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Exclusive: Outer Banks breakout Chase Stokes is stepping behind the camera for his feature directorial debut with the coming-of-age drama I Told the Sunset About You. The project is based on an original concept by Stokes with Monarch Media’s Steve Barnett, Alan Powell and Vicky Patel producing the film through their company Monarch Media.

The film is described as a contemporary Bonnie and Clyde romantic thriller about a restless local waitress who is stuck in a monotonous routine until she meets Jameson, a quiet drifter passing through on his way to the Pacific coast. Their unlikely connection sparks a spontaneous journey westward, leading to unexpected gambles that transform their lives forever.

“I’m very excited that the Monarch team has given me the opportunity to extend my love for filmmaking beyond being in front of the camera,” said Stokes. “It’s always been a goal to get in the...

[This story contains spoilers from Severance season two, episode eight, “Sweet Vitriol.”]

Jane Alexander first discovered Severance because of her grandsons. “It’s very popular, I think, with young people,” she hypothesizes over Zoom.

If Alexander is right, then all those young people currently tuning in to Severance‘s season two might be too young to realize the prestige of her appearance in last week’s episode. Here’s a catch-up: Alexander is well-known for movies like 1970’s The Great White Hope (and the play, with James Earl Jones, the year before), 1976’s All the President’s Men, 1979’s Kramer vs. Kramer and 1983’s Testament. She earned Oscar nominations for all of the above, won two Emmys (Playing for Time in 1980 and Warm Springs in 2005), a Tony (for the aforementioned The Great White Hope) and, from 1993 to 1997, led the National Endowment for the Arts.

“The arts have always been for everybody,” Alexander, now 85, tells The Hollywood Reporter.

The lineup for the 2025 edition of the Aftershock festival has just been unveiled, featuring headliners blink-182, Deftones, Korn, and Bring Me the Horizon.

The four-day fest is set for October 2nd-5th at Discovery Park in Sacramento, California, and also features A Perfect Circle, Good Charlotte, Turnstile, Marilyn Manson, Gojira, Bad Omens, Rob Zombie, Acid Bath, Lamb of God, All Time Low, Dream Theater, Gwar, Bruce Dickinson, Knocked Loose, and others among the 115-plus acts on the bill.

Get Aftershock 2025 Tickets Here

Tickets to Aftershock 2025, including four-day and single-day passes, are available via the festival’s website. Fans can also look for deals via StubHub, where your purchase is 100% guaranteed through StubHub’s Fan Protect program.

Joining blink-182 on the Thursday (October 2nd) lineup will be Good Charlotte, All Time Low, Acid Bath, Taking Back Sunday, Alkaline Trio, The All-American Rejects, Power Trip, Hollywood Undead, Carcass, High on Fire, and more.

Testament have announced an intimate Spring 2025 US tour. The outing will find the thrash veterans performing their 1989 album Practice What You Preach in its entirety, along with telling stories and playing deep cuts from other LPs.

The tour, dubbed “An Evening with Testament,” kicks off April 30th in Tucson, Arizona, and wraps up May 25th in San Diego, hitting such cities as Indianapolis, Brooklyn, Baltimore, and Austin along the way.

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An artist pre-sale and Live Nation pre-sale both begin on Wednesday (March 5th) at 10 a.m. local time using the codes Preach and Funky, respectively. A general on-sale starts Friday (March 7th) at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster.

Testament are celebrating Practice What You Preach‘s 35th anniversary (a year late). The album marked the band’s third studio LP and commercial breakthrough., featuring the singles “Greenhouse Effect”, “The Ballad,” and the title track.

Singer Chuck Billy stated,...

Louder Than Life festival has revealed its 2025 lineup in full. The four-day Louisville fest features headliners Slayer, Deftones, Avenged Sevenfold, and Bring Me the Horizon among more than 160 acts.

The festival takes place September 18th-21st at the Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center, with tickets now available via the Louder Than Life website. Secondary headliners include Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Sleep Token, Breaking Benjamin, Bad Omens, A Perfect Circle, $uicideboy$, and Evanescence.

Get Louder Than Life Tickets Here

The Thursday (September 18th) bill will feature Slayer, Rob Zombie (performing White Zombie’s Astro-Creep: 2000 in honor of its 30th anniversary), and Marilyn Manson joined by Lamb of God, Down, Cavalera (performing Sepultura’s Chaos A.D.), Cannibal Corpse, Exodus, Lorna Shore, Carcass, Municipal Waste, and more.

On Friday (September 19th), Avenged Sevenfold (only US headlining show of 2025), Sleep Token, and Breaking Benjamin top a bill that includes Mudvayne, Spiritbox,...

Exclusive: Oscar- and Emmy-nominated production company Aircraft Pictures and Dolphin Entertainment have teamed for a reboot of 1986 hockey drama Youngblood.

Cameras have just rolled on the movie in Hamilton and Barrie, Canada, with Hubert Davis directing.

