By Robert Scucci
| Published 1 hour ago

I love watching Steven Seagal movies. Under Siege (1992) is Die Hard on a boat, and it’s actually a great watch thanks to the supporting cast involved, especially Tommy Lee Jones. Hard to Kill (1990) is amazing because the most badass thing Seagal says in the entire film happens when he’s alone in his bedroom, muttering about taking the evil senator on his TV to the blood bank. And how could we talk about Steven Seagal without mentioning On Deadly Ground (1994), a cautionary tale about corporations destroying the environment that somehow involves Seagal, the good guy, blowing up half of Alaska?

At face value, these movies are tremendously entertaining, but not for the reasons you’d think. Most of the entertainment value comes from Seagal believing he’s a living, breathing legend, even though most of the fight scenes involve him talking tough, running awkwardly, and wiggling his hands around. But if you really want a Steven Seagal punisher that could double as a drinking game, it has to be 2006’s Attack Force.

And what would that drinking game be, you ask? Every time Seagal opens his mouth and it sounds like a Martin Sheen impersonator is dubbing over the dialogue, you take a sip of whatever you’ve got. Be warned: you’ll probably need your stomach pumped if you actually commit to this bit.

I Don’t Even Know What This Movie’s About

As of this writing, I’ve written 1,945 articles for this site, most of them movie reviews. Usually, I’ll knock out a quick summary, talk about the themes, break down intention versus execution, and figure out who the movie is actually for. Attack Force finally broke me. This movie isn’t about anything or for anyone, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t laugh my face off the entire time I watched it.

To the best of my understanding, Attack Force follows Steven Seagal’s Commander Marshall Lawson, who, as expected, suffers from a terminal case of “Damn, he’s good” syndrome. On this mission, however, a commander is only as good as his team, and his squad gets wiped out almost immediately by a stripper named Reina (Evelyne Armela O’Bami). Marshall, with help from his girlfriend Tia (Lisa Lovbrand), discovers that Reina murdered his team while high on a new party drug called CTX, which Tia co-developed alongside corrupt nightclub owner Aroon (Adam Croasdell).

Though Tia helped create CTX, she wants nothing to do with Aroon’s comically evil plan to taint Paris’ water supply with the drug because it turns anybody who takes it into a bloodthirsty maniac with an insatiable appetite for flesh, or something close to that. There’s a lot of dialogue about animal instincts and violent mammalian impulses, but none of it really clarifies anything. There are also reports that earlier versions of the film involved aliens, so who the hell knows what happened here?

Long story short, Steven Seagal wears these weird talon gloves that let him punch and slash people at the same time, a bunch of people die, and then the movie abruptly ends with zero explanation or closure. I’m trying to make it make sense, but I’m a writer, not a miracle worker.

It Gets Worse

The most insane thing about Attack Force is the sloppy overdubbing. Legend has it that there were so many rewrites after production wrapped that entire chunks of dialogue had to be replaced in post. The problem is nobody was available for reshoots, so a healthy percentage of Seagal’s lines were redubbed by a guy who sounds more like Martin Sheen than the actor he’s supposed to be portraying. We’re not talking about little touch-ups either. There are scenes where Seagal switches between two completely different voices within the same conversation. He’ll start speaking normally, the next few sentences are dubbed over, and then the exchange suddenly snaps back to his real voice like nothing happened.

To add insult to injury, the hand-to-hand combat sequences in this movie are ridiculous. Most of Seagal’s fighting at this point in his career involves him glaring intensely, waving his hands around like he’s performing interpretive dance, and relying on frantic camerawork to disguise the fact that a past-his-prime action star is basically doing the Macarena while people fling themselves across the room after running into him. I wish I was exaggerating, but if you watch Attack Force for any reason, I hope it’s to study these production disasters for the love of the game because the movie has absolutely nothing else going for it.

Attack Force may genuinely be the worst movie I’ve ever seen. I say this as somebody who once gave Buttcrack (1998) a five-star review. At least Buttcrack knows exactly what it is. It’s a bunch of people trying to make the dumbest movie imaginable and somehow landing a distribution deal in the process. I can respect that, and I do respect that. Attack Force, by all appearances, was a legitimate attempt at a sci-fi action thriller, but there’s barely any sci-fi, no thrills whatsoever, and action scenes that feel like they’re on life support waiting for somebody to pull the plug. I respect none of this.

As of this writing, you can stream Attack Force for free on Tubi. Seriously, don’t pay for this one.

Roommates, it looks like a new chapter may be loading for one Hollywood heavyweight — and let’s just say the timing has fans deep in their feels. After weathering one of the most difficult periods of his life in the public eye, Jamie Foxx has been keeping things lowkey, focusing on family, gratitude, and what’s next. Now, sources close to the actor say his future is getting even brighter… and a little louder too.

