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Have you every had a day so terrible that it felt like the world was out to get you specifically? If so, you might relish the hilarious indignities inflicting the grumbling protagonist of The Ballad of Wallis Island. Written by and starring Tom Basden and Tim Key, this charming comedy centers on the bond that builds between a (folk) rock star and an eccentric millionaire. But not in any way you might expect, in that neither is living some enviably glitzy high life, and they're both shades of goofy. 

SEE ALSO: The SXSW premieres you need to know about

Their story begins with Herb McGwyer (Basden), of the 2010's folk rock band McGwyer Mortimer, arriving at a remote island, where he's been contracted to play a private concert for an obscene amount of money. But the price tag sets an expectation that the host will not meet. Not only is this island a bit of a fixer-upper with no dock, much less a harbor, but the private concert is for an audience of one, a super-fan desperate to reconnect to the music of his youth. 

Far from a highfalutin snob, the affluent Charles Heath (Tim Key) is a humble man who wears waders to meet his famous guest, then accidentally causes Herb and his baggage to tumble into the tides. It's a rough start, and things will only get rougher for Herb when he learns that his ex-girlfriend/former bandmate Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) will soon be arriving too — along with her new husband, Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen). 

What should have been an easy gig quickly becomes a cavalcade of embarrassments, forcing Herb to revisit the romance that defined his work and his past, and to reassess what he wants of his future. Unexpectedly, this story of rock stars and a millionaire super-fan is deeply relatable, warmly funny, and profoundly sweet. 

The Ballad of Wallis Island features a finely tuned comedy duo. 

Key plays a lovable fool who can't read the room but is quick to offer a bowl of rice pudding, even if that won't save Herb's cellphone from its ocean swim. Basden is his straight man, exuding a self-seriousness that practically demands to be dressed down. This happens quite literally as Herb's fall into the water forces him to abandon his soaked-through cool guy clothes for Charles' hand-me-downs, which include concert merch from McGwyer Mortimer. Imagine running into your ex while wearing a T-shirt with an old photo of the two of you on it, and you'll have some idea of the hell that is Herb's stay on Wallis Island. 

Even dressed similarly, the two are perfect foils. Herb is reedy, arrogantly stiff, and a pessimist, endlessly vexed by each new surprise about Wallis Island, such as the revelation that it has no arena, theater, or bandshell, so he will be playing on a stone beach. By contrast, Charles is portly and endlessly chipper, an optimist seeking to reconnect to the world through the music (and musicians) that have given him such joy, even in the hard times. They don't battle as much as Herb fusses and Charles rushes to soothe, only to cause further frustrations. Basden and Key have the comedy balance of these two finely tuned, not only because they wrote the script but also because this feature film is based on their award-winning short film, "The One And Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island."

The short's director James Griffiths reteams with the pair for The Ballad of Wallis Island, and together they hone a more sophisticated vision of their story, one of love, loss, and moving on. Simple beats of Charles missing the social cue are not just hit but lovingly luxuriated in, creating a sort of cringe comedy where we can laugh at this buffoon and recognize how often we've been just as bumbling. Yet these two connect, because as different as they are, they are lonely and yearn not to be anymore. 

Carey Mulligan is smartly cast in The Ballad of Wallis Island. 

Basden and Key have had years to adjust the balance of their comedic interactions as Herb and Charles. Nell is a new addition, not appearing in the short film. Basden and Key carefully evolved their script, weaving in Nell and Michael, who bring with them a breezy attitude and new complications for Herb. With a radiant smile and a chicly bohemian energy, Mulligan strides into Wallis Island, confidently bringing a less indulgent perspective that only makes Charles and Herb funnier in comparison. 

The three-time Academy Award-nominated actress doesn't outshine her co-stars. Instead, the lightness she brings as Nell neatly knits in pathos. It's easy to see why Herb fell for her, and why he still longs for her. In scenes where they sing together, the audience may well be with Charles in wishing for their reunion, on stage and maybe in love. Yet, Mulligan is careful not to divulge too much as Nell, who seems keenly aware of Herb's feelings and sagely mindful not to toy with them. The dance she does around his mercurial moods suggests a deeply developed intimacy that Nell still honors in some sense. Then, when the two sing together, the movie shifts from silly to sublimely sincere. 

But beyond this central trio, The Ballad of Wallis Island also boasts some shrewd supporting players. As Nell's husband, Ndifornyen is sharp, quick to stand up for his wife and smart to be suspicious of Herb. Yet Basden and Key are sure to give Michael more to do than play romantic rival, giving him quirks that add complexity amid the conflicts. Then, there's Sian Clifford, who might be best recognized as the tightly wound Claire from the brilliant Fleabag. ("I look like a pencil!") Here in Wallis Island, her vibe is more relaxed as she plays Amanda, a friendly but comically oblivious shopkeeper who is mystified by requests for dried rice and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. (She offers a can of peanut butter and a coffee cup, because Amanda is nothing if not obliging.)

Completing the picture of The Ballad of Wallis Island is a terrifically chosen setting. The island itself is cobbled together by a rocky beach, winding footpaths, chipped paint houses, rich greenery, and a precariously placed tennis court. There are some signs of wealth in its remoteness, among other outlying signifiers. Its rough-and-tumble charm is well suited to its resident millionaire, though an understandable frustration to its visiting rock stars. But just as Charles grows on Herb, so too do the virtues of this less-than-cozy island grow on all of us. 

Ultimately, The Ballad of Wallis Island is not only deeply charming and laugh out loud funny for all its social foibles and comedy duo banter, but it's also cathartic. The careful crafting of the relationships herein makes for a story you can't help but get tangled in, perhaps relating to one figure then another. So, by the end, as Basden and Key strike their final chord of this masterfully charted comedy, you feel it reverberate warmly in your heart, carrying you out of the theater with a song still playing there. 

The Ballad of Wallis Island was reviewed out of the 2025 SXSW Film Festival. The movie's theatrical release will follow. 

The term "cult classic" has come to mean nothing in the modern age, when just about anything can be found online. Yet O'Dessa, a rock musical about destiny, defiance, and dictatorship, feels like it could have become a true cult classic — not just a movie that finds a fandom, but the kind of oddball cinema that would be so clung to by a group of movie misfits that it would be passed around on VHS like a treasured relic. And I can't think of anything more you might want from a rock musical but for it to sing out for the freaks and weirdos. 

Written and directed by Geremy Jasper (Patti Cake$), O'Dessa begins on a barren farm, far from anything, where the title hero sings of the fate her father promised her. She is the Seventh Son, whose song on her heirloom six-string guitar is foretold to save the world from a ruthless tyrant, who wallows in wealth and attention while his people starve.

Bringing in shades of such queer gems as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Legend of Billie Jean, O'Dessa forges a genderfuck musical that's riveting, romantic, repulsive, and rocking in turns. 

Sadie Sink shines as the rambler heroine of O'Dessa. 

Described by her "dirt-farmer" mother as a "19 year old with stars in her eyes," O'Dessa's story begins in cliche. Played by Sink, this farm girl dreams of the big city and the culture and chaos it promises. Satylite City promises a chance to get on television and fulfill her fortune as a "rambler," like her dearly departed father. With her heirloom guitar and folk-country songs, she hopes to open hearts and change minds. But between her and greatness, she'll come across deceitful "train rats," uncaring pawn shop dealers, sneering brutes, and a sultry lounge singer in a fringed mask that's very Orville Peck. The last of these veers her path into one of romance, rescue, and revenge.

Flipping the gender expectations of such a story on its head, not only is the "Seventh Son" promised to be the hero of enlightenment a girl, without question, but also the beautiful and tragic singer, whose body and song are on sale for survival, is played by a man. Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Mufasa: The Lion King, Cyrano) co-stars opposite Sink as Euri Dervish, whose dashing facade hides a tender heart eager for true love.

As teased in the trailer, the two fall for each other fast, finding love in a hopeless place, full of shadows and neon lighting. Even as they plan their nuptials, gender expectations are challenged, as she wears a rockabilly tuxedo and he favors a gown with a matching red veil. Stranger Things' Sink is enchanting as the androgynous busker, while Harris is beguiling as her wounded but warm-hearted lover. But the freedom to love as you like is challenged in Satylite City, which is ruled by an iron fist, or more specifically an electrified one. 

Regina Hall creates an epic villainess in O'Dessa. 

