‘A Desert' Review: Motel Hell
It's in the nature of stories like this to offer its hero the reprieve of a disruption, and it arrives, violently, in the form of Renny (Zachary Ray Sherman), a lanky, keyed-up stranger Alex befriends at a roadside motel. Renny is clearly bad news, and for about 40 minutes, it seems obvious where 'A Desert' is going. But Ekrman's screenplay is slyly intelligent, and in the second act the film takes a sharp turn that is genuinely shocking.
Erkman's use of stark lighting — high beams cutting through the desert night — evokes 'Lost Highway,' and there's some 'Mulholland Drive' in the underworld theatrics detailed on the story's periphery. Lynch is a difficult influence to wield responsibly, yet Erkman keeps it largely under control: 'A Desert,' if at times too ambitious, certainly feels distinct.
It's a strange film, but it works, and feels grounded, because of its ensemble cast. Both Lennox and Sarah Lind, as Alex's wife, Sam, are serious and convincing, and the musician David Yow, as an oddball private detective following in Alex's wake, gives the movie some idiosyncratic flair. But the highlight is Sherman, whose menacing Renny is truly creepy and, when he really goes berserk, electrifying.
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Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Days of Our Lives Recap: Rafe Gives Cat a DiMera Family History Lesson
Days of Our Lives Recap: Rafe Gives Cat a DiMera Family History Lesson originally appeared on Daytime Confidential. On today's Days of Our Lives recap: Steve and Kayla's Digs: The couple are needing pizza dough when Kayla realizes something is off. Steve says he's distracted by this case as it could impact Stephanie. He can't tell her the specifics (Apparently, Steve understands the meaning of confidentiality) but says he stumbled across something disturbing in his investigation of the Kirakis family. He says Alex was arrested a few years before he showed up in Salem. All he knows is Alex pled guilty. He spoke with Justin who didn't seem to concerned with his discovery. Steve hated to hear it because it reminded him of a man Stephanie dated years ago who was bad news (Hmmm, must be who Stephanie was referring to a few eps back). Kayla believes Steve is referring to Jeremy Horton and he concurs. They remember how Stephanie admitted the black sheep Horton had put his hands on her. Kayla reminds Steve she once fell in love with a very bad but redeemable boy. That being said, Stephanie has not been lucky in love and neither want to upset her current apple cart. Steve agrees to keep an eye on Alex and keep their daughter out of it. Stephanie's Apartment: Stephanie arrives home to find a shirtless Alex cooking Greek tacos. She finds the surprise quite lovely. He smacks her backside with a wooden spoon and says the surprises are just beginning. Alex shows her the galley of her manuscript which is at the printers and now has a release date. She notices the passage she asked to be taken out is still there. Alex is pissed as he told Kate to remove the passage and forgot to circle back. He calls to speak with Kate and promises his kissing cousin beloved to make it right. He hangs up and tells Stephanie the manuscript already went to print and the passage can't be deleted without costing the company a fortune. He's willing to do it and she thanks him for his efforts. Stephanie says that passage had some history and says it was inspired by her and an ex-boyfriend. Alex can't imagine there's a huge chance her ex will pick up the erotic romance novel. Horton Square: Rafe and little T run into Cat. He thanks her for everything she did for Arianna Grace and Holly. Just then, Chad arrives on the scene. He had no clue Rafe and Cat knew each other and she explains they've crossed paths a few times. Cat thanks Chad for picking up Felicity the other day. They exchange a few more words and Chad exits. She thinks it was a close call because they need to keep their ISA/FBI identities under wraps. They agree to meet up later to discuss business. University Hospital – Lobby: Sarah runs into Xander and Victoria. He says their daughter has been quite vocal about seeing mommy and he thought he would bring her back a day early. Sarah wonders if Xander has an ulterior motive for his kindness. Xander pushes back and Sarah says she's confused as she thought the nanny was going to do the handoffs so they didn't have to see each other. Xander decides to leave but Sarah stops him and apologizes, saying she's under a lot of pressure (referencing Sophia's case without giving away any identifying information). They chat a bit more when Sarah says she still loves Xander and he says he feels the same. Sarah