Ah, film noir, that daring, brutal, and cleverly subversive genre. Taking inspiration from pulp crime books and the German Expressionist movement, noir’s sordid scenarios and pessimistic moods echo the character’s internalized conflicts as well as their world’s suffocating corruption. Human fallibility reigns supreme — hence the tough-talking detectives encased in swirling tobacco smoke, the conniving dames who beguile these brooding men, and the outsiders exiled to, and striving to survive, society’s fringes.

Luckily for audiences who couldn’t (and still can’t) get enough, the novelty of noir’s charms goes down like a smooth shot followed by a pleasantly fraught chaser of labyrinthine mysteries and tremendous pathos. From the style’s classic beginnings (which run gleefully defiant circles around the Hays Code’s regulations) to its neo-noir modernization, the conventions are an unflinching exercise in tone, material, and artistic experimentation. If any vintage examples warrant the term “absolute cinema,” it’s these 10 standard-setting gems.

10

‘Kiss Me Deadly’ (1955)

Image via United Artists

Mike Hammer’s (Ralph Meeker) investigation into the murder of Christina Bailey (Cloris Leachman), a hitchhiking stranger a group of men tortured to death, uncovers a conspiracy too immense for even an experienced private detective to fix. At first, the situation looks simple; numerous unscrupulous individuals are chasing after a mysterious suitcase. How unfortunate, then, that their target’s glowing contents (parodied in Quentin Tarantino‘s Pulp Fiction) unleash global annihilation.

Arriving at the tail end of the noir movement, director Robert Aldrich and writer A.I. Bezzerides adapt novelist Mickey Spillane‘s Kiss Me Deadly into an incendiary deep-dive into speculative sci-fi, nuclear paranoia, nihilistic despair, and narcissistic masculinity. Cinematographer Ernest Laszlo’s imposing canted angles squeeze the characters into tighter spaces and send them spiraling down nonsensically winding staircases; every visual sign points toward Kiss Me Deadly‘s petrifying ending, where self-serving people meddle with forces beyond their control and the world suffers for their negligence.

9

‘Leave Her to Heaven’ (1945)

Image via 20th Century Fox

Grieving her father’s recent death, socialite Ellen Berent (Gene Tierney) finds solace by falling for Richard Harland (Cornel Wilde) at first glance. The feeling’s mutual, given the effect Ellen’s intoxicating persona has on the men within her orbit. After a whirlwind romance, the newlyweds’ bliss vanishes inch by inch once Ellen’s all-consuming possessiveness perceives everyone in Richard’s life as a threat to her husband’s affections.

Nothing quite like Leave Her to Heaven exists within the Hollywood movie canon. Martin Scorsese hailed director John M. Stahl’s transgressive composite of noir, psychological thriller, and domestic melodrama as a personal favorite, and it’s a rule-breaking formal masterwork. Before Leon Shamroy‘s Oscar-winning cinematography, the genre’s ethical incertitude wasn’t bathed in luxurious Technicolor splendor. And unlike the black widows who spin their enticing webs for money or power, Ellen craves love no matter the cost. Tierney plays her mesmerizing beauty against type; her green eyes stare with blistering intensity, her frame as still and chilling as a coiled viper. Against saturated Southwest vistas and golden sunsets, the underrated performer delivers a femme fatale all-timer who’s simultaneously toxic and sympathetic.

8

‘The Big Heat’ (1953)

Image via Columbia Pictures

Beat cop and upstanding family man Dave Bannion (Glenn Ford) refuses to stop pursuing the truth behind a suspicious death, despite pressure from his superiors and the organized criminals who keep his city within a terrified choke hold. Following a personal tragedy, Bannion’s resolute principles devolve into a vigilante justice crusade.

Fritz Lang‘s directorial career helped define industry standards. Between Metropolis, M, and prior film noirs, he matched German Expressionist visuals with his recurring post-war fatalism regarding exploitative leadership and socioeconomic hierarchies. True to form, The Big Heat defines the phrase of staring into a bleak abyss that stares back. Cinematographer Charles Lang‘s symbolic styling is less metaphorical than Lang’s earlier work but just as effective. Stark close-ups, confined spaces, and precisely placed interplay between light and shadow emphasize Lang’s breathtakingly cruel treatise on self-destructive revenge, systemic corruption, police brutality, and sadistic violence against women.

7

‘Shadow of a Doubt’ (1943)

Image via Universal Pictures

For the precocious Charlotte Newton (Teresa Wright), her uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) equals excitement. Named after the relative she idolizes, his exhilarating visits offer a reprieve from her monotonous small-town life. Yet her handsome uncle’s indulgent affection masks his identity as an infamous serial killer devoid of compassionate humanity. As Charlotte shifts from starry-eyed innocence to grieving resolve, her suspicions endanger her life.

