By Steven Nelson
| Published 49 seconds ago

Ever dreamt of seeing a 6’4″ Swedish actor take on a futuristic, neon-soaked Berlin without uttering a single word? Your oddly specific dream has come true, courtesy of Netflix’s Mute. Alexander Skarsgård, renowned for his charismatic roles in projects like Succession, True Blood, and Big Little Lies, takes a dramatic turn in this cyberpunk mystery.

Ditching his eloquent demeanor, he embraces the silent world of Leo Beiler, a mute bartender on a desperate search. With the murky undertones of the city reflected in its narrative, Alexander Skarsgård’s performance promises to be as captivating as it is quiet. Dive into this Netflix gem and watch as the tall, silent Scandinavian navigates a treacherous terrain with intrigue at every neon-lit corner.

An Amish Tech Noir Adventure

In a not-so-distant future, the sprawling urban landscapes of Berlin have evolved into a dazzling metropolis, shimmering with both neon lights and dark underbellies. At the heart of this city, we meet Leo Beiler (Alexander Skarsgård), a mute Amish bartender with a tortured past. A childhood boating accident took away his voice, and his Amish beliefs prevented any surgical restoration. Now, he communicates through handwritten notes and a profound intensity that only Alexander Skarsgård could deliver.

As if the challenges posed by his disability in such a high-tech world aren’t enough, Leo faces a personal crisis when his girlfriend, Naadirah (Seyneb Saleh), mysteriously disappears. His desperate search to find her leads him deep into the city’s seediest districts, where he unravels a conspiracy much larger than a simple missing person’s case.

Leo’s path collides with that of two shady American surgeons, Cactus Bill (Paul Rudd) and Duck Teddington (Justin Theroux). These two operate on both sides of the law, patching up criminals while getting embroiled in illicit dealings themselves. As their narratives intertwine, Mute transforms from a simple search-and-rescue mission into a complex web of deceit, crime, and human connectivity.

A Polarizing Moon Followup

Helmed by director Duncan Jones (of Moon and Source Code fame), Mute is a rich visual treat, blending elements of traditional noir with futuristic aesthetics. The movie doesn’t just rely on its stunning visuals; it offers a deep dive into themes of isolation, communication, and the lengths one will go to for love in an increasingly disconnected world.

Mute garnered a range of responses upon its release on Netflix. Critics were quick to praise the film’s visual aesthetic, likening its neon-soaked streets and futuristic ambience to classics like Blade Runner.

Alexander Skarsgård’s performance as the silent protagonist was also highlighted, with many lauding his ability to convey depth and emotion without the need for dialogue. But the fact remains that the movie is still sitting at just 20 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The narrative didn’t resonate with everyone. Some critics felt the story lacked cohesion and that certain subplots detracted from the film’s central themes. The inclusion of secondary characters and their respective arcs drew mixed reactions, with some feeling they enriched the narrative, while others believed they muddled it.

Regardless of its critical divide, Mute‘s exclusive Netflix release allowed it to find a niche audience. Viewers who appreciate a blend of classic noir storytelling with futuristic settings found much to love. And while it didn’t achieve universal acclaim (far from it), Mute stands as a testament to the potential of streaming platforms to deliver ambitious, visually captivating stories outside the traditional theater system.

In the ever-evolving landscape of cinematic storytelling, Mute stands as a somewhat daring venture into the unknown terrains of the future. Despite its polarizing reception, the film beckons viewers with its stunning visuals and the silent yet poignant performance of Alexander Skarsgård. 

Whether you’re a fan of neo-noir, futuristic tales, or simply in for a visual treat, Mute on Netflix promises an experience that lingers, echoing the silence of its protagonist and urging you to dive deeper into the stories that await in the shadows of tomorrow.

Best early Prime Day sex toy deals so far:

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Prime Day is just a few days away (yes, Amazon bumped the official sale up to June this year), and it’s my pleasure, and journalistic duty, to give you the deets on where to find the best sex toy deals.

As I’ve noted in years past, buying sex toys on Amazon is a gamble. If you don’t know what to look for, you could end up with something that does more harm than good (think porous jelly materials or chemical-laden vibrators). On top of that, Amazon isn’t allowed to promote sex toys on Prime Day the way it does for TVs and air fryers, which means you have to dig to find the discounts.

Luckily, you have me to do the research for you. To be transparent, there aren’t a ton of early sex toy deals live on Amazon just yet, but I expect a lot more to drop when the official sale kicks off next week. Below, I’ve rounded up the best early discounts — including a few Amazon finds that are already marked down, the toys I’m betting will go on sale next week, and deals from outside brands running their own sales. Happy shopping!

Best Amazon Prime Day sex toy deal so far

$29.99
at Amazon

$39.99
Save $10.00

 

Why we like it

A lot of the toys I usually hype up on Prime Day aren’t on sale yet (I’ve listed those below), but Tracy’s Dog is almost always marked down. It is one of my favorite sex toy brands for people who crave intense clitoral stimulation but aren’t willing to pay more than $50. This is one of the only times I feel confident saying you’ll get more bang for your buck.

