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By definition, the undead will never stay dead. Cursed to be eternally exhumed by authors and filmmakers, the vampire tempts bloodthirsty audiences ready to slurp up Gothic fiction of unspeakable desire. It’s been over 100 years since F. W. Murnau’s Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, an unofficial Dracula adaptation, hit theaters. And we’re still insatiable for the 19th-century tale. That includes director Robert Eggers, whose take on the fabled fanged villain is fueled with his signature penchant for darkness, the occult, and painstaking period accuracy.

In the press notes from Focus Features, Eggers has called Nosferatu his "most personal film…embedded with many of my own memories and personal experiences amplified and transposed to 1830s Baltic Germany." A full-throttle Eggers project, the writer-director reunites his key collaborators from The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman; director of photography Jarin Blaschke, editor Louise Ford, production designer Craig Lathrop, costume designer Linda Muir, and acclaimed actor Willem Dafoe. In doing so, Eggers infuses Nosferatu with the unsettling chiaroscuro of these films, while sticking close to the literature — though Eggers doesn’t have Count Orlok carry his own coffin through town like a surfboard as Murnau does.

SEE ALSO: Willem Dafoe and Robert Eggers reveal their inspirations for 'Nosferatu'. It goes deeper than you may think.

However, remakes come with their fair share of baggage and expectations. So how does this distinctive director approach such a task? With extreme reverence for the source material, meticulous production design, and an unrelenting parade of close-up shots of Lily-Rose Depp in moments of ecstasy and agony. Whether that floats your Empusa is up to you.

Standing on the shadowed shoulders of Nosferatu. Count Orlok stamps a contract in "Nosferatu." Credit: Focus Features

Since Max Schreck's dreaded Count Orlok slunk upstairs and into our nightmares in Murnau's German Expressionist 1922 horror jewel, filmmakers have yearned to drive their own stake through the heart of Nosferatu. There have been decades of movies, books, and TV shows based on Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror masterpiece and the folklore around vampires. Eggers wrote the screenplay inspired by Stoker’s novel and Henrik Galeen’s screenplay for Murnau’s film.

Which is to say, you probably recognize the story of Eggers' Nosferatu: the mysterious Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård) wants to buy a house in the fictional German port town of Wisborg, so newly hired agent Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) is sent by his boss Knock (Simon McBurney) to close the deal. But to do so, Hutter must travel with the contracts to the count’s far-flung castle in remote Transylvania. Behind the towering, stone walls, Orlok hides bloodcurdling secrets and a sinister motive, and Hutter is drawn into the darkness.

Meanwhile, back in Germany, Hutter’s beloved Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) is lost in a sea of melancholy and Count Orlok's subliminal messaging. To keep from drowning, Ellen stays with friends Friedrich and Anna Harding (Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Emma Corrin), whose marriage of Victorian Christmas card perfection practically begs to be undone by supernatural forces. Then, as a plague ship crashes ashore, a strange epidemic begins taking hold of the town.

Beset by hauntings, visions, and apparent possessions, Ellen's plight is regarded as "hysteria" (classic) by Dr. Wilhelm Sievers (Ralph Ineson). But the more open-minded Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz (Willem Dafoe) suggests a vampiric possibility at the core of Ellen's symptoms. Fascinatingly, Eggers moves Ellen even more into the foreground of the story, emphasizing her connection to the paranormal presence.

Certain famous elements from Murnau's Nosferatu are given meticulous reverence: the sarcophagus, the ship, the predatory shadow on the wall, and any scene involving Ellen wandering trance-like toward a window with arms outstretched. All of these are clearly echoed, but Eggers finds his own from-scratch style in other moments. Notably, Skarsgård was literally covered in maggots to restage a famous crypt scene, and that’ll likely terrify those who are coming to the narrative for the first time. For longtime fans, there’s less of an impact, and it's here expectations around Eggers' unique brand of strange, original creativity might feel a little restrained amid the service paid to the original.