Reigning high over all the residents of Satylite City is the ever-beaming dictator Plutonovich (The Last of Us' Murray Bartlett). With outrageous (but empty) promises and a constant TV broadcast of himself, he mesmerizes the masses into complacency, even as the world falls to ruin around them. If anyone dares speak out against his narcissistic tyranny, they'll get knocked down by his enforcer, Neon Dion (Regina Hall), who brandishes brass knuckles that carry the electrical charge of a Taser in their punch.

Hall has long been a chameleon who can gracefully leap from outrageous comedies like Girls Trip to heartfelt dramedies like Support The Girls to the chilling suspense of The Master. In O'Dessa, the rightfully acclaimed actress seems to be channeling Grace Jones in a rockin' '80s New Wave/punk style with an exciting don't-fuck-with-me attitude. Wearing sharp-shouldered leather and bangs so blunt they could smash through concrete, Hall's stare is leveling as she takes in Neon Dion's prey. Her physicality is purposeful, and intimidating. Even a limp informed by her character’s tragic backstory only makes her seem harder. Her villainy should make us hate her, but she's so fashionable and thrilling that we could never hate her.

She is a vision of things both terrible and enticing, bringing with her swagger and fury a wealth of world-building beyond the expensive and vivid production design. And in this, Hall plays a clever foil to Plutonovich, with his large lying smile and the jubilant energy of a supercharged reality TV show host. Together, these two performances create a villainy landscape that is intoxicating enough for viewers to understand why so many in Satylite City have fallen into its allure, but toxic enough to crave its undoing. 

O'Dessa's soundtrack is largely spectacular.

Many characters will sing across this tale, but Sink is the frontman. Her O'Dessa experiences the edgy glow-up of a country girl gone rock 'n' roll. Her songs shift accordingly moving away from folksy country melodies to more provocative guitar playing and subject matter. Harrison oozes with sex appeal and steamy songs catered to nightclub audiences. And with each of these, the world of O'Dessa grows richer more riveting. However, when it comes to the heroine's big moment and the song that will change the world. I was admittedly let down. 

In Rocky Horror, the climactic "I'm Going Home" is a song delivered by a malevolent misfit, and yet it's so gloriously emotional and strange that you can’t help feeling for Frank even as he gets his final comeuppance. O'Dessa is not that daring. It is the heroic O'Dessa who will get the final song, and hers — while earnestly performed — just doesn’t feel like a finale. There's a lack of energy or perhaps panache that left me yearning for something more in line with Pat Benatar's "Invincible," the anthem for The Legend of Billie Jean, another movie where a resilient teen girl was all that stood between corrupt authority and the truth. O'Dessa's style transformation mirrors Billie Jean's, shifting from long girlish locks that men and mothers adore to a defiantly short and edgy wet look with a rocker garb to match. So, I simply expected more from O'Dessa's climactic number. 

Still, along the way Jasper paves O’Dessa’s path with treasures. Most of the music is delicious as it transitions from country to rock to funk and beyond. The vivid color palette paints a world of surreal pollution and blazing beauty. The performances not only from the leads but also the likes of circus-performing bit players and character actor Mark Boone Junior add texture with each flickering moment of magic and menace. Rather than a glossy aesthetic, Jasper knowingly embraces the grubby, with dirt and glitter giving the film a queer punk energy that infuses each moment with spontaneity and potential.

For all these reasons, O’Dessa feels less like a new movie and more like an old lost gem, finally uncovered. It’s an intoxicating pastiche of color and sound, joy and pain. Admittedly, Jasper's choice to keep the impact of the most gruesome violence offscreen, implied over shown, might undercut the underground aesthetic. But overall, O’Dessa is an exhilaratingly strange and sensational rock musical, studded by powerful screen presences and topped off with scads of WTF flare. 

O'Dessa was reviewed out of the 2025 SXSW Film Festival. The Searchlight Pictures release will debut on Hulu on March 20.

Not every movie needs a sequel. 2018's sharply funny thriller A Simple Favor certainly didn't seem poised for one, as its happy ending plopped its duplicitous villainess in prison with a decades-long sentence. But when you created a bad bitch as wickedly fun to watch as Emily Nelson — aka Hope McLanden — wouldn't it be a crime to lock her up for good? You bet your ass, baby. 

Blake Lively returns as the fearsome and fashion-forward femme fatale, opposite Anna Kendrick, reprising the role of true-crime obsessed mommy influencer Stephanie Smothers. And while their chemistry onscreen is as good as it was in the 2018 movie, Another Simple Favor is at its best when it lets Lively cut loose in blooming psycho-biddy fashion. 

As the previous film blended film noir and comedy, its sequel folds in influences from such campy treasures as The Talented Mr. Ripley, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, and House of Gucci. Which is to say, director Paul Feig knows his audience. 

Another Simple Favor goes bigger and bolder.  Anna Kendrick stars in "Another Simple Favor." Credit: Amazon MGM Studio

Written by A Simple Favor's Jessica Sharzer and Shutter Island's Laeta Kalogridis, this sequel is smartly self-aware. Some elements will throwback to the first movie, like Stephanie's story beginning in media res with an update to her vlog followers. This time, instead of just being mid-investigation, Stephanie is under house arrest in a chic Italian villa in Capri, accused of murdering Emily's husband. 

The exotic location immediately ups the spectacle of this sequel, which Feig embraces with glorious aerial shots of the landscape, a mountain peppered with gorgeous homes, a charming shopping center, a devilishly high cliff with rocks all the way down and ominously crashing waves below. But how did Stephanie wind up here? Well, while on a failing book tour for "The Faceless Blonde" — a memoir written about her time with Emily — she's surprised by the bombshell herself. And Emily has an offer Stephanie cannot refuse: Be my maid of honor, or else I'll sue you into oblivion for writing this book. 

See, Emily's not only out of prison ("Out on appeal! Our legal system is so fucked," she grins like the Cheshire Cat.) but also is remarrying a devastatingly macho Italian man named Dante Versano (Michele Morrone). And the only one this beguiling bride-to-be wants by her side at her destination wedding is her best friend — bygones be bygones? 

While obviously hesitant, Stephanie doesn't want to be sued — plus Emily's ambush at her book event has gotten the internet abuzz about "The Faceless Blonde." So this trip could be great for sales — as long as she isn't murdered (and maybe even then.) But when Emily's husband turns up dead, Stephanie needs to clear her name — and turn up fresh clues and freaky secrets to do it! 

Blake Lively is next level in Another Simple Favor.  Blake Lively, Michele Morrone, Alex Newell and Anna Kendrick star in "A Simple Favor." Credit: Amazon MGM Studio

The joys of Emily Nelson in the first film were how she was achingly chic and frankly scary. To a grade school pick-up, she wore clothes that looked like she'd just stepped off a runway. She carried herself not only with an enchanting confidence, but with an edge that threatened to slice the throat of any who would mess with her. She was a female fantasy version of the femme fatale, turning that power to seduce into a seductive power to live truly give-a-fuck free. Yet Lively also brought a tenderness to Emily's twisted backstory and a cutting sense of humor, all of which made this villainess endlessly exciting. Her potential seemed limitless. 

In this sequel, Sharzer and Kalogridis double down on Lively, giving her fresh meat to sink her teeth into with a plotline that includes the mafia and a fresh cache of toxic family secrets. Cheekily, the screenwriters lean into this with a brief re-enactment of a classic moment from The Godfather Part 2, the rare sequel so beloved that many consider it better than its highly acclaimed original. It's a nod to film lovers that Feig and company understand how audiences cringe at sequels — but also why we can rarely deny their appeal. We crave more. 

The more worth indulging in here is Lively smoothly switching from elegantly threatening to crassly funny to intimidatingly unhinged. The Italian backdrop, where a fish-out-water American is awed and annoyed by wealthy locals recalls The Talented Mr. Ripley, allowing the audience to ogle the gorgeous surroundings and obscene wealth while still connecting to the hero, who's arguably a parasite, feeding off those around them. (Stephanie’s assumption that everyone at this ultra exclusive wedding would want to be backdrop in her live blogs is truly wild.) Despite her gluten-free sugar-cookie sweetness, Stephanie is after all exploiting Emily's wedding and access to all this luxury for her blog. But the cost for admission could be her life.