Youngblood follows hockey prodigy Dean Youngblood, who joins the Hamilton Mustangs and discovers he must face off against toxic behavior on the ice and within himself to fulfill his potential as professional hockey player. The original MGM movie, a cult classic, starred Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves in the latter’s feature film debut. Lowe and Reeves aren’t on the bench to return.

The cast will include Ashton James as Dean Youngblood, Blair Underwood as his father Blane Youngblood, Shawn Doyle as Coach Chadwick, Alexandra McDonald as Jessie Chadwick,...

Better Man is a wonderfully bizarre and completely refreshing entry in the biopic genre. The film centers around the prominent British musician, Robbie Williams, and his rise to stardom. The decision to portray Williams as a CGI monkey was divisive, but one that ultimately helped the movie to gain the momentum it has — as audiences remain fascinated by Michael Gracey's Better Man. The biopic has secured gleaming reviews and sits at an incredibly impressive 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the feature's success, Better Man poses some unanswered questions regarding the nature of Williams' unfolding relationships.

Better Man's cast of characters is extensive, showcasing an array of talent across the singer's career. Among the varying relationships through the years, All Saints singer, Nicole Appleton, is one of the most integral figures in Williams' life. Although Better Man fabricated the duo's first interaction, the film does not fail to deliver...

Venamoris, the duo of ex-Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo and his wife Paula, have announced their sophomore album, To Cross or To Burn, out February 28th via Ipecac Recordings.

The group also offered up a new single, a cover rendition of Scorpions’ “Animal Magnetism” that re-invents the song as a brooding industrial/darkwave piece. The lyrics and vocals (handled by Paula) are the only immediately recognizable elements from the original, as the Lombardos morph the arrangement with synth stabs and droning guitars. Dave’s West Coast thrash cohort Gary Holt also makes an appearance near the halfway point, ripping through a solo.

“The first rock concert I ever attended was on May 25, 1980, with Scorpions opening for Ted Nugent’s ‘Scream Dream’ tour,” recalled Dave in a press release. “We (Slayer) had covered a couple Scorpions songs in the early years but I never would have thought of re-imagining one of their songs at that time.

Doctor Who showrunners Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat come together to celebrate the "phenomenal" casting of one Doctor in particular. Looking back at the Fourth Doctor era, Tom Baker assumed the role in 1974, leading the show for 172 episodes across 7 seasons. Baker's final battle against the Master (Anthony Ainley) in 1981's "Logopolis" brought his adventures to an end with the Fourth Doctor's regeneration, but he has since reprised the role in one-off appearances and audio dramas.

When speaking to Doctor Who Magazine (via RadioTimes) in a larger retrospective on Phillip Hinchcliffe's producing tenure, Moffat turned attention to the cast of that era, particularly praising Baker, Elizabeth Sladen, and Ian Marter's Tardis team of the Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith, and Harry Sullivan. He went so far as to say Doctor Who hasn't a better cast, explaining:

Steven Moffat: I know this was a legacy of the previous producer, but...

"Check it out - the Death Loop!" A wild trailer has debuted for an indie horror thriller film called Traction Park Massacre, a theme park horror riff made by the filmmakers Douglas Dimonda & Adam Dubin. They had a panel at New York Comic-Con which is where this trailer is from. It's expected to arrive sometime in 2025, as there's no release or festival premiere set yet - but this first look does hype it up. "Young People meet Outlaw Bikers meet feral Twin Psycho-killers in a notorious abandoned water park." Terror Twins LLC is making the film, which is described as an homage to horror cult classics like Evil Dead 2, Friday the 13th, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, etc. Also inspired by the infamous Action Park water park in New Jersey (profiled in this doc Class Action Park) that was actually very dangerous. Traction Park Massacre stars Kai Thomas Schulz,...

The sci-fi genre has long been a place where strange and mind-bending movies come to thrive, and some truly amazing sci-fi movies have been directed by talented and creative women. Sci-fi, otherwise known as science fiction, is a genre that blends scientific elements with storytelling. Thus, tales of space, aliens, robots, and burgeoning technology all fall under the category of sci-fi. Over the years, sci-fi has grown immensely. From 1977's very first Star Wars movie to 2024's Dune: Part Two, audiences have plenty of content to enjoy. Yet, some may be yearning for a more feminine perspective.

There have been some outstanding sci-fi movies that have been directed by women. Though it could be argued that sci-fi is a male-dominated genre, many women directors have thrown their hats into the ring and proven that they have just as much to offer audiences. The best sci-fi movies directed by women are those with unique concepts,...

Eleven-year-old viral guitar sensation Maya Neelakantan joined Testament onstage during the band’s show in Las Vegas on Friday (September 13th).

Fresh off her widely seen America’s Got Talent quarterfinals appearance, Maya was invited onstage by the Bay Area thrash vets for a rendition of “Curse of the Legions of Death (C.O.T.L.O.D.)” from the seminal album The Legacy.

Get Testament Tickets Here

Guitarist Alex Skolnick and frontman Chuck Billy handled the introductions, revealing that this would be Maya’s first time playing live at an actual heavy metal show — not exactly the same crowd as the AGT studio audience.

