Mashable

Check out the best Amazon deals on August 7:

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK Apple iPad, 9th generation (WiFi, 64GB) $229 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal BEST SPEAKER DEAL Soundcore Motion+ Bluetooth speaker $69.11 at Amazon (save $30.88) Get Deal BEST FITNESS DEAL TheraGun Prime $209 at Amazon (save $90) Get Deal BEST EARBUDS DEAL Soundcore P30i noise-cancelling earbuds $29.99 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal

If you don't feel like waiting until October for the next Prime event, we've rounded up a few of the best deals you can shop at the mega retailer right now. Honestly, the deals are pretty good for a random Wednesday in August, with devices from Apple, Therabody, and Anker running the show.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Aug. 7. And be sure to check back at our picks from Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 as well, since many of those are still live.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 9th generation (WiFi, 64GB) $229.00 at Amazon
$329.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal

The ninth generation iPad is not only the most affordable tablet from Apple (even at full price), but it's also our favorite tablet for most people. Hailing from 2021, it's obviously not the newest tech, but it's still an excellent value. It has all the specs most people are looking for in an iPad, including the A13 Bionic chip, a 10.2-inch Retina display, and up to 10 hours of battery life that'll help you power through basic tasks. When it's not on sale, it retails for $329 ($20 cheaper than the 10th generation iPad), but the current discount drops it down to just $229. That matches it record-low price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Motion+ Bluetooth speaker $69.11 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $30.88 Get Deal

At 31% off, this hi-res, waterproof Bluetooth speaker with over 12 hours of battery life is practically a steal. The Motion+ packs customizable EQ controls, enhanced sound dispersion, Qualcomm aptX for lossless audio, BassUpTM technology, and an ultra-wide frequency range all in a compact package. It's regularly $100, but you can grab it for just $69.11 as of Aug. 7. That's its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Therabody TheraGun Prime $209.00 at Amazon
$299.00 Save $90.00 Get Deal

With four attachments and five speeds, the TheraGun Prime has the power to massage any area like a pro. And thanks to its patented triangular design, you can reach more of your body than other massage guns. It's regularly $299, but this back-to-school discount drops it down to just $209 for a limited time. That's 30% in savings and its lowest price this year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore P30i noise-cancelling earbuds $29.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

If you're searching for noise-cancelling earbuds that won't break the bank, the Soundcore P30is offer a whole lot of bang for your buck. They feature auto-adjusting or manual noise cancellation as well as transparency mode, up to 45 hours of battery life with the charging case (or 30 with ANC turned on), and deep, punchy bass. The charging case also doubles as a phone stand for when you're on the go. Usually $50, you can pick up a pair on sale for just $29.99 as of Aug. 7. That's 40% in savings and the lowest price on record.

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

Lenovo may have a new version of the Legion Go in the works.

As spotted by Reddit user methylmorphia, and further reported on by VideoCardz, Lenovo may have let slip that a smaller version (or two) of the Legion Go handheld gaming PC is coming soon. An FAQ section of the Legion Go page on Lenovo's website was updated at some point to reference a version of the device with a 7-inch display, two fans, and an HDMI port.

SEE ALSO: Asus ROG Ally X review: 3 ways it beats the Steam Deck

The reason this is noteworthy is that the original Legion Go featured an 8.8-inch display, only one fan, and no HDMI port. Based on the limited information in the FAQ, it’s unclear what other differences the theoretical “Lite” version of the Legion Go might have. However, notably, the original model featured Nintendo Switch-like detachable controllers, raising a key question about the smaller model: does it include these detachable controllers? Battery life, which was one of the more unimpressive aspects of the original Legion Go, is also a big question mark.

Still, more options in the burgeoning handheld gaming PC market can only be a good thing for consumers. Between the Legion Go, Asus ROG Ally X, Steam Deck OLED, and the upcoming MSI Claw, a market category that didn't really exist until 2022 is now suddenly full of choices.

Earlier this summer, Tinder announced Photo Selector, an AI tool to help pick out the best pictures for your dating app profile. But privacy experts warn that there may be risks associated with the tool.

Photo Selector works by taking a photo of yourself for facial recognition and allowing Tinder to see your photo roll. If you consent to this feature, Tinder gets access to your biometric data (unique physical characteristics in the selfie), and access to your on-device photos. What happens next?

SEE ALSO: Beware of AI tools being advertised on Facebook. They could be malware in disguise. Tinder's use of biometric (and other) data

The good news is, there are some privacy positives about this feature. One, as Tinder explains in its Photo Selector FAQ, is that the feature works on-device. This means that it doesn't take your photos to an external or cloud drive.

As for your biometric data, Tinder states in the FAQ that, "Tinder doesn't collect, store, access or otherwise receive any biometrics generated from your selfie video, profile photo, or photos on your camera roll. Instead, everything takes place entirely on your device, and all biometric data used as part of this feature is deleted from your device once you exit the feature."

Tinder also doesn't collect (store) all the photos on your roll. Rather, it only collects photos that you choose to put on your profile.

Rory Mir, associate director of community organizing at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), told Mashable that the deletion of biometric data after use does mitigate risks associated with sharing this data. Still, dating app users — and people online in general — should always be cautious when sharing sensitive data like this, Mir said.

"You only have one face," they continued. "You don't want your face print to wind up in a server permanently and [be] used against you in another context." 

Sharing biometrics is currently an opt-in, consent-driven feature at Tinder. The EFF fights for strong privacy protections like this in the private business sector: The ability for consumers to choose to opt-in, that the collection of this data is limited for its intended purpose, and that users can withdraw at any time. (EFF also fights for government use to be fully banned.)

Mir questioned whether Tinder collected metadata or telemetry data, as it wasn't clear in its Privacy Policy. Metadata is "data about the data" — like how many photos are on someone's camera roll — while telemetry data is that of the processes of the app and how it runs. 

A Tinder spokesperson told Mashable that it doesn't collect telemetry data on users using the Photo Selector tool. In terms of metadata, the app collects "limited analytics data." An example the spokesperson gave was that Tinder collects data about how long the tool took to suggest photos, and how many photos were recommended. 

Another general risk Mir identified was the normalization of sharing biometrics. They advised people to avoid sharing biometrics, which would mean avoiding using this feature (and Tinder photo verification using a video selfie). 

What about the Photo Selector AI?

