Beyond the Gates may see Randy Parker (Maurice P. Kerry) soon throwing Haley Lawson (Marquita Goings) under the bus because her sloppy scheme could ruin his life. Randy warned Haley time and again upping Bill Hamilton’s (Timon Kyle Durrett) poison dosage for a faster result to get to be a rich widow. And we know Haley’s tired of playing around and she wants her hubby dead.

And even though Bill went down, he is not out yet. He’s still alive thanks to Caroline Lee (Ellie Wang). But this may be bad news for both Randy and Haley. We’re going to talk about how this plays out for Randy and if he’s going to take the fall or wind up taking her out.

Beyond the Gates: Bill’s in the Dark

So, with Bill needing a pacemaker and still no answers as to what’s happening with his health, Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) stopped by the hospital with a little bit of advice. He told Bill he should go get a second opinion and he may take Joey’s recommendation and consult someone outside of Garland Memorial. Because there is a toxin in his system doing all this damage.

But Bill doesn’t know it and Madison Montgomery (Kenjah McNeil) hasn’t found it. And Randy reminded Haley that the toxin isn’t supposed to leave a trace. But Randy’s not sure if that’s true at the much higher doses that Haley’s been giving Bill. That’s why it was so crucial for Haley to kill Bill in St. Barts. No autopsy, a doctored up death certificate, and then Bill shipped home in an urn while Haley’s cashing checks.

But St. Barts was a bust and it seems like only a matter of time before Bill finds out that he has been poisoned repeatedly. And that’s when things could get really bad for Randy. Because I don’t see Haley confessing or giving up and going to prison for what she’s done. She’s flatout cutthroat and I think she would definitely throw Randy under the bus if it came down to a situation of her versus him. I have no doubt. So, let’s talk about what the future may hold for Randy.

BTG: Madison Looks for Answers

With Bill in the hospital and Madison presumably on her way back from Denmark, I’m sure she’s going to dig for answers. But I also think Bill will do what Joey said and consult with some other doctors to find out what exactly is going on with his body and why it’s failing him. So, one outcome we could see is that Randy gets played by Bill. There’s still the rumor out there that Haley and Randy are doing the dirty deed. And Bill knows about this.

Haley got out in front of it and she’s the one who told Bill that Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) accused her and Randy of having an affair. But Bill believed Haley’s denials and he chocked it up to Dani, Chelsea Hamilton (RhonniRose Mantilla), and Naomi picking on little horrible Haley. But Bill may soon see it differently as I think Dani and the girls aren’t going to let up on this.

Beyond the Gates: The Duprees Wrong about Hayley — She’s Much Worse

And truly, they are wrong about Haley. She’s trying to kill Bill. But she is not cheating. But if Chelsea, Naomi Hamilton (Arielle Prepetit), and Dani keep pushing and you know, Kat Richardson (Colby Muhammad) be on it too, then Bill may really reconsider and then Randy winds up in his crosshairs. If Bill starts to believe this cheating rumor, that means Randy has played him for a fool by hooking up with his little wife.

And nobody does that to Bill. He’s the one who cheats, not the one who gets cheated on. So, aside from the poisoning, Randy might be on Bill’s radar, and he wants revenge for this alleged affair. He might ask Joey to do something to Randy as payback for sleeping with Haley. Joey already heard about this from Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis), who had just found out the Haley Randy cheating rumor. And Vernon calling Joey to say Haley and Randy was a red flag.

BTG: Randy’s Fall and Haley’s Cutthroat Options

So, it sounds like Vernon believes it. Joey may also and Bill might be right behind them. And that could put Randy in danger from Joey. Because another possible outcome for Randy from this whole mess involves Joey. We know that Randy is terrified of Joey more so than respecting him as a boss. Plus, we’ve got Heather Armstrong (Ashley Jones), Joey’s psycho sister in the DMV with a reputation even more evil than Joey’s. And we know Heather wants in on Joey’s business. And Heather lied, said she was in the DC area for other reasons. But Joey’s on to her.

Problem is, she’s like a shark and Heather can smell blood in the water and she might attach herself to Randy as a way into her brother’s world. Heather may find out that Randy is on Joey’s radar. And if Heather finds out Randy is mingling with Dani’s ex and is close to Bill’s wife and works for her brother, you know, Heather may see some juicy blackmail potential. She may approach Randy as an ally and offer to protect him. But if he starts working for Heather on the sly, you know, Joey might just kill him. Another outcome of all of this is Randy and Haley may turn on each other.

Hayley & Randy’s Familial Ties on Beyond the Gates

Randy and Haley are cousins, and Randy has helped her work many of her cons on guys over the years. But as we know, Haley is all about Haley, and she will do anything to save her own skin. And Randy may soon find out how far she’ll go, and that them being family doesn’t matter to Haley. If the poison is found in Bill’s system, I’m sure that Dani and their daughters and all the other dupes will assume that Haley is the culprit, which is accurate. But there’s also that cheating rumor.

Haley Twists Things in Her Favor on BTG

The whole thing that Dani, Chelsea, and Naomi are pushing about Haley having an affair could actually work in her favor. She could make a false confession and say, “Yes, I’m cheating on Bill with Randy.” And then Haley could play dumb and say, “Oh no, maybe my secret lover is the one who is targeting Bill.” Can you imagine that? Haley could make it out like Randy is her jealous lover who wants Haley all to himself and that he decided to poison her husband Bill to make it happen.

But if Haley tried that, I’m sure that Randy would flip on Haley and spill about all of her crimes, not just the present ones. But also the past ones. Another possible outcome is that Randy flips on Haley proactively without waiting for her to do him dirty first. Right now, Dani, Chelsea, and Naomi are convinced Randy is sleeping with Haley. But once the poison is found in Bill’s system, then Dani might circle back to Randy and demand to know what he knows on Beyond the Gates.