“So let’s show her some love!” shouted Billy toward the crowd, which roared in support.

Incredibly, Maya seamlessly fell in with Skolnick and rhythm guitarist Eric Peterson as if she was a third guitar player in the band. Around the two-minute mark, Slolnick pointed toward Maya,...

Black movies, starring Black actors and directed by Black creators, are still underrepresented in cinema in 2024. Despite low representation, 2024 has seen some fantastic Black movies with at least 20 notable new releases expected by year-end. From historical retellings to comedies to continuations of beloved franchises, Black cinema in 2024 offers a diverse and engaging line-up.

2024 has brought a slew of thoughtful, funny, frightening, and dramatic new Black movies to streamers and screens, with many still on their way in fall and winter. Movies starring Black actors and by Black creators are worthy of note because, among many reasons, iconic Black movies are still underrepresented in cinema. Even in 2024, a year with some fantastic Black movies, by the end of July, less than 10% of major movie releases starred a mostly Black cast, were directed by a Black director, or were focused on issues pertaining mostly to Black people.

Despite low representation, there have...

Welcome to this review of this past Monday’s episode of WWE Raw, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Sheamus def. Ludwig Kaiser The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Making his return after a month on the shelf, Ludwig Kaiser wasted no time attacking The Celtic Warrior, engaging in a fight before the bell rang. Kaiser used his cunning tactics to take down Sheamus, feigning injury to sucker him into an attack. Kaiser even tried using 10 Beats of the Bodhran, but Sheamus was able to turn it around. Just as Sheamus looked to put Kaiser away, Pete Dunne emerged to try and ambush The Celtic Warrior with a Shillelagh, but his attempt backfired. Despite Dunne’s interference, Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick to win the match.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5 Match #2: Lyra Valkyria def. Shayna Baszler (Dq...

Quick Links I Hope The Chosen Season 5 Parallels Jesus' Crucifixion With The Story Of Abraham How The Story Of Jesus' Crucifixion & The Story Of Abraham Are Connected The Chosen Has A Knack For Highlighting Biblical Parallels

After recently finishing The Chosen's fourth season, and now I hope that the show parallels Jesus Christ's crucifixion with another Biblical story. The Chosen season 4 has set up the biggest event of the New Testament from the Bible, but there are still ways to bring in the Old Testament. I understand the show's point is to tell the story of Jesus (Jonathan Roumie) and His disciples, but incorporating an Old Testament parallel will go hand-in-hand with the current arc.

The Chosen season 5 will likely be the show's most important season. The series will have more Biblical stories to cover afterward, but the plotlines of the fifth season will highlight key factors of Christianity.

Welcome to this review of this past Monday’s episode of WWE Raw, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on this week’s show!

Match #1: Xavier Woods def. Karrion Kross The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Moments after Xavier Woods picked up the quick victory over Karrion Kross, The Final Testament assaulted The New Day. After Aop took down Woods outside the ring, Kross locked Kofi Kingston in an excruciating submission and injured the former WWE Champion’s arm.

My Score: 1.5 out of 5 Match #2: Women’s World Title Match – Liv Morgan def. Zelina Vega The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Dominik Mysterio slid a chair to Zelina Vega in an attempt to cost Liv Morgan the Women’s World Title. Instead, Vega knocked “Dirty” Dom off the ring with it. Though the steel hit its mark, the distraction allowed an irate Liv...

Thrash legends Exodus have announced a Fall 2024 North American tour.

Dubbed “The Battle of ’24 Tour,” the outing is set to launch on November 2nd in Tampa, Florida, and runs through December 7th in Los Angeles. Havok, Candy, and Dead Heat will provide support for the trek, which will hit major cities such as Toronto, Brooklyn, and Seattle.

Get Exodus Tickets Here

A Live Nation ticket pre-sale for select dates begins Wednesday (June 26th) at 10 a.m. local time using the code Chord. General ticket sales start Friday (June 28th) at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. Fans can also look for deals or get tickets to sold-out dates via StubHub, where your purchase is 100% guaranteed through StubHub’s Fan Protect program.

“Exodus are super stoked to announce ‘The Battle of ’24,’ our tour with Havok, Candy, and Dead Heat,” enthused guitarist Gary Holt. “This tour will be raging, and this is...

Castlevania: Nocturne introduces a series of characters who go on from the original series and games to create their own captivating stories. Each and every season of the series has been more intriguing and thrilling. So when Nocturne was in the works, it would only be fair to give their all to make the best.

Richter Belmont in Castlevania: Nocturne | Credit: Netflix

The characters of Richter Belmont and Annette play the central roles in the series and it is their journey that is followed throughout it. Born to play the Damsel in Distress, Annette can be viewed as someone who needs rescuing time and again, waiting for her perfect prince to save her. However, the series changes her route, making her not a damsel but a seeker.

Authenticity in Castlevania

During an interview with Gizmodo, Castlevania: Nocturne writer Clive Bradley talked about how the changes in Annette’s character started a ripple effect.

