Roomies, Victoria Woods is not letting up and has continued goin’ OFF after her sister GloRilla dropped a few spicy reposts in response to Victoria claiming that she neglects their family.

RELATED: Family Feud Or Facts? GloRilla Slammed By Sister For Allegedly Neglecting Mom And Siblings (VIDEO)

GloRilla Dropped A Few Spicy Reposts In Response To Her Sister

After Victoria Woods doubled down on her claims about her sister, Glo appeared to be in a lighthearted mood and began sharing reports via her Facebook page “Gloria Woods.” Furthermore, she initially reported a photo of herself smiling at a red carpet appearance. Additionally, the caption read, “If I send u dis, jus kno I can’t help u “

Afterward, Glo reposted an apparent photo of her sister, which had the caption, “If I send you this just know I’m finna beg”

Then, Glo shared a post, writing, “Indeed.com.”

Afterward, Glo reposted apparent text messages with her cousin alongside a post of the family member sharing how the rapper has always been there for her.

Then, Glo ended the night by updating her profile photo to an apparent AI photo of her sister in a Fedex uniform.

Victoria Woods Is Still Poppin’ OFF Online

Victoria Woods caught her sister’s repost and profile picture update and clapped back with, “Our momma work at fedex h*e not me.”

Afterward, Victoria continued going off on her sister, writing, “And another thing B***H while you trying to get my page took GLORIA.” Then she followed up with another post, writing, “And I’m done with this s**t keep making her feel like shes right ion gaf about what nobody has too say..we all struggle in that house so for you to make it out and forget about us is diabolical“

Since then, Victoria has been posting screenshots of her Cash App and sending thank yous to those who have been sending her money.

More On Victoria Woods Accusing GloRilla Of Neglecting Their Family

As The Shade Room previously reported, earlier this week, Victoria took to Facebook, writing, “I’ll Really Go Live And Expose Yall Favorite Rapper Same Mom, Same Dad, 10 Siblings Yall Think she this upright ass person when she really not ain’t fwu since she got on and I’m constantly getting acknowledgment for being her sister and she ain’t fwu at all Gloria Woods call my bluff it’s been 4years why the media haven’t seen your siblings? And don’t say cause you protecting us cause we still in Memphis it’s cause you talk about our struggles and you don’t fw  na let’s clock it.”

Subsequently, Victoria added, “And our parents are not straight!! Our dad just borrowed 100$ from our mom yall think yall know shit but don’t !! I had to give my mom 1800$ on a 2400$ rent cause Yall favorite rapper blocked her !! Im tired of being quiet”

Afterward, Glo appeared to clap back at her sister’s claims by sharing apparent texts from her mom thanking her for her support.

In response, Victoria appeared to call cap on the texts.

Furthermore, Victoria went live and even called out Yo Gotti, too.

RELATED: That’s How You Feel? GloRilla Claps Back At Family Neglect Claims As Her Sister Victoria Woods Doubles Down (WATCH)

Brooklyn Beckham Allegedly Removes Tattoos In Honor Of His Parents

Reconciliation For The Beckham Family Remains Elusive

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Brooklyn Reportedly Does Not Regret Taking His Family Feud Public

Reports Of Tension Within The Family Allegedly Started Before Brooklyn’s Wedding

By Robert Scucci
| Published 1 hour ago

After The Evil Dead’s commercial success, Sam Raimi was eager to work on another project with Bruce Campbell, with help from the Coen brothers, in the form of 1985’s Crimewave. While this sounds like the best movie you’ve probably never heard of, it’s best to approach this one with guarded enthusiasm because what sounds awesome on paper doesn’t quite work on screen as intended. It’s not that the script isn’t funny, or that the setpieces aren’t ambitious, but rather that Raimi wasn’t allowed to edit the film due to studio interference. The end result is a movie that feels disjointed and incomplete despite the talent involved.

