Entertainment
Punishing, Unrated Thriller Turns Desert Road Into Burial Ground
By Robert Scucci
| Published
The problem with horror thriller logic is that if you’re actually living in one of these movies, you don’t notice any of the obvious warning signs until it’s far too late. This is exactly what happens to Bobbi Torres (Britni Camacho) in 2024’s Blood Star, an intense ride through the punishing New Mexico desert, where she encounters the patently evil Sheriff Bilstein (John Schwab). Had she known she was living in a thriller where she’s about to be hunted for sport, she would have gotten the hell out of dodge before things got too dicey.
Fortunately, Bobbi is a fighter who knows how to handle herself, even when nobody believes her story, or worse, they believe it but simply don’t care.
Punishing Asphalt, And A Bone-Spitting Sheriff
The basic plot to Blood Star is shockingly simple, but its raw energy carries the premise to its grisly end, one violent encounter at a time. Bobbi, traveling through New Mexico after breaking up with her abusive boyfriend, Rhett, stops for gas and meets the Sheriff who’s dead-set on ruining her life, with plans to end it outright once he’s finished playing his sadistic games with her.
Their first encounter is friendly enough, with Sheriff Bilstein offering Bobbi a soda at the gas station, which she politely declines. Given how menacing the sheriff is right off the rip, nobody in their right mind should accept a free beverage from him. He immediately comes off like the type of guy who takes a mental note of your head dimensions in case he wants to mount it on his wall later. The shots of him munching on fried chicken in his cruiser, which doesn’t appear to have a working air conditioner, are enough to make your skin crawl. Watching the sheriff chomp away at his lunch makes for some of the most disturbing closeups the movie has to offer, and that’s saying a lot.
Clearly abusing his power, the Sheriff sets up an elaborate game of cat and mouse, letting Bobbi drive off only to apprehend her later. He shoots out her tail light so he has an excuse to pull her over, and later shoots out her tire so she’s stranded in the desert with no way to escape the punishing New Mexico heat.
Along the way, Bobbi has run-ins with locals who are fully aware of how much of a jerk the Sheriff is, but they don’t know the true extent of his wrath. They assume he likes to abuse his power and flirt with young women, which is still unacceptable behavior, but not the kind of thing the average gas station attendant or diner employee is going to call out, especially if it means risking their job or getting arrested.
A Solid Road Thriller, But With One Minor Issue
The dynamic between Sheriff Bilstein and Bobbi in Blood Star feels authentic. We have a psychopath who clearly wants to make his subject suffer, which is made evident through his willingness to slowly saunter through his surroundings, letting her wonder when he’s going to strike next. Bobbi is a total badass because she knows she’s being screwed with in a way that gives her zero room for error, but she’s still rightfully scared out of her mind.
One thing that rubbed me the wrong way about Blood Star, however, is every other ancillary character. They’re complicit, but not malicious, meaning they know the Sheriff is up to no good but aren’t willing to do anything about it. They accept the power dynamic without question, most likely out of self-preservation. While that works well enough as a plot mechanism, it also makes me wonder what could have been.
I was 100 percent certain I was about to get the Texas Chainsaw Massacre-style trope where everybody is in on it, but they’re not. Part of me is relieved the movie doesn’t take that generic route, but Blood Star could have had some fun with the motif by putting a fresh spin on it. Instead, every single side character feels one-dimensional, and they don’t really add anything to Bobbi’s main conflict beyond reinforcing the idea that you’ll see a man’s true colors if you slap a badge on him and give him some power.
Still, Blood Star remains a fun, tight road thriller that’s totally worth your time for the back and forth between Bobbi and Sheriff Bilstein alone. The sun-blazed scenery and hazy backdrop only add to its charm, making it a near-perfect thriller.
Blood Star is currently streaming for free on Tubi.
Entertainment
The best Hulu deals and bundles in April 2026
HULU BUNDLES: Hulu is offering a range of bundle deals so you can stream from its impressive library without breaking the bank.
The best Hulu deals and bundles in April 2026:
There’s a wide range of excellent shows and films to watch on Hulu. From The Testaments to season two of Paradise, it’s a library that’s full of options to keep you entertained this spring.
If these have caught your eye and have you itching to sign up for Hulu, we’re here to help you get the best deal. Outside of the standard ad-supported and ad free plans, there are quite a few bundle deals available with Hulu that are worth exploring if you’re looking to save some cash. This includes the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max package.
‘Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice’ review: Time-traveling gangster comedy is a must-see crowd-pleaser
Below you can find details on Hulu’s best bundles at the moment — alongside information on both its ad-supported and ad free plans, if you just want the basics — offering you a way to save on the service right now.
Best Disney+ bundle deal
$12.99 per month with ads
Why we like it
For those interested in the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu Bundle, which sets you up with Disney+ alongside Hulu, it starts at $12.99 per month. If you’d prefer the Premium ad-free version of this plan, this jumps to $19.99 per month.