Legendary thrash-metal bands Testament and Kreator have announced a Fall 2024 North American co-headlining tour with support from Possessed.

The stacked tour package — billed as the “Klash of the Titans Tour” — launches on September 12th in Reno, Nevada, and runs through October 27th in San Francisco. The itinerary will hit majors cities such as Las Vegas, Toronto, Boston, Dallas, Denver, and Los Angeles, among others.

Get Testament Tickets Here

A Live Nation ticket pre-sale begins Wednesday (May 1st) at 10 a.m. local time using the code Soundcheck. General ticket sales start Friday (May 3rd) at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. Fans can also look for deals or get tickets to sold-out dates via StubHub, where your purchase is 100% guaranteed through StubHub’s Fan Protect program.

“Get ready North America,” enthused Testament in a press statement. “We are looking forward to a co-headline tour with our thrash master friends Kreator. This...

As far as disaster movies go, 1983's Testament is a far cry from some of the sweeping and epic apocalyptic films that most of today's directors specialize in. It has almost no special effects and very little action, but the message that resonates is just as powerful as a massive asteroid headed for Earth or a pandemic contagion. It is a slow, gut-wrenching burn that will have you rethinking what is important to you by the time the final credits roll. It also has a terrific starring ensemble cast including Jane Alexander in what was an Oscar-nominated role, a versatile William Devane, and a very young Kevin Costner before he became the Kevin Costner that we know today. In Testament, he is just a struggling young actor who is trying to make a name for himself in Hollywood just like all the other aspiring performers who head West in search of fame and fortune.

The biggest spectacle in all of sports entertainment is finally here. The two-night extravaganza known as WrestleMania will take place on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7 from Philadelphia and will air exclusively on Peacock beginning at 7 p.m. Et each night. The greatest wrestling superstars in the world will be on hand from The Rock and Seth Rollins to Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch to Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton. But all eyes will be on Sunday night’s main event to see if Cody Rhodes can finish the story against Roman Reigns. You won’t want to miss a single second of WrestleMania Xl. You can watch with a subscription to Peacock.

How to Watch 2024 WWE WrestleMania Xl When: Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 7:00 Pm Edt Where: Peacock Stream: Watch with a subscription to Peacock. Sign Up$5.99+ / month peacocktv.com About 2024 WWE WrestleMania Xl

The 40th edition of WrestleMania will...

The Netflix miniseries Testament: The Story of Moses soared to #2 on the global top 10 chart with 13.5 million views in its first week. Despite a 29% Rotten Tomatoes score, Testament's unexpected success follows a trend of religious films finding streaming popularity. Religious content like Noah and Testament continue to defy critical reception, showcasing an entropic pattern success among faith-based films.

Netflix’s new miniseries Testament soars to the top of the global top 10 chart. Testament: The Story of Moses is a three-part Netflix miniseries that was released on March 27. As the title indicates, Testament: The Story of Moses explores the life of Moses as he goes on a journey from an outcast to a murderer to a prophet. Testament is directed by Benjamin Ross and stars a leading cast of Mehmet Kurtulus, Dominique Tipper, and Sami Fekkak.

During its first week on Netflix, Testament has made it into the Netflix global...

Moses' docuseries missed violent events and harsh decisions, showcasing him as a flawed, less brutal figure than in religious texts. The exclusion of building the tabernacle and the Ark displays a focus on freeing the Hebrew people rather than religious leadership aspects. Moses' overlooked creation of the Aaronites demonstrates a time constraint challenge in covering all aspects of his life.

Netflix's Testament: The Story of Moses gives an entertaining account of Moses' life, but there are 6 major parts of his story that are left out of the docuseries. The three-part series covers the majority of Moses' life from his birth in Egypt to his death just outside the Promised Land of Canaan. Among the best docuseries around, Testament: The Story of Moses is worth a watch for anyone interested in the biblical figure.

Like all the best documentaries, Testament: The Story of Moses uses a combination of interviews...

The third episode of Testament: The Story of Moses is all about the story of how Moses rescued the Israelites from the clutches of the Pharaoh, guiding them through the Red Sea. With God by their side, there was no force that could stop the Israelites from becoming free! However, this episode is focused more on the struggles of the Hebrews after they attained freedom and the way God managed to protect them. How did the Israelites flee the Pharaoh? Why did Moses go up to Mount Sinai? What were the 10 commandments? Did Moses get to see the promised land? Let’s find out!

Spoilers Ahead

What Was The Final Plague In Egypt?

The final plague that hit Egypt was so deadly that it killed all Egypt’s firstborns that year. However, God commanded Moses to save all the Hebrew families by asking them to feed off a sacrificial...

A priest, a rabbi, and an imam walk into a bar. The young bartender sets down her phone, looks at the priest and asks, “What can I get ya?” The priest says, “Good afternoon, my child. We were just discussing the story of Moses, which may be of interest to you. It’s about service, patience, and–” “Let me stop you right there, Father,” the bartender says. “Before you launch into your story, maybe the rabbi would like to order?” The rabbi turns to the bartender and says, “Ah, thank you, young lady. But my thirst is like the Hebrews’ wandering the desert: meaningless compared to the holy mission of our greatest prophet.” The bartender sips her hard seltzer and looks at the imam. “I’m guessing you agree?” “Absolutely,” the imam replies “The story of Moses carries great wisdom. It deserves to be heard.”