Beyond the Gates: Can Dani Convince Randy?

And Dani might tell Randy if he doesn’t spill the beans on Haley, they will assume she was in on it and they were working together and he was helping Haley kill Bill, which of course would be accurate. But Dani may throw Randy a lifeline and tell him, “Look, I’ll get you a deal with the DA if you throw Haley under the bus.”

And if it’s a choice of prison or Randy ratting out Haley, I’m sure he would rat her out in a heartbeat. Especially if Randy knows Haley’s burned herself and she won’t be cashing out on this con and won’t be doing any future cons, so he can’t make any money off of her. Randy might be that cutthroat.

Beyond the Gates: Can Randy Escape?

One last outcome for him could be that Randy sees blood in the water and he panics and he hightails it out of the DMV. He already tried to run once. If you remember, he stole some cash from Joey and took off. Randy would actually be dead now if not for Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli) and Doug McBride (Jason Graham) intervening and saving him from Joey’s wrath.

So, this time, if Randy thinks the walls are closing in, he might run a lot farther and a lot faster than he did last time. But of course, if he runs, that could actually help out Haley. Because she could try and blame him and say Randy ran. Because he’s guilty. I had no idea he was doing this again with the we’re lovers false confession. I just don’t know if Randy could get far enough away though that Joey can’t track him down.

Bethenny Frankel has transformed candid food reviews, beauty recommendations, and viral social media hacks into what she says is the most profitable chapter of her career. The former “Real Housewives of New York City” star revealed that her current earnings have surpassed even the most successful years of Skinnygirl, the lifestyle empire that helped make her one of reality television’s biggest business success stories. Now, Frankel is attempting to turn her online influence into another major consumer brand with Supermodel, a collection of lighter comfort foods that recently received its first brick-and-mortar test in the Hamptons.

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When asked whether influencing had become the most lucrative move of her career, Frankel compared its success directly to her Skinnygirl business. “My biggest year of Skinnygirl is not as big as this,” the 55-year-old told Daily Mail. “It’s out of control. It’s amazing. It’s the most successful I’ve ever been by far.”

Frankel previously revealed the extent of that success during a May appearance on Emma Grede’s “Aspire” podcast. The episode was described as an examination of how Frankel turned TikTok into a $20-million-a-year business.

According to Frankel, she currently earns more than $20 million annually through brand partnerships and social media influencing alone. That figure does not include the money she makes from real estate, licensing or her other business ventures, according to reports about the interview.

Frankel’s current model is different from a traditional celebrity endorsement strategy. Her social media accounts mix paid partnerships with unfiltered product reviews, shopping recommendations and critiques of brands she believes could improve their offerings.

‘RHONY’ Alum Believes Supermodel Can Eclipse Skinnygirl

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Frankel is now betting that her audience will follow her from social media into stores and cafés. Her new Supermodel brand grew out of the snacks, recipes and food combinations she has shared online. The entrepreneur plans to expand it across several food categories and said she “100%” believes it could eventually become bigger than Skinnygirl.

The first Supermodel Cafe pop-up opened in East Quogue, New York, on Thursday and is expected to remain open through September 12. The menu features what the brand describes as “protein-forward, 150-calorie bagels,” created with Goldberg’s Famous Bagels, along with spreads and Frankel’s signature chicken salad. “The chicken salad is better for you, but it doesn’t taste like it is, and it’s so good for you,” Frankel said, explaining that her recipe contains “half the mayonnaise” typically used in chicken salad.

The menu also includes a gluten-free cheesecake containing 10 grams of protein and 102 calories, as well as six specialty lattes developed with coffee company Cumulus. For customers interested in a more extravagant option, Supermodel Cafe offers two caviar-topped creations: the $38 “Rage Bait” bagel and the $43 “Nepo Baby” bagel.

Bethenny Frankel Prioritizes Moderation Over Perfection

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The healthier comfort foods behind Supermodel reflect Frankel’s broader approach to wellness, which she previously discussed with Women’s Health. Rather than following a rigid diet, Frankel said she focuses on balance. That can mean eating fruit such as pineapple and watermelon while still enjoying a chewy orange slice candy that reminds her of childhood.

The same philosophy applies to her “sober curious” journey. Although she has reconsidered her relationship with alcohol, she still allows herself an occasional cocktail while celebrating with friends. “I believe in balance, and I’ve taught that to my daughter too,” Bethenny says. “I’m not educated on every single thing. I barely know what seed oils are. I just do my best.”

Reality TV Could Now Be ‘Bad For Business’

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Frankel’s growing influencer income has also changed the way she evaluates opportunities to return to reality television.

In March, she disclosed that she had declined an opportunity to reunite with former “RHONY” cast members for E!’s upcoming reality series “The Golden Life.” Frankel reasoned that appearing on another ensemble reality program could potentially hurt her current business and suggested that the network “could presumably never pay” the amount she would require.

Frankel first gained national attention as the runner-up on NBC’s “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart” in 2005. She later joined “The Real Housewives of New York City,” where viewers watched her develop Skinnygirl and promote the company during the show.

Reality TV once gave Frankel the exposure needed to introduce products to a national audience. She can now reach consumers directly through her own platforms, giving her greater control over both the message and the business attached to it.

Skinnygirl Gave Bethenny Frankel Her Business Blueprint

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Frankel launched Skinnygirl Cocktails in 2009 before selling the alcohol business to Beam Global in 2011 for a widely reported estimate of approximately $100 million. The exact value of the transaction has been disputed over the years.

Crucially, Frankel retained rights to the Skinnygirl name in categories outside alcohol. She subsequently expanded it into products including popcorn, deli meats, salad dressings, denim, shapewear and eyewear. That history makes her comparison between Skinnygirl and her current influencer income particularly striking.