RELATED: Aht! Aht! Jamie Foxx Goes HAM After Someone Allegedly Threw A Bottle At GloRilla During His Daughter’s Festival (VIDEO)

Jamie Foxx Reportedly Expecting First Child With Alyce

According to reports, Jamie Foxx and his girlfriend, Alyce Huckstepp, are expecting their first child together. The exciting news comes after the couple quietly built their relationship away from social media and public attention following dating rumors that first surfaced back in 2023. Fans also spotted Alyce supporting Jamie during his emotional return to the spotlight after his serious health scare, standing proudly beside him in a video shared by Gayle King as he celebrated his comeback.

Inside Jamie Foxx’s New Dad Era At 58

Jamie stepping into this season of life hits differently for supporters who watched him battle through his medical emergency and emotional recovery over the last few years. While the actor has always kept his romantic life private, he’s never hidden how deeply he loves being a father. From co-hosting ‘Beat Shazam’ with his eldest daughter Corinne to sharing heartfelt moments about his youngest daughter Anelise helping him during his hospitalization, Jamie has consistently shown the world that fatherhood is one of his proudest roles. Now, at 58, the Oscar winner is reportedly preparing to embrace the newborn stage all over again.

Folks Are Circling Back To Jamie Foxx’s “White Girls” Joke

Chileeee — didn’t Jamie Foxx swear off dating white women during his Netflix special? While reflecting on surviving the 2023 brain bleed and stroke that nearly took his life in ‘What Had Happened Was…,’ the comedian suddenly broke into song telling the crowd, “I’ve been cured… no more white girls,” before joking, “I’m back on the Black side of town!” The comments instantly had fans bringing up his past relationships, including his years-long romance with Katie Holmes and previous relationship with Connie Kline, the mother of his oldest daughter Corinne Foxx. While many took the moment as classic Jamie Foxx comedy, social media is now debating whether the actor was joking or dead serious, especially given this alleged pregnancy news! He and Alyce have not addressed the TMZ report or made any official announcements.

RELATED: Hold Up! Jamie Foxx Did His Best Busta Rhymes Impression And The Internet Is LOSING It! (VIDEO)

Andy Cohen is offering some clarification regarding Lisa Kudrow’s viral comment about The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

“It blew up that people were saying she was calling me out on fakery on the show,” Cohen, 57, explained during the Wednesday, May 13, episode of SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live.

Cohen explained to cohost John Hill that the scene in question was when Dorit Kemsley stranded Erika Jayne and Kyle Richards following their “huge fight” in a “little” Italian town.

“Dorit said, ‘Screw you,’ and got in the Mercedes van and left,” Cohen explained. “What Lisa was pointing out was there was another Mercedes van there, so they weren’t stranded.”

Cohen noted that they reached out to the showrunner about the second van. (It’s also important to note that Dorit actually told Kyle and Erika to “go f*** yourselves” before leaving them.)

“I remember hearing from production, like, ‘Whoa, Dorit stranded them in town,’” he said. “The other car was the crew vehicle that was taking the crew somewhere else and took the crew somewhere else.”

Cohen added, “So Kyle and Erika then called the house to ask for a ride back. They called the house and that’s why the van that had just dropped off the crew then returned to get Erika and Kyle.”

Related: ‘RHOBH’ Stars Erika, Kyle and Dorit’s Season 15 Feud Explained

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The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills delivered jaw-dropping drama on season 15 as tensions boiled over during the group’s Italy dinner when Erika Jayne confronted Dorit Kemsley about her chronic lateness — and the fallout left both Erika and Kyle Richards in tears. That might be where the women’s ongoing feud came to a head, […]

He said that Erika and Kyle “walking on the street” waiting for a car “was real,” explaining that the women were waiting “for some time” since the van had to drop off the RHOBH crew before returning.

“It’s not even that interesting,” Cohen concluded. “I’m sorry to bore you guys, but that is what happened.”

The RHOBH episode, which originally aired in March, has been dissected on social media with several fans bringing up the two-van theory.

Kudrow, 62, appeared to hint on the Monday, May 11, episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen that she believed Kyle and Erika getting stranded was a scripted moment.

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“I saw the Beverly Hills [episode] — you don’t want me to discuss it. I am telling you right now,” she said. “I am just going to say Black Mercedes sprinter twins. I caught that, I’m sorry.”

The Italy fight came as Kyle and Dorit’s continued to fracture. By the RHOBH season 15 reunion, which concluded earlier this month, the two women still haven’t reached a resolution.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 15 is now streaming on Peacock.

Whew, Roomies! Folks online aren’t the only ones who have thoughts on Chrisean Rock linking up with Blueface. Jaidyn Alexis has entered the chat and weighed in on their viral hangout too! Although fans think Chrisean’s popping out on tour with him ruffled her feathers, she’s clearing the air on where she stands and how she feels about their chill sessions.

