Latest news with #MPI
CNET
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
This Pitch-Perfect '80s Horror Throwback Hits All the Right Notes, and It's Free on Tubi
Tons of movies try to pull off the vibe of classic 1980s horror movies, but it's not as easy as dropping in some neon spandex and sprawling synthesizers. One film that does a fantastic job of capturing the "Me Decade" horror aesthetic is The House of the Devil, and you can stream it for free right now on Tubi. Directed by Ti West, this indie gem doesn't rely on cheap jump scares or flashy effects. Instead, it leans into tension, atmosphere and that slow-building sense of unease that defines the best of retro horror. It's a love letter to the genre that understands what makes it so terrifying in the first place. If you're craving something suspenseful, stylish and soaked in vintage vibes, this one's a must-watch. The movie follows Samantha (Jocelin Donahue), a college student desperate for cash who takes a babysitting job in a creepy old mansion. She soon discovers she's dealing with a much different charge than a child when she arrives on site. As she's left alone for the night, she orders a pizza and cues up a flick on TV, while the dread builds incrementally and the audience settles in for something horrific. The House of the Devil is reminiscent of classic films like Halloween and When a Stranger Calls, but ratcheted up tenfold. This horror flick is gory, grim, and shockingly true to its vintage setting. MPI Movie Group/Screenshot by CNET From the opening credits, The House of the Devil sets the tone with a ridiculously accurate and detailed retro aesthetic. It doesn't just take place in the 1980s -- it feels like it was made then. The grainy film texture, era-appropriate costumes and hair are absolutely perfect. It's set to a curated soundtrack with tracks including The Fixx's One Thing Leads To Another and The Greg Kihn Band's The Break Up Song. The movie doesn't just feel like it's dressing up in '80s tropes, but like it was birthed from that time. The movie was shot on 16mm film, creating its specialized throwback look. It lifts cinematography straight from '80s filmmakers along with a slew of other techniques to evoke classics of the era. Everything, down to the credits, is period accurate, and I appreciated all the attention given to making sure everything matches, down to the cups at the pizza restaurant seen early in the movie. The Ulmans have a secret reason why they hired Sam to watch "Mother." MPI Movie Group/Screenshot by CNET Sam realizes something is amiss when she stumbles upon proof that the family that hired her for the babysitting job isn't the same one in the photos. Realizing she might have been deceived, she attempts a 911 call, but she's already eaten a piece of tainted pizza. She passes out just as she gets a glimpse of what exactly it is she's been hired to "babysit." The movie's path is fraught with grisly moments (just ask Sam's best friend Megan, played by Barbie director Greta Gerwig), with believably gruesome practical effects that unsettle and chill to the bone. The hideous "Mother," who Sam discovers is connected to her original job, is an example of '80s filmmaking that would have made audiences sick to their stomachs. Sam's friend Megan is not pleased at all by the situation at the Ulmans' house. MPI Movie Group/Screenshot by CNET Without spoiling the climax, The House of the Devil maintains a gnawing, upsetting sense of dread throughout its runtime. It isn't afraid to use themes of isolation, the unknown and betrayal to keep you on the edge of your seat, which I appreciated on my first viewing and only grew to love more with each rewatch. As horrific as the story is, I firmly believe that this movie wouldn't have been possible without its commitment to staying true to the era that inspired it. If you're looking for a horror movie that doesn't rely on cheap jump scares or the overwrought parable "sex is bad" with a group of teens being picked off one by one, The House of the Devil is one of the best flicks you could put on your Halloween viewing list. It brings the golden years of '80s horror to life in believable, decadent ways that'll have you squirming in your seat. I'm still unpacking the gagworthy climax, and I bet you will be too.
