Entertainment
The 90s Thriller That Turns Sitcom Fandom Into Madness
By Robert Scucci
| Published
The word “vibe” has been grossly misappropriated in the year 2026, often referring to background noise people throw on to generate comfort by ignoring their own intrusive thoughts. Spotify playlists are jam-packed with AI-generated music for the vibe. Less-than-memorable found footage horror movies offer more vibe than substance. When I talk about vibe, I’m usually referring to the stylistic choices made in films like 1992’s Star Time, what I would call a total vibe piece.
Make no mistake, because Star Time’s vibe is baked directly into its premise. It’s kaleidoscopic, feverish, and visually enthralling despite its shoestring budget. Every shot feels deliberate, and it’s not something you throw on in the background while folding laundry or doom scrolling. The ever-present vibe in Star Time is existential dread, seen through the eyes of a man spiraling into a psychotic break after his favorite TV show gets canceled.
Henry’s Murderous Delusions
Star Time introduces us to Henry Pinkle (Michael St. Gerard), a mentally unstable Los Angeles nobody who only finds comfort in his favorite sitcom, The Robertson Family. When the show gets canceled, he decides to cancel his own life as well, resolving to jump off a bridge and fade to black before his own credits roll. At the last moment before taking the plunge, he’s approached by a man named Sam Bones (John P. Ryan), who claims to be the TV producer and manager who will make him a star.
Meanwhile, Henry’s social worker, Wendy (Maureen Teefy), receives a videotape Henry recorded before his suicide attempt, informing her that he will no longer require her services.
Sam brings Henry to a TV studio, where he becomes fixated on a wall of televisions. A woman’s voice tells him to follow his destiny before Sam provides him with a hatchet and an expressionless baby mask. His big “debut” involves breaking into a house and murdering its owner, a sign of what’s to come.
Fully convinced he’s starring in his own slasher, Henry begins his rampage. Wendy realizes he’s still alive after learning that Sam prevented him from jumping off the bridge. Convinced his actions will allow him to become a saint, Henry arranges to meet Wendy so he can introduce her to Sam, who Wendy quickly realizes is a psychotic delusion that only he can see. By the time she understands what Henry is getting himself into, he’s so far gone that there’s nothing she can do to bring him back to reality.
It’s A Total Vibe Piece
While Star Time tells a harrowing story through its screenplay, writer-director Alexander Cassini elevates it with the help of cinematographer Fernando Arguelles through the film’s visuals. I’m not talking about elaborate special or practical effects. It’s the high-contrast lighting, claustrophobic closeups, abrasive sound design, and Henry’s sinister facial expressions that do the heavy lifting. It plays out like a slasher through its second and third acts, but that’s not where its main appeal lies.
The reason I got sucked into Star Time is because it feels like a nightmarish, out-of-body experience that forces me to inhabit Henry Pinkle’s fractured mindset. Sometimes all you need is a wall of televisions filled with disturbing images to make your skin crawl, and Star Time delivers at unwholesome levels that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up.
Whenever I call something a vibe piece, films like Star Time check every box. This isn’t a movie you idly watch. You sit on the floor three feet away from the TV without distractions because that’s the energy it brings. Star Time is about a man’s disturbing relationship with television sending him down a horrifying path of exploitation and homicide. If that’s the kind of vibe you’re looking for, you can stream it on Tubi for free as of this writing.
Entertainment
400K MagSafe power banks recalled after fatal fire, the 10th power bank recall in a year
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Casely reannounced a power bank recall this April after a fire linked to the device fatally injured a user. This is the tenth power bank recall in the United States in the last 12 months, and Anker recalled 1.5 million power banks in 2025.
The recall affects an estimated 429,200 Casely 5,000-mAh MagSafe Power Pods (Model E33A), which were originally recalled in 2025. The MagSafe power banks need to be completely replaced.
Back of Casely power banks.
Credit: CPSC
Affected customers should stop using the portable power banks immediately. They can also contact Casely to receive a free replacement.
“The recalled lithium-ion battery in the power banks can overheat and ignite, posing risk of serious injury or death from fire and burn hazards to consumers,” the CPSC stated on its recall website.
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The Brooklyn-based company is reannouncing the recall after receiving 51 reports of the lithium-ion battery overheating, expanding, and/or catching fire while charging smartphones, “resulting in six minor burn injuries.”
However, in the past year, the CPSC says 28 more reports have been made, including explosions that caused a serious accident on an airplane and one death.
In August 2024, a 75-year-old woman from New Jersey, was charging her cell phone with the power bank on her lap when it caught on fire and exploded. The victim suffered second and third degree burns and later passed away from complications from her injuries. In February 2026, a 47-year-old woman was charging her cell phone with the power bank on an airplane when it caught on fire and exploded, resulting in the victim suffering first degree burns.
How to check your Casely Power Pod
Worried you may own one of the 429,000 recalled power banks? It’s easy to check if your device is included in the recall.
On the back of the device, look for the device’s model number, as show in a picture provided by the CPSC. If the model number reads “E33A,” then stop using the device immediately.
