Y’all! Nazanin Mandi is giving fans a glimpse into a new chapter of her love life, and the energy in her latest update has the internet talking. While she kept things intentionally private, the actress, model, and life coach made it clear she’s stepping into a space of joy and peace. And you already know, fans want to know with who!

RELATED: Miguel’s Birthday Shoutout To Son’s Mother Margaret Zhang Sparks Mentions Of Ex-Wife Nazanin Mandi (PHOTOS)

Nazanin Mandi Seemingly Soft Launches New Boo

Taking to Instagram, Nazanin Mandi shared a soft photo dump that quickly caught attention, captioning the post, “life update: when you know, you know.” In the series of photos and videos, Nazanin is seen getting affectionate with a mystery man, though she chooses not to reveal his identity. The carousel also includes sweet moments like a bouquet of roses and cozy clips of the pair enjoying each other’s company, showing her fully in her “soft life” era. While she’s keeping her partner out of the public eye for now, the vibe of the post makes it clear Nazanin is embracing happiness and moving confidently in her new romantic chapter.

Roomies Lit Up The Comments

One Instagram user @cynsantana said, “So happy for you! You’re an angel. You deserve the purest love ❤️”

This Instagram user @charleyberry commented, “And he’s taller than you!!! Hell yeah!!! 😂”

And, Instagram user @nadiamohamofficial claimed, “It’s on the gram it’s on the grammm 📢🚨🚨🚨🚨”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @mirthamichelle wrote, “Omggggggggggggggggg I’m gonna be a bridesmaid 😍😍😍😍😍”

While Instagram user @zen_re added, “The right one will make that glow radiate even brighter, yaaaaassss✨”

Finally, Instagram user @shayla.jpegw said, “Yeah she need a big dawg 😍😍”

Miguel Addresses Past Relationship Timeline With Nazanin Mandi

Miguel was previously brought back into conversation about his past relationship with Nazanin Mandi after revisiting the timeline of his personal life in a past interview, where he set the record straight on lingering rumors surrounding his divorce and new family. Speaking on ‘The Breakfast Club’ in 2025, the R&B singer clarified that he did not begin his relationship with filmmaker Margaret Zhang or welcome his son, Angelito, until after his divorce from Nazanin Mandi was finalized, emphasizing that the two met later at an unexpected event. Miguel also pushed back on public speculation, saying people often “do the wrong math” when trying to piece together his story, marking one of the few times he directly addressed Nazanin following their 2022 split after nearly two decades together.

When Taylor Parker was convicted of capital murder in October 2022 for killing her pregnant friend Reagan Simmons-Hancock and cutting the unborn baby from her body, one family member stood at the center of the case: her mother, Shona Prior.

Prior became one of the most consequential figures during Parker’s trial and the years that followed. She took custody of Parker’s daughter, testified in court, took jail calls from her daughter and offered blunt assessments of the crimes that landed Parker on Texas death row. Her role has come back into the spotlight after Netflix released the documentary Maternal Instinct in June 2026, chronicling Parker’s 10-month web of lies and the disturbing case that followed.

Here’s everything to know about Prior, below.

Shona Prior Took Custody of Taylor Parker’s Daughter

Parker welcomed daughter Emersyn at age 17 with then-boyfriend Donald Whiteside. Little has been publicly shared about Whiteside’s role in Emersyn’s life since he and Parker split.

Related: Where Is Maternal Instinct’s Taylor Parker Now? Inside Her Life Today

Taylor Parker committed an unimaginable crime when she killed her pregnant friend Reagan Simmons-Hancock, cut the unborn baby from her womb and attempted to pass off the child as her own. Prior to the killing, Parker had lied and told her loved ones that she was pregnant with her own child. She was ultimately caught […]

At the time of Parker’s October 2020 arrest, Emersyn had been temporarily staying with Parker’s first ex-husband, Tommy Wacasey. That arrangement had been put in place earlier that year — around the same time Parker first claimed to be pregnant with boyfriend Wade Griffin’s child, according to reporting from KTAL.

Following Parker’s arrest, Prior filed for custody of Emersyn, and the request was granted. Prior currently has custody of Emersyn, while Wacasey has custody of Parker’s son, Trey, whom Parker welcomed at 21 during her marriage to Wacasey.

During the trial, Prior testified that Emersyn continued to see Wacasey and his family on a regular basis. She also told the court she had connected her granddaughter with a counselor to help her process what her mother had done.