Nosferatu’s opening scene is the best of the entire film. Lily-Rose Depp is seduced by evil in "Nosferatu." Credit: Focus Features

The element of Murnau's film that is the most recognisable is cinematographer Fritz Arno Wagner’s use of Orlok’s lurking shadow to instil fear without expensive special effects. Eggers, cinematographer Blaschke, and editor Ford wield this technique several times throughout the film, with none more effective than the opening scene. 

Nosferatu's opening scene finds the perfect balance between homage and Eggers' contemporary style. It's an elegant, seductive, terrifying nod to Murnau's final scene: Orlok approaching Ellen’s room as an elongated, terrible shadow. Though Eggers restages that in his own way later on in the film, the opening exceeds it in every aspect (even without body horror). An ominous profile marked on billowing curtains, a trance-like state for our heroine, Robin Carolan’s haunting, booming, mesmerising score, and a merciless jumpscare all make for a deeply satisfying stage-setter. In this scene, and the film as a whole, the desaturation of the colors blends realism with nightmare, blurring the line between dream and consciousness. Blaschke uses candlelight and a high-speed lens to create the film’s moonlit aesthetic that Stoker might call an "extraordinary pallor." Light and shadow function as stylised weaponry, keeping us suspended in dread during key moments — and it's deeply satisfying.

Nosferatu’s production design is so detailed it’s basically a functioning city. "Nosferatu" has an epic set design. Credit: Focus Features

In re-imagining Murnau's Nosferatu, Eggers, who has famously explored occult horror in his films, takes on what's essentially the first-ever horror film after The Cabinet of Dr Caligari. Part of the pleasure of Eggers movies is relishing in the incredible attention to detail he brings to his period pieces, whether building 17th-century New England farmhouses in The Witch or having his armourers study the Anglo-Saxon Sutton Hoo artifacts for The Northman. Nosferatu feels like a combination of these two sides to the director, with Eggers using his obsession with detail to recreate the aesthetic of Murnau's original film with his team.

Channelling Albun Grau’s production design from the original Nosferatu, production designer Lathrop crafts a detailed architectural world for the film, designing no less than 60 sets. For the fictional town of Wisborg, Murnau's Nosferatu was filmed in Wismar in northern Germany on the Baltic Coast. Though Eggers’ team shot in Czechia, Romania, and Germany, what you’re mainly seeing onscreen is Lathrop’s sets. Eggers got the accuracy so down that he recruited Romanian screenwriter Florin Lăzărescu to translate dialogue into the dead language of Dacian. 

It’s this dedication to the particulars of a period that truly makes Eggers' films distinctive. However, in Nosferatu I worried this attention to detail was being upstaged by scene after scene of characters promising “He is coming!” again and again, and panting heavily into the camera. The captivating specificity of nineteenth-century life is overshadowed by Ellen's lamentation with copious amounts of close-ups on Depp's mournful or lusty expressions. Perhaps when I can pause each frame at home I’ll be able to frolic through the post-Regency, pre-Victorian gold at my leisure. But for a film that's clearly designed to be seen on the big screen, these details were often lost to the gloom.

Nosferatu finds modern performances for old characters. Willem Dafoe plays Prof. Albin Eberhart Von Franz in "Nosferatu." Credit: Focus Features

Fair warning, everyone in this film breathes with their mouth open, whether you can handle that or not. Clearly intended to create a constantly aroused atmosphere, an always heavy-breathing Depp swoons her way through the foregrounded role of Ellen, a character who’s honestly a tough sell for modern audiences: a woman hypnotised by a powerful ancient man and whose only motivation is to be reunited with her husband.