Shadow of a Doubt distills Alfred Hitchcock‘s thematic and tension-driven essence into a trim 108 minutes. Charlotte’s traumatizing coming-of-age maturation hinges upon a young woman discovering the malicious predators lurking just past suburbia’s white picket fences, traditionally suave American masculinity, and even one’s dearest kin. Cinematographer Joseph A. Valentine underscores key emotions (claustrophobic threats, power imbalances, implied unconsummated incest) through classic techniques and subtle metaphors: fastidious zooms, lingering close-ups, Uncle Charlie’s imposing form towering above Charlotte, and the recurring imagery of couples sweeping across a dance floor like uncle and niece waltz around one another — first as seemingly entwined souls, then in a sinister duel.

6

‘The Maltese Falcon’ (1941)

Imagery via Warner Bros. Pictures

Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) just wants to get paid, throw back an excessive amount of alcohol, and go home. He doesn’t even care about his detective partner’s (Jerome Cowan) murder. Nevertheless, the deadly event tosses the reluctant, but sharply curious, gumshoe into the path of three duplicitous gold-diggers. The trio seeks the Maltese Falcon, a legendary statuette artifact said to house an extraordinary treasure trove.

Future two-time Oscar winner John Huston commands The Maltese Falcon with such consummate authority, you’d never guess it’s his directorial debut. The definitive adaptation of Dashiell Hammett‘s novel either launched the noir template into widespread popularity or cemented its clarifying turning point. Everything one expects and desires from a mystery caper operates at an impeccable peak: character archetypes, cinematic atmosphere (cinematographer Arthur Edeson‘s velvet-rich shadows, disorienting compositions, a flowing seven-minute take), hard-boiled dialogue, and convoluted thrills. As for The Maltese Falcon‘s lightning-in-a-bottle cast, Bogart dazzles as a world-weary, deliciously cunning master of acidic one-liners. Set him loose against the slippery Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, and Sydney Greenstreet, and you have an uproariously entertaining fencing match between four onscreen titans.

5

‘In a Lonely Place’ (1950)

Image via Columbia Pictures

Failing screenwriter Dixon Steele’s (Humphrey Bogart) history of volatile rage makes him the primary suspect in a young woman’s (Martha Stewart) murder. His neighbor, Laurel Gray (Gloria Grahame), provides an alibi, and their blossoming romance reinvigorates Dixon’s creativity for the first time since World War II. Meanwhile, Laurel glimpses the softer, redeemed man her lover could become — until her fears about his capacity for violent physical abuse turn their engagement perilous.

Director Nicholas Ray and writer Andrew P. Solt‘s suspense thriller sheds all expectations. In a Lonely Place structures its central mystery around astonishingly mature emotional depth and profound uncertainty, but the focus shifts to a different kind of harrowing tragedy. Known for a tough-guy persona that often leaves his finer-tuned talents unsung, Bogart delivers his career-best performance as a haunted, self-sabotaging, and insecure leading man whose bloodthirsty inner demons are psychologically dissected rather than lauded. He inhabits a palpable vulnerability, like he’s peeling back his skin to reveal Dixon’s self-loathing bones.

4

‘Out of the Past’ (1947)

Image via RKO Pictures

Accomplished criminal overlord Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas) hires Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum) to retrieve Kathie Moffat (Jane Greer), the young woman who stole Sterling’s money and what little remains of his heart. Jeff knows better than to fall for an insidiously magnetic temptress, yet the detective plunges head-first into a dangerous affair regardless. Years later, Jeff lives under an assumed name, complete with a new profession and a good-girl-next-door lover (Virginia Huston) — all too aware he’s stealing moments until the living ghosts of his past inevitably corner him.

With Out of the Past, Jacques Tourneur demonstrates the same remarkable directorial mastery over art direction, intricate blocking, and melodically despondent atmosphere as his horror masterpieces (Cat People, I Walked With a Zombie). Likewise, older noir has rarely looked more exquisite than under Nicholas Musuraca‘s eye; his chiaroscuro perfection rivals fine art paintings with their contrast between sun-drenched panoramic countrysides and enclosed, menacing urban architecture. Not to be undone, Daniel Mainwaring‘s poetically brittle screenplay leaves a dozen figurative paper cuts. Although Out of the Past‘s winding plot can be an intimidating head-scratcher, one needn’t comprehend the ins-and-outs to be swept away by one of the genre’s defining zeniths.

3

‘Double Indemnity’ (1944)

Image via Paramount Pictures

What happens when two amoral opportunists stumble into sexually charged intrigue? Cataclysmic results, of course. Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) coaxes insurance agent Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) into helping her murder her boring husband (Tom Powers) so they can claim his life insurance policy. Craving the fortune and the alluring girl, Neff willingly obliges. However, Neff’s only friend, claims investigator Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson), zeroes in on the pair’s not-so perfect crime.

