By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 9 hours ago

Some actors have the worst luck in picking solid roles. More often than you might think, they get a strong start and then pick stinker after stinker for their next big appearance. For example, Sarah Michelle Gellar became a teen icon thanks to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but afterwards, she had an almost supernatural ability to pick doomed TV shows that died after one season. As for Kevin Costner, he dazzled in unconventional dramas like Field of Dreams, but he developed a seeming fetish for doomed epics like The Postman, and he pissed away his beloved Yellowstone role to spend $38 million of his own money to make the failed Western Horizon: An American Saga. 

These two, like most actors, don’t say much about their previous failures, preferring to look forward rather than backwards. Recently, however, the hottest TV actor of the modern age decided to buck this trend and acknowledge that she had made some bad decisions when it came to picking her next role. That actor is Emilia Clarke, who became a household name after the breakout success of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Recently, she gave a hilariously frank interview where she made fun of her most hated roles while making it clear that she doesn’t blame the fans for those projects failing.

The Naked Truth

Emilia Clarke’s recent interview with Variety was surreally fascinating. She wasn’t going out of her way to promote any upcoming projects or even just satisfy her own vanity. Instead, she largely focused on some of the missteps she had taken as an actor. Acknowledging that she felt bitter after not winning an Emmy in 2019 because she felt like she had become “old news,” she also opened up about long-festering gossip, including rumors of how much the Game of Thrones cast made and whether she experienced any sex pests on that set (the answer was no, though she declined to comment on whether anything like that happened on the set of Solo or Terminator: Genisys).

Soon enough, she began dishing about her failed attempts to distinguish herself from Game of Thrones. When talking about how fans reacted to Secret Invasion, she adopted a silly voice and said, “I don’t think no one liked that show, guys. I’m sorry!” The seal broken, she continued: “Star Wars’? They didn’t like it. Terminator? That should never have happened. But these were jobs I said yes to, you know what I mean?” Fortunately, she doesn’t blame the different franchise fandoms for these film failures. “I entered into already existing franchises,” she said, “so when they don’t work out, it’s not personal.”

She’ll Be Back

Honestly, this is a very refreshing attitude, especially when you compare Emilia Clarke’s humility with various stars who have blamed fans for their projects failing. When Ocean’s 8 bombed, star Mindy Kaling blamed “white men” for simply hating what she, a woman of color, had created. Similarly, when A Wrinkle In Time disappointed, Captain Marvel star Brie Larson notoriously lashed out at a certain type of critic: “I don’t need a 40-year-old white dude to tell me what didn’t work … It wasn’t made for him!” Meanwhile, Ghostbusters (2016) star Melissa McCarthy questioned the real motivation of fans hating that reboot by saying, “I just don’t know why people are so afraid of women.”

So, while the bar is obviously in hell, Emilia Clarke deserves full props for not lashing out at fans after starring in three failed franchise projects (four if we count that final Game of Thrones season). She understands that fans want what they want, and if she or her projects fail to deliver, she doesn’t get offended. Eventually, the Game of Thrones actor decided to stop focusing on starring in the next big thing and start picking roles “for no other reason than that I would enjoy that job.” That’s really the healthiest approach to Hollywood, and her humility is enough to make fans fall in love with her all over again.

Not bad, huh? Especially for a girl whose most famous character solved all her problems by setting them on fire!

On this episode of ‘Stepping Into The Shade Room,’ Lex P. and Drea Nicole, hosts of the ‘Pour Minds’ podcast, step in to discuss everything from six-figure checks, their next money moves, scaling a brand, and maintaining a 10-year friendship. Additionally, Lex P. addresses the viral “cheating” jokes and why she loves to make men uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Drea opens up about her single life and her non-negotiables when dating. This, all with host Thembi.

