Latest news with #cautionarytale
Free Malaysia Today
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Weapons' turns missing-children trope into a genre-bending nightmare
'Weapons' shows what horror films can be, other than the usual tropes. (Warner Bros. pic) You've heard stories about children gone missing at the edge of the forest, cautionary tales about witches, stranger danger, and the blackness of the night. The Brothers Grimm's 'Hansel and Gretel' is one classic that comes to mind. Zach Cregger's 'Weapons' takes this premise and gives it his own wicked spin, conjuring a story that will quite instantly engulf audiences with an unnerving sense of dread, painfully (and intentionally) drawn out tension, and a cautionary tale unlike any other. But what might divide cinemagoers is Cregger's injection of dark comedy that brings something fresh and unexpected to a horror film, but at the same time, might annoy horror movie buffs. After all, Cregger's 2022 horror outing 'Barbarian', starring Bill Skarsgård, Georgina Campbell, and Justin Long, was considered a masterpiece. 'Barbarian' brilliantly drew audiences into a false premise before subverting it into a nightmarish episode. So, if you're expecting something similar … get ready. Cregger delivers but not in the way you would expect. In 'Weapons', 17 children go mysteriously missing, each running in a weird manner into the darkness. (Warner Bros. pic) 'Weapons', which runs for 128 minutes, stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Cary Christopher, and Amy Madigan. Instead of tracking a particular character from start to end, Cregger offers multiple storylines and points of view, before turning it on its head and taking audiences on a wild and darkly comic ride. In the small town of Maybrook, a community is shattered when 17 children from the same elementary school class vanish into the night. The disappearances are captured on home security cameras, showing the children running with their arms outstretched. Only one child (Christopher) is left behind. The film's narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, including that of the children's teacher, Justine Gandy (Garner), and a grieving father, Archer Graff (Brolin). As the town succumbs to paranoia and suspicion, they must confront a horrifying and inexplicable mystery that lies at the heart of their seemingly quiet suburb. Both Julia Garner and Josh Brolin give standout performances as a flawed teacher and a grieving father in 'Weapons'. (Warner Bros. pic) The premise of 'Weapons' is simple enough: what happened to the children and why did they disappear? But to get to the answer, Cregger purposefully draws out the narrative that can get frustrating, and when you least expect it, introduces the heart of the horror, and from there, it is a heart-thumping, anxiety-inducing, skin-crawling affair. Cregger skilfully uses quick camera pans, slow zoom ins, and claustrophobic shots to trap both the characters and the audience in a nerve-wracking situation. 'Weapons' also relies on dissonance, abrupt shifts, and unsettling silences to keep viewers on edge. It uses high-pitched violins, pulsing bass, and escalating tempo to evoke a fight-or-flight response. Nine-year-old Cary Christopher, who plays Alex Lilly – the only child not to go missing – delivers a standout performance. In a film led by adults, he becomes its emotional core, bringing a quiet sadness and raw restraint that grounds the movie's intensity. Cary Christopher brings heart and warmth to a very dark tale. (Warner Bros. pic) Garner and Brolin also shine, anchoring the film's unsettling tone. Garner captures her character's vulnerability and unravelling paranoia with nuance. Brolin, on the other hand, brings simmering rage and quiet despair, adding weight and tension to every scene he's in. As for the dark comedy treatment in the film's third act, well, it is definitely genre-bending. And it is not done tactlessly. It creates a different kind of horror in those moments that can be both unsettling and cathartic. It may not sit well with some but it is nothing but inspired. Ultimately, 'Weapons' is a horror film that avoids clichés and cheap scares, delivering real danger and a fresh perspective. It shifts the terror of the forest into the heart of the city – leaving you rethinking what horror can be. As of press time, 'Weapons' is screening in cinemas nationwide.
