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Winona Ryder says those 3 damned words in the ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ trailer
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is almost upon us, and Warner Bros. dropped a new trailer with Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega and Catherine O’Hara.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is almost upon us, and Warner Bros. dropped a new trailer with Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega and Catherine O’Hara.
KiKi Layne and Thomas Doherty break down their musical inspirations for Dandelion
Actors KiKi Layne and Thomas Doherty discuss their inspirations behind the music in Dandelion.
Actors KiKi Layne and Thomas Doherty discuss their inspirations behind the music in Dandelion.
‘The Daily Show’s Ronny Chieng unpacks the RNC’s strangest moments
It’s been three days of the 2024 Republican National Convention, and ‘The Daily Show’s Ronny Chieng unpacks the strangest moments.
It’s been three days of the 2024 Republican National Convention, and ‘The Daily Show’s Ronny Chieng unpacks the strangest moments.
Seth Meyers takes ‘A Closer Look’ at the RNC’s most awkward moments
From Babydog to “and there goes the teleprompter…” Seth Meyers takes an unhinged ‘Closer Look’ at the RNC’s last three days.
From Babydog to “and there goes the teleprompter…” Seth Meyers takes an unhinged ‘Closer Look’ at the RNC’s last three days.
Stephen Colbert gets through ‘borrifying’ RNC night 3 with bonafide whimsy
‘The Late Show’ host Stephen Colbert brought the bubble machine for this Day 3 recap of the 2024 Republican National Convention.
‘The Late Show’ host Stephen Colbert brought the bubble machine for this Day 3 recap of the 2024 Republican National Convention.
NYT Strands hints, answers for July 18
The NYT Strands hints and answers you need to make the most of your puzzling experience.
If you’re reading this, you’re looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: At your fingertips
If you’re reading this, you can touch them right now. Seriously. You might be touching them as you read this.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
Today’s theme refers to keys on a keyboard.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?
Today’s NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer today:
Today’s spangram is keyboard.
NYT Strands word list for July 18
Shift
Space
Enter
Return
Escape
Delete
Keyboard
Control
Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you’re already playing – on Mashable’s Games page.
Get one streaming subscription to rule them all for just $30 — for life
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BitMar has over 200,000 on-demand channels and lets you explore thousands of titles from different genres and languages, so there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re a movie buff, a TV series binge-watcher, or a music enthusiast, BitMar has got you covered. Plus, with live channels, you can stay updated with news, sports, and events in real time.
Not only does BitMar consolidate all your favorite streaming services into one convenient platform, but it also offers a user-friendly experience that can be used by kids and adults alike. No more switching apps or searching endlessly for what you want to watch.
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‘Oddity’s Damian McCarthy reveals the origins of his Wooden Man
We talk to “Oddity” writer/director Damian McCarthy about the Wooden Man at the heart of his new horror. Interview.
There is something special sitting at the heart of Oddity. In a swirl of horror subgenres, this Irish gem offers murder, vengeance, folklore, and more. But at its core is a creepy collectible known as the Wooden Man.
“It starts with the object,” writer/director Damian McCarthy told Mashable in a Zoom interview, when asked about his inspiration point for Oddity. “I remember reading about Guillermo del Toro years ago, talking about his writing process. He said he really always started with a really strong image, and then almost builds out the story around that.” This device has served the Irish filmmaker well; his previous feature, the supremely spooky Caveat, involved a toy bunny with human eyes. For his follow-up, McCarthy focused on a “mishmash of stuff” including a haunted desk bell, an abandoned glass eye, and the Wooden Man.
In a unique opportunity, this reporter sat in Mashable’s New York studio with the Wooden Man at my side during our interview.
Credit: Mashable
Look for our video to get a sense of this experience — and read on for more about Oddity‘s sure-to-be iconic creature.
The Wooden Man was born from legend.
Credit: Colm Hogan / IFC Films / Shudder
In Oddity, the Wooden Man is presented as a peculiar present from a blind medium named Darcy (Carolyn Bracken) to her widowed brother-in-law Ted (Gwilym Lee) on the one-year anniversary of her beloved sister’s murder. A full-sized carving in the shape of a screaming naked man, the Wooden Man is an instantly arresting figure, creeping out Ted’s new girlfriend Yana (Caroline Menton) — though that doesn’t stop Yana from probing his open maw with her fingers and exploring the holes drilled in the back of his skull.
Oddity as a whole was made up of elements McCarthy “cherry-picked from horror tropes.” The Wooden Man was inspired by Jewish folklore of the golem, a large clay figure who can be brought to life through rituals to do the bidding of its creator. McCarthy was also drawn to horror media where dolls come to life, citing The Twilight Zone, Child’s Play, and Annabelle. But the most influential movie may have been The Wicker Man.
