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Horror continues to dominate the box office this October, with new release Smile 2 taking in $9.4 million from its Oct. 18 opening day and preview screenings. Variety says that's more than the original Smile's $8.2 million.
SEE ALSO: 'Smile 2' review: This is going to ruin the tour!The pop star-centric sequel — which Mashable's Monica Castillo called "even more fun and gory this time around" in her review — isn't the only horror movie to crack the box office top five this week. Gore-fest Terrifier 3, which topped the box office last week, is poised to come in third after earning $2.9 million this Friday.
Meanwhile, Dreamworks' The Wild Robot continues to hold strong at second, and will likely cross the $100 million domestic mark over the rest of the weekend, even as the film lands on digital. Rounding out the top five are We Live in Time, starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which is on track to become the fourth highest-grossing film of 2024 in the US.
As for Joker: Folie à Deux? It continues to underperform, falling out of the top five with a whimper.
Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days have come and gone, but the retailer is gearing up for the holidays and sneaking in some discounts along the way. To help you get ahead of your holiday shopping, we browsed Amazon’s latest deals to find the best bang for your buck.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Oct. 19. If you’re not impressed, don't worry — we'll be back tomorrow with more discounted goods. You can also check out our deals list from Oct. 18 and Oct. 17. Most of these deals are still live, including the LG CordZero All-in-One Auto Empty cordless vacuum and $50 off the Fibit Google Ace LTE kids smartwatch.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Tune Flex true wireless noise-canceling earbuds (small, black) $49.95 at AmazonRight now, you can get the JBL Tune Flex true wireless noise-canceling earbuds (small, black) for just $49.95. That’s a 50% discount and a whopping $50 off their regular price. This is the lowest price we’ve seen these earbuds go for, making it a killer deal if you're in the market for a new pair of noise-canceling buds.
The JBL Tune Flex earbuds are designed with 12mm drivers so you can hear that signature JBL Pure Bass sound. They also feature active noise-canceling technology and have two microphones for clear voice pickup on calls. Plus, with Ambient Aware, you can tune in and out of your surroundings whenever you want.
Best fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Oura Oura Ring Gen3 Horizon $299.00 at AmazonCheck out our full review of the Oura Ring 4.
The Oura Ring Gen3 Horizon is still at its early Prime Day price of $299, down from $349. (This deal is valid on the black and silver models.) It’s also $100 less than the Samsung Galaxy Ring.
If you’re not sure which size to get, you can order an Oura Ring Gen3 sizing kit and receive a $10 Amazon credit toward your purchase.
The Oura Ring Gen3 Horizon can track your sleep, daily activity, stress levels, and heart rate. You’ll also get free access to Oura's membership program for one month. After that, it’s $5.99 per month. The Oura Ring is compatible with Android and iOS, so you can sync it with apps like Google Health Connect, Natural Cycles, and others.
Best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 50-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K UHD smart TV $279.99 at AmazonIf you’re on the hunt for a new TV that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, the 50-inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K UHD smart TV is on sale for $279.99 — that’s $170 off, and a record-low price.
This Fire TV has a 4K Ultra HD display and Dolby Digital Plus, so you can watch your favorite shows, movies, and more in bright and vibrant detail. It also has Alexa built-in; just press the button and ask her to find shows, adjust the volume, and more.
With four HDMI ports and compatibility with Amazon Fire TV, Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, Hulu, and more, this is a great budget-friendly option for gamers, movie lovers, and anyone else who wants a smart TV without paying smart TV prices.
Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Air Fryer 4-in-1 (AF101) $89.99 at AmazonThe Ninja Air Fryer 4-in-1 (AF101) is $89.99 at Amazon. That’s $40 off, and it's a pretty solid deal for a top-rated air fryer.
With a 4-quart capacity and 4-in-1 versatility, this appliance can air fry, roast, reheat, and dehydrate. The ceramic-coated nonstick basket and crisper plate (both of which are dishwasher-friendly) can fit up to two pounds of french fries at a time.
It’s super simple to use, with a digital control panel and push-button control. And, if you’re unsure what to cook, it comes with a 20-recipe booklet for inspiration.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
Penguin Random House (PRH), the largest of the Big Five publishing imprints, is pushing back against its published works being used to train AI.
As first reported by The Bookseller, PRH has changed its copyright wording to target AI. The new rules state that "no part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems." This statement will appear in all new titles across PRH's imprints, as well as reprints of backlist titles.
SEE ALSO: An AI is getting very rich off crypto. It gets weirder.PRH's changing of its copyright wording to combat AI training makes it the first of the Big Five publishers to take such an action against AI, at least publicly. Mashable has reached out to the remaining Big Five trade publishers — Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster — for comment.
PRH's move is the latest in a series of copyright actions by publishers against AI scraping. In late 2023, The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement, and in Oct. of 2024, they also sent a cease and desist letter to the Jeff Bezos-backed AI startup Perplexity. And with companies allowing seemingly anything to be trained for AI, from X posts to LinkedIn data, who can blame them?
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 MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, October 19, 2024:
AcrossLawyer's assignmentThe answer is Case.
The answer is Later.
The answer is Bother.
The answer is Volleys.
The answer is Ariana.
The answer is Pends.
The answer is Edgy.
The answer is Cat Lady.
The answer is Athens.
The answer is See ya.
The answer is Errs.
The answer is LOLing.
The answer is Bored.
The answer is Vape.
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 GamesAre 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.
Scientists have discovered small, potentially habitable areas on Mars where life could, in theory, transform sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into oxygen, according to a new NASA study.
Though the research doesn't mean photosynthetic aliens are indeed living in these environments now — or even that they were there in the past — the findings provide the U.S. space agency with attractive targets for future searches.
For years, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter — a spacecraft circling the Red Planet — has seen white material lining dry gullies thought to be dusty water ice. This environment in the Martian tropics could be mottled with small pockets of meltwater, similar to features found within glaciers on Earth.
A team has proposed that simple lifeforms like microbes could potentially find refuge up to 10 feet below the Red Planet's surface in these ice deposits found near the Martian equator.
"If we’re trying to find life anywhere in the universe today, Martian ice exposures are probably one of the most accessible places we should be looking," said Aditya Khuller, lead author of the study, in a statement.
SEE ALSO: Past life on Mars? Here's what new NASA evidence points to. NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spots several gullies tipped in white, believed to be areas of dusty ice. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / University of ArizonaOver the course of several ice ages spanning eons, snow mixed with dust fell on the ground of Mars, a world an average of 140 million miles away. That ancient snow — now ice — still contains flecks of dust.
Through computer simulations, the team demonstrated that a habitable zone could exist on Mars in ice with such dust. Their paper, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, suggests that just the right amount of sunlight could penetrate the ice to allow photosynthesis to occur in pockets of meltwater below an icy layer.
But why, pray tell, does a pinch of dirt matter?
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter flies over a gully believed to have areas of dusty ice similar to those modeled in the study. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / University of ArizonaOn Earth, dust within ice can form so-called cryoconite holes — small areas where dust carried by wind lands on the ground, absorbs sunlight, warms up, and then melts deeper into the ice each summer. Eventually the particles stop sinking, but they continue to create enough heat to melt small pools of water around them.
And when this process happens here, the water holes tend to be brimming with life, hosting entire ecosystems: algae, fungi, and microscopic cyanobacteria, for instance, all of which get their energy from photosynthesis.
"This is a common phenomenon on Earth," said co-author Phil Christensen of Arizona State University. "Dense snow and ice can melt from the inside out, letting in sunlight that warms it like a greenhouse, rather than melting from the top down."
On Mars, where there isn't a protective magnetic field enveloping the planet, the sun beats down on the world with high levels of toxic radiation. But a thick slab of ice could absorb the rays, protecting biology below the surface, while allowing enough light to pass through it and enable photosynthesis.
Though the environment at Mars' poles would likely be too cold for cryoconite holes to form beneath ice, the planet's tropics may present the right conditions. During the NASA study, scientists learned that too much schmutz in the ice would make for a very small habitable zone, of perhaps just 2 to 15 inches below ground. In clearer ice, that zone could potentially extend to 10 feet deep.
Scientists are excited about these findings because they provide a sort of liquid water loophole for Mars. The planet has such thin and dry air, water ice is thought to "sublimate," converting directly from a solid to vapor, at its surface. But the problems presented by Mars' atmosphere for ice to melt into water don't exist below a glacier or tightly packed snow.
The team plans to map out the most likely spots on Mars where shallow meltwater could exist. These may become some of the most enticing locations on the Red Planet for future astronauts to explore.
Andrea Arnold lobs everything including the kitchen sink at her latest tale of realism, though she can't quite balance its highs and lows. Bird follows a poor 12-year-old's coming-of-age in Southeast England, and her friendship with a mysterious stranger. It's as much about grimy, tangible details as it is about ethereal ideas of what the lens can (and cannot) see, but this self-reflexivity is, at once, the movie's most breathtaking facet, as well as its undoing.
Arnold has long employed a roving lens to explore rural and suburban landscapes. Bird, her first fiction film is nearly a decade, is no exception, though she affords herself too much aesthetic liberty at times. This time around, her handheld style is more chaotic than exploratory. It often obscures more than it reveals. However, her actors help her in capturing just enough vulnerability to make up for this misstep.
The film doesn't quite fit together, but its individual pieces can be dazzling. Some even border on the divine, and they work to remind us that even a lesser Arnold is still a cut above most people's best.
What is Bird about? Credit: Atsushi Nishijima / Courtesy of MUBIHard-as-nails Bailey (newcomer Nykiya Adams), a 12-year-old biracial Black girl, lives with her young, wayward white father, Bug (Barry Keoghan, Saltburn), in a dilapidated apartment project in Kent, England. In fact, their town is called Gravesend, a murky name that echoes their dead-end prospects, though this doesn't stop Bug from planning a wedding celebration he can't afford. To Bailey's chagrin, Bug's girlfriend of three months and now fiancée, Kayleigh (Frankie Box), is about to move into their home with her infant daughter. The pre-teen lashes out, and attempts to join the vigilante gang run by her 14-year-old half-brother, Hunter (Jason Buda).
Arnold often takes an oblique, blink-and-you'll-miss-it approach to establishing some of these relationships, which often come to light through quick and muffled dialogue. This is, in essence, the point. It can be initially hard to tell whether the heavily tattooed, high-energy Bug is Bailey's father or her sibling, or where Bug and Hunter are related at all — they barely share the screen — which speaks to how young and ill-prepared Bug is for fatherhood, and the family's fractured nature.
