Movies

The third season of *Murder, She Wrote* included a particularly clever episode called “The Days Dwindle Down.” While crossovers between TV shows and movies are common today—think of how the Marvel Cinematic Universe connects its films and series—they usually happen within the same shared universe. *Murder, She Wrote* did something truly unique: this episode functioned as both a sequel and a remake of a 1949 film. With a new *Murder, She Wrote* movie starring Jamie Lee Curtis as Jessica Fletcher on the way, it’s a great time to revisit this exceptionally original episode.

You wouldn’t typically expect to see DC Comics mentioned in a film centered around the Yale philosophy department. However, a poster for the WWII hero Sgt. Rock – specifically the cover of *Sgt. Rock vs. Army of the Dead* – appears briefly when Julia Roberts’ character walks past a comic book store. This creates a timeline problem because that particular comic wasn’t published until 2022, yet the movie, *After the Hunt*, is set in 2019. Beyond the timeline issue, the reference is a poignant reminder of how close fans came to seeing a *Sgt. Rock* movie directed by Luca Guadagnino. This explains why the respected Italian director included the comic and details about the project that ultimately didn’t happen.

It’s hard to pick a best story from this collection, as they all deliver unique scares for horror fans. However, the third story is particularly noteworthy for its fresh take on a familiar legend. Werewolves have been a staple of horror for ages, appearing in countless films with a consistent theme: someone is bitten, transforms painfully, and becomes cursed by the moon. But in *Trick ‘r Treat*, director Dougherty flips the werewolf myth on its head, presenting the transformation not as a curse, but as a symbol of female power fueled by desire instead of lunar cycles.

In a recent appearance on NPR, Ford was asked about the best piece of advice he ever ignored, because sometimes advice is just terrible. The actor implied that he always ignored whatever advice he had been given. He indicated he hadn’t necessarily been given much, probably because he says he probably looked like somebody who wouldn’t listen to it.

Prices for many items increased earlier this month, and while everyone will notice higher ticket costs, some things actually went up in price by a larger amount. It seems like Star Wars fans, in particular, experienced a significant impact.

Since then, Hailee Steinfeld has worked in both live-action and animated projects, receiving praise for her roles in *Into the Spider-Verse* and *Arcane*. She also boosted her visibility by appearing with Michael B. Jordan in Ryan Coogler’s first original movie. Her horror film, *Sinners*, which came out in April, was a hit with audiences, especially around Halloween, and fans still love to quote her memorable lines. While the entire cast of *Sinners* delivered strong performances, Steinfeld, known for *The Edge of Seventeen*, particularly stood out with her emotional and captivating portrayal.

Director Luca Guadagnino (known for *Challengers*) is releasing an extended version of *After the Hunt* with a new scene showing what happened to the characters five years later. We learn that Alma (Julia Roberts) has recovered and is now a Dean at Yale. Maggie (Ayo Edebiri) is engaged and admits she was once confused about her feelings for Alma, unsure if she admired her or wanted a relationship with her. Meanwhile, Hank (Andrew Garfield) is working behind the scenes in politics as a public relations strategist.

Recent blockbuster movies like *Top Gun: Maverick* and *Spider-Man: No Way Home* show that audiences love seeing established characters return to theaters. Although not all of 2000 AD’s comic book adaptations have been successful, the company has a well-known character who could be the basis for a new sequel and revive a classic franchise.

Cracker Barrel is responding to another challenge from Biglari Holdings after a difficult year. The company struggled with a failed logo redesign, a significant drop in public opinion, and substantial financial losses. While Cracker Barrel’s management calls Biglari’s efforts disruptive, some observers believe the board is attempting to avoid responsibility for a self-inflicted branding crisis.

After collaborating with Glen Powell, writer Michael Waldron believes Powell would be perfect for the role of Richard Rider / Nova in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In an interview with *The Playlist*, Waldron was asked which Marvel character he’d cast Powell as, and immediately responded with Nova, saying, “He’d be a pretty good Nova.” Waldron also praised his *Chad Powers* collaborator, discussing their creative partnership.