While Kendrick is back in the swing of this plucky amateur sleuth, Another Simple Favor drags when Lively isn't onscreen. Whether flirting or threatening Emily, or plunging back into a flashbacks in a moody dance hall, where she rocks the undeniable allure of Lady Gaga in House of Gucci as a blue-collar brunette wooing one of Italy's most eligible bachelors, Lively is pure fire. And she's got the wardrobe to match. 

Another Simple Favor's wardrobe is beyond outstanding.  Blake Lively stars in "Another Simple Favor." Credit: Amazon MGM Studio

Feig and company are well aware that we gagged over the eleganza of Emily's sexy power suits, and aim to top that fashion spectacle in this sequel. They do it, with aplomb. Props to the entire costume department. From the moment Emily makes her entrance, she is a vision who uses her wardrobe to speak volumes. As teased in the trailer, she swans back into Emily's life wearing a white and gray horizontally striped suit, which while fiercely draped evokes the old-school prison uniform, up to a high button collar. 

By contrast, Stephanie's costumes are defiantly — and comically — unchic, like when she shows up to board a private jet wearing mismatched sweatpants, dull sneakers, and a travel pillow, already secured around her neck. Meanwhile, Emily is dressed like a Golden Age gangster, her dark dress slacks and shirt set off by pale grey suspenders, a dynamically pinned tie, a fedora, and a blood-red rose. This look proves to be a warning of the kind of people who will be on that plane. 

More clues drop through fits, like on the wedding day when the bride's veil unveils a deep red ombre on the end of her train, reminiscent of the blood spilled. Even when dripping in jewels — wearing necklaces so decadent they serve as shirts too dazzling for this world — Emily is intimidating and exhilarating. Lively is living for every look, be it brazen or outright bonkers. Simply put, Blake ate. It's just unfortunate not every character is so thought out. 

Another Simple Favor suffers in the supporting characters — not cast.  Bashir Salahuddin, Alex Newell, Andrew Rannells, Aparna Nancherla, Kelly McCormack star in "Another Simple Favor." Credit: Amazon MGM Studio

The first film offered a snarking trio of parent peers (Andrew Rannells, Kelly McCormack, and Aparna Nancherla) to provide color commentary on the dramas of Emily and Stephanie. They're back, but only briefly as the plot swiftly abandons Stephanie's cozy stomping grounds. But she's not alone in Capri, bringing with her book agent Vicky (Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist's Alex Newell), who is little more than a plot device. 

To keep Stephanie from seeming too callous, someone needs to remind the audience that drama on this trip — and yes even murder — would be great for Stephanie's book sales. However, Vicky is such a thinly written character that — against a backdrop where nearly every other actor in this movie is white — she becomes reduced to the "sassy Black friend" stereotype, who exists solely for clips and to prop up the white heroine. While Newell shined on Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, she's given so little to do here that she can't register beyond this tired and problematic trope. 

Other supporting players also suffer, like Taylor Ortega as a comically unskilled stalker and Bashir Salahuddin, returning as Detective Summerville, who's barely in the movie, with his biggest moment being on the phone while half asleep. To Morrone's credit, while his Dante is a sketch of ferocious machismo, he brings enough verve to the part to keep things fun. 

Allison Janney and Elizabeth Perkins star in "Another Simple Plan." Credit: Amazon MGM Studio

While these characters are jarringly underwritten, Sharzer and Kalogridis find fresh angles for Henry Golding, who played Emily's husband Sean in the first film, and some fresh chaos to be mined by Elizabeth Perkins, who takes over the role of Emily's mother from Hacks' Jean Smart. But the real standout of the supporting cast is Allison Janey to the surprise of no one. Playing a long lost relative of Emily's, Janey brings the sharp comic timing and chameleon-like ability to shift tone that's made her a treasure in films like Juno, I, Tonya, and Drop Dead Gorgeous. 

Like Emily Nelson, Another Simple Favor is a shapeshifting creature, transforming in tone moment to moment to revel in biting humor, relish in mob drama, plunge into the delicious depths of mad women in the psycho-biddy subgenre, and showcase fashion, telling, sensational, and shocking. Is it better than the original? Yes and no.

This is a far messier movie that the first, where the imbalance between the appeal of the plucky Stephanie and the devious Emily is even greater than before and the supporting characters are littered with undercooked roles. However, if your favorite bits of A Simple Favor was Lively embracing her inner bad girl and delivering face and looks? You'll cherish this divinely twisted thriller. 

Another Simple Favor was reviewed out of its world premiere at 2025 SXSW. The film will premiere on Prime Video on May 1.

Reddit's automated moderation system is apparently flagging the word "Luigi" as potentially violent, The Verge reported.

On Friday, a post appeared on the r/FreeLuigi subreddit stating, "PSA: the word 'luigi' is now flagged by reddit for violence." A screenshot of a comment about the video game Luigi's Mansion 3 on the r/popculture subject shows a highlight of the word "Luigi" and a tag, "Check for Violence - [Luigi]."

Reddit

r/FreeLuigi is a community dedicated to Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspect in the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Since Mangione's arrest in December, he has received a flood of support online, both because of his status as a "folk hero" amid outrage at the U.S. healthcare system, and because of his physical attractiveness. His legal defense team recently created a website as supporters donate to his defense fund and follow his case. Mangione is currently being held in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, according to the website.

A Reddit spokesperson told The Verge that there isn't a "sitewide filter for the word 'Luigi' or expectation that users stop talking about Luigi Mangione." Despite this, however, the same user posted a second example of Reddit "flagging" Luigi, telling the user to check for violence.

Mashable has reached out to Reddit and will update this story if we hear back.

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The (quickie) TikTok ban left us all staring blankly at our screens, but maybe that’s a good thing. Perhaps this was a wake-up call to replace our doomscrolling, or at least some of it, with reading.

We aren’t suggesting you delete all of your social media apps, but maybe spend just 10 to 15 minutes each day on Headway. This book-summary app makes reading a lot more fun than usual since you just get the highlight reel instead of having to read it cover to cover. Now, Mashable readers can get a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium for A$76 (reg. A$480) and save hundreds.

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Over the last few years, Novocaine star Jack Quaid has carved himself a niche by playing the everyman archetype with a genre twist.

In The Boys, he's a nobody thrust into a world of superheroes. In Star Trek: Lower Decks, he's an ambitious worker bee on a starship. And in 2025's Companion, he's a sinister (yet all too familiar) "nice guy" with a robot girlfriend.

SEE ALSO: 'Novocaine' trailer: Jack Quaid goes on a gnarly quest for vengeance

Quaid's leading role in Novocaine feels like a natural continuation of these genre-bent everymen. He plays Nathan Caine, a mild-mannered assistant bank manager who has congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA), a genetic disorder that impacts his nervous system to the point that he can't feel pain or temperature.

Usually, Nathan's CIPA causes everyday annoyances that he takes careful steps to manage. He can't eat solid food for fear of biting his tongue off, so he blends it. He can't feel pressure in his bladder, so he sets timers for bathroom breaks. But when his crush Sherry (Amber Midthunder) is taken hostage, he unleashes his CIPA as a superpower, fighting his way through stabs, gunshot wounds, and more to get to her. The ensuing ride is the perfect showcase for Quaid's charms, as he elevates a serviceable action comedy to a damn great time.

What's Novocaine about? Amber Midthunder and Jack Quaid in "Novocaine." Credit: Paramount Pictures

The first act of Novocaine sees Quaid in prime "regular guy" mode. As Nathan, he wakes up, goes about his morning routine, heads to the bank, and crushes on bank teller Sherry from afar. After a coffee spill meet-cute, Sherry invites him out to lunch, then to an art gallery opening. They open up to each other about things they hide from the world: He tells her about how his CIPA led to him being a punching bag at school and causes him to withdraw from social gatherings. She tells him about her self-harm and her upbringing in a troubled foster home. The night culminates in a tender hookup that has Nathan hearing wedding bells.

SEE ALSO: Watch Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid react to the totally meta Goo Goo Dolls easter egg in 'Companion'

At face value, this opening sequence is just a run-of-the-mill first date, one that can't hold a candle to the rom-com greats. But Quaid's game combination of daffiness and vulnerability lends a pleasant sweetness to Nathan's conversations with Sherry. As Sherry, Midthunder is saddled more with a manic pixie dream girl-type role — look, she encourages him to eat his first bite of pie! — but don't worry. Novocaine features its fair share of twists that allow Midthunder to showcase more of the star power she displayed in 2022's Prey.

