Entertainment
The Sci-Fi Time Loop Action Thriller On Netflix That Keeps You Guessing
By Steven Nelson
| Published
Diving headfirst into the realm of time loops and futuristic chaos, ARQ makes its mark on Netflix with Robbie Amell leading the charge. While it may not have reinvented the sci-fi wheel, it weaves a tale of déjà vu that might just captivate those looking for a speculative thriller to fill their evening.
The film begs the question: How many times would you want to relive the same day if the fate of the world rested on your shoulders? Whether you’re a fan of mind-bending narratives or just in it for Robbie Amell’s performance, ARQ awaits your click on the Netflix queue.
A Fresh Twist On A Familiar Motif
ARQ plunges viewers into a near-future dystopian world where energy is scarce, and society teeters on the brink of collapse. At the center of this chaos is Robbie Amell’s character, Renton, an engineer who invents a machine named “ARQ,” capable of producing unlimited energy. But with great power comes great danger. The ARQ inadvertently causes a time loop, making Renton and his ex-lover, Hannah (Rachael Taylor), relive the same perilous day repeatedly.
As masked intruders break into Renton’s secure lab to steal the ARQ, the time loop becomes both a curse and a blessing. Each loop offers Renton and Hannah another chance to outwit their adversaries and protect the machine, but it also forces them to confront their unresolved past and the tangled emotions that come with it.
The film smartly plays with the time loop narrative, using it not just as a sci-fi gimmick but as a vehicle to explore character depth, evolving strategies, and shifting alliances. As the loops progress, secrets unravel, and the line between friend and foe blurs, making the audience question each character’s true intentions. This time loop device, reminiscent of movies like Groundhog Day but with a darker, more intense twist, keeps viewers on their toes, eagerly anticipating Renton and Hannah’s next move.
ARQ garnered mixed reviews from critics. While the time loop concept was intriguing to many, some felt the execution lacked depth or originality. The strong performances from Robbie Amell and Rachael Taylor were commended, with many pointing out that their chemistry elevated the film. However, criticisms often centered on the movie’s pacing and its struggle to escape the shadow of other more iconic time loop narratives.
Low Budget, High Concept
While ARQ‘s ending leaves the door cracked open for a continuation, it will probably never receive sequel treatment due to its mixed reception. Still, the film’s universe and its energy scarcity premise leave plenty of room for other stories set within the same world.
There’s also room to further explore the characters’ backstories and the larger implications of the ARQ technology itself. But as of now, there’s been no official word on a sequel, and whether one ever happens would likely depend on audience demand and Netflix’s interest. If anything, ARQ stands as a reminder of how sci-fi can tackle real-world anxieties through speculative storytelling, even if the execution doesn’t always land perfectly.
ARQ ultimately represents both the risks and rewards of high-concept indie sci-fi. It may not have reached the same heights as other time loop movies, but its mix of futuristic tech, energy crises, and shifting character dynamics still makes for a compelling watch.
Robbie Amell’s performance, paired with the film’s grim vision of a collapsing world, gives sci-fi fans plenty to latch onto. Despite its flaws, ARQ remains an engaging Netflix thriller that keeps audiences questioning what’s really happening with each reset. If you’re looking for a twisty time loop story that keeps you guessing, it’s still worth adding to the queue.
Entertainment
Beats Solo 4 are $88 open box — and the 50-hour battery is no joke
TL;DR: Elevate your commutes and workouts with the Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones, on sale now for $87.97 (reg. $199.99) through May 31.
$87.97
$199.99
Save $112.02
If you don’t just listen to playlists but live in them, the Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones are for you. These re-engineered headphones deliver premium sound with an expansive sound range and an impressive 50-hour battery, so you don’t have to miss a beat.
Right now, you can score a pair of these premium headphones for just $87.97 through May 31.
Mashable Deals
Music lovers know that a basic pair of headphones won’t cut it. The Beats Solo 4 deliver audio brilliance, extraordinary clarity, and an expansive sound range thanks to custom-built 40-mm transducers, all worthy of your excellent taste in music.
Personalized Spatial Audio lets you immerse yourself in the tunes, while dynamic head tracking and built-in gyroscopes surround you with sound, giving you the effect of being surrounded by 64 speakers at once, whether you’re in line at the grocery store or on your morning commute.
A built-in Digital-to-Analog Converter also provides high-resolution lossless audio, and if you want more texture, you can connect via a USB-C cable or a 3.5mm audio cable.