Shona Prior Testified During Taylor Parker’s Capital Murder Trial

Prior took the stand during Parker’s trial and offered candid answers about how her granddaughter was coping — and how much she understood about her mother’s crimes.

“You explained to me that you didn’t think (Taylor’s daughter) knew about the crime,” First Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp asked during the trial.

Prior responded, “She does not know the horrific details. She knows that two people have died at the hands of her mother.”

Jail phone calls played during the trial revealed that Parker told Emersyn not to talk to people about why she was in jail. Prior also testified that she was not in a custody dispute with Wacasey over Trey, telling jurors the boy remained in his father’s full-time care.

Prior told the court that both of Parker’s children “love her,” and several family photos were entered into evidence alongside the jail calls between Parker and her kids.

Shona Prior Confronted Taylor Parker in Prison Phone Calls

In a jail call recording obtained by The Sun, Parker complained to Prior about life behind bars — criticizing her jail cell, saying she couldn’t wear makeup during court proceedings and crying about not being able to speak to her two children.

“Mom, they would charge me with s***ting on a fly right now if they could, literally, that’s what it comes down to,” Parker said during the call, which took place sometime between 2021 and 2022. “I mean, there’s another girl that’s here, and they literally just threw some bogus bulls*** on her just because they could, just because it makes them look better.”

Prior said she understood, but she didn’t let her daughter off the hook.

Related: Taylor Parker Tries to Convince Officers She Gave Birth in Bodycam Footage

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Shortly after Taylor Parker killed her pregnant friend Reagan Simmons-Hancock and performed a C-section to steal her unborn child, she tried to convince law enforcement that she had given birth to the baby girl in newly released bodycam footage. In the footage obtained by TMZ on Tuesday, June 30, officers told Parker, 33, that they […]

“I don’t think you’re thinking about that like you should be thinking about that,” Prior said. “I mean, it’s not just you do one horrible thing and they try to throw the book at you.”

When Parker apologized through tears, Prior made clear she wasn’t convinced her daughter was truly sorry.

“I know you did not think about the consequences of your actions. I know that,” Prior said.

After Parker cried about not being able to see her son, Prior offered another sharp response: “I’m sure it does, but you know what? I hate to say this, but if you’d have been thinking about the children that you had on earth, you might not be in the situation you’re in.”

She added, “But, I mean, that’s what’s done is done. And you have to go forward and deal with the consequences as best you can. You’re not the only one dealing with them. We’re all dealing with them.”

Prior was more sympathetic when the conversation turned to Parker’s concerns about her appearance in court.

“So the thing about it is if they try to discriminate [against] you as a person, that will work in your favor in the long run because they’re not giving you a fair chance,” Prior said. “You know, they’re wanting you to look like a homeless criminal.”

She continued, “They’re not wanting you to look like a human because that would be beneficial to you and detrimental to them.”

Shona Prior Was on a Prison Phone Call With Taylor Parker’s Daughter

In a separate call released by TMZ in June 2026, Parker spoke to Emersyn and Prior as if life were normal — despite being accused of a horrific fetal abduction crime.

Emersyn told Parker she was standing near a campfire, and the group discussed a storm that had rolled through the night before. Emersyn shared that she had received sapphire and diamond jewelry as an early Christmas gift and that her younger brother, Trey, got a cross chain.

“Oh, that’s nice,” Parker said.

Related: Taylor Parker Claims Reagan Simmons-Hancock Told Her to ‘Take’ Her Baby

Just days after Taylor Parker killed her pregnant friend Reagan Simmons-Hancock, she claimed to investigators that the victim told her to perform a C-section and save her baby. In a new interrogation video shared by TMZ on Wednesday, July 1, Parker, 33, spoke to detectives about her version of events that took place during the […]

As the call continued, Parker asked what Emersyn was up to that day, and Emersyn described her bedroom at Prior’s home. The call was ultimately cut short by the jail’s automated system. Mother and daughter concluded by telling each other they loved one another.

The exact date of the call has not been made public, though TMZ reported it took place after Parker’s arrest and before her conviction.

Shona Prior’s Relationship With Taylor Parker’s Father

Prior shares Parker with ex-husband Mark Morton, whom she divorced in 2005.

Parker and her brother, Zachary Morton, witnessed their parents fight often during their childhoods. After the divorce, Prior and Morton initially shared custody, but Prior testified that Morton’s anger about the split made the arrangement difficult.

