Entertainment
AdultFriendFinder vs. FetLife: Which is better for exploring specific kinks?
So, you want to explore kink but you’re not sure where to begin. Finding a dating app that’s kink-friendly and full of likeminded kinksters is hugely important, and regular dating apps might not cut it on that front. So, how do you find your people?
Perhaps you have a foot fetish, or you’re into spanking or BDSM. Maybe you have no idea what you might be into but want to find a safe, non-judgmental space to explore your options and go on a journey of sexual self-discovery.
Well, we’ve got good news for you: thanks to the magic of the internet, there are at least two places purpose-built for you to let your freak flag fly: AdultFriendFinder and FetLife. Spend even a few minutes on either site and you’ll see they have a lot in common, from the abundance of nudity to the kink-friendly design of the interface and search functions.
Hookup apps for everyone
AdultFriendFinder
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readers’ pick for casual connections
Tinder
—
top pick for finding hookups
Hinge
—
popular choice for regular meetups
Another major point of commonality between the two sites is the user demographics. Though both skew male, the major standout difference is age — the average user on FetLife in 25 and AdultFriendFinder users tend to be in their 30s. That having been said, both sites boast a very wide range of genders, sexual orientations, ages, and kink communities, so it’s safe to say there’s something for everyone here.
But while both sites are designed to accommodate sex-positive communities, they don’t operate in the same way, and you may find one suits your needs and goals better than the other. Here are the major differences in how AFF and FetLife cater to kinksters:
Credit: AdultFriendFinder
Where AdultFriendFinder excels
Faster connections
FetLife is great and very popular, but it also takes time to build a following, earn credibility, and be taken seriously on the site. In fact, while you can message strangers, the culture of the site discourages it, and it’s common for unsolicited messages to go ignored. On AdultFriendFinder, on the other hand, the opposite rule reigns. In fact, it’s much more like a traditional dating site, in the sense that connecting with strangers online is closer to the site’s purpose, whereas FetLife is more of a social media website for building local kink communities.
And in addition to the one-on-one aspect, AdultFriendFinder also hosts live webcam shows and community discussion forums, offering users multiple different ways to connect and connect quickly.
Better site interface
This one might be controversial, since the AFF site is notoriously dated, but FetLife’s interface is downright confusing, a mix between Facebook and Instagram, with much more limited search functionality. While both sites will allow you to search by specific kinks (and both sites offer exhaustive lists of kink options), the search functionality and filter options on AdultFriendFinder are more comprehensive and more user-friendly.
This isn’t an accident, by the way. FetLife deliberately disables search by age, gender and sexual orientation because, in their words, they are “a social network and not a dating site.”
Mashable Trend Report
Live shows
FetLife allows users to host videos, but it doesn’t have a dedicated, live webcam service. Some users do offer that, of course, but they do so on third-party sites, and usually behind a paywall. AFF, on the other hand, makes live streaming a significant part of their community experience, and allows you to search through the webcam shows based on the location of the streamer or the interest/topic of the show, which often revolves around a specific kink.
4 tips for using hookup apps discretely — advice for Feeld, Tinder, AdultFriendFinder, and Grindr
In other words, if you’re content to watch, AFF delivers some excellent, kink-centric live action, and much of it is accessible without upgrading to a paid subscription.
Where FetLife excels
Free accounts have more freedom
The most noticeable difference between FetLife and AFF is how much more freedom is afforded to non-paying accounts. On AdultFriendFinder, profiles are locked behind a paywall, so only paying members can read bios, scroll through photos, or see a comprehensive list of kinks. FetLife, on the other hand, operates more like Instagram for kinksters, delivering large photos, comprehensive bios, and even a web of connections comparable to what you might see on Facebook, from friends and romantic partners to subs, doms and mentors, if applicable.
Even more important, free FetLife users can contact each other in one-on-one messages without having to give up their credit card information, which definitely makes it easier to establish a personal connection.
One major limitation of free accounts is that they’re prevented from watching videos, and because raunchy videos are a mainstay of many profiles, this is definitely a hindrance, but not an especially annoying one.
The site promotes in-person events
Perhaps the biggest benefit of FetLife over AdultFriendFinder is the former is much more focused on real-life connections, whereas AdultFriendFinder seems content to let people play in the virtual world.