Field chief privacy officer at privacy tech platform Transcend — and former head of privacy at Tinder — Ron De Jesus said it was notable that Tinder didn't mention whether it trained its Photo Selector AI on user photos in its FAQ.

"There's no mention of how user personal data might be used to enhance or train that AI that's supporting the Photo Selector tool," De Jesus told Mashable. 

In the age of AI, there are concerns that big tech companies like Meta may utilize customer data to train AI models, thus producing generative content based on what humans have put online.

Tinder's spokesperson told Mashable that user photos are not used to train Photo Selector or the algorithms that power it, and that photos are recommended based on Tinder's proprietary algorithms.

This is also good news, especially in the dating app space. Singles share a wealth of their personal data when they use these apps, and sometimes their data is at risk — like when Bumble, Hinge, and other apps had to patch a location vulnerability. Ultimately, dating apps have a great responsibility because of the amount and type of sensitive data they hold, De Jesus said. It seems that, at present, Tinder is mitigating these risks.

SAVE UP TO 40%: As of August 7, Amazon devices are discounted by as much as 40% so you can save big on items like the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K or a Kindle Paperwhite for kids. Check out our top picks below.

Best Amazon device deals during the week of August 7 Best overall deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $29.99 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal Best back-to-school deal Kindle Paperwhite Kids essentials bundle $167.97 at Amazon (save $35) Get Deal Best TV deal Amazon Fire TV 40-inch 2-Series $159.99 at Amazon for Prime members with code PRIME40 (save $90) Get Deal

Not only does Amazon serve as our one-click online retailer for buying pretty much anything, they also make some solid electronic devices. The Fire TV Stick has been a staple for many of us, and it's hard to beat the incredible Kindle Paperwhite when it comes to e-readers.

If one of your tasks this week is to upgrade some tired tech in your home before back to school hits, Amazon has some serious discounts on several devices this week. Here are some of our favorite deals to grab this week.

But before we start, it's worth mentioning that some sale prices are exclusive for Amazon Prime members. To score those deals, you'll need to be signed up and logged into your Prime account, which costs $14.99 per month or $139 annually. Prime membership comes with some pretty great perks like access to Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping on countless items, and access to exclusive sales.

Best overall smart tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $29.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you don't yet have a streaming stick that can support 4K, you might be dealing with sluggish loading times. Thankfully, today's deal on the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K solves that problem with snappy loading times and support for WiFi 6. The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K also comes with an Alexa-enabled remote, which means you can ask Alexa to start playing your favorite show or tune into a specific channel. The remote also has four pre-programmed app buttons so you can quickly tune into your favorite streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video.

Best back-to-school deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Kindle Paperwhite Kids essentials bundle $167.97 at Amazon
$202.97 Save $35.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Now that we're well into August, all eyes are on the back-to-school season. Send students off with a great e-reader by snagging the Kindle Paperwhite Kids Essentials bundle. Today's sale price of $167.97 gives you the Kindle Paperwhite Kids device with 16GB of storage space, a kid's cover, power adapter, and a screen protector. The bundle sale price knocks $35 off the price of buying these items separately.

The Kindle Paperwhite has long been the front-runner of e-books, with a screen that's designed to look like you're reading pages of a physical book. The device has a 6.8-inch screen with a glare-free design, so kids can take the reader with them to the park on a sunny day.

Amazon also added in some parental reassurance by making the Kindle Paperwhite Kids waterproof. Plus, it comes with a two-year worry-free warranty that covers accidental damage. And to make this deal even better, you also get a free year-long subscription to Amazon Kids+ which is packed with ad-free books and games for kids.

Best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Fire TV 40-inch 2-Series $159.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $90.00 Exclusive Prime member price Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon Prime members are in for a special TV deal this week. Your membership grants you eligibility to score the 40-inch Amazon Fire TV 2-Series TV for just $159.99 which means you'll get a 36% discount off the list price of $249.99. This is just $10 away from the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

If you're not a Prime member, don't worry. You can still score a discounted price of $189.99 for a 24% discount.

The 40-inch 2-Series offers 1080p HD resolution for crisp picture quality. It also comes with a Fire TV Alexa voice remote, so you can ask Alexa to replay your favorite episode or change the channel. The deal also includes TV legs should you want to set it on an entertainment center instead of mounting it to the wall.

To make this deal even better, Amazon tossed in six months of free access to MGM+ so you'll be able to stream your favorites from Hollywood.

One thing to note is that this TV doesn't support 4K resolution. If you're prioritizing getting a 4K TV, check out the Amazon Fire TV 50-inch 4-Series, which is also discounted for Prime members.

More Amazon devices on sale this week:

• Amazon Fire TV Stick — $24.99 $39.99 (save $15)

• Govee Smart LED Light Bars — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)

• Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Sengled Smart Color Bulb — $49.99 $69.98 (save $19.99)

• Echo Spot with Sengled LED Smart Light Bulb — $79.99 $99.98 (save $19.99)

• Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) with Sengled Smart Color Bulb — $89.99 $109.98 (save $19.99)

• Amazon Fire TV Soundbar — $99.99 $119.99 (save $20)

• Echo (4th Gen) with Sengled Matter Smart Bulb — $99.99 $119.98 (save $19.99)

• Amazon Fire TV Cube — $109.99 $139.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Fire TV 50-inch 4-Series — $269.99 $449.99 (Prime members save $180 with code PRIME50)

• Amazon Fire TV 55-inch 4-Series — $309.99 $519.99 (Prime members save $210 with code PRIME55)

• Amazon Fire TV 75-inch Omni QLED Series — $929.99 $1,099.99 (Prime members save $170 with code PRIME75)

Check out the best Ninja deals this week and make mealtime a snap.

Our top picks: Best air fryer deal Ninja 4-QT Air Fryer (AF101) $89.99 at Amazon (save $40 ) Get Deal Best blender deal Ninja 72-oz Professional Blender (BL610) $79.99 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal Best coffee maker deal Ninja Pods & Grounds Specialty Single-Serve Coffee Maker (PB051SG) $79.99 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal

If you’re on the hunt for new kitchen gear, Ninja’s the brand to watch this week. We’re seeing deals on everything from air fryers to blenders, and even some specialty appliances that can help streamline your meal prep and make your mornings easier.

