It’s hard to find a standalone female werewolf novel. The female werewolf certainly pops up recurrently in the paranormal romance genre, alongside vampires, witches, ghosts, faeries, you name it. Yet, seldom does the she-wolf get her own monstrous spotlight as a protagonist. Rachel Harrison’s Such Sharp Teeth is one of those rare reads that focuses on a woman letting loose under the full moon. Still, in terms of horror, Such Sharp Teeth is scarce, and the female werewolf’s feral potential gets undercut by a conventional romance arc straight out of a Hallmark movie.

The werewolf has traditionally been rendered a masculine monster. After all, the Old English word “wer,” meaning man, is the very root of werewolf. Male lycanthropes are certainly dominant in folklore and cinema, but the female werewolf continues to claw her way into contemporary novels, as more and more women are looking for stories that tap into a rage inherent to navigating the female experience. In many ways, the female werewolf or shapeshifter has become a playful emblem of female liberation featured in both feminist horror and pop anthems like Shakira‘s “She Wolf.” Defined by painful and intoxicating transformation, the female werewolf is an apt vehicle for exploring trauma, alienation, and bodily autonomy. Still, many written attempts to embody the she-wolf end up caging her into purely campy portrayals.

The Origins of the Female Werewolf

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Mythologically, one of the earliest female werewolf stories comes from Ireland. The daughters of Airitech refer to three sisters who could shapeshift into wolves. On Samhain, they would emerge from a cave called Oweynagat (or, Cave of the Cats), known for being a portal to the Otherworld, to ravage livestock in their wolf form. Later in history, the she-wolf lore builds alongside the witch trials in Europe. Hienrich Kramer‘s infamous book, Malleus Maleficarum, which was used to identify and persecute witches, linked lycanthropy to acts of witchcraft. Witches were believed to be able to summon or control wolves or to turn into wolves themselves by using magic.

In folkloric imagination before the early modern period, the werewolf, as a whole, was seen more as a supernatural affliction or curse rather than something outright malevolent or inherently evil. The reality of Europe’s werewolf trials testifies to how the history of the werewolf dovetails with the persecution of women who defied social and religious norms. Hannah Priest‘s scholarly text, She-Wolf: A Cultural History of Female Werewolves, explores this lineage in depth, demonstrating how the female werewolf is a “manifestation of deep-rooted and complex cultural anxieties.” The historical and thematic weight of the she-wolf, thus, ushers in horror stories of the heavier variety, not just creature feature popcorn horror. Cult classic, Ginger Snaps, for instance, notably aligns the heroine’s infection by werewolf bite with the onset of menstruation, utilizing lycanthropy for a deeper story of coming-of-age and fraught female relationships.

‘Such Sharp Teeth’ Can’t Decide if it’s Horror or Romance

Image via Penguin Random House

Such Sharp Teeth, on paper, seems geared to continue the legacy of the female werewolf unapologetically. The novel even designates itself explicitly as “a werewolf novel” on the cover. Rachel Harrison’s approach is, at first glance, promising. Her protagonist, Rory, in search of transformation, returns to her hometown, moves in with her pregnant sister, and has a chance encounter with a rogue wolf that upends her reality. Beneath that potential horror book blurb is the true plot arc of the novel: independent and untamed protagonist, Rory, goes back to her hometown, gets wooed by her hunky childhood pal, Ian, and decides to settle down, effectively ditching her big city life and job in the process.

In a book supposedly about women and rage and control, it is very odd that Harrison chose such a neat-and-tidy ending straight out of a predictable rom-com. Rory, a successful career woman with a wild streak, becomes a werewolf, and that somehow leads her straight to suburban domesticity? It’s understandable that horror readers would not just be surprised but largely angry at this outcome. The female werewolf is perhaps the strongest vehicle in horror for challenging entrenched gender norms and stereotypes, and Such Sharp Teeth doesn’t even gesture toward that recalcitrant path. We do learn who the other (female) werewolf is that attacked Rory, but it’s late in the novel, and that plot twist is quickly swept to the side to serve a happily ever after ending between Rory and Ian.

The quasi-comedy of the body horror component in Such Sharp Teeth doesn’t really land because Harrison refuses to commit to a supernatural trope in the same way that Organ Meats by K-Ming Chang does, for instance, via indulgent magical realism. When the werewolf element is reduced to just quirkiness for a female character, it really hampers the bite radius of dark comedy. Such Sharp Teeth relies on flat dialogue to fill chapters and doesn’t seem to take its own horror element to heart. Granted, it’s hard to write werewolf transformations from the first-person, and then write the transformation again, but differently, as the story progresses by the light of the moon. It’s a brutal, visual transformation that tends to succeed the most on screen.

Publishers Keep Diluting the Horror Label

Image via Searchlight Pictures

The biggest issue with Such Sharp Teeth is not the writing or the characters or even the ending, but the fact that it’s simply not the story that the publisher marketed it as. Penguin Random House genre-tagged the book “Gothic & Horror,” not romance, despite the latter driving the majority of the plot development. Marketing a romance story as horror does both genres a disservice and signals a broader issue in publishing where the horror label is unduly stretched to appeal to online literary trends and aesthetics. In recent years, publishers have been quick to position novels within the “weird girl books” niche, which now boasts a Goodreads list of over 1,000 titles, in order to reach more readers. The result is that horror and dark comedy have increasingly begun to fuse into one “unhinged” literature label, especially in books marketed to women.