All superlatives for Billy Wilder‘s Double Indemnity are valid, whether those descriptors are “the quintessential noir” or “a perfect movie.” Double Indemnity‘s enduring legacy as a tense, intoxicating elixir without equal would be enough on its own, but Wilder’s first masterpiece arguably popularized the genre’s trademarks and originated the erotic thriller. Walter and Phyllis’ illicit dalliance manifests as sizzling verbal warfare, while the voyeuristic appeal for audiences emerges from watching terrible people indulging their worst impulses. A never better Stanwyck delivers the femme fatale to end all femme fatales — divinely calculating, enigmatic, and assured, strutting like a sultry panther with its claws extended, alternatively carnivorous and playing with her food. John Seitz’s camera either halos Phyllis in beautific light or drenches her in blood-curdling shadows.

2

‘Laura’ (1944)

Image via 20th Century Studios

In an ironic turn of events, detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) becomes infatuated with a dead woman while investigating her murder. Without anyone to advocate on her behalf, business executive Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) is memorialized through a single glamorous portrait and the biased recollections of enemies wearing friendly faces — specifically, Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb), Laura’s ostentatious and self-appointed mentor, her social-climbing fiancé (Vincent Price), and her disdainful aunt (Judith Anderson).

Laura brims with melancholic yearning, depraved perversion, class awareness, and the ways patriarchy crafts an idealized feminine image while oppressing the personality and agency behind the fantasy. For all this solemnity, Otto Preminger‘s disciplined director’s pacing, writers Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Betty Reinhardt‘s silver-tongued wit, and the underhanded dexterity through which both parties choreograph the mid-way twist are second-to-none. Joseph LaShelle’s hypnotizing work behind the camera sparsely utilizes elongated shadows, preferring to glide through well-lit interiors and place the two-faced ensemble in allegorical profiles. As cinematic as movies come, Laura‘s another pristine triumph that dabbles in, but avoids adhering to, every whodunit rule.

1

‘The Third Man’ (1949)

Image via British Lion Films

American novelist Holly Martins (Joseph Cotton) plans to reunite with his old friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles) in Vienna. Upon arriving, Martins discovers Lime allegedly died in a car accident. The eyewitness testimonies, however, are too contradictory for either Martins or Lime’s loyal girlfriend, Anna Schmidt (Alida Valli), to ignore — while the truth about their shared acquaintance is darker than either bargained for.

Shot on location in an Austria freed from Nazi control but divided into four Allied occupation zones, Carol Reed‘s seminal philosophical thriller The Third Man roots itself in the fragile individual ethics and fractured geopolitical landscape of a Europe teetering on the cusp of the Cold War. Welles’ wily smirk personifies the film’s skein of skewering cynicism as much as Reed’s sublime proficiency, Graham Greene‘s crackling dialogue, and Robert Krasker’s baroque framing of the city’s crumbling architecture and scattered debris; the latter, in particular, evokes the scars only war can leave. An indelible and pivotal contribution to movie history, The Third Man remains as fresh and relevant as the day it first hit theaters.

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The Third Man

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Release Date

February 1, 1950

Runtime

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93 Minutes

Director

Carol Reed

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A clip posted by Yandy Smith on her social media has internet users in tears, calling her “YANDEECEES.”

RELATED: For Real?! Mendeecees Goes Viral Following Revelation About His Relationship & Union With Yandy Smith (WATCH)

More On The Clip Posted By Yandy Smith

On Wednesday, July 20, Yandy Smith took to Instagram to share a clip of herself alongside her friend, Quad. However, in the clip, they were both dressed up as men, rocking Yankee caps and oversized jackets.

“Sometimes the realest 🥷in the room is a 💃🏾 🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯,” Smith captioned the clip, which showed them singing to Rihanna’s ‘Take a Bow.’

Check it out below.

It Has Internet Users Calling Her “YANDEECEES”

Social media users slid into TSR’s comment section, some calling Yandy Smith “Yandeecees,” and many comparing her looks to Mendeecees.

Before Yandy Smith Had Internet Users Calling Her “YANDEECEES,” She & Mendeecees Had Internet Users Talkin’

Before Yandy Smith’s video, back in December, she and Mendeecees had internet users talkin’. As The Shade Room previously reported, at the time, Yandy Smith shared a carousel featuring a variety of text quotes.

At the time, one Instagram user slid in TSR’s comment section, writing in reaction, “Most of us understand how she feels. Riding with someone to the wheels fall off. When the wheels fall off, it’s meant to just let it go.”

Furthermore, her post followed Mendeecees revealing that she and he were never legally married.