Hunter and his scrawny friends try to take the law into their own hands by attacking domestic abusers and recording their assaults for social media, and while this could make its own intriguing feature, it's but a passing detail in Arnold's jagged-edged world — for better or worse. While it does eventually pay off in the plot (and has at least glancing thematic relevance), it can't help but feel like a morally intriguing aspect of Bailey's story has gone unexplored.
After Bailey is ousted from these missions for her safety, she comes across an awkward, friendly figure who goes only by the name Bird (Franz Rogowski, Passages). Bird claims to have come to Gravesend to track down his parents, from whom he was separated as a child. In keeping with the film's persistent issue, this saga is also sidelined as soon as it gets interesting, but the ephemeral nature of Bird's arrival is, in its own way, wondrous.
Franz Rogowski brings a shimmering warmth to Bird. Credit: Robbie Ryan / Courtesy of MUBIFrom the moment he appears, Rogowski's soft physicality brings dazzling contrast to Bailey's rough-and-tumble world, building intrigue in the process. Their initial connection is built on commonalities; Bird defies gender binaries with his lengthy skirt, as does Bailey with her short hair and boisterous attitude, and they happen to meet in the wide-open isolation of a lonely field, as if they're each escaping from something. However, Bird also represents a sense of wide-eyed possibility that Bailey's surroundings don't often allow her to feel.
Something as simple as Bird's quiet smile, and his seeming friendly demeanor with no ulterior motives, feels entirely alien to Bailey, though it might to most people. Rogowski plays Bird with one eye towards rejecting all things cynical, whether to maintain optimism about his familial search or simply because this is some innate quality Bird happens to possess.
Bird often rides the line between character and idealistic symbol, especially when Bailey begins capturing him with her phone camera, and projecting his images on her bedroom wall. On occasion, he'll stand perched on the roof of a nearby building, unmoving, looking down at her like an angelic being. The way he carries himself is beautiful and breathtaking. He's a breath of fresh air that Bailey and the movie sorely need.
Bird is almost self-reflexive about its images — but not quite. Credit: Courtesy of MUBIUnfortunately, Bailey's proclivity for capturing scenery is yet another idea left unexplored, even though Bird is at its most potent when dipping its toe into her perspective. Her pictures and videos are gentle in a way her surroundings are not, and the question of whether she's projecting this gentleness out into the world or finding it in places others might not seek it remains largely untouched.
Arnold is usually adept at capturing the rhythms and invisible hues of any place she films, but her framing here is often so off-kilter as to be nauseating. Bird is too quick and chaotic to ever ruminate on its images — Arnold's own, or the ones she creates for Bailey — which makes her protagonist's own point of view feel fleeting, even when the movie delves further into her family.
However, Bird's enigmatic presence, as briefly seen through Bailey's eyes, is just alluring enough, and allows Arnold to keep an observational distance without the movie coming apart at the seams. Along the way, as teenage drama comes to the fore, it's also complemented by strange happenings verging on magical realism, thanks to the strange behavior of animals. While these can be chalked up to coincidental oddities, they're framed with just enough mischief to pose delightful doubts about the movie's true nature.
Whether or not Bird represents or possesses some kind of divinity is practically irrelevant in the face of whether or not Bailey can recognize this or capture it. However, rather than exploring its latent symbolism, the film soon begins straying into awfully literal territory. It can't seem to maintain its sense of mystery for very long. In the process, even its most life-affirming moments tend to lose their impact, even though Rogowski's otherworldliness is a marvel to behold.
Bird was reviewed out of its NewFest premiere in New York. It will be released in theaters Nov. 8.
Maybe you're watching Peacock's Hysteria! and twitching on the verge of recollection: WHO is that familiar face screaming on your TV screen? The new horror-thriller series from Matthew Scott Kane not only delves into the Satanic Panic of the '80s with a fresh murder mystery to unearth but also boasts an ensemble cast studded with genre luminaries.
So whether you're a die-hard Deadite, an appreciator of elevated horror, or new to scary movies, here's a guide to where you've seen the cast of Hysteria! before.
SEE ALSO: What to watch: Best scary movies Emjay Anthony Emjay Anthony is long-ignored misfit Dylan Campbell in "Hysteria!" Credit: Mark Hill/PeacockHysteria!'s plotline features a variety of characters, from the pestered police chief and the fretful Christian girl to the queen bee obsessed with Satan. At its emotional center is long-ignored misfit Dylan Campbell, whose last name is a nod to the show's most legendary horror star, Bruce Campbell. When a local beloved jock turns up ritualistically murdered, Dylan finds an unlikely path to popularity by pretending to be a Satanist — and a way to promote his heavy metal band to boot!
In pursuit of his devilish dream girl Judith (Jessica Treska), Dylan puts his whole family at risk. This is similar to the plotline of Anthony's most memorable horror role, Krampus. In this Yuletide horror, a young Anthony played a little boy so fed up with his family's in-fighting that he makes a terrible Christmas wish. Everything from snowmen and gingerbread cookies to holiday ornaments become deadly threats in this over-the-top treat from writer/director Michael Dougherty.
SEE ALSO: The cast of 'Hysteria!' on what makes a society go hysterical Julie Bowen Julie Bowen as concerned mother Linda Campbell in "Hysteria!" Credit: Mark Hill / PeacockMostly known as Claire Dunphy on the long-running sitcom Modern Family, Bowen has dipped into her dark side since the series finale in 2020. Just last year she starred opposite Chilling Adventures of Sabrina's Kiernan Shipka in the time-traveling slasher-comedy Totally Killer.
Now as Hysteria!'s Linda Campbell, she's playing a mom who's plagued by paranormal threats, unexplained blisters, and fears that her son could be a killer Satanist.
Bruce Campbell Bruce Campbell as Chief Dandridge in "Hysteria!" Credit: Mark Hill / PeacockLong before Campbell lent his world-weary swagger to Hysteria!'s no-nonsense Chief Dandridge, he made his first major mark on horror as the lead in Sam Raimi's grimy classic Evil Dead. As the hard-to-kill everyman (who sometimes has a chainsaw for an arm), Campbell's scream king Ash returned in the sequels Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness, and the spinoff series Ash vs Evil Dead.
This self-proclaimed B-movie actor has gone on to appear in a slew of movies and TV shows, including the spy drama Burn Notice and the Elvis Presley-centered mummy romp Bubba Ho-Tep. Superhero movie fans might recognize his trademark chin from his cameos in other Raimi offerings, like all three Tobey Maguire-fronted Spider-Man movies, plus Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Milly ShapiroAs Dylan and his friends build their cult to cater to Judith's desires, they rope in "goat girl" aka Ingrid, a farmer's daughter who has no embarrassment about her animal buddies. If you looked at this lovable outcast and thought for sure you've seen her before, perhaps you're thinking of Hereditary? Yup. The 22-year-old Shapiro is all grown up now. But back in 2018, the Broadway baby who headlined Matilda the Musical scared the bejesus out of audiences as Charlie, the strange, seemingly haunted girl in writer/director Ari Aster's disturbing feature-length debut.
Coincidentally, both Shapiro and Anthony's breakout horror roles were in movies where Toni Collette played their mom! And — uh — without spoilers, that didn't bode well for either family.
Garret DillahuntThis prolific actor is introduced on Hysteria! by voice alone. But as a fan of the critically heralded Western drama Deadwood and the wacky sitcom Raising Hope, I know the voice of Garret Dillahunt when I hear it! To me, he's best known in the double role of the cowardly killer Jack McCall and the suave but villainous Francis Wolcott or the lovable himbo Burt Chance. However, Walking Dead fans will know him as Fear The Walking Dead's former cop turned rugged survivor John Dorie, while others may recognize him from his offbeat role as Dr. Jody Kimball-Kinney in The Mindy Project.
With Dillahunt regularly showing all kinds of range in his TV roles, from lovable to harrowing, his presence on Hysteria! is exciting exactly because it's hard to predict where his mysterious Reverend may land by season's end.
Anna Camp Anna Camp prays as Tracy Whitehead in "Hysteria!" Credit: Mark Hill / PeacockMaybe she's best known as Barden Bellas leader Aubrey Posen in Pitch Perfect, but Anna Camp is no stranger to serial horror. Back in 2009, she sunk her teeth into HBO's True Blood, a sexy soap opera inspired by Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Mysteries. In that long-running series, she played a perky but menacing televangelist's wife named Sarah Newlin. In Hysteria!, she's back in the habit (as it were) as Tracy Whitehead, a fiercely religious mother whose view on faith and parenthood are flat-out scary.
Chiara Aurelia Chiara Aurelia as goth girl Jordy in "Hysteria!" Credit: Mark Hill / PeacockDid you pick out this one? In Hysteria!, Chiara Aurelia brings a snarling wit and big heart to goth girl Jordy, best friend of the embattled Dylan. But back in Fear Street Part Two: 1978, this actress played a mean teen in the summer camp slasher. As pretty and popular camper Sheila Watson, Aurelia bullied and even burned Shadysider Ziggy (Stranger Things' Sadie Sink). This time around, she's using her sneer for good, scaring off the cool kids whose peer pressure could actually get her friends killed.
Jamie Flanagan Jamie Flanagan as Father Mathis and Julie Bowen as Linda Campbell in "Hysteria!" Credit: Mark Hill / PeacockThe sibling of horror auteur Mike Flanagan, Jamie has appeared in small roles in several of their brother's movies, including Absentia, Oculus, Gerald's Game, and Doctor Sleep. As a writer, they've also had a hand in Mike's Netflix series, with credits on The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, The Midnight Club, and The Fall of the House of Usher.
SEE ALSO: Where you've seen 'The House of Usher' cast before: Welcome to the FlanaverseJamie Flanagan pulls double duty on Hysteria!, not only as a screenwriter on Season 1 but also as the mild-mannered Father Mathis.
Nikki Hahn Nikki Hahn as Faith in "Hysteria!" Credit: Mark Hill / PeacockBefore she was the tormented Christian teen Faith Whitehead on Hysteria!, Nikki Hahn played a creepy kid on the second season of American Horror Story. In American Horror Story: Asylum, Hahn appeared as little Jenny Reynolds, whose girlish pigtails and angel face hid a murderous past. Will Faith prove to be a bad seed like Jenny? Hysteria!'s finale may have the answer.
Any other horror-casting connections you can find in Hysteria!? Sound off in comments.
In mid-July, in a sun-baked lot outside of Amazon Studios in Culver City, California, a group of writers and creatives were up in arms. They were four months into what would be a 6-month strike and picketing effort spanning the summer of 2023, fighting for a fair contract with studios. "It's not content," read one red and black sign. "Amazon Crime," read another, punctuated by a depiction of the signature Amazon logo in an uncharacteristic frown.