As more and more literature today is shelved, promoted, and sold by trope or mood, genre categories are becoming a less reliable guide. Horror fans, in particular, are learning not to trust the dust jacket. On the whole, the hunger for unconventional female protagonists is genuine and deserved, but that doesn’t mean that every novel about the monstrous feminine belongs under the horror umbrella. Such Sharp Teeth is the most jarring example, published in the wake of Rachel Yoder‘s canine-savvy hit, Nightbitch, of how porous the horror literature category has become. These contemporary female-led novels flirt with horror aesthetics or borrow horror tropes, but ultimately fall back on familiar romantic or domestic narratives.

On that note, perhaps the books (and book adaptations) that tackle the monstrous feminine the best are those that are unconcerned rather than apprehensive about their own oddity. The female werewolf in literature has yet to be fully let loose so unabashedly, in horror or otherwise, but she surely deserves stories that do not force-fit her into the frame of a conventional heroine.

With a total of 67 novels and novellas, not including his nonfiction works and roughly 200 short stories, Stephen King can be an intimidating author to approach. Yet many of his stories offer some of the most grounded and realistic portrayals of humanity’s moral decay. Time and again, King shows that the simplest—and often hardest—qualities, like kindness, empathy, and basic human decency, are what truly stand against evil.

While he’s best known as the man behind many of today’s biggest on-screen works, King’s writing is far more versatile than that. From psychological thrillers and sci-fi epics to coming-of-age dramas and post-apocalyptic tales, his work spans a wide range of genres. If you’re looking for the perfect place to start, here are the essential Stephen King books everyone should read at least once.

‘Salem’s Lot’ (1975)

Image via Doubleday

Salem’s Lot follows writer Ben Mears, who returns to Jerusalem’s Lot to write a novel about the long-abandoned Marsten House. This wasn’t his first visit to the town—25 years earlier, he spent part of his childhood there and experienced a terrifying incident that continues to haunt him into adulthood. As he reconnects with familiar faces, Ben discovers an evil force slowly transforming the town’s residents into vampires.

While the bloodthirsty creatures are the story’s obvious villains, one of King’s trademark strengths is revealing that the true evil has always existed within ordinary people. The supernatural horrors simply expose the town’s deepest sins, showing that moral decay had taken root long before the vampires arrived. From marital infidelity to financial corruption, Jerusalem’s Lot is already rotting from within. King also subverts classic vampire conventions by showing that even the town’s holiest man is powerless against the darkness, proving that religious status alone does not make someone a hero.

‘Carrie’ (1974)

Image via Doubleday

Every Stephen King fan should read his published horror debut, Carrie. Shy and socially isolated teenager Carrie White has spent her entire life under the strict control of her fanatically religious mother. School offers no escape, as she’s relentlessly bullied by her classmates. Everything changes when Carrie discovers she has telekinetic abilities, powers that grow stronger as the abuse from both her mother and peers pushes her closer to the edge.

Carrie is an excellent entry point for readers new to King’s work because its themes are so universal. Almost everyone knows what it feels like to be excluded, and those wounds often cut deepest during youth. While Carrie’s actions at prom are undeniably horrific, it’s difficult not to understand the rage that drives her after years of cruelty—including being publicly humiliated for getting her first period, something her mother had never prepared her for. It becomes the ultimate victim-turned-avenger story, tapping into the revenge fantasy many people have secretly imagined against their own childhood bullies.

‘Under the Dome’ (2009)

Image via Scribner

Besides horror, King also knows how to pull a sci-fi thriller like Under the Dome out of his sleeve. At 11:44 a.m., the small town of Chester’s Mill, Maine, is suddenly sealed beneath an invisible dome. Everyone is trapped inside, including former Army captain Dale “Barbie” Barbara. As panic spreads and corrupt selectman Big Jim Rennie seizes control, Barbie does everything he can to uncover the force behind the Dome and find a way out before the town tears itself apart.

Under the Dome is for alien fans, but with a King twist. Instead of invading Earth, the aliens trap the townspeople in a cruel biological experiment, watching them slowly die from a lack of resources or turn against each other like animals for their own amusement. And that’s exactly what happens, because even in an apocalyptic situation like this, human nature still finds a way to make everything about power and self-interest, all while jeopardizing the survival of the entire town.

‘The Dead Zone’ (1979)

Image via Hodder & Stoughton

Premonitions are both a gift and a curse in The Dead Zone. After waking from a five-year coma caused by a car accident, high school teacher Johnny Smith discovers he has developed psychic abilities. With a simple touch, he can see a person’s past and possible future. Although Johnny tries to keep his powers under the radar, he can’t ignore them when a string of murders rocks his small town.

Unlike King’s more supernatural stories, The Dead Zone is much more grounded, with Johnny constantly wrestling with the ethical consequences of knowing the future. As word of his abilities spreads, people see him as someone who can help rather than someone to fear. But the stakes soon grow far beyond solving murders, forcing Johnny into the world of politics. He must decide whether to use his gift to stop a dangerous future or stay silent, even if it means innocent lives could be lost.