To his credit, Eggers does bolster Ellen’s sense of self with his script by putting her fears, guilt, shame, and desires at the film's core. But the character still has the same foundation in patriarchal oppression. There are, however, some solid and subtle updates to Ellen’s characterisation here. In Murnau’s film, Ellen lightly mourns a bunch of flowers she’s gifted. In Eggers’ film, she’s actively disgusted by the act of floral murder. Beyond that the effect the Count has on Ellen's body means Depp’s role requires significant physical contortion. Trained by coach Marie-Gabrielle Rotie in Japanese Butoh, Depp’s moments of possession are presented without special effects, and are effectively demonic at times — and indulgently sensational at others.

As the bright-eyed Hutter, Hoult plays it safe for the majority of the film, channeling that requisite naïveté. Stoker’s protagonist, described by the author as "of a very faithful disposition… discreet and silent" is much more representative of oppressed male sexuality than the Hutter of Murnau’s film. Hoult’s version finds a decent balance, relishing in the few moments Hutter gets to convey his fear over what the hell Count Orlok is, as Stoker would put it, a “creature…in the semblance of man.”

For such a creature, Eggers recruits the brother of his Northman's leading man, casting Bill Skarsgård as the formidable Count Orlok. It's probably one of the most intimidating, coveted, and often botched roles in horror, with Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, Gary Oldman, and Nosferatu star Dafoe in Shadow of the Vampire setting the bar for vamps on screen since Schreck. Skarsgård’s Orlok is far from the suave vampire king of pop culture or even Stoker’s overtly hospitable and courteous Dracula. He’s a wheezing, rasping, ancient husk, beset with rot inside and out. Instead of the usual emphasis on the count’s pale demeanour, blood red lips, and "fine hands," Skarsgard's Orlok is a monstrous mound with a bloody moustache. 

Meanwhile, McBurney brings satisfyingly repulsive rock ‘n’ roll elements to Knock, Hutter’s boss and devotee of Count Orlok, by biting the heads off pigeons and staggering the character’s descent into madness with a quaking physicality. As for Corrin, who stole Deadpool and Wolverine as brain-clutching villain Cassandra Nova, they deserve much more screen time as Anna, whose motivation is mostly restricted to being concerned about Ellen. As Anna's partner Friedrich, Johnson gets a solid emotional arc, twirling his moustache and deeming everything in sight "capital" before the dark creeps in. But it’s Eggers regular Dafoe who thankfully leans into the creeping chaos of Nosferatu, as Von Franz, pulling the characters out of their dark pits again and again.

Eggers amplifies Nosferatu's psychosexual elements but could have pushed it further. Lily-Rose Depp is seduced by evil in "Nosferatu." Credit: Focus Features

“I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt; I fear; I think strange things which I dare not confess to my own soul.”

Stoker's Dracula, quoted here, famously explores the fear of the other, capturing the paranoia around Victorian "respectability" and the xenophobic, imperial ideals of Western national identity being "threatened" by the unknown East. In the book, Dracula yearns to assimilate into English culture — to destroy it from the inside. Like Murnau, however, Eggers' film spends little time on this, instead leaning on the anxieties around illness and disease quite literally plaguing Germany. (Like in Murnau's film, there are a lot of rats in this reinterpretation.)

However, the real heart of Stoker's book is the examination of sexual fears, suppressed desires amid piety, and homoeroticism and bisexuality — something Murnau barely touched. Eggers seizes on this element of sexual taboo, especially in scenes of Orlok's feasting upon our protagonists — thrusting, sucking, slurping, rotting. We've seen our fair share of blood in vampire films, and this is a pretty juicy, gory option. Orlok drinks blood from the chest of his victims rather than the traditional neck, a simultaneously intimate and animalistic action. 

However, from a director who dropped a bout of mermaid sex into The Lighthouse, Nosferatu seems relatively tame when it comes to unbridled sexuality. Perhaps I'm jaded and desensitised to decades of vampire fiction — from Bram Stoker's Dracula to The Hunger to True Blood and Interview With The Vampire — that has crystallised the genre's love of unspeakable desire. But as visceral as Nosferatu is — flecked with nudity, open-mouthed moaning, and desperate clinging — I found it lacking in believable lust. There is little seduction beyond mind control in the film, this wheezing husk of a predator not attempting a glamour to lure his prey. Sure, there’s a monstrous sex scene at the climax, but the film doesn’t really dig into simultaneous fears and desires around sex (particularly for men) as Stoker famously does. Stoker’s Jonathan waits to be bitten in "langorous ecstacy," both fearing the bite and yearning for it; Hoult’s Thomas just looks petrified.