Skinnygirl required Frankel to develop and sell a physical product, while her social media business allows her personality, recommendations and audience trust to generate revenue across multiple brands. Supermodel now brings those two models together, using the online following that produces Frankel’s brand-deal income to support products of her own.

Who doesn’t love The Avengers? Earth’s Mightiest Heroes had been at the forefront of Marvel Comics for decades before making their live-action debut in 2012. The appropriately titled The Avengers not only cemented the Marvel Cinematic Universe as cinema’s juggernaut throughout the 2010s but also sent a shiver down the spine of every major movie studio head, who quickly scrambled to create their own cinematic universe, often with little success.

The movie spawned three sequels, each one bigger than the one before. Each of these celebrated blockbusters also had a significant impact on the movie industry and the cultural space, transcending the boundaries of the big screen to become certified phenomenons of the 2010s. Which of the four Avengers movies had the bigger impact, though, both within the MCU (in-universe consequences, that is) and in the real world (industry-wide effects)? As we wait for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, now’s the time to answer that question.

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‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015)

Image via Marvel Studios

As is the case with most worst-to-best Avengers rankings, let us begin with Avengers: Age of Ultron. The sequel to the first Avengers movie sees the team working to stop Ultron (James Spader), an advanced AI created by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo). Like many other AIs, Ultron soon concludes that the problems on Earth all trace back to humanity itself, specifically the Avengers. Thus, he goes rogue, recruits the twins Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) Maximoff, and launches a full-scale attack against the team.

Age of Ultron is among the most divisive superhero movies ever. Widely considered a step down from its predecessor, it was widely criticized for its bloated and often needlessly contrived plot, lack of character development, and an overall more uneven tone. Ultron is a fine villain, and the Maximoff twins are solid additions, but it’s not enough to elevate what is effectively a mediocre movie. Age of Ultron didn’t have the same overwhelming acclaim as the 2012 original from either critics or audiences and is the lowest-grossing film in the franchise to date. Today, whenever the Avengers saga is discussed, Age of Ultron is often seen as the ugly fuckling everyone wants to forget about.

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‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)

Age of Ultron‘s immediate sequel was Avengers: Infinity War, the most ambitious outing in the MCU up to that point. The plot sees the Mad Titan Thanos (James Brolin) begin his plot to wipe out half the life in the universe by reuniting all six Infinity Stones. The Avengers find themselves divided across the galaxy, separated into teams trying to defend the stones, while Thanos and his estranged daughter, Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), embark on a dangerous journey.

Infinity War is arguably the best Avengers movie, offering the best balance between intricate, emotionally charged storytelling and larger-than-life stakes brought to vivid life through undeniable, explosive spectacle. The film is the epitome of the superhero genre and has the best villain in the MCU by a mile. Its impact was significant, too: it broke box office records and took the MCU to the next level, featuring a massive gathering of characters who audiences would’ve never expected to see together. The now-iconic ending, where Thanos succeeds and half the main characters disappear, was also shocking, to say the least, becoming perhaps the most talked-about cinematic moment of 2018. Yet, it’s also fair to say Infinity War‘s overall impact suffered from the fact that it was just half of the story; everyone knew the blipped characters would return the next year. The film was also overshadowed by Black Panther in terms of pure cultural impact.

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‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)

Image via Marvel Studios

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Fans waited a whole year to figure out how the Avengers would bring back all those who disappeared and defeat Thanos; they got their answer once Avengers: Endgame premiered. The film sees the remaining Avengers attempting to pull off a “time heist” by entering the Quantum Realm and traveling back in time to reunite the six Infinity Stones. However, their attempts also bring back a past version of Thanos, more ruthless than the one they already dealt with. As they prepare for the fight of their lives, the Avengers suffer tragic losses that make them question if they have the strength to succeed.

It’s hard to explain just how big a phenomenon Avengers: Endgame was. Showtimes were sold in advance, midnight showing tickets flew as soon as they came out, and audiences camped outside the movie theater—the expectation was that big. The film very much felt like the culmination of an entire decade of continuous, interconnected storytelling, marking a decisive step forward in the way cinematic stories could be told. Simultaneously, it was also a victory lap for the MCU, a way for them to collect their hard-earned praise and even take a bow without needing to actually say goodbye. In retrospect, it was also the end of an era, the climax of the superhero genre as a whole. Arguably, no movie in the genre has been as impactful or universally adored since, although a few have come close.

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‘The Avengers’ (2012)

Image via Marvel Studios

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If Endgame was the end of an era, then The Avengers was the beginning. The 2012 film sees the unhinged god Loki (Tom Hiddleston) attempting to conquer Earth by using the Tesseract to open a portal to another world, meaning to launch an alien invasion. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) assembles the initial six Avengers, trying to form a defence against Loki. However, internal conflicts make things difficult, as these six heroes aren’t exactly used to working as a team. It doesn’t help that Loki has the power to control minds with a powerful staff, so there’s that.

Very few movies can claim to have started a genuine revolution in cinema; The Avengers is one. The film was the first to pull off something as ambitious as gathering characters from different movie series and bringing them together as a team while telling a cohesive storyline, easy enough for everyone to understand. It proved that a cinematic universe could not only exist but actually thrive beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. The Avengers broke box office records up to that point and became the defining cinematic event of the year, surpassing Christopher Nolan‘s last Dark Knight movie and the best James Bond effort in years. It inspired every movie studio to imitate its formula, hoping to replicate its success, and cemented the superhero genre as the reigning champ of the 2010s. Many movies built the MCU, but The Avengers is certainly the pillar upon which the entire franchise rises.

One of the great strengths of the thriller genre is its ability to delve more deeply into unsettling subject matter and themes, as the grounded realism of the genre lends itself to these topics better than any other genre. It’s especially the case when these thrillers adopt a grittier, sleazier style to truly emphasize the grime and ruthless nature of their characters, world, or overall message.

