Facehuggers are back and I’m officially scared again.
I don’t know about you, but an alien latching onto my face, sticking a limb down my throat, and producing a strange monstrosity that then violently bursts out of my chest? That really scares me. And there are a ton of these little critters running around in the new sci-fi horror film Alien: Romulus, the latest installment in the long-running franchise. That’s what we’re talking about this week, plus John Cena shares some of his favorite things from his action comedy Jackpot! and we give a rundown of something a lot of people in Watch Party Land might be thinking about: streaming packages.
Now for the good stuff:
See “Alien: Romulus” in the cinema (even if it’s your first “Alien”)
I’m not the only one who is deeply unsettled by facehuggers: “Romulus” director Fede Alvarez agrees that a facehugger “would be the greatest torture you could have. I’d rather find a xenomorph to give me a quick death.” We talked about other things too, like how the new film is an homage to the first two films, but could also be the first “Alien” for some, especially for this new generation of horror kids: “I want to make sure there’s no moment where the young audience says, ‘OK, I’m lost. I don’t understand what you’re doing.'”
And as someone whose father made him see the original Alien when I was way too young to watch it, I’m happy to report that the R-rated Romulus is an entertaining, nasty piece of work that harks back to the classics while still finding a way to carve out its own place in mythology. (Check out my ★★★ review.) It also ranks high in my definitive ranking of all Alien films.
Stream the new John Cena action film “Jackpot!” on Amazon Prime Video
Nobody combines action moves and goofy humor quite like John Cena, and I chatted with the wrestling actor for the latest installment of our Essentials series. The former “Doctor of Thuganomics” shared his hip-hop influences, the ideal coffee order, his favorite chicken dish, and more. He also talked about how 2025 will be his last appearance in a WWE ring wearing the trademark t-shirt, jorts, and baseball cap. “It never gets old. It’s always exciting,” he says.
Cena and Awkwafina face off in the violent new comedy Jackpot! It’s one of several new movies you can stream tonight if you’re up for it. Our guide also includes Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga on Max, Tarot and The Union on Netflix, and The Bikeriders and Abigail on Peacock.
Learn all about streaming packages and “streamflation”
Java and rap are on Cena’s list of must-have songs, while I’ll probably list a few streaming services as well. Netflix? I have to have that. Disney+? Marvel and “Star Wars,” baby! Peacock? I can watch old fights between “Macho Man” Randy Savage and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, of course.
TV critic Kelly Lawler has put together a great series on the latest trend of streaming bundles, explaining what it is and how it compares to subscriptions to individual services, as well as an overview of the costs and a guide to “streamflation” (In other words, everything is getting more expensive.)
There is still more good things to discover!
- I have yet to see It Ends with Us, but I’m not sure it can hold up to all the drama off-screen. (For anyone who’s seen it, we have a spoiler-filled breakdown of how the film differs from Colleen Hoover’s best-seller.)
- Colman Domingo is a national treasure – and he could be on his way to two Oscars for Best Actor. In a new interview with our own Patrick Ryan, he talks about his new film “Sing Sing” and “how I feel more vulnerable than ever.”
- Are you a big fan of ’50 First Dates’? Drew Barrymore reveals the original ending of the romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler.
Do you have thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments, or maybe even some recommendations for me? Email me at [email protected] and follow me on social media: I’m @briantruitt on Þjórsárdalur (don’t call it X!), Instagram and Threads.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(730x191:732x193)/rob-John-Owen-Lowe-073124-tout-3afcf02f02f64f9db57bfc52021c6c0c.jpg "Rob Lowe praises his son John Owen’s work on ‘Unstable’ (exclusive)")