RELATED: The Internet Is Going IN As Videos of Blueface & Chrisean Rock Hanging Out Go Viral (WATCH) 

Jaidyn Alexis Weighs In On Chrisean Rock Popping Out With Blueface

Recently, LiveBitez dropped clips from Jaidyn Alex’s livestream, where she seemingly reacted to Blueface and Chrisean Rock hanging out. If you’ve been out of the loop, viral clips showed Chrisean popping out on Blueface’s tour, with other videos capturing her on his tour bus after the show. During the stream, Jaidyn made it clear she was not surprised that they were back to linking up. “Don’t y’all see what he do,” she said in the clip. Jaidyn’s friend, who also appeared on the stream, cracked jokes about Rock and Blue’s chill session, saying a circus usually brings out special acts. Jaidyn responded by saying, “So bring out all your acts, babe. Additionally, she said people probably thought she would be crashing out over them, but she “doesn’t really give a f**k.” 

Are Blueface & Chrisean Spinning The Block?

The internet was flooded with reactions after viral videos showed Chrisean and Blueface kicking it together while he was on tour. Chrisean even posted a Snapchat video of them play boxing and offering to train him for his next fight. Fans know Blue previously lost his fight to Chibu, while Rock made her professional boxing debut against Zenith Zion on April 25 and won.

Chrisean Speaks Out After Fans React To Her Viral Link-Up With Blueface

After social media was flooded with reactions to her hangout with Blue, Chrisean hopped online to set the record straight and let folks know she’s not spinning the block or tapping back into her old ways. In a lengthy Instagram Story message, ther rapper said she just wants peace and chose respect over resentment when it comes to him.

“I forgave because I value peace more than carrying anger. No, we are not together I just choose respect over resentment. I’ve learned that not every battle is meant to destroy you. Some are meant to grow you. I prayed, faced things head on and left it in Yahweh’s hands.”

Rock also told fans she’s in a different space in her life now and that old version of her doesn’t exist anymore. “Y’all keep saying ChriseanRock was with Blueface No No No Chrisean was with Johnathan the old Chrisean died. Don’t let that go over your head. -Holy Hands” 

RELATED: Clocked It? Chrisean Rock Speaks Out After Going Viral For Spending Time With Blueface (UPDATE) 

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 26 seconds ago

When James Gunn’s Superman premiered, it leapt fan expectations in a single bound and did the seemingly impossible: made us care about DC movies again. It was perfectly cast, had plenty of action and humor, and generally felt like a fun, lived-in superhero universe. As a result, most audiences loved this film, but it did leave tights-and-flights fans with a seeming plot hole. Namely, if Lex Luthor created a clone of Superman, how the heck did he not know that Clark Kent was secretly the Man of Steel?

Recently, James Gunn took to Bluesky to answer this question. According to the Superman director, Clark Kent uses “Hypno Glasses” to fool those around him, plus Lex Luthor would never assume that a godlike alien spends his time walking among humans in a secret identity. Finally, he claimed that Luthor, like most brilliant people, still has blind spots even his genius might overcome. While these explanations work on paper, some in the fandom are disappointed because Gunn accidentally made Superman unethical and Luthor downright stupid.

Superman Or Super Creep?

What’s wrong, exactly, with James Gunn’s answers here? Let’s start with the Hypno Glasses. Gunn didn’t invent this concept. It’s actually been part of Superman comic lore since the late ‘70s. The glasses don’t give the Man of Steel broad hypnotism powers or anything. Instead, they simply keep people from making the connection that Clark Kent is actually Superman. This helps explain why the award-winning journalists who work with Clark every day and regularly have contact with Superman (like Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, and even Lois Lane at first) can’t figure something so basic out.

However, some fans find the idea of Hypno Glasses to be a bit icky. Superman is always presented as this moral exemplar, but it seems more than a bit unethical for him to constantly hypnotize the people he cares about by using creepy alien technology. It’s even weirder when you consider that he spent a fair amount of time hypnotizing Lois Lane, basically making her fall in love with the man she sees in the glasses and not the real thing. Also, did Lois simply figure out his secret identity on her own? It’s unclear in the film, but if so, that means these glasses are about as effective as they are unethical.

Super Genius Or Super Stupid?

As for Lex Luthor, James Gunn claims that just because the man is a genius doesn’t mean that he can’t “miss basic things,” and that Lex was so worried about an alien trying “to take over the world” that he never considered a human identity. However, this explanation arguably makes the franchise’s genius supervillain look like something of an idiot. He knows how to fight Superman because he has studied him for years, but he can’t figure out that the guy who keeps disappearing for eight hours a day has a job? Also, he can hack the entire Fortress of Solitude, but he can’t figure out some tricked-out alien glasses?

Of course, I’m being a bit hard on James Gunn here. Superman’s titular character is a kind of modern myth, and his secret identity is part of the mythology. The idea that a guy completely obscures his identity with a pair of glasses has never made much sense in a real-world context, and, if we’re being honest, it never will. Unfortunately, Gunn’s attempt at an explanation makes Superman look like a creep, and Lex Luthor look like an idiot. At the rate the bar is lowering, the booze-swilling, party-hearty Supergirl may end up being the real role model of this entire franchise!  