The children were given the option to live with Mark, and Parker primarily lived with her father and his mother, while Zachary stayed with Prior.

During the trial, Zachary suggested his father’s lifestyle may have influenced his sister’s personality.

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“When dad was chasing other women or drugs, we were put on the back burner,” Zachary testified. “It seemed like when Taylor was chasing another man, instead of the focus being on her children, it was on herself. It was all about her at one specific time.”

Parker was found guilty of capital murder and kidnapping in October 2022 and sentenced to death. She is currently the youngest woman on death row in the state of Texas.

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 23 seconds ago

Over the last several years, I’ve recommended a myriad of twisted horror films on this site. I’ve encouraged those who are not faint of heart and weak of stomach to watch films like Bone Tomahawk and Brawl In Cell Block 99. I want to be an authority on film and television that you can trust, without worrying that I’m corralling you toward some kind of cinematic psychological breakdown. Having said that, you’ve got to check out The Sadness, even if it leaves you unable to sleep for days on end.

Since you probably missed it, The Sadness is a 2021 Taiwanese production (bust out the subtitles, dear reader), written and directed by Canadian filmmaker Rob Jabbaz in his feature film debut. The movie is pretty on the nose in regard to its inspiration, as it centers on a global pandemic that shakes up life on Earth almost immediately.

Unlike the real pandemic, which was still very active when this movie was released, The Sadness gives us a deadlier, gorier infection known as the Alvin virus. This virus causes infected individuals to tap in to their most violent, animalistic desires, causing them to lose all control and turn into violent beasts at a moment’s notice.

A Swift And Violent Outbreak

As the narrative kicks off, we’re introduced to Jim (Berant Zhu) and Kat (Regina Lei), two normal residents of Taipei who are preparing for their workday. While the couple get dressed and sip their morning coffee, we see that state media is downplaying the severity of the burgeoning virus, and shifting the news narrative to an upcoming election instead. After dropping Kat off at the train station, Jim quickly comes to realize that the virus is much more serious than he’d been lead to believe, when an elderly woman begins assaulting patrons at a local coffee shop.

As soon as he steps outside of the shop, Jim sees that numerous civilians have been infected, causing car wrecks, gang assaults, and stabbings all over town. He hops on his moped and races across the city, hoping he can reconnect with his girlfriend and get to safety before it’s too late. Meanwhile, Kat is trapped in a subway car with a growing population of homicidal maniacs, including one perverted businessman portrayed by the incomparable Tzu-Chiang Wang.

Please Sir, I Want Some Gore

The rest of the film is essentially a series of loosely connected attempts by Jim and Kat to reconnect, as they become surrounded by gore, gross-out gags, and straight up body horror torture. I estimate that no less than 60 percent of the budget behind The Sadness was spent on fake blood and realistic looking body parts. The film is just about the closest thing you could get to actual war crime footage without crossing the line, and it’ll surely make your stomach turn with each passing scene.

I caught The Sadness when it premiered back in 2021, and I was staggered by how prescient it felt. Today, several years removed from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s only lost a fraction of its relevance. Though this is a movie that’s impossible to watch with most of your friends, I’d say hardcore horror buffs should go ahead and give this one a spin. Just be prepared to have nightmares for a while afterwards, even if you grew up on a steady diet of LiveLeak and The Walking Dead. For better or worse, The Sadness is currently streaming on Shudder.

When temperatures spike, some gals reach for denim shorts. But look around and you’ll see fashion people wearing something cooler — both literally and figuratively — to beat the heat and appear effortlessly chic. These gingham-print shorts are it!

And if you don’t believe Us, just ask the over 10,000 fashionistas who bought them last month alone. Even chronic anti-shorts shoppers are turning to these cute bottoms. And at just $13, you’ll want at least two!

Get the Anrabess Summer Lounge Shorts for $13 on Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

The magic is in the cut. The boxer silhouette loosely skims the body, and the elastic waistband sits comfortably without squeezing in at the tummy. Better yet, the fabric is relaxed and flowy, making the shorts perfect for lounging, brunching and traveling alike.

Related: This Loose, Feel-Good Maxi Dress ‘Hides the Imperfections,‘ Per Shoppers

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The gingham print gives them a retro-picnic charm (that’s much fresher than denim), as do the striped options. They come in so many colors, but we were instantly drawn to the red. No matter which you choose, you’ll be glad you did!