One week prior, the National Labor Relations Board had filed a formal complaint against the manufacturing arm of that same global giant, alleging that the business had violated the law in refusing to bargain with the fledgling Amazon Labor Union representing fulfillment center workers.
A cross-sector labor resurgence, prompted by global crisis after global crisis, was well on its way. Corporations — including those blurring the lines between manufacturing, entertainment, and technology — were on notice.
The efforts of the Amazon organizers are depicted in Union, an observational documentary on the Bezos-opposed unionization of Staten Island fulfillment center JFK8 and their now-famous figurehead Chris Smalls, who led a 2020 worker walkout and was eventually fired. The film begins its theatrical run on Oct. 18.
SEE ALSO: The secret online lives of high schoolers: FX's 'Social Studies' lifts the veilThe 100-minute film drops viewers straight into the 2021 work of then-employees, recently fired organizers, and specially hired union salts (union organizers who seek jobs at companies just to unionize them) to draw a picture of a cross-class, multiracial effort to take back a corporate economy slipping out of the people's control. It has only a few named subjects, no talking heads, no heroes, and, really, no villains. It, in the words of directors Brett Story and Stephen Maing, is a story of complicated people power.
Despite premiering at Sundance, where it won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for the Art of Change, and its headline-generating subject matter, the Level Ground Production film received no studio distribution interest. Over the last 8 months, it's screened at nearly every major film festival and at national and international labor events; it's now going to theaters under a full self-distribution plan. "Amazon Studios has a lot of power," Story told Mashable. "We don't know if that's a factor behind why our film hasn't been picked up, but it certainly adds to a nervousness and a conservatism around the choices distributors are making."
The struggles and ethos of the workers are replicated on screen and off, with Union and its distribution strategy presenting a concerning reality and a call to action for its audiences. Touching on the rippling effects of corporate consolidation, the increasing necessity of historic documentation, and the fate of art amid conflict, the film pounds on Hollywood's locked doors.
Union and its place in the labor revivalThe first moments of Union introduce its audience to the concept of scale. A massive cargo ship filled with towering containers slowly engulfs the first frame. A rocket ship — specifically, the Blue Origin flight carrying Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos — shoots through a cerulean sky into space. On the ground, employees wait for a bus.
These elements, combined with the nonstop pace of the union organizers in the film thereafter, are designed to feel all-consuming, Maing (the Academy Award–nominated director behind documentary film Crime + Punishment) explained to Mashable. Viewers watch as the film jumps from Zoom calls in cars to contentious discussions over firepits to confusing cross-borough commutes by the underdog union's leaders; it's all for the purpose of forward momentum. Unlike the massive scale used to set the stakes, urgency is communicated through minute details — leaders address the personal needs of workers and assuage fears of being fired.
While the social issue documentary spans more than a year of organizing, the directors were aware of the urgency of the moment, painted against the backdrop of a wave of worker movements, including in Hollywood. They saw the need to present the interconnected, complex, and messy nature of labor organizing against corporations that all pull from the same set of anti-worker — and anti-art — tactics.
Story — one of Variety's Documentary Filmmakers to Watch, known for documentaries like climate warning The Hottest August and Camper Force, about the Amazon workers depicted in the book as well as the feature film Nomadland — wanted to explore the larger labor movement through the complicated characters behind the ALU. "In the 21st century, when unionization is at an all-time low, when many people have no generational experience being part of a labor movement or a union, their parents might not even have been part of a union, who brings themselves to an effort like this?" she asks. "Politically, how do people decide that that's the form of political activism that they want to engage in? And then how do they learn how to do it in real time?"
Credit: Union The documentary as a mirrorAs more people join the cause, organizing becomes increasingly complicated. Organizers negotiate over who the face of the movement should be. We see Smalls, the union's de-facto leader and later president, representing a more common working-class experience as a father and warehouse employee. He's juxtaposed by his young, white, college-educated comrades, like Madeline, a hired "salt."
Other organizers fight to keep Smalls and other Black and brown members safe from potential violence at the hands of security personnel, balancing the need to use his name and image for press attention with the reality of structural racism and police brutality. By the end, many are questioning whether their leader is the right choice, and ardent supporters have changed their tune.
As the ALU negotiates PR spin, the optics of their movement, and the need for third-party support among major labor unions, morals clash, and morale is threatened.
The companies that govern what gets seen are run like tech companies...We're feeling that in what's being bought and distributed and made available. - Brett StoryUnion's production team face some of the same battles, mirroring the ALU in the documentary's efforts to get its message out to the public — Smalls has traveled abroad for film screenings, appeared as an honored guest for the Time 100, and joined the documentary press tour at the Sundance and New York Film festivals — while adhering to the ethos of the movement the film is representing. "There were a lot of voices in the room from an early stage. It was always very collaborative, in ways that, at times, mimicked the group of people we were watching on screen. Because, it turns out, it's really hard to do things collectively," said Story.
Just like their on-screen counterparts, the film's team — backed by what are known as impact partners, like Red Owl, and independent film funders, like the Ford Foundation's JustFilms — are strategizing a play against their own disinterested corporate giant.
The future of "impact films" in the digital age"The companies that govern what gets seen are run like tech companies," said Story. "They're not even run by film people anymore, or media people, who watch stuff because they care. They're run by people who are thinking about their stock options and running things like a startup. We're feeling that in what's being bought and distributed and made available."
Not only that: The state of the "social issue documentary," or "impact film" as they're often called these days, is nebulous. While independent films are growing in popularity among viewers, distribution markets for social issue films have collapsed, being slowly built back up by nonprofits and social organizations. Documentaries are now commonly paired with impact campaigns designed to hit social media audiences with resources or calls-to-action, Union included — not previously a norm.
Tweet may have been deleted"What a documentary film is and how it functions in the world is actually very mysterious to most people," she said. "Unless you're in the film world and you go to film festivals, your idea of a documentary film is just something that's on Netflix."
The decline in political cinema, the preferred term Story uses for work like hers, isn't just an issue among artmakers. It's a democratic concern. To filmmakers like Maing and Story, working out of a storied history of documentarians like Diary of a Harlem Family director Gordon Parks and Primary director Richard Leacock, long-form cinema is just as important a tool to political action as the written word. Citing Parks specifically, Maing refers to the camera as a "weapon of choice" in implicating the most urgent of social issues. It's supported by the rising importance of digital documentation of the world's crises, from citizen journalists in war-torn areas and activists armed with smartphones.
Political cinema, Story added, is "not just a vehicle synonymous with a pamphlet or an essay. Political films are also entertaining, to use the language of the media world — they make us feel alive, they make us feel connected, they pose interesting questions that we keep thinking about." So why won't studios put more investment in them? And what do we lose when they don't?
Historic houses for social issue documentation that support artistic work, like the newsroom, are also losing the corporate consolidation battle, which Story says is concerning. While local news outlets are being lost and capitalism's interests take over decision-making, media and news literacy worsens among consumers. The social media warehouses of modern audiences churn out assembly lines swamped by memes and misinformation, while films like Union struggle to get to viewers. And where streaming services could have been democratizing forces in filmmaking, getting previously inaccessible or uninvested films into the homes of audiences, corporate-owned services are now shutting the gates to audiences and artists.
The current distribution landscape would have us believe that, without a major distributor or streamer studio, you'll be hard pressed to get national exposure for your little documentary. - Stephen Maing"What does it say about the world, and our capacity to become more intelligent actors in it, if the media we consume is governed by a set of cynical calculations about how we can't stand to watch a single image for more than two seconds, and how audiences don't want to see anything except for celebrities and true crime?" asked Story.
Documenting conflict, protest, and change freely is the first hurdle. Getting audiences in community to view the work is another. In Union, organizers crash mandatory meetings of Amazon employees held by union busters, a tactic known as captive audience audience meetings, in order to get out the word on the ALU. In theaters, where audience are similarly held to one space for an extended amount of time, Union hopes to convince viewers to reclaim political power. "It's the only captive audience viewing that is actually beneficial to the people who get to view it," said Maing.
Seeding a people-first film environmentUnion's campaign team, like the ALU's, views their situation as an organizing opportunity, not in economic terms. "When you don't see your needs being met by the existing landscape — whether it's a corporate landscape of jobs or it's a landscape of big unions that you feel like have abandoned you — then you take things into your own hands," said Story.
Union's self-distribution in limited theaters across the country is matched by a wave of guerrilla marketing. The team has and will continue hosting Amazon worker screenings across dozens of Amazon "chokepoint" warehouses vital to the movement. They will launch a five-day screening pegged to Black Friday, inevitably hitting one of Amazon's most profitable days of the year, and even project opportunities to see the film on the sides of Amazon warehouse buildings, just like the ALU did with its own messaging: "You are not a number. You are not disposable. You are a human being."
"This has been a really exciting experience, to call the shots and allow us to be impact and community forward in our distribution ideas," Maing explained, "as opposed to watching our relationship to the actual release of the film be broken and taken out of our control."
Tweet may have been deleted"The ALU was a nascent grassroots organization that was told they would never be able to pull off organizing Amazon. Amazon was an un-organizable space," said Maing. "The current distribution landscape would have us believe that, without a major distributor or streamer studio, you'll be hard pressed to get national exposure for your little documentary. I think the contrary has been proven." Maing says that with the alignment of audiences and filmmakers, big studio and streamer gatekeepers could be taken to task. Amazon, increasingly at the center of both industries, could be hit from all sides.
Such attempts at independent, morally-aligned theatrical campaigns aren't trying to sneak by the industry's gatekeepers, but rather reach the people outside the gates.
"People are hungry for stories that describe and reflect the desire to feel like we have power over our lives," said Story. "That these beasts, these power conglomerates that we're faced with, are not insurmountable. That we can take them on."
The colossal ball of hot gas at the center of our solar system will be lively for the next year, NASA said.
The sun has reached its "solar maximum period," which is a state of heightened activity in its 11-year solar cycle. It's normal, but will almost certainly bring more solar storms — the type that can disrupt our power grid and communication systems, but also light up the sky with brilliant auroras.
"It’s official: We have reached solar max phase!" the space agency posted online. "Expect solar eruptions, auroras, and more."
SEE ALSO: Aliens haven't contacted us. Scientists found a compelling reason why.Similar to storm seasons or climate patterns on Earth, the sun experiences a cycle of weather. The sun's lasts for 11 years. During this pattern, solar activity increases for some 5.5 years, then decreases, then picks up again.
"It's the space equivalent of hurricane season. We're coming into another one," Mark Miesch, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, told Mashable as solar activity ramped up.
