By Robert Scucci
| Published 14 seconds ago

In 1988’s Hell Comes to Frogtown, our fertile male hero is humanity’s last hope for rebuilding the population in a world overrun by mutant frog people. There are explosive chastity belts, plenty of wasteland babes, and the whole thing is a masterclass in schlocky, low-budget, post-apocalyptic charm. That same year, a lesser-known film called She-Wolves of the Wasteland (known as Phoenix the Warrior in some markets) was released straight to video, and it has a similar setup when it comes to worldbuilding.

There are no mutant frogs in this version of the wasteland, but the reproduction problem has gotten so far out of hand that it’s the primary source of conflict. Instead of the deliberately cheesy dialogue between Roddy Piper and Sandahl Bergman, She-Wolves of the Wasteland plays things comparatively straight, though the film is still ridiculous in ways you’ll already be more than familiar with if you’re a fan of the genre.

It’s rough around the edges, but not without its charm, and there’s plenty of carnage to keep you entertained as the film barrels through the desert in search of salvation.

All Men Have Been Eliminated

In She-Wolves of the Wasteland, we’re introduced to our ballsy heroine, Phoenix (Kathleen Kinmont), as she helps a pregnant woman named Keela (Peggy McIntaggart) escape the breeding facility owned and operated by The Reverend Mother (Sheila Howard). We soon learn that The Reverend Mother operates these breeding facilities as a means of keeping the human population from becoming extinct, making her desire to kill all men so she could seize power an obvious misstep in her logic.

Phoenix and Keela, now on the run, have to navigate the wasteland without getting captured. Keela fears that if she carries a male child to term, he’ll be seized from her and disposed of, while a female child will eventually be indoctrinated by The Reverend Mother to help maintain the current status quo.

Along the way, they meet a helpful bounty hunter named Neon (Lore de Nuccio), who, like many others living under The Reverend Mother’s rule, doesn’t agree with the female-only policy that’s been implemented. The stakes get even higher when they encounter who may very well be the last documented male on Earth, and they decide it’s their life’s calling to protect the kid at all costs.

A Surprisingly Solid Effort, All Things Considered

As by-the-numbers as She-Wolves of the Wasteland may seem, it’s shockingly adequate in its delivery. On one hand, there are only so many late ’80s wasteland sagas you can watch before you realize they’re all shot in the desert for financial reasons. It’s a budget limitation, sure, but it also allows for some pretty great practical action when the moment calls for it because they’re just blowing stuff up in the middle of nowhere.

Phoenix and Keela make a great duo because the dynamic starts with a ballsy heroine taking a damsel in distress under her wing. But once they get on the same page and have time to plan their next moves while escaping the tyrannical rule of The Reverend Mother, they become a force to be reckoned with, with Keela rising to the occasion and handling the situation like a total badass.

She-Wolves of the Wasteland is one of those quick-and-dirty post-apocalyptic thrillers that checks all the boxes of a Mad Max-style romp through the end times. While it certainly wears its influences on its sleeve, it remains a fun little cult oddity that could very well exist in our cultural lexicon as the kind of side quest George Miller would be proud of.

As of this writing, She-Wolves of the Wasteland is streaming for free on Tubi.

SHE-WOLVES OF THE WASTELAND SCORE

Days of Our Lives 2-Week Spoilers for July 6 – 17, 2026 are going to see Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) getting jealous and making a big mistake that could cost her. Plus, Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews) is losing it after he’s given some very misleading information, and he may lash out looking for payback on family.

We are going to see Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) getting better, but Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford) getting much worse and some I love yous coming soon between people that haven’t said it before.

Days of Our Lives: Family Betrayals and Medical Crises – July 6th Through 10th

Monday, July 6. Kayla Johnson (Mary Beth Evans) and Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) are enjoying the fireworks and some kisses as the July 4th celebration carries over from last week into this week on Days. And we’ve got Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) comforting and soothing Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) after he upset her by dropping the truth bomb.

Yes indeed Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) and Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) are doing the deed. This is going to be the end of Gwen and Xander. And it looks like Gwen might have learned her lesson. But it’s made worse because Kristen was somebody that Gwen thought of as a friend. And this week, Kristen slams Gwen and says if she had cared about Xander, she would have tried harder to satisfy him. Ouch.

Xander listens as Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) shares her concerns about Holly and her fears that she can’t save her. And then Sarah’s going to find a clue in her office that turned up out of the blue that may save Holly. So, it looks like Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) left a book open to a page on symptoms of arsenic poisoning. EJ’s son has some things to say to his dad. I don’t think Johnny’s happy about EJ having him leave information in Sarah’s office because Johnny might just want to tell Sarah directly what has got Holly so sick.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Brady & Kristen Spar

We also have Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) and Kristen bickering about Rachel Black (Lorelei Olivia Mote). On Tuesday, July 7th, we have got Lexie lashing out at EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) and she thinks he is using her as a guinea pig. And Lexie says that EJ gave her life back to her just long enough for her to fall back in love with it.

