Entertainment
Netflix's R-Rated, Dystopian Thriller Finds Heart Where Only Dread Exists
By Robert Scucci
| Published
I’ve gotta knock it off with the dystopian thrillers because no matter what year they come out, and what kind of future they’re depicting, I’m reminded of how close waking life is to these works of fiction. 2023’s The Kitchen is no exception, but unlike its contemporaries, it’s a story about making the best of the worst situation and keeping your head down while you figure out your next moves. It’s a story about community, perseverance, and looking out for your neighbor, even if it means getting yourself killed in the process.
The Kitchen doesn’t beat around the bush. The future it lays out for its viewers is beyond bleak, but like a small potted plant, those living in this reality hope to one day blossom into a mighty oak that looks down on the environment that once tried to destroy them.
It Starts With a Corpse And A Tree
The Kitchen kicks off in a tranquil environment, in a futuristic funeral home known as Life After Life. Here, those who can’t afford proper cremation or burial services are given the opportunity to have their deceased loved ones turned into a tree, and they’re allowed to come back and visit whenever they want until it’s time to be planted at some undisclosed location. This is where we meet Izi (Kane Robinson) and Benji (Jedaiah Bannerman). Izi works at Life After Life as a consultant and salesperson, and he’s spotted by Benji, who’s grieving the loss of his mother and wondering why Izi is visiting her memorial service.
Izi, when he’s not working, lives in a ghetto community known as “The Kitchen,” where the residents live in constant fear of being evicted by heavily armed police officers, and can’t reliably tell what days they’ll have running water or a sustainable food supply. Everybody is under constant government drone surveillance, but despite the chaotic nature of their community, it’s just that: a community. Everybody looks out for each other in The Kitchen. Morale is low, and everybody walks around in a state of heightened awareness, always anticipating another raid, but they get by one day at a time.
Benji, feeling an inexplicable connection to Izi, shows up at The Kitchen, asking if he can live with him for a few days. Izi is reluctant at first, but you can tell he enjoys Benji’s company. Together, they form an inseparable bond, but Benji doesn’t yet know that Izi has been saving his money to finally move out of the ghetto and upgrade to the luxury apartment he feels he deserves after living simply to survive for so long.
As the social structure continues to break down and the police keep causing collateral damage to the only place he’s ever been able to call home, even though he thinks it’s a “sh*thole,” Izi has to make a game-day decision about what kind of person he wants to be, not only for himself, but for Benji, whose youthful exuberance and optimism are giving him second thoughts about leaving The Kitchen and the only life he knows behind. Their relationship is one of tough love, like the older brother who relentlessly makes fun of his lesser-experienced sibling but always has his back when it matters most.
A Sprawling, Dilapidated Metropolis
While The Kitchen is a slow-burn dystopian thriller about found family, community, and all the kind of stuff that could be incredibly boring in a lesser film, there’s never a dull moment. The city skyline is one of the best parts of the movie because it shows just how far gone society has become. The surrounding communities are pristine showcases of disproportionately beautiful architecture, while The Kitchen itself is a condemned, run-down, and borderline brutalist environment. The smog that surrounds the community is incredibly localized, and those who manage to make their way into more affluent areas for work are absolutely dumbfounded by how much better the other side lives.
Everybody is aware of the imbalance in The Kitchen. Some people choose to live with it and make the best of the power structure they’re trapped in. People like Izi and Benji, though, want something better. They know they’re exactly where society thinks they belong, but they refuse to let the powers that be keep them under their thumb. Through their bond, their struggles, and their hope for a brighter future, it’s up to them to carve out the life they truly want for themselves, and they know it’s not going to be easy, not even on their best day.
The Kitchen is a Netflix Original and can be streamed with an active subscription.
Entertainment
NYT Strands hints, answers for July 5, 2026
Today’s NYT Strands hints are easy if you’re a dog lover.
Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There’s always a theme linking every solution, along with the “spangram,” a special, word or phrase that sums up that day’s theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Barking up the right tree
The words are related to animals.
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Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe types of dogs.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?
Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
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NYT Strands spangram answer today
Today’s spangram is Hunting Breeds.
NYT Strands word list for July 5
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Pointer
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Spaniel
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Retriever
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Hound
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Hunting Breeds
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Terrier
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page has more hints, and 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 Strands.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 5, 2026
Today’s Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you’re Hindu.
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:
A religious teacher.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
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Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter S.
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…
SWAMI
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.
Entertainment
Hurdle hints and answers for July 5, 2026
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it’ll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today’s Hurdle, don’t worry! We have you covered.
Hurdle Word 1 hint
To spill.
Hurdle Word 1 answer
SLOSH
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Hurdle Word 2 hint
Side face.
Hurdle Word 2 Answer
CHEEK
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Hurdle Word 3 hint
Slope.
Hurdle Word 3 answer
SLANT
Hurdle Word 4 hint
Not a friend.
Hurdle Word 4 answer
HATER
Final Hurdle hint
Maneuver a car.
Hurdle Word 5 answer
DRIVE
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Rangers activate RHP Chris Martin, place RHP Jakob Junis on IL
Alexander Zverev through to 4th round at Wimbledon
