Entertainment
Unhinged Comedy You’ve Never Heard Of Is A Compulsive, Soul Searching, Supernatural Trip
By Robert Scucci
| Updated
Everybody copes with grief differently, and most of us don’t even know how to handle and process it until it’s already knocking on our doors. Some people lose themselves in their work, or a passion project, and some people seek therapy. Some people do all of these things. Benny (Barak Hardley), the protagonist in 2018’s Spell, copes with the loss of his fiancé Jess (Jackie Tohn) by taking a solo, soul-searching trip to Iceland, where he finds out he might actually be a pawn in a supernatural game that will either solve his problems or make him wish he never left the United States.
The film is a compelling yet oddball exploration of grief, self-medicating, and searching for greater meaning after your life as you know it has been turned completely upside down. It’s also a hilarious sequence of events thanks to Barak Hardley’s commitment to the role and his character’s various quirks and idiosyncrasies.
That Escalated Quickly
When Spell first introduces us to Benny, he’s a total mess. He’s arriving at an Icelandic airport, and we’re immediately clued into his compulsive behavior. While I’m partial to counting stairs and making sure both my eyes blink an equal number of times so neither of them feels left out, Benny likes to lick shiny metal surfaces like door handles, water taps, and, in one case, a phallic art installation at one of the local museums. To make matters worse, he’s out of meds, dealing with the stress of a new location, and unable to immediately reach his doctor to get a new prescription filled overseas.
Oh yeah, and the grief that brought us here in the first place. Three months before the events depicted in Spell, Benny’s fiancé drowned in their pool while he wasn’t around, and he’s still unpacking that trauma.
He copes by having a one-night stand with Inga (Birna Rún Eiríksdóttir), who encourages him to get a tattoo of a symbol he doesn’t yet understand, but soon will. He wakes up the next day not knowing where Inga ran off to after stealing from him, and he soon connects with a tour guide named Steindor (Magnus Jonsson), who takes him hiking, talks about supernatural entities and ancient mythology, and hints at the fact that Benny is some sort of “chosen one.”
From this point forward, I really can’t go deeper into the film’s plot without revealing major spoilers, and this is one you’ll want to see for yourself. But you’ll want to stick around because there are visions, naked hot spring melees, boozy camping conversations, and the fact that you can never quite tell what’s actually happening to Benny and what’s simply a manifestation of his grief, compulsions, and lack of medication.
Barak Hardley Is A Perfect Lead
Though I can’t presently speak to Barak Hardley’s other work, he’s an absolute treasure in Spell. Benny is a complex character with personal hangups, recent traumas, and the endless intrusive thoughts that somebody with OCD has to deal with, all while navigating an unfamiliar landscape where everybody seems to be screwing with him on not only a human level, but a spiritual one.
He’s rightfully wary for all of these reasons, but whenever pressed, no matter how gently, he simply says “screw it” and does pretty much whatever he’s told. Since Jess’ death, which prompted him to go on this trip in the first place, he’s got nothing to lose and figures his life can’t get any worse, so he just goes along with everything that’s thrown at him.
Benny’s search for fulfillment and meaning doesn’t leave him with any easy answers, but his journey isn’t necessarily linear either. Grief comes and goes, and he’s just going through the motions while trying to unpack his demons in the most unconventional way possible. The question that remains is whether he finds the answers he’s looking for.
As of this writing, you can stream Spell for free on Tubi.
Entertainment
The Sci-Fi Action Movie On Netflix Continues An Epic Franchise
By Steven Nelson
| Published
Prepare for an intergalactic showdown unlike any other. Skylines, the exhilarating third installment in the much-talked-about Skylines franchise, is now soaring its way into Netflix’s streaming galaxy. The saga continues as humanity and extraterrestrial life collide in a fight for survival, intertwining past legacies with futuristic ambitions.
Whether you’ve been a fan since the first ship landed or are just embarking on this cosmic journey, brace yourself for a sci-fi adventure that promises to be a spectacle of thrilling confrontations, otherworldly landscapes, and mind-bending twists. Let the battle for Earth’s destiny begin!