“The Wicker Man is a good one,” McCarthy said of the 1973 folk horror classic, “Because it’s like, what would be your tool of revenge — or your weapon — be if you were a witch? What folklore are you using?” He was also drawn to how the film refuses to spell out its logic to the audience, a move he employs in Oddity. “There’s stuff in there that’s never really explained. Like, what are these rituals? Or how does this work? It’s a little bit like with the holes in the back of [The Wooden Man’s] head.” While items will be plucked out from the wooden golem, their meaning remains mysterious. “It’s just, it hints at something else that’s going on. You know, there’s some ritual or something has been performed off camera in the last week… It’s folklore. And it’s witches. None of it needs to be explained [as long as you] create the sense that somebody knows how this stuff works.”
The Wooden Man was sculpted over Zoom.
Credit: Colm Hogan / IFC Films / Shudder
Referencing the video conferencing we were doing for the interview, McCarthy noted his collaboration with art director Paul McDonnell — credited as Oddity‘s Wooden Man designer — happened “just like this.”
McCarthy explained, “We didn’t have much time.” So he sent some drawings to McDonnell for reference. From there, McDonnell sculpted the dream of the Wooden Man into clay, with McCarthy giving notes over a live feed.
“He was sculpting on camera, and it was me going, ‘Okay, cut off his nose. Okay, put his nose back on.'” McCarthy said of the process, noting that because of the time crunch, “it was really done in a one-take kind of design, which is crazy when I think about it for how well it turned out. But that’s really down to Paul’s talent.”
Key to this creature’s fearful effect is his countenance, frozen in a silent scream. “Having him screaming was always going to be a big [priority],” McCarthy said, noting the pose tied to the film’s eerie sound design and the possibilities this sculpt would offer. “We did spend the most time on, that day, how to get that frozen scream right. Because the way he looks, it just meant when we sat down to sound-design it, we were just wide open for possibilities in terms of how he can sound and what’s coming out of him. It was a little bit rushed. But it all worked out great.”
Also crucial to the Wooden Man’s look was a sense of texture. “We never wanted to make him smooth, or look like [he had] been sanded in any way,” McCarthy said, “When I was just first trying to get my head around what he looked like, it was going to be more like something like the Green Knight or, you know, the Ents in The Lord of the Rings, covered in ivy and bark.”
While the final look offered more simplicity and less greenery, McCarthy found this reflected the creature’s connection to Darcy, whose supernatural sensitivity is tied to touching cursed objects. “It was all about the texture of him,” he said, later noting of the figure sitting next to this reporter, “Look at that on his chest; he’s all knots and things, like this is timber.”
In fact, his nipples are made of knots in the fake wood grain.
The Wooden Man demands respect.
Credit: Colm Hogan / IFC Films / Shudder
When the big day came to bring the Wooden Man on set, McCarthy knew he had no reason to worry. Rushed or not, his creature was here, whole, and horrific. Recalling that moment the Wooden Man arrived, he said, “This is going to work because he does look like a definite presence in the room. Wherever I shot from, he was great.”
Cast and crew shared McCarthy’s awe, drawn to touch the Wooden Man — though never roughly. “He’s quite cool to the touch,” the writer/director noted.
Under our studio lights, I touched the skin of the creature as McCarthy looked on from the Zoom call, and I can confirm. His skin is cool to the touch, even in a hot room.
As the film toured festivals, fans also had the chance to get up close and personal with the Wooden Man, as this perturbing prop would be set up for photo ops. “People were very respectful of it and taking pictures with it, but never, you know, wrapping it in a headlock or anything,” McCarthy shared.
Could the Wooden Man return?
Credit: Colm Hogan / IFC Films / Shudder
Fans of Caveat thrilled to see its creepy rabbit featured on the shelves in Darcy’s oddity shop. So, does that mean the Wooden Man might pop up in another McCarthy movie? “I don’t have any plans for it at the moment,” McCarthy confessed. But he went on to note another Oddity character who might reappear down the road.
Darcy and her oddity shop could inspire other tales of terror, full as it is of intriguing tchotchkes. “She’s quite an interesting character. Could she have popped up for a scene if you were making another horror film where a guy needed something — a haunted object in his house that needed appraising? That, for me, [would] be kind of fun.”
Don’t expect a formal McCarthy Cinematic Universe.
Credit: Colm Hogan / IFC Films / Shudder
As noted in my review of Oddity, McCarthy uses recurring imagery, cast members, or character names cross over from one film to another. For example, Oddity includes a character named Olin (Tadhg Murphy) who has a glass eye, while a past short film of McCarthy’s is called “How Olin Lost His Eye.” This could-be origin doesn’t match the story in the feature film — but don’t call it a retcon.
“It’s all stuff that interests me,” McCarthy explained.