‘The Shining’ (1977)

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The Shining follows aspiring writer Jack Torrance, who takes a job as the winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel. But his young son Danny, gifted with psychic abilities known as the “shining,” senses that something isn’t right within the hotel’s ghostly halls. As the Overlook’s dark history and remaining spirits prey on Jack’s already fragile mind, it becomes a race against time for Wendy and Danny to escape before Jack gets to them.

The Shining is one of King’s best-known novels to explore psychic powers, a concept that would become a recurring theme throughout his work. But beyond turning the Overlook into a menacing character in its own right, the novel shows that the worst demons are often the ones we carry inside ourselves. Jack isn’t an evil man from the start, but his guilt, addiction, and personal baggage become exactly what the hotel’s spirits feed on. More than anything, The Shining is a tragedy about a broken man slowly being destroyed by his own inner demons.

‘The Stand’ (1978)

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The Stand might have accidentally predicted COVID-19. After a deadly military-engineered influenza virus escapes a secret government facility, more than 99% of the world’s population is wiped out, leaving survivors scattered and searching for remnants of American society. Drawn together by mysterious dreams of the elderly Mother Abigail, a demon-like supernatural force by the name of Randall Flagg intrudes on their quest to rebuild society.

The Stand is arguably King’s most ambitious apocalyptic novel. Besides following a virus that wipes out 99.4% of the world’s population, it also chronicles the slow collapse of society in the weeks after the outbreak as entire nations fall apart. The Stand introduces one of King’s signature recurring antagonists. While Randall is supernaturally hellish by nature, he’s also a manifestation of the darkness that thrives whenever the world is thrown into chaos, feeding on humanity’s fear and violence.

‘It’ (1986)

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Before there was Stranger Things, there was It. After six-year-old Georgie Denbrough disappears following an encounter with Pennywise the Dancing Clown, his older brother Bill joins six other outcasts, known as the Losers Club, to investigate the growing number of missing children in Derry, Maine. As they dig deeper into the town’s dark history and confront an evil force that awakens every 27 years, the friends discover that some childhood promises can never be forgotten.

It is arguably King’s magnum opus. The brilliance of mixing supernatural horror with a coming-of-age story is watching these children grow up under the most unimaginable circumstances. As they confront the greatest evil haunting their town, they’re also forced to face the painful loss of their innocence as death creeps ever closer. And no King villain is more iconic than Pennywise, who shapeshifts into each child’s greatest fear, reminding us that the only way to overcome our deepest fears is, as cliché as it sounds, through the power of friendship.

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It

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Release Date

September 8, 2017

Runtime

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135 minutes

Writers

Cary Joji Fukunaga, Gary Dauberman, Chase Palmer

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When you think of the career of Tom Cruise, certain images come to mind: You might see him dangling from an airplane, screaming “show me the money!”, or even dancing over the credits of Tropic Thunder. Whatever the combination, it’s likely one image is always present – Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, smiling from a cockpit as he satisfies “the need for speed.”

Celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year, Top Gun is streaming for free on Pluto right now, as is its 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick. Those who check it out will be reminded just why the original set the standard for summer action movies, as well as how it birthed the archetypal Hollywood superstar.

‘Top Gun’ is a Thrilling Story About the Drive to Succeed

Image via Paramount Pictures

The phrase “top gun” refers to the elite school for pilots in the US Navy, where Maverick is sent after a daring encounter with some enemy MiGs. Instead of falling in line with his disciplined classmates, his rebellious and reckless attitude puts him at odds with rival Iceman (Val Kilmer), as well as his instructors. The fire inside him, however, is exactly what makes him a great pilot, making him able to take risks in high-pressure scenarios that can turn the tide for his mission objectives. It also sparks a romance with civilian instructor Charlie (Kelly McGillis). However, Maverick learns the cost of hubris when tragedy strikes. He must fight to regain his nerve as the stakes become higher for him in the air.

Arriving in the mid-’80s, Top Gun premiered when America was at its most dominant, and most confident. The striding machismo and patriotic swagger was typical of the decade’s love for flashy heroes who seemed like they could almost fight wars single-handedly. However, it was more than confidence that made this a classic.

Tony Scott’s Film Combined Music, Action, and Romance to Make the Perfect Blockbuster

Image via Paramount Pictures

British director Tony Scott worked on every aspect of the film to make a spectacle that appealed to every fan. The planes provided the excitement, as he shot real aircraft, set against the sun to make every moment look as slick as a music video. Of course, those shots would be accompanied by a terrific soundtrack, with a classic song for every moment. Pilots readied for takeoff to the pulse-quickening strains of Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone”, while Maverick’s romance with Charlie was underpinned by Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away.” In terms of style, pacing, and emotional beats, the movie had something for everyone.

Any fan of the film will happily provide you with a litany of memorable moments that have become part of pop culture history: Maverick riding his motorcycle alongside a jet taking off, or our hero chanting “I’ve got the need, the need for speed!” with his copilot and best friend Goose (Anthony Edwards) have become etched in the memories of all who have seen the film, along with countless quotes and moments that have been imitated by many blockbusters since. It is pure entertainment from beginning to end, and that enjoyment has only increased with time.