“Well,” the bartender says, “I guess that settles it.

The first episode of the religious docu-drama Testament: The Story of Moses is the story about the religious journey of Moses. The way he acted as a shield for the Hebrews against the atrocities of the Egyptians has been brought out in the mini-series. First, he had taken the path of violence, and then he had chosen a path shown to him by God to free his people from hundreds of years of slavery. Will Moses revert to God’s command? Will he go back to save his own people? Why was he chosen as the messenger? Let’s find out the answers!

Spoilers Ahead

Why Did Moses Become A Fugitive?

The Israelites, Abraham’s descendants, settled in Egypt for 400 years, enduring the pain inflicted upon them by the Egyptians. The male Hebrew babies were drowned in the Nile so that no one could grow up to rebel against the Pharaoh.

Noah expands upon vague elements of the Book of Genesis to create a more detailed, dramatic narrative. Changes such as leaving Na'el behind contribute to Noah's controversy among religious audiences. Aronofsky adds embellishments like The Watchers and Zohar to visually enhance Noah's story.

Darren Aronofsky's Noah is a biblical epic that translates one of the Bible's most important stories for the big screen, though some notable embellishments were made to the source material. Released in 2014, Noah starred Russel Crowe as the titular shipwright, navigating the woes of good and evil, divine judgment, and familial relationships in a developing world. The standout cast of Noah helped carry its relatively simple Old Testament story into success, even if the film made some dramatic changes to the original parable.

Many of director Darren Aronofsky's changes to Noah's original story are the result of the Bible's brevity. The Old Testament could...

Netflix is doing its best Angel Studios impression with “Testament: The Story of Moses,” a three-part documentary series premiering on March 27, 2024. Angel, the studio behind surprise box-office hit “Sound of Freedom,” is not actually involved; “Testament” is a Karga Seven Pictures production.

Unlike “Sound of Freedom,” “The Story of Moses” will not have a theatrical release. Even if it were cut as a feature-length film instead of a docuseries, that’s just not how Netflix rolls — it wants longterm subscribers, not a one-time box office boon.

“Testament: The Story of Moses” explores the life of Moses and his rise from outcast and murderer to prophet and liberator of the Hebrews, according to the logline. Netflix released the trailer on Tuesday, March 5.

The docuseries’ presentation is part scripted drama, part documentary-style interviews. There are the locusts and the sea-parting and all the greatest hits from the Bible, the Qur’an, and the Torah.

Fantasporto, the Oporto Intl. Film Festival, kicked off Friday in Portugal’s Porto — a city famed for its elegant Romanesque cathedral, a bookstore that inspired “Harry Potter,” and the heady alcoholic drink — with an eclectic mix of titles but an emphasis on fantasy films.

Typifying the broad tastes of the festival chiefs, film critics Beatriz Pacheco Pereira and Mário Dorminsky, Canadian filmmaker Denys Arcand’s satire “Testament” opened the event’s 44th edition at Batalha Centro de Cinema, and Chinese fantasy epic “Creation of Gods I: Kingdom of Storms,” directed by Wuershan, closes it.

Although Pacheco Pereira and Dorminsky, who compete with the Brussels Intl. Fantastic Film Festival and Sitges for fantasy films in Europe, know they can’t please everyone in Porto with their selection “what is really important to us is whether the audiences applaud the films,” Dorminsky says. “This is not a job for us. It is a pleasure.

The Book of Clarence is a religious comedy that draws inspiration from the Bible to explore spirituality. The movie incorporates genuine biblical characters and lore to underscore its themes and moral teachings. The film has contemporary flourishes and portrays a personal journey of redemption, rather than preaching religion.

Written and directed by Jeymes Samuel, The Book of Clarence is a religious comedy that opened to the masses on Jan. 12, 2024. The story follows Clarence (Lakeith Stanfield), a sinful huckster living in A.D. 33 Jerusalem among Jesus Christ and his disciples. To rid himself of mounting debt, Clarence pretends to be the new Messiah sent directly from God and begins manipulating those around him for his own gain and glory. During his quest, Clarence adopts moral tenets and learns to be more benevolent.

Considering the characters, title, and setting, it's easy to wonder if The Book of Clarence is officially based on the bible.

“Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” writer and performer David Steinberg pays tribute to Tom Smothers, who died Dec. 26 at age 86.

I met Tommy (and Dick) Smothers when we were performing at the Hungry I in San Francisco in the late 1960s. I did standup, and Tommy immediately wanted me to be on the show they were creating because I was a different kind of comedian — like they were. I had done a sermon, which was something I had developed at Second City. Tom and Dick, Tom especially, couldn’t get over the uniqueness of it. “Let’s put it on the air!” he said.