For me, as both a fan of Eggers as a filmmaker and Murnau's original Nosferatu, I loved the minute detail and Gothic aesthetic of this film. This is as literary history-accurate and painstakingly researched a Nosferatu remake we’re ever likely to see, and from a director who deeply worships the source material. However, I lamented the unexpectedness of Eggers’ own uniquely haunting creativity, which felt restrained amid the respect paid to the original film and book. Yearning for the director’s penchant for strange and terrible original creations, I missed the wondrously unexpected horror of The Witch and The Lighthouse. Despite creative approaches to the lore, Nosferatu left my thirst for the darkness unquenched.

Nosferatu opens in theaters Dec. 25.

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Now available for just $299.99 (regularly $549), this refurbished iPad mini is an affordable offer that lets you enjoy premium Apple features without the hefty price tag.

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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To wheeze.

SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for December 25 Hurdle Word 1 answer

COUGH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To conclude.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 25 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

INFER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To secretly marry.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 25 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 25, 2024 Hurdle Word 3 answer

ELOPE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A striped relative of the giraffe.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 25 Hurdle Word 4 answer

OKAPI

Final Hurdle hint

To defy.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

FLOUT

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

TL;DR: Protect your privacy with a 5-year AdGuard VPN subscription for £27.90 (reg. £286.77). This VPN deal is only available at the Mashable Shop for a few more days.

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TL;DR: Live stream Australia vs. India for free on 7Plus. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Australia and India continue to do battle in their electric Test series, with everything still on the line. The fourth Test between these two juggernauts is going to be tense, with the eyes of the cricketing world locked on the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

If you want to watch Australia vs. India (4th Test) for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Australia vs. India (4th Test)?

The 4th Test between Australia and India takes place from Dec. 26 to Dec. 30 (in Australia). This Test match takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

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Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 25 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Water competitions

• Green: Most Lombardi trophies

• Blue: City and team name start with the same letter

• Purple: Related to the cold

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Aquatic sports

• Green: NFL teams with most Super Bowl wins

• Blue: Teams with alliterative city/nickname combos

• Purple: Ice _____

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #93 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Aquatic sports - DIVING, ROWING, SURFING, SWIMMING

• NFL teams with most Super Bowl wins - 49ERS, COWBOYS, PATRIOTS, STEELERS

• Teams with alliterative city/nickname combos - BILLS, BRUINS, MARLINS, STORM

• Ice ______ - FISHING, HOCKEY, PACK, SKATING

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 25 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Space objects

• Green: Iconic bow and arrow users

• Blue: Opposite gender animals

• Purple: Late-night sketch comedy icons

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Celestial Objects

• Green: Archers

• Blue: Female Animals

• Purple: SNL Cast Members

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #563 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Celestial Objects: COMET, MOON, PLANET, STAR

• Archers: CUPID, HAWKEYE, ROBIN HOOD, SAGITTARIUS

• Female Animals: JENNY, NANNY, QUEEN, VIXEN

• SNL Cast Members: FEY, RUDOLPH, SHANNON, STRONG

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 25

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for December 25 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 25 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To give something to others.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is no reoccurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SHARE.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 25

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 25 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 25 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: A visit from Santa

These words are stocking stuffers.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are small items gifted by Santa.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Stocking.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for December 25

• Toys

• Plushie

• Orange

• Socks

• Scarf

• Candy

• Coal

• Pens

• Stocking

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

“A lot of compute is needed,” Mr. Musk said in a post about the financing, in which BlackRock, Fidelity and Sequoia participated.

