Entertainment
Extreme ‘80s Thriller Starring The Ultimate Scream Queen Keeps You Guessing
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
For horror movie fans, there’s something sublime about discovering a bonkers movie from decades ago that really blows your mind. The perfect example of this is Terror Train (1980), a slasher that most audiences overlook because it gets lost in the bloody noise of more familiar franchises like Halloween and Friday the 13th. However, this is a movie with an unforgettable setting, and it uses its crazy premise (a slasher hiding in plain sight at a costume party) to keep you guessing until the very end.
As an added bonus, this underappreciated slasher features Jamie Lee Curtis, the OG scream queen who transformed the first Halloween into a pop culture powerhouse. She is just one among a weirdly star-studded cast, all helmed by an acclaimed director in his feature film debut. All of this makes Terror Train a horror film like no other, and you don’t need a ticket to ride: all you have to do is stream this cult classic for free on Tubi.
A Bloody Good Time
The premise of Terror Train is that a group of frat brothers and sorority sisters who previously tormented a virgin pledge decide to throw a raucous New Year’s Eve costume party aboard a train. There’s just one problem: a mysterious killer is stalking the train, donning different costumes and taking out victim after victim. Unless these party-hearty students can figure out who is out to get them, the final stop on this terror train will be death!
The cast of Terror Train includes some eclectic talents, including Ben Johnson (best known for The Last Picture Show) as a conductor and Hart Bochner (best known for Die Hard) as a prank-loving frat leader. Perhaps the strangest addition to the cast is the famous magician David Copperfield in a role that lets him practice his craft onscreen. But the actor who really anchors this quirky horror film is Jamie Lee Curtis (best known for Halloween), the original scream queen who helped to create the slasher as we know it.
X Marx The Spot
While Terror Train wasn’t a runaway hit at the box office, it made a decent profit, earning $8 million against a budget of only $2.7 million. This wasn’t enough to warrant a sequel, but in 2022, Tubi released a remake of the original film. The remake proved to be successful enough to get its own remake, and Terror Train 2 premiered on Tubi in late 2022.
When Terror Train came out, the critics decided they should have gotten out at the first stop. The film has a 44 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers generally griping about the film feeling derivative and its central mystery making no sense. They did consistently praise two elements, though: the innovative train setting and the presence of Jamie Lee Curtis, whose performance reminds audiences why she is the first and best scream queen in all of horror history.
The Weirdest Horror Movie You’ve Never Seen
Like any good weirdo, I was attracted to Terror Train because of the novelty: as its name implies, most of the film takes place on a train, which is a very unconventional environment for a slasher. Even if you don’t really love riding trains yourself (and first of all, how dare you), the setting helps make this horror movie that much scarier. Unlike in iconic slashers such as Halloween and Friday the 13th, there’s nowhere to run for this film’s hapless victims!
Additionally, while it’s not executed perfectly (in fact, the remake handles this far better), the gimmick of the killer donning different outfits to stalk people during a costume party is weirdly effective. It contributes to the atmospheric fear of Terror Train because anyone you see onscreen could be the killer in disguise. At the same time, the killer has a built-in excuse for wardrobe changes, and that works well for the audience: if you don’t find one mask scary (Groucho Marx, really?), you might find the next one a major improvement.
The Original Scream Queen, Full Speed Ahead
Finally, aside from some notable novelties (like David Copperfield basically playing himself), Terror Train is worth watching for the awesome performance of Jamie Lee Curtis. The movie isn’t as good as her iconic breakout film, Halloween (honestly, few movies are), but she elevates this scrappy film in a very tangible way. She easily steals every scene she appears in, and this is a movie where Curtis constantly reminds you why she’s the best scream queen and everybody’s favorite final girl.
Will you agree that Terror Train is a terrifying ride worth taking, or will you want to pull the brakes on this film long before the credits roll? The only way to find out is to grab your remote and board this train at the earliest opportunity. Don’t worry about the film getting impossibly weird very early on: with this vintage ‘80s slasher, going off the rails right away is a big part of its charm!
Entertainment
Conan OBrien throws shade at AI, Timothée Chalamet in Oscars monologue
After a harrowing, Weapons-style chase to the Dolby Theater, Oscars host Conan O’Brien made it to the stage to deliver a monologue that pokes fun at some of the hottest topics in Hollywood, including AI.
“I am honored to be the last human host of the Academy Awards,” O’Brien said to start his monologue. “Next year it’s going to be a Waymo in a tux.”
O’Brien also threw shade at Timothée Chalamet’s recent viral comments about opera and ballet, saying there was increased security at the Oscars due to “concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities.”
O’Brien’s monologue also gestured towards political unrest, albeit vaguely.