The Events tab at the top of the FetLife banner allows you to see, at a glance, all of the nearby, kink-friendly events, from informal meet-and-greets to full-on costume and masquerade balls. Best of all, you can filter by sub-type (Party, Educational, Social, Conference/Festival, Sex Party) or just look for events that your FetLife friends are attending.
These in-person events are such an important part of the FetLife experience, even when they’re not officially affiliated with the website, that they should be considered integral to the site itself. In fact, it’s pretty common to see people indicate, in their profiles, that they won’t message or “friend” anyone that they haven’t already met at an IRL event.
Kink discovery
Because of its community emphasis and dedication to exploring sexuality in a safe, consensual and informed way, FetLife offers users not only the means to connect with others but also to better connect with themselves. There’s the community-sourced Kinktionary, for example, a Wiki-like resource covering topical aspects of human sexuality from the ins and outs of gay culture to a comprehensive list of sex toys and their uses, as well as dedicated groups to not only explore kinks but also introduce people to the BDSM lifestyle (we recommend you check out the Novices & Newbies section if you’re a first-time visitor).
AdultFriendFinder isn’t totally without these resources, but they’re not as user-friendly or as accessible to total newcomers to the world of kink.
The bottom line
Both AFF and FetLife are premier destinations for internet kinksters, and you can’t really go wrong with either. Both sites have large user bases, comprehensive kink-based spaces, and the kind of non-judgmental atmosphere that makes it easy to let loose.
That having been said, if you’re looking for the fastest possible connection or are content to confine your kink to the digital world for the time being, AdultFriendFinder does a better job connecting people quickly. If, on the other hand, you want to integrate into your local kink community and maybe discover the underground nightclubs and VIP parties reserved only for the naughtiest of the naughty, FetLife will do right by you.
Entertainment
New Resident Evil Movie's Trailer Looks Like Generic Horror And Feels Nothing Like Resident Evil
By Jennifer Asencio
| Published
Fans of the Resident Evil franchise have had a slew of video games and several movies to satisfy their craving. The iconic Alice, played by Milla Jovovich, appeared in five movies between 2002 and 2016, and a sixth movie was a prequel that explored the origins of the mansion in which she woke up in the first movie. Now, there’s a new movie in the franchise, and it looks nothing like the others.
The movie is simply titled Resident Evil and will probably cause both itself and the first movie to henceforth be referred to with their years of release included in their titles. According to IMDb, it is about a young courier named Bryan (Austin Abrams) whose cargo is on its way to a mysterious, remote, and deserted location. The teaser trailer was released on May 1, 2026, and promised both action and horror as Bryan’s world suddenly becomes radically different and more dangerous overnight.
The trailer is a short movie of its own, framed around a phone call from Bryan to a nameless girlfriend with whom he had a fight, but is now trying to tell one last time that he loves her. 911 is busy, which is already ominous. Everything is dark, the house is abandoned, and he has had a problem on the road.
All alone, he searches the house for supplies as he finds himself pursued by zombie-like mutants. Forced to get back to the city (is it Raccoon City? The trailer doesn’t say) while surviving a variety of creepy, distorted monsters that perhaps were once human but are no longer, he trudges through the snow, explores cavernous tunnels, and flees from these frightening pursuers down desolate roads until he reaches the urban center. Viewers only get to see one street in the city, but it is raining mutants and zombies as Bryan frantically tries to escape.
There is a lot of criticism of the trailer being “not Resident Evil,” and there is merit to this complaint. The other Resident Evil films were action-horror, while this one looks like straight horror. There are no familiar characters like Alice, Leon Kennedy, Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, or the STARS team. Even many of the monsters are different from those in the other movies and the games. There is no sign of the licentious Umbrella Corporation.
What IS “Resident Evil” about it is the survival horror aspect. Fans of survival horror movies and games will recognize the foraging and exploring Bryan has to do in the house to collect the items he needs to defend himself and survive. These items include things like car keys, random firearms with handy ammo just lying around, and “healing items” like Band-aids or food. Survival horror fans will thrill over Bryan’s adventures, but the trailer that has been released does not make an obvious connection to the source material, a fact that has annoyed quite a few fans. And they’re not complaining that it’s not a good-looking movie, just that it is not a movie from the famous franchise.
