Entertainment
Intense Psychological Thriller On Netflix Is Watching You
By Robert Scucci
| Published
I think it’s time for me to finally eat my words because I got what I asked for and I don’t know how I feel about it. One gripe that I’ve always had about a certain type of psychological thriller is how the “unreliable female protagonist” trope has become tired and underwhelming because there’s always some sort of third-act reveal that the caller from inside the house was actually her repressed memories coming back to haunt her or something similarly disappointing and unbelievable. Watcher, which is currently sitting at the #5 spot on the Netflix Top 10 movie list, has proven that you don’t need a protagonist who’s emotionally unstable and on the verge of a nervous breakdown because their paranoia is actually justified, and they’re not swallowing mouthfuls of anxiety medication every other scene, making you question their mental state every step of the way.
While I have mixed feelings about Watcher for doing exactly what I wanted it to do (the grass is always greener, isn’t it?), it’s one of the better psychological thrillers I’ve seen recently, as it creates an entirely different kind of anxiety– one that’s not from some unknown source of terror, but from one that’s out in the open that everybody chooses to write off as a delusion.
I Have A Feeling, Somebody’s Watching Me!
In Watcher, Maika Monroe’s Julia has every reason to feel out of her element as she relocates to Bucharest with her husband, Francis (Karl Glusman), so he could focus on his work.
Francis, who clearly does quite well for himself, spends long stretches of time away from the couple’s new home, while Julia, a woman between opportunities after leaving her acting aspirations back in the United States so she could stay close to Francis, doesn’t have a solid grasp on speaking Romanian despite her efforts to learn the language and assimilate, and spends all of her time alone in her new apartment.
Julia, who’s isloated in her new living situation, becomes frightened when she notices the figure of a man behind the curtains staring into her apartment from across the street throughout the day, and well into the night. Constantly watching the daytime news in an effort to immerse herself in the language and local happenings, Julia’s fears are confirmed after hearing reports of a serial killer known as “the Spider,” who’s been making headlines for decapitating the women he preys on.
Setting itself apart from similarly framed psychological thrillers, Watcher never makes you question Julia’s mental state, but rather makes you feel her paranoia and disillusionment first-hand because she knows she’s being watched and followed by a potential serial killer, but nobody believes her. Francis talks down to her because he thinks her imagination is running wild, and whenever the authorities get involved, they have reason to believe that Julia is the one doing all of the stalking because, to be fair, she becomes obsessed with Daniel Weber (Burn Gorman), the man who’s following her, and wants to confront him about his strange behavior.
Flipping The Script
While there was some part of me that wanted Watcher to be a little more ambiguous in its delivery, I made peace with the fact that writer/director Chloe Okuno flipped the script and decided to never make you question exactly what’s going on, even if the story is being told from Julia’s limited and increasingly (but justifiably) paranoid perspective.
Watcher isn’t your typical psychological thriller. It’s a cut above its contemporaries because the film’s secondary form of antagonism is how Julia actually gathers evidence that proves she’s being followed by a tangible threat who’s hiding in the shadows while everybody within her support network gaslights her into thinking it’s all in her head, causing her to spiral in all the ways that you would expect.
It doesn’t take very much time at all for you to understand what’s actually going on in Watcher because Julia never once cries wolf or acts so out-of-pocket that you actually need some big reveal or payoff to make sense of her situation. Watcher takes a different approach, and illustrates just how scary it can be for a young woman to walk alone in unfamiliar territory. What’s more, Julia doesn’t break down because she’s questioning her own reality, but rather because she knows what she’s experiencing is real and everybody else would rather assume that she’s being dramatic because she has too much time on her hands.
As of this writing, you can stream Watcher on Netflix.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle 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.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
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 Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