Writer/director Halina Reijn and actor Harris Dickinson discuss the layers of Babygirl, an erotic thriller that subverts genre norms. Reijn delves into the film’s metaphorical death, and how sexuality wraps around deeper narratives. Dickinson shares insights on working with an intimacy coordinator and the importance of clarity in such scenes.

A24 will release the movie in theaters Dec. 25.

Best Buy's top gift card deals at a glance: Best clothing/apparel gift card deal Fanatics $25 gift card $21.25 (save $3.75) Get Deal Best entertainment gift card deal Regal $50 gift card $42.50 (save $7.50) Get Deal Best food/dining gift card deal DoorDash $100 gift card $85 (save $15) Get Deal

Best Buy is throwing eleventh-hour Christmas shoppers an easy Hail Mary.

The tech retailer has a handful of gift cards on sale for 15% off as one of its Bonus Deals of the Day for Dec. 24. Its selection covers services and establishments like DoorDash, Regal, and Dave & Buster's, with card amounts ranging in value from $15 to $100 — i.e., you've got options. (You'll pay $12.75 to $85, respectively.) Here's the list in full, sorted by category:

Food and dining

• DoorDash $100 gift card — $85 $100 (save $15)

• Panera Bread $25 gift card — $21.25 $25 (save $3.75)

• PF Chang's $25 gift card — $21.25 $25 (save $3.75)

• PF Chang's $50 gift card — $42.50 $50 (save $7.50)

• Zaxby’s $15 gift card — $12.75 $15 (save $2.25)

• Zaxby’s $25 gift card — $21.25 $25 (save $3.75)

Entertainment

• Dave & Buster's $25 gift card — $21.25 $25 (save $3.75)

• Dave & Buster's $50 gift card — $42.50 $50 (save $7.50)

• Regal $50 gift card — $42.50 $50 (save $7.50)

Clothing and apparel

• Carter's $25 gift card — $21.25 $25 (save $3.75)

• Carter's $50 gift card — $42.50 $50 (save $7.50)

• Fanatics $25 gift card — $21.25 $25 (save $3.75)

• Fanatics $50 gift card — $42.50 $50 (save $7.50)

• Fanatics $100 gift card — $85 $100 (save $15)

Miscellaneous

• Jiffy Lube $50 gift card — $42.50 $50 (save $7.50)

All of the featured gift cards are available as digital vouchers that can be sent via email for long-distance gifting. The Panera and DoorDash ones were also available as physical gift cards, in case you still need something to wrap as a stocking stuffer or an entry in a white elephant exchange.

SEE ALSO: The very best digital gifts and subscriptions you can send via email

If none of the options pique your interest (and you can afford to wait a little longer), check back tomorrow: Best Buy's main Deal of the Day for Dec. 25 will net you a free Best Buy e-gift card when you buy other gift cards to the Apple Store, Lululemon, and Macy's.

For more last-minute gifting inspiration, check out Mashable's guide to the best digital gifts.

SAVE $10.02: As of Dec. 24, Astro Bot for PlayStation 5 has hit an all-time low price at Amazon. It won Game of the Year at the 2024 Game Awards, so don't miss it while you can get it on sale (just $49.97, or $10.02 off the original price).

Opens in a new window Credit: Team Asobi 'Astro Bot' for PlayStation 5 $49.97 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $10.02 Get Deal

If you're at all interested in gaming, you've probably already heard quite a bit about Astro Bot. It won Game of the Year at the 2024 Game Awards, and for good reason — it's one of the best PlayStation 5 games so far, and up there with some of the greatest platformers of all time (yes, we're talking about that Italian plumber guy).

In other words, Astro Bot is an absolute must-play. Better yet, it's on sale at Amazon for an all-time low price — just $49.97, or $10.02 off. It's not the biggest discount, but the game just came out in September, so we'd say it's a pretty worthwhile deal all things considered.

