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Rob Reiner’s 1986 film ‘Stand by Me’ transforms Stephen King’s novella The Body into a quintessential American coming‑of‑age story, echoing the timeless tone of Mark Twain’s tales. The movie, now entering its 40th anniversary, has acquired a fresh layer of melancholy following the 2025 homicide of Reiner and his spouse, Michele Singer Reiner. The narrative follows four twelve‑year‑old boys in a fictional Oregon town during the late 1950s, embarking on a secret trek to locate the body of a missing peer rumored to lie beside a railway line. Their perilous journey—marked by near‑misses with a train, a drowning episode, and a hostile junkyard dog—serves as a conduit for exploring the fragility of youth and the inevitable confrontation with mortality. At the heart of the quartet are Chris (River Phoenix), the tough leader; Teddy (Corey Feldman), scarred by an abusive father; Vern (Jerry O’Connell), the clumsy sidekick; and the introspective Gordie (Wil Wheaton), an aspiring writer haunted by his older brother’s accidental death. As an adult, Gordie is portrayed by Richard Dreyfuss, who reflects on his past while typing the story that has defined his life. The film’s moral undercurrent emphasizes that, despite the boys’ rough edges, an innate decency persists—perhaps reinforced by the looming presence of the dead boy whose fate they seek. A standout meta‑scene features Gordie’s fictional tale The Revenge of Lard‑Ass Hogan, a miniature film‑within‑a‑film that mirrors the real‑world cruelty, voyeurism, and fear the characters experience. Reiner’s direction is complemented by a soundtrack that weaves in period hits by the Chordettes and Buddy Holly, reinforcing the nostalgic atmosphere. While the story glosses over certain darker possibilities—such as the anticipated retribution from the local bully Ace (Kiefer Sutherland)—its portrayal of childhood innocence remains remarkably resonant. ‘Stand by Me’ returns to UK cinemas on 10 April 2026, offering both longtime fans and new audiences a chance to revisit a film that continues to grip hearts, now underscored by the real‑world sorrow surrounding its creator.

The horror market has finally recognised women as a core audience, a shift reflected in the latest teen‑focused feature The Cure. Directed by Nancy Leopardi and penned by Jonathan Bernstein and James Greer (known for Unsane), the film blends gothic dread with a biting commentary on wealth and longevity. The story follows Ally Braun (Samantha Cochran), a lupus‑stricken teenager confined to a Malibu mansion owned by her billionaire parents, Jeff (David Dastmalchian) and Georgia (Ashley Greene). When the couple hosts a gathering for investors interested in a private island designed as an apocalypse refuge, Ally slips away to the beach and befriends a mysterious newcomer, Brooke (Sydney Taylor). Their uneasy friendship triggers a series of dark revelations that expose helicopter parenting, clandestine life‑extension research, and society’s obsession with youth and beauty. While the premise brims with clever ideas, the execution falters in its final act. Narrative threads are hurried, and the climax resolves with a brief burst of violence that feels more like a budget‑driven shortcut than a satisfying payoff. The film’s limited locations and dim lighting betray a modest production budget, even as it depicts extravagant wealth. Nevertheless, the youthful ensemble injects the story with genuine charisma. Their performances provide the film’s most compelling moments, keeping the audience engaged despite the structural shortcomings. The Cure becomes available on digital platforms from 13 April.

Joe Eszterhas, the swaggering pitchman of 80s and 90s Hollywood, has lived a life of excess and creativity. He wrote hits like Jagged Edge and co-scripted Flashdance, earning a then-record $3m for his Basic Instinct screenplay.Eszterhas's life story is a harrowing, rollicking immigrant's tale that whisks its hero from his birth in war-torn Hungary through the refugee camps of Allied-occupied Austria to the US rust belt. He covered the Kent State massacre as a cub reporter and interviewed Charles Manson in prison.Now 81, Eszterhas is plotting a Hollywood comeback with a rebooted Basic Instinct. He received a reported $2m from Amazon MGM studios for his script and stands to make a further $2m if and when it is filmed. The new story juggles copycat serial killers with elements of the supernatural.Eszterhas has always relished a good public scrap, and his reboot is described as anti-woke. This has sparked concerns that he may be co-opted and become a political football. However, Eszterhas insists that he is not afraid of controversy and sexuality.Despite his past struggles with drinking and drugs, Eszterhas has been clean and sober for decades. He has written a 750-page memoir, Hollywood Animal, and told his Tinseltown war stories on a recent multi-part media podcast, Ugly, Irresponsible, & Childish.