Lex P. And Drea Nicole Speak On “Cheating” Jokes & Interracial Dating

While chatting it up with Thembi, Lex P., and Drea Nicole landed on the topic of “cheating” jokes and interracial dating. Lex explained that she likes to “embellish” stories, but admitted that she did cheat on someone back when she was in college. Nonetheless, Lex explained that her current preference is being able to date freely. Furthermore, she even jokes that she likes to make men uncomfortable by admitting that freely, as they usually do.

On the topic of interracial dating, Drea Nicole noted that she is open to dating outside of their race.

“Whatever is going on, this isn’t working. So maybe I should try something different,” Drea Nicole explained while chuckling.

Meanwhile, Lex P. ultimately disagreed.

The Hosts Of ‘Pour Minds’ Share Their Thoughts On Other Content Creators

Furthermore, as the conversation continued, Lex P. and Drea Nicole shared their thoughts on other content creators: specifically on whether they’d shot their shot.

Watch the clip below to see the hosts discuss whether they’d shoot their shot at Nick Cannon, Shannon Sharpe, Cam Newton, DJ Akademiks, and more! Additionally, watch as the ‘Pour Minds’ hosts discuss the entertainment industry, their “Still Sippin” tour, their individual business ventures, and more!

RELATED: Akon On Why He Didn’t Sign Drake, A Verzuz With T-Pain + Polygamy & Ne-Yo | SITSR (Exclusive)

When Joe McCann and Ashlee Jenae’s names started circulating online in connection with an ongoing investigation, speculation quickly followed. But now, authorities overseas have officially closed the case, and Joe is finally speaking out.

RELATED: UPDATE: Ashlee Jenae’s Fiancé Joe McCann Breaks His Silence & Releases Statement As She Is Laid To Rest

Joe McCann Speaks After Tanzania Investigation Seemingly Clears Him

Joe McCann, fiancé of the late Ashlee Jenae, has broken his silence after police in Tanzania concluded their investigation and reportedly determined he was not responsible for her death. In a statement, Joe reflected on the official findings while acknowledging that the conclusion does not ease his grief. He opened with a Swahili proverb, saying, “The heart is like a forest. One cannot see into it,” before adding that the announcement “does not lessen the tragedy” of losing his partner. Joe went on to say he misses Ashlee “every moment of every day,” describing her passing as a sudden loss he cannot simply move on from.

Joe McCann Thanks Officials, Seeks Clarity

Furthermore, McCann also emphasized that his focus throughout the investigation was on cooperation and bringing clarity to the situation surrounding her death. Joe stated that his priority was ensuring Ashlee was brought home and that the truth would come out through proper channels. He closed his remarks by thanking Tanzanian authorities for what he described as a “professional, sensitive, and thorough investigation,” expressing gratitude for their handling of the case as he continues to mourn her loss.

“The heart is like a forest. One cannot see into it.”

－ Old Swahili Proverb

Advertisement

Today’s official announcement from Tanzanian authorities that my soulmate Ashly Robinson died by suicide does not lessen the tragedy of her death.

I miss Ashly every moment of every day and the pain…

— ◢ (@joemccann) June 4, 2026

What Authorities Concluded About Ashlee Jenae’s Death

Joe McCann spoke out after the Zanzibar Police Force officially closed its investigation into Ashlee Jenae’s death. As previously reported, authorities concluded she died by suicide due to mental distress and cleared him of any involvement. Local officials on June 4, 2026, closed the investigation into Ashlee Jenae’s death after analyzing communications and witness statements they say showed emotional distress leading up to her passing, concluding the case “beyond a reasonable doubt” and clearing all other individuals, which prompted Joe McCann to publicly respond to the ruling, acknowledge the findings, and speak on the case’s closure while continuing to mourn her loss.