Speaking of star power, Quaid's kicks into high gear when Nathan begins his quest to take down the trio of bank robbers who kidnap Sherry. Once again, he's the everyman stuck in a high-stakes situation. He's never shot a gun, and he doesn't really know how to fight, resulting in some hysterical scenes in which a hapless Nathan bumbles through intimidating his adversaries. He can't bluff to save his life, but my goodness, does he commit.

Crucially, though, Nathan also doesn't know how to feel pain, and that proves to be the secret sauce Novocaine needs.

Jack Quaid brings humor to Novocaine's fun fights. Jack Quaid in "Novocaine." Credit: Paramount Pictures

Turns out all you need to do to freshen up some tried-and-true fight scene tropes is to take away one fighter's ability to feel pain. Take Novocaine's restaurant kitchen fight scene, Nathan's first real one-on-one test. Kitchen fights are an action movie mainstay. Recent blockbusters like 2023's John Wick 4 and 2024's Monkey Man delivered scorching kitchen-set battles, and of course, who can top the kitchen showdown in The Raid 2?

But Novocaine manages to find its own kitchen fight magic by removing Nathan's pain from the equation. Now, you've got someone who's unafraid to reach into a vat of boiling oil or use a red-hot skillet as a weapon. Nathan may not be a physical match for his opponent, but his ability to withstand agony levels the playing field.

SEE ALSO: 'The Electric State' review: Imagine 'Ready Player One' but worse

Directors Robert Olsen and Dan Berk stay trained on Nathan for much of the fight, highlighting Quaid's aptitude for physical comedy and every little surprised expression that crosses his face as he realizes just how much his CIPA can benefit him in this life-or-death situation.

Thanks to that realization, Nathan finds consistently more inventive ways to take down his foes, no matter the physical damage they do to him. The disconnect between his normal guy vibes and his gnarly appearance makes for some of Novocaine's best comedy. Case in point: Nathan casually slicing his arm open in order to remove a bullet. Quaid keeps talking through it like everything is normal, but the blood oozing from his arm suggests otherwise.

That's only the tip of Novocaine's gnarly iceberg, which puts Nathan's body through the ringer, even if he may stay chipper for quite a bit of it. And while I don't actively wish harm on movie protagonists, I will say that thanks to Quaid, it's never been more fun watching someone get hurt.

Novocaine hits theaters March 14.

This week, a viral Instagram post stated that Apple cut International Women's Day (March 8) from its calendar — but that's not quite right.

Bellesa, a sex toy brand, posted on March 4, "Apple quietly removed International Women's Day from the calendar. That's weird." The carousel post goes on to explain how one can add it to their own Apple Calendar. International Women's Day was first observed in 1911, according to the IWD website, and is now run by various groups across the world. It's nestled in Women's History Month, and is a day to celebrate women's achievements and advocate for their rights.

SEE ALSO: Down with the Enola Gay? Defense Department purging digital materials under Trump's DEI orders

This post, which has over 41,000 likes as of publication, came after Google Calendar removed Black History Month, Pride Month, and more holidays around three weeks ago. The tech giant stated it was due to a move to only include public holidays and national observances, but the removals prompted public outrage, as their timing aligns with the anti-diversity push fueled by Donald Trump's second presidential term.

Since coming back into office in January, Trump has overseen the removal of LGBTQ White House pages and language about queer and trans people on other government websites, as part of an overall crusade to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Tech companies have started to comply with this, such as Meta and Google removing its DEI programs. (Apple shareholders recently voted to keep its DEI policies.)

Given the anti-DEI push, commenters easily believed that Apple made this move. But according to Politifact, this isn't the case because Apple apparently never had International Women's Day on its calendar in the first place. Apple told Politifact that neither International Women's Day nor Women's History Month were ever featured on Apple Calendar.

Mashable has reached out to both Apple and Bellesa, and will update this story if we hear back.

This week, Mashable's Entertainment Editor, Kristy Puchko appeared on the movie review panel show, Talking Pictures with Neil Rosen. Alongside fellow film critics, Neil Rosen, Bill McCuddy, and Mike Sargent, she shared her thoughts on a array of new releases and still sizzling standouts from 2024.

Among the movies discussed on the episode, which airs nationally on PBS All Arts, were the Nicole Kidman erotic-thriller Babygirl, Ed Burns' latest dramedy Millers in Marriage, the toxic rom-dramedy I Love You Forever, the Oscar-winning I'm Still Here, the Daisy Ridley actioner Cleaner, the sci-fi thriller Companion, and Bong Joon Ho's latest genre-bending gem, Mickey 17.

Which are a must-see and which are worthy of missing? Watch the episode above, and you'll know what's up.

Tax season is no walk in the park — and that’s especially so for small business owners and solopreneurs. Even if you’re already properly managing your quarterly taxes and have all of your ducks in a row, this time of year means facing your business financials head-on and making any revisions needed to keep your business books going in the right direction.

Thankfully for small business owners, there are a handful of really good tax credits that you can take advantage of for the 2024 tax year. The following tax credits range from employee retention to healthcare credits, all of which are designed to give small business owners a leg up come tax season.

What is the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit?

The main difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit is that a tax deduction applies to your business income, which can potentially put you into a lower tax bracket and lessen the amount of taxable income you’ll report to the IRA. A tax credit is simpler — it reduces the dollar amount of taxes that you owe. This means that you’ll save dollar-for-dollar on the tax credits that apply to your small business.

Here are the best 2024 tax credits for small business owners:

Disabled Access Tax Credit

The Disabled Access Tax Credit covers 50% of expenses incurred (up to $10,250) from making your small business more accessible to those living with disabilities. The credit can also be used for hiring interpreters, making alternative materials available to individuals with visual impairments, and more.

Empowerment Zone Employment Credit

The Empowerment Zone Employment Credit allows businesses in empowerment zones or distressed areas that hire and retain employees in said area to claim up to $3000 per employee. The credit doesn’t limit the number of employees and can be renewed annually.

Qualified Plug-in Electric and Electric Vehicle Tax Credit

If you purchased a plug-in electric vehicle such as an electric car or electric scooter for your small business after the 2010 tax year, your small business might be eligible for this tax credit. The credit total is between $2,500 and $7,500 depending on the size of your EV’s battery.

R&D Tax Credit

Businesses of all sizes that are innovating a process or product and can prove that they’re doing so through quantifiable research are eligible for the R&D Tax Credit. This might include software development, design, product enhancements, and other relevant innovations.

SECURE 2.0 Act

The SECURE 2.0 Act affords tax credits to small businesses that implement a 401(k) plan for employees or that add an auto-enrollment feature to an existing employer retirement plan. 

Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit was created to help small businesses put in place health insurance programs for their employees. The tax credit covers 50% of premiums paid and is available for small business owners for up to two consecutive taxable years. Keep in mind that to qualify for this tax credit, a small business must also have fewer than 25 full-time employees and pay average wages below the annual inflation-adjusted limit.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit was first announced in 2021 but has since been extended to the end of 2025 by the Consolidated Appropriations Act. This tax credit applies to small businesses that hire those who otherwise face difficulties finding employment, such as ex-felons, SNAP recipients, and certain veterans. Small business owners can receive up to $2400 for every new hire that meets the appropriate specifications.

The secretive exploits of the X-37B spaceplane continue.

After spending 434 days in space, the crewless Space Force craft returned to Earth on March 7, landing at California's Vandenberg Space Force Base in the middle of the night. The agency snapped pictures of its return, including the image of a hazmat suit-clad crew attending to the outer space craft.

"The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 (OTV-7), the U.S. Space Force’s dynamic unmanned spaceplane, successfully deorbited and landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on Mar. 7, 2025 at 02:22 a.m. EST," the U.S. Space Force posted on X.

SEE ALSO: Aliens haven't contacted us. Scientists found a compelling reason why.

This was the seventh mission of the X-37B, which orbits 150 to 500 miles above Earth to explore reusable space vehicle technologies and conduct long-term space experiments. The plane was originally built by Boeing for NASA, but the project transferred to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, in 2004. At nearly 30 feet long, it's one-fourth the size of NASA's retired Space Shuttle.