Bold and the Beautiful early weekly spoilers for May 18th – 22nd deliver Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) getting blasted by two different women in his life when things go badly and he is stuck between them. Plus, Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) is ranting about Forrester drama affecting his Spencer family and Logan.

And as we always do on early edition day, we’re going to start with what is happening the rest of this week and then we get into what is going on next week. So, let’s dive right in.

Wednesday, May 13th on Bold and the Beautiful

On Wednesday, May 13th. We are going to pick right back up from Tuesday with Ridge Forrester standing there like an idiot and he can’t even work up the nerve to ask Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) to step aside as Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) demanded that he do. Thanks to his silence and the weird look on his face, Steffy’s going to figure out what Ridge wants. And Steffy is going to know immediately Brooke asked for this.

Obviously, this idea didn’t just pop into Ridge’s head on his own. Steffy understandably tells Ridge that yes, Brooke has earned her place at Forrester Creations. However, Steffy’s going to make it clear Brooke is not going to get her job. And Steffy tells Ridge, “Tell me you understand this.”

Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: Ridge Has Dobuts

After Steffy’s salty reaction to Brooke’s demand, delivered very limply by Ridge, he starts having doubts. I am certain that Steffy knows this is more about Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) than it is about Brooke. And she may tell Ridge that Brooke is pushing to take her job. Because Hope for the Future was shelved. I would expect Steffy to tell her dad he is being manipulated by Logans.

Ridge should have doubts about what Brooke asked for. Not only because she asked for it out of the blue, but the way she did it, especially because she brought up Bill giving Steffy the shares and said they were for sex. Just as a quick fact check, it wasn’t for sex. It was a wedding gift back when Bill was trying really hard to marry Steffy. That was when Steffy was upset about the whole I think it was the Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton) and Sally thing and she left and went to stay in the Forrester guest house. Bill was there.

The sex happened one time and it was months and months before he gave Steffy the shares after Bill was trying to trick Liam into thinking they were together and he wanted to marry her. All this and that also, you know, was fresh off Brooke sexing Ridge to get that job. So that was her approach, calling out Steffy for her sexuality and then Brooke using her sexuality to try to get a job. So ironic at the minimum.

Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: Steffy Stays

I suspect Steffy is going to give Ridge some food for thought about Brooke’s real motives. But Ridge may also clap back at Steffy that if she had handled Hope with more sensitivity, then it might not have gotten to the point where Brooke pushed and made this power play. Meanwhile, back at the Logan estate, Hope and Brooke are confident it is a done deal and that she will be co-CEO and Hope will get her line back.

Bottom line, Ridge does not have the power to oust Steffy, and he’s going to have to shuffle back home and tell Brooke that Steffy said no. And you know, she’s not going to take it well. I do wonder if Hope will still be lurking around the house scheming with Brooke when Ridge gets home. I mean, if we’re being honest, Brooke, Steffy, and Hope are all acting badly, and Ridge is too much of a wuss to take a stand in any direction on Bold and the Beautiful.

Thursday, May 14th

Thursday, May 14th, at Forrester Creations, Miss Ivy Forrester‘s offer of a new position is formalized and she accepts the job. She is lucky to have landed a gig as Daphne Rose‘s (Murielle Hilaire) assistant on the fragrance line. Hopefully Ivy’s going to get a raise, too. Because she’s out on her own and paying all those bills.

And I suspect she tells Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace) this exciting news. Because this week we’ve got Remy Pryce (Christian Weissmann) peeking through the door into the design office and he looks stunned as he sees Ivy and Electra happily hugging. So I feel like Ivy tells her about the new job and Electra is really happy for her.

And this bonding moment could trigger more threats from Remy because now that he sees Ivy and Electra are back as besties, Remy knows he can threaten to tell Electra their cousins, knowing that’ll ruin their friendship once and for all. So, I think Remy’s going to push her to go work on Dee ASAP.

Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: Brooke’s Power Grab

Brooke’s power grab at Forrester Creations has Bill and Katie Logan (Heather Tom) quite concerned. And I’m sure that Liam is gonna tell them what Hope told him that Brooke is making a move to be co-CEO and Hope is sure that she will get it and restore Hope for the Future. Despite warnings from Donna, it is clear that Katie’s pretty hyped up to bring Hope over to Logan.

And as she pointed out to Donna, she didn’t lure Eric Forrester (John McCook) and she’s not luring Hope. Technically, Liam’s doing it. I expect Bill does some ranting, but he may also remind Liam and Katie that thanks to the shares he gave Steffy, he knows that Ridge doesn’t have the power to kick her out of her job.

Friday, May 15th

Friday, May 15th, Zende Forrester‘s (Delon de Metz) frustrations boil over. He vents to Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) that he designed an entire collection for Hope for the Future that will never see the light of day. I’m curious to see what Carter says and if he’s heard about Brooke’s power play for Steffy’s job or not at that point because remember Brooke demanded that Ridge not check in with Carter at all.