RELATED: UPDATE: Influencer Ashlee Jenae’s Cause Of Death Reportedly Determined After Investigation Into Birthday Vacation Tragedy

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 8 hours ago

Marvel has built a multi-billion-dollar industry out of making movies where colorful heroes fight mustache-twirling supervillains. In real-life, no such villains exist, but that hasn’t kept Kevin Feige from having an ongoing showdown with his own Big Bad: superhero fatigue. After the Marvel Cinematic Universe reached its apex with Avengers: Endgame, subsequent films stopped printing money as reliably as they once did. Audiences yawned at ambitious failures like Eternals, and even critically acclaimed blockbusters like The Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps couldn’t earn as much money as Superman, the breakout film of last summer. Historically, the main reason given for Marvel’s decline is that its fans are suffering from superhero fatigue.

The basic idea behind superhero fatigue is that audiences have gotten sick of seeing the same characters do the same thing onscreen. You can only watch Sam Wilson kick butt in so many Avengers movies before seeing him fight a palette-swapped Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World seems pretty boring, right? The exception to this seems to be Spider-Man, who is about to have his 12th film in 24 years. We’re averaging a new movie every other year, but this remains the most popular superhero in the world. Why is he seemingly immune to superhero fatigue? Simple: Spider-Man films keep changing characters, actors, and stories, making everything feel constantly fresh and new.

Spider-Man: Good Old Days

Since Sam Raimi kicked off his web-head trilogy in 2002, every Spider-Man film has been very successful. Even the ones that audiences generally hated ended up making some serious bank at the box office. For example, Spider-Man 3 was considered a major dud by critics and fans alike, but it still earned $895.9 million; by comparison, the critically acclaimed, fan-favorite film Spider-Man 2 only earned $795.9 million. Later, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which is blamed for killing Sony’s own Spidey cinematic universe, earned $716.9 million, which was admittedly less than the previous movie’s $758.7 million, but it was still the seventh highest-grossing movie of 2012.

There’s a pretty simple lesson there: moviegoers really, really like Spider-Man. They like this superhero so much that even when we get a bad Spidey movie with terrible word-of-mouth, it still does gangbusters at the box office. Once Sony reluctantly partnered with Marvel, Spider-Man movies earned more than ever before, with No Way Home earning a jaw-dropping $1.921 billion. Clearly, this is one character that is immune to superhero fatigue because even his worst movies make bank for the studio. Why, though, is Spidey immune? By both accident and design, his movies have offered audiences the variety and diversity they just can’t get from other heroes.

Spider-Man Just Keeps Changing

Let’s start with the original Sam Raimi trilogy. The first Spider-Man was a fairly intimate origin story, one that kept the stakes appropriately low. Spider-Man 2, however, was a romance wrapped in spandex tights, and it upped the stakes so that Spidey was saving trains full of people and, eventually, the entire city. The much-maligned Spider-Man 3, meanwhile, served as a deconstruction of the relationship between power and responsibility, emphasizing Peter’s essential goodness even as it highlighted an internal struggle against selfish desire and an external struggle against more villains than ever before.

Later, The Amazing Spider-Man offered audiences some built-in novelty. This reboot sported entirely new actors, and its revised origin story felt fresh thanks to the natural chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was an ambitious film that balanced the cute growing relationship between Peter and Gwen Stacey with a story about complex family legacies (Harry and Norman Osborn), nice guy toxicity (Max Dillon going from geek to freak), and taking chances (Gwen’s potential Oxford scholarship). Admittedly, the movie is crowded by too many plots and too many villains, but credit where credit’s due, it’s very different and anything but boring.

A Spider By Any Other Name Would Smell Just As Sweet

The success of the MCU Spider-Man movies more or less speaks for itself, as does the failure of most of Sony’s solo Spidey villain franchises except for Venom. The failure of those Big Bad’s movies really underscores that audiences are in it to see their favorite superhero and not just his B-list enemies. Notably, Sony’s Spider-Verse movies were an unqualified smash hit thanks largely to awesome writing, jaw-dropping animation, and familiar characters. But it’s also worth pointing out how quickly audiences fell in love with a new Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Throw in Gwen Stacey and Peter Parker as we had never seen them before, and you had films that felt genuinely innovative.  