“If I could be serious for just a moment, everyone watching right now around the world is all too aware that these are very chaotic, frightening times. It’s at moments like these that I believe that the Oscars are particularly resonant,” O’Brien said. “Check it out. Thirty-one countries across six continents are represented this evening, and every film we salute is the product of thousands of people speaking different languages, working hard to make something of beauty. We pay tribute tonight, not just to film, but to the ideals of global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience, and that rarest of qualities today, optimism.”
Things didn’t stay too serious for long, though, as O’Brien closed the monologue with a reenactment of what it would look like if he won an Oscar. Spoiler alert: It involves the Pope, Josh Groban, and a falcon carrying his trophy down to him.
Watch O’Brien’s full monologue above.
Mashable’s covering all things Oscars 2026, from Academy Awards live updates to red carpet style and the wildest moments from the show. Check back at Mashable.com throughout the night for winners announcements and more.
Entertainment
How to avoid getting scammed online in 2026
If there’s anything last year’s Qantas data breach has taught us, it’s that your online information isn’t as secure as you think it is. While you may think you’ve secured your digital footprint by using ‘strong’ passwords or switching to incognito mode, there’s a world of online trackers and threats waiting for one slip-up to weasel their way onto your devices. And unfortunately, slip-ups do happen from time to time.
Before you purchase with your card details or enter your shipping address, we at PCMag have a couple of tips to make sure your data is secure while browsing online:
Regularly Change Your Passwords
Though this seems pretty obvious from the outset, remembering to regularly change your passwords is harder than you think—especially when you’re one to forget easily. Yet, the first and best way to maintain your security is to switch up your credentials every few months. If you often struggle thinking of a strong password, you can always rely on Bitdefender’s Password Manager to store or generate a password mixed with letters, numbers, and symbols. Your online security will be stronger than ever.
Be Wary of Suspicious Links and Attachments
Using phishing emails or links to infect your devices is a hackers’ favourite way to get your personal details. So, the last thing you want to do when a dubious email or link makes its way into your inbox or messages is click it. However, if you do, make sure you don’t enter in any personal or banking details. If you’re unsure about any links or texts you’ve been sent, Bitdefender’s Scamio and Email Protection software will scan your online activity and inbox for any devious threats lurking beneath the surface. You’ll be fully aware of any threats to your information in no time.
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Trust in Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
There’s no such thing as being “overly secure,” and setting up two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts is a great example. A security method meant to shield your accounts from phishing or hackers, 2FA pairs your password with an additional layer of identity verification—ranging from PIN codes and personal questions to security tokens and smart keys. Should any break-ins or data breaches occur, you’ll be thankful this extra layer of protection will keep your information protected.
Keep Your Devices Updated
We’ve all been frustrated by a random system update. However, updating your devices with the latest software protects your tech from vulnerabilities hackers often exploit. Though you might hesitate to install a major operating system update (or simply don’t have the time and energy to sit through the update), any weaknesses will be patched up quickly and easily so your system runs smoothly and safely. Not only that, keeping your system, browser, and apps up-to-date also helps extend the life of your devices.
Invest in Antivirus Software
You know what they say: it’s an oldie but a goodie. Investing in robust antivirus software is a surefire way to maintain the security of your personal data. One of our personal favourite Antivirus suites of 2026, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, keeps your devices protected against the Trojans, ransomware or spyware that try to set up shop on your devices. Yet, if you’d prefer an even higher level of protection, Bitdefender Ultimate Security comes equipped with an unlimited VPN, anti-tracker extension, and comprehensive email and SMS protection. Check out our extensive coverage for more information.
Stay On Top of Your Cyber Security Needs
Hackers and online scammers will stop at nothing to get hold of your personal information, but you don’t need to suffer at the hands of a data breach you can’t prevent. While you can always rely on us here at PCMag to keep you informed on the best security suites on the market, Bitdefender is the next best one-stop-shop for keeping your life confidential—and you can always check out the Bitdefender blog for more online security tips and tricks, too.
Entertainment
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 15, 2026
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is easy for people that watch Conference Championship week.
As we’ve shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections: Sports Edition?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication’s sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
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Here’s a hint for today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
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Yellow: Basketball no-no’s
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Green: Next round of the tournament
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Blue: Women’s coaching GOATs
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Purple: CBB conference champions
Here are today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
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Yellow: Basketball Fouls
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Green: First Words in NCAA Tournament Rounds
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Blue: Women’s College Basketball Coaches
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Purple: Teams Qualified for the 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections: Sports Edition #538 is…
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
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Basketball Fouls – BLOCK, CHARGE, HOLD, REACH-IN
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First Words in NCAA Tournament Rounds – ELITE, FINAL, SECOND, SWEET
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Women’s College Basketball Coaches – AURIEMMA, CLOSE, IVEY, STALEY
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Teams Qualified for the 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament – GONZAGA, HIGH POINT, QUEENS, TROY
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.
Conan OBrien throws shade at AI, Timothée Chalamet in Oscars monologue
How to avoid getting scammed online in 2026