Had Raimi and the Coen brothers conceptualized the film later in their careers, when they had more clout and creative leverage, Crimewave could have been a masterpiece of subversive comedy. All the elements that draw you to it are present, but everything feels cobbled together and without a clear sense of direction. At the end of the day, that’s pretty much what you should expect when getting into a dark, neo-noir crime comedy inspired by Hitchcock, filtered through B-movie production values that lean fully into slapstick humor, as if you were watching a Laurel and Hardy bit stretched to feature length.

Still, if you’re a fan of the filmmakers, it’s a fascinating creative misstep to witness. If nothing else, it lets you check off one of their more obscure titles, a movie that never really had a chance to thrive upon release, but is now adored as the cult classic it was always destined to be.

A Glorious Mess Of Intent Vs Execution

Crimewave tells its primary story in flashbacks, leading up to the execution of Victor Ajax (Reed Birney), who finds himself strapped into an electric chair as midnight approaches. You’re also treated to a smash cut of a group of nuns crammed into a sedan, barreling toward the prison for reasons that won’t be explained until much later. Victor insists that he’s innocent, and hopes he can convince the executioner to spare him by recounting what really happened before he was apprehended and incarcerated.

Victor’s flashbacks tell the story behind the murders he’s been accused of committing, but given how convoluted everything becomes, it’s no wonder he’s minutes away from getting zapped out of his mortal coil. According to Victor, he worked as a technician for Ernest Trend (Edward R. Pressman), the co-owner of Trend-Odegard Security. While installing security cameras in his boss’s apartment building, Victor is sent off to track down his dream girl, Nancy (Sheree J. Wilson), who just so happens to live in the same building. What Victor doesn’t realize is that this errand is a deliberate distraction, as he’s supposed to be heading back to the shop across the street, completely unaware of what Mr. Trend already knows.

Mr. Trend has just learned that his business partner, Mr. Odegard, is trying to sell the company out from under him. In response, he hires exterminators Faron (Paul L. Smith) and Arthur (Brion James) to kill Odegard at the shop. Meanwhile, Victor attempts to charm Nancy, who is openly disinterested in him, but infatuated with Renaldo The Heel (Bruce Campbell), a sleazy rival who plans on buying the company from Odegard. Through this love triangle, the machinations of Mr. Trend, and the exterminators’ willingness to wipe out anyone in their path to make sure the sale doesn’t go through, Victor finds himself in the middle of a murder spree that becomes increasingly slapstick in execution, but incriminating all the same.

As bedlam unfolds according to Victor’s recounting of events, we gradually piece together what really happened that night. Whether or not he’s telling the truth, however, is left for the judge and executioner to decide as the clock ticks closer to midnight.

Could Have Been Brilliant, But We Got This Instead

The most disappointing aspect of Crimewave is that it contains all the raw elements you’d expect from a Sam Raimi film written by the Coen brothers. Bruce Campbell is reliably Bruce Campbell, and the slapstick is pushed so far into absurdity that it feels like an early preview of what the Coens would later refine in films like Raising Arizona and O Brother, Where Art Thou? Unfortunately, Raimi simply didn’t have the authority he needed to fully realize the project on his own terms, and the resulting studio interference hurt Crimewave far more than it helped.

While Crimewave remains a fun watch thanks to its cast, oddball story beats, and occasionally elaborate setpieces, its individual parts never quite line up to form a satisfying whole. The silver lining is that its failure directly inspired Raimi to double down on Evil Dead II after recovering from this production. In that sense, Crimewave became a necessary stepping stone that pushed the franchise we know and love into bolder, more unrestrained territory.

Had Crimewave been conceived in the 90s, 2000s, or later, the final product would likely have been far more cohesive. By that point, Raimi and the Coen brothers would have had enough creative control to fully embrace the absurdity baked into the screenplay. Even so, it’s still a Sam Raimi film written by the Coen brothers, which means you can expect a healthy dose of offbeat, dark humor that reflects the sensibilities they’ve consistently delivered throughout their careers. It just happens, in this case, to miss the mark more often than it hits, making for a messy but undeniably interesting watch.

As of this writing, Crimewave is streaming for free on Tubi.

Political Analyst Quentin Jiles
These Politicians Would Be Banished on ‘The Traitors’ ASAP!!!