Solar scientists observe sunspots — cooler regions on the sun's surface that often spawn solar eruptions — to determine when the sun reaches the peak, or near peak, of its activity. (Literal solar maximum — the month that solar activity peaks — will occur during this period.) As shown below, more sunspots mean more activity.
Images of the sun during solar minimum (left) and solar maximum (right). Credit: NASA / SDO Tweet may have been deletedThe sun, a medium-sized star, has already manifested intense activity in 2024, producing magnificent Northern Lights. "During May 2024, a barrage of large solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) launched clouds of charged particles and magnetic fields toward Earth, creating the strongest geomagnetic storm at Earth in two decades — and possibly among the strongest displays of auroras on record in the past 500 years," NASA said in a statement.
(When solar particles hit our planet, some are trapped by Earth's magnetic field, where they travel to the poles and collide with the molecules and particles in our atmosphere. During this collision, these atmospheric particles heat up and glow.)
How solar storms impact Earth and peopleThere are different types of potentially problematic solar explosions that can affect Earth:
Solar flares: Explosions of light from the sun's surface. Driven by the behavior of the sun's magnetic field, they expel extreme amounts of energy (visible light, X-rays, and beyond) into space.
Coronal mass ejections (CMEs): These occur when the sun ejects a mass of super hot gas (plasma). "It's like scooping up a piece of the sun and ejecting it into space," NOAA's Miesch explained. Sometimes solar flares trigger CMEs, and sometimes they don't.
Solar energetic particle (SEP) events: These are essentially solar flares with lots of energetic particles. They're especially dangerous to astronauts and satellites.
The big question is how different types of flares and radiation impact our lives. Fortunately, life on Earth is shielded from such particles and radiation. Our atmosphere protects us from things like X-rays and energetic particles emitted into space. Meanwhile, Earth's potent magnetic field (generated by Earth's metallic core) deflects many particles from solar storms and shields us from the sun's relentless solar wind, a continuous flow of particles (electrons and protons) from our star.
Yet a spectrum of potential technological hazards, ranging in seriousness from briefly problematic to extremely damaging, can ensue when the likes of a strong solar flare or CME hits Earth. A powerful CME, for example, can induce intense currents in our power grids, among other deleterious impacts to satellites. Infamously, a potent CME in 1989 knocked out power to millions in Québec, Canada. The CME hit Earth's magnetic field on March 12 of that year, and then, wrote NASA astronomer Sten Odenwald, "Just after 2:44 a.m. on March 13, the currents found a weakness in the electrical power grid of Quebec. In less than two minutes, the entire Quebec power grid lost power. During the 12-hour blackout that followed, millions of people suddenly found themselves in dark office buildings and underground pedestrian tunnels, and in stalled elevators." Scary, indeed.
On left: the sun during solar maximum. On right: the sun during solar minimum. Credit: NASA / SDO Tweet may have been deletedCrucially, even bigger solar storms are inevitable. The largest such episode ever observed was the Carrington Event, in 1859. The solar storms produced auroras so bright, they awoke Rocky Mountain gold miners at 1 a.m., and people could reportedly read newspapers by the eerie atmospheric light.
Such an event today — if not properly prepared for — could stoke widespread electrical blackouts and fry communications satellites. "If that were to occur today it would do a lot of damage," Andrew Layden, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Bowling Green State University, told Mashable. "No one knows when that Carrington-level event is going to happen again." A report from the National Academies says that an estimate of "$1 trillion to $2 trillion during the first year alone was given for the societal and economic costs of a 'severe geomagnetic storm scenario' with recovery times of 4 to 10 years."
Thankfully, we have space weather prediction experts, such as those at NASA and NOAA, who can provide warning of an incoming blast of charged particles and radiation. Power utilities, for example, can temporarily shut down electric grids to avoid permanently-damaged infrastructure.
Enjoy the coming aurora. But don't be surprised if the sun discharges billions of tons of solar matter, traveling millions of miles per hour, straight at Earth.
TL;DR: Turn projects into opportunities with Microsoft Project Pro 2021, now $17.97 (reg. $249) through October 27.
Sometimes, a project hits your desk a little too hard. Whether it's tracking multiple people or just breaking down a complex workload, it's a lot to put on yourself without help, and that doesn't just mean help from your team. Sometimes, the right tools can really turn a complex job into a series of simple tasks, and Microsoft Project Pro fits the bill. Instead of getting lost in the weeds on your next project, use this project management software to plan timelines, get organized, and finish strong. Plus, it's only $17.97 (reg. $249).
What does Project Pro do?Microsoft Project Professional 2021 makes it easier to plan and manage projects without feeling overwhelmed. Even if you’re not a project management expert, it’s built for everyday users who just need to keep things running smoothly. With automated scheduling tools, you can set timelines and deadlines without having to figure everything out manually. The pre-built templates are a huge time-saver too, so you’re not starting every project from scratch.
Another practical bonus is that the app syncs with Project Online and Project Server, letting you access your project data from anywhere. Say you’re at home and want to check in on your team’s progress or update a task—Microsoft Project makes that quick and easy, so you always stay in the loop, no matter where you are.
Microsoft Project also shines when it comes to flexibility. Its “what-if” scenarios let you play around with project plans to see how changes—like a team member suddenly being unavailable—might impact the schedule. This way, you can make adjustments before small issues become big ones, keeping everything on track even when surprises happen.
Generating detailed reports is another game-changer. With just a few clicks, you can pull up reports on task completion, resource use, or overall project status. These reports help you spot bottlenecks early, giving you the insights needed to make smart decisions and keep your project moving forward smoothly.
Marked down for a few more daysMake your job easier.
October 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get Microsoft Project Pro 2021 for $17.97. No coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: SmartTrainingLab Microsoft Project Professional 2021 for Windows $17.97TL;DR: Get a digital download of two Minecraft editions, Java and Bedrock, for just $19.97 (reg. $29.99) at the Mashable Shop.
If you or someone on your shopping list is a Minecraft fan, you're going to want to pay attention to this buy-one, get-one offer. With this two-edition bundle of Minecraft Java and Bedrock, you get the best of both worlds. Whether you’re a Java purist or prefer the flexibility of Bedrock edition, this digital download offers both from a single launcher. And it's on sale for just $19.97 for a limited time.
Connect with friends across platforms, explore vast landscapes, and dive into endless minigames and community servers. It’s all about creative freedom — however you want to play, wherever you want to play.
Each edition has its own distinct features. Enjoy Java's limitless mods and Bedrock's cross-platform play. This package gives you the tools to mine, craft, and build your dream world.
The Java Edition lets you fully customize your gameplay with community-made mods, while Bedrock Edition offers seamless, smooth performance and multiplayer compatibility with friends on different devices. Together, they create the ultimate Minecraft experience.
It's worth noting that the Java edition is for PC users, providing powerful modding and customization options. Meanwhile, the Bedrock edition supports cross-play, so you can jump into multiplayer with friends on consoles, mobile, and more. With this dual package, you don’t have to choose — you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the gamer in your life? This Minecraft Java and Bedrock edition bundle is a gift that keeps on giving. With two versions in one package, players can enjoy endless adventures, creative builds, and multiplayer fun across different platforms.
Take advantage of this discounted price while it's still available.
Get two Minecraft editions, Java and Bedrock, for just $19.97 (reg. $29.99) at the Mashable Shop.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition (Digital Download) $19.97 at the Mashable ShopTL;DR: This grade-A refurbished Apple MacBook Pro 13" with Touch Bar has 512GB SSD and is just $379.99.
Anyone looking for power, portability, and sleek design all rolled into one should take a close look at this Apple MacBook Pro. This near-mint refurbished gem offers high-end features at a fraction of the original price — just $379.99 (reg. $979).
Ideal for professionals, creatives, or anyone who values speed and functionality, this machine packs a punch with its 3.1GHz i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a generous 512GB SSD. With a grade-A refurbished rating, you can trust that you’re getting a terrific machine that looks and feels like new.
The MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar may have its critics, but this second-generation Touch Bar brings convenience and speed to the table. From accessing shortcuts in different apps to customizing it for your workflows, it’s a feature that redefines productivity.
With its Retina display and a lightweight design that makes it ultra-portable, this MacBook is perfect whether you’re in the office, traveling, or working from home. Because it's equipped with a 3.1GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz), this MacBook Pro is ready to handle demanding tasks, from multitasking to video editing.
And thanks to the Touch Bar's dynamic shortcut capabilities based on the app you’re using, you can speed up everything from writing emails to editing in Photoshop.
This grade-A refurbished MacBook Pro has been inspected and tested to meet Apple’s high standards. With minimal to no cosmetic imperfections, it looks and performs like new, making it a fantastic investment for a fraction of the cost.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a creative professional, or simply an Apple fan, this grade-A refurbished MacBook Pro with Touch Bar offers most of the features you need for just $379.99 (reg. $979).
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Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 13" Touchbar (2017) 3.1GHz i5 8GB RAM 512GB SSD Space Gray (Refurbished) $379.99TL;DR: This beginner-friendly 4K Dual-Camera Drone is on sale for just $64.97 (reg. $119.99) through October 27.
Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart 4K Dual-Camera Drone for Beginners with Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance $64.97Drones today have better features than they did a handful of years ago, and they're more affordable. There's a 4K drone on sale today that's great for everyone, even if you've never flown a drone before.
This 4K dual-camera drone has features to support beginners, and it's on sale for just $64.97 (reg. $119.99) through October 27. It would make a fun gift for any adventurer on your list.
Whether you're looking to capture stunning 4K footage or just want to experience the freedom of flying, this drone is packed with features to make droning accessible to everyone. This drone stands out because of its usability, thanks to the intelligent obstacle avoidance system that helps you navigate even if you're new to flying.
The dual-camera system provides incredible visuals from every angle. The HD 4K front camera supports a 90-degree adjustable remote angle, while the bottom 120° wide-angle camera lets you capture every moment from above. And there's no need to worry about drifting or losing control because the optical flow positioning technology helps stabilize the drone, keeping it in place as you learn to fly and snap your perfect shots.
Learning to fly a drone may seem intimidating at first, but with a few beginner tips like these, you’ll be ready to conquer the skies in no time:
Familiarize yourself with your drone’s features and controls before your first flight.
Start slow and practice basic maneuvers like taking off, hovering, and landing.
The more time you spend flying, the more comfortable you’ll become, so don't hesitate to get out there.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, this drone has more to offer. Gesture control allows you to snap photos and videos with a simple palm gesture or fist. You can also enjoy thrilling functions like 360° flips, gravity control, and fixed-point flight.