makes mention of their separation and it's clear neither wants to move forward but neither are willing to admit it. With that, Xander pulls out the legal documents for their separation. She sees he has signed everything and does the same (The longing looks between these two just kill me). DiMera Mansion – Living Room: Susan freaks out because she feels Stefano's presence in the house. She declares Stefano DiMera is alive! EJ tries to calm her mother down but she continues to say she feels Stefano's presence in her bones. EJ is confused since his father has been dead for almost a decade. Susan explains she is now a medium and gets different vibes. EJ is surprised and Susan says she is still in training as a medium. EJ decides he needs a drink and downs his brown liquor. Susan looks back at Stefano's portrait and says she does not like what she's feeling one bit. Just then, Chad arrives and greets Susan. She immediately tells Chad his father is very much alive and wants the brothers DiMera to do something about it. With that, Susan excuses her self to align her chakras. As Susan wanders around, EJ thanks Chad for testifying in such a supportive way earlier today. He invites Chad to stay for dinner but he needs to get to the pharmacy at the hospital. He complains about the shorter hours and EJ says they had to cut them to save money. With that, he exits as Susan continues her odd behavior. Rafe's FBI Office: Cat says since John died Marlena has been out which has kept her out of the hospital. They chat a bit about the DiMeras Cat has run into and asks about Tony. Rafe says he is a good one unlike his brother Andre. Cat recognizes the name as someone Abigail killed. Rafe says she wasn't in her right mind at the time. He goes on to say there are many MIA DiMeras, including: Stefan, Megan and Dimitri (Lest we not forget Peter Blake!). Cat asks about Stefano and wonders, based on his history, if he's really dead. Rafe understands her concerns but says Stefano would be older than God at this point. That being said, Cat should never count anything out from happening in Salem, especially where the DiMeras are concerned. Before Cat exits, Rafe says Stefano was called the phoenix because he always found a way to rise from the ashes. University Hospital – Lobby: Cat and Chad run into each other. She lies to him about her business at the hospital and then makes small talk. Days of Our Lives Recap: Stefano's Presence Overwhelms Susan Endings Susan wants to take one of her medium courses as EJ says he needs to exit. Just then, Susan gets another weird feeling from Stefano's portrait. Alex says Kate is asking about future books from Stephanie. She says it's way too soon but has a few irons in the fire. They move on to chatting about the sexy time they will enjoy later in the evening. Steve and Kayla's pizzas are getting cold whilst they are heating up the sofa. Chad and Cat head into the elevator together when it suddenly stalls and they realize they are stuck. Sarah dotes over Victoria as Xander awaits the elevator. Keep checking back for the latest Days of Our Lives recaps! This story was originally reported by Daytime Confidential on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Couple Receives a Rare Prenatal Diagnosis for Unborn Baby. Their Response Goes Viral (Exclusive)
In the midst of heartbreak, Stephanie and Alex found quiet joy in a gender revealNEED TO KNOW Stephanie and Alex were eagerly preparing for parenthood when their prenatal test revealed unexpected news They chose to move forward with a private gender reveal to celebrate their daughter, Isla A video of the moment quickly went viral, connecting them with a powerful community of supportStephanie never imagined cutting into a simple gender reveal cake would become one of the most emotional moments of her life. She also never expected the video of that moment to resonate with millions online. In a soft, picnic-style TikTok shared with her followers, Stephanie and her husband Alex sit together in a park, holding their breath as they slice into a cake. A pink center reveals they're having a girl, and the caption tells a much deeper story. 'We love you so much baby girl and we're here to celebrate every moment of your life no matter how long we get with you,' Stephanie wrote. Their unborn daughter, Isla, had recently been diagnosed with Trisomy 13 — a rare chromosomal disorder that is typically life-limiting. But for Stephanie and Alex, the diagnosis changed everything except their love for their daughter. 'Part of my grieving process has been allowing myself to still celebrate and do all the 'normal' pregnancy things regardless of her diagnosis,' Stephanie tells PEOPLE. 