Published
February 5, 2026
12:35 PM PST

By Joshua Tyler
| Published 56 minutes ago

Star Trek’s Starfleet Academy dropped an episode centered entirely around the commander of Deep Space Nine, Captain Benjamin Sisko. It’s titled “Series Acclimation Mil” and the plot involves Cirroc Lofton returning as Jake, in hologram form, and it ends with a voiceover that sounds like a cameo from Sisko himself, Avery Brooks. It’s not. It’s a lie.

Avery Brooks did not participate in this episode of Starfleet Academy and has, in fact, retired from acting in general and Star Trek specifically. He has no intention of returning, let alone for a show like this.

The voice you heard at the end of Starfleet Academy was Avery Brooks’s voice, but it wasn’t something he recorded for the series. Instead, the show’s producers stole Avery’s voice off a spoken word album he once did, and they’re now passing it off as the return of the Sisko.

Here’s what Avery Brooks said in the stolen dialogue: “Divine laws are simpler than human ones, which is why it takes a lifetime to be able to understand them. Only love can understand them. Only love can interpret these words as they were meant to be interpreted.”

If you watched the episode, you probably thought that dialogue sounded weird, out of place, and didn’t obviously fit exactly what was going on in the show. Now you know why. It wasn’t meant for the show.

Avery Brooks Was A Not Part Of This And Likely Did Not Speak With Producers At All

The show’s producers are trying to make it seem like the theft of Avery’s voice was done with his blessing, but that doesn’t seem to be strictly true. Alex Kurtzman claims, “I had a very beautiful interaction with Avery.” Who knows what that means? It could have been an email or a call from his lawyer.

The rest of what the Starfleet Academy team is telling the media suggests that Cirroc Lofton spoke with Brooks about it for them. Lofton and Brooks have maintained a close relationship over the years since the end of DS9, with Brooks becoming something of a surrogate father to Lofton.

Other than whatever private discussions Cirroc may have had with him, Avery Brooks had nothing to do with Starfleet Academy. Writer Tawny Newsome says Brooks was “aware of the project.” Being “aware” the show exists is the full extent of Brooks’s involvement, according to the show’s creative team.

Aside from stealing Avery Brooks’s voice to capitalize on his legacy, most of the episode was terrible and involved an annoying girl reducing his role as the Emissary to some sort of superhero trope that would spawn a legion of Emissaries, or something equally ridiculous. It was dumb and childish, but didn’t trample on the excellence of Deep Space Nine, which is a win.

Cirroc Lofton Is Still Excellent As Jake Sisko

If there’s a positive in the episode, it’s Cirroc Lofton, who was dignified and insightful. I have a hard time believing all of his dialogue was written by the Starfleet Academy crew; much of it sounded very different from the usual dreck they spew, and I found myself wondering if he’d come up with some of it himself.

We learn that Jake Sisko never published the novel he was writing. The reason given is some strange justification about how not publishing it made him feel close to his father. That’s a shame, since there’s nothing Ben Sisko would have liked more than to see Jake publish his book.

However, Lofton delivers the best performance we’ve seen from anyone on Starfleet Academy so far while focusing his discussion of Benjamin Sisko on Sisko’s role as a great father. That was always a key to the character, and one of the most beautiful and unique things about Deep Space Nine.

Cirroc Lofton proved he’s grown into the kind of man that both Ben Sisko and Avery Brooks would be proud of. Unfortunately, the episode itself ruined it by robbing Avery Brooks of his voice and using it to trick viewers into putting up with their streaming service.

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With his first two films, Kogonada created a style for himself that felt just right, telling stories that managed to be light, yet powerful. 2017’s Columbus and 2021’s After Yang were soulful and simple, but exquisitely crafted and emotionally wrecking. Even his video essays on different filmmakers like Wes Anderson, Richard Linklater, Stanley Kubrick, and many other filmmakers with distinct styles still managed to capture his own flourishes and talents.