LED superlights add a cool factor, adjusting to different environments. And the drone folds up for easy portability.
Don't miss this 45% savings on a first drone for yourself or someone you love. The 4K dual-camera drone is just $64.97 (reg. $119.99) through October 27.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Power up everything simultaneously with this fast-charging 220W GaN USB-C 7-Port Charging Station for just $32.97 with free shipping.
Most of us adore our tech. We couldn't imagine a life without our phones, laptops, or tablets. Give up our wireless earbuds? Never! The only problem is keeping them all charged and ready to go can be a hassle.
If you need a legit charging station that can handle your tech-savvy lifestyle, this one might be the answer. The 220W GaN USB-C 7-Port Charging Station allows you to charge all your devices simultaneously. It's on sale for just $32.97 with free shipping.
With 100W PD fast charging, this charger supports two laptops at once, offering 220W across seven versatile ports — power up your MacBook Pro, iPhone, Galaxy S23, and more. It’s compact, portable, and has multiple safety features, making it your go-to charger for home, office, or travel.
Whether working from home or hitting the road, this 7-in-1 charging station has you covered. The 5 USB-C and 2 USB-A ports make it easy to charge your laptop, smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, and more — all simultaneously.
Because of its 100W Power Delivery (PD), it can charge power-hungry devices like laptops in a flash, while its 220W total output helps ensure no device is left behind. Even better, it’s engineered with GaN technology, which means more efficient charging with less heat buildup.
The five-foot cord means you can position it anywhere you need — on your desk, next to your couch, or in your bag for travel. And don’t worry about safety. The MultiProtect Safety System ensures over-current, short-circuit, and over-voltage protection. So you can charge everything together, safely, and without slowing down.
Forget about carrying multiple adapters; this single station does the job.
Get the 220W GaN USB-C 7-Port Charging Station for just $32.97 (reg. $39.99) with free shipping.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: UGR Tech 220W GaN USB-C 7-Port Charging Station $32.99In case you weren't aware, clothing retailer Shein is one of the latest in a string of non-sex-related stores to add sex toys to their product base this year, ever since the sexual wellness industry boomed to an evaluation of over $35 billion as of 2023. There's serious money to be made in sex toy sales, and Shein wants to cash in.
But with claims relating to poor ethics surrounding the brand, you might wonder whether Shein is the best place to grab your next vibrator — and experts have some concerns as well. Mashable looked into whether buying sex toys from Shein is a good idea and what concerns customers should keep in mind.
SEE ALSO: Are vibrating sex toys on the way out? Shein's multiple controversiesDespite its super-affordable product offering, Shein has faced multifaceted criticism over the years over ethical concerns and issues with quality. Workers of the fashion giant were found to be doing excessive overtime, including 75-hour weeks in a report by the Swiss advocacy group Public Eye. Last month, WIRED reported that Shein employees in China have started filming their poor working conditions, including low pay and no bathroom breaks.
With all this in mind, sex educator Leanne Yau believes sex toy customers should first and foremost consider who they're giving their money to when they think about shopping at Shein. She also notes quality concerns, following 2021 research that found excessive amounts of chemicals, including lead, in Shein clothing. "If lead has been found in their clothing, imagine what's in their sex toys," Yau says.
The importance of body-safe materialsSome people have bought sex toys from Shein with no issues, like 32-year-old photographer Alice, who along with other contributors in this piece is going by her first name only to protect her identity. Alice bought a double-ended dildo and told Mashable it was "packaged discreetly, and there weren't any problems other than personal preference" as it was too small for her liking. "I also bought handcuffs and butt plugs though and they were in a clear, non-discreet bag. They still seemed like they were good quality to me though."
But some experts have raised concerns about the materials Shein and similar retailers might be using. When it comes to sex toys, "body safety" — referring to materials that are safe on or inside the body — is unbelievably important. Materials like medical-grade silicone, glass, and stainless steel are considered body-safe. You're putting these items on or in your genitals and anus, after all. You don't want them to be made of just anything.
However, Shein provides little information on the materials used in their sex toys, simply writing "silicone," "ABS" or "plastic" as part of a short, four-line product description. And the information that is included can be misleading. For example, this sex toy which looks to be a wand (used for external stimulation) includes "G-Spot and Anal Stimulation" in the product title, which would be an extremely difficult feat and dangerous to attempt. There are also sex toys listed as anal dildos or plugs which do not have flared bases — a big no for anal sex toys as this can cause toys to get stuck inside the body.
Mashable reached out to Shein for comment, but at the time of writing, we have not received a response.
All this raises red flags for experts like Poppy Scarlett, a sex educator, influencer, and former sex toy boutique owner. Scarlett warns, "It's not a good idea to buy toys from Shein in my opinion. The toys they sell come with minimal information about materials and even less about safe usage. Customers could be buying something unfit for purpose and not even know it."
The lack of regulation in the sex toy industry reinforces this issue. Scarlett explains that the sector remains largely unregulated, allowing brands to produce low-quality, potentially harmful products. "Many companies, including Shein, exploit the fact that people often lack education about sex toys. There will be young, inexperienced buyers who won't know what to look for," she says.
So, what happens if you use a sex toy that isn't body-safe? Scarlett explains that the consequences can range from the mild — such as a toy degrading faster or becoming smelly — to the severe, including infections and injuries. "If a toy's surface degrades, it can cause micro-tears in sensitive tissues. If it's porous, it can harbour bacteria that may lead to infections, like bacterial vaginosis or urinary tract infections (UTIs). And for anal toys without a proper base, there's a risk of the toy getting sucked into the body, which could require medical intervention."
Many companies, including Shein, exploit the fact that people often lack education about sex toys. - Sex educator Poppy ScarlettYau adds that some materials used in cheap sex toys can even be dangerous. "Cheap materials like jelly and PVC can contain phthalates, chemicals banned from children's toys because they're harmful. These materials can release toxins into the body, potentially affecting hormone balance and even causing illnesses."
31-year-old Alex, a social media manager, tells Mashable she bought a rampant rabbit from Shein and performed the "flame test." For the unaware, the flame test (popularised by sex toy blogger Dangerous Lilly) involves holding a candle or a lighter to sex toys to see if they start to melt. Unless it's thin and soft, silicone will not melt, but other materials will. If you buy a so-called silicone toy and it fails the test, the brand could be lying about a toy's materials.
"I buy a lot of sex toys so I knew of the flame test and I do tend to fall for the allure of a low price so I end up getting cheap ones and just checking with the flame test whether I can actually use it. I tried the flame test on the toy I got from Shein, which said it was made of silicone, and it failed straight away," Alex explains. "I was so annoyed. I feel like I should have known because they are crazy cheap, like 'too good to be true' kinda cheap."
27-year-old office administrator Kate also tells Mashable she returned a Shein sex toy immediately upon receiving it. "It looked and felt like plastic and I'm not putting anything up any holes if it looks unsafe. I just couldn't risk it."
If you're set on buying a sex toy, it's crucial to know what to look for to ensure you're getting a safe product. Scarlett advises sticking to reputable brands with established histories of producing body-safe toys, such as Lovehoney, Hot Octopuss, Tenga, Lelo, we-vibe, b-vibe, Doxy, and others. If you want truly inexpensive toys — we're talking under $10 — try Bellesa's new BB Outlet. Mashable has a guide on choosing a sex toy, as well.
SEE ALSO: The best sex toys for women"A good rule of thumb is if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Research the brand, read reviews, and don't hesitate to Google or reverse-image search the product to see if it's being sold by other, more reliable retailers," Scarlett explains.
One of the significant red flags to watch out for is a lack of information. "If a product description doesn't provide details about the materials used or how to safely use the toy, that's a big red flag," Scarlett warns. Moreover, counterfeit products are rampant in online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, where sellers may not have vetted their products properly. "Make sure you're buying from a reputable seller, not just the cheapest one," Scarlett adds. Mashable also has a roundup of good, vetted toys on Amazon.
A call for conscious consumerismUltimately, both Scarlett and Yau advocate for a more informed and conscious approach to buying sex toys. The allure of cheap prices shouldn't overshadow the importance of safety, especially for products that come into close contact with your body.
Conversations about fast fashion (particularly Shein) are becoming more commonplace, bringing awareness to overconsumption and more ethical options. We need a similar revolution on the sex toy front.
As Scarlett puts it, "Sex toys can be incredibly empowering and pleasurable when used correctly, but only if they're safe and made with the right materials. Brands like Shein, with their history of poor ethics and quality control, are not where you should be shopping for something as intimate as a sex toy."
Yau agrees, adding, "Your health and safety should come first. If a toy's description lacks crucial information, or if the price seems too low to be true, it's worth reconsidering. Educate yourself about body-safe materials and invest in products that you can trust."
While the idea of picking up a sex toy while browsing your favourite fast fashion retailer might seem convenient, it's essential to approach these purchases with caution. The potential risks associated with unsafe sex toys — ranging from inconveniences and a lack of pleasure to severe health hazards — are not worth the savings. Stick to established brands, do your research, and prioritise your safety. Your body deserves better than a cut-price deal that might come at a much higher cost in the long run.
There's a madcap magic to late-night television, where the stars come out to shine before an applauding live audience, and the rules of decorum seem relaxed in a studio setting modeled after a crisp, clean living room. We know that every guest is there to promote themselves and their latest product, but between the practiced smiles and strategized banter, there's the heady possibility that something unsanitized and real — something shocking, even — might slip through as we click closer to the Witching Hour. This is the slippery, surreal space of television celebrated in Late Night with the Devil, a tidy and trembling horror movie where talk shows and terror collide.
Writers/directors Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes (aka the Cairnes Brothers) precisely position their film in the sweet spot of 1977. On television, Johnny Carson with his broad smile and sharp wit was the king of Late Night, a charming ambassador to all of Hollywood and its fame-chasing shenanigans. As Carson graciously extended his living room into our own, so too did the homespun horrors of '70s cinema. Frightful films like Carrie and The Exorcist terrorized theater-goers with twisted tales of innocent-looking young girls irrevocably bent toward evil and devastation right before our very eyes.
SEE ALSO: 'Late Night with the Devil's disturbing ending, explainedWith Late Night with the Devil, the Cairnes Brothers bring these worlds of fear and fun together into one lean, mean, and sickly satisfying thrill ride.
What's Late Night with the Devil about? Credit: IFC Films and ShudderCharacter actor David Dastmalchian (The Suicide Squad, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) strides into the spotlight as talk show host Jack Delroy. A suave talent with the gift of gab, his show might have rivaled Carson's chokehold on late night, if not for a personal tragedy the previous year that broke Jack's heart and derailed the show's popularity. Desperate to revive his falling prospects, he plots a Halloween show that the world will never forget.