However, the movie has a mark of horror prestige in the form of Zach Cregger, coming freshly from the success of the acclaimed movie Barbarian and the Oscar-winning Weapons. Cregger wrote both those movies in addition to directing them, and, while he has help from writer Shay Hatten, he has definitely proven his own mettle as a great horror director. Hatten’s presence should assuage fans who are worried about it not being an action film, too, since he is the mind behind the last three John Wick sequels, the Wick-adjacent Ballerina, and the Zack Snyder Army of the Dead movies.
So, to people worried that this film doesn’t have the feel of the Resident Evil franchise, I can only say: just wait. Remember that a franchise isn’t just about existing fans; it’s also about drawing in new fans, and to do that, franchises must constantly reinvent themselves, or they become dry and predictable, like the MCU. This is only the first trailer and only represents about two minutes of movie time. Resident Evil is a horror franchise at its core, and I am positive that Zach Cregger is not going to kill his strong momentum by delivering a film that alienates fans, no matter how different this early trailer might seem from the source material.
Resident Evil will be in theaters on September 18, 2026. Catch it before the infection spreads.
Entertainment
Red Alert! New Star Trek Short Film Is Everything You’ve Been Waiting For
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Starfleet Academy disappointed Star Trek fans for many reasons, including the liberties it took with franchise lore and its focus on foul-mouthed, drama-loving teens. But some fans hated that show long before it came out because they were hoping Paramount would produce a very different series. Namely, they wanted Star Trek: Legacy, which would blend new characters with legacy favorites and serve as a spinoff of Terry Matalas’ fan-favorite third season of Star Trek: Picard.
That show never materialized, and Paramount now seems focused on rebooting the franchise altogether. Does that mean you’re up the Great River without a paddle if you want classic Star Trek adventures? Negative, captain! Trek Shorts recently launched its newest fan film: Legacy Returns. Billed as “The world’s first SNW/Voyager Era fan film,” Legacy Returns is free to stream on YouTube, and we’ve embedded it below.
Legacy Returns is worth watching for any fan hoping to return to the Golden Age of Star Trek.
Reporting For Duty
What is Legacy Returns about, exactly? Like many classic Trek adventures, it begins with affable Starfleet officers (Dr. Louise Nilson and Lt. JG Hayes) preparing to warp to their next mission. Along the way, though, they encounter something unexpected: a Constitution-class vessel named USS Magellan. In exploring the vessel, they encounter many curiosities, including a mystery tied to events from over a century earlier. Fortunately, there is no obstacle that our heroes can’t solve with the cornerstones of Star Trek: exploration, diplomacy, and endless curiosity.
If you wrinkle your nose like a Bajoran when you hear the phrase “fan film,” I get it. Many such productions are low-rent and downright cringey to watch. For example, it feels like half the Star Wars “fan films” in existence are just an excuse to watch two grown men hit each other with sticks in the woods. Star Trek hasn’t fared much better, with fan productions that suffer from bad acting and even worse production quality.
Setting Phasers To Fun
Fortunately, Legacy Returns is a breath of fresh air among fan films. It is made by the Patreon-funded Trek Shorts team, and they’ve been creating killer Star Trek fan films since 2023. That experience has helped this team craft a movie that is a genuine pleasure to watch. For one thing, the special effects (which include absolutely beautiful ship exteriors) are top-notch. That same level of quality extends to the rest of the production: the uniforms are crisp and professional, and some of the recreated ship interiors will blow you away. The uniforms and props are perfect, making this “fan film” look polished and professional.
Most importantly, though, the story of Legacy Returns feels like Star Trek at its best. There isn’t much in the way of action and adventure, which may disappoint younger fans who grew up with the Kelvinverse movies. Instead, the movie focuses on characters quietly exploring a mysterious ship, all while diving deep into Trek lore. Incidentally, this is why it’s billed as a Voyager/Strange New Worlds film: our main characters are from the TNG/VOY era, but they explore a Constitution-class vessel that has the same slick interior as Captain Pike’s Enterprise.