But last year, Kogonada took a shot at something more mainstream with A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, starring Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie. This romantic fantasy, which wasn’t written by him, felt like Kogonada trying to bring his specific style into a narrative that didn’t quite match his tone. The movie was a curious failure, and a film that felt like Kogonada trying to stretch himself and losing a bit of himself in the process.

Finding himself exhausted by the logistics of making a bigger film, Kogonada went to Hong Kong with a few friends after the opening of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, and in just three weeks, they made the film zi. Almost as though Kogonada was actively attempting to fight back against the last film he made, zi was made with an incredibly small team, shot spontaneously, and trying to build the story as they went along. The result is a film that feels like Kogonada attempting to get back to where he once was before A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, but with a movie that feels more like an experiment than anything else.

Kogonada’s Latest Is More Ephemeral Than Most of His Movies

Image via Sundance

Set in Hong Kong, we meet Zi (Michelle Mao), a woman who keeps having visions of her future self that she can’t escape. Zi is waiting for the result of a scan, and is struggling with the uncertainty of what’s going on when she meets L (played by Kogonada favorite, Haley Lu Richardson), who offers to help her. We also find that these two are being followed by Min (Jin Ha), who we discover had a decade-long relationship with L, and since he works at the neurology center Zi was observed at, it seems he knows more than he lets on about what’s going on in Zi’s head.

Kogonada’s films usually take their time, quiet pieces that feel impeccably structured and regimented, yet zi is decidedly bucking that trend. There’s an intentionally ephemeral quality to the story, as though all of this could be a dream, or it could all be a hazy reality. Because of that, it certainly owes plenty to Wong Kar-wai, who also frequently films without a clear idea of where the story is going. Unfortunately, that doesn’t entirely work as well here as it does with Wong Kar-wai, with a story that slides through your fingers just when it seems like you’ve found something to grasp onto.

Because of that, zi isn’t what you’d call a return to form for Kogonada, but rather, somewhat of a reset artistically for the writer-director-editor. Zi is a character presented as lost, confused in her life, and especially unsure about what she keeps seeing as her future self that keeps coming into her field of view. It’s hard not to see this as symbolic of what Kogonada must be feeling now as a filmmaker, uncertain of his future, unsure of where to go, but desperately searching for answers. It’s also a film that’s likely more intriguing for its meta-narrative than for the story that was obviously being made up on the spot as Kogonada’s team went.

‘zi’ Feels Like Kogonada Is Trying To Find His Love for Filmmaking Again

Image via Sundance

In a way, zi does feel like Kogonada falling in love with filmmaking again through this experimental process, and in doing so, he’s sticking with a small team of people he obviously trusts. His cast and crew are all producers on this project, and it does feel like an effort of love. Richardson is never better than when she’s in Kogonada’s camera, and she’s a burst of life in this story. Mao is decent as a character we can’t quite pin down and of which we don’t get many solid answers about, while Jin Ha as Min is best when he’s put alongside Richardson and reckoning with their recent relationship that fell apart — yet frustrating as a character who has answers that he refuses to share about what’s going on.

Kogonada also brought along his After Yang and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey cinematographer Benjamin Loeb, who makes Zi’s foggy world come to life in beautiful, confusing ways, while the soundtrack mostly relies on the music of Ryuichi Sakamoto, who the film is dedicated to. As an aesthetic piece, zi is undoubtedly successful, and even when the story is hard to parse, it’s hard to not get wrapped up in the pleasing sights and sounds of what Kogonada is going for.

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But again, zi is a film that is more of an experiment than a movie, and that’s what ultimately hurts it. We can feel the run-and-gun nature of this story in every scene, the unclear direction that’s obviously being made up on the spot, and the performances that don’t quite know what to play because they don’t know enough about their characters. zi almost comes off like a mood board for a potential Kogonada film more than a concrete Kogonada film. Every once in a while, zi seems like it’s moving forward to finding the structure it so desperately needs, close to latching onto some semblance of narrative that we can fully connect with, but it soon fades away like a passing vision. Like Zi, we watch the film searching for answers and clarity that never come.