He went on to express a frustration with Hollywood’s dedication to churning out elaborate cinematic universes. “I’m a bit tired of the whole universes and everything connecting,” he said, adding, “I think it’s just been overdone.” He models his self-references to those in Quentin Tarantino’s movies.
“Some of his films had these very loose connections with a surname, like the Vega brothers from Pulp Fiction to Reservoir Dogs. But it’s never made a big deal of it. I like that kind of thing. Are they connected in some way? Are they the same? Could they possibly be in the same world? I think that [ambiguity] is more fun than going, ‘This is definitely a callback to [something else]’ or ‘This is setting up the next thing.’ I find it more interesting. It’s like, yeah, they’re connected because they’re written by the same person.”
I suggested these commonalities are less shared canon and more fingerprints of the same imagination. “That’s a really good way putting it,” McCarthy said, concluding later, “I’d probably be slow to make direct sequels or prequels or anything like that. But the little connections, the fingerprints of imagination seems a nice idea.”
Oddity opens in theaters July 19.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
NYT’s The Mini crossword answers for July 18
Answers to each clue for the July 18, 2024 edition of NYT’s The Mini crossword puzzle.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times‘ revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player’s flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Thursday, July 18, 2024:
Across
“Well, that’s odd …”
The answer is huh.
What a D.J. is in charge of
The answer is music.
___ acid (protein building block)
The answer is amino.
Total stranger, in slang
The answer is rando.
Beef variety for a hamburger
The answer is angus.
Down
Word with nature or pretzel
The answer is human.
Taking advantage of
The answer is using.
Like the deities Shiva and Ganesha
The answer is Hindu.
Rooney of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”
The answer is Mara.
Sounds from a dovecote
The answer is coos.
Featured Video For You
The best Prime Day gaming deals you can still shop, from consoles to accessories and more
We’ve rounded up a massive list of the best Amazon Prime Day gaming deals on consoles, accessories, and popular titles.
UPDATE: Jul. 18, 2024, 3:00 a.m. EDT This story is in the process of being updated with the deals you can still shop now that the sale has ended.
‘Final Fantasy XVI’
(save $40)
Xbox Series S + 2TB Seagate Expansion Card Bundle
(save $130)
Nintendo Switch OLED: Mario Red Edition
(save $8.93)
2024 has already been an amazing year for video games. We would maybe even say too good, and by that we mean there’s simply too much to play, and our backlogs are looking downright scary (and expensive). Luckily, Amazon’s huge summer Prime Day sale is upon us, which is always a perfect time to pick up all the new releases you missed out on at a much lower price. You’ll still have to find the time to play them, though.
Amazon adds 3 big free Prime Day video games, including ‘Suicide Squad.’ How to claim them.
Dodge the FOMO and start stocking up on games, consoles, accessories, and more while Prime Day is still live through Wednesday, July 17. Below, we’ve gathered the best deals we could find on Amazon (and beyond) — take a look and stay tuned as we continue to update the list with fresh picks.
Note: All newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price. Deals with a strikeout were either sold out or expired at the time of writing.
Best PlayStation deal
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Why we like it
Read Mashable’s full review of Final Fantasy XVI.
Final Fantasy XVI is unlike any FF game that came before it, and honestly, we think that’s a good thing. That’s because Final Fantasy XVI is a truly fantastic character action game that combines engaging combat, an intriguing story, as well as the visual spectacle we’ve come to expect from the series to make an incredibly worthwhile adventure for all PS5 owners to experience. On Prime Day, you can save $20 on a physical copy of the game for PlayStation 5 — that’s its lowest price to date.
PlayStation games
Alone in the Dark — $39.99 $59.99 (save $20)
Assassin’s Creed Mirage — $23.70 $49.99 (save $26.29) ✨
Demon’s Souls — $29.99 $69.99 (save $40) ✨
Elden Ring — $45.99 $59.99 (save $14)
Horizon Forbidden West — $37.35 $59.99 (save $22.64) ✨
The Last of Us Part I — $39.99 $69.99 (save $39) ✨
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth — $34.99 $69.99 (save $35)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 — $63.49 $69.99 (save $6.50) ✨
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1 — $32.47 $39.99 (save $7.52)
Persona 3 Reload — $34.99 $69.99 (save $35)
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown — $29.98 $49.99 (save $20.01)
Resident Evil 4 — $39.88 $59.99 (save $20.11)
Returnal — $29.99 $69.99 (save $40) ✨
Sonic Frontiers — $19.99 $59.99 (save $40) 🔥
Stray — $23.49 $29.99 (save $6.50)
Street Fighter 6 — $33.99 $39.88 (save $5.89)
PlayStation hardware
Headsets
Razer BlackShark V2 X — $34.99 $59.99 (save $25) 🔥
Logitech G432 — $36.99 $79.99 (save $43 with Prime) ✨
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 — $49 $59.99 (save $10.99)
Logitech G435 Lightspeed — $40.60 $79.99 (save $39.39 with Prime) ✨
JBL Quantum 400 — $59.95 $99.95 (save $40)
Accessories
PlayStation 5 HD Camera — $41.30 $59.99 (save $18.69)
Best Xbox deal
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Why we like it
The Xbox Series S is awesome, but unfortunately, it comes with less storage space than you’ll probably need. That’s why we think this bundle is a no-brainer — it comes with the 512GB version of the console itself, with the addition of a 2TB Seagate expansion card. That’s a comfortable amount of extra space, and should be extremely helpful as you download all the Xbox Game Pass titles in your backlog. Best Buy is offering the bundle for $130 off its usual price during its Prime Day-rivaling Black Friday in July sale.