The second time Tommy asked me to come on the show, I did one of my sermons.

“Moses takes the shoes off his feet, approaches the burning bush, burns his feet. God goes “Aha! Third one today!” Moses swore. We are not sure what he said. There...

Canadian filmmaker Denys Arcand’s satire “Testament” will open the 44th edition of Fantasporto, which runs March 1-10 in Portugal’s second city, Porto. Chinese fantasy epic “Creation of Gods I: Kingdom of Storms,” directed by Wuershan, closes the eclectic event.

The festival, which was named by MovieMaker magazine this year as one of the “25 coolest festivals in the world,” is headed by film critics Beatriz Pacheco Pereira and Mário Dorminsky. Around 600 feature films were submitted this year and 1,200 shorts.

Pacheco Pereira says they select films that have a “special touch but still a universal language.” Dorminsky adds: “We try to discover new directors.” These directors – having established a relationship with the festival – often return with their subsequent films, he says.

“Testament” epitomizes one trend that Pacheco Pereira identifies, which is “old people asking: ‘Where is the world going?'” She adds: “‘Testament’ is a wonderful film in which an...

This majestic tale about a Danish priest’s mission to build a parish on the Icelandic coast is a powerful reminder of man’s relationship with nature

• More on the best films of 2023

• More on the best culture of 2023

Like The Eight Mountains (No 11 on this year’s UK list/No 12 on the US list), Godland is predicated on the construction of a haven in the wilderness – this time, a church on the 19th-century Icelandic coast. Unlike its spiritual sibling in the 2023 film lineup, though, nature is no comfort here, rather an Old Testament-like chastisement in waiting for man’s ambition and hubris. There’s a lot more frightening Herzogian immensity and admonishment here than home-on-the-range John Ford cosiness and sentiment. Nor does director Hlynur Pálmason let himself off the hook: given Lucas, the Danish priest missioned to build a parish, is a photographer, then art’s worth in...

Catering directly to my interests, the Criterion Channel’s January lineup boasts two of my favorite things: James Gray and cats. In the former case it’s his first five features (itself a terrible reminder he only released five movies in 20 years); the latter shows felines the respect they deserve, from Kuroneko to The Long Goodbye, Tourneur’s Cat People and Mick Garris’ Sleepwalkers. Meanwhile, Ava Gardner, Bertrand Tavernier, Isabel Sandoval, Ken Russell, Juleen Compton, George Harrison’s HandMade Films, and the Sundance Film Festival get retrospectives.

Restorations of Soviet sci-fi trip Ikarie Xb 1, The Unknown, and The Music of Regret stream, as does the recent Plan 75. January’s Criterion Editions are Inside Llewyn Davis, Farewell Amor, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and (most intriguingly) the long-out-of-print The Man Who Fell to Earth, Blu-rays of which go for hundreds of dollars.

See the lineup below and learn more here.

Back By Popular Demand

The Graduate,...

Just over forty years ago, on November 20th, 1983, ABC aired the most influential TV movie ever made. The Day After, which starred Jason Robards, John Lithgow, JoBeth Williams and Steve Guttenberg, was a riveting dramatization of the aftermath of a nuclear war, focusing on the residents of a small town dealing with the most terrifying outcome of all – surviving. Along with other movies of the era, such as Testament and the UK’s Threads, it was seen as a cry for disarmament, as no one could ever possibly “win” a nuclear war.

This week, PBS is airing a documentary on the film called Television Event, and in it, they put forward the notion that the movie may have helped prevent a nuclear war. In it, director Nicholas Meyer (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) relates the following intriguing anecdote (excerpted by THR):

“The movie may have indeed helped prevent a nuclear war.

Headbangers Boat, the inaugural metal cruise headlined by Lamb of God, experienced a tragic turn early Friday morning (November 3rd) when a 41-year-old male passenger went overboard. A search and rescue mission is currently underway.

In a statement provided to Rock Feed, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Cruise Line offered the following details:

“On the early morning of Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, Norwegian Pearl was notified that a 41-year-old male guest went overboard while the ship was sailing near the Bahamas on its way to Miami. The authorities have been notified and the United States Coast Guard search and rescue operation is underway. The investigation is ongoing, and we will share updates as appropriate. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

The incident sadly casts a pall over what by all accounts was turning out to be a very festive metal experience. As we’ve been reporting,...

Like “Testament” — the 1983 movie that imagined the fallout, both nuclear and psychological, after an atomic bomb is dropped on American soil — “Leave the World Behind” depicts a plausible doomsday scenario from the perspective of a handful of ordinary characters. Not military experts, not scientists, but two families obliged to shelter under the same roof out in the Hamptons while something scary unfolds a few hours away, off-screen, in New York.

As the stress-prone matriarch of one of these families, Julia Roberts utters a line that earns a big laugh near the start, partly because America’s sweetheart isn’t supposed to say something so dismissive of everyone else on the planet, but also because many audiences can probably relate. Staring out the window of her Park Slope apartment, she pronounces, “I fucking hate people.” The name of Roberts’ character is Amanda Sandford, but it might as well be Karen, such is the rush-to-judgment,...