Winnipeg Free Press
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
On the heels of Project Nova disaster, MPI rate application raises eyebrows
Opinion Is it tough love for bad drivers, or another back-door tax to help pay for Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation's catastrophic, nine-figure technology boondoggle known to the outside world as Project Nova? It's a question that will be difficult to answer for drivers and other informed observers even after studying MPI's latest rate application to the Public Utilities Board, which was made public this week. On the surface, it all seems so reasonable: a 2.07 per cent hike to basic insurance which, if approved, would kick in April 1, 2026, and add roughly $21 a year to the average private vehicle Autopac policy. But dig below the surface and another story appears. Tucked into the fine print of the rate application is a plan to bump the deductible for the basic Autopac coverage to $1,000 from the current level of $750. Autopac customers still have the option to pay a higher premium to get deductibles as low as $200 per claim. However, those drivers who can only afford basic level coverage are going to get hammered by what is in effect a 33 per cent hike on their share of the overall claims cost. That is, in this economy, unreasonable and unacceptable. MPI said the higher deductible was needed to mitigate rising claims costs, stabilize rates and compensate for recent inflation. Without the deductible increase, MPI said it would have had to ask for a five per cent general rate hike. However, this is also about MPI trying to recover some of the wasted money it poured into Project Nova, its ill-fated technology overhaul. After more than three years and a nearly $200-million investment, MPI was forced to abandon the project earlier this year without having achieved any of its major goals. Despite the obvious impact of Nova, it is quite telling that in an 18-page rate application backgrounder, the doomed project was not mentioned once. That is something MPI chief executive officer Satvir Jatana and her board of directors might want to explain. Nova continues to represent one of the most significant sources of pressure on Autopac rates and leaving it out cannot be some sort of inadvertent omission. The same goes for concerns about MPI's operating costs. Intervenors at the PUB have for many years demanded MPI trim its administrative overhead, which went up precipitously during the tenure of former CEO Eric Herbelin, who was fired in May 2023 after an internal performance review. Instead of owning up to its own mismanagement, MPI has decided to use inflation as the crutch for the deductible decision. Inflation has absolutely and dramatically increased the cost of both purchasing, replacing and repairing vehicles. However, inflation is an issue that is largely disappearing into the crown insurer's rear-view mirror. To quantify the impact of inflation, MPI offered calculations based on a five-year average for the increase in vehicle values and repair costs. However, the 2026 rate application seems to be entirely reliant on economic data that is already more than a year old. Inflation started going down in mid-2024 and currently sits at roughly 1.7 per cent, which is well below the peaks during the worst years of the COVID-19 crisis and more in line with pre-pandemic levels. Given this is a rate application taking effect in 2026, it's time to stop leaning on the inflation rates that hit hard in 2021 through to the early months of 2024. It is fair to say that the entire insurance industry has been ravaged by inflation. It's also probably fair to say that insurance companies are likely still trying to recoup some losses from the most volatile years. However, MPI's narrative for this rate application is so carefully crafted, it comes dangerously close to misleading. This is the second year in a row MPI has submitted a rate application that is problematic. Last year, MPI tried to get by with a two per cent rate hike despite the fact that its own actuarial calculations showed it needed a five per cent bump. The PUB ordered them to increase rates and chastised MPI for failing to reconcile the rate ask with its own calculations. This year, the rate application is nothing less than a disingenuous attempt to cover up their own incompetence by taking more money out of the pockets of basic policy owners who have the temerity to file a claim. The NDP government has essentially sat by idly and allowed MPI management to colour outside the lines in ways that don't necessarily serve the public in two consecutive rate applications. In this most recent application, MPI is increasing costs to basic Autopac customers who are already less able to absorb hundreds of dollars in increased deductible fees. Premier Wab Kinew made affordability a key policy of his first year-and-a-half in office. It will be interesting to see if he and his cabinet flag the deductible issue as an unwarranted punishment to basic level Autopac drivers. Not every issue at a crown corporation needs to become a political liability for the government of the day. But this one very well could be if it is ignored any further. Dan LettColumnist Dan Lett is a columnist for the Free Press, providing opinion and commentary on politics in Winnipeg and beyond. Born and raised in Toronto, Dan joined the Free Press in 1986. Read more about Dan. Dan's columns are built on facts and reactions, but offer his personal views through arguments and analysis. The Free Press' editing team reviews Dan's columns before they are posted online or published in print — part of the our tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Barnama
2 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
MPI, HCUC Forge Strategic Collaboration In Journalism, Media