Best HBO Max bundle deal
$19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free
Why we like it
This is one of the best Hulu bundles available at the moment. Starting at $19.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max’s streaming services for a much lower price than what you’d pay for the three of them separately. It’s an incredible deal to take advantage of, especially if you’ve already got Disney+ and HBO Max subscriptions. There are two plans to choose from with this bundle, and they are:
Best student deal
Hulu with ads for $1.99/month
Why we like it
If you’re a student enrolled at a university, you can score a Hulu (with ads) plan for even lower than the above bundles. Hulu’s Student Deal gives eligible college students the ability to buy a Hulu (with ads) plan for just $1.99 per month. Hulu notes that the deal lasts “so long as student enrollment status remains verified,” then it goes back up to the standard monthly price.
Best ESPN bundle deal
Why we like it
Alongside the big Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max bundle, Hulu also has plans for sports fans that throw in ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited. According to ESPN, “ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only. Fans who want ESPN+ exclusively may subscribe to the ESPN Select plan. ESPN Unlimited includes all of the ESPN networks and services, including ESPN+.”
The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle, which has ads, is available for $35.99 per month. The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited premium bundle without ads is available for $44.99 per month.
Mashable Deals
Hulu’s monthly plans
If you’re just looking to jump straight into Hulu’s library without any fancy bundles, there are a couple of subscription options to consider. The ad-supported tier comes in at $11.99 per month, but you’ll get your first month free, which is a great way to test the waters and see if it’s the right fit for you. If you want to go ad free, that’ll cost you $18.99 per month. Unfortunately, this plan does not offer a free trial like its ad-supported sibling.
If you really want to go big on a streaming investment, there’s the Hulu + Live TV plan. This costs a whopping $89.99 per month for its ad-supported plan, but comes with plenty to keep you busy. Hulu + Live TV (with ads) gets you access to 95+ channels, unlimited DVR, Disney+ (with ads), ESPN Select (with ads), and Hulu (with ads). If you want to go even bigger with the ad-free plan — which offers Hulu (no ads), Disney+ (no ads), and ESPN Select (with ads) alongside Live TV — it’ll cost you $99.99 per month. The ad-supported plan also offers a free trial, but for just three days instead.
Wondering what to watch once you get set up with a Hulu plan or bundle? We’re here to help with that as well. Have a look at our roundups of the 30 best comedies on Hulu, the 25 best sci-fi movies on Hulu, and the 26 best horror movies on Hulu to start building your watchlist. And if you’re in the mood to binge-watch a show, check out our breakdown of the 25 best shows on Hulu.
Entertainment
The DJI Mini 5 Pro drone is down to its record-low price at Amazon — save over $500 this weekend
SAVE $500: As of April 11, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,089 at Amazon. That’s over $500 off the list price and the best-ever price at Amazon.
$1,099
at Amazon
$1,599
Save $500
The 2026 drone market is currently in a weird state of flux. Legislative pressure is mounting on DJI imports. We’ve moved past the phase of uncertainty into genuine panic buying before stock disappears for good.
Any sort of deal during this frantic period is very much welcome. Any sort of deal down to a record-low price cannot be ignored.
As of April 11, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is down to $1,089 at Amazon — its all-time low and over $500 off the list price for a limited time.
Mashable Deals
The Mini 5 Pro remains the champion of the lightweight category. For creators, the one-inch CMOS sensor is the star of the show, delivering 4K HDR at 60fps that looks like it belongs on a cinema screen. The 360-degree Nightscape sensing maps obstacles in low light while the specialized Nighttime Return-to-Home ensures your investment doesn’t end up as a permanent resident of a neighbor’s tree.
Mashable Deals
We’ve monitored this price point across several sale cycles, and this looks like the floor. If you’re a content creator looking to future-proof your kit with a drone that doesn’t require a commercial pilot’s license, this is the deal to snipe before stock drops.
We’re not encouraging panic buying, but we do believe in tactical shopping — and there’s never been a better time to invest in this versatile drone.
Entertainment
T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim
TL;DR: Score a free iPhone 17e when signing up for a T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. Alternatively, you can get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing up for an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible device.
In the mobile world, the word “free” is usually followed by a list of caveats that make you wish you never started looking for a deal. You usually need to sign up for the most expensive plan or trade-in a premium phone to get your hands on what you really want. But that’s not the case with the latest T-Mobile offer.
T-Mobile is offering a rare deal on the newly-released Apple iPhone 17e. For a limited time, you can pick up this A19-powered device for free by simply opening a new line.
You’ll need to activate a new line on T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond or Experience More plans to get the iPhone 17e. The phone’s full retail price is covered via 24 monthly bill credits, and since you aren’t trading in your old phone, you can keep it as a backup, give it to a kid, or sell it on a third-party site to actually make money on this deal. We did say this was a rare opportunity to save.
Mashable’s Stan Shroeder got his hands on the iPhone 17e and said “The combination of having Apple’s latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years.” That’s an impressive lifespan for a budget-friendly phone, particularly when it’s free.
If you need something a little more powerful, you can also pick up the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing on for 24 months of an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible phone. That gets you unthrottled 5G data, 4K streaming, and enough international roaming for even the most adventurous of travellers.
Mashable Deals
It’s important to note that T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals and a $35 device connection fee. Is this really “free” when you need to sign up to something or pay an upfront fee? It’s a gray area, OK? We’re doing our best.
Score an iPhone 17 for free this weekend with T-Mobile.
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