‘Top Gun’ Provided the Template for the Rest of Tom Cruise’s Career

When you look at some of the biggest roles of Cruise’s career, it’s likely that Maverick’s DNA is in there somewhere. Top Gun proved that he was at his best as a risk-taker who defied orders in the name of getting the job done. That exact idea is the basis of not just the majority of his adventures as Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies, but also films like A Few Good Men, Minority Report, and even Jerry Maguire. He’s at his best when playing characters driven by their own conviction, rallying against conventional power structures in order to do what is right.

It also associated the actor with the kind of thrill-seeking that would become his trademark later in his career. Cruise can be seen in the cockpit, as opposed to a stunt double, in order to put the viewer in the heart of the combat. “I had three hops in the F-14 (fighter jet)”, he said during a 1986 promotional interview for the film. “A lot of footage you see when I’m flying, I’m in the F-14 really flying.” While at that point he was a passenger in the aircraft rather than pilot, it established him as someone who favored authenticity in his action scenes. Audiences did too, flocking to his movies with the knowledge that it was truly him doing these impossible feats, making the action feel more immersive.

Cruise would return to the role in 2023’s Top Gun: Maverick, a film that is a rare example of a delayed sequel that is worth the wait. However, the original movie set the standard both for the actor’s career, and how entertaining Hollywood blockbusters could be. 40 years later, the action classic still has the power to take your breath away.

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Release Date

May 16, 1986

Runtime

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110 minutes

Director

Tony Scott

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Supermodel Karlie Kloss is getting candid about the importance of female friendships amid her rumored reconciliation with pop star Taylor Swift.

“I [try] to be the friend that I want people to be to me,” Kloss, 33, stated on Erin and Sara Foster’s “World’s First Podcast” on Thursday, July 30. “We all are so busy, I have to say, some of my realest [and] closest friends, it’ll be months where we don’t have time to have a three-hour FaceTime date, which I would love, but we DM.”

While Kloss acknowledged that exchanging social media messages with her friends feels “so impersonal,” a quick emoji can help the women maintain their bonds.

“I respond to their [Instagram] Stories, they respond to mine. It’s so dumb, [but it connects us],” she stated. “I think this was [part of] growing into my 20s was realizing, like, the friend that I wanted to be. We put so much emphasis on romantic relationships, but I actually think … when you’re so busy with your family and work, friendships can often not get watered, but they are so critical.”

Related: Revisiting Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss’ Friendship Through the Years

Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss sparked a nearly inseparable bond back in 2012, but their friendship appeared to take a turn for the worst over time. The BFFs quickly hit it off after Swift mentioned Kloss during her January 2012 Vogue cover story, saying, “I love Karlie Kloss. I want to bake cookies with her!” […]

The model and media mogul, who shares three children with husband Joshua Kushner, further gushed that she is “very grateful” for the “real” friends in her life.

“Two weekends ago, I was staying with my friend in the Hamptons and we have kids the same age. I had to go to Paris the next day to walk in a fabulous couture show,” she recalled on Thursday’s episode. “I had the most fun, spontaneous weekend with [her], which I am inspired to do more now. I had to go to Paris, and I was like, ‘Do you want to come with me?’ She literally booked a ticket, we went to Paris [and] we were there for, maybe, 36 hours.”

According to Kloss, the spontaneous getaway was “so fun.”

“So, [I want to do] more of that. More fun!” she quipped. “I feel like if we had tried to plan that, it would have never happened, you know?”

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Just days before Kloss’ Parisian outing, she was spotted at Swift’s July 3 wedding to Travis Kelce at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden arena.

Related: Did Karlie Kloss Attend Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Wedding?

Karlie Kloss made the cut for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding guest list. The model, 33, was spotted on her way to the star-studded ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday, July 3, accompanied by husband Joshua Kushner. Kloss sported a gold strapless dress for the occasion, while Kushner, 41, […]

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“Listen, I try to protect the privacy of my friends’ personal lives,” the Spaghetti Code author coyly told Today on Tuesday, July 28, when asked about Swift’s big day. “What I will say is that they’re an amazing couple, and I’m so happy for them.”

Swift, 36, and Kloss had been close pals since 2012, meeting when they posed for a joint Vogue photo shoot. The Kode with Klossy founder also had a notable cameo in Swift’s 2015 “Bad Blood” music video. Their bond, however, reportedly fractured after the pop star seemingly skipped Kloss’ 2018 wedding. Neither Swift nor Kloss publicly addressed their rumored falling out.

Roommates, it looks ‘Love Island USA’ season 7 didn’t deliver too many happy endings. Clarke Carraway has reportedly made the decision to call it quits with Taylor Williams.

RELATED: End Of Nicolandria! Social Media Reacts To Reports That ‘Love Island USA’ Stars Olandria Carthen & Nic Vansteenberghe Have Split

Taylor Williams & Clarke Carraway’s Love Story Reportedly Reaches Its Final Chapter

According to PEOPLE, Clarke Carraway and Taylor Williams have called it quits just over a year after they left the Fiji villa together in 2025. A source close to Clarke said she “made the difficult decision to part ways with Taylor” and wishes him “the absolute best.” The source added that Clarke appreciates their time together and looks forward to what the future has in store for her.

“She will always be grateful for the time they shared together, and for everyone who showed them love and support from the very beginning. As she closes out this chapter, she’s looking forward to focusing on her growth and what’s ahead,” the source explained.