Technicians standing near the recently landed X-37B spaceplane. Credit: U.S. Space Force The slightly charred X-37B spaceplane after landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Credit: U.S. Space Force This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The spaceplane's most recent national security-related mission launched in December 2023, and it accomplished a new feat. The Space Force recently revealed on X that the spaceplane "executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel." "Aerobraking" involves using close passes by Earth's atmosphere to produce drag, ultimately allowing it to switch orbits without burning too much of its finite fuel.

When not aerobraking, it appears the spaceplane kept busy with reconnaissance-related activity.

"While in orbit, Mission 7 tested space domain awareness technology experiments that aim to improve the United States Space Force’s knowledge of the space environment," the Space Force said in a statement. "These technologies are critical to the U.S. Space Force’s ability to conduct space operations in an increasingly congested and contested environment of space, to the benefit of all users of the domain."

Spaceplanes, too, must contend with the amassing spacecraft and space junk in Earth's orbit.

Astronauts orbiting 250 miles above Earth got a front-row seat to destruction on Thursday.

During a SpaceX flight test of Starship, the world's most powerful rocket and spacecraft system, NASA's Don Pettit snapped photos from the International Space Station of the ship blowing up. The images, which he posted on X, the social platform owned by SpaceX founder and President Donald Trump's right-hand man Elon Musk, show the astonishing accident from space. 

"We saw the Starship 8 breakup in the upper atmosphere and fall back to earth from the ISS," said Pettit, known for his photography from the lofty perch.

Starship, a 400-foot-tall, super-heavy-lift rocket and spaceship, blasted off shortly after 5:30 p.m. CT on March 6 from the aerospace company's private spaceport in Boca Chica, Texas. The test flight was the rocket system's eighth. This is now the second consecutive test, coming off the heels of a mishap in January, in which the ship exploded less than 10 minutes into flight — long before its intended splashdown in the Indian Ocean. 

SEE ALSO: SpaceX is so close to turning its rocket headquarters into an actual city This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

During the January test, two flashes occurred near one of the ship's engines shortly after booster separation. SpaceX has said strong vibrations led to fuel leaks that were too much for the ship's vents to handle, leading to fires that eventually triggered the flight termination system. Spacecraft debris rained down over Turks and Caicos, resulting in one report of property damage. 

Despite that investigation remaining open, the Federal Aviation Administration allowed the company to conduct this week's test. FAA spokesman Steven Kulm told Mashable the agency determined that no system, process, or procedure related to the mishap affected public safety or SpaceX's license. 

"A return to flight operations of the vehicle-type involved in the mishap is ultimately based on public safety," he said in an email.

As for Thursday's test, Starship again began experiencing vibrations just before finishing its ascent. Several engines failed, leading to the ship losing control. Flight controllers lost communication with Starship about 9.5 minutes after launch. Shortly after, people began taking and posting pictures and videos online of debris raining over the Bahamas, and flights were temporarily grounded in Florida to avoid the wreckage. 

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

SpaceX said the rocket stayed within a designated safety zone, and the company quickly worked with air traffic and safety officials after the failure. 

"Any surviving debris would have fallen within the pre-planned Debris Response Area," the company said in a post-flight statement. "There are no toxic materials present in the debris and no significant impacts (are) expected to occur to marine species or water quality."

Anyone who finds a chunk of Starship or has property damage from the event should contact the company's debris hotline (Yes, they have one.), at 1-866-623-0234, or email recovery@spacex.com, officials said.

SpaceX has faced criticism for its previous Starship test failures. Its executives insist that building fast, destroying expensive hardware, and learning quickly from mistakes are all part of the company's philosophy — in stark contrast with NASA's much slower approach.

A SpaceX Starship launched on its eighth flight test from Boca Chica, Texas, on March 6, 2025. Credit: SpaceX

Musk has previously complained that federal regulations have a chokehold on his company, impeding its progress and ability to conduct rapid testing. Industry watchers have speculated that his new close ties with Trump will remove some of that bureaucratic red tape. 

NASA will depend on the rocket company to ferry astronauts to the lunar surface on a modified Starship for the Artemis III and IV moon missions under a $4.2 billion contract. To do that, SpaceX first has to master refueling its spaceship in space. For Musk, Starship is also a passion project to eventually send people to Mars and build a self-sustaining city on the Red Planet.

"With a test like this, success comes from what we learn," the company said on X, "and today’s flight will help us improve Starship’s reliability." 

Consecutive losses of the Starship rocket suggest that the company’s engineers are not as infallible as its fans may think.

Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of VPN reviews we're overhauling in accordance with our all-new VPN testing methodology, which you can read in full here.

Proton VPN posits itself as a VPN for the people. The eight-year-old Swiss provider maintains open-source apps, abides by strong privacy practices that have held up in court, provides censorship bypassing tools, and supports internet freedom causes. It's also the rare VPN service with a free tier boasting zero data limits. No wonder so many Redditors are obsessed with it.

SEE ALSO: The 4 best VPN services for 2025, tested and reviewed

I'm right there with them. I tested (and scrutinized) Proton VPN for a little over a week, and while I have a few nitpicks, I was largely impressed by its dependability, integrity, and accessibility. I especially think it's worth paying for to get the most out of its features and its enormous server network.

At the end of the day, it's only right that Proton VPN is the first VPN we've ever given a Mashable Choice Award.

How much does Proton VPN cost?

Proton VPN's standard paid tier is called Proton VPN Plus, and it's available in three subscription lengths. The following prices were accurate as of March 2025:

• One-month plan: $9.99 per month

• One-year plan: $4.99 per month (billed $59.88 upfront)

• Two-year plan: $4.49 per month (billed $107.76 upfront)

Those yearly plans both renew annually at $79.95 (or $6.66 per month) after your first term, which works out to a price hike of 33% or 48%, respectively. That's not ideal, but those are far from the worst markups I've seen among major VPN providers' plans.

Users also have the option of bundling Proton VPN with other Proton products like Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, and Proton Drive in the form of a Proton Unlimited subscription, which ranges from $7.99 to $12.99 per month depending on the length of the plan. (For the purposes of this review, I only tried Proton VPN.) 

Proton VPN offers a free tier with no data limits, as mentioned up top, though it's severely limited compared to its premium counterpart in terms of features and server access. Proton Free users are subsidized by its paid subscribers, not by selling in-app ads or user data, and you don't need to supply any credit card information in order to sign up.

Proton VPN Plus users have the option to pay via credit or debit card or PayPal, and anonymously via Bitcoin or cash (through the mail). Subscribers are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is Proton VPN trustworthy?

Proton VPN is one of the younger VPN services out there, having launched in 2017. (For comparison's sake, industry giants ExpressVPN and NordVPN were founded in 2009 and 2012, respectively.) However, its "privacy-for-all" mission quickly earned it a strong reputation and a bit of a cult following. A deep dive into its company history, policies, and transparency efforts revealed plenty of excellent reasons for the hype, albeit a couple of hitches.

Proton VPN history and reputation

Proton VPN is run by Proton AG, a Swiss tech company owned by the nonprofit Proton Foundation. According to its website, Proton VPN "was born out of a desire to build an internet that puts people before profits," and to help individuals reclaim their online freedom.

VPN service aside, the company's record certainly reflects those goals. It's raised money for privacy activists in Hong Kong. It's called out Apple for allegedly blocking Proton VPN security updates after the United Nations recommended that people in Myanmar use Proton Mail to report crimes during the country's 2021 coup. It's offered discounts to data journalists and added extra free servers before elections in countries with a history of censorship and misinformation campaigns. A lot of VPN providers claim to care about digital freedom and privacy, and while you'll never catch me "yas queen"-ing a company, Proton VPN really walks the walk in an admirable way.

At the same time, I'd be remiss if I didn't broach a recent controversy surrounding a tweet posted by Proton CEO Andy Yen in response to President Donald Trump's cabinet pick for assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division.

"10 years ago, Republicans were the party of big business and Dems stood for the little guys, but today the tables have completely turned," Yen tweeted in December 2024.

After a screenshot of the tweet blew up on the r/ProtonMail subreddit, an official Proton account doubled down in a comment, writing that "Until corporate Dems are thrown out, the reality is that Republicans remain more likely to tackle Big Tech abuses.” The comment was later deleted and retracted as an official statement (despite it opening with the phrase, "Here is our official response"). Yen attempted to do damage control in another thread. More backlash ensued.