“I normally never wear shorts . . . but they are officially a must-have for my Disney park days,” one Amazon shopper wrote. “They’re lightweight, breathable and so incredibly comfortable for walking around all day in the heat. The fabric doesn’t feel restricting at all, which is huge for me.”

Style the breezy shorts with a loose button-up shirt and sandals for errands, or a fitted tank and sneakers for morning coffee runs. They read polished, not pajamas, so expect compliments at Target, Starbucks and beyond.

Get the Anrabess Summer Lounge Shorts for $13 on Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

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

Related: Mariska Hargitay‘s Comfy Pants Scream ‘Hamptons Mom‘ — Here‘s Why

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Mariska Hargitay proved that sporty can totally be chic. Instead of basic leggings, Hargitay wore the dreamiest eyelet-style lounge pants that took her aesthetic from courtside-cool to classy. We found the expensive look hiding on Amazon! The star turned up at the 2026 NBA Finals rocking a New York Knicks jersey, white sneakers and breezy […]

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County star Aspyn Ovard is breaking down how she entered a polyamorous relationship with married couple Briana and Billy Davis.

“It didn’t start off like that,” Ovard, 30, said during her Wednesday, July 1, appearance on Becca Moore’s “For the Girls” podcast. “It was just like … me and Bri. They had an open relationship so that she could explore her sexuality, and then I met her, and then I met Billy, not with the intention of … they weren’t looking for a third person.”

Ovard said she likely wouldn’t have been interested in joining a “throuple” had they approached her with the idea because she had sworn off dating men following her divorce from Parker Ferris after nearly nine years of marriage in 2024. However, meeting Billy changed her mind.

“He literally is the best. I didn’t know guys like him could exist,” Ovard gushed. “He just literally changed my life.”

Ovard said she “knew right away” that she had a connection with both Billy and Bri, but their dynamic was supposed to be “casual.” None of them knew where the relationship would go or whether it would become serious.

“I feel like what we have is by chance. I wouldn’t go around [telling others], ‘Oh my God, you definitely need to do this,’” she continued. “You can’t seek it out. It fell into my lap.”

Ovard first sparked dating rumors with Bri in October 2025. After months of speculation about their relationship, the influencer confirmed in March that she was in a throuple.

“So when I met Bri and she was married, it didn’t really mean that much to me,” she said in a TikTok video. “We can do our thing, and I’m not looking for certain things, and she’s not either.”

Ovard added that their relationship has no “weird rules” and features a “pretty equal dynamic.”

“It’s very normalized to me now because it’s been a long time of this,” she shared.

Related: Are Any of the ‘Mormon Wives: OC’ Cast Actually Members of the Church?

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MomTok is growing with the arrival of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County. “A new group of dynamic young mothers in Orange County collide in a community where beliefs are not just their religion; they are their identity,” a logline reads. “While some defend their way of life, fighting against modernity, others embrace […]

In a follow-up video, Ovard explained, “I have referred to Bri as my girlfriend, obviously, if I was referencing her online [in] the past. It’s not that word doesn’t fit, but I definitely think of them as partners. Labels are just, like, such an internet thing.”

Ovard’s relationship with Bri and Billy will be featured on Mormon Wives: OC, which is expected to premiere on Hulu later this year. Additionally, the show will explore her divorce from Ferris, 31, with whom she shares kids Cove, 6, Lola, 4, and Elle, 2.

Ovard teased on Wednesday’s podcast episode that fans will see her and Ferris “navigate” their post-split dynamic on the show, as well as Ferris’ opinions about her relationship with Billy and Bri.

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“It literally just depends on the day,” Ovard said of where she and her ex-husband stand today.

Ovard was cast on Mormon Wives: OC alongside Bobbi Althoff, Avery Woods, Salomé Andrea, McCall DaPron, Chandler Higginson, Ashleigh Pease and Madison Bontempo. In May, the social media personality defended her role on the show after backlash due to her not being married or Mormon.

“Obviously, I’m not a wife. I’m not married. [But] there are a lot of Mormon girls in the cast. I think there’s only two of us that are not married,” she said in a YouTube video. “I have so many ties to Mormonism from growing up in Utah, getting married young and just being surrounded by that culture. I’ve talked about Utah culture and how it has affected me and shaped my life in so many ways, even as someone who was not Mormon.”

Alex Rodriguez seems to have moved on from his partner of over three years. 