In short, the Spider-Man films have always been successful because each one is either reinventing the character or giving us a fresh storyline. None of Sam Raimi’s Spidey films are quite the same, and Marc Webb’s duology features two very different movies. The Spider-Verse movies deal with entirely different versions of familiar characters, while even the MCU changed things up: Homecoming was a coming-of-age film, Far From Home was a movie about processing grief, and No Way Home was a multiversal mashup. Now, Brand New Day is about to change things up with a small army of cameos and new characters, even as Spider-Noir completely changes everything we know about Spidey-style storytelling.

There you have it, web-heads: superhero fatigue doesn’t truly exist. Audiences are simply sick of watching the same actors playing the same characters doing the same things. For almost a quarter of a century, Spider-Man has remained the most popular superhero, and this is largely because his movies have constantly changed up actors, characters, and plots. The constant success of this character is effectively a challenge to Marvel Studios. Namely, adapt or die. If they can give other characters the variety and narrative versatility of Spidey, they’ll thrive. Otherwise, the MCU will die because fans will be busy watching movies like Obsession and Backrooms that offer what Kevin Feige no longer can: new ideas.

Tom Hardy‘s ousting from “MobLand” has seemingly taken a more complicated turn as reports suggest Paramount+ is now sizing up a possible replacement for him.

This comes amid reports that the actor has not been completely shut out from the hit series, and that there’s still a possibility for him to make a return despite tension with the producer.

Tom Hardy was reportedly booted off set after exhibiting some unbecoming attitude towards producers Jez Butterworth and David Glasser.

Hardy’s time on “MobLand” may soon be a thing of the past for sure amid reports he was shown the exit.

There have been so many speculations surrounding his fate as street-smart fixer Harry De Souza in the hit crime drama, especially because of reports that he had a falling out with the producers.

However, the latest development suggests he is choosing not to return to the series after enduring a turbulent second season.

According to Page Six, some A-List names have already been approached to replace him, including Idris Elba and Colin Farrell.

The move further complicates things as competing reports earlier suggested he “was not fired” and there were talks of a return to the set, per Variety.

Sources claimed that the “door was not closed,” and they were “creatively working through” a plan to keep him on board for season 3, which has not been granted the go-ahead.

Rumors Of On-Set Tension Continue To Surface

One thing seems to be recurring in the whole upheaval, and it is that there was some form of tension on set.

There were reports that the 48-year-old actor frequently engaged in a power play by refusing to leave his trailer for hours at a time and had a clash with the producers.

However, sources speaking to Page Six note that the blame doesn’t lie entirely with the British star.

Hardy’s frustration was reportedly heavily fueled by structural issues, including script pages from co-creator Jez Butterworth arriving very late before shooting, with the situation sometimes demanding that the cast learn their lines that day. This reportedly led to delays and panic over budgets from the studio.

“You have an A-plus writer who’s got a lot of power and who has a methodology of ‘I don’t know where this is going,’ and then an A-plus actor who is used to knowing the entire arc of a character in a story,” an insider told the news outlet.

“It was all very passive-aggressive and British. It wasn’t even a feud,” they added.

Helen Mirren Shared A Post About Tom Hardy Amid Rumors Of A Rift Between Them

Amid the confusion, Hardy received love from costar Helen Mirren,  who plays Maeve Harrigan, the cunning and formidable matriarch of the Harrigan crime dynasty, serving as the power behind the throne to her husband, Conrad Harrigan, played by Pierce Brosnan.

To seemingly quell the rumors surrounding the actor, she shared a picture of Hardy on her social media page and captioned it, “Love you now and always, Helen,” but that has done little to help.

Mirren was said to be another individual who Hardy had clashed with on the show, with multiple reports claiming she was frustrated with his on-set behavior and “arrogance.”