Along with a psychic (who might be a scam artist) and a professional skeptic (who lives to cause trouble), Jack books a controversial interview with a mysterious young girl. Lilly (Ingrid Torelli) was once a part of a Satanic cult devoted to a dangerous demon. Once they went up in smoke, she was the only one to survive. Now, under the care of her guardian/therapist (Laura Gordon), Lilly has come on late night to share her story…and maybe introduce us to her special friend, Mr. Wriggles.
Late Night with the Devil is a throwback in the best way. David Dastmalchian plays a talk show host in "Late Night with the Devil." Credit: IFC Films and ShudderPlanting their plotline as a precursor to the Satanic Panic of the '80s, the Cairnes Brothers swiftly establish a sense of foreboding for their hep audience members, who know all too well the wild rumors of devil worshippers, ghouls, ghosts, and pigs named Jodie that are to follow. The precursor to moral panic and paranoia is naivete punctured by piercing fear. And what better cozy bubble to puncture than the feel-good atmosphere of a celebrity talk show?
A shrewd production design carefully reconstructs this era. Warm but muted hues of browns, yellows, and oranges swirl around the set. Sharp suits and denim overalls place the guests in a time of swinging style and seeming innocence, when a teen girl would do press dressed like a doll instead of a supermodel.
SEE ALSO: The 'Late Night with the Devil' AI controversy, explainedMeanwhile, the cinematography harkens back to the age of video, complete with analog glitches that could be nothing...or could be a warning that something is going awry. All of these details carefully capture the era so thoroughly that if you don't recognize the actors, you might mistake Late Night with the Devil for a forgotten cult classic, the legit kind once found on coveted VHS tapes.
Yet the most crucial ode to this era is the tone of the talk show. With a breezy bravado, Dastmalchian swaggers into the role of unflappable host. Whether flashing a false smile for the crowd or bantering with his bickering guests, he feels deeply embedded in this bouncy brand of entertainment and salesmanship. By grounding the first act in the familiar realities of the '70s chat show, the Cairnes Brothers and Dastmalchian creep under our skin to rise goosebumps as they raise hell.
Late Night with the Devil delivers restrained but ruthless horror. David Dastmalchian in Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes' "Late Night with the Devil." Credit: IFC Films and ShudderBe warned: This movie won't get as splashy in its demonic spectacle as Carrie or The Exorcist, which boasted buckets of pig blood and vociferous vomit, respectively. But that's part of this movie's charm. Like Rosemary's Baby, it's an atmospheric brew that festers with emotional trauma. Fret not; there will be bursts of bile, blood, and some climactic carnage. However, those gory bits wouldn't be as hard-hitting were it not for the dramatic tension going on behind the scenes of Jack's plagued talk show.
In a sense, Dastmalchian must shoulder two roles: the consummate professional and the personal trainwreck. Beneath his bespoke suit is a trembling heart that yearns for more than big ratings from this devilish publicity stunt. He yearns for proof that there is something more than this life, something beyond. And he'll risk anything, even his soul, in pursuit of this revelation.
Dastmalchian has frequently played creepy men (see Prisoners) and quirky criminals (Pick an Ant-Man, any Ant-Man). His signature intensity stirs beneath the surface even as Jack plays nice for the studio camera. In his eyes flickers a chaotic fire of grief, hope, and ambition that cannot be squelched. And it is reflected in the unnerving stare of a little girl who claims to house a demonic spirit. They are a match made not in heaven but hell. And witnessing their face-off is nail-biting fun.
Paying tribute to '70s horror, Late Night with the Devil is steeped in the era's aesthetic and its emerging moral anxiety, as well as the methodical pacing that draws us in, grabs on tight, and won't let go until that final ghoulish moment. Tune in and hang on. Dastmalchian and his demon are coming for you.
Late Night with the Devil is now streaming on Hulu.
UPDATE: Oct. 15, 2024, 3:03 p.m. EDT "Late Night with the Devil" was reviewed out of its World Premiere at SXSW 2023. This article was originally published on March 11, 2023, and has been updated to reflect the latest viewing options.
Can't get enough of true crime? With HBO and Investigation Discovery having joined forces as Max, one streaming subscription gives you access to a wealth of documentaries that explore curious cases, horrendous homicides, outrageous criminals, and much, much more.
But let's get real: Not all true crime is created equal. With so many options, how do you know which true crime doc is your next must-see? We've scoured the lot to select the best true crime documentaries on Max.
In the mix are grim recountings of serial killer sprees, thought-provoking investigations into polarizing charges, empathetic explorations into the lives of victims, and even some surprisingly whimsical tales of true crime. Each one offers a chance to dive into a rabbit hole of armchair psychology, amateur sleuthing, and nonfiction nightmares.
Here are the 30 most gripping true crime projects, both TV series and films, now streaming on Max.
1. I Am Not A Monster: The Lois Riess Murders Credit: HBODocumentarian and true crime heavy-hitter Erin Lee Carr — whose engrossing works appear multiple times on this list — delves into a shocking story from her home state of Minnesota. But that's just where this story starts, stretching south to sunny Florida, then west into Texas, following a violent and volatile crime spree at the hands of outwardly jolly grandmother Lois Riess. Even if you recall the nationwide manhunt for Lois Riess, you'll be shocked at the twists and turns of this true crime tale, which involve embezzlement, fraud, gambling addiction, murder, and more.
What sets Carr's true crime docs apart from much of the genre's more questionable corners is the ardent empathy she has for just about everyone involved. As such, perpetrators, victims, witnesses, police officers, and everyone in between is given a chance to show their true character, be it despicable, vulnerable, or deeply quirky. Carr's thoughtful portraits of Riess, her heartbroken family, her frightened friends, and even her righteously furious victims create a complex and fascinating narrative that's as riveting as it is ultimately humane. You'll gasp in horror. You'll cry in sympathy. Occasionally, you'll laugh, but not at these people, more at the absurd and unexpected collisions that make up the best and worst of human nature. But what to make of Lois Riess and her side of this disturbing story? Carr won't give you an easy answer there.* — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
How to watch: I Am Not A Monster: The Lois Riess Murders is now streaming on Max.
2. It's Florida, Man Anna Faris dressed as a mermaid for a true crime re-enactment in "It's Florida, Man." Credit: Photograph by Jennifer Clasen / HBOThe Florida Man meme has been a reliable — albeit mean-spirited — source of laughs for internet ages. Now, the producers who brought us The Righteous Gemstones are digging behind the headlines that had us giggling to interview the real people who lived through these scandals with It's Florida, Man.
This humorous true crime docuseries combines elements like talking head interviews and re-enactments with comedy guest stars performing those re-enactments. In our review, I wrote, "From episode to episode, the tone can shift radically, as the team behind It's Florida, Man seems uneasy in turning everything into comedy fodder. But overall, there's something undeniably charming about these Florida men and women who refuse to be defined by internet snark and 15 minutes of infamy."* — K.P.
How to watch: It's Florida, Man is now streaming on Max.
3. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst Credit: HBOIn 2015, filmmaker Andrew Jarecki's true crime miniseries not only drew national attention to the multiple allegations of murder against New York real estate tycoon Robert Durst, but also helped bring him down. Over the first six episodes, Jarecki interviewed police and lawyers involved in three investigations against Durst, as well as the friends and family of his alleged victims. From this emerged a disturbing — yet strangely amusing — portrait of a man of extreme wealth and power who might well be a serial killer. But the most damning revelations came from Durst himself, who tried to win sympathy by recounting a troubled childhood, but ultimately burped up a confession on a hot mic.
Nearly 10 years later, Jarecki and his team returned with new six episodes for The Jinx: Part 2. Picking up at Chapter 7, the sequel series follows Durst's 2015 arrest for the 2000 murder of his best friend, Susan Berman. From there, interviews with the LA prosecutors office, Durst's defense team, and even his once impenetrable circle of friends bring shocking new insights to 1982 the missing persons case of his first wife Kathleen McCormack. The result is a binge-watch as riveting as it is bone-chilling. — K.P.
How to watch: The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst is now streaming on Max.
4. Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn Credit: Courtesy of Hawkins Family / HBOThe murder of Yusuf Hawkins was a hate crime, no question. But in Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn, director Muta'Ali entertains the other theories that were considered in the 1989 shooting death of the Black 16-year-old just enough for you to understand the power of the white narrative Hawkins' family was up against when seeking justice.
Thoughtful and well-paced, the 2020 documentary goes beyond the tragic facts of this death to steadily reveal the surrounding culture of racism in New York City during the late '80s and early '90s that made so many like it possible. It's a heartbreaking true crime entry, but a crucial one. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn is now streaming on Max.
5. The Lady and the Dale Credit: HBOMax has a library of sensational true crime offerings, yet this 2021 miniseries is uniquely fascinating. Directors Nick Cammilleri and Zackary Drucker unfurl the times and trials of Elizabeth Carmichael, who was not only a nationally recognized automobile executive and infamous con artist, but also a wife, mother, and transgender trailblazer.
For decades, her story has been framed by those who despise her, resulting in a narrative rife with speculation and transphobia. In this challenging and boldly funny four-episode documentary miniseries, Carmichael's story is reclaimed by balancing the perspective of her haters with in-depth interviews with those who knew her best. Including animated photography, a playful soundtrack, and a cheeky sense of adventure, The Lady and The Dale aims not only to showcase the complexity of the late Carmichael, but also to capture her spirit. All this makes for a watch that is surprising, thrilling, and unforgettable.* — K.P.
How to watch: The Lady and the Dale is streaming on Max.
6. Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York Credit: HBOIf you cringe at true crime docs that regard serial killers as criminal masterminds, you'll appreciate Last Call. Based on Elon Green's 2021 true crime book, Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York, this four-episode series focuses on the victims of a murderer who targeted gay men in 1990s New York City. Creators Anthony Caronna and Howard Gertler put these lost men front and center, not only interviewing their surviving family and friends to bring to life vivid portraits of who they were, but also naming an episode after each of them.
The show also explores how homophobia in the media and the NYPD worked to the killer's advantage, as even now the police interviewed fail to connect the dots on their own blindspots and biases. In her rave review of the show, Mashable entertainment reporter Belen Edwards wrote, "Last Call finds deeper meaning and purpose in exploring how violence against queer people fostered these killings — and crucially, foregrounds the activists who fought hard to bring the truth to light," adding that "Last Call is true crime done right." — K.P.
How to watch: Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York is now streaming on Max.