Also, Brooke has faith that Ridge will make the right decision and Brooke thinks what’s right is that he sides with her against his daughter Steffy. I do expect more of Ridge just shrugging and staring because he doesn’t want to deal with any of this. Bottom line though, he doesn’t own enough of Forrester Creations to force this change that Brooke wants.

Week of May 18th-22nd

Then we go into the week of May 18th through the 22nd. And by the way, May Sweeps ends on Wednesday, May 20th. So I expect big action as the week kicks off and it’ll probably taper out as the week goes on. Brooke’s not going to stop until she gets what she wants. And if she even considers backing down, you know, Hope is going to turn up and pressure her mom. I wouldn’t be surprised if Brooke goes over to see Eric to ask him to help get rid of Steffy and give her the job. I do wonder if Donna is going to give Brooke the same warning she gave Katie. Don’t tear the family apart over business.

Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: Ivy’s Stuck

I expect Steffy to read Hope the riot act and for Steffy to tell Hope she knows she is the one pushing Brooke to try and steal her job. Because she’s salty about her line being shelved. Donna is a bundle of nerves because she knows things are going to get ugly when Brooke finds out Katie is hoping that Hope would come over to work at Logan. Plus, Katie and Bill are no doubt team Steffy in this. Because it’s better for them if Hope’s line at Forrester Creations stays on the shelf and then Liam convinces her to join them over at Logan.

Plus, we’re going to see that Ivy has absolutely no choice. She is going to have to go over and see Dee and talk to him about Remy. Now, I do think that he’s going to keep threatening his cousin Ivy unless and until Dee takes him back, which is insane because it’s Remy’s bad behavior that caused the split. But that just tells you despite what he says, Remy hasn’t changed. Plus, Zende’s close to snapping and continues to be on edge and frustrated.

In the world of science fiction cinema, the stories that are brought to life on screen tend to be far-reaching extensions of our current reality. Maybe they take us to galaxies far away or introduce us to a not-too-distant future through technological evolution. No matter the story in front of you, they provide an escape from the here and now. But what happens when the story you’re watching takes things to the next level and disturbs or provokes you? That’s when we enter a new realm of sci-fi.

For every kind of extraterrestrial that Steven Spielberg introduced, there’s an equally terrifying alien straight from the world of Ridley Scott. A trip to space may sound like a dream, but what if you’re literally lost in space with no way home? The ten films on this list are incredibly intense; they elicit different emotions that you may not experience with other sci-fi films. From a terrifying monster destroying the Big Apple to a trip that gets a little too close to the sun, the anxiety felt while watching these movies is palpable. Take a deep breath as we relive ten intense sci-fi thrillers.

10

‘The Martian’ (2015)

Image via 20th Century Studios

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We’re going to begin our journey with a film that has a hopeful finale, but a stressful journey to get there: The Martian. Directed by Ridley Scott, The Martian is based on Andy Weir‘s novel and tells the story of astronaut Dr. Mark Watney (Matt Damon), who is presumed dead and accidentally left behind on Mars following a sand storm. Using ingenuity and scientific knowledge, Watney survives the harsh environments, cultivates food, and manages a way to signal to Earth that he is alive while the crew on Earth fights to bring him home.

Though The Martian may not be as bleak as other lost-in-space films, the fight for survival and the anxiety to save him are enough to make your heart race. Damon plays Watney as a brave man who uses all the tools at his disposal to improve his dire situation. Through scientific problem-solving, Watney is an inspiration, rarely letting the situation tear him down. Perhaps the more anxiety-inducing experiences come from those who made the tough decision to evacuate, living with the consequences. The Martian is a story about extreme isolation; you may leave the film content until you realize you’re most certainly not Dr. Mark Watney.

9

‘Ex Machina’ (2015)

Image via A24

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The closer we move toward artificial intelligence robots becoming a practical reality, the more intense the premise of Ex Machina truly becomes. In writer-director Alex Garland‘s 2014 thriller, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac), the CEO of BlueBook, invites his programmer, Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), to administer the Turing test to an intelligent female humanoid robot named Ava (Alicia Vikander). During the evaluation, Caleb develops feelings for Ava and becomes suspicious of Nathan’s true intentions.

This sleek and visually impressive film is a highly intellectual psychological thriller that opens up a conversation about the terrors of robots and technology, and how dangerous they could be in the wrong hands. Storytelling-wise, it’s as intense as they come, with Garland remarkably crafting a claustrophobic atmosphere with a menacing “god-complex” villain and a sentient robot. The psychological manipulation and the ethical and philosophical dread are nearly unbearable. If you fear AI, best sit this one out, or use it as a cautionary tale to fight against the potential before we’re all completely manipulated.

8

‘The Thing’ (1982)

Image via Universal Pictures

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If there’s one thing John Carpenter is extraordinary at, it’s creating an intense, haunting atmosphere, and The Thing is the perfect example. The film follows a research team in Antarctica hunted by a shape-shifting alien that perfectly imitates its victims. As paranoia erupts after a sled dog brings the creature into the American base, helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell) must lead a battle for survival where at any moment, any of the crew could be the monster.