Even though zi isn’t quite the powerhouse of independent cinema that films like Columbus and After Yang were, it does feel like the work that Kogonada needed to do in order to right his sails and figure out where to go next. zi is essentially a cinematic palette cleanser for the filmmaker, and while it’s interesting to watch him work through his issues after the failure of his last film, and hopefully, fall back in love with film, it’s just not entirely there. At the beginning of zi, the title character asks if she’ll be lost forever. With zi, Kogonada proves that he’s no longer lost, but he’s at least on the right track to finding where he needs to be.

zi premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

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Release Date

January 24, 2026

Runtime

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99 Minutes

Director

Kogonada

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Writers

Kogonada

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Producers

Kogonada, Michelle Mao, Jin Ha, Haley Lu Richardson, Christopher Radcliff, Benjamin Loeb

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Cast

• 
• 

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Pros & Cons

• Kogonada’s latest is an aesthetically pleasing experiment.
• The three main characters are intriguing, if a bit underwritten.

• This is also more experiment than movie.
• You can tell this story was made on the fly, rather than working with an actual script.

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Netflix has rarely had a month where it didn’t have an abundance of new shows to watch.

That’s not going to change in February, thanks to an assortment of shows borrowed from other networks.

All of Watch With Us‘ picks for the three new Netflix shows to watch in February 2026 originated on another network or streamer.

This month’s selections include a sitcom revival, a tense police procedural and a sci-fi series that was even more successful than Star Trek.

Related: New on Netflix in February 2026 — The Full List of Movies and TV Shows

Netflix is giving the best Valentine’s gift for its many, many subscribers — a library full of hit movies and TV shows to binge-watch. That library grows a bit bigger in February, when the streamer adds at least one must-see new movie and/or irresistible show practically every day. At the top of Watch With Us‘ […]

3. ‘Night Court’ (2023 – 2025)

IMDb rank: 5.8

The original Night Court was one of the fan-favorite sitcoms on NBC that could get away with almost any kind of joke thanks to the late Harry Anderson and the rest of the cast. For the recent revival series, Saturday Night Live veteran Melissa Rauch plays Abby Stone, the daughter of Anderson’s character, Judge Harry Stone.

Abby follows in her father’s footsteps by becoming a night court judge, and she convinces Harry’s friend, Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), to return to the court as a defense attorney, rather than resuming his role as the prosecutor on the first series. Dan’s grown a heart over the last three decades, and Larroquette does spectacular work bringing out his character’s humanity while retaining the wit that made him so much fun to watch in the ’80s.

Night Court is streaming on Netflix.

2. ‘Prodigal Son’ (2019 – 2021)

IMDb rank: 7.7

Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne) never brought his father, Martin Whitly (Michael Sheen), to his school’s career day … and for good reason. As seen in Prodigal Son, Martin was a prolific serial killer until his son helped the police bring him to justice. Malcolm’s greatest fear is that he will turn out just like his father, and those feelings have sabotaged his personal and professional relationships.

In the present, Malcolm is coaxed into resuming his career as a criminal profiler, but he soon realizes that he needs his father’s insight to crack the case. Martin is only too happy to help his son, because this is his way of worming back inside Malcolm’s head so he can manipulate him for his own ends. This isn’t some heartwarming tale of reconciliation — it’s like living with Hannibal Lecter as your father.

Prodigal Son is streaming on Netflix.

1. ‘Stargate SG-1’ (1997 – 2007)

IMDb rank: 8.4

The Stargate movie didn’t make a big splash in theaters, but the franchise took hold on television and became the longest-running American sci-fi series to date. Stargate SG-1 started on Showtime and shifted to Syfy halfway through its run, which may be why it’s considerably darker in the earlier seasons. This series picks up after the movie, with Jack O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) reuniting with archeologist Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) after he elected to remain behind on an alien world.

When an ancient threat to humanity arises, Jack and Daniel from the SG-1 team, with Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and an alien warrior named Teal’c (Christopher Judge), explore the galaxy through the Stargate network and discover a way to defeat their common enemy before Earth itself is threatened. There are over 200 episodes, so this show will keep you busy for a long time.

Stargate SG-1 will stream on Netflix on February 15.