Throughout film history, there has been an exceptional craft in creating gritty cinematic experiences within the thriller genre. Whether it be one of the many masterpiece thrillers of the ’70s or prominent icons of the modern age, many overwhelmingly gritty thrillers have become legendary. The films on this list go beyond the basic level of rawness for most thrillers, with many of them being some of the most shocking experiences within the genre.

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‘Sicario’ (2015)

Image via Lionsgate

Often, the grittiest and grimiest thrillers will shed away and not delve into action to not distract from the larger painful themes and messaging. One of the best examples of a thriller that still adheres to action thriller elements is Denis Villeneuve‘s Sicario. This intricate story of revenge, told through the attempts to take down a brutal drug cartel, is complete with twists, overwhelming violence, and painful subject matter, with each of these elements adding to the film’s gritty nature.

It is the absolute apex of this style of dreary, painful action thriller, reveling in the destructive and most painful attributes of modern humanity and showing corruption on all sides and angles. The film also gets a lot of inherent strengths from its exceptional script written by Taylor Sheridan, who cuts to the heart of the moral decay of justice in America and how these tactics used to fight evil can be evil in themselves.

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‘Good Time’ (2017)

Image via A24

The Safdie Brothers have amassed an exceptional reputation for themselves in the thriller genre, creating many modern-day classics that utilize an ever-growing sense of anxiety and tension to amplify their wild goose chase plots. However, while films like Uncut Gems and Marty Supreme may be more immediately recognizable, their initial foray into this style with Good Time is easily the grittiest and most morally ruthless of the directing duo’s thriller outings.

The inherent sleaziness that permeates throughout derives from several sources, including the abhorrent actions of lead character Connie (Robert Pattinson) and the inherent anxiety of his journey through the criminal underbelly of New York. With each additional layer, Good Time paints a wider picture of pain not just in terms of Connie’s character, but also in the system that allowed him to perpetuate and manipulate to such an absurd degree.

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‘Fight Club’ (1999)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Few singular filmmakers have become as legendary and influential for their work within the thriller genre as David Fincher, whose various thriller masterpieces have helped push the genre forward into the modern age and are still massively celebrated to this day. While many of his thrillers are attributed as classics of their era, Fight Club has achieved a life of its own as one of the absolute darkest films that Fincher has ever released.

The film actively utilizes grittiness as a tool for its characterization and themes, with the tone going hand in hand with its messaging on commercialism and the destructive nature of toxic masculinity. These inherent themes wouldn’t be nearly as impactful or explored without a heaping dose of grittiness to set the stage for the characters and world, with Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) himself proving to be one of the absolute grittiest characters in cinema history.

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‘Thief’ (1981)

Image via United Artists

While not all of his films are thrillers, Michael Mann is still an absolute icon of the genre, creating some of the most exceptional and well-crafted crime movies of all time. Thief is just one such example of his mastery as a filmmaker, with its distinct flavor of atmospheric grit and cool factor making it one of the most compelling masterpieces of the ’80s. The film sees James Caan in an electrifying performance as a professional safe cracker, signing on with a top gangster for a massive score that will set him up for good.

The aesthetic amplifies the gritty energy of the film at large, with its spiteful worldview through the eyes of a no-nonsense criminal who understands the deception taking part in everyday life and chooses to exploit it to its absolute limit. It makes for a highly engaging exploration of the criminal mindset as a whole while tastefully making great use of its grittiest elements for a mixture of depth and entertainment value.

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‘Falling Down’ (1993)

Image via Warner Bros.

The enragement and anger of perceived injustices enacted on one’s life are at the heart of many gritty, unfeeling worlds and stories in cinema history. However, Falling Down goes steps beyond in terms of its depiction of aggressive anger towards the status quo, following a shocking story of psychotic violence, fueled by a mixture of grittiness and its growth into unhinged madness. The film sees Michael Douglas as an everyday suburban man who, after one too many annoyances in his daily life, goes on a violent rampage as he cracks under the pressure.

It isn’t exactly difficult to imagine how a film where an ordinary man snaps to the point of madness features a lot of bleak elements. The brilliance comes not from its depiction of such a spiral into madness, but from the pieces and economic failures that led to his creation in the first place. The film has achieved cult classic status over the years as one of the most celebrated films in the late great Joel Schumacher‘s filmography.

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‘Prisoners’ (2013)

Image via Warner Bros.

Yet another exceptionally bleak thriller from Denis Villeneuve, Prisoners tells a similar story of the failings of morality in a stressful situation. However, while Sicario‘s moral dilemmas come from a place of widespread corruption, Prisoners focuses on spiraling desperation. It makes for a supremely depressing yet infinitely captivating mystery thriller, largely amplified by great performances by Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal.

It follows the various consequences and difficulties that plague a community in the wake of the kidnapping of two six-year-old girls. While everyone is doing their part to search for answers, father Keller Dover (Jackman) decides to take matters into his own hands. His investigation leads him to kidnapping and torturing for the sake of his daughter. It’s an exceptionally bleak and gritty watch that transforms the love that a parent has for a child into a tool for abhorrent, sickening actions.

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‘Chinatown’ (1974)

Image via Paramount Pictures

The ’70s were one of the absolute best times when it came to thrillers, as many legendary filmmakers delved into the psychological intricacies of this classic genre. No other ’70s thriller quite as effectively taps into this mixture of bleakness and irreverence for filmmaking as Chinatown, a gloriously concocted neo-noir mystery that is still considered one of the bleakest films of the ’70s.

Even the fine, smaller details of Chinatown build toward an essence and energy of contempt in its world and characters, amplifying the grittiness of noir-style archetypes to an astronomical degree. The film is further elevated by two of the most impactful performances of the decade in Jack Nicholson‘s Jake Gittes and Faye Dunaway‘s Evelyn Mulwray, who add even more layers of intrigue and depth to this cesspool of corruption and deception.

