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Tatler Asia
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Valuable lessons on security from 7 home invasion movies
2. 'Us' (2019) In Us , Jordan Peele reframes the home invasion not as a random attack, but as a confrontation with buried truths. The intruders are literal copies of the protagonists—people who have been living underground while others enjoyed the surface. By staging the attack in a coastal holiday home, Peele critiques the illusion of retreat and privilege. The Wilsons, like many middle-class families, believe they've earned safety through consumption and distance. Us suggests this comfort comes at a cost—and that what has been repressed, socially or psychologically, will eventually demand its reckoning. 3. 'The Strangers' (2008) Bryan Bertino's The Strangers remains one of the bleakest entries in the home invasion canon because it offers no clear motive, no redemption arc and no heroic escape. A young couple is terrorised in their rural family home simply because, as one of the masked assailants says, 'you were home'. This randomness is what makes the film so disturbing—it strips away any sense of moral cause and effect. It's a rare film that underscores the idea that no matter how careful or secluded you are, violence sometimes arrives without reason, warning or narrative closure. 4. 'Don't Breathe' (2016) Don't Breathe flips the typical home invasion structure by making the intruders the ones who are hunted. A trio of petty thieves break into the house of a blind veteran, believing him defenceless, only to discover he is anything but. The film is a lesson in misjudgment—about underestimating physical disability, overestimating your own control and misreading silence as weakness. It also challenges audience sympathy. As secrets unfold, the line between perpetrator and victim becomes increasingly murky, reminding us that proximity to violence often reveals more about character than circumstance. 5. 'When a Stranger Calls' (1979) This film famously opens with a long sequence involving a babysitter receiving anonymous phone calls that escalate into stalking and, eventually, a violent reveal: the caller is already inside the house. While it evolves into a different kind of psychological thriller, the first act remains a defining moment in the genre. It highlights how easily early warning signs—unsettling behaviour, unexplained sounds, intuition—are dismissed. The lesson here isn't about building better locks; it's about taking unease seriously before it hardens into a threat. The call might be coming from inside the house, but the denial started long before that. 6. 'The Last House on the Left' (1972) Wes Craven's controversial debut confronts the viewer with a deeply uncomfortable truth: revenge is not catharsis. After a pair of teenagers are brutalised by strangers, the attackers unknowingly take refuge in the home of one of the victims' parents. What follows is retaliation, not justice. The violence escalates, but the emotional damage is never resolved—it multiplies. Craven's message is that home invasion doesn't just displace safety; it disrupts ethics. The instinct to protect one's home can curdle into something equally destructive, especially when filtered through grief and rage. 7. 'Fear' (1996) Fear isn't a typical home invasion film—it begins as a romance. Mark Wahlberg's character is introduced as the boyfriend, not the villain, and is initially welcomed into the family. But as possessiveness morphs into obsession, he begins asserting control not just over his girlfriend but over the household itself. The film's climax, involving a siege on the suburban family home, is the logical end to a series of ignored red flags. It's a reminder that danger doesn't always knock; it can sometimes charm its way in. In a culture that equates attention with affection, Fear quietly asks: how do you protect a home from someone you invited in? Across all seven films, home invasion is more than a plot device, but also a reflection of anxieties about wealth, privacy, power and the limits between public threat and private life. Whether through force or psychological manipulation, the home's safety is constantly questioned. The genre lasts because it challenges assumptions that locks protect, love is safe and threats are obvious. In reality, home invasion takes many forms, and the most dangerous often begin with a false sense of security. READ MORE Your safety checklist: Here's what to remember for in-flight emergencies 5 iconic hotels in film: Where architecture becomes the star 8 spine-chilling must-watch Korean movies
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Which ‘Tracker' Characters Are — And Aren't — Returning for Season 3 After Cast Reconfiguration