Right now, you can get Tracy’s Dog OG Lick for $29.99 at Amazon (it’s basically just a newer version of the OG Sucking Vibrator, which I have and love). It’s only 13% off on the Tracy’s Dog website, so this is a good deal.

The OG Lick includes a remote and has seven licking modes and 10 vibration patterns. It’s also waterproof and super easy to use hands-free (I actually love using mine while I’m giving my partner head; it’s fun for everyone involved). Note: This is a “licking” vibrator; if you want suction, I recommend buying the OG Sucking Vibrator (which isn’t available on Amazon for some reason).

More early Prime Day deals hiding on Amazon

The toys I’m betting will go on sale next week

All the sex toy deals you can shop right now

By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated 2 minutes ago

It’s a pretty exciting time to be a Marvel fan. We’re getting some solid superhero television (like Daredevil: Born Again), and a new Spider-Man movie is around the corner. In December, Avengers: Doomsday will reunite Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. on the big screen in what is certain to be the biggest movie of the year. To make sure that their ambitious crossover classic has maximum impact with fans, Marvel has been doing its best to keep details about Doomsday and its plot under wraps. Unfortunately, trailers and footage for upcoming movies just keep leaking online.

Recently, a major trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day leaked online well before it was supposed to be officially released. Less than a week later, footage from Avengers: Doomsday found its way online. This is similar to an incident last December in which trailers for Doomsday kept leaking online before their theatrical debut. Leaks are a problem that has only been getting worse, leading many fans to ask why Marvel’s security has gotten so sloppy. However, I think the answer is simpler. Marvel is intentionally “leaking” footage as a way to build hype and defeat the greatest villain of them all: superhero fatigue.

Brand New Day, Same Old Leaks

The last week alone has been pretty terrible for Marvel when it comes to leaks. First, a major Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer got leaked that gave us early glimpses of major developments, including Gray Hulk and the fact that Sadie Sink is seemingly mind-controlling him, which may finally confirm that she’s playing Jean Grey. More recently, footage from Avengers: Doomsday leaked that shows Doctor Doom sending Sentinels to fight heroes from the Avengers, Thunderbolts, X-Men, and Fantastic Four. While this footage is soundless and wildly pixilated, it still seems to be giving away major details about one of the movie’s biggest fights.

Marvel has been having problems with leakers for a long time. In fact, a few years ago, they were taking legal action, trying to figure out which insiders were leaking summaries of then-upcoming films like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Now, things have escalated to the point that we’re getting actual trailers and footage well before the studio wants us to see it. Why is this happening? It could just be that Marvel’s security has gotten really sloppy within a year of their two most-hyped films (Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday) releasing. However, it’s far likelier that these “leaks” are coming directly from Marvel.

Marvel’s Playing 4D Chess

Why the heck would Marvel start leaking its own footage after spending years trying to stop other leakers? The most obvious reason is, of course, free publicity. Marketing something like Avengers: Doomsday or Spider-Man: Brand New Day can be insanely expensive and ultimately cut into a movie’s bottom line. By leaking their own footage, Marvel doesn’t have to spend a dime; they just have to kick back and watch the rest of us effectively promote these upcoming films by sharing the leaks with our real-life friends, posting them online for our followers, and generally speculating to anyone who will listen about what the movie will be about.

The other big reason that Marvel would leak its own footage is to take control of the narrative. In recent years, there has been a glut of fake superhero trailers and footage created by AI. The creators share this footage online, hoping to gain clout by making you think it’s real. Meanwhile, Marvel has to spend plenty of time and money setting the record straight about these fakes. By releasing their own footage, they can get everyone to pay attention to the real deal while generating viral hype with cool scenes (like, say, Doctor Doom siccing a bunch of Sentinels on fan-favorite characters like Thor and Captain America).

Fake Leaks Are A Win/Win For Marvel

Marvel releasing its own footage via staged “leaks” also allows them to gauge audience reactions and, if needed, edit the film. For example, the Avengers: Doomsday footage leaked more than half a year before the movie comes out. If audiences really hate what they see, there’s time for the studio to make changes to the film through creative edits and, in the worst case, reshoots. Conversely, if audiences love what they see, Marvel knows exactly what to emphasize when marketing their most expensive blockbuster. 

Obviously, there’s no way to prove this particular theory. Maybe footage keeps leaking because Marvel is filled with disgruntled employees, or maybe just employees who want to leave their own weird mark on the world. No matter what the cause, though, it seems like Marvel’s leak problem is just getting worse by the year. Will this make superhero fatigue worse and sink Avengers: Doomsday, or will it generate enough hype that Marvel laughs all the way to the bank? Without the Eye of Agomatto to help us out, we won’t know until Doomsday blasts into theaters on December 18.