SEE ALSO: The bros’ new clothes: How Big Tech lurched to the right

Without getting too in the weeds — The Intercept has a good recap of how everything went down — the reason for the fallout was threefold: Proton has repeatedly positioned itself as a neutral organization, to say that Republicans haven't been in bed with Big Tech is frankly goofy, and ultimately, the company's response to the criticism was uncharacteristically messy.

I personally think the entire incident was sloppy more than anything else and not a symptom of a sinister ulterior motive. But it might give some users pause or leave a bad taste in their mouths if they interpret it as an instance of corporate knee-bending to the Trump administration.

Proton VPN privacy policy and transparency efforts

Proton VPN is technically covered by two privacy policies: the main Proton Privacy Policy and Proton VPN's own sub-policy. The latter is brief and crystal clear, but Proton's general policy can get a little confusing, as some portions of it don't apply to Proton VPN. More specifically, users of other Proton products may be subject to occasional IP logging. (These inconsistencies aren't always plainly identified, either — I had to reach out to the Proton team for clarity on a few points). Overall, though, it's thorough and comprehensive.

Proton VPN's dedicated privacy policy specifically calls it "a no-logs VPN service" that doesn't record user traffic or session data, discriminate against any devices, protocols, or apps, or throttle connections. It goes on to say that some user data is needed to maintain accounts (very standard), and that it's stored on servers that are owned and operated by Proton or its subsidiaries. That's pretty much it.

The same sub-policy covers Proton VPN's free tier, which "has in general no speed restrictions," though Proton may levy them "in cases of excessive consumption" so there's enough bandwidth to go around for all free users. Don't get too wild.

SEE ALSO: How do VPNs work? Here’s what they can do for you

Proton VPN has had its infrastructure and operating procedures independently audited every year since 2022 to verify its no-logs policy. The most recent audit was conducted by the Polish penetration testing company Securitum in July 2024, and it once again confirmed that Proton VPN doesn't keep any logs of metadata or VPN activity (nor does it "engage in any practices that might compromise your privacy"). Anyone can read the audit without making a Proton VPN account. This is all great, but it would be even better if the company had committed to doing these regular audits sooner.

Having said that, it's crucial to note that Proton VPN's no-logs policy held up in court years before it started undergoing annual third-party audits. In 2019, Proton VPN was ordered to cough up user logs as part of a data request from a foreign country that was approved by a court in Switzerland, where Proton is headquartered. (Under Swiss law, such requests can't proceed without a court order.). However, Proton VPN couldn't comply with the request because it didn't have any logs.

This is one of dozens of such data requests flagged in Proton VPN's transparency report, which is updated every time it receives a legal request for information via court order or a government entity (most recently in September 2024). To date, all orders have been denied. Anyone can read the report without needing an account.

Proton VPN also deserves high praise for open sourcing all of its apps in 2020, becoming the first VPN provider to do so. This makes it so that anyone can inspect the apps' code for vulnerabilities. (It also had its apps undergo security audits in 2020 and 2021.) What's more, Proton VPN has offered a bug bounty program since 2017, encouraging developers to hunt down weaknesses in its servers and apps. It's awesome to see this "nothing to hide" approach existing in some form since the Proton VPN's inception, and the longer it continues to prove itself, the better.

Branching outward, the main Proton privacy policy opens with a line that the company "strongly [believes] in an internet where privacy is the default." Furthermore, its "overriding policy is to collect as little user information (personal data included) as possible to ensure a private user experience when using the Services." 

Some of the user information that Proton does collect includes analytics when you visit its website (sans IP address), your email address (for account creation and communications), referral attributions, and app statistics (for collecting crash information to fix bugs). Payment information is shared with third parties like Chargebee, PayPal, and Stripe in order to process subscriptions, while support requests may get handled by Zendesk or Calendly. (The former provides Proton VPN's live chat feature, for example.) This is all very standard.

There's one instance when the company does save a Proton VPN user's IP addresses for a brief period of time, which is if they need to verify the person's account via Proton Captcha, email, or text message. "IP addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers provided are saved temporarily in order to send you a verification code and for anti-spam purposes," reads the Proton policy. To be clear, this is very different from logging a user's IP address whlie they're using the VPN service, which Proton VPN vows not to do. Refer back to the results of its third-party audits and transparency report for reassurance.

For what it's worth, Proton users can access, delete, and export any personal data the company has processed through their account interface.

Hands on with Proton VPN

Proton VPN is available on macOS, Windows (including Windows on ARM), iOS, Android, Linux, Chromebook, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, Apple TV, and Firestick. For this review, I tried it on macOS.

Proton VPN lets users connect via WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and its custom Stealth protocol, which is designed for bypassing censorship in areas where VPNs are blocked. You can also enable a Smart Protocol feature (under Preferences > Connection) that will automatically connect you through the protocol that performs the best and/or bypasses censorship based on your location.

Proton VPN uses AES-256 encryption for OpenVPN and IKEv2 and ChaCha20 for WireGuard, which are both safe and solid.

A Proton VPN Plus subscription gets you up to 10 simultaneous connections and city-level access to its full server network, which has ballooned to more than 11,800 servers in 117 countries as of March 2025. At the time of writing, Proton VPN had the largest and most globally diverse server network out of all the VPNs I've tested. Users have myriad location-spoofing options and should never struggle to find a reliably fast local server location. That was certainly my testing experience, at least.

Proton VPN app design Proton VPN's extensive server network makes it possible to browse from basically anywhere. Credit: Screenshot: Proton VPN

Proton VPN's app is intuitive and sleek, with a purple and black color scheme that gives it a modern, vaguely cyberbougie look. A box in the top-left corner of the Proton VPN app contains your current server name and location (with a corresponding flag in the background), a server load percentage that shows how crowded it is, your current IP address, your protocol, and your download and upload speeds.

Hitting the "Quick Connect" button at the top of the app automatically connects you to your "Fastest" server, which is selected based on "the best combination of low latency and available bandwidth," a Proton VPN rep told me. Under a "Profiles" tab below it, there are options to switch to another Fastest server, hop on a random server, and create custom profiles for different use cases with your choice of routing, country, server, and protocol.

Users can peruse all of Proton VPN's server locations in the form of a list (under a separate "Countries" tab) as well as a map, which is studded with triangles representing places where servers are available. The map itself doesn't have any labels on it, so it's a little difficult to tell what country each triangle corresponds to unless you've memorized every national border. But the list is conveniently searchable, and there are percentage load icons next to each server name.

Proton VPN performance

I used Proton VPN nonstop for a week, and my Fastest servers were usually in Illinois (I live in Chicago), though I occasionally landed on servers in Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. I also spent an hour on a UK server to see if that would make my connection sluggish, since my data had to travel further — but nope. No matter which server I used, Proton VPN connected instantly, never dropped, and felt just as fast as my normal connection. There was one time Reddit asked me to tick a box to verify that I wasn't a bot (my server was probably on the fuller side), but otherwise it was like the VPN wasn't there. In that sense, Proton VPN is forgettable in the best way.

Users in search of a VPN that can skirt geo-restrictions on streaming services will also be happy to hear that the UK Proton VPN server I used was easily able to unblock Love Island UK on ITVX.

A VPN is always going to put some kind of damper on one's connection (negligible or not), so in addition to anecdotal observations, we run speed tests to quantify it. My download speed fell by just 5.7 percent when I was hooked up to my Fastest Proton VPN server using Wireguard, while the UK server resulted in a 13 percent download speed drop. That's stellar on both accounts.

I should note that Proton VPN's "VPN Accelerator" tool was on the whole time I was trying the VPN and when I conducted my speed tests. Proton claims this feature "boosts VPN speeds by up to 400 percent" and "improves VPN connection stability." It's enabled on all Proton VPN apps by default with a Plus subscription.

Proton VPN features

Above the server list, you'll find a row of icons for three different Proton VPN Plus features. A padlock pulls up an option to enable "Secure Core," which sends your connection through one of Proton VPN's self-owned Secure Core servers (located in high-security data centers) before routing it through a standard VPN server. This is a multi-hop/double VPN tool that adds an extra layer of encryption for extra peace of mind.