Like Reconnecting With A Very Old Friend
Obviously, Legacy Returns isn’t a perfect movie. While the acting is much better than most fan films, it’s a far cry from what you get from professionals in shows like The Next Generation. Plus, while I dug the slower, lore-heavy plot, some fans might find the pace slow. However, these are relatively minor gripes, given how good the story and production quality are. Starfleet Academy had professional actors, and that show’s bad writing nearly ran the franchise into the ground. Quite frankly, Legacy Returns is the perfect fan film for anyone who has had issues with NuTrek and just wanted more Star Trek adventures as we had back in the ‘90s.
Best of all, this fan film is like everything else in the Utopian future of the 24th century: completely free! You can now stream Legacy Returns on YouTube. If you like what you see, take the time to dig in: under the Power543 Fan Films account, Short Treks has posted a number of fan films, each more passionate and ambitious than the one before. If you’re a huge Star Trek fan, you don’t have to wait for Season 4 of Strange New Worlds or Season 2 of Starfleet Academy to get your fix. You’re just one click away from more stellar, sci-fi storytelling than you can shake a jumja stick at!
Entertainment
Insidious Trailer Goes Shopping On Temu And Terrifies With Flashlights
By Jennifer Asencio
| Published
The Insidious franchise has followed psychic heroine Elise (played by horror and comedy classic Lin Shaye) as she helps other psychics learn to cope with or even suppress their powers, as she did for the Lambert family through much of the series. For many of the people she helped, the problem was that they could visit a world she calls The Further, a place of demons and ghosts. The most recent Insidious movie, The Red Door, shows Elise, who was trapped in The Further in the previous movie, observing a college-aged Dalton Lambert as he escapes from the other dimension.
Insidious: Out of the Further introduces a new family in the form of single mom Gemma (Amelia Eve) and her daughter Maya (Island Austin), who live together on what looks like a quiet little block in a neat suburban neighborhood. Gemma works in dentistry, and lives a happy, peaceful life with Maya until horrific nightmares begin invading her sleep and causing her to see what she thinks are hallucinations. Somehow, she is led to a psychic (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) who, after a brutal preparation process, channels Elise from The Further.
Elise explains, as viewers are treated to a montage of warped, otherworldly human-looking demons that seem to be stalking Gemma, that Gemma’s psychic abilities not only consist of the typical ability to cross into The Further, but also the potential to bring things back with her. This makes her a huge target for the malevolent demons that lurk beyond the Red Door.
The trailer’s highlights are its numerous jump scares and a cringy moment involving a Novocain needle, but director Jacob Chase seems heavily guided by the producer and the original film’s director, James Wan. Wan’s signature is all over the eerie faces and shadowy places that lurk around Gemma, Maya, and their home. Chase also co-wrote the script, indicating that his vision was already aligning well with the franchise’s premise; the other writers are Davis Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Leigh Whannell.
It also expresses some interesting potential for lore geeks who have followed the series. Elise has been the expert on The Further all along, aiding families who’ve had brushes with it at great risk to her material and mental health. Her character is the thread that has tied the rest of the movies together, even after she herself was lost. The hint from The Red Door that she has been sneaking around The Further all along, keeping an eye on things from the other side and aiding the escape of anyone unfortunate enough to find their way there, has been confirmed with this trailer.
The obvious question is, if the demons can get through from The Further, will Elise be able to come through, too? Or will she decide she should stay behind and continue to defend humanity by guiding lost souls back home? In the delicate interaction between The Further and our world, this is even more central of a question than whether or not the demons make it through. Whatever side Elise stays on will have an impact on how much damage the demons can do to our world. This glaring question almost overtakes the premise and becomes more important than whether anything else passes through.
How powerful will Elise be from beyond The Further? What will happen if humanity is overrun by demonic entities? Have Gemma’s gifts been inherited by her innocent pre-teen daughter? Insidious: Out of the Further releases the demons in theaters sometime in August.
Each movie in the Insidious storyline has seemed more like a chapter from a book as they have added to the lore behind Elise. She even started the series almost like a rock star, with two paranormal investigators flanking her and filming her adventures with the beyond. While The Red Door did follow the Lambert family whose tribulations started the series, I know I for one was looking for Elise’s more competent experience with The Further. And now, she has been residing there for an indeterminate amount of time and have probed even more of its secrets.
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