Despite all of American Horror Story’s witches, vampires, murder Santas, and serial killers, the anthology series has always suffered from an identity crisis and focus issues. American Horror Story’s 12th season comes in after what was arguably the series’ strongest season in over a decade that would have made for a powerful, poignant way to conclude the anthology horror series. Instead, American Horror Story: Delicate ventures into risky, overdone territory with this pregnancy body horror drama.

What’s significant about AHS: Delicate is that it features some major firsts for the series. For one, American Horror Story: Delicate is the first season where series creator Ryan Murphy isn’t showrunner. Instead, Hailey Feiffer–a playwright–takes over these duties and writes the entire season. This is also the first time that American Horror Story explicitly adapts source material instead of throwing a bunch of genre tropes...

Warning: contains potential spoilers for Immortal Thor #1!The God of Thunder is returning with a brand-new ongoing, The Immortal Thor, and as the story begins, gods even higher than Odin are revealed to preside over Marvel's Ten Realms, hidden in a dimension all of their own. Secrets of Marvel's deepest lore are about to be exposed, and fans wouldn't expect anything less from Al Ewing's mythic follow-up to the celebrated Immortal Hulk.

Immortal Thor #1 is written by Al Ewing, drawn by Martín Cóccolo, colored by Matthew Wilson and lettered by Joe Sabino. The preview opens in a mysterious place, located somewhere beyond the Ten Realms. An unnamed narrator reveals this is "no realm, as we count realms" and the beings who live there "were not Gods, as we count gods." The narrator goes on to say that the gods are merely the shadows of these higher beings, asking what...

As we approach another anniversary of August 9, those who participated in “the decision” are all but gone.

But the reminders are with us, thanks to a new book by Evan Thomas, “Road to Surrender,” the forward for which reads “To save lives, it was necessary to take lives — possibly hundreds of thousands of them.” And, of course, Christopher Nolan’s epic portrait of the man who was never allowed to forget, Robert Oppenheimer.

We can’t hide under our desks anymore, but we can view ten other works that scared the hell out of us.

“On the Beach” (United Artists)

“On the Beach” (1959)

As a little girl in 1959, I found my parents watching this black and white film on TV. Excited, I asked if it was the latest with Annette and Frankie Avalon. Uh, no. They allowed me to stay, and two hours later, I was shaken to the core.

Quick Links Testament Struggles With Confidence Core Flaws Make Combat A Chore Final Thoughts

Testament: The Order of High Human is a first-person fantasy action-rpg, developed by a team of 15 people under the name Fairyship. The preview build provided takes place in the opening hour-and-a-half of the game, naturally introducing the game's world, mechanics, and story. It's clear that Fairyship is shooting high with this title, as it looks beautiful and has a ton of interesting things going on, but it also falls short in ways that make the game feel more amateur than it should.

One of these ways is in the writing. The story setup is done well enough, though it's a safe choice that fantasy fans will be all too familiar with. Testament is a revenge tale in which players take control of Aran, the immortal king of the High Humans who was betrayed by his brother.

“Wake up guardian, wake up last savior. All the high humans have fallen. You are the last hope of this land. Bring order and wipe out chaos and darkness. The unspeakable has occurred, the unholy marriage of a High-human and darkness seed.”

New York, United States, Tuesday 23rd May, 2023: Fairyship Games, a US-based developer with a focus on narrative-based games, is excited to announce Testament: The Order of High Human, the studio’s forthcoming action-adventure RPG set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world.

In development for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, Testament: The Order of High Humanis an original first-person, story-based adventure with strong RPG and Metroidvania elements. Players will find themselves taking on the role of Aran – the king of High humans in the land of Tessara – as he serves as guardian of the realm. Aran has been betrayed by his brother, Arva, and robbed of his powers as the...

The threat of global apocalypse has influenced genre filmmaking from the very beginning. One of the earliest apocalyptic films we have a record of is 1916's "The End Of The World," which illustrates the disastrous consequences of a comet that flies near Earth. The plot is often understood as a response to the near-apocalyptic event of 1910, when Halley's Comet got a little too close for comfort. World events themselves became quite apocalyptic during WWII, but films of this nature actually weren't popular at the time; the news provided enough scares.

The first real heyday of apocalyptic filmmaking came in the 1950s, when the atomic bomb, the Cold War, and the space race stoked fears about impending doom. This fascination with the world ending continued throughout the century. The Cold War lasted through the 1980s, after all, though the ideological focus of these movies changed over time. The 1990s took these movies to an expensive,...

Quests are an underrated part of the Legend of Zelda franchise. Granted, each Zelda game is basically one massive quest, but I’m talking about the series’ various side quests. They’re the adventures you find off the main story path. Some are so obscure that you can easily beat the rest of the game without ever realizing they exist.

The very best Legend of Zelda quests are often worth going out of your way for, though. They’re often daunting tasks that push fans to their limits while granting them painfully little knowledge of the road ahead or even what the reward for their considerable efforts will be. Often, the reward is an incredible new item or similar discovery that offers a practical gameplay benefit. Sometimes, though, the reward is the experience.