In Search Of A Vital Artifact
In Skylines, the story picks up after the events of the previous movies, catapulting viewers into an intensified interstellar conflict. When a virus threatens to turn Earth’s now peaceful hybrid alien population against humans, Captain Rose Corley (Lindsey Morgan), a human-alien hybrid with extraordinary abilities, is summoned.
Having proved herself in the previous encounters, Rose is the linchpin in humanity’s desperate plan to prevent the impending alien attack.
Drawing from her lineage’s strengths, she assembles an elite team of soldiers to join her on a mission into the extraterrestrial world. Their objective? To retrieve an artifact from the aliens‘ home planet that is key to saving both their species. However, as they journey through space, they encounter challenges and adversaries that put their skills, determination, and alliance to the ultimate test.
While the goal is clear, the path is fraught with battles, betrayals, and unexpected alliances. The mission becomes a race against time as they navigate through the alien world, battling enhanced creatures and trying to secure the vital artifact.
With the fate of both species hanging in the balance, Skylines is an adrenaline-pumping roller-coaster that pushes the boundaries of friendship, duty, and survival.
There Are Plans For Another Skyline Movie
The Skylines saga may not be over just yet. A fourth installment, Skyline: Warpath, was originally slated for an October 2025 release, but as of 2026, the film remains unreleased and no new launch date has been announced.
While updates have been scarce, interest in the franchise remains strong among fans who have followed the series from its beginnings. Frank Grillo has previously expressed interest in returning, and the ending of Skylines leaves plenty of room for the story to continue expanding into new corners of its universe.
That said, if Skyline: Warpath never materializes, Skylines still serves as a fitting conclusion to the trilogy, bringing its central conflicts to a satisfying close while leaving the door open for future adventures.
Speculating about the next Skyline movie is exciting, given the universe’s potential to expand and evolve. With the Earth somewhat stabilized after the events of Skylines, the story could further delve into the expansive universe. New planets, teeming with unknown life forms, could be discovered, presenting both opportunities and threats. As the survivors of Earth venture into the cosmos, they might seek alliances with other civilizations to fortify against shared adversaries.
Another angle could be the discovery of remnants of the alien race that had previously wreaked havoc on Earth. The survivors might unearth secrets about their adversaries, leading to potential reconciliations or fresh conflicts. Delving deeper into the origins and motivations of the aliens could add layers of complexity and empathy to the narrative.
On a more personal note, characters that survived the past ordeals might face internal struggles. The trauma of previous battles, combined with the challenges of navigating an expansive universe, could take a toll on their mental well-being. New characters, potentially from other civilizations, could be introduced, bringing with them unique skill sets, philosophies, and technologies.
With a universe as expansive and intricate as that of Skyline, there’s no telling where the story might lead next, especially with potential future sequels on the horizon.For now, fans can immerse themselves in the spectacle and drama of Skylines on Netflix, savoring the evolution of a story that promises to remain a mainstay in contemporary sci-fi cinema. Dive in and let the celestial odyssey unfold.
Entertainment
Apple fixes a Beats Studio Buds flaw that could let hackers listen to conversations
In its most recent firmware update for Beats headphones, 1B211, Apple fixed a terrifying security flaw that allowed malicious actors to potentially eavesdrop on private conversations within Bluetooth range of the brand’s popular Studio Buds.
According to reporting by Sead Fadilpašić of TechRadar, it was actually the third-party security firm ERNW and its researchers, Dennis Heinze and Frieder Steinmetz, who first discovered the vulnerability, all the way back in 2025, when it was assigned an 8.8/10 severity score. In effect, it allowed hackers to impersonate a device that had previously been connected to the headphones, not only granting them access to the microphone and headphone audio but eventually even learning some devices’ call histories and contact lists.
If you own a pair of Studio Buds, is it likely you’ve been targeted? Thankfully, no. The same researchers who discovered the exploit told TechRadar that the degree of coordination, complexity, and planning required to execute this hack would have made it worthwhile only for very high-value targets, and, as of now, there are no reports of anyone being negatively impacted by the security vulnerability.
Mashable Light Speed
It’s also worth mentioning that Apple wasn’t the only company caught up in this exploit. In the original report released by ERNW that identified the flaw, the security firm listed dozens of compromised devices, including those from manufacturers like Sony, JBL, and Bose, and those were just the brands that publicly listed their system suppliers, leaving potentially hundreds more devices yet to be named. In the words of the security researchers in the report, the unknown scope of the problem “creates a huge blind spot in vulnerability management due to the nature of the supply chain.”