Tracker is likely going through some cast reconfiguration in season 3, but which fan-favorite characters are returning — and which aren't? Since Tracker premiered in February 2024, viewers have become accustomed to watching their favorite fictional survivalist Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) travel the country to help solve various missing persons cases with help from his team: handler Velma (Abby McEnany), hacker Bobby (Eric Graise) and attorney Reenie (Fiona Rene). Imagine Us' surprise when executive producer Elwood Reid teased onscreen changes. "I do think it's evolving. If I can't evolve those characters — Randy or Reenie or Bobby — they're not just people that just pick up the phone and go, 'OK, here is the answer.' That's when the show is phoning it in," he explained to Us Weekly in May. "The challenge is when you got to learn about them, which I thought was interesting. That's the challenge of the show is not having it fall into a formula." Everything to Know About 'Tracker' Season 3: From Possible Cast Changes to Returning Guest Stars Reid noted that they didn't want Tracker to "fall into complacency.' "The only rule I really have of the show is each week Colter is going to come to a new place and there's going to be a new case. How he gets those answers and what he uses on the team, that's all something that's up for grabs," Reid teased. "Meeting these [local] weird characters is something we're going to try to do more of as the season goes on. Just Colter coming in and interacting with other characters. That's fun to see Justin flex those muscles with really good guest cast members." Keep scrolling to see which Tracker characters are returning for season 3 — and which aren't: There would be no Tracker without Hartley's character, but is there a chance Colter could die later in the series? "I don't want our audience to forget that this man is mortal, he's not a superhero. He can die!" Hartley told The Hollywood Reporter in April. "The things he is doing are very, very dangerous." Reid elaborated to Us one month later, saying, "There's the physical element of it. But then there's also — which I think we've seen a few times during the season — there's the emotional thing that gets to him. I continue to remind ourselves, the writers, that he's human, he can die and he can get hurt." He continued: "Justin is always pitching that we see an episode where Colter is almost dead in the middle of the show and we go back. He's got all kinds of crazy ideas, but I think that's what makes the show fun. The minute he becomes like Superman, he is out. That's not what Justin wants to play — and I don't think that that's what the character is." Weigert exited Tracker ahead of season 2 with her character being written off in the premiere. At the time, Teddi's wife mentioned that they needed some distance from each other, and Velma has since been working with Reenie. '[Teddi] is going to be there for a while. She is helping her mom get sorted. I was getting in the way, you might say, and it really wasn't good,' Velma said at the beginning of season 2 in February. 'So I came back. Don't you worry, because I am keeping busy.' While Colter's team will return, it remains unclear what the new normal will look like in season 3. 'I don't want the show to be 'phone a friend' every week,' Reid told Us. 'I think that gets old, and Justin is always challenging me on that. He's like, 'Do we need to do this? Do I need to call Bobby all the time? Can I do this?' ... You don't [always] see Reenie. He talks to Velma for two seconds. He may talk to Bobby for one phone call. The show works because you are over Justin's shoulder." Most Iconic Guest Stars From Justin Hartley's 'Tracker' Series: Sofia Pernas, Jensen Ackles and More Graise was noticeably absent from six episodes during season 2, which is why his cousin Randy (Chris Lee) was brought in to help Colter. The decision caused backlash from viewers who grew used to seeing Graise on their screen. "It's one of those things where actor availability is always an issue. There have been shows where people don't even notice [if a character is missing]," Reid teased to Us. "One of the challenges in season 3 is going to be reconfiguring the team and figuring out what that team looks like." According to Reid, season 3 will keep following Reenie's professional issues after branching out on her own. Rene also spoke to Us in November 2024 about what she would like to see for Reenie going forward. "Obviously we're building on Colter's relationships and what he's able to do. We are getting to see more of him. But then for Reenie, we're seeing her identity without Colter," she teased to Us. "Before it was like, 'Who is she? What was her relationship to him? Who was she alongside him? How could she help him?' And even though all those things are still true, now we're seeing Reenie. Who is she and what's her life and what's she interested in and where is she in her life?" "Randy came in and also gave something to the show that was different. There was a real warmth and fun when he came in. It was something that I think we were missing a little bit too in some episodes. He just was immediately fun when he came in," Reid told Us in May. "With those dynamics — and in playing with this team dynamics — that's all stuff we're going to continue to play with in season 3 as the show evolves." Reid continued: "We're going to bring back some characters from seasons 1 and 2 — we're going to see them more and more. There's been some fun characters that I think are fun to see in Colter's world [season to season]." If Hartley has his way — and he will as an executive producer on Tracker — his wife, Sofia Pernas, will reprise her role as Billie. The fictional character has made numerous appearances in the first two scenes as Colter and Billie grow closer. 