Xbox games
Alone in the Dark — $39.99 $59.99 (save $20)
Assassin’s Creed Mirage — $23.70 $49.99 (save $26.29 with Prime) ✨
Elden Ring — $38.99 $59.99 (save $21)
Grand Theft Auto V — $19.93 $39.99 (save $20.06)
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth — $34.99 $69.99 (save $35) 🔥
Marvel’s Midnight Suns Enhanced Edition — $16.99 $29.99 (save $13)
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1 — $19.99 $39.99 (save $20) 🔥
Minecraft — $23.99 $29.99 (save $7)
PowerWash Simulator — $19.49 $24.99 (save $5.50)
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown — $30.30 $49.99 (save $19.69)
Skull and Bones — $53.83 $69.99 (save $16.16) ✨
Sonic Superstars — $17.99 $59.99 (save $42) 🔥
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge — $32.42 $34.99 (save $2.57)
Xbox hardware
Consoles
Xbox Series X — $449.99 $499.99 (save $50)
Controllers
Xbox Core Wireless Gaming Controller — $44 $59.99 (save $15.99) 🔥
Xbox Special Edition Wireless Gaming Controller (Gold Shadow) — $56 $69.99 (save $13.99)
Xbox Elite Series 2 Core — $149.19 $179.99 (save $30.80)
Headsets
Logitech G432 — $36.99 $79.99 (save $43 with Prime) ✨
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 — $49 $59.99 (save $10.99)
JBL Quantum 400 — $59.95 $99.95 (save $40)
More Xbox deals
Subscriptions
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (1 Month) — $14.99 $16.99 (save $2)
Best Nintendo Switch deal
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Why we like it
Read Mashable’s full review of the Nintendo Switch – OLED Model.
If you have any interest in handheld gaming, a Nintendo Switch needs to be part of your repertoire. It’s no doorbuster deal, but the Mario Red edition of the OLED model is $9 off the usual price on Prime Day. The Nintendo Switch OLED is the best Switch yet, with huge updates to the console’s display, storage space, processing power, battery life, and more. If you don’t have a Switch yet, this is the one you should be buying.
Nintendo Switch games
Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection — $33.97 $39.99 (save $6.02)
Biomutant — $29.99 $39.99 (save $10 with on-page coupon) 🔥✨
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1 — $19.99 $39.99 (save $20) 🔥✨
MLB The Show 24 — $29.99 $59.99 (save $30) 🔥
Neon White — $27.19 $39.99 (save $12.80)
Nickelodeon All Star Brawl 2 — $19.99 $29.99 (save $10) 🔥
Octopath Traveler II — $31.99 $59.99 (save $28)
Persona 5 Tactica — $19.93 $59.99 (save $40.06) 🔥✨
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown — $29.98 $49.99 (save $20.01)
Sonic Superstars — $22.99 $59.99 (save $37)
South Park: Snow Day — $25.06 $29.99 (save $4.93) 🔥
Star Wars: Heritage Pack — $39.99 $59.99 (save $20) 🔥✨
Super Mario RPG — $39.75 $59.99 (save $20.24)
Nintendo Switch hardware
Consoles
Nintendo Switch Lite (Timmy & Tommy’s Aloha Edition) + Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bundle — $159 $199.99 (save $40.99)
Controllers and accessories
PowerA Joy Con Comfort Grips for Nintendo Switch — $9.88 $14.99 (save $5.11)
PDP Travel Case — $13.99 $19.99 (save $6) 🔥
PowerA Nintendo Switch Wired Controller — $17.22 $22.99 (save $5.77)
8Bitdo Ultimate C Bluetooth Controller for Nintendo Switch — $27.25 $29.99 (save $2.74)
Hori Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Charge Stand — $29.99 $34.99 (save $5)
Hori Nintendo Switch Split Pad Pro — $42.99 $49.99 (save $7)
PowerA Nano Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch — $48.38 $59.99 (save $11.61)
Memory cards
SanDisk 128GB microSDXC Card — $17.99 $34.99 (save $17)