The legendary baseball player was recently spotted sharing a passionate moment with an unidentified brunette, leading many to believe he is already over his ex and on to the next. 

This update comes weeks after Rodriguez called it quits with Jaclyn Corderio, the fitness instructor with whom he has been romantically linked since 2022. 

The former Major League Baseball player made waves after being caught intimately kissing an unknown woman during a glamorous holiday gathering in the Hamptons on Wednesday evening. 

Attendees at the famous annual celebration hosted by Michael Rubin witnessed plenty of romance as the star athlete openly locked lips with a dark-haired companion. As seen in pictures obtained by Page Six, the two stood close together, engaged in deep conversation before pulling each other in for an affectionate embrace. 

Dressed in the required white party theme, the anonymous woman reached up and placed her hand behind the athlete’s head as they shared a passionate kiss.

This bold romantic display comes just weeks after news broke regarding Rodriguez’s formal separation from his long-term partner, Cordeiro. Since the split made public headlines, the sports celebrity has seemingly wasted no time enjoying the dating scene.

Earlier in May, reports surfaced that the baseball star was actively mingling and flirting with a variety of different women at a highly popular New York City establishment called the Corner Store. 

Alex Rodriguez And Jaclyn Cordeiro Separated Amicably After Three Years

While Rodriguez seems to have eagerly jumped back into the dating pool, his breakup with Cordeiro was as amicable as possible. 

According to The Blast, the fitness coach publicly confirmed the news, making it clear that they remain highly supportive of one another, with no behind-the-scenes friction or negative drama. 

“We remain supportive of one another, and there is absolutely no animosity, drama, or negative story here,” she said. 

Corderio chose not to reveal the exact reason for the split but noted that she is heavily focused on a major medical issue involving a member of her family.

The Former Athlete Reportedly Tried To Reconnect With His Famous Ex

Following the amicable split between Rodriguez and Corderio, the former made headlines for reportedly attempting to quietly re-establish contact with his ex-fiancée, Jennifer Lopez.

He reportedly reached out to the global singer and actress almost immediately after becoming single, years after their highly publicized relationship ended. 

Sources familiar with the situation asserted that the former player never got over the pop star. Sources further explained that their time together continues to hold significance for him because “the relationship meant everything to him,” per The Blast. 

Notably, Rodriguez and Lopez originally dated for four years starting in 2017 before ultimately calling off their engagement amid heavy outside scrutiny and romantic difficulties. 

Jennifer Lopez Recently Shared Her Relationship Philosophy Following Rumors Of A Reconnection With Rodriguez

Amid rumors of Rodriguez allegedly reaching out to Lopez, the actress openly shared her view on romantic relationships, having gone through several breakups herself. 

She confidently asserted that closing a chapter in your personal life should be viewed as an exciting opportunity for personal growth rather than a disappointment.

“People should say, ‘You broke up? Congratulations.’ Because one, you made a decision. Two, it was probably the best thing for everybody,” she said during an appearance on a podcast, as reported by The Blast.

The superstar emphasized that her greatest moments of personal and emotional transformation have consistently grown from times of grief, including both romantic fallouts and setbacks in her professional career.

For her, that intense pain is the only force that truly drives a person to question their choices and make meaningful improvements to their own character.

Jennifer Lopez Is Currently Enjoying Her Single Life

This empowering philosophy on growth perfectly aligns with how Lopez currently views her single status a year after finalizing her high-profile divorce from Ben Affleck.

According to The Blast, she openly admitted that she should have embraced this independent lifestyle much sooner. “I am [single]. I should have done it sooner,” Lopez told Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night show.

When the comedian jokingly suggested she consider starring on the reality dating show “The Bachelorette” to find love again, she laughed off the idea and asked if he was crazy.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 19 seconds ago

There’s one album that will forever be my white whale, and it’s Captain Beefheart’s 1969 disasterpiece, Trout Mask Replica. It’s one of those albums that’s considered unlistenable garbage or the work of a complete genius, depending on who you ask. It blends genres, polyrhythms, polytones, and whether you like it or not, it’s considered one of the most challenging records in 20th century music. I agree with this assessment because there’s so much going on that either Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart himself) secretly knows something nobody else does and he’s trying to speak to us through code, or he’s certifiably off his rocker. Maybe he was both.