RELATED: Hol’ Up! Are Mendeecees Harris & Yandy Smith Responding To Each Other With Cryptic Reposts? (VIDEOS)

Roomies, when it comes to Keyshia Ka’oir and Gucci Mane shutting it down without even trying too hard, they always step out like it’s a private runway. But this time around, all eyes were locked on Mrs. Davis as she gave full main-character energy.

RELATED: Keep It Moving! Carlos King Addresses Keyshia Ka’oir Cheating Rumors As She Reveals Doing “Everything” For Gucci Mane (VIDEO)

Keyshia Ka’oir recently shared clips on her social media showing her stepping out in a bold black ensemble featuring a fitted bodysuit layered under a sheer dress that highlighted her silhouette, complete with dramatic detailing and pom-pom accents that had the look doing all the talking. She finished it off with a diamond choker, stacked bracelets, a sleek black purse, and a straight middle-part hairstyle, serving luxury from head to toe while fans flooded the comments calling her “Queen Davis” in real time. Walking right beside her, Gucci Mane matched the energy in an all-black fit with shades on, casually sipping his drink as the couple moved like they owned the night — and honestly, the internet agrees nobody is topping this duo anytime soon.

The Roomies Always Got Something To Say

One Instagram user @kurvy_kayy said, “One Thing About My Girl Kaoir She’s Going To BODY An Outfit 😍🖤🔥🔥🔥🔥”

This Instagram user @taramarie.214 added, “She really be putting that sh**ttttt on 🔥🔥”

And, Instagram user @jodiamond84 shared, “She dresses so tacky..she a baddie tho💯”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @kryssiglam claimed, “My gowrl will always dress like a Jamaican“

While Instagram user @ms_courtneylove joked, “LOOKING LIKE A POODLE!!!!!! 😂😂😂😂SILLY SELF!“

Finally, Instagram user @mznickytrevill commented, “🙌🏾Both look good and healthy!“

Keyshia Don’t Play About Her Man

Not too long ago, Keyshia Ka’oir and Gucci Mane popped out for a lil’ date night, and of course, they stepped out giving full coordinated luxury vibes. Mrs. Davis stunned in a red-and-white look dripping in diamonds as usual, while Gucci Mane matched her energy in a red-and-white tee, shorts, and sneakers, keeping it cool beside his wife.

And y’all already know Gucci Mane’s wife Keyshia Ka’oir doesn’t play about her man, as we just heard from her not too long ago when she took to Instagram Stories to make her stance crystal clear. “My husband is my world & I’ll 4Eva ride fa him. MRS. GUWOP!” she wrote, letting it be known she stands ten toes down for Gucci Mane every time.

RELATED: Loyalty Check! Keyshia Ka’oir Drops Message About Gucci Mane After Pooh Shiesty’s Mugshot Surfaces (PHOTO)

Latto and 21 Savage have the internet asking, “What’s Tea?” after dropping a random joint photo on social media. Fans instantly flooded the comments with reactions and theories, trying to figure out whether the flick hinted at a potential baby name or new music.

RELATED: New Mom Energy?! Social Media Thinks Latto Gave Birth After Mother’s Day Video Seemingly Featured Baby Sounds 

Fans Think Latto & 21 Savage Just Hinted At Something BIG

Roommates, social media is working overtime trying to find clues after Latto and 21 Savage dropped a photo together on Instagram on Thursday, May 21. No caption, no explanation, no warning — just a random flick of a sword with cheetah print accents at the top. Fans have spent months speculating about the rappers, wanting details about their relationship and now-growing family, but this little teaser only added more fuel to the fire.

Social Media Detectives Clock EVERY Detail Of Latto & 21’s Flick

Fans instantly flooded the rappers’ comment section with reactions. Plenty of folks immediately asked, “What does this mean?” while others started speculating that the post was meant to tease new music or maybe even a new music video. A few more fans even said they think the photo might be a hint at their baby’s name.

Instagram user @cocoeauxluxe wrote, “Lawd they done named the baby bull dagger…just joking just joking lol.” 

Instagram user @thebrittcaldwell wrote, “I love it already ❤️” 

While Instagram user @ibrah_oy wrote, “Whatever that is we need it.” 

Then Instagram user @starrpoppin wrote, “Maybe they’re doing an album together.”

Instagram user @615kee wrote, “Hope its pictures I know its gone eat 😍” 

Another Instagram user @chi_nuh wrote, “I feel like its gonna be a song lol they boutta use all this attention to make the numbers go up.” 

Instagram user @goodgirl_nodeypay wrote, “I know they both feel finally free to let us know that they together (even tho we all been knew lol) 🙂‍↔️” 

While another Instagram user @tayflexx_ wrote, “Hopefully an album that would be tough cause they both can rap fasho.” 