'This little moment brought us so much joy.' Stephanie and Alex are both originally from Phoenix, Arizona, where they met as high school students. 'We were just babies,' Stephanie says with a smile. 'We've been married for seven years now.' After years of moving across the country and even living abroad due to Alex's military career, the couple finally settled in Colorado Springs. It was there that they decided to try for a baby. 'We had been trying for over a year,' Stephanie says. 'We also had a miscarriage, so when we found out we were expecting again, we were over the moon.' They were visiting family in Arizona when they saw the positive test. 'It was really special to be able to tell them in person,' Stephanie says. 'She was very wanted from the very beginning.' A few weeks later, they decided to take a noninvasive prenatal test. At first, they were just excited to find out the baby's gender. But the test came back flagged as high risk for Trisomy 13. 'It's a chromosome disorder,' Alex explains to PEOPLE. 'She has an extra 13th chromosome, and it comes with a lot of complications.' 'Usually it's life-limiting,' Stephanie adds. 'She could pass at any point in the pregnancy or shortly after birth.' The weeks between that first result and the final diagnosis were some of the hardest. 'I took the test at 12 weeks and we got the initial results at 13,' Stephanie says. 'But I couldn't have further testing done until 16 weeks, and we didn't get the full diagnosis until about 18.' During that time, the couple leaned on each other in ways they hadn't before. 'We rely on our faith a lot,' Stephanie says. 'We've been praying together, and we've just been taking it day by day.' Alex agrees. 'Our faith is our number one priority,' he says. 'And then it's each other. We've been trying to put each other first through everything.' Stephanie says the emotional swings come daily. Some days are quiet. Others are filled with tears. 'There's new emotions every single day,' she says. 'But I'm really thankful that we have each other to lean on.' Their families have also been a vital part of their support system. 'Both sides of the family have been wonderful,' Stephanie says. 'Even friends and people online have reached out — I've gotten so many messages from people sharing similar stories.' Stephanie had no idea the response on TikTok would be so overwhelming. 'It's actually crazy,' she says. 'So many people have reached out saying they're praying for us, or for Isla. It's really special.' Deciding to do the gender reveal wasn't easy. For a while, Stephanie says she didn't know if she could allow herself to celebrate at all. 'When we found out there was a possibility something was wrong, it felt like everything had been taken away,' she says. 'All of our hopes and dreams came crashing down.' But after talking together and taking time to process, they chose to move forward with the moment anyway. 'We weren't sure what the outcome would be, but we knew we wanted to love her no matter what,' she says. 'I'm so glad we did it.' For Alex, the reveal was bittersweet. 'In my head, I was still in denial,' he says. 'I thought everything would be fine. I was just praying constantly.' He remembers the moment clearly. 'I was happy, honestly,' he says. 'It was emotional, but I was still just really happy to find out we were having a girl.' That moment — cutting into a cake on a quiet day in their backyard — helped reframe the rest of the pregnancy. 'It kicked off that mindset for me,' Stephanie says. 'I had waited so long for this baby. I couldn't imagine just being sad the whole time.' She started looking for small ways to celebrate Isla's life, even in the uncertainty. 'I decorated a corner of the nursery,' she says. 'It's not the full room, but it's a special little spot where I can keep her things.' She also picked out books to read to Isla and bought a journal to write daily letters. 'I pray over her every day,' Stephanie says. 'Even going to the movies and feeling her kick when eating popcorn. I try to be intentional with every moment.' 'I'll probably have more time with her in my belly than we do after she arrives,' she says quietly. 'So I want to make the little moments count.' The reaction online to their story has been one of compassion and connection. One comment, in particular, stayed with Alex. 'A woman messaged Stephanie and said she didn't know she could still celebrate her child after a diagnosis like this,' he says. 'She said seeing us made her wish she had done that too.' It was a reminder of why sharing matters. 'We hope we can inspire people to do the same,' Stephanie says. 'To celebrate, regardless of the diagnosis.' The message of how joy and grief can exist at the same time is one Stephanie wants other parents to hear. 