7. Mind Over Murder Credit: HBOThe story of the Beatrice Six is so full of twists, turns, and uncomfortable truths that it can be difficult to know who to believe. It all began in 1985, when beloved grandmother Helen Wilson was murdered in her home. Six suspects would be collected by local police. Five would give confessions. But decades later, when DNA evidence can't prove a single one of them was in Wilson's home, the case and the community are thrown into spin.
Documentarian Nanfu Wang (One Child Nation) speaks with members of the Beatrice Six, the police force that targeted them, and the surviving family members of Helen Wilson to investigate how this case was horrendously mishandled and its impact 35 years later. Moreover, the six-part miniseries follows a local theater production that uses transcripts from every step of the case to try to make sense of this hometown horror. The result is a documentary miniseries that is rivetingly dedicated not only to the truth but also to reclaiming the humanity of all of the victims of this horrendous miscarriage of justice. — K.P.
How to watch: Mind Over Murder is now streaming on Max.
SEE ALSO: 'Mind Over Murder' is the must-see true crime series 8. Class Action Park Credit: HBO MaxWelcome to Action Park! This New Jersey amusement and water park, built by former Wall Street tycoon Gene Mulvihill, was home to attractions such as Cannonball Loop and the Alpine Slide. It was also severely mismanaged and the cause of many injuries and deaths. Class Action Park reveals just how insane the story behind Action Park was, from the park’s madcap rides to Mulvihill’s shady tactics for keeping his venture afloat.
Through a mixture of fun animation and interviews with comedians who attended Action Park as children, Class Action Park keeps things light and humorous. However, it still exercises proper seriousness and restraint when discussing the park’s fatalities. Overall Class Action Park is a wild documentary about a truly wild place. You’ll come for the descriptions of the insane rides and stay for the nuanced exploration of nostalgia and childhood in the 1980s.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: Class Action Park is now streaming on Max.
9. Last Stop Larrimah Credit: Photograph by Jesse Gohier-Fleet / HBOThe titular town of Last Stop Larrimah seems a setting ripe for situation comedy. It's a place with no cell phone reception, no police station, one pub, and a pet crocodile. Deep in the Australian Outback, this former bustling outpost has steadily declined into a deeply eccentric community of just 11 people, colorful characters whose lives are bursting with furious feuds, gruesome gossip, and seemingly preposterous accusations. And that was before one of them went missing.
Documentarian Thomas Tancred treads deep into the snarled stories of Larrimah's residents, past and present, to untangle the mystery of what happened to Patrick "Paddy" Moriarty, an Irish pot-stirrer who was last seen on Dec. 16, 2017. The true crime documentary Last Stop Larrimah dives not only into the facts of the case but also the wild theories, all the better to reflect the personalities and problems of this captivating and chaotic little town. And it does it all within a movie that's under two hours long.* — K.P.
How to watch: Last Stop Larrimah is now streaming on Max.
10. ChowchillaIf you think you've heard every stranger-than-fiction true crime tale, I recommend Chowchilla. Named for the town where it occurred, the 2023 documentary takes audiences back to 1976, when an audacious band of kidnappers abducted an entire school bus of children — 26 in total — as well as their bus driver. For days, these kids were buried alive, uncertain if they'd ever see their parents or the sun again. They survived, and several share their story with documentarian Paul Solet. But that's not all.
Through reenactments and interviews, Solet exposes a story that somehow was swiftly swept over ahead of Stranger Danger hysteria. In addition, he explores how the childhood trauma of these survivors impacted the study of child psychology. Plus, Chowchilla celebrates a young hero who deserved his flowers decades before. — K.P.
How to watch: Chowchilla is now streaming on Max.
11. Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop Credit: HBOHeralded doc director Erin Lee Carr follows the strange case of former NYPD officer Gilberto Valle.
In 2012, Valle was arrested for conspiring to kidnap, rape, kill, and cannibalize women after his wife discovered hundreds of internet chat messages describing the acts in his search history. The apparent fetish seemed to go beyond hypothetical imagery, with Valle improperly accessing the National Crime Information Center database through his NYPD credentials and drawing up comprehensive abduction plans for women he actually knew.
The documentary navigates the sticky legal area deftly, posing fascinating questions about what Valle's case means for the future of crime in the digital age. — A.F.
How to watch: Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop is now streaming on Max.
12. They Called Him Mostly Harmless "They Called Him Mostly Harmless" explores the story behind a mysterious hiker. Credit: MaxIt all began with a yellow tent found in the Florida wilderness. Inside were the remains of a hiker, whose cause of death was confounding. To discover his identity, police turned to the hiking community, who in turn used internet crowdsourcing to uncover his name — well, a nickname: Mostly Harmless.
Director Patricia E. Gillespie explores not only this unusual missing persons case but also the communities that pop up on hiking trails and in chatrooms. Scouring Mostly Harmless's path across the U.S. as well as his bizarre lack of imprint online, amateur sleuths sought to give solace to a family who might not even realize their loved one had gone missing. Along the way, Gillespie gets the perspective of those who crossed the dead man's path and those who thought they knew him through the online discourse. When the answers come, they're not what anyone expected. And that leaves the audience to sort out their own preconceptions and the paradoxes that can lie within any stranger. — K.P.
How to watch: They Called Him Mostly Harmless is now streaming on Max.
13. Beware the SlendermanIf you’re a regular true crime fan, chances are you already know everything there is to know about the so-called "Slenderman stabbing." But uh, if you don't? Buckle way, way up.
In this haunting documentary from director Irene Taylor Brodsky, we revisit the 2014 attempted murder of 12-year-old Payton Leutner. The attack was carried out by two other 12-year-old girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, who told Wisconsin authorities they attacked their friend in an effort to impress the online character Slenderman. The film offers a chilling glimpse into the sometimes warped interactions between adolescent minds and the internet that's imperfect to say the least, but a unique watch. Some of these interviews really stick with you. — A.F.
How to watch: Beware the Slenderman is now streaming on Max.
SEE ALSO: 25 best documentaries on Max to learn something new 14. The Case Against Adnan Syed Credit: HBODirected by Academy Award nominee Amy Berg, The Case Against Adnan Syed can be understood and appreciated as a standalone project. But for most viewers, the four-part docuseries serves as a companion piece to the watershed Serial podcast, which brought the murder of Baltimore County high school student Hae Min Lee to international attention in 2014.
The series explores the media fervor brought on by the podcast's popularity, as well as recounting the story from investigation through the 2016 post-conviction relief hearing of Adnan Syed, the man convicted of the murder. For the latest developments on the case, you can also stream Adnan Syed: Overturned. While The Case Against Adnan Syed may not change your mind, it offers new insights and evidence worth your (and possibly the court's) attention. — A.F.
How to watch: The Case Against Adnan Syed is now streaming on Max.
15. Mommy Dead and DearestAnother project from director Erin Lee Carr, Mommy Dead and Dearest details the bizarre murder of Dee Dee Blanchard. The 2017 film tells the story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a 19-year-old victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, who after a lifetime of abuse conspired to murder her mother in 2015.
Sure, some viewers will recognize the case from its serialized dramatization in Hulu's soap opera-like The Act. However, Carr's telling offers a more nuanced look. It's a flummoxing conundrum of justice that sees mother and daughter trade places as victim and attacker, and raises serious questions about the criminal justice system's ability to hand down levelheaded verdicts in morally complicated cases. With Gypsy recently released from prison, this documentary has a fresh relevance. — A.F. & K.P
How to watch: Mommy Dead and Dearest is now streaming on Max.
16. Who Killed Garrett Phillips?The 2011 death of Garrett Phillips was the first of a string of tragedies. Not only did a New York family lose their 12-year-old son in a senseless act of violence, but the subsequent investigation left a Black man suffering greatly under a legal system ravaged by racial bias.
Another true crime film from director Liz Garbus (There’s Something Wrong With Aunt Diane), Who Killed Garrett Phillips? relentlessly seeks justice on both fronts. Asking the right questions at just the right times, Garbus produces a compelling narrative that is at once an indictment of police failings and a rallying cry for identifying the real killer. — A.F.
How to watch: Who Killed Garrett Phillips? is now streaming on Max.
17. Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost ChildrenDirector Sam Pollard tackles one of the most troubling crime trends in American history in Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children. Between 1979 and 1981, at least 30 Black children were abducted and murdered. But prosecutors' decision to assign all of those deaths to the convicted serial killer Wayne Williams disturbed many who doubted his involvement in every case.
Over five episodes, Pollard tracks the story from the beginning of the killings to the reopening of the investigation in 2019. It's a comprehensive look at the insidious racism that has plagued Atlanta policing for decades, and it only grows in importance. The tragedy of these cases, however, is that the decision to prematurely close them in the '80s may mean they're unsolvable now. — A.F.
How to watch: Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children is now streaming on Max.
18. I Love You, Now Die Credit: HBOAnother riveting true crime project from Erin Lee Carr, I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth vs. Michelle Carter is a two-part look at one of the most senseless crimes of the modern age. On July 13, 2014, 18-year-old Conrad Roy died by suicide in a Kmart parking lot in Massachusetts. His girlfriend, 19-year-old Michelle Carter, not only knew of her boyfriend's plan to die by carbon monoxide poisoning, but also actively encouraged him to go through with it in a series of bewildering text messages that would later land her in court on charges of involuntary manslaughter.
The series follows Carter's efforts to prove her innocence, posing fascinating questions about what crimes can be committed online. This one is tough viewing, both for its heart-wrenching depiction of Roy's mental health crisis and for the helplessness one feels in knowing Roy could have been saved if Carter had interceded. But if you've watched The Girl From Plainville, the docu-drama series inspired by these true crime events, then I Love You, Now Die might well be a must-see. — A.F.
How to watch: I Love You, Now Die is now streaming on Max.
19. The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon ValleyEnter the absolutely unreal delusion of disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley. Academy Award–winning director Alex Gibney walks viewers through Holmes garnering the support of numerous high-profile investors and even seeing the company's entirely fake technology — a blood-testing device called "Edison" — begin a pseudo rollout in actual pharmacies. (In Nov. 2022, Holmes was convicted of defrauding investors and sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.)
Repurposing some incredible footage of Holmes intended for use in a Theranos advertising campaign, Gibney renders a stunning portrait of a con artist. The result is a mesmerizing watch that will make you question how easy you'd be to fool when faced with one of the most notorious liars of the 21st century. — A.F.
How to watch: The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley is now streaming on Max.
20. Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall Credit: HBOThe story of Denmark's notorious "submarine" case is rife with sensational elements, including snuff films, a heinous murder, an eccentric entrepreneur, and his personal submarine. However, documentarian Erin Lee Carr ushers her audience past the tabloid fodder, cutting through the misogynistic headlines to rediscover Kim Wall, an intrepid reporter who lost her life while on an assignment that should have been breezy, not deadly.