Social Media Reacts To Clarke & Taylor’s Breakup Announcement

Right now, Clarke and Taylor haven’t shared what led to their split, but folks online are flooding The Shade Room’s comment section with reactions. Some fans said the timing of the breakup feels suspicious, while others believe Clarke wanted the city life and not the farm life Taylor envisioned.

Instagram user @marcman55 wrote, “My Shayla’s!” 

instagram user @_briiellee._ wrote, “😭😭 he picked Clarke Clarke ain’t pick him.” 

While Instagram user @taelor.dionne wrote, “Aww they contracts ending cuz new ones starting.” 

Then Instagram user @arimarcellaa._ wrote, “ok what if olandria & nic breaking up & clarke & taylor breaking up was secretly a way for ola & taylor to try things again👀👀👀👀👀 (don’t beat me up for this lol)” 

Instagram user @lobetrim wrote, “I guess bro ain’t pick Clarke no more 😭” 

Another Instagram user @xokeeeeox wrote, “I’m glad Serena & Cordell are still together 😅” 

Instagram user @__daijloooaf wrote, “So after Nicolandria break it off… they decide to break it off… funny… not ha ha funny, funny weird 😬” 

Then another Instagram user @theeonlyari_ wrote, “Damn that kid feeling got tiring huh.” 

While another Instagram user @dayjahdenise wrote, “She got tired of being on that damn farm.” 

Finally, Instagram user @n.renne1 wrote, “WELL WELL THROW THE WHOLE SEASON 7 away.” 

Nic Vasteenerghe Speaks Out After Fans React To Olandria Carthen Split

Taylor Williams and Clarke Carraway’s breakup comes just days after their castmates Olandria Carthen and Nic Vasteenberghe announced their split. As The Shade Room Teens previously reported, distance and their busy schedules made it tough for the couple to keep their connection going. A source close to the pair said they’re sill cool and will always support each other. “They still remain close friends. They share a deep love and respect for each other and will always support one another whenever possible,” the source said.

Shortly after the breakup news made it’s rounds online, Nic took to TikTok to break his silence.

“To the Nicolandria community: The rumors are true. I didn’t want to give people false hope, so I wanted to clear the air. We will continue to love each other ALWAYS. It’s a sensitive, as well as a private Subject. Thank you for respecting our privacy.”

Nic also hopped on Threads to send a message to critics, writing, “None of y’all haters can whoop me tho.”

RELATED: ‘Love Island USA’ Star Nic Vansteenberghe Claps Back As He Breaks His Silence Following Split From Olandria Carthen

Donna Mills is living proof that it’s never too late to try something new like OF.

The 85-year-old actress has joined the list of older Hollywood stars who use the adult entertainment platform. Her plans are already laid out as she joined the site to build meaningful connections with her fans.

Donna Mills has never been one to go the conventional route with her life’s plans. From having a child at 54 to taking the bold step to revive her career at 81 after an 18-year hiatus, the actress has been one for surprising moves. 

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Mills, who has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry, particularly through her role as Abby Cunningham on the CBS primetime soap “Knots Landing,” has shocked fans with her latest move. The actress started her own OF account at the ripe age of 85!

She expressed her excitement to join the platform in a statement, adding that she acknowledges the “more personal and direct connection” the subscription-based site offers.

“I’ve always appreciated the incredible support and encouragement I’ve received from my fans over the years. Social media has been a wonderful way to stay connected,” she shared before revealing details of the content she intends to put out.

Mills told Variety that she plans to share moments of her daily life, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and engage with her fans in a more meaningful way. “It’s simply another platform to spend quality time with the people who’ve supported me throughout my career while staying true to who I am,” the TV star added.

The Actress Plans To Remain True To Herself On The Platform

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While many creators use the site to share explicit content, Mills does not intend to veer from sharing details of her actual personality in real time with viewers. She has no plans to change who she is, but rather she wants to give her “longtime fans more access to the personality, style, and behind-the-scenes moments they already love.”

CEO of OF owner Creators INC Andy Bachman shared that he’s known the TV star to be fearless and ahead of her time. Speaking about her decision to join the entertainment site at 85, Bachman said she responded in true Mills fashion: “YOLO [You Only Live Once], let’s do it.”

He continued, sharing that the octogenarian is approaching OF on her own terms and creating a space that feels personal, authentic, and completely true to her.

Donna Mills Became A Mom In Her Fifties

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A few years ago, Mills reflected on her life-changing decision to become a mother while she was well into her fifties. She shared that prior to welcoming her daughter, Chloe, her sole focus was her career until she realized something was missing.

When she acknowledged her desire to have a child, she went after it and adopted Chloe at she was only four days old and has raised her since then. The “Knots Landing” actress was 54 when her daughter came into her life, and she recalled being told she was “going to be too old [to] have a little toddler running around” by people at the time.

Despite the remarks, Mills went on with her decision, telling PEOPLE, “I never felt older than the other mothers who were probably in their 20s.” The actress shared that having her daughter at 54 was the perfect timing and advised other women who are career-oriented to focus on building their careers before venturing into motherhood. 

“The Incident” star revealed that age got nothing on their mother-daughter bond as they communicate daily and hang out weekly.