The Thing taps into the deepest-rooted fears of paranoia and the unknown. Watching the creature transform and merge into its victims is an intense visual experience; add in the setting of a frozen hellscape where there’s literally nowhere to hide, and you’ve set yourself up for a majorly intense situation. The combination of psychological and visceral body horror makes The Thing a standout. Though there have been quite a few advancements in cinema since 1982, at the time, the sheer terror that it exuded through its effects was enough to induce nightmares.

7

‘Cloverfield’ (2008)

Image via Paramount Pictures

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In Cloverfield, the terror is ever-present, making the found footage experience richly evocative. The found-footage monster mash, directed by Matt Reeves, follows a group of friends as they attempt to navigate a catastrophic attack on New York City by a massive, menacing creature. Told through the hand-held camcorder with an ensemble cast comprising Michael Stahl-David, Odette Yustman, T.J. Miller, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, Mike Vogel, and Ben Feldman, Cloverfield follows their desperate mission to rescue friends while the military fights the monster, resulting in widespread destruction and mortality.

Perhaps the number one question we have is, why the hell are these people filming! Run! But that’s where the fun comes in. It’s an intense situation experienced by individuals who have no semblance of what to do. We may question their actions, but truly, what would you do if your city were overrun by a massive monster deadset on killing? A highly disorienting film, the handheld camerawork pushes the threat of the unknown until destruction is visible, but our inability to see exactly what the characters are seeing makes it all the more stressful. Though 10 Cloverfield Lane is the far superior film, it would not have been had we not had the original first.

6

‘Gravity’ (2013)

Image via Warner Bros.

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Many space films tackle the battle between humans and aliens, but what about the fight for survival against space itself? That is at the core of Alfonso Cuarón‘s gripping thriller, Gravity. The story follows Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), an engineer whose first shuttle mission is destroyed by debris, leaving her and fellow astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) stranded. In a terrifying, nonstop fight against the clock, dwindling oxygen, and the vacuum of space, the duo will do whatever it takes to make it home alive.

A tightly executed 90-minute thrill ride, Gravity is a visceral and emotionally profound film about human resilience and rebirth.Cuarón uses space as an intense metaphor to capture the emotional turmoil stemming from the main character’s personal loss, while the existential threat of her demise looms. Cuarón offers a technically brilliant piece, capitalizing on immersive, uninterrupted shots and a realist portrayal of space in motion. That said, this film is far from scientifically accurate. Nevertheless, Gravity is a stressful, high-stakes survival story that pinpoints the immediate dangers posed by elements you may never have imagined.

5

‘A Quiet Place’ (2018)

Image via Paramount Pictures

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At first, you might have been shocked to learn that one of Hollywood’s favorite couples, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, were bringing a full-force sci-fi horror collaboration to the screen, but after watching A Quiet Place, it all made sense. Directed by Krasinski from a screenplay he co-wrote with Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the story tells of a post-apocalyptic horror world where the Abbott family—father Lee (Krasinski), mother Evelyn (Blunt), deaf daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds), and sons Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Beau (Cade Woodward)—tries to survive in silence while hiding from blind extraterrestrial creatures with hypersensitive hearing.

A Quiet Place focuses on themes of family protection and grief in a high-stakes, tense environment where one mistake could cost them all their lives. It proves the power of storytelling without dialogue, and that, in and of itself, is extraordinarily stressful. Viewers are forced to experience absolute silence, creating immense, sustained, and anxiety-inducing suspense. You may not hear fear, but you certainly can sense it! The fascinatingly intense part of watching A Quiet Place is the dread and the sense that you, too, feel compelled to be quiet as you watch. It’s an added layer that very few movies have!

4

‘Sunshine’ (2007)

Image via Searchlight Pictures

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Set in 2057 as a global freeze threatens human extinction, Sunshine tells the story of the crew of the Icarus II, who must detonate a “stellar bomb” inside the sun to restart it. Upon intercepting a signal from the Icarus I, the first ship that vanished seven years prior, a series of sabotage and accidents jeopardizes their mission, leading to intense psychological strain, unexpected deaths, and a final, successful sacrifice to save humanity.

A catastrophic nightmare of a film, Sunshine shifts from an intellectual, philosophical science-fiction story to a psychological horror thriller in which no crew member is safe. Whether it be the threats of a rogue human monster or the cosmic threat of the sun, the film is filled with nonstop, overwhelming anxiety. When the film takes the drastic turn into a cosmic slasher film in the third act, the build-up of suicide, murder, and intense physical injuries confined in claustrophobic ship interiors pushes the action to a stressful staccato of endless anxiety.

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‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ (1978)

Image via United Artists

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The original film adaptation of Jack Finney’s novel mastered paranoia, but the second iteration built on its themes and ideas to create a truly intense viewing experience. Directed by Philip Kaufman, the 1978 adaptation of Invasion of the Body Snatchers tells the story of a silent alien invasion in San Francisco, where extraterrestrial spores create emotionless human clones. These “pod people” replace sleeping humans, forcing health inspector Matthew Bennell (Donald Sutherland) and his colleagues to escape the city.

