Entertainment
Star Wars Actor’s Brutal Netflix Thriller Perfectly Recreates Real-Life Sting Operation
By Robert Scucci
| Published
Studies suggest that in most cases, a child is abducted by someone they know, like a parent in the middle of a rancorous custody battle who just wants to see their kid. 2022’s The Stranger, on the other hand, tells a far more sinister story, resulting in a sting operation designed to take down a suspected child killer by forcing him to confess when he finally lets his guard down.
Inspired by the real-life murder of Australian child Daniel Morcombe, The Stranger is ultimately a work of fiction that uses real events to drive its narrative. It’s worth noting, however, that the real family who suffered the loss of their son wanted nothing to do with the movie, so names have obviously been changed, and the granular details tied to the true crime story were modified for the sake of respecting their wishes.
How Deep Does It Go?
The Stranger takes its time setting up the conflict, as we first see events from Henry Peter Teague’s (Sean Harris) perspective. A seemingly broke loner riding the bus, he encounters a man named Paul Emery (Steve Mouzakis), who offers him low-level work for a criminal organization. This encounter eventually leads Henry to Mark Frame (Joel Edgerton), an undercover officer who has been building a case against him for years with the help of Detective Senior Constable Kate Rylett (Jada Alberts).
Mark Frame is the true protagonist in The Stranger, and we see the toll the investigation takes on him. Authorities are certain Henry is responsible for the disappearance and likely death of a young boy years earlier, but he had a solid alibi when he was initially questioned. To make matters worse, there is no physical evidence linking him to the crime. Having a young boy (Cormac Wright) around the same age as the missing child, Mark has a personal stake in the investigation, which is essentially built around a Mr. Big procedure.
For those of you not up to speed on your true crime lingo, a Mr. Big procedure is a tactic used to coax a confession out of a suspected criminal by pretending to be part of a criminal organization yourself, and slowly gaining their trust over time.
With the stakes made crystal clear, The Stranger becomes a brooding exercise not in figuring out who made the child disappear, but in proving that one specific person was responsible. Henry is understandably guarded whenever anybody pries about his past, but he’s also eager to find gainful employment, something that has eluded him ever since he was convicted for an unrelated violent altercation years earlier. The supposed criminal organization recruiting him is simply biding its time until he fully lets his guard down, often reassuring him that if he ever gets into trouble, they will take care of it.
Not A Whodunit, But A “How Do We Get Him?”
As The Stranger moves into its second and third acts, you can see the mental toll the case is taking on every officer involved in the sting operation. They know they have the right guy, but they have no evidence. They have nothing to work with aside from old traffic cameras, appointment sign-in sheets, anecdotes from bystanders in the area, and witness testimonials. They know Henry committed the crime, but if he’s not absolutely dead to rights when they bring him in, he walks. Mark knows this, and so does Kate Rylett.
The tension comes from knowing what they know and watching them bide their time until they finally have enough evidence to lock Henry Peter Teague up for good. The problem is that everybody is at their wits’ end after spending years on the case trying to bring the right man to justice. Everybody has a trigger finger and wants to use it. Everybody wants to heroically slap cuffs on the man who they believe, without a sliver of doubt, is the guilty party, but they need to exercise restraint if they want the operation to succeed.
One of the finest examples of how a slow-burn crime thriller can push you to your breaking point, The Stranger is currently available to stream on Netflix.
Entertainment
What is OnlyFans?
The creator platform OnlyFans has changed the adult industry since its inception a decade ago. What started as a tip jar for bloggers has become an extreme moneymaker for some porn performers, making six figures a year or even in a single month. But do you have to post sexually explicit work on OnlyFans? Are you required to message back and forth with strangers? Can you actually make money on the platform? What is OnlyFans, anyway?
We’re here to answer your questions.
What is OnlyFans?
OnlyFans was started in 2016 by British entrepreneur Tim Stokely. Its main goal is to help content creators and artists “monetize their content while developing authentic relationships with their fanbase.” This basically means the platform was created to let users post content behind a paywall, which fans have to subscribe to for access. Fans can also pay more to message back and forth with creators and “tip” to get content created on demand that’s specifically tailored to their interests and tastes.
If you look back at OnlyFans promotional materials from 2016, you’ll notice that it was geared towards “safe for work” creators, like bloggers and YouTubers. This changed in 2018, when the majority of its parent company, Fenix International Limited, was sold to Ukrainian-American entrepreneur Leonid Radvinsky. Radvinsky, who died in March 2026 at the age of 43, previously founded the porn site MyFreeCams. OnlyFans pivoted to porn after 2018 (despite any type of creator still allowed on the platform), and it exploded in usage and name recognition during the COVID lockdowns.
While creators don’t have to post explicit content on the platform (and in fact, Mashable interviewed a creator who makes six figures from OnlyFans without nudity), it’s what the platform is known for at this point. In 2021, OnlyFans announced it would ban explicit content, only to reverse the decision days later due to backlash.
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How much money can creators make on it?
It depends on the kind of content you’re producing, how much reach you have, and a whole host of other variables, but creators can make anywhere from a few hundred dollars a month to a few thousand. In 2023, the average OnlyFans creator made just $1,300 a year from the platform, but Mashable has interviewed creators who’ve made millions from it. Last year, current OnlyFans CEO Keily Blair shared that the platform paid out $25 billion to creators since 2016.
But if you think OnlyFans is “easy money,” think again. Last year, Mashable interviewed different creators about the work that goes into building a successful OnlyFans, including investing in camera equipment, hiring help, and marketing yourself.
How do you subscribe to creators?
