Entertainment
Extreme Post-Apocalyptic Thriller Will Either Cure You Or Break You
By Robert Scucci
| Published
One of the common pitfalls post-apocalyptic thrillers run into is trying to do too much at once, because there are a lot of angles to consider. The Mad Max franchise works because there is dense, folklore-driven worldbuilding that we’re made aware of as a smaller group of people navigate the wasteland looking for answers. The 28 Days Later films handle this well too. We’re briefed on what’s happening globally, and then things are handled locally.
2025’s Uncontained, despite the fact that it has a lot going for it, struggles with this balance. The result is a tonally inconsistent film that I wish stuck the landing better, because the potential is clearly there.
Found Family During End Times
Billed as a zombie horror drama, Uncontained tells a much more personal story through the eyes of Dan (portrayed by writer director Morley Nelson). Dan is a drifter who appears to be immune to the zombie virus that has decimated society, and he eventually happens upon a smart house occupied by two children, Jack (Jack Nelson) and Brooke (Brooke Nelson).
Their mother, simply billed as The Woman (Nicole Nelson), works for Homeland Security and is desperately searching for a cure, because Jack carries a latent version of the infection.
Dan, initially just looking for shelter, slowly becomes a surrogate father figure for Jack and Brooke. The Woman is also glad to have him around, mostly because he’s able to clock an intimidating amount of time on the treadmill that doubles as a power source for the house.
Jack handcuffs himself to the bed before going to bed, because he occasionally turns into a bloodthirsty zombie in his sleep and needs to wait out his episodes so he doesn’t harm his family. He also sets elaborate snare traps in the backyard and spends his time studying captured zombies, which initially disgusts Dan, who doesn’t yet realize that he and Jack have more in common than either of them would like to admit.
The B Story
Meanwhile, Uncontained introduces additional conflict in the form of militia leader Brett Carson (Peter O’Meara), who refuses to leave the property because he’s searching for his missing daughter, Melanie (Courtney Blythe Turk). This entire plot line feels largely unnecessary, as it neither helps nor meaningfully disrupts the dynamic inside the house that Dan and the family are occupying.
The limited value these scenes provide comes mostly from comic relief, particularly when Brett talks shop with a police officer who grows more visibly concerned with each passing exchange, as if silently thinking, “dude, you need to go home before you get killed.”
Speaking of comic relief, Uncontained earns genuine points for the dynamic it establishes between Dan, Jack, and Brooke, and The Woman. Dan has a gruff exterior and doesn’t look like the kind of guy who enjoys screwing around. But the moment Brooke offers him her hair clips, he immediately takes her up on it just to be kind. These subtle moments are both funny and disarming, and they say a lot about Dan’s character. The world is effectively ending, and nobody is obligated to be pleasant if they don’t want to be.
Uncontained ultimately leaves a lot on the table, and it’s because it tries to think globally and locally at the same time. Had the film committed to being a bottle story focused on the house and its occupants, I think it would have landed more cleanly. It simply tries to do too much at once, when the initial survival story is already compelling on its own. The moments I enjoyed most came directly from this central dynamic. The idea that an infected child could be the key to a cure while the family battens down the hatches and rides out the proverbial storm is strong enough without a side story pulling attention away from it.
Uncontained is streaming for free on Tubi.
Entertainment
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro gimbal is back at a record-low price at Amazon: Save over $30
SAVE $33.01: The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro foldable gimbal is on sale at Amazon for $126.98, down from the list price of $159.99. That’s a 21% discount that matches the record low at Amazon.
$126.98
at Amazon
$159.99
Save $33.01
These days, you don’t have to be a professional content creator to share great clips on socials. We have tons of free tools that help us capture video to share on our feeds, whether it’s your dog being silly or your latest trip to Europe. If you’ve been grabbing these videos by holding your phone in your hand, it might be time for an upgrade. Check out this deal at Amazon.
As of Feb. 4, the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro foldable gimbal is on sale at Amazon for $126.98, marked down from the list price of $159.99. That’s a 21% discount that shaves $33.01 off the normal price. It also matches the record low at Amazon.
Insta360 packed the Flow 2 Pro with features that make filming much more convenient. For starters, there’s the active zoom tracking, which can follow subjects even at 15x zoom. The multi-person tracking is also great for filming several subjects, and the 360-degree Infinite Pan Tracking is a standout highlight. This function allows for continuous rotation. Of course, it can also serve as a tripod for still recording.
Mashable Deals
While it’s still at a record-low price at Amazon, upgrade to the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro foldable gimbal for under $127. Your content will look smooth and pro-level with this added accessory.