SEE ALSO: Gaming starter kit: All the gear you need to play like a real gamer

In Astro Bot, you'll guide the titular pint-sized robot of the same name through a collection of endlessly entertaining platforming levels, all with their own unique mechanics, to rescue other bots that are all based on classic PlayStation characters. It's adorable, nostalgic, and the epitome of fun. Whether you play games regularly or not, there's something here for literally anyone to love. So, don't miss out — pick up a copy while it's on sale for its lowest price ever while you still can and join in on the fun.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Dec. 24: OUR TOP PICK Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (128GB, WiFi) $280.09 (save $169.90) Get Deal BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling headphones $74.99 (save $75) Get Deal BEST BEAUTY DEAL Shark FlexStyle $249.99 (save $70) Get Deal BEST TV DEAL Amazon 40-inch 2-Series Fire TV $149.99 (save $100) Get Deal

Looking to treat yourself this holiday? There's plenty of excellent discounts hanging around that are as good as or even better than Black Friday. Snag yourself one of these sweet deals on some of our favorite brands at Amazon on Dec. 24 — we've rounded up the best deals of the day to make shopping a breeze.

Don't see anything that sparks your interest? Check out some of the deals we featured on Friday, Dec. 20 and Monday, Dec. 23 that are still live — like this 4-pack of AirTags or our favorite Sony headphones, both down to their lowest prices ever.

Our top pick: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (128GB, WiFi) $280.09 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $169.90 Get Deal

Ideal for casual tablet users, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a budget-friendly version of the Galaxy Tab S9. It features the same tough IP68 dust- and water-resistant rating as the S9, a slightly smaller battery capacity (8,000 vs. 8,400 mAh), and the same included S Pen. The battery will last you up to 18 hours on one charge and the Samsung Exynos 1380 processor can help you power through plenty of tasks — even some light gaming. The biggest differences between the S9 and S9 FE are the display and CPU, which likely won't make too much of a difference unless you're a hardcore tablet user. As of Dec. 24, the 128GB, WiFi version is on sale for just $280.09 instead of $449.99. That's 38% in savings and its lowest price on record.

Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling headphones Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling headphones $74.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $75.00 Get Deal

A direct replacement for the Sony WH-CH710N headphones, which our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) said "offer solid audio performance and active noise cancellation," the WH-C720N are down to just $74.99 at Amazon as of Dec. 24. That's 50% in savings and the best price we've ever seen them. The new design is inspired by the fancier and more expensive WH-1000XM5s (which we're huge fans of). Compared to their predecessor, they've upgraded the sound and noise-cancellation, boosting sensitivity in the drivers and increasing the dynamic range, while keeping the same impressive 35-hour battery life with ANC. They may not be the fanciest headphones in Sony's lineup, but they're stylish, reliable, and most importantly, affordable.

Shark FlexStyle Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle $249.99 at Amazon
$319.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal

The Shark FlexStyle remains our favorite Dyson Airwrap dupe. In fact, we actually prefer it over Dyson's outrageously expensive hot air multistyler. This deal includes six attachments for all hair types, including the paddle brush, curl-defining diffuser, auto-wrap curlers, concentrator, and oval brush. If you're looking for the best damage-free drying and styling system on the market, the FlexStyle is the way to go — especially while it's on sale for $249.99 instead of $319.99. That's 22% in savings.

Amazon 40-inch 2-Series Fire TV Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 40-inch 2-Series Fire TV $149.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

It's far from the fanciest TV on the market, but Amazon's 2-Series Fire TV is a fine choice if you're looking for a no-frills smart TV. And if you're on a budget, it's even better. The 40-inch model is on sale for just $149.99 as of Dec. 24, which is 40% off its usual cost and matches its lowest price on record. It may not support 4K resolution (check out the 4-Series or Omni Series for that feature), but it does offer all the smart capabilities from the Fire TV experience, hands-free control through on on-board Alexa, and support for HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Audio.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Dec. 24th, Shop Lenovo's Winter Clearance Sale for deals like 22% off the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Intel Ultra 7 155H 16 GB RAM 1 TB SSD.