A source who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter also alleged that Hardy, at one point, refused to leave his trailer, leaving Brosnan and Mirren waiting for hours before filming could proceed.

Mirren’s latest post now seems to be her attempt to shut down the allegations of a feud between her and Hardy.

Guy Ritchie Reportedly Working Hard To Keep Tom Hardy On The Series

The show was co-created by Ronan Bennett and Jez Butterworth and is produced by David Glasser’s 101 Studios, along with MTV Entertainment Studios.

It also has Guy Ritchie as an executive producer who directed several episodes across season 1 and season.

However, it seems Paramount+ is desperate to find common ground with the actor, with Guy Ritchie set to be some form of mediator to ensure that things work out.

“I’m sure Guy is probably pushing David Glasser to make it work,” a production source told Variety. “Guy likes working with Tom.”

Another source told the news outlet that Hardy is “difficult,” but is also a movie star, while others pointed out that tensions could have been calmed earlier than now, but the leaks from insiders claiming he was fired complicated the whole situation.

Tom Hardy’s Exit Would Cost Paramount+ A Whole Lot

It remains to be seen how things turn out and if both parties are able to salvage their working relationship.

However, should Hardy remain insistent on not returning to the show, sources claim it could cost Paramount+ a large sum, as they’ll have to refilm season 2 to explain his absence, mainly because his character is a very essential part of the series.

This could prove a daunting task as filming for the season has since wrapped up, although a concrete premiere date is yet to be announced.

“The role is pivotal to the story, so he can’t just disappear in season three — there has to be some sort of explanation for his absence,” a source told a media outlet. “That means they will have to alter the end of the second series, which has only just been made, and that will cost millions in extra time spent developing, filming, and editing.”

“It’s not clear if Tom will even return to film any new scenes, or whether the producers are just going to have to be incredibly creative in tying up the second series,” they added, noting how, in any case, they’ve “got to start thinking about the overwhelming prospect of delivering series three.”

Bethenny Frankel has found love with Shane L. Campbell.

After Frankel, 55, moved to Florida in April 2025, she connected with Campbell, who works as a senior managing director at FTI Consulting in Miami. After initially meeting, they reconnected in a group setting with friends. He went on to plan many “intentional” and thoughtful dates, which Frankel teased via Instagram in April were extravagant enough to be featured on The Bachelor.

Frankel was previously married to Jason Hoppy, with whom she tied the knot in 2010. In 2013, she filed for divorce, sparking a 10-year custody battle over their daughter Bryn. The former couple finalized their divorce in January 2021.

Keep scrolling to learn everything to know about Frankel’s new beau:

Related: Bethenny Frankel’s Complete Dating History

Bethenny Frankel is known for being candid about her high-profile romances, from her rocky marriage to Jason Hoppy to engagement to Paul Bernon and more. Frankel finalized her divorce from Hoppy shortly before she got engaged to Bernon in 2021, even though the pair initially split in 2012. Their divorce proceedings lasted eight years in […]

Where Did Shane L. Campbell Go to College?

Campbell studied at Princeton University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and played hockey.

He then got an MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina in 2007.

What Is Shane L. Campbell’s Job?

According to his LinkedIn, Campbell is a senior managing director at FTI Consulting in Miami.

Campbell started his career as an investment banker at the Royal Bank of Scotland. He also worked as an analyst for Dove Consulting in 2002, an analyst at RBS Greenwich Capital for a year in 2007, and a managing director at Coronus Partners from 2008 through 2015.

Where Does Shane L. Campbell Live?

Campbell lives and works in Florida. Frankel is also a resident of the Sunshine State. She moved to Florida in April 2025 with her daughter, Bryn.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

Related: Bethenny Frankel Hasn’t ‘Committed to Anyone’ After Calling Off Engagement

Bethenny Frankel is easing herself back into the dating world more than a year after her split from ex-fiancé Paul Bernon. “I have been dating, and I haven’t fully committed to anyone,” Frankel, 55, said during her Wednesday, December 3, appearance on Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast. “There have been individuals that I’ve met […]

Advertisement

How Did Bethenny Frankel Meet Shane L. Campbell?

