down.”
Newton, 33, and the model have been romantically linked since June 2024, going on to make their red carpet debut the following year. Without addressing the specific online vitriol, Roumelioti stressed that the commentary in itself was “deeply disturbing.”
Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton formed a close friendship while bringing Penelope and Colin’s love story to life on Bridgerton. The Netflix series, which debuted in December 2020, is based on author Julia Quinn’s book series about a group of siblings’ journey to find love. Coughlan and Newton were in a unique situation since their […]
“The level of hatred directed towards women online is deeply disturbing. Words have consequences,” she stated. “While I am fortunate to have the strength and support to cope with this, that does not make such behavior harmless. Treatment like this can have a devastating effect on someone’s mental health.”
Roumelioti further stressed that she is “proud of the woman” she is and won’t let any of the allegedly mean comments affect her.
“I will not allow strangers on the internet to define me or disturb my peace,” she concluded. “I genuinely hope that those who dedicate so much of their time to spreading negativity eventually find peace themselves.”
Shortly after Roumelioti shared her statement, Newton issued a message of his own.
“A little reminder. Be kind or simply click not interested,” the British actor succinctly said in a statement shared via his Instagram Stories on Saturday. “Don’t waste your time spreading hate. One day you’ll look back and wonder what it was all for.”
Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton’s Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton will surely have some Bridgerton scenes that will shock the ton, but their families will not be privy to such moments. “We won’t watch it with our nans,” Newton, 31, quipped to Australia’s The Sunday Project on Sunday, April 21, at the season 3 official […]
Roumelioti and Newton have often kept their relationship private. He notably portrays Colin Bridgerton on the Netflix series of the same name. Colin married Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) during season 3 after a friends-to-lovers arc.
“It felt like the right time to tell this love story,” Newton told Vanity Fair in 2024. “If we’d waited for another season, I think viewers would’ve been fed up at the fact that he still doesn’t see her. And they’d be frustrated that she’s still chasing him. So it felt like the perfect moment.”
Colin and Penelope’s story is based on Julia Quinn’s novel, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, the fourth book in her bestselling regency romance series. The Netflix show had swapped the order of Colin and Benedict’s (Luke Thompson) seasons, who ultimately led season 4. A fifth and sixth season has already been greenlit, with the cast currently filming season 5 starring Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dowd) and Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza).
Netflix has no shortage of spy thrillers, but Unfamiliar actually trusts its audience to make deductions. The German-language thriller, which landed on the streamer as a six-episode limited series, knows exactly how much information to reveal and when to hold something back. Each revelation changes what we thought we knew about the story, the characters, and, most importantly, the marriage at its center.
Unfamiliar has the chilly Berlin atmosphere, Russian intelligence operatives, and shadowy government conspiracies you’d expect from a modern espionage drama, but its most compelling conflict happens much closer to home. Meret and Simon Schäfer aren’t simply trying to figure out who is coming after them. They’re trying to determine how well they actually know the person they’ve spent the last 16 years beside. And six episodes suddenly feels like a pretty frustratingly small amount of time to spend with them.
What Is Netflix’s ‘Unfamiliar’ About?
Meret (Susanne Wolff) and Simon (Felix Kramer) appear to have built a quiet life in Berlin. They’re married, they run a restaurant and a secret safe house, and they’re raising their teenage daughter Nina (Maja Bons). There’s only one problem: The couple isn’t who their daughter thinks they are.
Sixteen years earlier, Meret and Simon were agents for Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, or BND. They eventually abandoned their old identities and disappeared into a new life, leaving their past behind — or at least trying to. That arrangement starts to collapse on Nina’s 16th birthday, when an injured stranger arrives at their safe house claiming he needs protection.
Meret immediately senses something is wrong, and she’s right. The stranger knows details about the couple’s past that he shouldn’t know, including information about an undercover operation in Belarus in 2008. That mission involved Josef Koleev (Samuel Finzi), a ruthless officer with Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, who has now resurfaced in Berlin.
‘Unfamiliar’ Makes Its Spy Games Feel Personal
The show certainly delivers the expected spycraft, as characters hack databases, manipulate surveillance footage, break into secure locations, and resort to some decidedly unpleasant interrogation techniques. Even the BND itself gets an interesting treatment. Rather than presenting German intelligence as an impossibly efficient machine filled with James Bond-style super-spies, Unfamiliar portrays an agency constrained by bureaucracy, oversight, and the country’s stringent rules around intelligence gathering. The result is a world where Meret and Simon’s willingness to operate outside those boundaries becomes part of what makes them so effective and dangerous.