The best deals of the Lenovo Winter Clearance Sale The best productivity laptop deal Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Intel Ultra 7 155H 16 GB RAM 1 TB SSD $1,229.99 (Save $350) Get Deal The best budget deal Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 4GB RAM 64 GB eMMC Storage Laptop $239.99 ($160) Get Deal The best deal for gaming Yoga Pro 7 AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS 16 GB RAM 1 TB SSD $979.99 (Save $375) Get Deal

It’s laptop buying season. Lenovo’s Winter Clearance Sale is offering discounts that cut up to 65% off list price on laptops. The sale includes some of our favorite Lenovo laptops like the Yoga 9i 2-in-1. 

Whether you’re going for a tricked out productivity machine, a game-ready Yoga Pro with a dedicated graphics card, or you’re want to score a sweet deal on a budget Chromebook, the Lenovo Clearance Sale is packing options.

When a laptop fails it can mean a sudden expenditure that we did not see coming. Sales like Lenovo’s Clearance Sale bring deep discounts that help us get the computer we need for less.

The best productivity laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Intel Ultra 7 155H 16 GB RAM 1 TB SSD $1,229.99 at Lenovo
$1,579.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal

We loved the Yoga 9i 2-in-1. With vivid OLED graphics and a pen, this touch screen laptop looks incredible, whether you're watching a show or editing graphics. Folding over, it fluidly transitions between being a tablet and a powerful productivity laptop. A one terabyte SSD ensures you've got the space for a library of content.

Right now the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Intel Ultra 7 155H 16 GB RAM 1 TB SSD is on sale for $1,229.99 with the code WINTERYOGA. That's a price drop of 22% from its standard price of $1,579.99. It's also $220 less than its current price at Best Buy.

The best budget deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 4GB RAM 64 GB eMMC Storage Laptop $239.99 at Lenovo
$399.99 Save $160.00 Get Deal

If you're after a lightweight, affordable laptop, then this Lenovo deal is not to be missed. With the form factor your expect from an iPad, this laptop bridges the laptop / tablet divide, including a tablet and keyboard which can be disconnected one from the other. The Duet 3 runs Chrome OS with 4 GB of Ram.

Get the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 4GB RAM 64 GB eMMC Storage Laptop for $239.99 and save $160.

The best deal for gaming Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS 16 GB RAM 1 TB SSD $979.99 at Lenovo
$1,354.99 Save $375.00 Get Deal

The Yoga Pro 7 trades out the OLED screen for a dedicated graphics drive and 90Hz screen. If you're looking for a powerful productivity laptop that will also rip up an online gaming session, this is the deal for you. This model features a 1TB SSD hard drive and a touch screen. Whether you're looking for a gaming / productivity crossover or a laptop to make your creative projects come alive, this is a good pick.

The Yoga Pro 7 AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS 16 GB RAM 1 TB SSD is currently 27% off, for a price of $979.99.

It's Christmas Eve, which means Santa Claus has started his annual journey around the world — and you can track his progress.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)'s Santa tracker is now live. It tracks the Jolly One's whereabouts as he crosses the globe delivering presents. NORAD Tracks Santa has been an annual Christmas tradition since 1955, when it first launched as a hotline for children to call and get updates on its status.

The hotline still exists, but you can also visit noradsanta.org and see Santa's progress in real-time.

Tweet may have been deleted SEE ALSO: Surprise them with these last-minute digital gift ideas

The website shows Santa and his reindeer flying over a 3D satellite map of the globe, complete with gifts delivered (over 1.7 billion and counting as of publication), Santa's ETA for the next major destination, and his most recent visit. You can also click into icons on the map and learn about various locations by switching to a 2D map along his route.

Santa started his journey in the North Pole and has made his way down to the South Pacific region, and next looks to be sweeping across Southeast Asia.