Lexie is ranting at EJ that he never stopped to think what this would do to her. And he loses it. He’s so upset about what is going on with Lexie. And EJ is screaming that everything he’s done, every decision, all the sacrifices, he did it all for the DiMera family. He is in absolute anguish over the possibility of losing Lexie again.

Stephanie Johnson vows to stand by Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson). So, it looks like she’s trying to protect him from Joy Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins). But that may backfire on Stephanie because this week Joy calls Alex, but it’s Stephanie who has his phone. Not only does she not answer Joy’s call at all. But then Stephanie deletes the voicemail that Alex’s baby mama leaves.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Cat Greene Hypnotized

We also have Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) finally hypnotizing Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord). I cannot wait to see what memories she recovers of her and EJ and their time in Italy. Hope it’s something juicy. We’ll also see Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) and Theo bonding over betrayal. And that may be after Kristen tells Theo that his beloved Stefano is the reason that Lexie had a brain tumor and died to start with. Now, that’s not quite historically accurate, and I’m sure Kristen is bringing this up to make EJ look bad because Kristen wants everybody to hate him.

Then on Wednesday, July 8th, we’ve got Brady pushing. He is not going to let Kristen slide on something. So, I’m curious what bad behavior that Brady calls out. We also have Xander and Brady crossing paths at the hospital this week. Hopefully, they are both civil since both are helping Sarah look into the Coriseal stuff.

Gwen has a heartfelt conversation with Tate Black (Leo Howard) on Wednesday. Maybe she’s having a self-defense class as well. And Alex gets some good advice from Bonnie Lockhart (Judi Evans). And this could be her telling Alex how hard it is to be a stepmom. We also have Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) telling Stephanie that he’s sorry. I don’t know if this is back to her PTSD or about the Joy stuff.

We also have Philip in a tense run-in with Sarah up at the hospital this week.  She’s looking pretty ticked off and Philip is waving his arms around looking agitated. Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and Theo face off on Wednesday, and every conversation between these two seems to get more and more volatile.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Paulina Snaps on Abe

Thursday, July 9th, we’ve got Paulina Price (Jackée Harry) snapping at Abe Carver (James Reynolds). No doubt Paulina is stressed about Chanel’s cancer and doesn’t need any more drama.

Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) tells Cat he’s thinking of ending her investigation into EJ. But Cat’s desperate to keep it going, so she may tell Rafe about the memories that Marlena helped her recover. And we’ve got EJ feeling triumphant. He’s got the Kiriakis family in a corner with his horrible loan deal. He thinks he’s gotten Holly cleared from the arsenic.

And I wouldn’t be surprised if EJ had some of his minions go dig up that Coriseal so that nobody finds it on Smith Island. And Sarah suspects Holly is taking drugs. So remember, she already searched Holly’s bag and didn’t find anything. But it looks like Tate may find some drugs on Holly and he holds out the pills. But she’s insistent that the pills are not hers and then blows up at Tate in front of Sarah when he wants to talk about it and she’s screaming at Tate to just get out.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Leo Playing Javi?

On Friday, July 10th, we’ve got Leo playing the sympathy card with Javi Hernandez (Jacob Martinez). He’s looking all woozy up at Brady Pub and Javi’s got his arm around him. So, I don’t know if Leo is really still feeling off or if he’s faking it to get Javi’s hands on him.

Alex has a business proposition. But Philip and Xander don’t think it’s a good idea. And Brady and Sarah keep looking into how Holly was poisoned and what took Destiny’s life. We also have Chanel getting comfort from Johnny and Paulina. And Chanel has bought a long blonde wig and she’s taking it for a test drive, anticipating her own hair coming out.

Steve lets Stephanie know that he and Kayla are there for her and Alex may be a little ticked at her for deleting Joy’s voicemail because you know that Joy’s going to tell Alex that she called and left a message.

Days of Our Lives: Secrets Unraveling and Consequences – July 13th Through 17th

Then the week of July 13th through the 17th, we’ve got Theo still upset. He may go ahead and pay out Gabi’s inheritance because Theo’s ticked about Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo) and EJ after what Kristen said. And Theo knows Gabi is going to run that money over to Titan. So, Theo might pay her off for spite.

Also, very soon, EJ’s ready to fire Sarah. And I think EJ thought that he had Holly in the clear. He, I think he’s the one who set her up with the pill. So, it look like she took the Coriseal herself and that the arsenic was incidental. But Sarah doesn’t stop digging. And EJ’s going to snap on her. He is going to try and fire her. But I wonder if Kayla is able to override him.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Lexie’s Health Declines

Lexie’s symptoms worsen soon and she’ll be back in the hospital before too long with Theo and Abe at her side and annoyed at EJ. And we’re gonna see Abe raging at EJ and kicking him out of Lexie’s hospital room. Xander and Kristen continue to conspire against EJ. But we know he’s had enough soon and Kristen’s going to get snatched.