Despite the glamorous job title, most fashion editors are far from millionaires. This makes my line of work extra tricky. While I want to look stylish and rock high-end labels, sacrificing an entire paycheck on clothes isn’t the smartest move. That’s why I pay close attention to details like material. Rather than splurging on full cashmere, I’ve found that cashmere-blend pieces can be just as luxe. The right design gives off an expensive vibe while also saving me hundreds of dollars.

If you’re not ready to drop a ton of dough on one winter essential, I’ve gathered a few cashmere-blend sweaters and other knit staples that I think are worth adding to your wardrobe. These turtlenecks, crewnecks, cardigans and more are soft, warm and seem like they’re right off the runway. I promise, no one will ever know the difference — and I won’t tell if you don’t!

14 Cashmere-Blend Knits That Look and Feel Like Luxury

1. Everyday Ease: When you don’t have much time to get ready, you’ll be grateful for this oversized turtleneck. Made with 15% cashmere, the soft, slightly chunky pick feels like a warm blanket . . . and the cream option looks straight out of Meghan Markle‘s closet.

2. Classic Crew: A timeless cashmere-blend crewneck acts as the perfect base. Sure, the solid staple works well on its own, but it can also be layered over a button-down or under a blazer for a totally different vibe.

3. Polished Prep: Rather than paying big bucks for a designer quarter-zip top, save a few hundred by scooping up this cashmere-blend version. You’ll be surprised by how often it comes in handy, whether you’re wearing it with work trousers or throwing it over leggings post Pilates.

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4. Pop of Color: You might think neutrals are the trick to looking expensive, but 2026 is all about colorful fashion. Trade your basic, neutral knit for a fuzzy purple alternative and watch how quickly it enhances your outfit and boosts your mood.

5. Spring-Ready: For me, navy striped designs signal warmer days ahead. It’s worth it to scoop up this wool-cashmere cardigan now, then work it into your wardrobe once spring arrives, giving your outfit a fun, nautical twist.

6. Rich Mom: There’s something extra luxurious about a cap-sleeved sweater. The eye-catching cut just feels different and fancy, spicing up the most basic of bottoms and helping you nail wealthy, Upper East Side elegance.

7. Wardrobe Staple: This cable-knit crewneck is one you’ll likely break out every winter. Aside from being cozy and warm, the textured design never feels dated, so it’s a worthy investment — even at half off!

8. Celebrity Inspired: If you tend to take fashion cues from the stars, add a red cardigan to your rotation. Not only will the bold shade add life to your outfits, but the piece is easy to throw on in a pinch. Just make sure your white tee is visible, and you’ve got yourself a paparazzi-worthy look.

9. Sleeveless Style: Cashmere is typically associated with the colder weather, but Quince’s blended tank is something you can work into your summer wardrobe, too. You’ll love how the added texture amps up simple bottoms when it’s too warm to layer.

10. Luxe Loungewear: No offense to my everyday sweats, but Intimissimi’s palazzo pants feel straight out of a Nancy Meyers movie. The soft, quality fabric will make weekends on the couch feel downright romantic, and no one will blame you if you choose to wear them multiple days in a row.

11. Very Versatile: If you’re searching for a black dress to wear to weddings, baby showers and date nights, Quince has you covered. This 5% cashmere midi looks as almost regal, thanks to the plisse pleats. At the same time, it has a simple yet chic appearance that can be styled with bold jewelry and heels or dressed down with white sneakers.

12. Quite the Charmer: While Nordstrom’s embellished knit is a tad pricier than other options on this list, it’s a small price to pay for a piece that seemingly does it all. It’s jewelry and clothing rolled into one, and while the top is warm enough for winter, you’ll still be reaching for it in the early days of spring.

13. A Little Extra: If you’ve had your fill of sweaters, grab yourself a chic poncho, which will instantly enhance your current knitwear collection, and can even be layered over a coat.

14. Secretly Warm: You won’t need to bundle up if you opt for a toasty tee. Uniqlo’s high-tech design converts body moisture into heat (cool), and since it’s made from 9% cashmere and 6% spandex, you’ll have no problem wearing this soft, stretchy find on repeat.