This two-part limited series speaks with Wall's friends and colleagues, resurrecting her story and revealing her legacy. Meanwhile, a no-nonsense submarine expert and a conflicted biographer detail how the alibi of accused killer Peter Madsen fell apart, uncovering the horrifying depths of his ruthless ambition. More than a tale of tragedy, Undercurrent explores the humanity in journalism and the horrors of toxic masculinity. — K.P.
How to watch: Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall is now streaming on Max.
SEE ALSO: It was tough, but we found the 25 best movies on Max 21. Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills Credit: HBOThis 1996 documentary from HBO was the first of many to question the verdict reached in the infamous case of Arkansas' West Memphis Three. And while there's plenty you'll want to research about the case after seeing the movie — seriously, you've got almost 30 years of legal developments that aren't accounted for here — it remains one of the most well-regarded perspectives on the disturbing crime available, not to mention an utterly transfixing viewing experience.
On May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys were found dead and mutilated in a wooded area known as Robin Hood Hills. Local teenagers Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr., and Jason Baldwin were soon identified as prime suspects in the crime, but their connections to the murders were flimsy. Directors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky's Paradise Lost is an essential true crime watch that always strikes a nerve. — A.F.
How to watch: Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills is now streaming on Max.
22. Behind Closed DoorsThe double homicide of 13-year-old Aarushi Talwar and her family's servant 45-year-old Hemraj Banjade remains a world-shaking event for the people of Noida, India.
In Behind Closed Doors, documentarian P.A. Carter takes viewers into the heart of the media storm that erupted when the two were found dead in 2008. Over two parts, Carter interviews those closest to the case about everything from the small details needed to nab the killer to the broader societal issues that made this particular investigation so tumultuous. It's a particularly intriguing true crime entry, considering it allows for a broader discussion of how justice is or isn't carried out internationally in a genre typically dominated by Western audiences. — A.F.
How to watch: Behind Closed Doors is now streaming on Max.
23. I'll Be Gone in the Dark Credit: Photograph by Robyn Von Swank / HBOOne of the best portraits of a true crime writer to date, director Liz Garbus' I'll Be Gone in the Dark serves as both a look into the terrifying Golden State Killer (also known as the "Original Night Stalker" and "East Area Rapist") and the woman who would stop at nothing to identify him.
Michelle McNamara, who died suddenly in 2016, leaving behind a daughter and her husband, Patton Oswalt, dedicated years of her life to finding the man responsible for a string of murders, rapes, and burglaries across California between 1973 and 1986, despite not knowing anyone directly impacted by his crimes. A book chronicling her work, also titled I'll Be Gone in the Dark, was released posthumously. The docuseries serves as a sort of companion piece — filled with loving remembrances and overwhelming admiration for McNamara.
As far as true crime "fans" go, McNamara was the best of us. Her unrelenting passion for justice leaps from the page and screen even now, and will serve as an inspiration always. — A.F.
How to watch: I'll Be Gone in the Dark is now streaming on Max.
24. McMillions Credit: HBOFor more than a decade starting in 1989, a veritable army of crooks and stooges bilked McDonald's out of $24 million-worth of winnings from its annual McDonald's Monopoly sweepstakes. It was such a sprawling scheme that HBO turned it into a documentary miniseries directed by James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte. Across six episodes, the fascinating and frequently hilarious doc introduces us to colorful characters on both sides of the law as it digs into the particulars of the criminal enterprise and how it eventually fell apart.
By the time it's all over, you'll know the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the historic McDonald's Monopoly fraud case. But you'll also be left with plenty of questions about what McMillions' most memorable character, FBI Agent Doug Matthews, isn't telling us. — Adam Rosenberg, Senior Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: McMillions is now streaming on Max.
25. Deadly WomenDeeply in guilty pleasure terrain, Deadly Women is a documentary series that covers several stories of female murderers in each episode. These vicious vignettes are tied together by themes like greed, lovers turned enemies, or moms who murder. An advantage to this format is that if you can only handle a small dose of true crime tragedy, it's easy to hit pause before the next story begins.
Moody reenactments give audiences a look at what might have happened to these victims and their killers. Along the way, experts in criminal profiling and psychology weigh in, speaking to the facts, the speculations, and the gnarly mental states that led to murder. To be frank, the whole show functions on a ghoulish misogyny that is hellbent on deeming most of its subjects as bad since birth. But beneath the condemnations of the interview subjects and the smirking delivering of the unseen narrator, you can pick out clues to systemic evils that don't make these women innocent, but suggest more depth than this devotedly trash true crime show aims for. — K.P.
How to watch: Deadly Women is now streaming on Max.
26. Fear Thy NeighborIf you're frustrated by a noisy or nosy neighbor, this show might be a balm...or throw you into panic. Relying on reenactments and interviews with survivors, each episode of Fear Thy Neighbor welcomes audiences into a new neighborhood, where the residents might once have been friendly but have turned into fearsome foes. Disagreements over home maintenance, gardening, and children at play escalate into heated arguments, and often gunplay and homicide.
What makes this true crime show uniquely intriguing is that each episode tries to tell both sides, without giving away how things end. So, as viewers watch survivors — and witnesses — give conflicting accounts, they are encouraged to not only figure out whose side they're on but also to look for clues to what ultimately happened, who might have walked away, and whether someone's absence on camera means they're in prison or in the grave. — K.P.
How to watch: Fear Thy Neighbor is now streaming on Max.
27. See No EvilWe live in an age of surveillance. Gas stations, schools, apartment buildings, and many more locations have cameras always on the lookout. And while that's apt to make us all feel a bit paranoid about being watched, See No Evil shows an upside.
Each episode begins with a murder mystery, then traces the investigation, which — in these cases — always includes crucial evidence caught on tape. Sometimes it's the last moments of a victim walking down a dark street. Sometimes it's the flash of a speeding car at a curious hour. Sometimes it's elevator footage that reveals what horrors went on behind closed doors. If you like true crime docs that offer answers, you'll appreciate the vision of See No Evil. — K.P.
How to watch: See No Evil Seasons 1-13 are now streaming on Max.
28. The Cheshire Murders Credit: HBODirected and produced by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner, The Cheshire Murders chronicles a horrific home invasion that devastated a small town in Connecticut. In the early hours of July 23, 2007, two men entered a suburban residence and began a campaign of terror against a family of four that left only father Dr. William Petit alive. It's a truly disturbing account, which includes graphic descriptions of child rape and torture.
This project is sometimes regarded as being staunchly in favor of the death penalty, featuring damning interviews with the attackers' families actually recommending the two convicted men be sentenced to death. However, it also offers a disturbing look at the alarming lack of transparency from police regarding the perpetrators' arrests and trials. — A.F.
How to watch: The Cheshire Murders is now streaming on Max.
29. Your Worst NightmareWho needs sleep? If you're craving true crime stories that'll keep you up at night, you can't do better than the aptly named Your Worst Nightmare.
Each hour-long episode focuses on a story that is truly chilling, from abductions to murders to situations that are literally horror movie inspirations. Told through a mix of reenactments and talking-head interviews with law enforcement, criminal justice professionals, friends and family members of the victims, and even survivors, Your Worst Nightmare sets the stage for real-life horror and does not let up. This one is not for the faint of heart. — K.P.
How to watch: Your Worst Nightmare Seasons 1-6 are now streaming on Max.
30. There's Something Wrong with Aunt DianeOn July 26, 2009, Diane Schuler traveled 1.7 miles in the wrong direction on the Taconic State Parkway in upstate New York. When her minivan collided head-on with an SUV, she, her daughter, three of her nieces, and all of the passengers in the other vehicle died.
In director Liz Garbus's There’s Something Wrong With Aunt Diane, Schuler's family members, witnesses, and investigators attempt to make sense of the bizarre decisions Schuler made that day. Her blood alcohol content was reportedly .19% at the time of the collision, but Schuler had no history of alcoholism and had appeared sober to witnesses shortly beforehand. Garbus prioritizes deep and complex analysis over a tidy narrative in her take on the case. It's a sympathetic but truthful account that will leave you with plenty to chew over. — A.F.
How to watch: There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane is now streaming on Max.
UPDATE: Oct. 17, 2024, 2:57 p.m. EDT This article has been updated to reflect the latest streaming options. All new copy is courtesy of Kristy Puchko.
Asterisks (*) indicate the entry description comes from a previous Mashable streaming list.
Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Watch NowThe LSU Tigers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks football teams go head-to-head this weekend at Folsom Field Stadium in Boulder Colorado. The match will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, and is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable LSU vs. Arkansas football kickoff time and networkThe LSU vs. Arkansas football game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT start on ESPN on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Best streaming services for LSU vs. Arkansas football gameYou need to choose a streaming service to watch college football without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for Saturday's LSU vs. Arkansas football game on ESPN.
Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan Get DealGetting Sling TV for the LSU vs. Arkansas football game could work for you. You’ll need the Orange Plan, which comes as low as $20 for the first month and $40 for subsequent months.
Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.
Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan Get DealWith FuboTV, you can watch more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
Visit the FuboTV website to see if your zip code includes the ESPN broadcast. If it does, then you're good to go - you'll be able to get ESPN with the FuboTV Pro plan, which has a one-month introductory rate of $59.99/month and a regular subscription rate of $79.99 per month.
FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.
The Colorado Buffaloes vs. Arizona Wildcats football teams go head-to-head this weekend at the Arizona Stadium in Tuscon, Arizona. The match will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, and is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.
SEE ALSO: How to watch college football without cable Colorado vs. Arizona football kickoff time and networkThe Colorado vs. Arizona football game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT start on FOX on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Best streaming services for Colorado vs. Arizona football gameYou need to choose a streaming service to watch college football without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for Saturday's Colorado vs. Arizona football game on FOX.
Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue Plan Get DealYou can only access FOX through Sling TV in certain markets, including Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Gainesville, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tacoma, Tampa, and Washington, D.C.
If you’re not in one of those markets, unfortunately, Sling TV isn't an option to watch the Colorado vs. Arizona football game.
However, if you’re in one of those markets, getting Sling TV for the Colorado vs. Arizona football is a great option. To watch, you’ll need to purchase the Blue Plan, which comes at $35 for the first month and $45 for subsequent months.
Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.
Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan Get DealFuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
Visit the FuboTV website to see if your zip code includes the FOX broadcast. If it does, then you're good to go - you'll be able to get FOX with the FuboTV Pro plan, which has a one-month introductory rate of $59.99/month and a regular subscription rate of $79.99 per month.
FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.
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