He still has a lot of ground to cover, so like every other year, Santa is in for a long night of travel. Make sure to have some sustenance ready in the form of milk and cookies and carrots for his reindeer when he gets close to your part of the world.

STREAM FOR AS LOW AS $1.99/MONTH: Several streaming services are as low as $1.99 per month including MGM+, Starz, and Paramount+ with Showtime as a Prime Video add on.

Best streaming deals Best overall deal Paramount+ with Showtime (Prime Video add on) $1.99/month (save $10.99) Get Deal Best annual streaming deal Starz annual plan $23.99 (save $46) Get Deal Best ad-free streaming deal MGM+ $1.99/month for 2 months (save $5/month) Get Deal

Tis the season for streaming. Even if you're caught up on all the latest shows, you've missed some epic picks from long ago. With winter break in full swing, why not catch up? Since the sun sets by 5 p.m. there's plenty of time to get cozy with some great streaming options.

Coincidentally, this happens to be one of the best times of the year to score a deal on streaming services. We usually see prices dip well below normal on Black Friday, but there are some extra nice deals this holiday season, especially if you're an Amazon Prime member.

If you have plans to stay in this winter season, these are some great streaming options to sign up for while they're at a serious discount.

Best overall streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount Paramount+ with Showtime $1.99 at Amazon
$12.99 Save $11.00 add on to Prime Video Get Deal Why we like it

An Amazon Prime membership automatically comes with access to Prime Video which has thousands of streaming options. Sure, you could tune into the controversial new MrBeast show, or you could make the wise choice to sign up for Paramount+ with Showtime for just $1.99 per month for your first two months.

Paramount+ with Showtime is packed with streaming options —  over 40,000 episodes and movies. Plus, it comes with access to Paramount+ originals like Landman, Lioness, the new Frasier, and Ru Paul Drag Race All Stars.

The Showtime addition means you can spend winter break watching Yellowjackets, Billions, or The Agency. And if you're into reality TV, Paramount+ includes classic CBS shows like Survivor and Big Brother.

Instead of paying the typical $12.99 per month for access to Paramount+ with Showtime, grab this deal and pay only $1.99 per month for your first two months.

Best annual streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Starz annual plan $23.99 at Starz
$69.99 Save $46.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The price of annual streaming subscriptions feels like it has no limit these days. But if you're searching for an affordable option, an annual plan for Starz is on sale for just $23.99, down from the typical price of $69.99. That means you'll be paying just $2 per month, which is an unheard of price these days.

Starz gives you access to Hollywood hits like Jurassic World Dominion and John Wick Chapter 4. You'll also have access to Starz series like the wildly popular Outlander which gives you seven seasons of streaming.

Best ad-free streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: MGM MGM+ $1.99 at MGM
$6.99 Save $5.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Ready to get lost in what feels like every movie ever made? Welcome to MGM+. The streaming platform has endless options of movies you didn't get a change to see recently like Challengers and Blink Twice. But it also has an incredible selection of older movies you might have missed. Think classics like Fargo, The Birdcage, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Series on MGM+ include From, War of the Worlds, and Gangs of London, to name a few.

Instead of paying the typical price of $6.99 per month, you can sign up to get your first two months of MGM+ for just $1.99/month. Overall, you'll be saving a nice $10.

More Prime Video ad-on deals

• Lifetime Movie Club — $1.99/month for two months $4.99/month (save $3/month)

• PBS Documentaries — $1.99/month for two months $4.99/month (save $3/month)

• BBC Select — $1.99/month for two months $5.99/month (save $4/month)

• History Vault — $1.99/month for two months $5.99/month (save $4/month)

• PBS Masterpiece — $1.99/month for two months $5.99/month (save $4/month)

• Acorn TV — $1.99/month for two months $7.99/month (save $6/month)

• The Great Courses Signature Edition — $1.99/month for two months $7.99/month (save $6/month)

• Hallmark+ — $1.99/month for two months $7.99/month (save $6/month)