SEE ALSO: All the best kitchen gadgets we’ve tested and loved

Here are some of our top picks for the best Ninja deals available right now:

Best air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Our pick: Ninja 4-QT Air Fryer (AF101) $89.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Ninja AF101 Air Fryer (4 QT) is a compact air fryer that can roast, reheat, dehydrate, and air fry with little to no oil — making it a healthier alternative to traditional frying. It takes three minutes to preheat and has a temperature range of 105 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s also dishwasher safe (the basket, crisper plate, and multi-layer rack), making cleanup easy.

More Ninja air fryer deals

• Ninja Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven (SP101) — $149.95 $219.99 (save $70.04)

• Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Electric Grill (AG301) — $149.99 $169.99 (save $20)

• Ninja Foodi 10 Quart 6-in-1 DualZone Smart XL Air Fryer (DZ550) — $219.99 $249.99 (save $30)

Best blender deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Our pick: Ninja 72-oz Professional Blender (BL610) $79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Ninja 72-oz Professional Blender (BL610) can crush ice, blend frozen ingredients, and purée fresh produce in seconds. It has a 64-ounce max liquid capacity and a 1000-watt motor, so you can make just about anything, from smoothies and milkshakes to sauces and dips.

More Ninja blender deals

• Ninja Blast Portable Blender (BC151MT) — $49.99 $99.99 (save $50)

• Ninja Nutri-Blender Plus (BN301) — $69.99 $79.99 (save $10)

• Ninja Two-Pack Portable Blender (BC155PS Blast) — $79.99 $112.99 (save $33)

• Ninja CREAMi Deluxe (NC501) — $219.99 $249.99 (save $30)

Best coffee maker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Our pick: Ninja Pods & Grounds Specialty Single-Serve Coffee Maker (PB051SG) $79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Ninja Pods & Grounds Specialty Single-Serve Coffee Maker (PB051SG) is basically Ninja’s version of the Keurig, except it’s a little bit fancier. It can brew both coffee pods and ground coffee, and it has a built-in, fold-away milk frother so you can add a creamy topping to your morning brew. The reservoir holds 56 ounces of water, so you won't have to refill it as often. And, it has several brew sizes to choose from: 6-, 8-, 10-, or 12-ounce pod brew or 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, 14-, or 24-ounce grounds brew.

More Ninja coffee maker deals

• Ninja Programmable XL 14-Cup Coffee Maker PRO (DCM201CP) — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker (CM401) — $139.99 $169.99 (save $30)

• Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System (CFP307) — $179.99 $239.99 (save $60)

Summer is all about packing up the car, rolling down the windows, and hitting the open road. Whether you’re beach-bound, mountain-bound, or just in it for the roadside diners, there’s something so liberating about claiming vacay days and driving out of town. 

Until you realize that the bike rack you bought doesn’t fit on your car. Or that your air mattress has a hole in it. 

Fret not, road-trippers. We’ve rounded up a quick checklist of Walmart essentials to ensure that your adventures go off without a hitch.

House of the Dragon Season 2 is over, and the long wait for Season 3 — which will reportedly be going into production early next year — begins.

But with so many cliffhangers at the end of that abrupt finale, where do we go from here? What can we expect to see next?

From some more dragon claiming to a big naval battle, here are our predictions for House of the Dragon Season 3.

SEE ALSO: How 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 is different from George R.R. Martin's 'Fire and Blood' 1. Rhaena will claim her dragon. It's been a long road through the Vale. Credit: Theo Whiteman / HBO

After spending the entirety of the Season 2 finale hiking cross-country, Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) finally found the wild dragon that's been snacking on sheep in the the Vale. We didn't see what happened next, but it's pretty obvious where this one will go in Season 3, isn't it? Poor old Rhaena has put the work in to find this dragon, so we're guessing next season will open with yet another scaly recruit for Team Black.

2. We'll finally get the Battle of the Gullet. Be ready, Lord Corlys. Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

This one isn't really a prediction, because showrunner Ryan Condal himself has confirmed it. Talking about the show in a post-finale press conference, Condal confirmed that the Battle of the Gullet will take place in Season 3. "That event will happen very shortly in terms of the storytelling of House of the Dragon," Condal said, implying it'll be one of the earlier episodes next season.

This battle revolves around the stretch of water that's been blockaded by Team Black throughout Season 2, leading to the shortage of food in King's Landing. The Gullet essentially covers the opening of Blackwater Bay, and it's where Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint) and his son Alyn (Abubaker Salim) are rowing to in the final montage. They'll be coming up against Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) and his new Triarchy friends when they get there.

3. We'll get to meet Alicent's third son, Daeron. There's another! Credit: Theo Whiteman / HBO

As we learned back in episode 6, Alicent's (Olivia Cooke's) third son Daeron is everything his brothers aren't (not a complete psychopath, in other words). And now his dragon has taken to wing, too! The Hightowers of Oldtown haven't featured much in the show so far — excepting Alicent's brother Gwayne (Freddie Fox) — but it seems likely that Daeron will be a new character introduced in the show's third season. Who else is going to fight back those pesky Beesburys and rescue poor old Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) from his jail cell? Not Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), because he's allegedly heading off to Harrenhal. Which brings us to our next point...

4. There's be some sort of Riverlands battle — but maybe not the big one. Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO

There's got to be some kind of battle in the Riverlands, hasn't there? At this point it seems inevitable. Aemond is planning to head there on his dragon Vhagar to join Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), Daemon (Matt Smith) has amassed an army at Harrenhal, and other various factions are marching off to join them both as we speak.

You could be forgiven for thinking that this will be the clash between Daemon and Aemond the show is building towards — the God's Eye moment prophesised by Helaena (Phia Saban) and possibly glimpsed in Daemon's weirwood tree vision — but we're not so sure about that. In the previously mentioned press conference, Condal described the Battle of the Gullet as "maybe the second-most-anticipated" action event in Fire and Blood. If we're going to assume God's Eye is the first, then surely we won't get both of these battles in Season 3? It seems more likely that some kind of smaller skirmish will take place in the Riverlands in Season 3, but the God's Eye battle won't happen until Season 4.

5. Rhaenyra and Alicent's plan will go wrong. Credit: Liam Daniel/HBO

At the end of Season 2, Alicent comes to Rhaenyra with a shocking proposal: Once Aemond leaves for Harrenhal, she'll let Rhaenyra enter King's Landing to claim the Iron Throne — and even let her kill her eldest son, Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Crney), as a means of ending the war. Obviously it's not going to be that simple though, is it? For one, Aegon is no longer in King's Landing — he's en route to Essos with Larys (Matthew Needham), who had the foresight to see things were about to go south quickly. Our bet? Either Alicent will cancel the arrangement when she realises Aegon is gone, or Rhaenyra will arrive and think she's been tricked. Maybe if she does enter King's Landing, though, Aemond will be forced to divert his attention away from Harrenhal and concentrate on winning back Westeros' capitol?