Look for the model number.
Credit: CPSC
More information on requesting a replacement power bank is available on the CPSC and Casely recall websites.
Entertainment
The new Dyson Supersonic Travel is the cheapest Supersonic yet
Table of Contents
Nearly three years ago, I asked if the (then) $429 Dyson Supersonic was still worth the price of entry.
These days, with the Supersonic line having expanded, the standard model having increased in price to $449.99, and the most expensive version of the hair dryer topping out at $549.99, it’s a question that feels even more apt.
The good news? If you’re not super into the idea of spending about $500 for a hair dryer, Dyson just announced the Dyson Supersonic Travel, a $299.99 model of its famous hair tool. In addition to its lower price point, it comes with more travel-friendly proportions and features.
As someone who’s personally tested Supersonics (and their many dupes), I took a closer look at the latest Dyson beauty launch to gather everything you need to know.
The design differences of the Dyson Supersonic Travel
In short, the Supersonic Travel is the standard Supersonic but smaller. According to Dyson, that comes out to exactly 32 percent smaller and 25 percent lighter than the OG Supersonic. In other words, it’s 0.7 pounds to the standard Supersonic’s 1.8 pounds, and 8.7 inches tall to the larger model’s 10 inches.
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This model also comes with one attachment, the styling concentrator, a la the now-discontinued Dyson Supersonic Origin (which ran for $399.99). For comparison, the $449.99 Supersonic comes with three attachments: a styling concentrator, diffuser, and wide-tooth comb. For all five attachments, you’ll have to shell out $549.99.
The Supersonic Travel is compatible with all original and Supersonic Nural attachments.
Credit: Dyson
The same attachments can be used between the Travel, original, and Supersonic Nural dryers. This means opting for the Travel could technically save you some money — individual attachments range from $19.99 to $44.99. If you only use a styling concentrator and diffuser, for instance, the total cost of a Travel dryer with the extra attachment purchase would come out to $344.98, making it still over $100 cheaper than the three-attachment original Supersonic.
The Supersonic Travel is more versatile in some ways, and less so in others
Functionality-wise, the Supersonic Travel is a slightly different product from the other Supersonics in the line. It has anywhere from 1,000 to 1,220 watts of power and an airflow speed of 11.6 liters per second, compared to the 1,600 watts and 13.3 liters per second of the standard Supersonic. In other words, the bigger dryer is slightly more powerful, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect longer dry times.
The standard Supersonic and Supersonic Nural also feature four heats and three air speeds, where the Supersonic Travel features three heats and two air speeds.
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That said, the Supersonic Travel has universal voltage compatibility, so it can be used from 100 to 240 volts, whereas the other Supersonics are locked into 120 volt compatibility.
In terms of its portability, it’s also worth noting the Supersonic Travel weighs the same as the Supersonic r, a professional grade hair dryer (priced as such at $549.99) that’s become more popular due in part to being lightweight and easy to maneuver.
Where to buy the Dyson Supersonic Travel
The Dyson Supersonic Travel is available for $299.99 at Dyson’s website, Amazon, and Best Buy. If you buy at the former, you will receive a complimentary $59.99 travel bag along with the hair dryer.
Entertainment
The gorgeous yet budget-friendly Samsung QN70F Neo QLED TV is the cheapest its ever been
SAVE $300: As of April 21, you can get the Samsung 55-inch QN70F Neo QLED 4K TV for only $597.99 instead of $897.99 at Amazon. That’s 33% in savings and the lowest price on record.
$597.99
at Amazon
$897.99
Save $300
We’re in peak sports season, y’all. Besides the action of the Stanley Cup playoffs and NBA playoffs, there’s a fresh MLB season taking shape. If your TV is looking dull or lagging, it’s a prime time to upgrade — especially since you can find some epic deals on 2025 models.
As of April 21, the Samsung 55-inch QN70F Neo QLED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for only $597.99. That’s 33% or $300 off its current list price, as well as its lowest price to date.
As Mashable’s TV expert Leah Stodart explains, “Neo QLED is really just Samsung’s proprietary term for QLED paired with Mini LED.” So, the QN70F features a panel of quantum dots over a bunch of tiny LED bulbs instead of a basic LED panel. The result? A stunning display with impressive color accuracy, deep blacks, and spectacular contrast. All the little details will look good no matter the lighting conditions in your room.
This TV uses an NQ4 AI Gen2 processor to upscale content and enhance the quality of anything you’re watching. So even those old episodes of Friends will look more impressive on the QN70F. And thanks to a 144Hz variable refresh rate, gaming and sports will look noticeably smoother and less laggy than your old set.
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If an upgrade is in order, but you don’t want to spend a ton of money, the Samsung QN70F Neo QLED 4K TV is an excellent value at full price. At $300 off, it’s a steal.
400K MagSafe power banks recalled after fatal fire, the 10th power bank recall in a year
The new Dyson Supersonic Travel is the cheapest Supersonic yet