Brady and Sarah get closer to finding out the truth about the Coriseal and those two are going to swap I love you soon. But that doesn’t mean their relationship is in it for the long run. We also have Kristen continuing her plot to target Sydney DiMera (Autumn Gendron). And if EJ’s daughter mentions this to her dad, that might be what triggers him to take drastic action to solve his Kristen problem once and for all since she is setting everybody against him.

We also have EJ and Holly conferring about Amy Lewis’s lawsuit. And we’ll find out exactly why Joy was calling Alex because we know very soon there’s some sort of real medical crisis with Kelsey and Alex may not get there as soon as he should have because of Stephanie’s jealous antics. Alex won’t like that at all and Joy will probably take advantage.

That’s your Days of Our Lives spoilers for July 6-17.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 27 seconds ago

Are you a fan of cinematic punishments like Tommy Wiseau’s 2003 disasterpiece, The Room, and have over three hours to kill? Then boy, you’re in for a treat because Tubi has finally delivered the goods. And what are the goods, you ask? A little two-part movie series known as Best F(r)iends, written by The Room star Greg Sestero and marking his first collaboration with Wiseau since they were both laughed out of Hollywood for what most of us now consider to be the latter’s magnum opus.

Best F(r)iends is billed as a dark comedy-thriller hybrid, but like The Room, I’m not sure if that was the intent or if it’s another form of backpedaling. For anybody who’s not in the know, Wiseau once thought that The Room was going to clean up during awards season, and he even used his own money to make sure the movie had a long enough theatrical run to qualify. When the movie earned its reputation as “The Citizen Kane of bad movies,” the filmmaker suddenly claimed it was always meant to be a dark comedy.

But here’s one thing to consider about Best F(r)iends that we can’t say about The Room: it wasn’t written, directed, edited, and produced by a single person who also wanted to receive top billing. It’s written by and stars Greg Sestero, sure, but if you look at the personnel pages on IMDb and Wikipedia, it appears this production actually had a team of competent filmmakers behind it, making it a much more well-rounded outing, right?

Yes and no. Best F(r)iends is a tough nut to crack because there’s a level of self-awareness that needs to be considered. These days, Tommy Wiseau is more than happy to lean into the “so bad it’s good” reputation he rightfully earned decades ago, and you see more of that personality here. It’s almost jarring because it feels like the man put a considerable amount of practice into trying to capture the same energy he stumbled into while making The Room by accident, and it makes the whole thing feel like a fever dream.

Still, it’s worth a watch if you’re looking for something just a little different from what you’re used to.

Best F(r)iends Is 203 Minutes And About Selling Teeth

Now here’s the burning question I know you’re all asking. Does Best F(r)iends need to be nearly three and a half hours? Absolutely not! The story told across both volumes could easily be locked into a 90-minute runtime, but for some reason we have to stretch it out. Fortunately, I’m a fan of Wiseau’s line delivery and always perplexing on-screen presence, so it’s a wild ride if you have the patience for it. What’s more, breaking the whole thing into two volumes makes it easier to digest because you don’t have to barrel through it all in one sitting. But you have free will, so do with that information as you will.

As for what Best F(r)iends is about, it’s actually quite simple. When suicidal drifter Jon (Greg Sestero) happens upon a lonely mortician named Harvey (Tommy Wiseau), the two form an unlikely friendship. Jon starts by working odd jobs and sticks around Harvey’s place out of morbid curiosity alone. Harvey’s specialty is making replacement faces out of silicone for cadavers who have been horribly disfigured, allowing their families to see them one last time the way they’d like to remember them. We never see any interactions with these families, though, and the masks are creepy as hell, so I wonder how his hard work is received with his clientele. 

The plot thickens when Jon learns about Harvey’s stash of gold dental scrap that he’s been collecting for years. The two partner up and start selling the scrap for an unthinkable amount of money, but the relationship begins to sour. Jon falls in love with a woman named Traci (Kristen StephensonPino), who doesn’t approve of his wheelings and dealings with Harvey. To make matters worse, Jon grows suspicious of Harvey, who’s spending the money they earned together recklessly while having mysterious behind-closed-door conversations with an elusive figure named Malmo (Paul Scheer).

Caught between a bag of stolen molars and a hard place, Jon’s loyalty is pushed to the limit as he tries to build a new life for himself in Colorado, but there will be collateral damage along the way.

If You’re Not A Superfan, You Might Want To Sit These Out

As somebody who always appreciates art made with reckless abandon and no concern for how it’ll be received, I’ll be the first to admit that Best F(r)iends is a rough watch. Greg Sestero is surprisingly solid here, but Tommy Wiseau is pretty much up to his usual tricks. His fashion choices are baffling, he speaks almost entirely in reverse riddles with a thick accent that nobody can quite pinpoint, and he spends half the movie wearing other people’s faces. No, he’s not a serial killer, but he is passionate about his work as a mortician and maybe likes wearing silicone masks modeled after his co-stars just a little too much. But that’s only when he isn’t wearing a knight’s helmet for reasons I won’t get into here. 

