Entertainment
R-Rated Techno Thriller Is Elijah Wood's Unhinged Obsession With Sasha Grey
By Robert Scucci
| Published
There’s nothing more anxiety-inducing than watching somebody you care about try to navigate dozens of browser windows, each containing dozens of tabs with no perceivable organizational structure. You ask why they can’t just bookmark the important pages, or at least keep the windows from overlapping so they can actually see what they’re doing, but they don’t have a clear answer. If you’re a neat freak like me, who can’t survive without clean page breaks and closes unwanted tabs with reckless abandon, 2014’s Open Windows is going to send you to a dark place you’ll wish you could control + shift + escape from.
Framed as a found footage techno thriller, Open Windows is either a hacker’s dream come true or a cyberspace nightmare if you just want to surf the web and scroll your favorite fandom sites. It’s a picture within a picture within a picture, overlapping with another picture that contains a clickable link that opens more windows, and that’s how you watch events unfold from our hero’s perspective.
The crazy part is that what transpires in Open Windows is far more horrifying than having too many tabs open. I only brought that up because I was already in a heightened state 20 seconds after hitting play, and I hadn’t even been exposed to the actual mystery yet.
I Always Feel Like, Somebody’s Watching Me!
Open Windows centers on Nick Chambers (Elijah Wood), a webmaster who runs a fansite for his favorite B movie actress, Jill Goddard (Sasha Grey). He flies to Austin, Texas after winning a blog contest that promises him access to a publicity event where he can meet her. He’s devastated when he learns through her assistant, Chord (Neil Maskell), that she cancelled at the last minute, meaning he traveled and booked a nearby hotel for nothing.
While uploading new images to his site that he clipped from Jill’s latest livestream, Nick is contacted again by Chord, who sends him a link granting access to all of Jill’s devices, though he doesn’t know this until he clicks it and it’s already too late. Though he’s not the voyeuristic type by any stretch, Nick plays along because Chord comes off as threatening and he feels like he has to do what he’s told.
As if the entire evening had been orchestrated months in advance, Nick is given access to increasingly sophisticated audio and video feeds and pushed further when Jill’s agent, Tony (Ivan Gonzalez), the man she’s secretly having an affair with, nearly catches him spying. Nick is urged to use a taser to neutralize the situation and erase suspicion, and that’s the fatal mistake. Chord has been recording everything from the beginning. Now the only person who looks guilty is Nick, the fan site operator who appears to be stalking the actress and has assaulted someone connected to her.
Whispers suggest the entire operation is being run by a master hacker known only as Nevada. Nick finds himself trapped in a web of incriminating screenshots, manipulated video feeds, and shifting identities. The hackers use him to obtain compromising material of Jill for their own purposes, and they’re so adept at covering their tracks that Nick isn’t even sure who he’s speaking to, who’s actually in charge, or what happens if he tries to contact the authorities.
A Disorienting Mess Elevated By Elijah Wood
Like I said at the top, the sheer volume of open browser windows in Open Windows was enough to send me into a spiral before I understood what was at stake. Elijah Wood, who performs much of the film reacting to screens before the third act forces him into the real world, is trapped in the net trying to figure out just how screwed he is. Every click feels documented. Every hesitation feels watched.
The bewilderment on Nick’s face in Open Windows is the real selling point. He’s forced to violate his favorite actress’s privacy in increasingly invasive ways, and there’s no clean exit. He’s simply the wrong fan in the wrong place at the wrong time. Watching him piece it together in real time as he’s followed through cyberspace and eventually the streets of Austin makes for a tense thriller delivered through wildly unconventional means.
While all I wanted to do was reach into the screen and start closing tabs, the story Open Windows tells is layered with deception, voyeurism, blackmail, and extortion. The twists constantly make you question what’s real, what’s manufactured, and whether this is all some elaborate publicity stunt waiting for a final reveal.
An anxious watch from start to finish, Open Windows is an obsessive spiral of media manipulation, and you can stream it for free on Tubi as of this writing.
Entertainment
Snap up the best deals on Monster portable speakers
SAVE UP TO 50%: As of April 28, get the Monster Cube 1 Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $19.98, down from its usual price of $39. That’s a discount of 50%. Alternatively, get the Monster Ripple Portable Bluetooth Shower Speaker for $24.97, down from its usual price of $39.99. That’s a discount of 38%.
$19.98
at Amazon
$39.99
Save $20.01
$24.97
at Amazon
$39.99
Save $15.02
The warm weather and sunny days of summer are almost upon us, and if you plan on spending a lot of time outside, no doubt you’ll want to take your favorite music with you to share it. Or maybe you just want a way to listen to your tunes in the shower. That’s where a portable speaker comes in handy. Right now, Monster has you covered right now with two deals you won’t want to miss.
As of April 28, get the Monster Cube 1 Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $19.98, down from its usual price of $39. Alternatively, get the Monster Ripple Portable Bluetooth Shower Speaker for $24.97, down from its usual price of $39.99. That’s a discount of 38%.
The Monster Cube 1 is a waterproof option that’s perfect for listening at home, on the go, or anywhere you want to have some kicking tunes. It’s a compact speaker with 12W output that’s lightweight and portable. It boasts 20 hours of battery on a single charge, and it provides plenty of loud, satisfying audio no matter where you end up: camping, a pool party, or hanging out in the living room where you want to have portable audio.