Bloomberg
07-08-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Larry Summers Says Trump Policies Are ‘Scarily' Like Argentina's Peron
Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers warned that President Donald Trump's policies risk putting the US on a similar path to that of postwar Argentina, which descended from being a relatively advanced developed nation into an economic laggard. 'Argentina went completely off track because of decisions made in a few years by an elected — through a democracy — leader who pursued autocracy rather than venerating democracy,' Summers said on Bloomberg Television's Wall Street Week with David Westin. 'And that should be a cautionary tale for everyone in the business community and everyone involved in our political process.'
Independent Singapore
11-05-2025
- Independent Singapore
‘Do you check your helper's luggage on her last day of employment?' — Maid's employer seeks advice
SINGAPORE: An employer took to social media to seek advice on a potentially sensitive practice when a domestic helper leaves her role. Posting anonymously on Reddit's Ask Singapore forum on Saturday (May 10), she asked fellow employers, 'Do you check your helper's luggage or belongings on her last day of employment?' The employer explained in her post that her helper would be ending her employment in a few days and that she had been advised to inspect the helper's bags and boxes before departure to prevent possible theft. Hoping to hear from more experienced employers, she asked whether such checks are standard practice, and if anyone had ever regretted not conducting one. 'Better to be safe than regret it when it's too late…' In the comments, the majority of employers urged her to take the advice seriously and inspect her helper's belongings before she leaves. To illustrate the importance of this precaution, one commenter shared a cautionary tale involving her relative. 'My relative's helper baked a cake to bring home, and she forgot to bring it to the airport,' they wrote. '[The helper] went berserk at the airport despite the employer trying to calm her down and buying her cakes from the airport for the helper's relatives. When they went home later and cut the cake, they found the relative's mum's gold necklaces inside.' Another shared, 'Yes, make sure you do. One of my previous maids took almost all my gold and diamonds, and I was only aware of it after she left. And my son-in-law runs a maid agency; he has so many theft stories discovered before the maid leaves. Do it.' Some employers also acknowledged that although it might feel uncomfortable or awkward, taking this step can help prevent potential issues down the line. One said, 'Just check, bah. Better to be safe than regret it when it's too late. It's hard to locate the person once they've gone back home. You can be nice about it, such as saying it's just for security purposes, and then give her a gift or treat her to a meal and thank her for her service after the inspection.' Is it necessary to check a helper's belongings before she leaves? While the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) doesn't require employers to check a migrant domestic worker's (MDW) belongings before she leaves, some employers still choose to do so as a safety measure. That said, MOM's official requirements focus more on ensuring a smooth and fair departure. Employers must make sure the helper has a valid passport, has received all outstanding salary, and has agreed to her travel plans in writing. This includes details like connecting flights and layover times, along with enough money for the journey. Employers also need to buy her an air ticket and cover any transport costs to the nearest international airport to her hometown. Read related: Maid says her employer did not give her Labour Day off, even though her contract includes PH entitlements Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)
Forbes
10-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
From Riches To Rags, Millionaires And Billionaires Who Lost It All
The media loves celebrating the meteoric rise of millionaires and billionaires. It's a feel good story. They highlight their lavish lifestyles and business triumphs. Sometimes it seems that everyone is doing fabulously well, and we're missing out. Not everyone has a happy ever after story. Those who amassed vast fortunes only to lose some or all of their wealth are less frequently told. These tales of financial downfall, driven by poor investments, fraud, economic crises, or personal missteps, offer valuable lessons about the fragility of wealth. Here's the stories of some formerly prominent millionaires and billionaires who lost it all or nearly everything. Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), once a crypto wunderkind, amassed and lost a staggering fortune through his ventures, FTX and Alameda Research. He was ultimately convicted for fraud. His career trajectory, from a high-flying billionaire to a convicted felon with a net worth of zero, offers a cautionary tale of unchecked ambition and flaunting the laws. After graduating from MIT in 2014 with a physics degree, he joined Jane Street Capital, a quantitative trading firm. His salary likely ranged from $100,000 to $300,000 annually. In 2017, he pivoted to crypto, founding Alameda Research. By exploiting Bitcoin arbitrage opportunities, such as price differences between Japan and the U.S., Alameda generated daily profits up to $1 million. The launch of FTX in 2019 catapulted SBF's wealth. As CEO and majority owner, he benefited from FTX's meteoric rise. By 2021, FTX raised $900 million at an $18 billion valuation, followed by $400 million in January 2022 at a $32 billion valuation. SBF's net worth peaked at $26.5 billion in early 2022, with most tied to his FTX stake, FTT tokens, and a 7.6% Robinhood stake ($648 million, later seized). Cumulatively, SBF's career earnings, salary, trading profits, and equity gains, likely exceeded $3 billion in asset value at their peak, though much was illiquid and tied to crypto valuations. The collapse of FTX in November 2022 obliterated SBF's fortune, marking one of history's largest wealth destructions. On November 6, 2022, his net worth stood at $15.6 billion, per Bloomberg's Billionaires Index. By November 11, as FTX filed for bankruptcy amid a customer withdrawal frenzy, it plummeted to zero, per CNN. Bloomberg described this as 'one of history's greatest-ever destructions of wealth.' SBF was convicted of fraud and related crimes in November 2023 and sentenced to 25 years in prison in March 2024, with an $11 billion forfeiture order. Elizabeth Holmes, once hailed as the youngest self-made female billionaire, built Theranos on the promise of revolutionizing blood testing with a device that could perform hundreds of tests from a single drop of blood. At its peak in 2015, Theranos was valued at $9 billion, and Holmes's 50% stake was worth approximately $4.5 billion. However, investigations by The Wall Street Journal and regulators revealed that Theranos's technology was fraudulent, producing inaccurate results that endangered patients. By 2016, the company collapsed, and Holmes's net worth plummeted to zero. In 2022, she was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 11 years in prison. Her story underscores the risks of overhyping unproven technology and the consequences of deceptive practices. According to a 2021 report by CNBC, Holmes's downfall was a cautionary tale for Silicon Valley, highlighting how unchecked ambition can lead to financial and legal ruin. Vijay Mallya, known as India's 'King of Good Times,' amassed a $1.5 billion fortune as a liquor baron and owner of Kingfisher Airlines. His flamboyant lifestyle, complete with private jets and yachts, masked growing financial troubles. by 2012, Kingfisher Airlines had racked up over $1 billion in debt, and Mallya defaulted on loans from Indian banks. Facing charges of money laundering and fraud, he fled to the UK, where he has been fighting extradition. His assets were seized, and his net worth dwindled. Mallya's case highlights how lavish spending and mismanaged ventures can erode wealth. A 2020 Business Insider report emphasized that Mallya's failure to diversify his investments and reliance on a failing airline were key factors in his financial collapse. Jordan Belfort, immortalized in the film The Wolf of Wall Street, built a multi-million-dollar fortune in the 1990s through his stockbroking firm, Stratton Oakmont. At age 25, he was reportedly earning $250 million annually, indulging in yachts, drugs, and extravagant parties. His wealth vanished when the FBI charged him with securities fraud and money laundering for manipulating stock prices in a 'pump-and-dump' scheme. After serving prison time and paying $100 million in restitution, Belfort was left with little. He later rebuilt a modest fortune through writing and motivational speaking, but his story remains a stark reminder of the consequences of illegal financial practices. Bernie Madoff, infamous for the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history, lost a personal net worth estimated at $823-$826 million before his 2008 downfall. His firm, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, defrauded investors of $64.8 billion, promising consistent returns through fabricated trades. Madoff's wealth, tied to real estate, yachts, and investments, vanished when investors demanded $7 billion in 2008, exposing the scheme, per a 2020 Business Insider report. He was sentenced to 150 years in jail in 2009. Madoff died in prison in 2021.