Meret and Simon have been together long enough that they don’t need to explain themselves to one another. They have shared history, shorthand, and a deep understanding of how the other person operates, which makes the gradual erosion of their trust far more painful than a conventional spy-thriller betrayal. Their entire adult lives have been built around deception, and their former careers required multiple identities and carefully constructed lies, and they’ve carried those habits into the life they’ve created together.
Meanwhile, Nina’s presence gives those secrets an additional weight. She has grown up believing she knows her parents. As pieces of their past begin surfacing, the consequences aren’t confined to Meret and Simon. Their daughter is forced to reconsider the people she thought she understood.
Six Episodes of Unfamiliar Leave Plenty of Story Behind
The irony is that Unfamiliar‘s biggest strength also makes its six-episode run feel too short. The series is disciplined in its storytelling, and doesn’t spend hours wandering through unnecessary subplots. The show leaves plenty of room to keep exploring this world, particularly through the BND and characters such as Julika Ritter (Seyneb Saleh), a determined agent who is increasingly willing to trust her instincts rather than those above her. Josef and Vera Koleev’s marriage also introduces another fascinating variation on the show’s obsession with secrets, loyalty and power.
There’s a reason audiences have compared Unfamiliar to shows such as The Americans, Slow Horses and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Espionage is most interesting when the danger isn’t confined to some anonymous geopolitical crisis and is what happens when the lies required to survive professionally become inseparable from the lies people tell in their personal lives.
Unfamiliar doesn’t need a bigger conspiracy or louder action scenes to justify another season. Meret and Simon’s story may reach a satisfying point, but there’s still plenty left to uncover, and after spending six episodes watching this carefully constructed web of lies unravel, it’s hard not to want another few hours inside it.
Unfamiliar
- Release Date
-
February 5, 2026
- Network
-
Netflix
- Writers
-
Paul Coates, Kim Zimmermann, Alexander Seibt
NewsBeat43 seconds ago
Major disruption as grass fire hits Heathrow train links
Politics5 minutes ago
Who Is Jack Barton, The Heartstopper Star Now The Favourite To Play James Bond?
Sports5 minutes ago
These handy stickers can help you become a better ball striker
-
Fashion1 day agoWeekend Open Thread: Beyond Yoga
-
Crypto World2 days agoBitcoin price stalls near $82K as key resistance holds
-
Politics2 days agoBest Gaming Laptops, CPUs, TVs, And Keyboards To Upgrade Your Set Up For GTA VI
-
Tech2 days agoThe Birds Outside, Drawn For You Automatically
-
Crypto World2 days agoIMF Says El Salvador’s Post-Review Bitcoin Purchases Used No Public Funds
-
Crypto World2 days agoU.S. added stronger than expected 162,000 jobs in August as labor market bounced back
-
Sports2 days agoAlexandre Pato consortium’s Northampton Town investment approved
-
Sports2 days agoCommanders’ Chig Okonkwo is a top breakout fantasy football candidate
-
Sports2 days agoGolden Eaglets Drawn in Group B for 2026 WAFU B U17 Championship
-
Crypto World2 days agoXRP price breaks falling channel as bulls target $1.53
-
Politics2 days agoA new European chapter for Gibraltar
-
Politics2 days agoHow To Avoid Winter Colds: 4 Everyday Habits That Spread Germs, Says Pharmacist
-
Politics2 days agoThe House | Bin the lectures, bring gossip and be ready to banter: how the new PM should prepare for his Trump encounter
-
Crypto World2 days agoFrom warning to listing: UK’s largest retail investment platform opens access to crypto ETNs
-
Crypto World2 days agoFinCEN flags $12.7B tied to Southeast Asia crypto investment scams
-
Tech2 days agoA Worthy Android Ereader, With Some Tradeoffs
-
Crypto World2 days agoTrezor Data Breach Impacts 67,000 More US Customers
-
Politics2 days ago33 Cosy Autumn Home Decor Ideas: Blankets, Pumpkin Decorations, And Candles
-
Tech2 days agoHow To Edit Claude’s Memory
-
Sports2 days agoSeven wickets in 21 balls: Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu scripts history with record-breaking spell
You must be logged in to post a comment Login