House of the Dragon Season 2 is now streaming on Max.

Stop me if this sounds familiar: You've set up the perfect video shoot, you've got the best audio track playing as background, you fire up the Camera app on your iPhone, you start the recording...and then the music dies. Once again, you've forgotten that the iPhone does not allow for audio playback while shooting video with the Camera app.

It does make some sense in some situations — presumably when you want the video to record environmental sounds — but in others, you just want to shoot the video with an audio track as background in the most simple manner possible.

Now, in the latest iOS 18 beta (as noticed by MacRumors), you can do so. To enable this, go to Settings - Camera - Record Sound and make sure that the "Allow Audio Playback" toggle is on.

SEE ALSO: iOS 18.1 developer beta has the new Call Recording feature. Here's how to use it. Finally! Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Due to the proximity of the iPhone's speaker to its microphones, the results won't be perfect; I've tried it out, and the audio in the resulting video can be a little harsh. To get the best result, you might want to turn down the audio volume a little before starting your recording.

The feature is currently only available in iOS 18 beta, but it should become available for everyone when the final version of iOS 18 becomes available in the fall.

Written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón and based on Renée Knight's novel, Apple TV+'s "Disclaimer" series stars Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline. Trailer.

TL;DR: Put all your AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini Pro, and Leonardo.AI in one place with a lifetime subscription to 1minAI, an all-in-one AI app, on sale for just $39.99 (reg. $234). 

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1minAI: Lifetime Subscription $39.99 at The Mashable Shop
$234.00 Save $194.01 Get Deal

The free version of some AI models like ChatGPT can get the job done, but if you want the good stuff, you should consider opting for a paid subscription.  

1minAI consolidates many of the most popular AI models — like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Meta AI — into one platform where you can use them all seamlessly, whether you need to generate text, images, or even full videos. A lifetime subscription to 1minAI usually costs $234, but you can get one on sale now for $39.99. 

What can you do with 1minAI

1minAI gives you one platform where you can access AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Meta AI, Mistral AI, and more. You don't just get the baseline version, either — 1minAI users can chat with GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, Gemini Pro 1.5, and Llama 2 or Llama 3. 

Like a ton of other AI platforms, 1minAI has a limit to how much you can generate every month. Unlike other platforms, the limit is incredibly high. Here's what your lifetime subscription gets you every month. 

First, you get a baseline of 1,000,000 credits per month. Then, every day you log in, you get an additional 15,000 free credits. These will roll over if you don't use them all, too. 

In practice, those huge numbers mean you could generate up to 362,500 words, research nearly 2,000 SEO keywords, generate 386 images, upscale 241 images, remove 24 backgrounds, convert text to speech for over 120,000 characters, and generate up to 12 videos. 

Your AI Swiss Army Knife

Put all your go-to AI tools in one place. Get a lifetime subscription to 1minAI for $39.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Amid an incredible, Olivier Award-winning run on the West End, the Upside Down is heading for Broadway, with the Stranger Things play set to debut next year.

Based on an original story by Stranger Things creators The Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things: The First Shadow blew audiences away in London after premiering at the Phoenix Theatre in Dec. 2023. A technical marvel and Netflix's stage debut, the play will open at Marquis Theatre in New York on Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025.

Directed by Stephen Daldry with Justin Martin, the play was written by Stranger Things writer and co-executive producer Kate Trefry, with a narrative based on a story by Trefry, the Duffer Brothers, and The Cursed Child's Jack Thorne (a lotta folks involved).

SEE ALSO: 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' review: How does Netflix do the stage?

The Last Shadow takes you back to the beginning of the Stranger Things story in 1959, 20 years before the events of the series. At Hawkins High School, Indiana, you'll meet younger versions of residents Jim Hopper (played in London by Oscar Lloyd), Joyce Maldonado (Isabella Pappas), Bob Newby (Christopher Buckley), and Henry Creel (Louis McCartney), who's struggling to get through high school let alone eventually becoming the villainous Vecna. Casting hasn't been announced for the Broadway run, but the cast I saw in London, who I've put in brackets here, were absolutely phenomenal.

The West End production has been a smash hit. Credit: Manuel Harlan

Technically, the show is a true stagecraft wonder — there's a lot of The Cursed Child alumni here, including technical director Gary Beestone, and illusions and visual effects designers Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher. Plus, Broadway audiences will be wowed by the gorgeous, Olivier-winning set design by Miriam Buether.

As I wrote in my review of the London premiere: "All in all, Stranger Things: The First Shadow is an exceptional achievement in technical stagecraft, boasting a talented, engaging cast, and showing us an earlier side of Hawkins we're only given glimpses of in the series. It's really a story for fans, so newcomers to the franchise might be left a little confused starting with the play. But Netflix's first stage show proves that Netflix money can transcend mediums, provided a talented group is behind it."

The technical marvels are worth the ticket price alone. Credit: Manuel Harlan How do I get a ticket to the Stranger Things play on Broadway?

It's obviously the next question, right?

You can now register for priority access to tickets from strangerthingsonstage.com — signup closes Sept 12, 11:59 p.m. ET. People who have signed up for presale tickets will be emailed with more information on Sept 13. General sale will be Sept 17, 11 a.m. ET.

Tickets to the London show were not cheap and sold extremely quickly, so expect a pretty penny for these. At present, the West End production has extended its run to December 2024.

TL;DR: A lifetime license to PDF Converter Pro is on sale for just 24.97 (reg. $99.99) through August 11. Converting formats, merge documents, and compress files with one tool for 75% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker PDF Converter Pro: Lifetime License $24.99 at The Mashable Shop
$99.99 Save $75.00 Get Deal

You know that sinking feeling when you’re rushing to convert a PDF but end up on one of those sketchy, "free" websites? When you hit that page that asks for your credit card info, you leave frustrated and have to start from scratch.

We’ll be the first to admit that it sucks to pay to change the format of a document, but if you’re going to do it, do it right. A lifetime license to PDF Converter Pro is on sale for just 24.97 (reg. $99.99) through August 11. Converting formats, merge documents, and compress files with one tool for 75% off.