'She's wonderful. I mean, if I had my choice, I'd spend every minute with her," Hartley gushed to Us in July 2024. "What's really cool is when you meet someone that means so much to you, that you're so proud to be with and so proud of, and just such a fan of, and to get to see her work, because she's such a talented actor. She elevates scenes, and so it makes my job easier, actually. But yeah, it's just wonderful to work with her.' Breaking Down Justin Hartley's Possible Love Interests on 'Tracker': From Fiona Rene to Sofia Pernas During an exclusive interview with Us, Melissa Roxburgh revealed whether she would return to CBS in a guest capacity despite starring in NBC's The Hunting Party. "I mean, I hope so. I had so much fun on that show," Roxburgh, who plays Harley's onscreen sister, shared in February before praising her scene partner for creating such a fun set. "Justin is great. It's such a lovely and warm set [because] Justin does such a good job of making it that way." She continued. "So I'd love to go back. Justin is a friend, and it's nice to play with your friends and I love the show, so we'll see." The goal isn't just to bring Jensen Ackles back on Tracker. During an interview with Us, Reid didn't rule out expanding the universe with a spinoff. "I'm going to try to steal Jensen," he quipped to Us. "We worked on another show of mine before, so I'm going to try to kidnap him back from The Boys [and Countdown]." Despite Colter finding out that his mother was involved in his dad's death, the mystery is just getting started. "That story will be far more complicated than you're led to believe at the end of the season," Reid shared with Us in May. "His brother Russell has some of the answers to that question. His sister Dory might have some pieces of that. His childhood friend Lizzy [Jennifer Morrison] might have some pieces of that too."
New York Post
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Pedro Pascal makes his big return to ‘The Last of Us' after shocking death
It wasn't the last of Joel. Pedro Pascal returns to 'The Last of Us' in the promo for the sixth episode, airing this Sunday. This comes after the second episode of Season 2 brutally murdered his character, Joel. Advertisement It's in line with what series co-creator Craig Mazin told The Post, as he said that even though Joel died, Joel and Ellie 'spend quite a bit of time together in this season…more than people might think.' He's not coming back as a zombie or a ghost – the episode will show flashbacks of his time with Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in between Seasons 1 and 2. 6 Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal attend HBO's 'The Last of Us' Season Two Los Angeles Premiere at TCL Chinese Theater on March 24, 2025 in Hollywood, California. FilmMagic for HBO Advertisement 6 Pedro Pascal in 'The Last of Us' Season 2. Liane Hentscher/HBO Based on a popular video game of the same name, 'The Last of Us' is set in a dystopian future where society has broken down, there are zombie-like creatures, and gruff smuggler Joel has formed a pseudo father/daughter relationship with teen girl Ellie. In the second episode of Season 2, Joel was killed by the new Season 2 character, Abby (Kaitlyn Dever). He had previously killed Abby's father during his efforts to protect Ellie. So, Abby killed Joel as revenge. Advertisement After Joel saved her life, she viciously beat him nearly to death with a golf club and then stabbed him in the neck while Ellie watched, crying. Ironically, since Abby slayed Joel as revenge for him killing her dad, her bloody action pushed Ellie into a similar revenge journey. Ellie has been searching for Abby, intending to kill her to avenge Joel. 6 Pedro Pascal in 'The Last of Us' Season 2. Liane Hentscher/HBO 6 Kaitlyn Dever and Pedro Pascal in 'The Last of Us' Season 2. Liane Hentscher/HBO Advertisement There was a five-year time jump from Season 1 to Season 2, as Ellie was 14 in Season 1 and is now 19. The preview of the sixth episode shows the time in between, when Joel and Ellie were still a family. A scene in the trailer shows the duo walking in the woods holding guns, as he tells her, 'Remember what I taught you.' 6 Pedro Pascal attends the Los Angeles premiere of the HBO original series 'The Last of Us' Season 2 at TCL Chinese Theater on March 24, 2025 in Hollywood, California. Getty Images Mazin exclusively told The Post that Joel's death was similar to when Ned Stark (Sean Bean) got killed on 'Game of Thrones.' 'If you look at 'Game of Thrones,' like everybody, I was so shocked when Ned Stark got his head chopped off. I couldn't believe it,' he said. 'That incident never goes away,' he added. 6 Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in 'The Last of Us.' HBO Advertisement Joel's death was similar to Ned's because Ned's 'character is there, over everything from that first season [of 'Game of Thrones'], all the way to the final moments of the last one – because that informs everything. It changes everyone, and people keep coming back to that story over and over.' 'The Last of Us' airs Sundays (9 p.m.) on HBO and Max.