A story where paranoia creates an instant sense of mistrust, Invasion of the Body Snatchers taps into the themes of loss of individuality, conformity, and the anxieties of urban life. Though we tend to view San Francisco as a desirable setting for a story, here it’s transformed into a cold, urban landscape that makes it feel hopeless, matching the dread created by the emotionless, replicating aliens. What makes this version of the story more intense is that the invasion has already engulfed the area, so the characters’ struggles feel futile and helpless, turning the film into an intensely claustrophobic experience. Through tightly framed shots, fish-eye lenses, and low-light, film-noir-inspired settings, the erosion of trust comes more swiftly.

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‘The Invisible Man’ (2020)

Image via Universal Pictures

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Inspired by H.G. Wells’s The Invisible Man, Leigh Whannell propels the story forward with modern technology and themes to craft the perfect adaptation. The film follows Cecilia “Cee” Kass (Elisabeth Moss), who escapes an abusive relationship with Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), a wealthy tech entrepreneur, only to suspect he has faked his death and is using an advanced invisibility suit to terrorize her.

Drawing on extraordinary technological developments and themes of gaslighting, abuse, and control in modern relationships, The Invisible Man taps into our practical fears through an unsettling sense of suspense. Whannell recontextualizes the classic take through a sci-fi lens to hone in on the impact of the metaphor of domestic abuse. Literally having the antagonist torment his victim as an unseen entity couldn’t be a closer replication of modern manipulation. Perhaps the anxiety we feel watching Celia’s experience this unfathomable rollercoaster is due to Moss’ career-defining performance. She was going through it for six seasons on The Handmaid’s Tale, but here, it was full throttle in a fast-paced race to prove sanity.

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‘Alien’ (1979)

Image via 20th Century Studios

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Thanks to Ridley Scott, we learned that in space, no one can hear you scream. One of the most defining mashups of horror and science fiction is the sensational Alien. The terrifying space thriller follows a commercial starship crew as they investigate a derelict vessel and are hunted by a deadly extraterrestrial creature. Alien is, at its core, a survival story from a newfound slasher in the form of the titular creature. Between the debut of the Xenomorph and literal extraterrestrial popping out of a man’s chest, Alien proved that space can truly be a terrifying place.

The sheer terror of being stalked by a highly aggressive creature of whom you know nothing about provides a tense experience. Scott turns the ship into its own haunted house, where salvation is far and few between. Through a slow, creeping buildup, the tension is surmountable, and by keeping the threat mostly unseen, the fear is palpable. Much of the film’s and franchise’s intensity comes from the creation of the alien by H.R. Giger. The xenomorph is a living, breathing terror, hands down the most terrifying alien creation in cinema. There is no sci-fi thriller more intense than Alien.

,Days of Our Lives early spoilers for May 18th – the 22nd stun with Amy Choi (Shi Ne Nielson) attacking Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) in a rage over her daughter’s suicide. Plus, there’s a new hunk coming to Salem who shows up because of a tragedy.

And as always, on early edition day, we’re going to start with what is happening the rest of this week and then we’ll get into what goes on next week. Let’s get right to it.

Wednesday, May 13th

Wednesday, May 13th. We’ve got Gwen irritated when EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) pulls a fast one on her. I would not be surprised at all if he is trying to cheat Gwen out of her return on her investment into the Versix and Rolf’s lab. EJ may be annoyed at all the problems that Gwen’s hijinks have caused him, plus the whole Xander Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) laying half naked around his house thing.

On Monday, if you recall, Abe Carver (James Reynolds) was at Lexie Carver‘s bedside at Salem University Hospital and Paulina Price (Jackée Harry) eavesdropped and heard them professing their love for each other when Lexie woke up. So then on Wednesday, we’re going to circle back around to that and Marlena is there to offer support and comfort to Paulina who is reeling.

The thing is that I love you is bad enough. But once Abe finds out Paulina has known for quite a while that Lexie was alive and recovering in the person pod in the lab, that might be enough for Abe to rationalize walking away from Paulina and reuniting with his soulmate, Lexie.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Steve Visits Alex

Also, on Wednesday, we’re going to see Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) getting a visit from Steve. So, I think we’re going to see Stephanie Johnson‘s (Abigail Klein) dad worried about the impact of Alex’s surprise baby on his and Stephanie’s marriage. Steve obviously wants to protect Stephanie. But Alex hasn’t done anything wrong, and that’s the bottom line.

Thursday, May 14th

Thursday, May 14th, we’ve got Chanel Dupree DiMera (Raven Bowens) and Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) both needing comfort and leaning on each other. Her biopsy for the breast lump is supposed to happen soon, and obviously we’re expecting bad news. Plus, they are reeling over what Sophia Choi (Madelyn Kientz) did to Johnny, nearly killing him, and then her alleged suicide. Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) keeps bugging Arianna Horton (Vico Escorcia) going out with Liam. And that’s hot on the heels of Ari getting a steamy first kiss from Liam at the bookstore.