Don’t settle for sketchy — go pro

You’re paying for a lot more than just converting to and from PDF to Microsoft Word, Excel, Text, HTML, JPG, and more file types — PDF Converter Pro also has OCR capabilities. 

Go ahead and upload a document so you can search within it. Maybe there’s something in the meeting notes you want to highlight, but you don’t want to spend an hour reading the entire thing to find it. Or, you could use the tool to digitize your handwritten notes.

Did you also notice that ‘Pro’ in the name? That means you’ll be able to do more than those free tools offer. You can merge multiple documents together or split them apart, extract images, or compress files if they’re too large to send. You might even add a password lock to your PDFs if you have a private contract or form that you want encrypted. 

This lifetime license works on both Windows and Mac, and you can install it on two computers.

Ditch the sketchy tools and own PDF Converter Pro for life while it’s $24.97 (reg. $99.99) through August 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed for this price drop.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a credit card-size tracking device that works with Apple Find My on sale for $34.99 (reg. $39.99) with free shipping.

Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart KeySmart SmartCard tracker $34.95 at The Mashable Shop
$39.99 Save $5.04 Works with Apple Find My Get Deal

How many times have you been late to work because you couldn’t find your wallet? Sometimes, it feels like it's playing hide-and-seek as you frantically check coat pockets, between couch cushions, and even in the fridge (because you can’t rule anything out).

Imagine being able to open your iPhone, push a call button, and hear your wallet calling out to you in seconds instead of tearing apart your house. All you need is a KeySmart SmartCard, an AirTag dupe. Right now, it’s only $34.99 (reg. $39.99) with free shipping.

Get peace of mind with your belongings

This tracker is kind of like the Apple AirTag, except you can slide it right into your wallet — and it’s rechargeable. Toss it onto your Qi wireless charging pad once every five or so months, and you’re all set, whereas the AirTag requires you to outright replace the batteries.

Your SmartCard works with the Apple Find My app, so you can track your keys, wallet, luggage, or whatever else you want at any time. It can even prevent you from losing things in the first place by notifying you when you leave something behind. Then, you can turn back and grab it before it’s too late.

But, if you ever so devastatingly lose your wallet (like, they’re actually gone and not just in your fridge this time), you can view them in Lost Mode on the Find My app. This shows their last-known location and the contact information of anyone who finds your card.

Stop playing cat and mouse. Start keeping track of your belongings with the KeySmart SmartCard for $34.99 with free shipping.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

For Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), green is out and blue is in.

House of the Dragon's dowager queen made green her signature color all the way back in Season 1, a reference to the green fire House Hightower lights in Oldtown when it calls its banners to war. Since then, the color green became synonymous not just with Alicent, but with her son Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) and his supporters.

SEE ALSO: The 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 finale, explained

However, Alicent switches things up in the last two episodes of Season 2. On her episode 7 camping trip to the Kingswood, she wears a dark blue-green cloak over a lighter blue dress. The subtle color change from her usual wardrobe is just one hint at her shifting allegiance to Team Green, but the episode takes it even further. When Alicent sheds her outer layers before swimming in a lake in a simple white dress, the meaning is clear. Powerless, undermined, and unable to stop the folly of war, Alicent is giving up the duty she's spent her whole life upholding.

She tells her old friend and royal adversary Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) as much in the Season 2 finale, when she travels to Dragonstone to propose a bold new plan to end the war. As soon as her son, Prince Regent Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), flies off to the Riverlands, Alicent says, she will surrender King's Landing to Rhaenyra, the named heir to the Iron Throne. In return, she asks that she be allowed to go free with her daughter, Queen Helaena (Phia Saban), so the two can live the kind of unburdened lives they never had the freedom to choose.

Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Liam Daniel/HBO

The whole scene is a House of the Dragon highlight, down to the tearful moment when Alicent agrees to give up Aegon's life in exchange for Rhaenyra's victory. But the scene also continues Alicent's telling fashion journey from what we saw in episode 7. Here, Alicent's whole outfit is a light blue — no traces of green here! Also missing are any symbols linking back to the Faith of the Seven, another key element of Alicent's queenly persona. These visual choices from costume designer Jany Temimes help underscore the change Alicent has undergone over the season: she's officially ready to relinquish her power and status.

But why light blue, specifically? Couldn't House of the Dragon have picked any color to show Alicent's shift away from her old ways? In theory, yes. However, light blue actually holds a specific meaning for Alicent and Rhaenyra's relationship in House of the Dragon, making it the perfect choice for Alicent's final transformation.

Light blue actually holds a specific meaning for Alicent and Rhaenyra's relationship in 'House of the Dragon.'

In the very first episode of House of the Dragon, when young Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) and Alicent (Emily Carey) are at their closest, Alicent wears a light blue dress. Later, as things begin to deteriorate between the two, we see Alicent in a darker blue dress, then in Targaryen red and gold. Throughout all these changes, that first light blue dress remains the costume most closely associated with the love Rhaenyra and Alicent have for one another.

Emily Carey and Mily Alcock in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO

Notably, it's also the dress she's wearing when Rhaenyra tears a page out of a history book during one of their earliest conversations — the same page Alicent sends Rhaenyra in the Season 1 finale in an attempt to remind her of their old friendship and sue for peace. That move feels like the precursor to Alicent's actions in the Season 2 finale, where she once again relies on her connection to Rhaenyra to stop further bloodshed. Only this time, Alicent is trying to work with Rhaenyra, instead of against her.

Alicent's light blue dress and cloak in the House of the Dragon Season 2 finale call back to that Season 1 dress, and all the feelings that come with it. But they also point to Alicent's state of mind moving forward. If she truly wants to live as herself, without the trappings of duty that were thrust upon her as a child, doesn't a return to her youthful, pre-queen state seem like the best place to start? (We also see this when Alicent bites her nails at a pivotal point during her talk with Rhaenyra, a devastating callback to young Alicent worrying at her nails as well.)

But Alicent doesn't just want to free herself. She also wants to free Rhaenyra, begging her to "come with me" in what has to be one the most (doomed) romantic moments of the season. Rhaenyra, for her part, is unable to go, trapped as she is under the weight of war and Targaryen history. However, Alicent's runaway proposal doesn't seem as unappealing to her as Criston Cole's (Fabien Frankel) back in Season 1. Maybe Rhaenyra does want to go back to those early days where she and Alicent sat together under the Red Keep weirwood tree, talking about history and cake without any fear of war, or marrying your best friend's dad. If Rhaenyra ever trades her black clothing for her Season 1 gold to match Alicent's new light blue style, then we'll know for sure.