The ‘Knots Landing’ Star Doesn’t Put A Clock On Success

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After adopting Chloe, the TV icon made the decision to take an 18-year hiatus from acting to be home with her daughter once she started school. She said, “I didn’t become a mother to give her to a nanny” and stayed true to her words. Mills took her time to soak up the full experience of motherhood before stepping back into the industry.

Being away from the lights, cameras, and action for almost two decades did not make Mills rusty; she appeared on “General Hospital” in 2014 and bagged an Emmy for her role as Outstanding Guest Actor. As reported by AJC, the iconic actress shared that she was ready to revive her career after leaving Hollywood for motherhood.

At her age, Mills is more open to older-woman roles, especially for those that embrace her grey hair with sprinkles of glamor. She reportedly works out five times a week to keep herself in the best shape and sticks to her skincare regimen.

Donna Mills Is One Of Many Older Stars To Join OF

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Several Hollywood veterans have joined the popular subscription-based platform in recent years for various reasons. Some stars created their OF accounts to generate funds to pay off debts, gain financial independence, or, like Mills, connect directly with longtime fans outside of traditional studio systems.

“American Pie” star Shannon Elizabeth launched her OF profile in April at 52 years old and earned over $1 million within her first seven days on the site.

She shared that one of the reasons she was pivoting to the adult entertainment website  was because she was growing tired of working in Hollywood, where “other people controlled the narrative and the outcome of my career.” 

Emmy-winning actress Drea de Matteo reportedly joined the platform after facing a financial crisis. She started as a creator on the site at 51 years old in 2023. She later told The Daily Mail that OF “saved her life” financially and helped her pay off her home.

Another Emmy winner, Jamie Pressly from “My Name Is Earl,” launched her OF account at 48, stating that it would serve as a means for her to connect with her audience directly and on her own terms. 

Will Donna Mills inspire older stars to join OF?

Nolan Wells’ family is continuing to speak out as they search for answers surrounding the 18-year-old’s death, and their latest interview addressed some of the names that have repeatedly surfaced in online conversations. While speculation continues to swirl across social media, Nolan’s parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, and their attorney, Ben Crump, made it clear they’re focused on one thing above all else: finding the truth.

RELATED: Warren Hudson Addresses Claim Content Was Deleted From Nolan Wells’ Phone, As Ben Crump Responds To MS Gov. & Friends Reportedly Receive Litigation Notice

Nolan Wells’ Parents Respond To Tracestin Shepherd’s Comments

During a recent appearance on NewsNation’s ‘CUOMO,’ Nolan Wells’ parents joined attorney Ben Crump to discuss the ongoing investigation. After host Chris Cuomo played a clip of Tracestin Shepherd—who has publicly described himself as one of Nolan’s closest friends—Cuomo asked Nolan’s parents whether they recognized him.

Nolan’s father, Elmore Wonsley, said he did not. “No, I don’t. Just because you park your vehicle in someone’s yard doesn’t mean that they have to know you,” Wonsley said. He went on to question Shepherd’s public comments, adding, “It sounds more to me like he’s more focused on getting people to know him, and getting away from the fact that his so-called best friend is not here anymore.” Wonsley also shared the family’s heartbreak, saying, “Our son should be in college right now. We should be receiving phone calls from him about how his day went. But we can’t. And we just want everybody to focus on what the real subject matter is.“

Ben Crump Addresses Warren Hudson Interview

The interview also touched on comments made by another of Nolan’s alleged friends, Warren Hudson, who previously participated in a separate interview discussing the case, including questions surrounding his phone. After watching the clip, Ben Crump stressed that the family’s goal isn’t to rush to conclusions but to thoroughly examine every detail.

“Chris Cuomo, Nolan is dead. We’re going to dot every I…cross every T. We’re going to look under every rock,” Crump said. He also pointed to the unanswered calls Nolan’s mother made to her son’s phone, saying they continue to raise important questions. “His mother called his phone repeatedly with no answer. That raises questions. That’s all we want to get to … answers. If this was your child, Chris Cuomo, wouldn’t you want to ask every question possible?” Crump added.

What Exactly Did Nolan Wells’ Friends Say?

Before Nolan Wells’ parents addressed the recent interviews, two of Nolan’s alleged friends had already spoken publicly about the case. During a podcast interview, Tracestin Shepherd said he met Nolan in the ninth grade and considered him his “best friend.” Shepherd became emotional while denying any involvement in Nolan’s death, saying he’s been “beating himself up” over what happened on July 4 and describing the online accusations against him as deeply painful.

Meanwhile, Warren Hudson also addressed the investigation during a separate podcast interview, pushing back on speculation surrounding Nolan’s phone. Hudson questioned why anyone would have been concerned about accessing the device while dealing with a boat that was reportedly experiencing issues, adding that he didn’t know Nolan’s passcode and insisting neither he nor the others touched the phone until it was handed to Nolan’s mother at a friend’s house. Hudson also firmly denied claims that anyone deleted anything from the device, saying there was “nothing to hide” and “no reason” for anyone to remove information from Nolan’s phone.

RELATED: Bart Edmiston Jr. Reportedly Sends Cease-And-Desist To Kymbra Li For Alleged “False” Statements Amid Nolan Wells Investigation

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce found an unexpected way to keep their estimated 1,000 wedding guests entertained: making them compete for raffle tickets. Rob Gronkowski, who attended the couple’s July 3 celebration at Madison Square Garden with his girlfriend, Camille Kostek, revealed that guests had to participate in games before they could enter the raffles. The retired NFL star eagerly joined the competition, hoping he could bring home a prize for Kostek.