Then another Instagram user @mrcoolbeardguy wrote, “Baby name blade brown 🤔” 

Finally, Instagram user @miiaiisha wrote, “They popped out when THEY felt like it 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏” 

Did 21 Just Give A Peek At His & Latto’s Baby?

While some fans keep trying to figure out what Latto and 21 have up their sleeves, others think 21 may have lowkey teased a photo of their baby. He recently dropped a set of photos on Instagram, and right in the middle of the carousel, fans spotted a newborn rocking an Emirates Arsenal onesie. The pics celebrated Arsenal winning its first Premier League title in 22 years. Peep the pic below.

RELATED: Okay, Then! Social Media Reacts As 21 Savage Shows Love To Latto Amid Her Pregnancy Announcement (PHOTO)

Netflix has made a decision about the future of Emily in Paris as production starts on season 6 in Greece.

The streaming service confirmed on Thursday, May 21, that Emily in Paris was coming to an end after its sixth and now final season.

“Making Emily in Paris with this extraordinary cast and crew has been the trip of a lifetime,” creator Darren Star said in a statement. “As we embark on the final season, I am so grateful to Netflix, Paramount, and, most importantly, the fans who have taken this incredible journey with us.”

He continued: “We can’t wait to share this last chapter with you. Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives, inspiring your dreams of travel and your love of Paris. We will always have ‘Emily in Paris!’”

First look stills showed Lily Collins back on set as Emily Cooper. The hit series centers around Emily after her move to France from the U.S. for a new job. She subsequently ended up caught in a love triangle between Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount).

Emily then moved on with Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini), but by the end of season 4, Gabriel realized that he wanted to fight for her. Emily, however, had moved to Rome and started her future with Marcello.

Season 5 took Emily and her friends back to Paris with a stop in Venice in the finale. In the last scene, however, viewers checked in with Gabriel, who was working on a boat that was about to dock in Greece, which paved the way for him to invite Emily to visit him.

“All we know is that we’re going to Greece and Monaco,” Bravo, 38, told Us Weekly in May. “We have no script. I have no idea. I do want them to be happy and in love because they’ve been working on it for six or seven years now.”

Bravo held out hope about Gabriel and Emily’s future, adding, “I hope it happens. I think some people want that, but whoever Emily ends up with will be the perfect choice because she knows better.”

Collins, 37, meanwhile, teased how season 6 will address Gabriel’s postcard to Emily.

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“Does she get the postcard? I don’t know. Maybe she does. Maybe she doesn’t. I know we end up in Greece but I haven’t read anything. Things get lost in the mail,” she noted. “I’m happy when Emily’s happy.”

Star, 64, also showed support for Emily and Gabriel’s long-awaited reunion. “They deserve each other. I hope so,” he teased. “But I can’t promise. … She’s got a lot of options out there — and some possible new options too.”

Emily in Paris is currently streaming on Netflix.

Young and the Restless excites as Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) rescues Matt Clark (Roger Howarth). And I suspect it is about more than just messing up Phyllis Summers‘ (Michelle Stafford) big plans that she’s cooked up. I suspect that Patty needs a new man in her life because Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) is clearly still hung up on Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters).

So, we’re gonna talk about what is next after Patty snatches Matt away from Phyllis and whether Matt is gonna be crazy Patty’s freaky new obsession.

Patty Rescues Matt From Phyllis on Young and the Restless

So, this week we saw Phyllis go haywire. She cracked Matt over the head in that room at the GCAC. She knocked him out and then Phyllis tied him up, snapped a photo, and then ran off to play Let’s Make a Deal with Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) so she could use Matt to get her criminal charges against her dropped. Even though Nick can’t make that happen, only Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) can.

So, while Phyllis was off scheming, Patty came looking for Matt and Patty got a maid to let her into Matt’s room. And when the girl freaked out because she saw Matt all tied up, Patty lied and said they were just getting kinky in the bedroom. So,  she got Matt untied from what looks like bed sheets that were used to tie him up.

Young and the Restless: Patty Stuns Matt

And then Patty wrote Matt a reality check. So, Patty told Matt the harsh truth that Phyllis was just using Matt as a bargaining chip. And then Patty told Matt they should get to know each other better, and Patty said he’ll see that she’s the only friend that he needs. So then she got Matt out of his room at the GCAC before Phyllis arrived.

She had brought Nick with her to show him that she really had Matt and to make the final deal. Of course, Phyllis was horrified to see that Matt’s gone. And Nick thinks the amnesiac villain escaped. This is going to change everything for Phyllis. And it might for Jack as well.