You don’t have to be a creator to use the platform — in fact, it’s fueled by users who don’t post on the platform. In order to subscribe to creators, you simply have to create an OnlyFans account, go to the Home page, and find someone you’re interested in following. Check out their subscription tiers, and decide what kind of bundle or offer you’re interested in paying for. You can also tip a creator any amount you want, or pay for messages and individualized content with pay-per-view messages that range anywhere from a couple dollars to more than $100, depending on the creator.
And if you have a friend who’s started posting on OnlyFans and you want to support them, there are ways to do that, too, from subscribing to their pages to offering emotional support.
This article was originally published in 2021 and updated in 2026.
Entertainment
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is getting a restock April 10. How to get yours before its gone.
Just a few months ago, Samsung launched a really huge foldable phone. Now, it seems like this Friday might be your last chance to get one.
The Samsung TriFold, which made waves when it launched in Asia late last year before making its western debut at CES 2026. The phone sold out almost instantly upon its U.S. release on Jan. 30 before disappearing from store shelves in March.
Samsung is committing to one more restock on April 10, both online via Samsung’s website and at a smattering of retail Samsung stores across the U.S. As before, we fully expect the online restock to sell out very quickly, so your best bet might be to make it to one of the physical locations, if you can.
In a note to press, Samsung mentioned these Samsung stores as places where you can expect TriFold restocks:
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Obviously, there are huge chunks of the U.S. that are not especially close to any of those locations, so grabbing the TriFold online will be the only option for many. In person or online, it won’t be easy to get your hands on the $2,899 TriFold, as Samsung has only produced the phone in very limited numbers.
Samsung hasn’t said one way or another if this will be the final restock, but given that the phone was already discontinued in Korea, customers probably shouldn’t bet on any more restocks in the future. Rumor has it the company has been selling the TriFold at a loss.
Given its high price and experimental form factor, this doesn’t necessarily mean the phone was a failure. It could just mean that Samsung never intended to make the TriFold widely available for a long time.
In other words, if you want one, you better find a way to make it happen on Friday.
Entertainment
Home Depots Spring Black Friday Sale is live: Heres what to expect and buy
The best Home Depot Spring Black Friday Sale deals at a glance:
Spring has officially sprung, and Home Depot is welcoming the start of the season with a 14-day Spring Black Friday sale. (“Black Friday” isn’t going to mean a thing if we keep getting spring iterations, Prime Days 1 and 2, and early access events, but we love a good deal, so we’ll let it slide.)
While the OG Black Friday is great for snagging affordable TVs, laptops, and other electronics, Home Depot’s Spring Black Friday sale is for anyone who wants to transform their flowerbeds or backyard from the sad, brown mess winter left behind into a personal getaway you can actually enjoy after work.
When is the Home Depot’s Spring Black Friday Sale?
The Home Depot sale officially kicks off on Thursday, April 9, and runs through April 22, 2026. The retailer been following a similar timeline since the early 2010s with an annual spring kickoff sale event.
What to expect during Home Depot’s Spring Black Friday Sale
We’re going to be updating this page with all of the best markdowns throughout the sale, but here’s a sneak peek at the categories Home Depot says will be highlighted.
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Lawn and garden: It’s time to prep the yard. Expect price cuts on outdoor power equipment, plants, flowers, mulch, and weed and grass killer.
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Backyard hosting: Everything you need for summer parties will be on sale, including patio furniture, dining sets, composite decking, and grills.
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Home upgrades: If you’ve been holding out on a renovation, look for deals on paint, faucets, flooring, toilets, fencing, and major appliances (including refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and washers/dryers).
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Storage solutions: Get your garage organized with discounted tool bags, storage shelves, and boxes. Pros can also expect bulk price savings on essentials like tools, pipes, and water heaters.
What brands will be discounted during the Spring Black Friday Sale?
As for brands, the Home Depot isn’t holding back. We’re expecting major price drops from popular heavy hitters, including DeWalt, Milwaukee, Ryobi, Traeger, Weber, Nexgrill, Trex, Rigid, GE Appliances, Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, Vissani, Frigidaire, and StyleWell.
The best deals to shop in the Home Depot Spring Black Friday Sale
The sale is now live in stores and online, so grab your spring shopping list and get ready to dive in. We’ve rounded up some of the best deals we’ve seen so far and will keep an eye out throughout the next two weeks for any new deals you should know about. So be sure to check back!
Psst: Home Depot will also price-match its products to other retailers, so keep your head on a swivel if you find the same product for cheaper elsewhere.
Mashable Trend Report
The best cordless power tool deal
$369
at The Home Depot
$529
Save $160
Why we like it
Ryobi is known for its affordable, beginner-friendly power tools, but this deal really takes things to the next level. For only $369 (30% off its usual cost), you’ll get eight cordless power tools, three batteries, a charger, and two tool bags. Among those tools is a drill/driver, impact driver, reciprocating saw, circular saw, and more. I personally own the Ryobi ONE+ drill and can confirm that it’s incredibly user-friendly for DIY projects and more — and I’m a complete power tool novice.
More deals on cordless power tools
DeWalt
Milwaukee
Ryobi
The best outdoor equipment deal
$759
at The Home Depot
$949
Save $190
Why we like it
Anyone looking to spring clean the outside of their home and beyond — from the siding to the deck to the dock — should check out this deal on a DeWalt pressure washer. Typically close to $1,000, this Spring Black Friday deal drops it to just $759. It packs 4000 PSI for professional-grade cleaning, includes a 50-foot hose, a triplex pump, five QX nozzles, and a heavy-duty welded steel frame.
More deals on outdoor equipment
DeWalt
Milwaukee
Ryobi
The best grill deals
More Home Depot Spring Black Friday deals
What is OnlyFans?
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is getting a restock April 10. How to get yours before its gone.