House of the Dragon Season 2 is now streaming on Max.

HBO's Max has shared a behind-the-scenes for "House of the Dragon" Season 2's prosthetics workshop.

"The Daily Show" host Michael Kosta has reacted to Kamala Harris' VP pick, Tim Walz.

Disney has announced another price hike across all of its streaming services.

The company buried the announcement at the end of an unrelated blog post on Tuesday, with price increases across the board from Oct. 17.

SEE ALSO: Disney, Fox, Warner sports streaming service Venu announces price and launch date

The new monthly pricing for streaming services Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ is as follows:

• Disney+ With Ads: $9.99 (up from $7.99)

• Disney+: $15.99 (up from $13.99)

• Hulu With Ads: $9.99 (up from $7.99)

• Hulu: $18.99 (up from $17.99)

• ESPN+ With Ads: $11.99 (up from $10.99)

• Hulu+ Live TV With Ads: $82.99 (up from $76.99)

• Hulu+ Live TV: $95.99 (up from $89.99)

Disney's Duo Basic bundle has also gotten pricier, going up to $10.99 per month (up from $9.99). However, the Duo Premium still has the same price: $19.99 per month.

Disney's increased prices were tacked on to the end of the blog post, which sported an inconspicuous headline about "continuous playlists" — and yes, continuous playlists are indeed coming on Sept. 4. Disney detailed four streaming playlist themes in its post: Seasonal Content, Epic Stories, Throwbacks, and Real Life.

While unfortunate for subscribers, the price hikes are expected as they follow similar price increases from other streaming services including Max, Peacock, and Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Disney hacked, apparently by angry Club Penguin fans

What's concerning is that this is Disney's third price hike in less than two years. The company increased pricing in Dec. 2022, followed by another price hike in August 2023. And if we're counting from 2019, when Disney first introduced Disney+, the prices have more than doubled.

TL;DR: Use code CONNECT to get this VPN router for $169 with free shipping (save $50), and browse securely with no monthly payments or ads.

Being emotionally attached to your VPN is so real (especially if it brought Friends back to your Netflix account), but does it treat you right? You might be paying a fortune in monthly fees for mediocre features and security when this router would treat you like royalty. Just don’t go all Joaquin Phoenix in Her on us.

It’s like your VPN, but better. Well, we think so, but we’ll let you be the judge of that. Instead of monthly payments, you can use this router’s VPN servers forever for $169 (reg. $219) with code CONNECT. You’ll even get free shipping for a limited time.

No hassle, no fees, and no ads

This router is even easier to set up than your current VPN. Plug it into a USB-C device for power and connect your devices to it like you would Wi-Fi. You’re allowed five connections at once, like your phone, laptop, and smart TV.

Emphasis on the latter because it also blocks ads on your connected devices. The manufacturer claims the router stops all ads, even those on YouTube or your streaming services, so now you can watch Friends on Netflix and skip the ads all at once. Okay, now we can see why Joaquin fell in love in that movie.  

Let’s talk security. Since this router is a physical device compared to virtual networks, your data isn’t stored on external servers. This decentralized aspect, along with military-grade encryption on its 150,000+ available servers, means you’ll likely be far more protected from cyber threats than you were with your VPN. 

Your VPN simply can’t compete. If you want to upgrade, now is the time: Get the Deeper Connect Air router for $169 with free shipping (reg. $219) using code CONNECT at checkout for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Deeper Network Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router $169.00 at The Mashable Shop
$219.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Let's talk about sex — more specifically, about the fact that some of us are opting not to have it. Celibacy is a hot topic in pop culture, evidenced by the return of the Netflix series Too Hot To Handle, where contestants attempt to abstain from sex for prize money. Beyond Netflix, people — women in particular — are opening up about their decision to be celibate online and coining terms about it like "boy sober." 

Between 2007 and 2017, the number of young men and women having casual sex both dropped, according to a 2021 paper in the sociological research journal Socius. The paper's authors stated that this decline is consistent with the general decrease in sex young adults are experiencing.

SEE ALSO: I got stood up. I refuse to let dating app culture break my spirit.

But is the way we talk about celibacy helpful, or does it reinforce unhelpful stigma and stereotypes? 

Why are so many women choosing to be celibate?

Choosing to be celibate could stem from a range of personal reasons, from experiences of sexual violence to looking inward and figuring out what one actually wants.

Gabrielle, 26, decided to go celibate after getting hurt too many times in the dating scene and wanting to reevaluate her priorities. "Being celibate has been a game-changer for me," she tells Mashable. Gabrielle and others are referred to by their first names only for privacy reasons.

"It's not about punishing myself or depriving myself of pleasure. It's about taking control of my own life, my own body, and my own happiness," she continues. "It's about saying, 'You know what, I'm worth something, even if it's just to myself.' And that's a powerful feeling." 

Sexologist and relationship therapist Madalaine Munro explains that there are many benefits to opting for celibacy, temporarily or otherwise. These include finding "a more intentional approach to how you get your needs met in life" as well celibacy being a chance to "reflect on your relationship patterns and what you really need from dating and relationships." You're able to explore where you may source your self-worth and external validation, and focus on other important areas of your life.

It seems that celibacy is being discussed by and large by women. For example, the term "boy sober" is trending on TikTok (with over 29 million posts at time of writing), referring to elected celibacy predominantly by women — and the subsequent benefits for their own wellbeing. The 4B movement — the supporters of which reject traditional heteronormative values and refuse to be sexually or romantically involved with men, or have children — may have started in South Korea, but has gained traction and fascination all over the internet.

"Women experience both hyper-sexualisation, objectification and slutshaming, so it can be confusing to have such extremes projected onto them and their choices," Munro explains.

And, of course, asexuality exists on a spectrum. Some people may not desire sex at all, or are repulsed by the idea of sex.

For allosexuals (people who do feel sexual desire and attraction), is this trend most dominant with heterosexual women? Munro says so, and explains that from her viewpoint this happens because "they realise that their emotional needs may not have been met in the sex they are experiencing." But, she says she has also noticed celibate trends within the queer community as well, in terms of making "empowered choices around sex and relationships."