If you’re into “so-bad-it’s-good” cinema, or just like hanging around with the personalities found in Best F(r)iends, it’s definitely worth your time as one of those guilty pleasure oddities you’ll want to show your friends who appreciate the finer things in life.

But be warned: it’s such a strange movie about two strange people who somehow have insane chemistry together despite what their reputations suggest. And yes, I’m calling this a movie, singular, despite the fact that it’s split into two volumes because the whole thing plays like one story, and it’s not even a particularly complex one that comes close to requiring this kind of runtime.

As of this writing, Best F(r)iends Volume One and Volume Two are both streaming for free on Tubi. Check the first one out, and if you think you can commit, go for Volume Two. If not, just count your losses and move on. Nobody will be mad at you.

Netflix’s abrupt cancellation of the high-profile sci-fi series The Boroughs sent shockwaves through the industry, not only because the cancellation seemed premature, but also because the show hailed from the Duffer Brothers. The brothers are best known for having created one of Netflix’s platform-defining hits, Stranger Things. They served as executive producers on The Boroughs, which was marketed as their big return to sci-fi. The show premiered to excellent reviews on May 21, and around a month later, Netflix announced that it wouldn’t be producing any more episodes. Coincidentally, the Nielsen ratings for the show’s debut week were revealed the following day, and as it turned out, The Boroughs hadn’t done as poorly as expected at all.

In fact, the show accumulated 1.2 billion minutes watched for the week, finishing second on the Nielsen charts behind fellow Netflix hit Nemesis. In its second week, the series drew another 1.6 billion minutes watched, taking the top spot on the rankings. This was hugely unexpected, because the cancellation had made it seem like the show was in free fall. In fact, it showed a major increase in viewership in its second frame, perhaps thanks to positive word of mouth and encouraging reviews. The Boroughs now holds a “Certified Fresh” 96% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “The Boroughs exudes excellence through its wonderfully plotted sci-fi trappings, star-studded cast, heartfelt narrative, and genuine ingenuity; a new classic through-and-through.”

‘The Boroughs’ Has the Makings of a Future Cult Classic

The latest Nielsen report, which tracks streaming data in the week of June 1 to June 7, revealed that The Boroughs accumulated another 661 million minutes watched. The show has generated 3.4 billion minutes watched in three weeks, finding spots on the Nielsen charts on all three occasions. Starring Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Geena Davis, Clarke Peters, and others, the series follows a group of retirees who are confronted by a mysterious presence at their retirement facility. The show’s cancelation led to speculation that the Duffers’ departure from Netflix — they recently signed a deal with Paramount — might have something to do with it. The brothers are working on a mysterious event movie slated for a 2028 release. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

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Network

Netflix

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Showrunner

Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews

Directors

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Augustine Frizzell, Kyle Patrick Alvarez

Writers

James Schamus, Jose Molina, Julie Siege, Tom Hanada

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Christoper Nolan‘s The Odyssey has been the talk of online. Whether you’re a Nolan fan or someone mad about “historical” realism in a movie based on the fictional poem by Homer, who may or may not exist, people are talking. Fresh off his Oscar winning film Oppenheimer, Nolan tackled the epic poem (often taught in schools in tandem with Homer’s The Iliad). And the first social reactions for the film praise Nolan’s retelling, calling it his “most impressive.”

The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, who embarks on a 20 year journey back home after fighting in the Battle of Troy. His son, Telemachus (Tom Holland) is not yet old enough to rule and the people of Ithaca don’t know if Odysseus is alive or dead. His wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway) is the defacto queen still but she has no real power, leaning to suitors (Robert Pattinson and Corey Hawkins) knocking at her doorstep. The film also stars Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Berthanl, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, and more.

First reactions to the film include Jake Kleinman of Polygon calling it Nolan’s most “straight-forward” film while also potentially his most “impressive.” While some praised Nolan’s latest, others called it “Dense but accessible” and said that it is “built to last.” The Mary Sue’s Rachel Leishman said Nolan’s take is “as epic as the source material.” IndieWire’s David Ehrlich called it an “S-tier” Nolan film but said that “the last act rewards the journey.” Colldier’s own Perri Nemiroff said that The Odyssey “is a filmmaking feast. A grand and gripping rendition of Homer’s epic, and one that feels uniquely Christopher Nolan. It’s sincerely hard to imagine any other filmmaker on the planet being able to bring that source material to screen with this much scale, scope and heart.” Collider’s Steve Weintraub called it “incredible” after seeing the film twice, writing “I’m really blown away by this film.”