Related: These Fleece-Lined Tights ‘Really Smooth the Legs,‘ Per Shoppers

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By Robert Scucci
| Published 4 seconds ago

If you’re of a sound mind and in good health, and everything is going great in your life, you probably won’t ever find yourself manipulated into joining a cult. Or, if you’re like Ansel Roth (Leland Orser) from 2014’s Faults, you’re so against the idea of cults separating families and ruining lives that you devote your own life to seeking out victims and reprogramming them so they can go back to the way things were before running away from home.

This is where things get messy, because what if you also owe a ton of money to your loan shark publisher at the same time a desperate family tracks you down so you can reunite them with their estranged daughter? You have no guarantees that you can help them, but you can probably get the cash you need, put on a good show, walk away relatively unscathed, and move on with your life. 

At least that’s what Ansel thinks will happen in Faults, but it’s only a matter of time before his reckless behavior catches up with him.

One Sad, Sad Man’s Disingenuous Redemption Arc

In Faults, Ansel Roth is living a very sad life, traveling from cheap hotel to cheap hotel, trying to push his new book. Though his first published work was a highly successful tome about deprogramming cult victims so they could go back to their old lives, his new book is simply a cash grab meant to recoup losses from his recent divorce and other life failings.

Though he has trouble selling his new book, he’s at least able to work out a free room and meal per hotel visit, and otherwise lives out of his car. It’s all really pathetic, but there’s also a sense of entitlement that makes the whole situation disproportionately funny, particularly when he argues over fraudulent meal vouchers and steals all the towels and remote batteries from whatever room he’s about to get kicked out of.

To make matters worse for Ansel, his manager, Terry (Jon Gries), not only severs ties with him because he’s not moving any units, but demands payment for past debts within a week, or else. He even sends one of his goons, Mick (Lance Reddick), to threaten him in person as Ansel travels the country on his increasingly pathetic book tour.

Desperate for cash, and considering the possibility that his entire career is a joke, Ansel is approached by Evelyn (Beth Grant) and Paul (Chris Ellis) about their daughter, Claire (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who ran away to become a member of Faults, an elusive cult that preys on the innocent. Ansel, in his infinite wisdom, agrees to help deprogram her for the exact amount of money he owes Terry so he can put all of his failures behind him and move on with his life.

The plan is simple at first. Ansel, with Evelyn and Paul’s permission, hires actors to stage Claire’s abduction. Staying at yet another seedy motel, Ansel gets to work with Claire, who doesn’t know her parents are staying in the adjoining room, waiting for her breakthrough. Matters are continually complicated by Claire’s resistance to treatment, along with Mick making surprise appearances to collect the rest of the money Ansel owes Terry.

A Masterclass In Manipulation

Faults takes a deep dive into the exact kind of cult level manipulation you’re familiar with if you’ve watched any documentaries on the subject, but subverts expectations every step of the way. Ansel knows all the methods used to deprogram someone and has had mixed results in the past. He believes he needs to break Claire’s spirit and rebuild her from the ground up so she can assimilate back into her family and put Faults behind her.

Claire, on the other hand, has her own ideas about how things should work. She’s incredibly stubborn, and her behavior, along with external forces beyond her control like Terry and Mick’s looming presence, pushes Ansel into increasingly compromising positions. Constant money runs and impromptu detours during deprogramming sessions leave him sleep deprived, slowly wearing away his resolve and, in many cases, giving Claire the upper hand.

What’s so enthralling about Faults is just how deeply everybody digs themselves in for their own selfish reasons. Ansel needs money. Claire doesn’t want to leave her cult. Her parents want everything to go back to the way it was, even if the way things were years ago no longer serve Claire, who is now an adult.

On some level, everybody is manipulating everybody else, and Faults makes you question who’s actually the real article. Half the fun is figuring out who’s pulling one over on who, and this feeling of distrust and animosity is pushed onto the audience in ways that make you never really want to root for anybody, while also hoping the right party gets what they’re looking for.

As of this writing, Faults is streaming for free on Tubi.