The Greatest Showman, the hit 2017 film starring Hugh Jackman as PT Barnum, has been transformed into a high-flying, hammer-juggling, banger-filled spectacular on stage. The musical, premiering in Bristol's Hippodrome, brings to life the story of the American showman and entrepreneur, with a sold-out eight-week run.The film's iconic soundtrack, which includes the Oscar-nominated 'This Is Me,' has been retained, with new songs by the original composers, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The production features Oliver Tompsett as Barnum and Samantha Barks as his wife, Charity.The stage adaptation aims to celebrate the world of circus and theatre, while acknowledging the controversial history of PT Barnum, who was criticized for exploiting people and animals. The musical's producers have chosen not to cast a performer with dwarfism in the role of Charles Stratton, but instead focus on showcasing vulnerable characters and promoting inclusivity.The production features sophisticated digital technology, with a 'sky pit' above the stage and a half-circus ring design. The team behind the musical hopes to create a sense of community among audience members, but stops short of encouraging sing-alongs to the hit songs.

Anna Wintour, the legendary global editorial director of Vogue, has graced the cover of the fashion magazine alongside her Hollywood counterpart, Meryl Streep. The striking image, captured by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, features Wintour and Streep, who is famously known for her portrayal of Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada.In a candid interview with Greta Gerwig, Wintour expressed her admiration for Streep, calling it 'such an honour to be played by Meryl.' However, she noted that the character of Priestly was 'distant' from her real self, describing it as an 'extraordinary gift.'Wintour also shared her thoughts on aging, stating, 'I like my age. I feel as alive, excited and aware as ever, and I like to learn from my children and from all my teams around the world. It’s always exciting.'When asked about swapping roles with Streep, Wintour humbly replied, 'There’s no way. I have no gifts. I have absolutely no gifts at all.' The film The Devil Wears Prada, based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger, was a critical success and cemented Streep's portrayal of the ruthless fashion editor.Interestingly, a genealogy report by Ancestry claims that Wintour and Streep are sixth cousins, adding a fascinating twist to their long-standing connection.

On Halloween night in 2022, the 33‑year‑old Los Angeles‑based musician Angelo De Augustine collapsed at home, experiencing a cascade of sensory failures that left him unable to see, hear or move properly. Family members rushed him to the hospital, where doctors ran extensive tests but could not pinpoint a diagnosis, ultimately sending him home with a warning to return only if he became completely deaf or blind. Faced with a semi‑incapacitated body, De Augustine’s sole focus became completing the album he had been crafting for the previous year, Toil and Trouble. He admits he believed he might not survive the illness, yet he pushed through the pain, hoping to finish the record before his presumed death. De Augustine’s career had been gaining momentum. After his 2014 debut Spirals of Silence, he joined Sufjan Stevens’ label Asthmatic Kitty for 2017’s Swim Inside the Moon and later co‑produced the acclaimed 2021 collaboration A Beginner’s Mind. A 2019 track, “Time,” from the album Tomb, amassed over 31 million streams after featuring in Zach Braff’s film A Good Person, but the artist was too ill to capitalize on its success. Recovery was gradual and arduous. Over three years De Augustine relearned basic functions—walking, speaking, hearing, and playing instruments. Those challenges informed his newest work, Angel in Plainclothes, an album that contemplates mortality and the fleeting nature of life through ethereal soundscapes. Musically, the record draws on influences ranging from Nick Drake’s wistfulness to early Paul Simon’s lyricism. Tracks such as “Spirit of the Unknown” celebrate simple joys, while the lead single “Mirror Mirror” uses a reflective metaphor to describe his feeling of being a ghost watching life from the sidelines. He records from a studio he calls “A Secret Place,” emphasizing the intimate, introspective tone of the project. Recent research, De Augustine notes, suggests that chronic stress can overload the central nervous system, causing the body to shut down—a possible explanation for his 2022 episode. He points to the relentless pressures of the music industry as a likely source of that prolonged anxiety. Born to musical parents—his mother Wendy Fraser sang on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack—De Augustine originally pursued soccer before injuries redirected him toward music. Largely self‑taught, he began writing original material without formal lessons, a factor he believes gives his songs a distinctive edge. During his convalescence he moved back in with his mother, unable even to prepare meals. A breakthrough came when he discovered that immersion in water alleviated his symptoms, prompting a deeper awareness of his stress levels. A disciplined regimen of physical and mental exercises helped rewire his nervous system, gradually restoring his ability to play guitar and sing. When his health permitted, De Augustine returned to the studio, this time enlisting collaborators such as string arranger Oliver Hill, harpist Leng Bian, producer Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman), and his mother on percussion. Drummer Jonathan Wilson contributed drums and offered his Topanga Canyon studio for the track “The Cure,” a song that likens illness to addiction. The album’s sonic palette is enriched by antique instruments—a bowed psaltery, aquarion, Marxophone, bass recorder, train whistle, 1960s German guitaret, miniature accordion, and a 1990s synthesiser version of a Japanese koto harp—underscoring De Augustine’s penchant for unconventional textures. After a five‑year hiatus from live performance, he returned to the stage last year, describing the experience as “amazing” despite its challenges. Though he acknowledges he is not yet fully healed, he feels he is emerging as a blend of his former self and a newly humbled individual who no longer takes life for granted. Reflecting on his journey, De Augustine says, “For so long my only focus was to be a great songwriter, and perhaps I paid the price for that. Now I’m trying to live a good life rather than chase outcomes.” Angel in Plainclothes was released via Asthmatic Kitty on 24 April, offering listeners a glimpse into his renewed perspective and artistic resilience.