A Rare But Fascinating Adaptation for Christopher Nolan

Image via Universal Pictures

For most of Nolan’s career, he focused his work on original films. Starting with Following back in 1998 through movies like Memento, Inception, Interstellar, Tenent, and more, if he’s not making his own original genre bending work, he’s tackling things like a lesser known battle of World War II with Dunkirk or Oppenheimer. Outside of his Batman movies, Nolan’s relationship with adaptation is very limited. And he has in the past, on Stephen Colbert‘s show, said that he views the epics as the original superhero stories. So it isn’t surprising that he would go to something like The Odyssey in a post-Dark Knight trilogy world.

And if the reactions are anything to go by, it was clearly the right move. You can see Nolan’s The Odyssey in theaters on July 17.

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Release Date

July 17, 2026

Runtime

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172 Minutes

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated 12 seconds ago

There’s one decade that movies and TV shows never get sick of: the ‘80s. The wildly popular show Stranger Things kept the Reagan era in pop culture for nearly a decade. And long before Eleven first showed her chopped haircut, Hollywood began bringing ‘80s franchises like Ghostbusters, Transformers, and G.I. Joe to the big screen. While this was certainly an iconic time period, it was enough to make this ‘80s kid (class of 2000, baby!) wonder when a much better decade will finally get its due.

If we can’t celebrate the ‘90s, though, we can do the next best thing: laugh at the ‘90s.  Recently, standup comedian Rob Anderson released a special, Are You Afraid of the ‘90s, and it basically gives the Bo Burnham treatment to our favorite overlooked decade. With killer punchlines, catchy songs, and perfectly timed video clips (not to mention several healthy heapings of raunchy humor), this is one special that’s guaranteed to leave millennials howling.

The Decade That Time Forgot

The formula for Are You Afraid of the ‘90s is simple but entertaining. Host Rob Anderson (who channels the self-deprecating, self-aware humor of Taylor Tomlinson and the manic, animated delivery of Gianmarco Soresi) brings up various arcane knowledge of the ‘90s and riffs on how weird these moments were. The result is a surprisingly fun performance that feels like the lovechild of Joe Bob Briggs’ How the Rednecks Saved Hollywood and the dankest memes in your favorite group chat.

Part of what makes Anderson’s humor so effective is how hilariously specific he gets. This isn’t just him saying “wow, that was crazy” and then moving on. Instead, he’ll pull up niche video clips of some of our favorite ‘90s protagonists and riff on how weird these moments are. For instance, in commenting on an awful anti-drug special, he points out the absurdity of just how quickly Simon from Alvin and the Chipmunks recognizes marijuana. In one of my favorite bits, he also talks about the weird visual similarities between the Burger King Kids, Captain Planet’s Planeteers, and Mrs. Frizzle’s kids. Like, it really was just genuinely bizarre!

From Stand-Up To Singing

Speaking of Mrs. Frizzle, Rob Anderson has an extended bit about Magic School Bus guaranteed to make you chuckle. This includes highlighting an episode where she forces the titular school bus into a kid’s body, leading to horrifying moments like them staring at this boy’s butthole from the inside. Strangely enough, the horrors of this pale in comparison to another episode where the children huddle in protective pods while a fish fertilizes them. Yes, it’s exactly what you think it is, and it looks just as insane as you imagine. Anderson really goes for it with the raunchy jokes, ensuring that you’ll never look at this beloved children’s cartoon the same way again.    

I don’t want to say too much more about the jokes in Are You Afraid of the ‘90s? (seriously, go watch it, the link is at the bottom!) because it’s worth experiencing all of this delightful weirdness with an open mind. However, I do want to comment a bit on Rob Anderson’s comedic style. Basically, he pairs hyper-specific pop culture references with an energetic, almost manic delivery, and the result is downright infectious. While his subject matter can get a bit naughty, he never punches down, and the audience is always in on the joke. Plus, he’s a genuinely gifted singer, and the demented musical sections are far catchier than they have any right to be.

As luck would have it, this New York Times best-selling comedian has made his entire comedy special available for free on YouTube. That means Are You Afraid of the ‘90s is just a click away, and it won’t cost you a thing to enjoy this relentless riffing on the decade that time forgot. That leaves you with more spare cash to go mindlessly spend on your favorite collectibles from that era. If you snag some Burger King Kids toys and some Captain Planet toys, be sure to have them fight in a big, Avengers-style crossover. Trust me: it’s what Rob Anderson would want!

ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE ’90S SCORE

Stephen King has been writing horror books for well over half a century at this point, since the likes of Carrie and ‘Salem’s Lot were originally published more than 50 years ago, and The Shining is coming up on its 50th anniversary, too. Owing to those first three books, and then a bunch more that came after, King’s been linked to the horror genre more than any other, but he’s also made his mark on some other genres, writing fantasy, sci-fi, and some thriller books, too.