Patty May Transfer Her Fixation From Jack To Matt on Y&R

As you know, Victor paid Patty to kidnap Jack and then Victor drugged them and basically Patty raped him. So, you know, she and Matt have that in common, sexually assaulting somebody that they like. And Patty somehow thought that getting Jack in bed would win him over, but it didn’t. Patty knows that Jack is still upset about the whole drugging incident, and he’s been clear with Patty that he’s going to find a way to win back Diane.

So, Patty may finally realize it’s a lost cause trying to get with Jack. So, Matt realistically is a much better romantic option for Patty. And I think she may swap her twisted fixation over from Jack and onto Matt. And let’s not forget Patty loves a good villain. You may remember more than a decade ago in 2015 that was when Ian Ward (Ray Wise) was working with Adam Newman (Mark Grossman). Back then there was this dumb software plot that the program was called Paragon and it was on the Newman servers and it was supposed to destroy the family business.

Young and the Restless: Patty Has a History with Villains

Honestly, this AI plot feels like sort of a flimsy slow redo of the Paragon project if I’m being honest. A lot of people were frustrated with that back in the day. So, anyway, Ian wound up setting the Newman Tower on fire and then he had this brawl with Adam and Ian wound up trapped. So, Adam took off and left Ian trapped under a beam in a burning building facing certain death and everybody assumed that Ian died. But guess what? Despite Adam’s betrayal, Ian survived thanks to Patty.

She saved Ian and she had a crush on him and she wanted to be with him. So Patty took care of Ian while he was recovering from the fire and Patty was way more attached to Ian than he was to her. And although he tried to help her get a fresh start, bottom line was Patty wound up kicked to the curb by Ian.

Young and the Restless: Patty Wants to Take Care of Matt

And just like Matt, we know that Ian was a Newman enemy. All the Newmans hate Matt and they all hated Ian too except for Adam who worked with him at the time and then later turned on him and now he hates him too. And we all know Patty is super messed up in the head. But she actually does have some kind of twisted impulse to nurture. She was so upset when she had the miscarriage and didn’t have the baby that she wanted with Jack.

So, I think that’s part of her whole mental whackadoo thing she’s got going on. So, I think she’s going to save Matt from Phyllis and then I suspect Patty may get fixated on him. And even when Matt’s memories come back, I think Patty will be fine with his past villain behavior because as Phyllis told Matt, there’s so much bad in Patty’s history, too.

Patty Could Help Matt Deal with His Criminal Charges

Plus, it’d be kind of ironic because Matt was obsessed with Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) and stalked her, so if Patty turns around and got obsessed with Matt and stalked him whether he liked it or not that’d be karma. But, let’s be real, Patty’s hot so he might like it. And after Sienna betrayed him by sleeping with Noah Newman (Lucas Adams), I think Matt could use the ego boost. Now, mind you, he cheated on Sienna plenty, but it still hurt him when his wife slept with Noah.

Also, in terms of dealing with his criminal charges, Patty already told Matt she’d help him. You know, Patty’s brother is Paul Williams, the ex chief of police in Genoa City, and he’s the ex-husband of D.A. Christine Romalotti (Lauralee Bell). So, you never know. Patty might have some resources or some ins with law enforcement because of her brother or past criminal dealings. So, she might help Matt get away with his crimes. Also, Patty has a big bag of Victor’s cash and she could use it for a lawyer for him. You know, Matt could plead temporary insanity and get away with it because it’s a soap.

Young and the Restless: Patty Despises Victor

Also, Patty hates Victor and would like to see him thwarted and cheat him out of getting revenge on Matt. Although Patty just worked with Victor, that was just about her getting another chance with Jack. She hasn’t forgiven Victor. She’s hated him for a long time on Young and the Restless.

If you recall, many years ago, Patty shot Victor and he almost died. He was wounded so badly he needed a heart transplant. So, I think Patty would be perfectly happy helping Matt to hit back at Victor because in her twisted mind, Patty may blame Victor because Jack hates her now as much as ever.

This Is a Disaster for Phyllis and Nick

And then there’s Phyllis whom Patty despises. And of course, Phyllis is going to be frantic because Matt was her get out of jail free card. Phyllis wanted to leverage Matt to get the charges dropped and she was hoping to keep Newman also, but now none of that is possible. Phyllis is still facing charges and will likely have to give back Newman. And then of course there’s Nick.

We could see him going further unhinged because he wants to murder Matt to protect the family. And now he can’t because Patty has him. I suspect Nick was planning to double cross Phyllis. But now since Patty has snatched Matt, all that’s a bust. So Nick’s going to be ticked. He may spiral deeper into drugs and it’s twice as bad for him since it was Matt who, you know, got him hooked on the drugs. Technically, the surgery got Nick hooked on the drugs and then Matt amped that up when he gave him that fentanyl.

Young and the Restless: Jack Throws in with Patty?