Bumble's celibacy fumble

The online conversation around celibacy became more heated when dating app Bumble released adverts making fun at celibacy at best, and shaming it at worst. One billboard read: "You know full well a vow of celibacy is not the answer." Another stated, "Thou shalt not give up on dating and become a nun." 

The fact that a company so deeply entrenched in how we date can make such tone deaf comments about a healthy and valid lifestyle choice is concerning.

Critics of Bumble's adverts took to the internet, with one posting on TikTok: "Imagine pretending to be a Dating App FOR WOMEN and launching a million dollar ad campaign BLAMING WOMEN for a very normal reaction [to] men's violence." Another posted: "Stay away from companies that try to ridicule women for their personal choices."

Model and journalist Jordan Emanuel posted on X (formally known as Twitter): "In a world fighting for respect and autonomy over our bodies, it's appalling to see a dating platform undermine women's choices. Wasn't this app supposed to empower women to date on their terms?"

Bumble apologised in a statement over social media. "For years, Bumble has passionately stood up for women and marginalised communities, and their right to fully exercise personal choice," it reads. "We didn't live up to these values with this campaign and we apologise for the harm it caused." 

One of the ironies from this outrage and apology is that many women are opting for celibacy because they are frustrated by modern dating, the state of which Bumble helped shape. One of the most popular dating apps ridiculing this choice says a lot about the stigma surrounding celibacy.

Actress and model Julia Fox even weighed in on her own experience of being celibate, responding to a viral TikTok criticising Bumble's campaign. She wrote: "2.5 years of celibacy and never been better." When asked more about this during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohen, Fox divulged a very political and personal reason for her celibacy.

"I think with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and you know, our rights being stripped away from us, this is a way that I can take back control," she said. "And it just sucks that it has to be that way, but I just don't feel comfortable until things change." (Fox has since come out as a lesbian.)

The stigma around celibacy

So with the increasing popularity of celibacy and the harsh backlash Bumble faced, why are societal attitudes often leaning towards stigmatising and shaming it? What is the larger impact of controversies like Bumble's "fumble"?

Munro explains that this stigma exists because celibacy "goes against the hyper-fixation and glorification of romantic relationships by pop culture." 

"It receives stigmatisation in society because people aren't taught that it may be an empowered choice growing up," Munro says.

SEE ALSO: Predictions for sex in the future that some will love — and some will hate

It's also not in the best interest of dating app companies for people to be opting out of dating and sex, explaining why many may not initially encourage celibacy as a choice for their users. "A movement in celibacy directly impacts dating app subscriptions," Munro explains. It doesn't help that users are increasingly sick of dating apps for other reasons, and starting to choose other options like IRL dating events.

Feeling any shame or stigma around celibacy may make modern dating and relationships even harder to navigate. "Stigmatising celibacy creates shame around dating and intimacy choices, which can lead to people feeling that something they are doing is somehow wrong or that they should be doing something differently," Munro says. "It makes it seem that celibacy could be a wrong choice when actually it may be the first time someone is looking inwards around their relationship needs." 

Pros and cons of celibacy

"Celibacy often helps women create their own relationship to pleasure and sex without unhealthy narratives of society," Munro says.

You may choose to continue to masturbate during a celibate period, which can help you experience your own sexual pleasure directly. Munro explains that in a sexual relationship with a partner, you may experience indirect pleasure, from someone else's pleasure, instead of your own. "Celibacy gives you the opportunity to get clear on what feels good in your body, what turns you on, what you like and don't like without the interference of how somebody else may respond," she says, adding that the gender orgasm gap "may contribute towards women's choice to go celibate as they may not be experiencing the pleasure they truly want in relationships and intimacy." 

Patience, 31, tells Mashable that masturbation is a central part of being celibate for her. "I still masturbate, and it's been a big part of why I chose celibacy," she says. "By focusing on self-pleasure, I've learned more about my body, sexuality — knowing what I like and strengthening intimacy on all levels within myself. This has made me feel more confident and in control of my own pleasure without needing someone else."

Finding intimacy and alignment with yourself through celibacy could help you find better and deeper intimacy with others, should you choose to in the future. It's important to remember that a choice to be celibate doesn't have to be permanent.

"Often women share that their dating standards increase after celibacy, because they are so much clearer on what they will and won't accept in dating," Munro explains.

However, she warns that while we should champion celibacy as a valid choice and source of empowerment, we must also be aware of drawbacks. She advises anyone partaking in celibacy to beware of feelings of inner peace and safety leading to "hyper-independence" or "an avoidant attachment strategy," and advises seeking support in maintaining intimacy and connection if they notice this happening. 

She also explains that celibacy can lead to shame around sexual choices as well as harmful purity thinking. "It's important to be flexible and open around your choices for celibacy, and be open that you may have different needs at different times in your life," Munro says. 

Above all, she says that celibacy shouldn't cut off your connection to your sexuality altogether, but give you space to reprioritise or reorient your relationship to your body and self.

While the fight against celibacy stigma and shame continues, it's important to focus on the wins. For example, dating app Feeld recently added celibacy as a "desire style" for user profiles, and an increasing amount of women are finding peace and empowerment through exploring celibacy. And there's nothing shameful about that.

Tilman Singer's Cuckoo is a fun midnight genre romp that works despite its goofiest elements. A mountainous horror film reminiscent of The Shining — albeit with far more overt body horror — it follows the travails of a family of four as they take up residence near a fancy lodge in an isolated corner of the German Alps.

When strange sounds emanating from nearby forests begin to have bizarre bodily effects on some of the guests, moody 17-year-old Gretchen (Hunter Schafer of Euphoria) ends up stumbling upon an ongoing investigation into something both silly and sinister. With its tightly wound atmosphere and an impeccable ensemble that throws everything at the wall, Cuckoo emerges as a largely unique work despite its many familiar elements, thanks in part to its increasingly twisted implications surrounding gender and biology. It's incredibly strange and deviously fun.

SEE ALSO: New 'Cuckoo' trailer teases Hunter Schafer trapped in an eerie mountain nightmare What is Cuckoo about? Greta Fernández plays Trixie in "Cuckoo." Credit: NEON

Before introducing its central characters, Cuckoo's mysterious prologue orients the viewer in a realm of familial and bodily dysfunction. In a rural cottage in the dead of night, silhouettes of an unhappily married husband and wife yelling at one another dovetail into shots of a teenage girl — presumably their daughter — waking up in her bedroom and stepping outside to avoid the unpleasantries. Suddenly, a prolonged screeching somewhere in the distance begins to take hold of her, as she writhes and seemingly begins moving against her will.