Alternatively, the Monster Ripple is a circular shower speaker built to let you listen while scrubbing up for the day. With waterproof IPX8 protection, it’s a round, compact spaker with a 15W driver that can fill the entire room, not just the shower, with satisfying sound. It also has a lanyard to secure the speaker to wherever you want it in the shower to avoid any drops or accidents.
Mashable Deals
If you’re ready to pick up a speaker for less right now, don’t sleep on these Monster deals, which will keep you tuned in throughout the season and longer with their portability and waterproof features.
Entertainment
The best robot pool vacuum deals to spring clean your pool for swimming season
The best robot pool cleaner deals at a glance:
Stepping into the backyard when you own a swimming pool should feel like a mini vacation. But that’s far from the truth in most cases. Instead of floating carelessly in the sun, many pool owners spend their summer days chasing stubborn piles of sand, leaves, sunken debris, and bugs in their pools. It’s time to hand off the cleaning chore to a robot — and these three robot pool cleaner discounts will help you seal the deal.
With up to $500 in savings, these deals from top robot pool vacuum brands Aiper, Beatbot, and iGarden can help you get your outdoor oasis ready for swimming season while keeping some money in your pocket.
$899.99
at Amazon
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Save $500
Why we like it
Mashable’s sister site CNET (also owned by Ziff Davis) consistently selects Aiper’s products for its best robot pool cleaners list. The Scuba V3 is one of the brand’s most popular models for good reason. It packs adaptive intelligence, ultra-fine filtration, and convenient waterline parking, and as of April 28, it’s on sale for $500 off — its lowest price to date. The built-in AI camera can analyze your pool and detect over 20 debris types, then navigate directly to it and eliminate it. The V3 can also create autonomous weekly cleaning schedules by analyzing your pool size, the real-time weather forecasts, and cleaning history. It ensures a consistently clean swim with very low manual effort on your part.
Mashable Trend Report
$799
at Amazon
$1,299
Save $500
Why we like it
Ideal for pools up to 2,260 square feet in any shape or material, the Beatbot AquaSense is a versatile robot vacuum for your pool with 5,500 gph of suction and three hours of runtime. As of April 28, it’s down to $799 at Amazon — its best price ever. It packs an ultra-fine filter to sift out fine sand and debris, as well as a 2×2 brush system, 200W pump, and three motors to ensure powerful scrubbing along the floor, walls, and waterline. It may not have as many built-in AI conveniences as the Aiper Scuba V3, but its 15 sensors and intelligent path optimization ensure it precisely maps your pool, optimizes the cleaning path, and avoids obstacles. You can also customize cleaning schedules and details in the app.
$399.99
at Amazon
$699.99
Save $300
Why we like it
If you’re looking for a more budget friendly option, the iGarden KN Series is down to a best-ever price of $399.99 at Amazon. That’s 43% off its list price. Of course, for that price, you won’t get as many bells and whistles as the other pool vacuums on this list. It can run for up to 210 minutes per charge and thanks to three high-efficiency motors, delivers suction up to 17,000 LPH. It packs smart 3D navigation and supports three cleaning modes with LED guidance: green for floor-only, blue for full coverage, and purple for walls a waterline first, then floor. It’s a bit more hands-on than the other robot vacuums, but is still powerful and customizable enough to fit most pools.
Entertainment
Thigh Chafing? These Shorts Keep You Cool and Comfy All Day
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If you’ve ever planned an outfit around avoiding thigh chafing, you already know how frustrating spring and summer dressing can be. Between warm afternoons, long walks and those first truly mild days, staying comfortable isn’t always as simple as throwing on a breezy dress. The wrong base layer can make things worse — but luckily, there’s an easy fix that makes getting dressed feel so much simpler.
That’s exactly where Thigh Society’s Cooling Shorts come in. At $44 (and 15% off your first order), they’ve become the brand’s bestselling style — and for good reason. Designed to feel lightweight, breathable and barely there, they slip seamlessly into your routine just as the season starts calling for easier, more effortless outfits.
Get The Cooling Shorts for $44 at Thigh Society!
The Cooling Shorts are designed for breathability, stretch and all-day ease. Unlike bulky bike shorts that require layering, they work as underwear and shorts in one, preventing thigh chafing and reducing sweat in a single, lightweight layer that feels like a second skin.
They’re also built to stay put — no rolling down at the waist or riding up throughout the day (a true summer miracle). Wear The Cooling Shorts under flowy dresses and enjoy smooth, no-fuss comfort.
Available in versatile shades like beige, black, almond and more, they’re easy to layer under just about anything. And with a range of lengths to choose from (5-inch to 21-inch), you can customize your coverage depending on your outfit — shorter for mini dresses, longer for maxis or extra protection on especially warmer days.
With more than 12,700 five-star ratings on the brand’s website, reviewers call them “a life saver” during “very hot summers,” pointing to the “super cool, comfortable” fabric. One shopper also loved the “no chaffing” design, saying they “forgot” they even had them on with “skirts and dresses.”
If thigh chafing has ruined your warm-weather outfits, consider this your easy fix. Designed for breathability, movement and everyday wear, The Cooling Shorts make getting dressed feel effortless again. Once you try them, you might not want to wear a dress without them!
Get The Cooling Shorts for $44 at Thigh Society!
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