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‘Straw Dogs’ (1971)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Even among the many controversial and gritty thrillers of the ’70s, Sam Peckinpah‘s Straw Dogs stands tall as arguably the most controversial and shocking of this wave of films. In fact, it’s often cited as an important shift in films feeling more violent and perverse, in line with the more distrustful state of culture.

Its gritty tone persists throughout the runtime, but especially comes to a head during two painfully complicated rape sequences and the overwhelming violence that comes in their wake. Straw Dogs is exceptionally miserable, not shying away from the evils of humanity and the justification of these actions in the name of community. It shows exactly how those who perceive themselves as intellectually superior will be quick to abandon their civility in the name of primal rage and revenge.

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‘No Country for Old Men’ (2007)

Image via Miramax Films

No Country for Old Men is one of those legendary thrillers that it’s difficult to sing new praises for. Indeed, it has been such an icon and dominating force of pop culture for so long that everything that can be said about the film has been said about it. Its reputation largely precedes itself as one of the faces of gritty execution in a crime thriller, emphasized by some incredible performances and its insightful messaging on the dynamics of fate and free will.

This legendary magnum opus of the Coen Brothers has stood at the forefront of gritty cinema ever since its release, with its bleak, almost depressing outlook on life having massive ramifications and influence upon the entire genre in the wake of its release. Still, few modern thrillers influenced by its success come close to the flavor of the raw, unadulterated grit and unforgiving nature of the film.

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‘Funny Games’ (1997)

Image via Concorde-Castle Rock/Turner

Funny Games is an outlier in the realm of bleak, uncomfortable cinema, simultaneously playing into the classic tenets of a shocking, gritty thriller while also satirically commenting on the very nature of such topics being compelling for audiences to watch in the first place. The German masterpiece by Michael Haneke remains one of the most subversive works of art in the thriller genre, being fully aware of its gritty, sadistic nature and gleefully knowing that it’s exactly what audiences want.

The film invites the audience to question how they perceive violence in cinema, showing painful acts of torture and brutal sadism that dare the audience to turn away, all the while knowing they won’t. However, Funny Games goes a step further and becomes a commentary on the popularity of this style of grittiness, with its blurring of fiction and reality forcing the audience to come to terms with how desensitized they are to these stories of dread.

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Funny Games

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Release Date

September 11, 1997

Runtime

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108 Minutes

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Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty on Friday (August 14) to federal stalking charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione admitted matter-of-factly that he trailed the executive to an investor conference and shot him on a New York City street in 2024.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Perez Hilton’s Sister Speaks On Finding Him Covered In Blood Amid Recent Hospitalization

Luigi Mangione Admits Guilt In Stalking Charge 

Mangione said he even used a ruse to glean information about the event. The 28-year-old contacted the health insurance company in advance, posing as an investor at a multibillion-dollar firm.

“On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan, and he died,” Luigi Mangione told the Manhattan federal court.

He entered the court while he was shackled at the feet but not handcuffed in his beige jail uniform. Listening in the audience, Brian Thompson’s wife, Paulette, took several deep breaths and repeatedly wiped tears from her eyes.

Prosecutors plan to seek a life prison term at Luigi Mangione’s sentencing, set for Dec. 18. When U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett asked whether he understood that he could spend the rest of his life behind bars, Mangione answered neutrally: “Yes.”

In a statement, the late UnitedHealthcare CEO’s family called the plea “an important step toward justice.” The statement also noted that Mangione still faces other cases, including a New York state murder prosecution. It carries the potential for a separate long sentence.

Mangione Attempts To Explain His Actions

Surveillance video of Luigi Mangione ambushing the UnitedHealthcare CEO showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind. Police say “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims.

Mangione was a University of Pennsylvania graduate from a wealthy Maryland family. He told the court Friday that he pursued Thompson “after years of enduring severe pain from a broken back and navigating the obstacles of the health insurance system.” Attorney Friedman Agnifilo later said her client “believed that the system had failed him and destroyed his life.”

However, it should be noted that Mangione never was a UnitedHealthcare customer, according to police and the company.

“To those who idolize Luigi Mangione, I say this. Violence is not a cause. Murder is not a message. And a killer is certainly not a hero,” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said outside court Friday.

Also, U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald, whose office handled the federal case, added: “There can be no celebrity in assassination.”

For context, Brian Thompson led one of the United States’ largest health insurers, but he wasn’t well known outside the industry. Trained as an accountant, he worked at parent company UnitedHealth Group Inc. for 20 years. Then, he became CEO of its insurance arm, UnitedHealthcare, in 2021. Brian and his wife had two sons. The kids were in high school when Luigi killed their father.

Thompson’s violent death “devastated everyone who knew and loved him,” the company said in a statement Friday. It thanked law enforcement for bringing Luigi Mangione to justice.

He Still Faces A State Murder Case, But His Defense Wants It Tossed

Federal prosecutors didn’t give Luigi Mangione any deal or incentive to plead guilty, they and his lawyers said. Nor did Mangione plead guilty to avoid a potential death sentence. That possibility was taken off the table when a federal murder charge was tossed out this winter.

But after Mangione entered the plea at Friday’s scheduled hearing, his lawyers quickly sought to have the New York case thrown out on double jeopardy grounds. The state’s double jeopardy protections can kick in if a prior prosecution ends in a guilty plea.

“Mr. Mangione has accepted full responsibility for the death of Brian Thompson,” defense lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo said outside court. She argued that her client shouldn’t face two prosecutions over a “single tragic event.”

The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is handling the state prosecution, said it remains committed to its case and would contest the defense’s efforts to shut it down.