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Gronkowski confirmed that he participated in the wedding raffles during a recent conversation with PEOPLE. “I did [participate in the raffle]. I was trying to win something for my girl, Camille,” the 37-year-old said.

Rather than simply distributing tickets to everyone in attendance, Swift and Kelce reportedly required their guests to complete different games to earn them. “I participated because, what was really cool was that you had to play the games in order to get the raffle tickets, so that was really, really cool,” Gronkowski explained.

The former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end appeared to appreciate that guests had to put in some effort before becoming eligible to win. “You had to earn the raffle tickets and that’s why I appreciate it. It wasn’t no hand-me-outs, you had to earn the raffle tickets, and that’s what made it so much fun,” he added.

Gronkowski did not reveal what prizes were offered or whether he successfully won anything for Kostek.

Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Kept Guests Entertained

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Although many details surrounding Swift and Kelce’s wedding remain private, Gronkowski’s comments offer a glimpse into the activities available during the reception. The interactive raffle games seemingly gave the enormous guest list another form of entertainment beyond dinner and dancing.

Gronkowski previously described the wedding as “magnificent” and praised the couple for creating an impressive celebration inside one of New York City’s most recognizable venues.

The NFL legend also made it clear that the reception’s dance floor remained crowded throughout the night. “It was top-notch. Hats off to Taylor and Trav. The dance floor, that’s the one thing, it was popping. It was popping,” he said.

Wedding Produced An Astonishing Display Outside Madison Square Garden

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The magnitude of the celebration was apparent before Gronkowski and Kostek even entered Madison Square Garden. According to the four-time Super Bowl champion, a long line of private vehicles filled the surrounding streets as guests arrived at the venue.

“We’re sitting there, it was the most amount of black cars I’ve ever seen going into Madison Square Garden. It was five blocks of black cars in a row,” Gronkowski recalled.

Swift and Kelce, both 36, exchanged vows in front of an estimated 1,000 attendees during the July 3 ceremony. Despite the large crowd and significant attention surrounding the wedding, relatively few photographs and videos from inside the celebration have publicly surfaced.

The couple and their guests have largely kept the event’s most intimate moments under wraps, leaving attendees like Gronkowski to offer occasional details about the extravagant gathering.

The Newlyweds Wore Custom Dior Looks

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Swift and Kelce reportedly wore custom Christian Dior Haute Couture designs created by the fashion house’s creative director, Jonathan Anderson. The ceremony and reception brought together figures from the entertainment and sports worlds, reflecting the couple’s individual careers and their highly publicized relationship.

Gronkowski’s attendance also added another familiar NFL face to the guest list. Although he and Kelce never played on the same professional team, both became two of the most recognizable tight ends in league history. Kostek accompanied Gronkowski to the wedding, inspiring his attempt to collect as many raffle tickets as possible and potentially secure a prize for her.

Rob Gronkowski Is Returning To The Collectibles World

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Following his appearance at Swift and Kelce’s wedding, Gronkowski is preparing for another event centered around collecting and prizes.

On August 1, he will livestream from the National Sports Memorabilia Collectors Convention in Chicago. The former football star said he is excited to “dive deeper into the hobby and be a big personality and rip packs and have fun with it and interact with fans.”

The appearance will allow Gronkowski to connect with sports collectors while opening card packs and exploring the memorabilia hobby.

A surprising team-up between master cinema craftsman James Cameron and exploitation auteur Robert Rodriguez, 2019’s Alita: Battle Angel is perhaps Cameron’s most under-seen project (aside from his debut, Piranha II: The Spawning). It also happens to be a supremely underrated slice of cyberpunk/fantasy cinema nirvana. The film, based on a 1990s manga series by Yukito Kishiro, was a passion project of Cameron‘s as far back as summer 2000, according to contemporaneous reporting. And while Cameron co-wrote and produced the film, when it came to directing, he was buried up to his neck with his monumental Avatar series, so it fell on Rodriguez to finally bring the master’s vision to the screen.

An electric molding of Cameron’s tech/cybernetic obsessions and Rodriguez’s frenetic genre stylization, the film proved the highest grossing of Rodriguez’s career, earning over $400 million worldwide, despite the fact that it’s been largely forgotten seven short years later. Even though it was released in 2019, Alita: Battle Angel is a throwback to a time of unashamedly goofy, earnest, and kinetic genre cinema — and it’s a blissful corrective to much of the 2020s’ superhero and nostalgia-bait slop.

James Cameron’s Heart Beats Through the Digital Artificiality of ‘Alita: Battle Angel’

Image via 20th Century Studios

Alita tells the story of a discarded cyborg with a human brain who, in the year 2563, rediscovers her humanity and engages in elaborate swordfights against mechanized assassins. Material this simple and arguably dated required a human heart and superhuman craftsmanship to make it sing — and Cameron and his team brought exactly that. From the seamless (although occasionally unsettling and uncanny valley-straddling) Avatar-borne CGI that brings Alita to life, to the intense dedication to world-building (Cameron was so focused on this that he insisted the future city of Zalem be set on the equator, lest its fictional space elevator not work correctly), the entire production smacks of Cameron’s trademark care and quality control.