'I want them to know they're not alone,' she says. 'Getting a diagnosis like this can feel incredibly isolating.' When she was first looking for stories like hers, Stephanie struggled to find many. 'Trisomy 13 is so rare,' she says. 'But the few families I found helped me feel a little less alone. I hope we can do the same for someone else.' She also hopes more people understand that continuing a pregnancy like theirs is possible in some cases and can be healing for some families. 'From the start, we knew we wanted to keep her,' Stephanie says. 'We had prayed for her for so long.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The couple was clear that they didn't want to be the ones to decide how long Isla's life would be. 'We just want to love her and carry her for as long as we can,' Stephanie says. 'Even though it's really hard.' They recognize that not every family has the same choice. 'To each their own,' she adds. 'This is just what we felt the Lord was calling us to do.' Alex nods. 'If we get to meet her, even just for a short time, it's going to be a blessing,' he says. Stephanie agrees. 'We're really looking forward to meeting her,' she says. 'Even if it's just for a moment.' Their story continues to reach people across social media, and Stephanie hopes it will always be a reminder of faith, love, and holding onto joy wherever it can be found. 'The Lord is close to the brokenhearted,' she says. 'He's been the one walking us through this.' Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Cosmopolitan
3 days ago
- Cosmopolitan
There's an occasion dress trend for everyone – 5 styles perfect for wedding guests, summer parties and more
I don't mean to brag, but this summer I have been booked and busy. From weddings to graduations, christenings and birthday parties, my event calendar has never been so full. Nice in theory, but I must admit it has tested me sartorially with each weekend throwing up the same wardrobe dilemma: what to wear? Buying a new dress for each occasion is out of the question. Not only would it send me (further) into my overdraft, in an era of Vinted and Vestiare, it's the furthest thing from chic. Yep, in case you missed the memo, outfit repeating is not only accepted, but encouraged. Especially when the guest list differs for each event. All you need is two or three standout styles, and you're set for the summer season. Luckily, the occasion dress trends in SS25 more than deliver. From the most popular prints to the only colour worth investing in, we've rounded up the five biggest occasion dress trends that will guarantee you the title of best dressed guest. You don't need us to tell you polka dots have been the print of the season when it comes to occasion wear. Coming in a range of different spotted colourways – all of which are chic AF – it's a great option for those who usually stick to neutrals to feel like they're making an effort for the event, without stepping too far outside of their comfort zone. Every year, there is a standout bridesmaid dress colour. Previously, it has been sage green. In 2025, that colour is butter yellow. Unsurprisingly so, given the sherbert shade's popularity over the summer season. Working just as well for summer parties and any other occasion on your social calendar, this sunshine hue is sure to bring a sense of cheeriness to proceedings – and what's more summery than that? Okay, so we've covered both the print and colour of the season, which brings us nicely to the stand-out silhouette. For summer 2025, it's all about the drop waist dress. Despite initial doubts, this is actually a universally flattering style for every body. Plus, it comes in an array of colourways, prints and finishes so there really is a drop waist dress for everyone. No matter what the It colour of the szn is, fashion's love affair with black is never-ending. Even in summer. Yep, we're throwing out the style rule book and wearing black summer dresses and even black occasion wear dresses too, because yes, once and for all, you CAN wear black to a wedding! A little bit boho, a little bit grunge, and a lot inspired by the underwear-as-outerwear trend, the nightie dress is big news this summer. The key to making the look work for more formal occasions is to stick to lace-trimmed camisole dresses in luxe fabrics like satin and silk. Style with barely-there heeled sandals and delicate jewellery and you're good to go, whatever the event – summer date night, wedding guest dress, you name it. Follow Alex on Instagram. Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there's nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she's passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