Proton VPN's Secure Core servers offer an extra layer of privacy at the cost of possible speed slowdowns. Credit: Screenshot: Proton VPN

Proton VPN serves users a pop-up message warning them about possible internet speed slowdowns before they connect to a Secure Core server for the first time. I used one that routed me through Iceland and the U.S., and while webpages loaded noticeably slower while I was connected to it, it was still totally usable. Another speed test showed that it resulted in a 7.7 percent download speed drop compared to my regular internet connection.

A shield icon in that same row of icons pulls up Proton VPN's "NetShield" feature, which can block malware alone or malware, ads, and trackers. Some websites displayed pop-ups asking that I disable my ad blocker when I browsed with NetShield on, including Twitch and Slate. A few sites wouldn't load at all, showing a "This site can't be reached / [so-and-so's] server IP address could not be found" error message. They loaded properly once I turned NetShield off, though.

Here's how many ads and trackers NetShield blocked during about 15 minutes of online shopping. Credit: Screenshot: Proton VPN

The last icon in the row is a lightswitch symbolizing Proton VPN's kill switch, an important tool that stops all traffic if your VPN connection drops (keeping your real IP address hidden). Users need to enable it manually. 

Proton VPN offers an advanced feature called "Tor over VPN" that lets you connect to the Tor network via specialized Tor servers (indicated by the "TOR" in their name). On macOS, this only works if you have the kill switch enabled. Users can find Tor servers by scrolling through its server list and looking for countries that have a little onion symbol next to their drop-down arrows. 

I found six Tor servers in Colorado, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Sweden, and Switzerland, and all of them were extremely full (to the tune of 88 to 97 percent load — they're easily the most packed servers in Proton VPN's network at any given time). The average user can disregard this, as they probably won't ever really need to use Tor over VPN, but the activists and journalists who might benefit from this doubled-up privacy method will need to be patient with extremely pokey connections.

Tor servers were always the most crowded servers in any given country. Credit: Screenshot: Proton VPN

The one Proton VPN Plus feature I wanted to try but couldn't was its split tunneling tool, which lets users exclude some of their traffic from the VPN tunnel to boost connection speeds and access content in different locations at the same time. It was only available on Windows, Android, and Android TV at the time of writing. However, a fall 2024 product roadmap teased future support for macOS and Linux in the near future.

Proton VPN Plus users who run into issues with their account or any of the service's features can get premium support via live chat, submit questions via email or website form, and look for answers via Proton VPN's online "knowledge base" of how-to guides. I'll add that the company is very active and responsive to user feedback in the r/ProtonVPN subreddit.

More on Proton VPN's free plan Proton VPN's free users can't pick which server they're connected to. Credit: Screenshot: Proton VPN

Proton VPN's free users get access to its service on one device at a time and don't have to deal with any data limits, which is extremely clutch and something I haven't encountered in any other free VPNs I've tried. (For comparison, TunnelBear's free tier caps you at 2GB per month.) You can have it running 24/7.

The trade-off is that free users only have access to about 2,300 Proton VPN servers in five countries — Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, Poland, and the United States — which means they tend to get clogged. It also means your location-spoofing options are severely limited, and that unblocking regional content in areas outside of those five countries is impossible. You can't choose which server you're connected to, either, and there's a timeout between server changes that increases every time you switch. If a server you land on is unusably slow, you might have to hang out there for a while.

SEE ALSO: The best free VPNs we've tested

My experience using Proton VPN's free tier for a few days was fine, but not great. It was occasionally difficult to make a solid initial connection: I'd get on a server and wouldn't be able to load any websites. This was made more frustrating by the fact that I got hit with that timeout every time I switched servers in search of a working connection; at one point, I had to wait 20 minutes to switch again.

Things were mostly okay once I was on a working free Proton VPN server. While the ones I used were always crowded, with 70 to 91 percent loads, they weren't as dramatically slow as those numbers imply. (Granted, they did feel a tad pokier compared to the Plus servers I used, but only if I really paid attention.) That said, there were two occasions when my connection randomly dropped. Make sure the kill switch is on — it's basically the only feature Proton VPN's free users have access to besides its censorship-skirting Stealth protocol. Secure Core, VPN Accelerator, Tor over VPN, and split tunneling are all off-limits to its free users across all platforms, as is its live chat support.

Is Proton VPN worth it?

Proton VPN Plus is easy to justify. The service's paying subscribers enjoy consistently excellent performance and receive access to useful privacy features as well as a server network that's currently unrivaled in size and geographic spread (with city-level selection to boot). VPN veterans will appreciate the customizability of their connections, while casual users will like its "set it and forget it"-ness the most.

Proton VPN's free tier can be a pain to use at times, but it works well enough once you find a decent server — and the fact that you aren't inhibited by any data limits makes its occasional connection issues tolerable.

Above all, Proton VPN is a privacy mensch that doesn't just say it cares about online freedom, but actually shows it. In a crowded industry with a lot of loud voices, this makes it a decisively worthy pick.

Opens in a new window Credit: Proton VPN Proton VPN Learn More

A majestic celestial event looms large for the continental U.S. and greater Americas.

Earth will pass between the sun and moon on the night of March 13 into the morning of March 14, creating a total lunar eclipse visible in large swathes of the Western Hemisphere. Aptly called a "blood moon," Earth blocks most sunlight from reaching the moon during these events, but long reddish wavelengths of sunlight still slip through our planet's atmosphere, illuminating our robust natural satellite in reddish, rusty, or crimson colors.

Lunar totality — when the entirety of our view of the moon transforms into an eerie blood moon — will last for 65 minutes. So you'll have lots of time, weather-permitting, to experience the eclipse. Importantly, you don't need to do much. You don't need any special equipment — though you can choose to use some. You just need to go outside and peer at our ancient, deeply-cratered, geologically fascinating moon.

"Enjoy it. See it with your own eyes," Emily Rice, an astronomer at Macaulay Honors College of the City University of New York, told Mashable. Rice also works with the American Astronomical Society.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

Here are some common questions about eclipse-viewing, with expert answers.

The alignment of the moon, Earth, and sun during a total lunar eclipse. Credit: NASA When to see the total lunar eclipse

Many of us will need to stay up late, or set an alarm.

Totality begins at 11:26 p.m. PDT on March 13, 2025 / 2:26 a.m. EDT on March 14 / 06:26 UTC, and lasts for 65 minutes. But the reddening progresses over hours. Technically, the eclipse starts (the "penumbral eclipse") with slight dimming on March 13 at 8:57 p.m. PDT / 11:57 p.m. EDT / 03:57 UTC. The greater event ends at 3:00 a.m. PDT / 6:00 a.m. EDT / 10:00 UTC.

How to prepare for the total lunar eclipse

Lunar eclipse-viewing doesn't take much preparation. But you do want to set yourself up for success. To immerse yourself in the crimson event — which evolves over time as the moon passes through different regions of Earth's shadow — prepare to stay warm outside, as opposed to just catching a short glimpse.

"Get out there, get comfortable, and watch it for as long as you can."

"Get out there, get comfortable, and watch it for as long as you can," Rice said.

Should you use a telescope or binoculars to view the lunar eclipse?

You certainly don't need to. But it can enhance your view, revealing more lunar details.

"You can get a good view through a telescope or binoculars, but it's definitely not necessary," Rice said. "The moon is always a beautiful thing to look at with a telescope," she noted.

Rice plans to view the March 13-14 eclipse with the naked eye — and hopes to encourage her family to peer at the blood moon, too.

A map showing how the Americas will have the opportunity to witness a total lunar eclipse on March 13-14, 2025. Credit: NASA Do you need any eye protection to view a total lunar eclipse?

Unlike a total solar eclipse, you don't need special or approved eye protection for this event.

"The good thing about all types of lunar eclipse is that, unlike a solar eclipse, they are safe to view with the naked eye," the Natural History Museum in London explains. "This is because lunar eclipses only reflect sunlight — they don't get any brighter than a full moon, which you've probably safely observed many times before." (What's more, the moon is actually dark, as it's blanketed in grayish rock, so it reflects a relatively small percentage of sunlight.)

Can you take a picture of the total lunar eclipse with your phone?

You can certainly try — but don't expect impressive results.

Most phones, on automatic camera settings, will attempt to capture long exposures of the moon set on its dark space background, resulting in overexposed, blurry images. On the other hand, you'll have over an hour to fiddle with your camera settings to try to snap a desirable photo.

Once again, Rice suggests simply experiencing the celestial event without worrying about things like camera settings. But it's your eclipse — the most important part, of course, is making it there.