The thriller genre often gets tied to the horror one, for obvious reasons, and so King’s arguably written almost as many iconic thrillers as he has scary books. Misery rides the line well, and then something like 11/22/63 is more of a sci-fi/thriller novel than it is a work of horror. But if you’ve made your way through all his thrillers, or if you like thrillers but don’t really love Stephen King, then maybe the following books are worth tackling. These aren’t necessarily the best non-King thrillers, but they are all well-regarded thriller books not written by Stephen King (with some deservedly being considered classics, too).

8

‘Watchers’ (1987)

Image via Putnam

This one’s here mostly because Dean Koontz’s work often gets compared to Stephen King’s. The two are almost the same age, they’re both very prolific, and they tend to write horror/thriller books, albeit neither does so exclusively. Koontz isn’t quite as well-known as King, with part of that being the fact that his work hasn’t been adapted nearly as often as King’s, but he certainly has a sizable fanbase regardless.

And with a big fanbase, it’s ultimately going to be hard to single out one Dean Koontz book as his “best” or “most important,” but Watchers is probably up there, for what it’s worth. It is the Koontziest of the Dean Koontz books, with a sentimental streak throughout that’s almost a bit much, though it does contrast with the more suspenseful and frightening moments in a sometimes interesting way. And it’s also about a (very unusual) dog, and Koontz loves his dogs, so yay. There’s that. Woof.

7

‘The Trial’ (1925)

Image via Knopf

It’s a bit hard to categorize The Trial into a single genre, but singling it out as something of a psychological drama/thriller book feels perhaps most appropriate. The Trial is kind of in a genre of its own, and that’s not said pretentiously, but more because Franz Kafka told a certain kind of story in a certain way, and Kafkaesque became an adjective used to describe such a story, so The Trial is indeed Kafkaesque.

That is to say, it feels a bit like a waking nightmare for its protagonist, with some absurdity that’s played more for unease and horror than it is for laughs. A man is put on trial, but doesn’t know what he’s been accused of, and the whole process just gets more confusing and surreal the longer it goes on. So, The Trial is not really a fun read, and it’s got very little to offer by way of answers, yet it is compelling, rewarding, and undeniably influential, so it earns its classic status, in any event.

6

‘The Wolf’s Hour’ (1989)

Image via Pocket Books

The Wolf’s Hour is really cool, and also really silly, but in a way that works. It’s a pulpy novel about a spy during World War II, working for the Allies, and he also happens to be a werewolf. So, he does spy and werewolf stuff behind enemy lines, taking on – and taking down – various high-ranking members of the German army, while some chapters also deal with his life some years in the past, back when he was first given (or cursed with) werewolf abilities.

Maybe someone once thought, “What if I made a werewolf/spy/World War II story?” before, but if they did bring about that vision, then they didn’t do so as well as Robert R. McCammon. The commitment to the bit is quite stunning, and The Wolf’s Hour really does remain entertaining throughout. If you’re more into old horror movies than books, then comparing this to one of the movies in The Invisible Man series, called Invisible Agent, might be useful. That one’s got the grandson of the original Invisible Man using invisibility to be an Allied spy during World War II. Swap out an invisible guy with a werewolf, and make everything a good deal racier and more violent, and then you’ve pretty much got The Wolf’s Hour.

5

‘No Country for Old Men’ (2005)

Image via Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

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Cormac McCarthy is one of those rare writers who’s written something that some people have suggested might be the fabled “Great American Novel.” That book is Blood Meridian, which is a Western and sort of a horror book at the same time, but not really a thriller. He’s also done a post-apocalyptic book, The Road, but you can’t really call that a thriller, either, even if it does inspire dread and a persistent sense of unease, and they’re things you get from thrillers, obviously.

So, here’s No Country for Old Men instead, which is maybe his third-most iconic book, after those other two. This one is more within the bounds of thriller territory, though it does take place in a similar area to Blood Meridian, albeit it’s a neo-Western this time, thanks to the early 1980s setting. It involves a large amount of cash being found at the site of a drug deal gone wrong, which a man takes, and then he becomes the target of a ruthless hitman who’s trying to get that money back. And that hitman, Anton Chigurh, is similarly terrifying and unstoppable as Judge Holden in Blood Meridian. Chigurh is a big reason why No Country for Old Men is as unsettling and intense as it is, though McCarthy’s willingness to have shocking things happen almost out of nowhere helps in that regard, too.

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‘The Black Dahlia’ (1987)

Image via The Mysterious Press

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Compared to some of James Ellroy’s later books, The Black Dahlia is a rather straightforward affair. It’s the first book in the L.A. Quartet series, and stands out among them for just having the one protagonist, and also for being written in the first-person. This is stylistically different from his Underworld U.S.A. trilogy, too, which feels in line with the other L.A. Quartet books, albeit taking place from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, while the L.A. Quartet series spans from the late 1940s until the late 1950s.

