Entertainment
Netflix's Unrated Sci-Fi Thriller Goes Absolutely Mental
By Robert Scucci
| Published
Looking for a neo-noir sci-fi thriller hinging on a time-traveling serial killer who only appears once every nine years, causing victims to bleed out of their eyes for no real rhyme or reason? I know you are, which brings me to the good news. 2019’s In the Shadow of the Moon will take you on this exact journey, and it’s an absolute trip. Think True Detective Season 1, but instead of an elite cabal of corrupt Louisiana officials operating a human trafficking ring behind closed doors, the primary antagonist is a mysterious figure who only surfaces during specific lunar cycles to go on a killing spree.
Is it an alien? A human from the future? Or is it simply a figment of our unraveling protagonist’s imagination as he becomes so obsessed with the case that he alienates everybody he once cared about, turning into a shell of a man over the course of a decades-long investigation that nobody else seems interested in solving?
It’s Happening Again …
In the Shadow of the Moon tells a time-hopping story in a progressive linear fashion, beginning in 1988 Philadelphia and concluding in 2024. We’re introduced to rookie cop Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook), heading out for his graveyard shift with his partner Maddox (Bokeem Woodbine) while leaving his very pregnant wife Jean (Rachel Keller) at home. What starts as a routine night quickly spirals when multiple victims die under the same bizarre circumstances.
Each victim bears puncture wounds, and their brains hemorrhage catastrophically, leaking from every facial orifice exactly how you’d expect. With the help of Thomas’ brother-in-law, Detective Holt (Michael C. Hall), they track down the woman they believe is responsible (Cleopatra Coleman). Before they can get answers, she jumps in front of a train, but not before telling Thomas intimate details about his life, including the fact that Jean will die during childbirth that very night.
By 1997, Thomas is a widowed detective struggling to raise his 9-year-old daughter, Amy (Quincy Kirkwood). He’s convinced the 1988 massacre was a one-off freak occurrence until the same pattern resurfaces on the nine-year anniversary. This time, the investigation expands to include a physicist named Naveen, who insists the killings are connected through time travel. Thomas, Maddox, and a now-promoted Lieutenant Holt dismiss the theory, but the nine-year cycle continues, tightening its grip on Thomas’ life.
We next see him in 2006, worse for wear after leaving the force to work as a private investigator focused solely on this case. By 2015, he’s a husk, still chasing answers while everyone else has moved on. The pattern persists, the obsession festers, and Thomas remains the only one who refuses to let it go.
If True Detective Were A Netflix Sci-Fi Original
As much as I want to root for In the Shadow of the Moon, a couple of things pulled me out of it. While this may sound nitpicky, the 1988 and 1997 sequences lack the kind of texture that really sells those eras. I’m not saying it needs to function as a full-blown period piece, but you’d be hard-pressed to distinguish the ’80s from the present day outside of the absence of smartphones, which bothered me more than it probably should have.
Minor criticism aside, In the Shadow of the Moon earns serious points for its ambitious premise and hard-boiled neo-noir vibe. The mystery is compelling enough to keep you locked in, and Boyd Holbrook’s physical portrayal of a man slowly losing everything in pursuit of answers is the selling point. Whoever handled his makeup in the later sequences deserves serious credit, because you can practically chart his decline through the lines of age etched across his face.
In the Shadow of the Moon takes familiar mystery-thriller beats, injects them with a bold sci-fi twist, and delivers a time-spanning character study that’s messy in places but undeniably intriguing. It’s currently streaming on Netflix, ready for anybody who wants their crime dramas with a side of lunar-induced chaos.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 14, 2026
Today’s Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love springtime
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:
To blossom.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
The letter O appears twice.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter B.
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…
BLOOM
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
Bridgerton Season 4, Part 2 trailer promises big Benophie arguments and steamy makeouts
Celebrate Valentine’s Day a day early with the latest trailer for Bridgerton Season 4, Part 2.
The trailer above explores what happened after Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) royally stuck his foot in his mouth by asking maid Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) to be his mistress. On the one hand, he certainly thought it was romantic, as it’s the only socially acceptable way for people of their differing social standings. Plus, he didn’t know that Sophie’s mother was her father’s mistress, adding extra emotional baggage to his request.
On the other hand… Benedict. Buddy. Read the room.
The trailer also explores the fallout of Benedict’s faux pas: Benedict pines after Sophie, while Sophie wrestles with her complicated feelings over the proposal. The yearning is simply off the charts.
Apparently the lovebirds aren’t apart for too long, though, because the trailer is full of passionate Benophie kisses — as well as a teaser for a steamy bath scene.
That’s not all, though. In addition to all the Benedict and Sophie drama, these next episodes will see the much-welcome return of Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate (Simone Ashley). Anthony even gives Benedict a pep talk about following his heart and going after Sophie.
Here’s hoping Benedict will actually follow through (and maybe choose his words better next time he tries for a big romantic gesture).
Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1 is now streaming on Netflix. Part 2 premieres Feb. 26.
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Bridgerton
Entertainment
A Lion for Lunar New Year
Oh Ruth, this was just perfect and made me tear up! Wishing you and all the COJ readers a xīn nián kuài lè!
Our house is all decorated for the new year, we had dumplings on little new year this past week (festival of the kitchen god), and a big family feast to look forward to next week. Celebrating the holiday is one of the things I’ve come to look forward to every year since I met my husband – we joke we have three new years now (Jewish, Gregorian, and Chinese) to get things right! 😉
P.S. Ruth- I first found your work because of your BTS comic which was perfect… how excited is everyone for the new album/tour?!
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