GEORGE TOWN, June 26 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) today inked a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Han Chiang University College of Communication (HCUC) to forge strategic collaboration in the fields of journalism, media and communication. MPI said that among the collaborative initiatives to be explored included the appointment of an MPI representative as an Industry Advisor to HCUC's Faculty of Communication and Media (SOCOM), industry input in curriculum design and development, as well as knowledge sharing in media trends, practices and technology. 'Both parties are in the process of refining the content details to be finalised in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony to be held soon,' it said in a statement.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
MPI applies for 2.07 per cent rate hike
Manitoba drivers will pay more to insure vehicles next year if a proposed rate hike is approved by the Public Utilities Board. Manitoba Public Insurance has requested a 2.07 per cent increase to its overall basic insurance rates starting on April 1, 2026. MPI says if PUB approves the increase, the average insurance cost of a private passenger vehicle would increase by $21 a year. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Satvir Jatana, CEO for Manitoba Public Insurance which has requested a 2.07 per cent increase to its overall basic insurance rates starting April, 2026. 'While the market remains volatile, and the cost of claims continues to rise, this rate request truly emphasizes MPI's commitment to keep auto insurance affordable for all Manitobans,' MPI president and CEO Satvir Jatana said in a statement on Wednesday. 'We are taking decisive action to manage these pressures as we continue to deliver value for our customers across the province.' However, based on what has happened in recent years, it's not certain whether the board will approve the MPI rate increase. Last year, MPI proposed a rate increase of three per cent, but that was rejected by the PUB, which imposed a 5.7 per cent increase. The PUB said the change was needed because even MPI's own calculations concluded it required a 6.77 per cent increase. While MPI requested no change to overall rates in 2023, the PUB ordered a five per cent increase. The PUB said last year it had reduced rates overall by more than 15 per cent during the previous five years while also approving rebates of more than $400 million in 2021 and 2022. Jatana said MPI is scrapping its $750 deductible and adding a $1,000 deductible, which will cost less. 'We're pleased to give customers the flexibility to maximize the affordability of their mandatory coverage by choosing a higher deductible, or to keep their existing coverage by selecting a lower deductible at an affordable price,' she said. 'Furthermore, a proposed overall increase of two per cent to our extension line of business, which includes products like rental vehicle insurance, additional third-party liability insurance and lower deductibles for basic insurance, will keep all products affordable.' Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. MPI is creating a new merit level for good drivers. Jatana said the new merit level of 20, under the Driver Safety Rating, will mean a savings of 53 per cent on the cost of automobile and driver insurance for the safest drivers. 'This is great news for Manitoba's safest drivers and we are proud that this fair and simple system allows us to recognize their contribution towards safer roads through incentives like discounts on insurance premiums,' she said. If approved later this year by the PUB, drivers would start paying the new rate anytime between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027, depending on when their insurance needs to be renewed. Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
3 days ago
- Health
- Global News
Manitoba Public Insurance says off-road vehicle injuries involving kids on rise
Manitoba Public Insurance is urging young Manitobans to be careful when riding off-road vehicles (ORVs), after new data collected by the Crown corporation shows that 80-100 young patients involved in ORV accidents are taken to Winnipeg's Children's Hospital annually. Matt Wiebe, the province's justice minister, says young riders should always be supervised by a parent or guardian, and that ORV users — of all ages — should be wearing a helmet every time they hit the trails. 'Like many Manitobans, I am an avid ORV rider,' Wiebe said, 'and part of being a responsible rider is knowing how quickly and tragically things can go wrong when these vehicles are misused. 'Our government is committed to raising awareness for ORV safety and helping to prevent tragedies, especially the loss of young lives.' The number of kids hurt in incidents with ORVs continues to climb, according to MPI's data, with an increasing number of young riders ending up in emergency rooms with severe and/or life-altering injuries. Story continues below advertisement According to MPI, boys between the ages of 14-16 are suffering the most severe injuries — particularly on weekends in June, July and August. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy A total of 12 people have been killed in ORV-related accidents in Manitoba over the past five years, with 633 children visiting the Children's Hospital ER in connection with these incidents since 2011. Dr. Lynn Warda, a Winnipeg pediatric emergency physician, said Wednesday that Children's Hospital, as the only trauma centre for children in Manitoba, sees the worst of ORV cases from across the province. 'ORV injuries are some of the most serious injuries we see. The speed and size of the vehicle leads to high impact collisions and rollovers, so the riders often have multiple injuries. 'This might include a head injury, broken bones, and lacerations, some needing surgery or admission to hospital. These injuries can lead to long-term disability when the head or spine is injured.' Young people between 14-16 can legally ride on ORVs, MPI said, but they must be supervised and accompanied by a parent or someone else over 18. Anyone 15-and-a-half or older with a valid learner stage driver's licence can operate an ORV without supervision, but there are some restrictions.