San Francisco Chronicle
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Ryan Coogler's ‘Sinners' resurrects 2025 box office with record-breaking $63 million
On Easter weekend, ' Sinners ' was enthusiastically embraced by moviegoers, adding to the April resurrection of the 2025 box office. Oakland director Ryan Coogler's powerful allegory of racism in the Jim Crow South disguised as a muscular, sexy vampire film pulled in $63 million globally, including $48 million in North America, in its opening weekend that ended on Sunday, April 20. The amount exceeded expectations and is the most that an original movie — that is, one not based on another source — has earned during its opening weekend in the 2020s. It is the best start for any original film since Jordan Peele's 'Us' opened to $71.1 million in pre-pandemic 2019. 'Sinners' even supplanted the phenomenal hit ' A Minecraft Movie,' which earned $40.5 million domestically in its third week and cruised past the $700 million mark globally, atop the North American box-office. 'As we continue to strive to bring an array of films to moviegoers, we are thrilled to see how Ryan Coogler's original movie Sinners, and a movie based on the fan favorite Minecraft game, have resonated with audiences in such a stellar way,' Warner Bros. Entertainment chairperson Michael De Luca and CEO Pamela Abdy said in a statement. 'Movies have the power to transport us to worlds only seen on the big screen, and Warner Bros. Pictures remains committed to bringing singular in-theater experiences to audiences looking for bold movies, both original and those based on beloved existing properties.' 'Sinners' might have theatrical staying power, too. It has one more week left in IMAX, and the film received an A Cinemascore — the highest audience-approval rating for an original, R-rated horror movie ever — which bodes well for word-of-mouth success. On review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, it currently holds an approval rating of 98% among critics and 97% with audiences. In 'Sinners,' Michael B. Jordan plays a double role as twins who return to their Mississippi hometown wealthy and hoping to open a nightclub, but trouble brews. Hailee Steinfeld and Oakland resident Delroy Lindo co-star. Chronicle contributor Michael Ordoña called the film a 'banger' and said Jordan 'exudes genuine movie-star presence.' ''Sinners' defies convention by taking its time to get to the creepiness and violence. There's genuine care applied to building characters and relationships before sinking its teeth into horror elements,' Ordoña wrote in his Chronicle review of the film. This latest success makes clear that Coogler is a filmmaker who can draw in audiences. His first four films — ' Fruitvale Station ' (2013), ' Creed ' (2015), ' Black Panther ' (2018) and ' Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ' (2022) — all earned multiple times their budgets at the theatrical box office. 'Sinners' is in Bay Area theaters, including at AMC Metreon 16 in San Francisco, one of eight theaters in the country showing it in 70mm IMAX, and the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland, which is one of five theaters screening it in 70MM.
Miami Herald
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Us Weekly's 5 Hot Stories: Kim Kardashian considers full custody, ‘Southern Charm' reunion teaser
According to multiple sources, Kim Kardashian has considered filing for full custody of the four children she shares with ex-husband Kanye West. Before West's recent social media activity raised eyebrows, one insider exclusively told Us Weekly that Kardashian, 44, 'is in a very tough position' when it comes to coparenting, adding that 'the safety of her kids' is the driving force behind the potential decision. A second source told Us that Kardashian is 'worried' that West's behavior could 'create problems' for their children — North, 11, Saint, 8, Chicago, 6, and Psalm, 5. West has sparked concern in the past for sharing antisemitic posts online and more recently caused controversy for releasing a song with Sean 'Diddy' Combs featuring North's vocals. West also shared a screenshot of a text allegedly sent by Kardashian in which she appeared to try to prevent him from releasing the song. Despite the drama, the first insider told Us that Kardashian 'does not want to say anything bad about' West, who is 'very distracted.' Keep scrolling for more of Us' top stories: Bravo fans got their first look at Southern Charm's upcoming season 10 reunion, which showed Austen Kroll claiming he's 'terrified' of costar Craig Conover. In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Gwyneth Paltrow revealed that she has 'a lot of sex' with Timothée Chalamet in their new movie, Marty Supreme. Travis Kelce's mom, Donna Kelce, celebrated via social media after his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, scored several wins at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards. Selling Sunset alum Christine Quinn hinted that there's a lot fans 'really don't know' about what led to her 'dehumanizing' divorce from Christian Richard. Visit sign up to get daily news via email and follow Us on Instagram or Facebook for more news, exclusive interviews and intel, red carpet dispatches and beyond.