Frankel explained via Instagram in April that when she met Campbell, they were “texting back and forth” for a bit but she “shut it down” because he was “breadcrumby.”

“Months later, we met briefly at a bar. Did not know if I would ever hear from him again,” she shared. “He called me to say, ‘I’d like to see you again. Drove an hour and a half to see me. Then we went on a five-hour date.”

“Do not settle. Do not accept breadcrumbs,” she told women who are navigating the dating scene. “A man has to have a plan [and] move the ball forward. A man has to show you exactly how they feel about you.”

By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated 48 minutes ago

Playboy was one of the most influential magazines of the last 60 years. The men’s magazine founded by Hugh Hefner rode the sexual revolution of the 60s on the back of its Playboy Bunnies, the Playboy Clubs, and choosing to add articles in a magazine that would have sold as well without them. “I read Playboy for the articles” was a long-running joke, but the truth is, some famous authors have contributed stories to the magazine, including multiple time contributor, the Master of Horror, Stephen King. 

Stephen King’s Playboy Articles

King has published six original works for Playboy over the years, starting in 1983, mostly short stories but a few poems as well, starting in 1983 with “Word Processor of the Gods” in the January 1983 issue. The story, the first King wrote on an electronic word processor, is about an electronic word processor that can alter reality, giving a disgruntled writer the opportunity to remove his ungrateful son and wife from existence. Collected in 1985’s Skeleton Crew, the original Playboy printing is a collector’s item for King fans to this day. 

It wasn’t until the December 2006 issue that Stephen King contributed another work of fiction to Playboy, “Willa”, his return to the format following his recovery from a nearly fatal accident. The haunting love story is one of his personal favorite works. Under a year later, “Mute” was published in November 2007, bringing a King crime story to the men’s magazine. In addition to the short stories, King had contributed articles over the last few decades, including an early one in 1982 about the importance of horror movies. When he finally submitted a poem, no one knew it would be overshadowed as badly as it was by the issue’s cover model. 

Sharing The Cover With Marge Simpson

In November 2009, Stephen King published the poem, “The Bone Church,” in Playboy. The poem follows a group lost in the jungle encountering a strange, cosmic horror. Yet the most horrifying part of the issue, which also included an interview with King, was the cover model: Marge Simpson. It’s one of the most infamous covers in Playboy history, and Marge has since been replaced on the cover by Victoria’s Secret model, Alina Puscau.

For obvious reasons, finding an original print of “The Bone Church” is very difficult, and very costly. King’s next two contributions were his last, coming in March 2010 with “Tommy” and December 2016 with “The Music Room,” which, perfectly in line with King’s prolific writing, he forgot he wrote. “The Music Room” was left out of a short story collection until the paperback version of You Like It Darker. Notably, both issues featured real women on the cover. 

Playboy may be known for the centerfolds,but over its long and storied history the magazine has  featured other famous authors including Roald Dahl, Ian Fleming, Arthur C. Clarke, and Margaret Atwood. The monthly print magazine may be no more, but it lives on, as of 2025, with quarterly issues. If Stephen King somehow finds the time, he can still keep the tradition going for a new generation. 

By Robert Scucci
| Published 2 hours ago

Have you ever heard of the 1973 alien invasion exploitation mystery sci-fi comedy thriller, The Hidan of Maukbeiangjow? Wow, what a sentence. I’ll bet you haven’t, but you may have heard of it after it was renamed Invasion of the Girl Snatchers when it was released in 1985. I’ll bet those chances are still pretty slim, though. If you want to seek the film out on Tubi, just know that it has the original release date but the updated title. My guess is whoever was in charge of marketing wanted audiences to know they were watching a 70s movie, but also knew nobody would click on it if it had the original title. I know I wouldn’t have.