TL;DR: Enjoy over 70,000 retro video games with the Kinhank Super Console, now just $89.97 (reg. $159) with free shipping through March 30. 

If you're looking to reminisce on simpler times, what better way than to disconnect and play some classic video games. Right now, you can do just that for only $89.97 with the Kinhank Super Console, on sale through March 30. 

Time travel with two systems in one

Retro gaming, meet 2025. The Kinhank Super Console comes pre-loaded with more than 70,000 retro games, providing endless entertainment via familiar favorites we all knew and loved from Atari, Nintendo, and Playstation.

Among the options? Classic retro arcade games like Pac-Man and beloved popular console games like Street Fighter II, Final Fantasy VII, and Sonic the Hedgehog. 

If you manage to run through the 70,000 games included, there are options to add even more. You can load up a microSD card, or download an extra 20,000 3D games at no extra cost. It connects to TVs, projectors, computers, or laptops as needed — all with simple plug-and-play use. 

Looking to head back to this decade? This console can also handle Android apps thanks to its two systems in one. It offers speedy connectivity with dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0. And you'll remember that you're in 2025 with the impressive 4K HD Output. You can also share the love with family and friends with multiplayer support capabilities. 

Choose to game with the two included USB-wired controllers or use a compatible Bluetooth controller. You'll also receive a 4GB TF card, a 256GB game card, a USB receiver, power adapter, HD cable, and remote with this awesome deal. 

Game across time. 

Get the Kinhank Super Console for $89.97 (reg. $159) with free shipping now through March 30. 

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Opens in a new window Credit: Kinhank Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro Retro Gaming Emulator & Streaming Console $89.97
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TL;DR: Get a 3-pack of the KeySmart SmartCards for $79.97 with free shipping through March 31 (reg. $119.97). Single units are also available. 

The AirTag has been the go-to tracker for years, but it doesn't work for everything. Ever tried stuffing an AirTag in your wallet? It's like putting a gumball in an envelope. Instead, go for a slimmer tracker designed for wallets, ID badges, and all those other narrow spots. The KeySmart® SmartCard works just like an AirTag, but it looks like a credit card. It even works with Apple's Find My app. 

Plus, you can get three of these card-shaped trackers for only $79.97 (usually $119). 

AirTag vs. SmartCard

These trackers work just like AirTags. Par them with Apple's Find My App, then the next time your wallet or other items get lost, you can

• Track their real-time location on a map

• Have them play a sound 

• Get notifications when you leave them behind

Unlike the AirTag, you never have to worry about replacing a battery. The SmartCard is Qi-wireless rechargeable and only needs to be powered up about every five months. 

Another plus? The SmartCard is more water-resistant than the AirTag. With an IPX8 waterproof rating, compared to the AirTag’s IP67, the likelihood of being able to track your missing items if they’re lost in haphazard weather conditions is that much greater.

Get a 3-pack of KeySmart® SmartCards while they're still on sale for $79.97. 

Shipping is free, but this sale ends March 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

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Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart KeySmart® SmartCard - Works with Apple Find My (3-Pack) $79.97
$119.97 Save $40 Get Deal

TL;DR: This week only, you can save $69 on this VPN router and get free shipping (reg. $219).

Do the math: Paying for a VPN month after month is costing you way more than you think (you’ve likely already paid hundreds). While you’ve been stuck in an endless billing cycle, others have switched to a smarter solution: VPN routers.

Think of them as VPNs that offer more security and features than digital ones, all without charging you recurring fees. Instead, pay $149.97 once and use it for a lifetime (reg. $219). This price is only valid this week.

How does it work?

If you can connect your devices to Wi-Fi, you can set up this VPN router. Plug it into your USB-C computer for power, connect it to your chosen network, and pair up to five devices. 

Connect your smart TV to networks overseas, unblock streaming websites, and enjoy how the gadget simultaneously blocks pesky ads. We bet your overpriced digital VPN wasn’t doing that for you before. You may also notice faster speeds since these servers go up to 300Mbps.

Or, join servers from your laptop to stay secure when browsing on public Wi-Fi. This router has more than 150,000 servers, so plenty of options exist to protect your data.

Speaking of your protection, this device uses military-grade encryption and a decentralized private network to keep your online activity private. Most digital VPNs use centralized private networks (where your traffic passes through a single point), but a decentralized private network (where your traffic passes through tons of points) offers faster performance and enhanced security since there isn’t a single point of failure.

Get the Deeper Connect Air VPN router for $149.97 with free shipping this week only (reg. $219).

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Opens in a new window Credit: Deeper Network Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router $149.97
$219 Save $69.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get a MacBook Pro on sale for $424.97 (reg. $1,499) through March 30.

Whether it's for school or for work, your computer needs to be able to take some punishment. Whether it's packed into a bag regularly or used for hours a day, every single day, it's important to have a machine you can rely on. Bonus points if it's affordable. MacBooks might not be your first instinct for affordability, but the prices drop when you know where to shop.

Turns out you can actually get a MacBook Pro on sale for $424.97 (instead of $1,499). 

What can it do?

This low-cost laptop is equipped with a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. In practice, that means you can breeze through your regular productivity apps and even test the waters with light gaming or design apps. And the 13.3-inch Retina display gives you plenty of room to work. 

One of the coolest things about this MacBook is the Touch Bar. Instead of function keys, the Touch Bar adapts to the apps you're using. You can also use it to log into your computer using Touch ID, so no need to constantly type in a long password. 

The grade "A" refurbished rating means this computer arrives in near-mint condition. Basically, the only signs that it's refurbished might be the box and extremely faint signs of wear that you can't see from more than a foot away. And because it's a slightly older model, you actually get more ports than some recent versions, which is just a fun little bonus.

Time's running out

March 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get a MacBook Pro for $424.97. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" (2019) Touchbar - Space Gray (Refurbished) $424.97
$1,499 Save $1,074.03 Get Deal

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, March 8, 2025:

AcrossOne-for-one trades

• The answer is Swaps.

Subway stop

• The answer is Station.

With 11-Across, gathering that's typically attended every five years

• The answer is College.

Patchett who wrote "Bel Canto"

• The answer is Ann.

In addition

• The answer is Too.

See 8-Across

• The answer is Reunion.

Place to testify in court

• The answer is Stand.

The "S" of iOS: Abbr.

• The answer is Sys.

DownMick Jagger's band, familiarly, with "the"

• The answer is Stones.

Crunchy bits in a brownie, maybe

• The answer is Walnuts.

Georgia's capital, for short

• The answer is ATL.

Dessert containers that inspired the Frisbee

• The answer is PieTins.

Words repeated before "I got you" in James Brown's "I Got You"

• The answer is SoGood.

Evil lion in "The Lion King"

• The answer is Scar.

Fluorescent shade

• The answer is Neon.

Dissenting vote

• The answer is Nay.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

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

TL;DR: While codes last, you can get a Microsoft Office lifetime license for Mac at $39.99 (reg. $229). Windows codes are also available.

Every month, Microsoft 365 takes a little more from your bank account. It’s only $10, but that number gets ugly over time. Now imagine paying just $40 once and being done with it. That’s exactly what the lifetime version of Microsoft Office offers, and we’re selling discounted codes right now.

We have fewer than 100 available at $39.99 (save $189), so hurry up if you’re interested. You’ll also find Windows downloads available.

What's included?

This version of Microsoft Office includes essential apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, redesigned to take advantage of Mac's Retina display and full-screen view support. Whether drafting a document, analyzing data, or managing emails, the suite is ready to keep work moving. 

Need to use Teams at work? This version has Teams Classic, and now you don't have to pay every month to check your professional group chat. 

So why is it so cheap? This is a license for Microsoft Office 2019. It's not as flashy as the recent versions, but these apps still work great for work or school. 

Plus, there are actually a few benefits to getting an older license. Older machines don't have to struggle with software that needs modern hardware, and you don't have to deal with all the unnecessary integrations and distractions of more recent software — like AI. 

Really important detail: once you download, make sure to turn off the auto-update. If you don't, Microsoft will try to update you to Office 2021, which will invalidate your license. 

Limited-time pricing

Don’t miss your chance to download Microsoft Office for Mac at $39.99 (reg. $229). No coupon is needed to get this discount.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac $39.99
$229 Save $189.01 Get Deal