So, we also have Jack making a bad decision this week. And I wonder if it ties into Patty having Matt in her clutches. She may offer Jack the chance to work with her and Matt to punish Victor. And of course, if Jack did that, that would be a very bad decision. So, we’ll see how that goes.

But honestly, I can see a world where Patty transfers all of her twisted obsession that she has had about Jack for decades and decades over to an all-new twisted obsession with Matt Clark. And of course, Jack would be relieved, but in a weird way, I could see Matt actually leaning into it and actually enjoying Patty being fixated on him.

Days of Our Lives shows that it is painfully obvious that Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd) hasn’t gotten over Cat Green (AnnaLynne McCord) when we saw the look on his face when he and Belle Black saw EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) out with Cat in the Square. But will Chad’s jealousy push EJ to bring Abigail Deveraux (Marci Miller) back from the dead so that he can have Cat all to himself?

I mean, man, you could really sense the tension when Cat and EJ ran into Chad and Belle who were out on a date in Horton Square. Cat and EJ, of course, were just coming from a dinner. And bottom line, the DiMera brothers are both smitten by the same kitten. And we’re going to talk about the fallout from that.

Chad And EJ’s Sibling Rivalry Over Cat on Days of Our Lives

Ever since Chad came back with a new face, he’s been pretty aggressive with EJ. So, I’m wondering if Abby’s resurrection comes as a result of this new sibling rivalry over another woman. Even worse, that woman is Cat. Who pretended to be Abby back from the dead. Before the actor swap, we saw EJ and Chad getting along pretty well. I mean, as far as DiMera siblings go.

But that is now shifting. Everybody in Salem seems to know that Chad had to agree in his custody document with Jack and Jennifer. That said he would never pursue Cat as a love interest. Chad’s mother-in-law, Jennifer, cannot stand that Chad forgave Cat after she impersonated Jen’s dead daughter, Abigail. And to be fair, what helped Chad forgive Cat was finding out Clyde Weston had Cat’s mom and was threatening to kill her.

But Jennifer Horton does not care. She does not think it was appropriate for Chad to ever date the impostor, especially since it upset his son Thomas so much. So to end the nasty custody battle before it got worse, Chad agreed to stay away from Cat and he just had a first date with Belle.

EJ Still Jealous over Belle on DOOL

And we know EJ, you know, doesn’t like seeing Belle out with his little brother Chad, even though EJ was out with Cat. You know, they weren’t on a real date. But the bottom line was EJ blew his chance with Belle when he threw her under the bus during Johnny’s trial last year.

And now EJ, you know, doesn’t love her being out with Chad. But it looks like he’s over her. We know that Belle flat out hates him. And now EJ’s sole romantic focus is on Cat. She kissed him not long ago as a distraction. That was right around the time Chad came back to Salem after he went to see Will and Sonny. And the verdict’s out on whether Cat has legit mutual interest in EJ or if Cat’s still working him for the ISA. Plus, EJ and Cat have those blurry shared memories of their time in the Italian hospital together. Of course, Cat’s worried EJ doing hypnotherapy will reveal that she’s with the ISA.

Plus, he just told Cat he remembers her at the hospital. But his memories of Sami being there are a lot spottier. And of course, Cat’s still working with FBI agent Ray Fernandez to spy on EJ and gather evidence on his secret lab. I don’t know if that’s dead in the water. Because now everybody knows what he was doing.

EJ May Have Abigail in a Person Pod

So, Chad confronted EJ about the secret project. That’s before everybody knew that it was Lexie. Because she came stumbling out of the secret passage after the will reading. And Chad was hoping that EJ was going to resurrect Abigail. But EJ said Abby wasn’t preserved promptly after being stabbed to death, so she wasn’t a viable subject for resurrection.

And I do recall that Chad begged Dr. Rolf’s help after Abigail died. But Rolf also said that Abby had lost too much blood. She just couldn’t be revived. However, I still think that EJ might have Abigail in a person pod somewhere. And if EJ thinks Chad is a threat to the relationship that EJ wants with Cat, I can see EJ bringing Abby back. That would certainly get Chad out of the way. Because he would be solely focused on a back to life Abigail.

Days of our Lives: EJ Tells Chad No

Now, as close as EJ and Chad have been in the past. And as sincere as EJ seemed to be when he said Abby couldn’t be revived, let’s be real, I wouldn’t put it past EJ to lie to Chad. Or maybe EJ’s not sure if Abigail is viable or not. He doesn’t want to get Chad’s hopes up because how Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford) died and how Abigail died were so different. One was stabbed to death, there was no warning, no chance to take measures, where with Lexie, they knew that she was going to die.