Heck, at least they got me to click on this one because it’s pretty brutal, but not without its charm. Stylistically, it’s all over the place. There’s a kidnapping sting operation, hapless detectives, and, for some reason, an alien death cult with a plan to replace beautiful women with alien doppelgangers, though for reasons that are never quite made clear.

As for its genre, you can call it sci-fi, but this thing is mostly a comedy of errors. As a feature film, it stinks like a paper mill, but there are enough standalone moments to make it worth watching. Not because of the alien plot, but because of how the detectives handle themselves. It’s supremely stupid all around, which is probably why a movie with a title like The Hidan of Maukbeiangjow now resides in the darkest corners of Tubi.

The Bra That Got Away

Invasion of the Girl Snatchers starts in, and spends most of its time in, a seedy motel room. Detective Sam Trowel (Hugh Smith) is running a sting operation to take down a drug and human trafficking ring with the help of his right-hand man Kaspar (Ele Grigsby), safecracker Frederick (David Roster), and a bruiser of a bodyguard named Noname (Harlo Cayse). They’re staying in a room connected to the alleged kidnappers’ room, and they’re going to send an undercover woman named Ruthie (Carla Rueckert) wearing a tracking device hidden inside her bra.

The plan is simple. Ruthie wears the tracking bra, gets whisked away by the kidnappers, and Sam and his crew track her down to their headquarters in the hopes of finding more abducted women who need to be rescued. Bing, bang, boom. It couldn’t be a simpler operation. There’s just one problem: Ruthie gets abducted while topless, so the whole operation goes to hell.

To make matters worse, we learn that we’re not dealing with an ordinary human trafficking ring, but some sort of death cult led by an evil sorcerer named Aph (Charles Rubin), who is enslaved by and reports directly to an alien named Utaya (McCain Jeeves). In case you’re wondering where the movie got its original title, the evil lair where they run their racket is known as The Hidan of Maukbeiangjow.

As far as I can tell, Ruthie gets killed by Aph after a painfully long ritual involving ratchet straps, black paint, and chanting. She’s not actually dead, however, but instead replaced by an alien that now lives inside her. Dazed and disoriented while trying to operate its new human suit, the alien meets up with another alien using a woman’s body as its host. Together, they plot against Sam, Kaspar, and the rest of the gang, who are just as confused about everything as I was while watching Invasion of the Girl Snatchers.

It’s Really Funny Though

While the storytelling in Invasion of the Girl Snatchers leaves a lot to be desired, I quite enjoyed the motel scenes involving Detective Sam Trowel and his cohorts because it’s basically a stoner comedy. Freddie spends most of the movie smoking joints and messing up the investigation, while Sam, a by-the-books but not particularly bright detective, constantly gets in his own way.

For example, when he plays the tape containing his mission briefing, it says it’s going to self-destruct in three seconds. It doesn’t self-destruct in three seconds, so he shoves it in his back pocket to play it safe. During one of the chase sequences later in the film, the tape finally explodes, and his reaction basically boils down to, “Man, what a day I’m having!”

It’s not high-brow stuff, but there’s always a built-in charm to botched sting operation plots because as much as you want to root for the good guys, it’s infinitely more amusing to watch them fail over and over again on their way to eventually solving the case. These characters play off each other well in that campy B-movie kind of way, but the alien plot is too out there and too underutilized to make the movie feel complete.

I’m all for low-budget alien movies, but the budget here is virtually nonexistent. The most expensive prop was probably the cassette player. The scenes involving reanimated women possessed by aliens aren’t without humor, but I think everything would have landed stronger if the women were simply brainwashed by a cult and the movie leaned harder into being a straight-up hard-boiled detective comedy.

INVASION OF THE GIRL SNATCHERS SCORE

If you’re into the idea of watching something that’s not entirely great but certainly has its moments, you can stream Invasion of the Girl Snatchers for free on Tubi as of this writing.