His defense had lost some disputes over evidence
Mangione was arrested five days after the shooting, when he was spotted at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles (370 kilometers) west of Manhattan. Police had released various images of the suspected shooter, including one showing his face as he checked into a hostel.
Although his lawyers got the federal murder charge dismissed, Garnett also delivered some setbacks to the defense, ruling in January that prosecutors could use items collected from Mangione’s backpack during his arrest as evidence against him. They included a 3D-printed pistol that investigators said matched the one used to kill Thompson and a notebook in which authorities say Mangione described his intent to kill an insurance executive.
Similarly, the judge in the state case threw out terrorism charges against Mangione but agreed to let the gun and notebook be used as evidence. The case has been heading toward a September trial, but his lawyers’ new bid to dismiss it could complicate the timeline.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Minnesota Man Fatally Stabs Wife & 7-Year-Old Daughter At Daycare After Allegedly Killing Another Relative

Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak, Larry Neumeister, Jennifer Peltz, Dave Collins and Alanna Durkin contributed to this report via AP Newsroom. 

Marvel Studios has become famous for keeping its biggest secrets under wraps, but hiding Chris Evans’ return as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday apparently required more than locked scripts and closed sets. Evans says he had to flat out lie about being involved in the movie.

The former Captain America star has opened up about the secrecy surrounding his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, revealing that Marvel went to some unusual lengths to prevent his involvement from leaking during production.

According to Evans, his character wasn’t even identified as Steve Rogers in the Avengers: Doomsday script. Instead, Marvel gave him the codename “Luke Cage,” a reference to another well-known Marvel superhero.

“Within the script, my character was called Luke Cage,” Evans revealed while discussing the production. The fake name was also reportedly used as an additional layer of protection in case production information found its way outside the studio.

Mike Colter, Luke Cage [credit: Marvel Studios]

But keeping the secret went beyond paperwork.

Evans admitted that he publicly denied being involved with Avengers: Doomsday even after reports began circulating that he would return. With Marvel determined to keep Steve Rogers’ involvement hidden, Evans essentially had no choice but to play along.

“I had to lie,”

Evans said of the situation.

The secrecy makes sense considering how significant Steve Rogers’ return could be. Evans seemingly completed his MCU story in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, when Steve traveled back in time to return the Infinity Stones before choosing to remain in the past with Peggy Carter. An elderly Steve later passed the Captain America shield to Sam Wilson.

Exactly how Steve returns in Doomsday remains one of the movie’s biggest mysteries.

Evans has recently offered another intriguing tease, describing Steve Rogers’ upcoming story as “brutal.” He joked that directors Joe and Anthony Russo have always enjoyed putting Steve through difficult situations because his ability to keep getting back up is what makes the character heroic.

That could be particularly important considering Hayley Atwell is also returning as Peggy Carter. Marvel has yet to reveal whether Doomsday will feature the original Steve Rogers following the events of Endgame, a Multiverse variant, or something considerably more complicated.

Avengers: Doomsday [credit: Marvel Studios]

The movie is already bringing together one of the largest collections of Marvel characters ever assembled. Alongside Evans, the film features Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Tom Hiddleston as Loki and several returning members of Fox’s X-Men franchise.

Whatever Marvel has planned for Steve Rogers, the effort that went into hiding Evans’ involvement suggests his return is far more important than a quick nostalgic appearance.

And somewhere out there, Luke Cage probably wants his codename back.

Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.

Days of Our Lives has poor Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) that can never seem to catch a break when it comes to relationships, but he could still get lucky in love since his sexy ex Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte) is working overtime right now to win him back. He still loves Leo. And come on, Dimitri’s so hot.

Let’s get into Leo’s love life and a possible recoupling with Dimitri and where his ex Javi Hernandez (Jacob Martinez) might fit into that. So, let’s dive into what is ahead for Gwen Rizczech’s (Emily O’Brien) best friend while she is on her way back to Salem. Fortunately, a whole lot has changed for Leo over the years.

Days of our Lives: Leo Turned His Life Around

He went from town pariah to a beloved friend and colleague. Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd), Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer), and many others that once hated him now count Leo as a friend, or at least somebody they don’t despise anymore. Leo’s come a long way. If you don’t remember, he showed up in Salem in 2018 as a con man, and he was on a mission to blackmail Sonny Kiriakis (Zach Tinker).

Back in the day, Leo had been hired by Vivian Almain (Louise Sorel) to romance Sonny as part of her scheme against Titan. So, Leo and Sonny dated for a hot minute and then later con man Leo blackmailed Sonny by setting it up to look like he’d sexually harassed Leo. And then he tried to force Sonny to marry him, but he and Will fought and Leo fell and hit his head.

And Sonny and Will thought they had killed Leo and the two guys hid his body, but Leo wasn’t dead, not even a little. He showed back up and blackmailed Sonny into marrying him. Although Leo and Sonny’s marriage was later annulled after the truth about Leo’s past life came out, that he had been a prostitute and a schemer. All that came to light. Then, of course, we had Leo’s offscreen marriage to Darius Rose, aka Jackie Cox.

Leo’s Scam Exposed on Days

Their marriage was exposed as a green card sham back in 2022 during Leo’s wedding to Dr. Craig Wesley, who of course was wealthy and so it was all suspicious. Chad brought Jackie to the wedding and blew it up in typical soap trope style. Leo claimed he loved Craig and to be fair, the two had dated for a while. They had a double wedding alongside Leo’s bestie Gwen and her then fiancé Xandra. And Leo had originally been conning Craig for money, but then claimed he developed true feelings for the handsome older doctor. But Leo got dumped at the altar instead. And Craig was grateful because Leo helped him come out of the closet.