While it’s unclear how much of a hand Cameron had in the day-to-day production, the film’s action has a smoothness and lucidity that’s unusual for Rodriguez, and makes the fast-moving, ludicrous battles easy to follow and genuinely exciting. Veteran cinematographer Bill Pope (a longtime Sam Raimi collaborator and DOP on The Matrix) and Garrett Warren, the action/stunt coordinator Cameron used on Avatar and its sequels, help keep the proceedings visually engaging and sprightly, even when CGI “Motorball” gladiators and cybernetic tentacles are whipping across the screen.

Why We Need More Genre Films Like ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ Today

In an age of quippy, postmodern (derogatory), sludgy CGI debasements and failed franchise-starters, the blockbuster world needs more of the Cameron spirit. While the dialogue and characterizations in Alita: Battle Angel don’t exactly sing, the sturdy storytelling and overwhelming earnestness sell whatever the breathtaking effects can’t. Too often today, audiences are given excellence in neither department and expected to simply appreciate the $100 million or so on the screen.

While the runaway success of Cameron’s two latest Avatar sequels and the growing streaming popularity of lively genre fare like Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is already an encouraging development, Cameron and Rodriguez have also promised more Alita to come. We’ve “sworn a blood oath to do at least one more Alita movie,” Cameron said in a 2025 Empire interview, adding that the sequel was in active development. “In fact, we’re thinking of an architecture that bridges to a third film, but we’ll be satisfied if we can make one more.”

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Release Date

February 14, 2019

Runtime

122 minutes

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Director

Robert Rodriguez

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Writers

James Cameron, Laeta Kalogridis

Producers

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James Cameron, Jon Landau, Robert Rodriguez

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Live-action adaptations are some of the most eagerly anticipated projects of die-hard fans of the respective source materials. However, at the same time, such an endeavor is fraught with danger, as the same fans can quickly turn should they perceive that the source material isn’t being faithfully adapted. It does help when the lead role of such a venture goes to an actor with a deep love and reverence for the original stories, and this is what Netflix had secured when it first cast Henry Cavill to play Geralt of Rivia in its fantasy series, The Witcher.

The Netflix show was adapted from Andrzej Sapkowski‘s original novels and Cavill has repeatedly, over the years, spoken of his deeply held appreciation of Sapkowski’s work. Cavill’s portrayal of Geralt moved to capture the very essence of the story’s lead character, with Geralt’s dry, cynical but morally strict code, coming to the fore. The Man of Steel star would play the role for three seasons before departing ahead of the fourth season. While neither Cavill nor Netflix have ever explicitly confirmed the reason for his departure, one leading theory among fans of the show and universe revolves around perceived creative differences between the acclaimed actor and the show’s writers. Cavill was replaced by Liam Hemsworth, who took up the role ahead of Season 4.

However, for those who might still be stewing over some of the surprising moments in Season 4, there is hope for some canonically accurate content to soothe your grievances. As a staunch defender of Sapkowski’s work, Cavill would undoubtedly offer up his stamp of approval to Dark Horse Comics‘ upcoming Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher: The Last Wish – The Complete Collection HC ,which is an upcoming new release proven to be faithful to the original works. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Sapkowski’s renowned short story Wiedźmin (The Witcher), Dark Horse Comics has announced The Witcher: The Last Wish – The Complete Collection HC, arriving on December 15, 2026. Coming in at a hefty 384 pages with 8″ x 12 3/16″ dimensions and available for $124.99 on release, the omnibus collects the complete graphic novel adaptation of Sapkowski’s acclaimed short story collection.

How Has Netflix’s ‘The Witcher’ Fared With Its Audience?

When Netflix announced its adaptation of Sapkowski’s work, it was met with much excitement, with the first season debuting with a solid 68% from critics and an impressive 88% audience score. By Season 2, its appreciation soared to 95% among critics but slipped to 55% from audiences. When Season 3 rolled in, it had dipped again — 79% critics, 22% audience, showing a steady audience drop-off as the show continued to stray further from the source material. The recasting of Geralt drew attention, some of it negative, and by the time Season 4 premiered, the strain was evident. It limped to a 59% critic score and a brutal 19% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes at the time. Sadly, it highlighted just how much the adaptation had lost the plot, hence why releases like The Witcher: The Last Wish – The Complete Collection HC would be incredibly welcome.

Contained within are the six graphic novel adaptations of Sapkowski’s short stories: The Witcher, A Grain of Truth, The Lesser Evil, A Question of Price, The Edge of the World, and The Last Wish. As detailed by ScreenRant, fans must note that this collection would offer more than simply collecting the previous installments. For those seeking a canonically accurate collection, different from Netflix’s offering, especially given the most recent season, this is certainly the way to go.

The Witcher: The Last Wish – The Complete Collection HC from Dark Horse Comics will be available to read on December 15, 2026.

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Release Date

December 20, 2019

Network

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Netflix

Directors

Stephen Surjik, Charlotte Brändström, Edward Bazalgette, Loni Peristere, Louise Hooper, Bola Ogun, Alex Garcia Lopez, Gandja Monteiro, Sarah O’Gorman

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Writers

Haily Hall, Clare Higgins, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Jenny Klein, Tania Lotia

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