So, if you want extra ambition and more complexity, you can find that to a greater extent in other Ellroy novels, but The Black Dahlia is compelling and direct, making it an ideal “first” James Ellroy novel to read. It’s about the titular case, which involved the infamously grisly murder of Elizabeth Short, and how it affects a pair of detectives (though mostly the one narrator) who get involved in the whole confounding investigation. It works as a psychological drama/thriller book as much as it works as a crime/mystery thing, and is also easy to recommend if you found the 2007 film Zodiac compelling. Similar things – like uncertainty, anxiety, and obsession –are unpacked extensively in both.

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‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ (1955)

Image via Coward-McCann

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The Talented Mr. Ripley holds up well, even compared to other legendary books that were published in the 1950s. It’s about a young man named Tom Ripley who becomes obsessed with another young man named Dickie Greenleaf, and begins to involve himself in Dickie’s life more and more. Once Tom starts to realize just being acquaintances or friends probably isn’t enough, then things get complicated and a good deal messier.

If you’ve seen the movie adaptation of the same name, or Purple Noon, or the more recent series just called Ripley, you’ll know where things are going. Still, the first time you experience this story, regardless of whether you tackle the source material or one of those adaptations, The Talented Mr. Ripley proves undoubtedly surprising and nerve-wracking. It’s a story told in an incredibly clever and rather effortless way, and then it’s got even more to offer beyond its story (as a character study for the titular character, it’s also remarkable).

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‘Libra’ (1988)

Image via Viking Press

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Best known for his postmodernist novels, Don DeLillo strayed a little out of that kind of zone when he wrote Libra, which isn’t as postmodern as something like Underworld (1997). Libra is kind of a thriller, or at least more thrilling than most of DeLillo’s other works, as it’s a piece of historical fiction that paints a portrait of the assassination of John F. Kennedy in a way that intentionally diverges from what the official story is.

Importantly, it doesn’t say that this is definitely what happened. Liberties are taken, and Libra is most concerned with unpacking the state of mind of various characters, including some based on real-life people (Lee Harvey Oswald is probably the closest thing to a central character here). It uses a real historical event to unpack troubling and unsettling ideas about history and how fragile everyone’s grasp on reality, and everyone’s understanding of the “real world” and its history, really are.

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‘And Then There Were None’ (1939)

Image via William Morrow

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While there are a few Agatha Christie books that could be considered all-timers, And Then There Were None is the one that stands the best chance at being considered, well, her best. Especially if you’re looking at her standalone novels, since the likes of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile (both part of the Hercule Poirot series) are strong contenders. Still, And Then There Were None is something kind of special.

Maybe not having Poirot or Miss Marple at the center of it all makes things feel more suspenseful and dangerous. 10 people show up on an island, and they keep dying one by one, with the lack of a clear central character – and the title suggesting there could well eventually be none – making anything possible. It’s a murder mystery where there isn’t one wholly heroic detective character who you can (almost certainly) trust is not involved. It’s perfectly suspenseful, undoubtedly intense, and, in the end, one of the absolute greatest thrillers ever written.

Former “Vanderpump Rules” star Tom Sandoval filed for a restraining order in June 2026, claiming his now-ex, Victoria Lee Robinson, and her father had been abusive toward him. Since then, more has transpired, including, most recently, she’s made similar accusations against the Bravo alum and also requested a restraining order.

This comes after Sandoval was seen with the police as she moved her items out of their rental home, where her father had also been staying leading up to the split.

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According to TMZ, Robinson filed for a restraining order against Sandoval on July 3. In the filing, she stated that the “Vanderpump Rules” alum had exhibited forms of abuse against her on multiple occasions in the past. This includes their previously reported altercation at their rental home on June 3.

Before the June 2026 fight, the 34-year-old model claims Sandoval shoved her to the ground, elbowed her in the chest, locked her out of their hotel room, and rummaged through her personal items in May 2026.

Robinson also says he pushed her down the stairs on August 30, 2025. She stated in the filing that the attack left her with “visible injuries” on her knees.

Regarding the May 2026 attack, Robinson stated Sandoval screamed at her, gaslit, and manipulated her while she was in Nashville visiting her grandfather, who is terminally ill.

Victoria Lee Robinson Says She Endured Verbal Abuse

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Elsewhere in the legal filing, Robinson claimed that she has faced verbal abuse from Sandoval throughout their relationship, which began in early 2024. The model recalled in the filing that she had been referred to as “stupid,” “dumb,” and “a coward.”

Regarding the restraining order, Robinson is hopeful that the judge will also add protection for her father, despite him having already filed for one on his own. She wants the extra measure out of fear that the “Vanderpump Rules” alum may seek out her father with the desire to harm him.

Victoria Wants Tom Out Of The Home

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Per TMZ, Robinson has also requested that Sandoval move out of the home they had been sharing. She claimed in the legal filing that she had a right to the home as she had been paying rent. It’s unclear whether she meant the total amount of the rent or if she and Sandoval had been splitting it.