Enjoy an impressive 50 hours of battery life and Bluetooth 5.3, which offers extended range and fewer dropouts.
Aside from offering premium sound, the Beats Solo 4 also provide a premium wearing experience that keeps up with that battery life. They’re ultralight, weighing just 217 grams, and the UltraPlush ear cushions and ergonomic design offer unparalleled comfort and fit.
Mashable Deals
You’re saving big on these headphones because they’re open-box. That means they were likely excess inventory from store shelves, but have undergone a verification process to ensure they’re still in new condition and are placed in clean packaging.
Score the Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones for $87.97 now through May 31.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 30, 2026
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a good head on your shoulders.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Mashable Top Stories
Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
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Yellow: Not happening
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Green: Reasonable
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Blue: Keyboard symbols
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Purple: Famous tunes
Here are today’s Connections categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections #1084 is…
What is the answer to Connections today
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“In your dreams”: IMPOSSIBLE, NEVER, NO WAY, SORRY
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Sensible: CLEAR, LUCID, RIGHT, SOUND
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Typographical symbols: BRACE, CARET, PIPE, TILDE
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Song of the Year nominees at the first Grammy Awards: FEVER, GIGI, VOLARE, WITCHCRAFT
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections 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? Get all the Strands hints you need for today’s puzzle.
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 Connections.
Entertainment
Vin Diesel's Perfect, R-Rated Sci-Fi Thriller Is Finally Coming To Netflix
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
Before The Fast and the Furious, before The Last Witch Hunter, Vin Diesel was able to create a franchise out of a low-budget sci-fi horror film with barely any plot, through sheer force of personality. His deep voice, ability to show no emotion, and action star physique helped turn his role as Riddick into a star-making performance. The 2000 sci-fi horror Pitch Black is coming to Netflix on June 1, and there’s never a bad time to remind yourself why Vin Diesel became a superstar.
Riddick Is Vin Diesel’s Best Character
No one thought Pitch Black would launch a franchise when it debuted in February 2000, the dumping ground for Hollywood studios, but that’s what happened. Diesel’s Riddick makes his first appearance as a prisoner onboard a doomed shuttle crash landing on a planet about to experience a total eclipse for the first time in 22 years. That’s relevant for two convenient reasons: one, the massive horde of flying predators destroyed by sunlight, and two, Riddick had a prison doctor operate on his eyes giving him “shine,” and now he can see in the dark. Relying on a wanted criminal and known killer for salvation are the various miners (including Farscape’s Claudia Black), pilgrims, and tourists also onboard the shuttle. It’s a very simple plot but it works.
The simplicity plays to Vin Diesel’s strengths as an actor, namely, his physical presence or as the kids say, aura farming, and not his emoting. Ironically, showing the taciturn Riddick fighting against the feelings of compassion and kindness is Diesel’s best acting work. He turns the one-note tough guy character into a star-making performance with a few grunts and a single kind gesture.
Keep It Simple Stupid
Simple doesn’t always mean bad. Pitch Black wisely uses the darkness to obscure the deadly nocturnal predators as much as possible in both a budget saving move, and one that means the tension cranks up without anything actually happening on screen. Audiences loved it, earning the film over $50 million during its theatrical run before becoming a best-selling DVD release. It did so well, director and writer David Twohy reunited with Diesel for the sequel, The Chronicles of Riddick, which ditched the survival horror elements of the original film and replaced them with deep lore, dozens of characters, multiple deep space factions, and Dame Judi Dench as an Air Elemental.
The third film in the franchise, Riddick, went back to the simple survival story of Pitch Black, and again, it was a hit, reinforcing that Diesel works best in small scale films. You might be thinking, The Fast and The Furious isn’t small scale, but think back, and the entire plot centered on stealing VCRs. That’s grounded and realistic compared to what came next. Fans of Diesel’s sci-fi franchise can only hope that the upcoming fourth film, Furya, is more Pitch Black and less Chronicles of Riddick.
All three of the Riddick films are now available on Netflix. If you haven’t watched Pitch Black in decades, it’s a great time to give it a rewatch. In retrospect, the tight plot and single setting is quaint. In a good way. There was a time when an original sci-fi film with no star power behind it could go wide in theaters, earn millions of dollars, and create a new fanbase out of thin air.
Starting on June 1, you can catch Pitch Black on Netflix.
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