Yet, in the incredible history of Legend of Zelda quests, none quite compares to Majora’s Mask‘s Testament of Love.

This The Simpsons review contains spoilers.

The Simpsons Season 34 Episode 20

It is pretty apocalyptic when the locusts are everywhere, but the real monster is Rob Lowe. The Simpsons takes on the next phase of the end times in “The Very Hungry Caterpillars,” with the least teachable moments.

The Covid parody is overt, overdue to the point of last week’s news, but not quite an old joke. This is a very good breakdown of the lockdown mentality without rancor. The episode doesn’t get too preachy by getting very preachy. Extremes are funny, and The Simpsons has no problem poking wounds. The horrific atmosphere is introduced by Professor Frink, standing in for another CDC head in the form of the expert for the Center for Disgusting Caterpillars.

Frink devised a surefire hierarchy to the threat to the local community. He rates the caterpillars on a scale of ickiness, and it really sets the emotional tone.

Paris-based Playtime has unveiled a strong Cannes film market sales slate, which includes competition titles “About Dry Grasses” and “Homecoming.”

“About Dry Grasses” is by Turkish auteur Nuri Bilge Ceylan, who won the Palme d’Or in 2014 for “Winter Sleep.” The film follows Samet, a young art teacher, who is finishing his fourth year of compulsory service in a remote village in Anatolia. After a turn of events he can hardly make sense of, he loses his hopes of escaping the grim life he seems to be stuck in, and hopes that his encounter with fellow teacher Nuray will help him overcome his angst. Deniz Celiloğlu, Merve Dizdar and Musab Ekici are among the cast.

“Homecoming,” by French director Catherine Corsini who won the 2021 Queer Palm for “The Divide,” follows Khédidja, who minds a wealthy Parisian family’s children for a summer in Corsica. She brings along her own two...

Nick Cannon is sharing an update on his friend, Jamie Foxx, amid his recent hospitalization.

Et’s Kevin Frazier spoke to Cannon over the weekend about his new radio show, “The Daily Cannon”, premiering Monday on Amp, and some of the hot topics he’ll be covering, when the subject of Foxx was broached.

“Man, I’m praying,” Cannon said when asked how the 55-year-old actor was doing. “You see, I posted on Instagram. I literally have been saying prayers out loud. Words of affirmation for my big brother.”

He continued, “I know he’s doing so much better because I’m actually about to do something special for him and doing him a favour.”

While Cannon wouldn’t specify what that favor was, he did reveal that it will be “out there soon.”

“I can’t really say what it is, but it’ll be out there soon,” Cannon promised.

Last year, Dave Lombardo joined Testament, replacing fellow legendary thrash drummer Gene Hoglan. This year, Lombardo will not be touring with the veteran metal act, citing his commitments with his other bands.

Lombardo is, of course, the founding drummer of Slayer, but these days he’s manning the kit for multiple acts, including the Original Misfits, Mr. Bungle, Dead Cross, Suicidal Tendencies, Empire State Bastard, and Satanic Planet. Not to mention, he’s set to release his debut solo album, Rites of Percussion, on May 5th.

In 2022, the drummer’s schedule allowed him to embark on an extensive tour with Testament. In 2023, he has a couple of North American tour legs booked with Mr. Bungle (tickets here), a brief run of summer US shows with the Original Misfits (tickets here), and a few dates with Empire State Bastard (his new band featuring members of Biffy Clyro).

The accomplished stickman took...

Jim Durkin, the founding guitarist of thrash metal band Dark Angel, has died at the age of 58. The sad news was shared by his wife Annie on Facebook.

“With a broken and heavy heart, I want to share that the love of my life, my best friend and husband, Jimmy, passed away Wednesday morning,” wrote Annie. “He was not alone as I was with him along with a few close friends until the end. He will be truly missed and no one can ever replace the love I have for him. May he rest in peace. Ever Thine, Ever Mine, Ever Ours … My Immortal Beloved. I will see you again.”

The band also confirmed Durkin’s passing, writing, “We in the Dark Angel family are deeply saddened and crushed today with the news of our brother and founder Jimmy Durkin passing away Wednesday morning. We would like to thank his...

Legendary thrash drummer Dave Lombardo has announced his debut album, Rites of Percussion, arriving May 5th via Ipecac Recordings. The lead single “Journey of the Host” can be streamed below.

The idea for a Lombardo solo album has origins as far back as 1998, when it was suggested by the drummer’s current Mr. Bungle bandmate Mike Patton.

“He introduced me to Tito Puente’s Top Percussion album,” Lombardo said via a press release. “I was already familiar with Tito and was a bit shocked that Patton was so musically diverse, and that he surrounded himself with musicians of the same mindset. That inspired me. I have had ideas that I’ve recorded on cassette over the years, but Patton kept insisting that I had to do a ‘drum album.’ So, the idea behind the album is years in the making. I just had to find the right time—for me—to do it.