Craig Lashed Out on DOOL

But Craig was angry and embarrassed when he learned that his almost husband had been conning him. And not long after his split with Craig, we saw Leo excited to meet Gwen’s new boyfriend, Dimitri. Gwen and Dimitri were on this really fast track to engagement and a wedding because Dimitri had to marry a woman by his 40th birthday to inherit the vaner estate. So, Gwen fell for him and married him, but Leo and Dimitri became lovers behind Gwen’s back after Dimitri confessed that he’s gay and was really into Leo. And there was also an invalid marriage attempt involving Dimitri and Leo. I think it was around 2023.

Anyway, their relationship continued throughout Dimitri’s legal troubles and when he went to prison, even though that all of this cost Leo his best friend Gwen with this sordid affair, she found out the worst way that her best friend was diddling her husband. When Leo showed up on her honeymoon with Dimitri, Leo made up a Madonna concert excuse, but Gwen caught them together. She was devastated. A double betrayal. Her best friend and her husband cheating, which meant Leo lost Gwen, the only friend he’d ever had. And she wanted payback.

Days of Our Lives: Leo’s Love Triangle – Dimitri vs Javi

That was why Gwen forged that Dear John letter. She posed as Dimitri and broke Leo’s heart right into he had been faithfully waiting for Dimitri’s release from prison only to find out from that letter that he had fallen for another prisoner. So, Leo was heartbroken, but eventually with help from Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), Leo was able to love himself and he re-entered the dating pool. That’s when he met Javi. That was late 2024 and he was instantly into the cute EMT.

They hopped into bed together and began a relationship and it was going pretty well until Leo wrongly accused Javi of leaking his body and soul scripts. But true love wins and Javi and Leo reconciled. They moved in together at the Hernandez house. Leo and Javi also really liked fostering little T together and they hoped to start their own family someday. Leo popped the question at Thanksgiving last year and then they planned a romantic New Year’s Eve wedding.

Dimitri Ruined Leo’s Happily Ever After with Javi on DOOL

But Dimitri popped up right after they said I do and ruined everything. And of course, Gwen was behind it all. She released Dimitri from captivity so he could come wreak havoc at the wedding. And now here we are, it’s over half a year later and Javi has rekindled with his ex, Gus (Michael Ocampo). They sparked again when he was in Texas for his dad’s heart surgery. Then Gus moved to Salem and in with Javi right away. However, before Javi came back to Salem, Leo realized he truly loved Javi and wanted nothing more to do with Dimitri, which of course made him furious.

Days of our Lives: Leo to the Rescue

Fast forward to now. Leo chased down Gwen when he realized their mutual ex Dimitri had kidnapped her as revenge. But mostly he took Gwen to bait Leo to get him to Alamania. And then Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) quickly followed Leo and wound up held at gunpoint for all his troubles. Lucky for Javi, he couldn’t get a ticket to go with Rafe to rescue Leo and Gwen. And then Leo cut a deal with Dimitri. He said if you let Gwen and Rafe go, he’ll stay in Alamania with Dimitri. So now Leo is miserable and he’s trying to convince Dimitri that they should just go back to Salem.

Leo told him that he’s got family and friends and community there that he values and that Marina helped him love himself. And Leo feels like he deserves a loving relationship. But Dimitri’s been relentless trying to convince Leo that he really loves him and that they can have something real together. But it seems like Dimitri doesn’t even understand the meaning of real love because he’s dangling shallow things. He offered Leo fancy trips and a designer wardrobe. And of course, yes, Leo loves those things, but he doesn’t love Dimitri.

Days of our Lives: Leo Gives In — Is it Too Late?

But I wonder if Leo will surrender and give Dimitri another shot. Because right now, Leo knows Javi is in love with Gus and Leo’s gotten the cold shoulder from Javi ever since he came back from Texas. And it’s been a bit worse since Gus relocated to Salem and moved in with Javi. So, maybe Dimitri stands a chance with Leo, you know, because in his mind, if he doesn’t have Javi or some other guy waiting in the wings, why not give rich handsome Dimitri a chance to win his heart again?

Javi Wants Leo Back on Days

Problem is, Days of our Lives spoilers say that Javi soon realizes he’s still in love with his ex, Leo, and Javi may come to Alamania for him. So the question is which ex will Leo rekindle with? Will it be Dimitri or Javi? Leo could actually stay with Dimitri to protect Javi because let’s be real, Dimitri is unhinged and could do something cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs and hurt Javi. After all, Dimitri’s mom, Megan Hathaway, is a scary psycho, too, when it comes to relationships.

Remember, she held Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) captive in a human test tube when everybody else thought he was dead because she was insanely infatuated with him. I do think it’d be nice to see Leo settled and happy and starting a family, back to being besties with Gwen without Dimitri between them. I do think Javi’s definitely the better man, but let’s be real, Dimitri sucks on a stick with a big fat bank account, and the old Leo would have definitely chosen him. The new Leo, we’ll have to wait and see.

Nicole Kidman’s dramatic new British Vogue cover has sparked an unexpected debate, with some social media users questioning why the Hollywood star looks so different.

The 59-year-old actress’ highly polished appearance prompted everything from “unrecognizable” claims to comparisons with artificial intelligence.

Now, a plastic surgeon is weighing in on what may be behind the uncanny effect while cautioning against assuming the star has undergone major cosmetic surgery.

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Nicole Kidman appears on the September 2026 cover of British Vogue as part of an extensive feature examining her latest personal and professional reinvention.

However, it wasn’t only Kidman’s candid revelations about life after Keith Urban that got people talking.

Her appearance in the accompanying shoot quickly attracted attention online, where viewers debated whether the actress looked noticeably different from the woman they were accustomed to seeing.

“She looks like AI,” one TikTok commenter declared.

Another admitted, “I would never have recognized her,” while a third similarly wrote, “Looks nothing like her.”

A fourth person wrote, “This looks nothing like Nicole Kidman. This could be an AI model. It’s ridiculous.”