For any explanations for these oddities, you'll have to wait well over an hour into the film's mere 102 minutes. In the meantime, Singer crafts an alluring character drama the moment he introduces his central cast. As Luis (Marton Csókás), his wife Beth (Jessica Henwick), and their selectively silent daughter Alma (Mila Lieu) drive their family car up the hillside to their new home on a lush resort, Gretchen — Luis's daughter from a previous marriage — rides behind them in the moving van. This dynamic conveys an immediate sense of disillusionment with the family unit. Where Luis, Beth, and Alma dress in fancy, earthy sweaters and put on polite fronts, Gretchen's loose, baggy clothing and flailing, irritable body language set her apart. She feels like an outsider, rejected by her own clan, and she wants nothing more than to return to her mother's home in the U.S.

SEE ALSO: How Dan Stevens developed his wild character in 'Cuckoo'

Once the family arrives, they're greeted by the resort's owner, Mr. König (Dan Stevens), a cartoonishly seedy sort clearly hiding something twisted beneath his welcoming demeanor. It's as though Stevens had been directed to play Victor Frankenstein by way of Christoph Waltz. His vibes are immediately rancid and uncanny, lacing every exchange between him and Gretchen's family — especially his interest in young Alma — with a sense of leery possibility. It feels like anything can happen in Cuckoo, even before anything actually does.

König eventually finds Gretchen a receptionist job at the lodge nearby, though he gives her strict instructions not to stay too long after dark. Gretchen, being a snotty, unhappy teenager, does exactly as she pleases. But when she bicycles home late one night, she ends up being chased by a shadowy figures only seen in glimpses. Gretchen's pursuer inexplicably appears to be a well-dressed mid-century starlet, "normal" in every way except for her ferocity and her glowing red eyes.

No one seems to believe Gretchen, despite her scars and injuries from the encounter. That is, no one except for local police detective Henry (Jan Bluthardt), who not only takes it upon himself to protect Gretchen, but inexplicably enlists her help in what appears to be an ongoing investigation. Before long, Cuckoo becomes a bizarre buddy-cop movie of sorts, with each scene resulting in a more ghastly injury for Gretchen, akin to Homer Simpson plummeting off a cliff and hitting every branch on the way down. It's a treat to watch, even before the film offers any indication whatsoever about what's going on.

Cuckoo's eerie filmmaking is incredibly effective. Dan Stevens as Herr Konig in "Cuckoo." Credit: NEON

A nestling rejected by her own family, Gretchen becomes the center of a distinctly avian-themed work of sci-fi horror. Not only does König have an affinity for discussing the biology and sociology of specific birds, but the peculiar screeching that seems to rattle Gretchen and her half-sister has a bird-like quality, too. Its arrival is also usually marked by dim, disconnected close-ups of a woman's vibrating chest, as though it were a kind of mating call.

However, even when the film isn't directly confronting this animalistic theme — and its eventual implications about "natural order," which comes up plenty in the dialogue — Singer's roving camera never stops searching empty spaces for a place to land and perch itself. Its slow zooms and push-ins feel mischievous. The film has few (if any) traditional jump scares, because it depends largely on inducing a creeping dread, both visually and thematically, as its tale of conspiracies and experiments unfolds.

Much of the tension Singer builds springs from the doubts and reflections he carefully seeds into his script. From the familial rejection and personal isolation felt by Gretchen to her brief, liberating respite when she meets and secretly falls for a boyishly dressed older lesbian at the resort (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey's magnetic Ed), the specter of conformity and the confines of nuclear family loom large over every scene. Even Cuckoo's monstrous, red-eyed woman has a distinctly and traditionally feminine appearance, adding to the sense that deep-seated notions of gender are forever biting at Gretchen's heels. Eventually, when the plot's specifics come into view — via some rather clunky exposition — these notions are not only further centered, but become perverted in delightful ways. You've never seen a film make vaginal discharge seem this sinister.

That Schafer is a trans woman only enhances this subtext, even though her character’s identity in this regard goes unmentioned. However, what she brings to the role is much more exceptional than nominal representation, given the amount of emotional legwork involved.

Hunter Schafer delivers an incredible performance. Hunter Schafer stars as Gretchen in "Cuckoo." Credit: NEON

Cuckoo doesn't always work. It's rife with jagged edges and thuddingly obvious metaphors about the long-standing, deep-seated nature of gendered expectations.. However, what's practically indisputable is Hunter Schafer's arrival as a major movie presence, writing entire treatises on the body and the way it keeps the score, even in her stillness.

Take, for instance, the positioning of her hands at her sides, stiff and motionless except for a few twitchy movements of her fingers. At first glance, it's textbook teenage "awkward," a choice that flirts with self-parody, until its function becomes clear. Gretchen happens to carry a switchblade for her protection, and when she finally swishes it around, the motion of her fingers suddenly makes perfect sense. These movements are mirror images of one another, as though Gretchen were always on guard, always at the ready to defend herself from bodily harm. Schafer brings a sense of paranoia to every frame, as if Gretchen had previously been a victim of some sort of targeted harassment — once again, enhancing the film's queer subtext without uttering it out loud.

Equally noteworthy is the way Schafer navigates the emotions of simple domestic scenes, accepting her father's rejection — and his seeming preference for Alma, his more traditionally feminine daughter — with a sense of resignation, as though it were her lot in life. Her teenage jadedness is always rooted in something deeply, fundamentally human that lives just beneath the surface of her body language, like she's telling the story with her arms, her shoulders, her eyes.

That she goes to some difficult emotional places in addition to this, places that require enormous on-screen vulnerability, is just the cherry on top. It's also what prevents Cuckoo from flying entirely off the rails when it gets too caught up in its own ridiculous lore (which, unfortunately, never reaches the freakish apotheosis it seems to promise). Whatever the film's more overt horrors, whether its chilling atmosphere or its attempts at amusing moral and visceral obscenities, they're all bound by Schafer's increasing physical and emotional despondency. She doesn't just save the movie. She is the movie, making it all the more remarkable to watch.

Cuckoo opens in theaters Aug. 9.

UPDATE: Aug. 5, 2024, 1:24 p.m. EDT "Cuckoo" was originally reviewed out of the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.