James Gunn's early feature film Slither, initially released in 2006, is being re-released in cinemas ahead of its 20th anniversary. The film, a comedy horror with a heavy focus on body horror, was Gunn's first feature-length project. At the time, it was met with commercial disappointment but has since garnered attention due to Gunn's subsequent success with major franchises such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Superman.The film's plot revolves around an alien lifeform that crash-lands on Earth and takes over a small town in South Carolina. The alien larvae, resembling flaccid phallic worms, infect the townspeople through various orifices, turning them into evil minions or hideously swollen incubators. The movie features Michael Rooker, Elizabeth Banks, and Nathan Fillion in key roles.Despite its thinly conceived science fiction elements and reliance on rubbery practical effects and lame jokes, which align more closely with the style of Troma, a production company where Gunn got his start, the film does showcase Gunn's early experimentation with comic timing and musical cues. A notable scene features a killing spree set to Air Supply's 'Every Woman in the World', a technique Gunn would later refine in his Guardians of the Galaxy films.The cast, including Michael Rooker and Elizabeth Banks, appears to be enjoying the film's humor, bringing some bright spots of wit and amusement to the movie. Slither is set to re-release in UK cinemas on April 10 and will be available on digital platforms from May 1.

François Ozon's The Stranger is a lustrously beautiful and superbly realised modern take on Albert Camus's classic novella L'Etranger. Set in 1940s French Algeria, the film follows the story of Meursault, a sensitive white European who commits a racist act under the unbearable noonday sun.The film, shot in Morocco, boasts an almost supernaturally detailed sense of period and place. Ozon's adaptation brings a contemporary perspective to the book's themes of empire and race, making changes that include a critique of the original text. This approach perhaps loses some of the source material's brutal, heartless power and arguably some of the title's meaning.Meursault, played by Benjamin Voisin, is portrayed as a character with an unreadable expression of listless unconcern. His story unfolds through flashbacks, showing his dull office job in Algiers, his blank reaction to his mother's death, and his relationship with Marie, played by Rebecca Marder.The film's climax features Meursault's fatal encounter with the vengeful brother of Raymond's girlfriend, Djemila. When asked for a motive, Meursault simply says: “C’était à cause du soleil” – “It was because of the sun”. This response highlights the absurdity of the situation and the racist undertones of the act.Ozon's adaptation softens the argument presented in Camus's original work, and Meursault is ultimately condemned to death. The film emerges as a passionate act of ancestor worship in honour of a renowned French artwork, while also critiquing the original text and its representation of imperialism.

When Kristyna Janku answered a police call, she could not have imagined the revelations that would follow. The defender learned that her former coach, Petr Vlachovsky—once celebrated as the Czech Republic’s top women’s football coach—had been secretly recording Slovacko players in the changing room for four years and was in possession of child‑sexual‑abuse content. Vlachovsky’s arrest in 2023 led to a court ruling last May that handed him a one‑year suspended sentence, a fine and a five‑year ban from all football‑related activity in the Czech Republic. However, the Czech FA has yet to lodge a complaint with FIFA’s ethics committee, leaving the door open for him to coach abroad, a prospect that unsettles Janku, now playing in Poland. According to Alex Phillips, secretary‑general of FIFPRO, this scandal is merely "the tip of the iceberg," noting that many victims remain silent because they lack trusted reporting channels. He stresses the need for an independent, funded international body to investigate and sanction abuse, rather than relying on national federations that often view the issue as low priority. The Czech case mirrors a recent incident in Austria, where a man received a seven‑month suspended prison term and a €1,200 fine for covertly filming the Altach women’s team, also paying €625 compensation to each victim. Both cases underscore a pattern of inadequate safeguarding across European women’s football. For Janku, the trauma extends beyond the courtroom. She describes a lasting hyper‑vigilance in dressing rooms and public spaces, and acknowledges that while she has declined therapy offered by the Czech players’ union, the psychological scars remain. FIFPRO’s women’s football director Alex Culvin warns that the lack of decisive action fuels a culture where abuse is minimized, citing parallels with the Me Too movement and high‑profile scandals such as the Luis Rubiales incident in Spain. Victims of Vlachovsky’s misconduct report a range of consequences—from nausea and the need to change clubs to long‑term body dysmorphia—highlighting how non‑contact sexual abuse can devastate athletes whose bodies are their livelihood. While the Czech federation is reportedly revising its safeguarding policies, critics argue that without a global enforcement mechanism, perpetrators like Vlachovsky can continue coaching elsewhere, perpetuating risk for future generations of female footballers.