Thankfully, Apple isn’t the only company taking active measures to protect its customers. According to Ecoustics reporting back in January, both Bose and JBL have also taken steps to close off the vulnerability through firmware updates.
Entertainment
The Zoe Saldana Assassin Movie On Netflix That Never Lets Up
By Steven Nelson
| Published
From the star-laden skies of the cosmos in Guardians of the Galaxy to the deep jungles of Avatar, Zoe Saldana has demonstrated her prowess in various roles, captivating audiences with her compelling performances. Now, Netflix brings her to your screens in a gripping tale of vengeance – Colombiana.
Dive into a thrilling world where Saldana, unyielding and fierce, sets out on a relentless pursuit to avenge her family’s death. Directed by Olivier Megaton and penned by the renowned Luc Besson, this action-packed ride promises to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Prepare for an exhilarating experience with Colombiana.
Cataleya Is Coming For You
Colombiana is a tale of retribution set against the gritty backdrop of the criminal underworld. At its heart is Cataleya Restrepo, played with fierce determination by Zoe Saldana. As a young girl in Bogota, Colombia, Cataleya witnesses the brutal murder of her parents at the hands of a ruthless drug lord named Don Luis (Beto Benites).
The traumatic event, however, gives rise to a burning desire for revenge, and she barely escapes the massacre, ultimately finding her way to her uncle Emilio in Chicago.
Under Emilio’s guidance, Cataleya transforms into a deadly assassin, honing her skills to exact her revenge. While she takes on various assignments, she leaves a distinctive drawing of a cataleya orchid as her signature, a message to those who wronged her that she’s coming for them. This calling card draws the attention of both the criminal world and law enforcement.
Cataleya navigates the dangers of her vocation, and her single-minded focus remains on finding Don Luis and his main enforcer, Marco. The film intricately weaves her personal vendetta with her professional hits, building to a climactic confrontation.
A Thriller With Depth
Throughout, Zoe Saldana’s portrayal of Cataleya is that of a woman driven by past horrors, wielding her trauma as both a weapon and armor, making Colombiana not just an action-packed thriller but also a study of what fuels a person’s drive for vengeance.
Colombiana truly shines as a Zoe Saldana vehicle, largely because of the symbiotic relationship between the film’s narrative and Saldana’s strengths as an actress. Firstly, Zoe Saldana has always exuded a kind of quiet strength and intensity in her roles, making her the perfect fit for a character who carries the weight of traumatic past events but channels it into her mission for vengeance.
Her slender physique and graceful movements, combined with her intensity, make her a believable and unique assassin, differentiating Cataleya from the archetypal brute force hitman often depicted in cinema. Additionally, Saldana’s range allows her to tap into the deeper emotional undercurrents of Cataleya’s story.
While Colombiana is undoubtedly an action film, at its core, it’s a story of a scarred individual seeking closure. Saldana’s portrayal of Cataleya isn’t one-dimensional; she brings a blend of vulnerability and steeliness to the role. This duality resonates with audiences, making the action sequences more than just visually spectacular. They’re emotionally charged, underpinned by Cataleya’s heartbreaking backstory and her quest for justice.
Moreover, the film’s setting and narrative play into the cultural strengths of Saldana. As a woman of Latina descent, Zoe infuses authenticity into Cataleya’s Colombian roots, making her quest feel genuine and rooted in a real sense of place and culture.
The movie, in essence, becomes a platform for Saldana to showcase not only her physical prowess but also her ability to create a multi-dimensional character, transforming Colombiana from a mere action flick into a riveting tale of resilience, revenge, and redemption.
Colombiana, streaming on Netflix, stands as a testament to Zoe Saldana’s prowess as an action star and her ability to carry a film with both emotional depth and high-octane sequences. Her portrayal of Cataleya resonates with audiences not just for the action, but for the heart and determination behind each move. While the revenge genre has been explored in countless ways in cinema, it’s Saldana’s unique blend of vulnerability and fierceness that sets this film apart.
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