Gabi already weighed in on this. But Liam was stunned when Ari said her mom, Gabi’s a felon, which is true. And in fact, Ari’s mom has been in Statesville prison three times: once for shooting Nick Fallon, which she did do, and then for killing Li Shin, and then for killing Andre DiMera. But Gabi didn’t do either of those two crimes. However the Nick one she did, even though it was in self-defense. But she got out of prison early, even though she had been sentenced to like between 10 and 20 years. I can’t remember.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Shawn Brady Makes a Shift

Shawn Brady (Brandon Beemer) is out of the hospital and he moves in with Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu). And we are seeing sparks flying from the start. I wonder if Belle is going to be bothered when caretaking turns to love making, unless of course she is really over Shawn. Big Days of Our Lives casting news for Thursday says we are going to meet Jason Choi (Steven O Young) who is the husband of Amy Choi. He’s played by Steven O. Young. He’s a really handsome guy.

He was in the newest Mission Impossible movie, by the way. Obviously, Amy’s husband is in town. Because his daughter Sophia died. And I wonder if we’re going to find out if he is as uber religious and strict as Amy is and whether he and Sophia had a good relationship.

Speaking of the Choi family, Amy is over at the Kiriakis mansion mixing it up with Holly and Tate Black (Leo Howard). And remember, Holly was just a jerk to Tate. Because of his decision to drop out of college and get a job instead. And she’s clearly judging him. So Amy lays into Holly. It’s a vicious verbal attack about Sophia’s death and her cyberbullying her daughter. And Amy’s lashing out, saying she doesn’t believe a word out of her mouth and basically calls Holly a liar.

Friday, May 15th

We’re going to wrap up this week on Friday, May 15th, with Rafe listening patiently as Javi vents. I think he’s mad about Leo trying to stay in his life when Javi just wants to forget the Dimitri mess, the heartbreak, their messed up wedding and all of it. Gwen won’t budge with Xander, and I wonder if Gwen is going to come at Xander hot. Because she’s so upset at the shady move EJ made earlier in the week. Also this week, Xander is lured up to Kristen DiMera‘s (Stacy Haiduk) room at the Salem Inn, and Xander wants to know why she’s so eager and desperate to get him alone.

Kristen wants Xander to kill a guy, and I’m guessing it’s EJ. May spoilers point to Kristen and Xander hitting the sheets, which would be wild. And Kristen may try and sexually manipulate Xander into doing murder. But honestly, I don’t see him taking a life for Kristen and risking his future. So we’ll see how that goes. Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd) and Kristen at the end of the week are discussing heavy life and death matters.

They may be discussing their sister Lexie’s resurrection and Chad’s disappointment that EJ said it’s not an option for Abby, which is what Chad was really hoping to hear. EJ is a little obsessed and wants to know more about his forgotten past with Cat. So, it looks like EJ is going to circle back to Marlena and go under hypnosis again. And I wonder what EJ will remember.

Week of May 18th-22nd

The week of May 18th through the 22nd, we’re going to have big action as Wednesday, May 20th, is the last day of May sweeps. Stephanie is girding her loins to get some closure on her kidnapping. Meanwhile, Joy Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins) and Kelsey keep bonding with Alex. And Stephanie is feeling frustrated with all of this. But what can she do? I think she’s going to do something with her gun.

I wouldn’t be surprised if she shot Owen if she got the chance. Thanks to Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier), we’re going to see Gabi present the Vivian handwriting samples, probably to Rafe and the FBI for analysis. And this could prove that Vivian signed the divorce docs, and that could clear the path for her to get some DiMera dollars.

Days of our Lives Spoilers: Xander and Kristen Get Close

Xander and Kristen are getting way too close for little Victoria’s sake. I hope he doesn’t do what she asks. Plus, Chanel is going to find out her diagnosis and prognosis and whether there is any treatment possible since she’s pregnant. Plus, Eli should be in Salem soon.

And Belle talks to Paulina about recusing herself from DA duties if Amy and Jason Choi do press charges against Holly. I do wonder if Justin is going to take Holly’s case if it gets that far. And between Tate bailing on Salem University plus Sophia’s death and the accusations and the stress about her grades, I’m wondering if Holly may call her outside the lines again and start drinking or taking pills.

Abe should find out soon that both Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson) and Paulina knew about Lexie being alive way before he did and Paulina way before Theo did. So, I also am wondering how long until Lexie can go home and whether Abe will move out on Paulina so that he can take care of Lexie.

That’s probably what’s going to happen. I’m sure that EJ would love to have Lexie at the DiMera mansion. But Abe would hate that. Lexie might not like it either. Jada and Shawn are sizzling hot. And Marlena wonders about the chess box that was left for John, and we’ll have to see if somebody else decides to open it and poke around.