The response was far from universally critical. Other viewers defended Kidman’s transformation, describing the Oscar winner as “stunning,” with one arguing she had “never looked better.”

The contrasting reactions have nevertheless raised an interesting question about celebrity photography in an era when audiences have become increasingly familiar with AI-generated imagery.

Plastic Surgeon Explains Why Nicole Kidman May Look ‘AI-Generated’

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Dr. Omar Tillo, medical director and senior plastic surgeon at CREO Clinic, believes the answer may lie in the unusually polished qualities people now associate with artificial intelligence.

“When people describe a face as looking ‘AI-generated’, they are often responding to a combination of features that feel almost too polished,” Tillo told The Blast via email correspondence.

According to the surgeon, AI imagery frequently produces “extremely smooth skin,” clean contours and significant facial symmetry.

Tillo believes some of those visual characteristics are present in Kidman’s photographs, pointing particularly to the apparent uniformity of her complexion.

“In Nicole’s cover, the complexion appears exceptionally uniform, with very little of the natural skin texture, fine lines, pores and subtle tonal variation that we subconsciously expect to see in a close-up portrait,” he explained.

Removing or minimizing those details, Tillo said, can create a more “synthetic” appearance, particularly when combined with powerful studio lighting.

The contrast between extremely smooth skin and sharply defined facial features may further contribute to the effect.

Expert Warns Against Jumping To Conclusions About Kidman’s Appearance

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While some social media users immediately questioned whether AI or extensive cosmetic work could explain the photographs, Tillo stressed that neither conclusion can be established from simply looking at the finished images.

“None of this means that AI has necessarily been used, and it would be impossible to determine that simply by looking at the finished photograph,” he emphasized.

Instead, the surgeon noted that professional photography provides numerous ways of dramatically altering someone’s appearance.

Lighting, makeup, lens selection, color grading and conventional retouching can all affect how recognizable a person appears in a photograph.

Tillo also pointed to styling around Kidman’s eyes and brows as another potential factor, explaining that seemingly minor alterations can change the perceived proportions of a familiar face.

The reaction, he believes, also says something about audiences themselves.

“We now see AI-generated faces so frequently that people have developed an instinct for the visual cues associated with them,” Tillo explained.

As a result, viewers may notice when photographs lack some of the natural irregularities they subconsciously associate with a human face.

Surgeon Addresses Possibility Of Nicole Kidman Having Cosmetic Work

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Tillo acknowledged that aesthetic treatments could contribute to Kidman’s appearance, although he has not treated or examined the actress and therefore cannot determine whether she has undergone any particular procedure.

He suggested that maintenance treatments such as Botox, subtle dermal fillers or nonsurgical skin treatments could theoretically produce some of the characteristics visible in photographs.

“If aesthetic treatments are contributing to what we’re seeing, subtle injectables and skin-quality or tightening treatments would be more plausible explanations than assuming she has undergone major surgery,” Tillo said.

Even then, he believes the dramatic difference viewers noticed in this particular shoot could have been “amplified considerably” by makeup, lighting and post-production.

Nicole Kidman Is Already Embracing A Very Different Chapter

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The intense discussion surrounding Kidman’s cover comes as the actress herself is talking candidly about transformation of a much more personal kind.

In the accompanying British Vogue interview, Kidman reflected on entering an uncertain chapter following the end of her nearly two-decade marriage to Keith Urban.

As recently covered by The Blast, Kidman admitted there was a period when she felt “very fearful and deeply vulnerable” as the future she once imagined suddenly changed.

Rather than retreat, however, she said she was choosing to move forward with hope, remain open to possibilities and continue “embracing love.”

Kidman has also been experimenting with transformation in less permanent ways. She revealed that she sometimes wears wigs and glasses to disguise herself while going dancing, allowing one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces to temporarily disappear into a crowd.

Ironically, her latest magazine transformation has achieved almost the opposite effect, leaving some viewers wondering whether they recognize Nicole Kidman at all.

It’s going to be time to pack away sandals and flip-flops to make room for more chilly weather-friendly footwear. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to break out the boots and booties just yet, but you’ll need versatile options to stand up to the unpredictable temperatures that the summer-to-fall transition brings. Vionic Shoes is making sure you don’t break the bank while you do so, though, by offering up to 55% off your order.

One no-fail option is ballet flats, as they can go from day to night and won’t leave feet sweaty or cold. They’re ideal for in-between days and just as appropriate for the office as they are for casual weekends. The Caroll 2.0 are made with leather or suede and have a simple style that can be worn daily. Meanwhile, the Willa 2.0 has a breezy design, and the Gracia option has a more modern look.

Shop transitional footwear at Vionic Shoes!

For a more polished vibe, Vionic Shoes has loafers and mules that are just as comfortable. The lug sole loafers have a chunky platform that offers height, and you can wear them with or without socks. The suede, leather or wool flannel are ideal for early fall, too. The Sadie loafer, though, has a more everyday look. A shopper said they wore them straight out of the box, and the “softness of the upper was surprisingly delightful.”

One shoe that knows no season is casual sneakers, so you can run errands and work out in serious comfort. We love the fashion-forward Arabelle option and Uptown sneaker, but when we want to get our steps in, the City Walk and The Gabby offer support, cushioning and flexibility. A buyer said The Gabby is “incredibly stable and secure” while another wrote that the “arch support is great.” And just in case you have a fancier occasion on your calendar, the Perris slingback heel is closed in the front and open in the back for a balanced seasonal shoe.

You’re probably in the midst of deciding what summer-to-fall clothing pieces to stock up on, and we appreciate how ballet flats, loafers, mules and sneakers pair well with jeans, trousers, maxi skirts and more for a transition-ready wardrobe. And remember, you can save up to 55% off now!

Get the transitional footwear at Vionic Shoes!