So, they had plenty of time to prepare to preserve her in hopes that she could be resurrected later. And EJ may know that even though Abby’s only been dead for four years, compared to Lexie’s 15, the more violent circumstances of Abby’s death make it more challenging. If you remember, EJ didn’t even tell Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson) about Lexie for a while. Because EJ didn’t want to give false hope. And that could be why he’s telling Chad no, Abby can’t come back.

Days of our Lives: EJ’s Ulterior Motives

Now, of course, EJ had ulterior motives with Theo. Because he wanted him out of the CEO seat so Johnny could stay in the job. But since Lexie’s still recovering and the hospital board is on his case, EJ probably isn’t planning to start another resurrection project quite yet.

But if Chad interferes with EJ pursuing Cat, or if Chad seems ready to defy Jennifer and start seeing Cat himself, things may change. So, jealousy could trigger EJ to throw caution to the wind and he brings Abby back when EJ should probably wait and see how things shake out with Lexie.

EJ Could Use Abby’s Resurrection to Make Chad Jealous on Days

Because if Abby comes back from the dead, you know, this could go twisty in a couple of different ways. So, if Chad is with Cat at that point and EJ brings back Abby, he might do it to woo and pursue her to drive Chad nuts and make him really jealous so he would walk away from Cat. And if you remember, EJ and Abby had a steamy fling years ago when he was engaged to Sami Brady (Allison Sweeney).

So, EJ could have Rolf brainwash Abby as part of the resurrection process, just like Lee Shin (Remington (Hoffman had Dr. Rolf do with Stefan DiMera (Brandon Barash). Remember, Rolf tricked Stefan into thinking he was in love with Chloe Lane (Nadia Bjornlil) because Lee wanted Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) for himself. So, at this point, I do think that EJ really wants Cat and that Abigail’s not on his mind romantically. But I also think EJ is not above using Abby’s resurrection to drive Chad off the deep end. And I think it’s going to get interesting between EJ and Chad and Cat and maybe even Belle over the next few weeks on Days of our Lives.

Days of our Lives: Abby’s Anniversary of Abby’s Death Coming Up

Also, we are about to brush up on the fourth anniversary of Abigail’s passing, which happened in June 2022. And it’s kind of strange with that deathiversary coming that Jack Deveraux (Matthew Ashford) is back to Salem this week and drops in on his other daughter Gwen. So I’m wondering if Jack wants Gwen to help him find out if EJ possibly has Abigail hidden in a person pod. Because ever since Chad and Jack exhumed Abigail’s grave and found it empty, they’ve been searching for her remains.

If you remember, they had it dug up back in 2024 when Cat first cropped up and they were doing the DNA test and all that. And Clyde Weston (James Read) seems to know something about Abby’s whereabouts. You know, where’s her body? But unfortunately, he’s in a coma and can’t say anything. So, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if EJ has Abby’s body in cold storage with plans to eventually try and bring her back. And I could also see EJ’s jealousy over Cat and Chad pushing him to take action in a rash way and bring her back or try to just so he can get what he wants, which is Cat. So, we’ll see how it goes.

The first reactions to Amazon MGM’s Masters of the Universe are finally here, and the early buzz is sounding far more positive than many fans expected.

Following the film’s world premiere, several early reactions praised the movie for fully embracing the larger than life fantasy insanity that made the original franchise iconic in the 1980s. One of the most talked about reactions described the film as “gloriously campy, wildly entertaining, and nonstop fun from beginning to end,” with many viewers praising director Travis Knight for understanding exactly what fans wanted from a live action He Man movie.

The film stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He Man alongside Jared Leto, Idris Elba, Camila Mendes, and Alison Brie. The story follows Adam returning to Eternia after years away in order to confront Skeletor and reclaim his destiny as the most powerful man in the universe.

A major theme appearing throughout reactions is the movie’s willingness to lean into the colorful fantasy tone of the original cartoons and toy line instead of grounding everything in realism. Some viewers are already comparing the film’s energy to modern fantasy blockbusters, pointing to its oversized visuals, cosmic mythology, and unapologetically fun approach to the material.

Masters of the Universe [credit: Amazon Studios]

Interestingly, “campy” is clearly being used as a compliment this time around. The franchise has always carried a certain level of over the top fantasy charm, and many fans online seem relieved that the movie did not attempt to strip away that identity. Discussions across social media have praised the film for embracing the weirdness of Eternia rather than trying to reinvent it into something overly dark or self serious.

The premiere itself also featured a major full circle moment for longtime fans when original 1987 He Man actor Dolph Lundgren appeared alongside Galitzine on the red carpet holding the iconic Sword of Power.

Amazon MGM appears to be positioning Masters of the Universe as one of its biggest theatrical releases of 2026, and based on these first reactions, the studio may finally have a genuine crowd pleasing fantasy franchise on its hands.

Masters of the Universe arrives in theaters on June 5, 2026.