This is all to say that I think I found the cinematic equivalent of Trout Mask Replica, and it comes in the form of 2001’s Hotel, a film that forces you to find meaning through the talent involved. The ensemble cast includes, but is not limited to, John Malkovich, David Schwimmer, Salma Hayek, Rhys Ifans, Burt Reynolds, and Lucy Liu, and their performances are all frenetic, unhinged, and absolutely wild.

The movie itself is set almost entirely in or around the titular hotel in Venice, Italy, and the plot increases in complexity because we’re pretty much seeing everything from the perspective of the hotel. Think of it like Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, but if it were an avant-garde jazz album performed by musicians who only caught a brief glimpse of the chord chart after it was set on fire and blasted with a high-pressure fire hose.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Like the Beefheart album, I don’t really have an answer. I’m glad art like this exists because sometimes you just need it to take a leap, and for writer-directors like Mike Figgis to come up with something so unhinged that its influence will be felt long after it’s forgotten.

Several Movies In One, But They’re All Incomplete

Unpacking the plot to Hotel is no easy feat, but I’ll break it down to its barest components for the sake of brevity. While staying at the Venice hotel with his film crew, writer-director Trent Stoken (Rhys Ifans) constantly butts heads with his overbearing producer Jonathan Danderfine (David Schwimmer). They’re filming an adaptation of The Duchess of Malfi, and their production is rife with issues, ranging from talent refusing to stick to the script to heavy implications that Trent has a bit of a drinking problem. At least I can’t think of any other reason why Jonathan demands to smell his breath whenever he arrives late to the set.

After a freak accident involving Trent getting shot in the spine, with no exit wound or bullet ever found, the writer-director falls into a coma, forcing Jonathan to helm the film even though he has no talent beyond wearing a bunch of rings and looking like a henchman from a straight-to-VHS action thriller.

Meanwhile, documentarian Charlee Boux (Salma Hayek), whose initial project was capturing behind-the-scenes footage of the movie, finds a much more compelling story demanding her attention: the hotel staff are cannibals, storing human meat in their walk-in coolers. The film’s opening sequence features John Malkovich’s Omar Johnson checking into the same hotel and slowly realizing the meal he’s eating is probably made of people. The fact that we never see him again after this scene suggests whoever’s staying at the hotel probably already ate him, or he’s at least marinating at one of the prep stations.

There’s so much more going on in Hotel, but unpacking everything here would be an exercise in futility. The plots all intersect at one point or another, but they’re not always supposed to, as far as I can tell. Instead, it feels like we’re getting a slice-of-life presentation through different mediums and guests as they come and go from their private spaces to the public ones they’re obligated to occupy.

Roger Ebert Compared It To Jazz Improv

When commenting on Hotel, Roger Ebert said, “It reminds me above all of a competitive series of jazz improvisations, in which the musicians quote from many sources and the joy comes in the way they’re able to keep their many styles alive in the same song.”

I wholeheartedly agree with Ebert’s assessment, which is why I opened this review bloviating about Captain Beefheart (It’s not a mid-life crisis, I swear!). For a film this weird and obscure to not even have a critical or audience score on Rotten Tomatoes despite its star power, my takeaway is that this whole thing is a disjointed mess by design.

Oftentimes we see four perspectives on screen at the same time, like you’re playing a multiplayer video game, with each window unfolding in a different location. Other times, we get anywhere from two to four perspectives, but they’re all following the same person or group from different angles, as if to make you wonder whether there’s something just over somebody’s shoulder you should be paying attention to.

My favorite part about Hotel is how it changes aspect ratio as a visual shorthand to let you know who’s in control of the narrative. We get a lot of split-screen footage when they’re working on The Duchess of Malfi, a tight square whenever we see what Charlee’s looking at, and so on. In many cases, these perspectives overlap, making me think this hotel has the same kind of power as the Overlook did in The Shining.

Hotel isn’t a story about a bunch of people trying to make a movie in Italy. In fact, it hardly tells a story at all. What we’re witnessing, though, isn’t insignificant. It’s an exercise in shifting perspective and showing how chaotic life becomes when it doesn’t stick to the script. Visually, you can see its influence in music videos, with Blink-182’s “Always” being the most well-known example that comes to mind. There’s plenty more where that came from, though.  

Listen, you may not appreciate what Hotel is trying to accomplish at face value, but if you decide to fire this one up on Tubi, where it’s streaming for free, I want you to think about what it actually does, and where else you’ve seen its influence over the last 25 years. You might be surprised.