Entertainment
A Fully Loaded Potato Salad for Dinner
I love potato salad. I love the creamy kind, the vinegar-y kind; I’ll take a warm one with dill, whatever you’ve got. And yet, I’m about to make a bold claim: this potato salad might be my favorite. Why? Because it’s decidedly not a side dish. It’s the whole damn meal.
This recipe comes to us from Melina Hammer, who calls it a “Niçoise-ish” potato salad, because it’s souped up with tuna, eggs, and other classic Niçoise elements. “You get those bright, bold flavors,” says Melina. It adapts easily for the season, she adds, suggesting winter radishes — like purple daikons or watermelon radishes — if you make it this month. “You can also swap the green beans for two cups of chopped escarole or Napa cabbage, and I’m always a fan of thawed frozen peas. No need to cook them any further — just toss ’em in!”
Here’s the full recipe, plus some pointers from Melina:
Niçoise-ish Potato Salad
by Melina Hammer
Serves 4
3 eggs
salt
1 dry quart small red potatoes (approximately 2 lbs), any larger ones sliced in half
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp (or more) freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp capers, strained
2 1/2 oz thin green beans, stem ends trimmed and sliced into 1 1/2-2 inch segments on a diagonal (or swap for peas, cabbage, etc)
1 5-ounce can albacore tuna
3 radishes, ends trimmed and sliced in halves, then thinly sliced
2 tbsp finely sliced chives
2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
Bring a medium saucepan with enough water to cover the eggs by an inch to a boil. Lower refrigerator-cold eggs into the water and cook them on a simmer for 8 minutes, then plunge the eggs into an ice bath until they are cool enough to handle. Peel and then slice the eggs into six wedges apiece and set aside.
Bring the potatoes to a simmer in well-salted water. Cook for 8 minutes or until they yield easily when pierced with a sharp knife. Strain them into a colander with a slotted spoon, reserving the cooking liquid. Transfer the potatoes to a mixing bowl and add the oil, mustard, black pepper, and capers. Gently toss to fully coat.
Blanch the green beans in the potato water for 30 seconds to 1 minute — just long enough for them to turn bright green. Strain, and add to the potatoes. Add the tuna, flaking the fish into the bowl, followed by the radishes and chives. Toss to incorporate, then add the eggs and lemon juice. (Note: “If you’re making this a day or more in advance, hold the lemon juice and add it just before serving,” says Melina. “Otherwise, it will dull the color of the green beans.”) Gently toss once more. “I like to use a silicone spatula and work up from the bottom of the bowl, folding the ingredients together with a light hand so the yolks remain mostly intact.”
As you serve the potato salad, make sure to scoop up all the last bits of custardy egg, straggler chives, and mustardy goodness clinging to the sides of the bowl. Enjoy.
Melina Hammer is a chef, food stylist, recipe developer, and the award-winning author of A Year at Catbird Cottage. Her recipes have appeared on Bon Appétit, Food52, and Edible. You can follow her newsletter, Stories from Catbird Cottage.
What other dinner salads do you love? And do you have a house salad?
P.S. Five ways to upgrade a regular green salad, and white bean soup, because it’s February.
(Photos courtesy of Melina Hammer.)
Entertainment
Streaming deal alert: Get 3 months of MUBI for only $1
SAVE $43.97: Through Feb. 9, new and returning subscribers can get three months of streaming on MUBI for only $1. Usually $14.99 per month, that’s nearly $44 in savings.
If you’re looking to venture away from Netflix and its extravagant costs, MUBI is an excellent choice — especially if you’re a movie lover. There are never any ads, it’s brimming with hand-picked quality cinema, and for a limited time, it’s just a buck.
Through Feb. 9, new and returning subscribers can get three months of streaming on MUBI for just $1. It typically costs $14.99 per month (or $9.99 per month with an annual membership), which means you’ll save nearly $44 total across 90 days. After the promotional period, of course, the price will jump back up to $14.99 unless you cancel first.
MUBI is made for cinephiles, as it prides itself as a place to “discover ambitious films and series by visionary filmmakers — from iconic directors to emerging auteurs.” You’ll find mainstream and independent films, classics and new releases, award winners, and even Mubi originals. That includes one of our favorite movies from 2025, Die My Love, and one of our favorites from 2024, The Substance. It’s also where you can watch Lili Reinhart‘s new show Hal & Harper, as well as Twin Peaks in its entirety.
Mashable Deals
Streaming deals this good don’t stick around long — be sure to secure your $1 subscription by Feb. 9.
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro gimbal is back at a record-low price at Amazon: Save over $30
SNAK Venture Partners raises $50M fund to back vertical marketplaces