Robinson also stated in the legal filing that her name is present on the lease for the home. The model is even willing to forgo the Mercedes they leased together if it means she can retain the house. Robinson is also requesting a no-contact order from the court, which would render Sandoval unable to contact her or her father, with the required distance being 100 yards.

Tom Sandoval’s Restraining Order Was Approved

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Sandoval requested and had his restraining order against Robinson and her dad approved on June 25. However, according to PEOPLE, she returned to retrieve some of her items from the home the following day. Sandoval then called the police to ensure that she and her father left the property.

This comes after the reality star accused Robinson of being abusive toward him, including by punching him in the face on June 3.

He also claimed that Robinson’s father “lunged.” According to the filing, “[Victoria] and her father continue to reside in our rental home, which I am presently paying for. Meanwhile, I have been completely displaced from my home. I am bringing this request because I cannot tolerate [Victoria’s] abuse any longer.”

However, it’s also important to note that footage released from the fight shows him screaming into her face about recording him and then pushing her father into a lit fire pit.

Victoria’s Dad Also Provided His Account Of The June Fight

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Per PEOPLE, Robinson’s father filed a civil harassment restraining order against Sandoval on June 26. In discussing the June 3 altercation, he claimed Sandoval “overpowered’ Robinson and also recalls being pushed into the fire pit. He also stated that the “VPR” alum “began talking about himself having a gun.”

The man also said that Sandoval’s attack “seriously injured” him, causing a ruptured disk, a broken thumb and elbow, and a laceration on his right heel. Robinson’s father also accused Sandoval of returning to the home and “starting trouble,” resulting in the police being called.

The United Cajun Navy has reportedly called off its search for Nolan Xavier Wells. At first, it was unclear whether this meant the other Mississippi agencies involved in searching for the missing 18-year-old had also ceased their search. The update came after reports of a body being found on Horn Island, where Nolan was last seen on July 4. Hours after that update, Wells’ family identified the body as his and confirmed his death.

RELATED: Mississippi Authorities Search For Nolan Xavier Wells After He Goes Missing During A Boat Trip To Horn Island

Body Reportedly Found On Horn Island Belongs To Nolan Xavier Wells (UPDATE)

According to WLOX, a park ranger discovered the body at around 8:45 a.m. on Monday (July 6), two days after Nolan Xavier Wells first went missing. The body was not immediately identified, but it was found on the northwest end of Horn Island. Additionally, Sheriff John Ledbetter reportedly confirmed it matched the description of the missing 18-year-old. The condition of the body found and whether the death was foul play is unclear. At this time, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, which oversaw the multi-agency search, has not provided any other details.

As mentioned, the United Cajun Navy announced on Facebook that the search for Nolan Xavier Wells “has been called off.” The agency offered thoughts and prayers for the teen’s family while sharing a link to WLOX’s body discovery update.

“At this time, officials have not confirmed the identity of the individual found. We will continue to provide updates as officials release a statement. Our hearts are with Nolan’s family, friends, the first responders, and everyone impacted as they await official confirmation. Out of respect for the family and the ongoing investigation, we will continue to defer to law enforcement for any additional updates. Please keep everyone affected in your thoughts and prayers,” the United Cajun Navy wrote.

Nolan’s Parents & Coroner Speak Out

Nolan was first reported missing on the night of July 4 by his mother, Christine Wonsley. By that point, the last time he has reportedly been seen was 3 p.m. that day on Horn Island. Local police described him as standing 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds. He was last shirtless, wearing blue swim trunks and sunglasses. He was a student at Southwest Mississippi Community College and played the position of wide receiver on their football team.

In an social media emotional post on Monday, Nolan’s mother described him as a “special soul.” She also thanked all the agencies and volunteers who aided in the search of her son.

“His father, our family, friends and I are absolutely devastated. My heartbroken for my sweet son who was always willing to cheer and uplift others,” Christine Wonsley wrote, per the New York Post. “Nolan was a special soul, God took his time creating our son. I ask that you please give me and my family time to grieve.”

Early Monday afternoon (Eastern Time), Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd told WLOX that DNA testing will confirm the body discovered is Wells’. However, Lynd added: “There is no reason to believe it is not him.” 

What About The People Last Seen With Nolan?

Photos shared hundreds of times on social media appear to show that Wells might’ve been the only Black person enjoying the holiday among a group of white males. The internet has speculated that he was part of their friend group. However, at this time, the police have not shared details about Nolan’s relationship to the people he traveled to Horn Island with. Additionally, there hasn’t been online or media commentary from the men in the viral photos alongside Nolan. It’s unclear whether local police have questioned anyone in the group Wells traveled with. While the case is an active investigation, it also appears no arrests have been made.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Lil Jon Breaks Silence After Son Nathan Smith’s Body Found In Pond Following Missing Person’s Report