Category: Entertainment News

Pasqual Gutierrez’ Serious People Explores Work, Identity, and Fatherhood

Miguel Huerta and Pasqual Gutierrez in Pasqual Gutierrez’ Serious People. Photo: Tribeca Films/Memory, used with permission.

🎬 Serious People

“Life’s a Movie”

Written and Directed by: Pasqual Gutierrez & Ben Mullinkosson
Produced by: Ryan Hahn, Laurel Thomson, Teddy Lee
Starring: Pasqual Gutierrez, Christine Yuan, RJ Sanchez, Miguel Huerta

Official Selection: Sundance Film Festival 2025
In Theaters: November 14, 2025
On Demand: December 16, 2025 (all major platforms)

Tribeca Films x Memory Present Serious People

About the Film

Serious People follows successful music video director Pasqual Gutierrez, who faces a life-altering dilemma on the due date of his first child: accept the biggest music video project of his career or finally step back and focus on his family. (Emma Griffiths PR, 2025)

Frustrated by his lack of balance, Pasqual makes a bold decision, he casts a doppelgänger named Miguel to fill his shoes in his directing duo, Cliqua, while he takes paternity leave. But as he spends more time teaching Miguel how to inhabit his life, the line between real and replacement begins to blur.

The result is a sharp, funny, and emotionally charged look at ambition, identity, and the replaceability of people in clout-driven Los Angeles. The film ultimately asks: What does it mean to be a director, a parent, and, most of all, a real person?

Running Time: 86 minutes (USA, Feature Film)

Behind the Camera

Pasqual Gutierrez

An award-winning American filmmaker, Gutierrez is best known as one half of Cliqua, the powerhouse directing duo behind some of the biggest music videos of the past decade. Together with RJ Sanchez, he’s collaborated with Bad Bunny, Rosalia, J Balvin, Madonna, Travis Scott, and The Weeknd, among many others.

Gutierrez’ work has earned multiple nominations and an MTV VMA, and his debut short film Shut Up & Fish, now Oscar-qualified, has been making waves on the festival circuit. Serious People marks his first narrative feature film, which made its world premiere at Sundance 2025.

Ben Mullinkosson

Co-writer and co-director Ben Mullinkosson brings his documentary sensibility to Serious People, blending realism with dark humor. His 2023 documentary The Last Year of Darkness won the Special Jury Mention at CPH:DOX and was released by MUBI.

Mullinkosson’s earlier work includes Gnarly in Pink (Tribeca Film Festival, 2013), distributed by The New York Times Op-Docs, and a series of acclaimed shorts that have earned Vimeo Staff Picks and millions of online views.

Why Serious People Matters

Serious People is a reflection on modern creativity, work, and self-worth. It’s a satire of hustle culture wrapped in a heartfelt story about fatherhood and identity. The film captures what it feels like to be torn between personal meaning and professional validation, a tension many of us know all too well.

Opening in theaters on November 14, with a Video On Demand release on December 16, this debut feature promises to be one of the most talked-about indie films of the year.

Serious People poster. Photo: Tribeca Films/Memory, used with permission.

Hotel Contessa’s Monthlong Día de los Muertos Festivities

Hotel Contessa will host various spirited activations for Día de los Muertos. Photo: Hotel Contessa, used with permission.

Celebrate Día de los Muertos All Month Long at Hotel Contessa

This October, Hotel Contessa invites guests and locals alike to experience a vibrant monthlong Día de los Muertos celebration along San Antonio’s iconic River Walk. The festivities will feature colorful cultural traditions, hands-on workshops, culinary delights, and live entertainment designed to honor remembrance and bring the community together. (Hotel Contessa, 2025)

🎉 Día de los Muertos River Parade Celebration

📍 River Level Atrium & River Patio
🗓 Friday, Oct. 24 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.

San Antonio’s Day of the Dead River Parade returns with elaborately decorated floats, catrinas, and costumed riders. Guests staying at Hotel Contessa can enjoy front-row seats to the parade, plus face painting, mariachi music, a live DJ, and local tacos and food vendors.

🎟 Tickets: $50–$110 (via Eventbrite)
Status: Sold Out

🌺 Día de los Muertos River Parade – VIP Terrace Experience

📍 Private Rooftop Terrace
🗓 Friday, Oct. 24 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Enjoy an elevated view of the River Parade from Hotel Contessa’s private rooftop terrace. This exclusive VIP experience includes two specialty cocktails, private bar access, DJ entertainment, and a flower crown-making station. VIP guests will also be entered into a raffle to win a one-night stay at Hotel Contessa in 2026.

🎟 Tickets: Starting at $175 per person (Eventbrite)

🌮 Street Taco Cook-Off with St. Philip’s College

📍 River Patio
🗓 Saturday, Oct. 25 | 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Watch as culinary students from St. Philip’s College compete to create the best taco in town. Guests can enjoy complimentary light bites and refreshments while cheering on the chefs.

🎟 Free and open to the public — no RSVP required.

🎨 Make Your Own Altar: Kids Workshop

📍 River Level Atrium
🗓 Saturday, Oct. 25 | 2–3:30 p.m.

Perfect for kids 12 and under, this interactive workshop led by local artist Mary Carmen Sessions teaches the traditions of Día de los Muertos through hands-on art projects. Children will create tissue paper marigolds, colorful papel picado, and mini pan de muerto from modeling clay while learning the meaning behind each symbol.

🎟 Tickets: $25 per child (includes supplies, drink, and snacks) — purchase tickets [here].

🍸 Spirits & Sips Altar Workshop (Adults Only)

📍 River Level Atrium
🗓 Saturday, Oct. 25 | 6–7:30 p.m.

An evening for adults to sip, socialize, and create. Guests will design their own mini altar while enjoying a signature cocktail and learning about the cultural significance of altar traditions.

🎟 Tickets: $55 per person (includes cocktail and altar kit) — purchase tickets [here].

🖼️ Monthly Art Fair: Día de los Muertos Edition + CAST School Art Reveal

📍 River Level Atrium
🗓 Sunday, Oct. 26 | 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

This special edition of Hotel Contessa’s monthly art fair transforms the atrium into a lively marketplace of local artists and artisans, featuring Día de los Muertos–inspired works. Guests can also enjoy a student art reveal from CAST School, where young artists collaborate with professional mentors.

🎟 Free and open to the public — no RSVP required.

👻 Spooky Spa Halloween Party

📍 Rooftop Spa
🗓 Thursday, Oct. 31 | 6–9 p.m.

Cap off the month with an adults-only Halloween celebration at Hotel Contessa’s rooftop spa. Enjoy spa and jacuzzi access, themed demos, light bites, spooky cocktails, and a crystal sound bath experience. Guests can sign up for up to three spa sessions, including chair massages, Japanese head spa demos, infrared sauna services, and cold plunge stretch sessions.

The evening also includes adult trick-or-treating, a costume contest, and complimentary parking.

🎟 Sound bath tickets: $30 per person (limited availability; RSVP required)

📍 Hotel Contessa
306 W. Market St.
San Antonio, TX 78205

The Spells’ 1997 Masterpiece The Night Has Eyes Finally Sees the Light

The Spells to release debut LP nearly 30 years later. Photo: Nick Zinner, used with permission.

The Spells Unearth Long-Lost 1997 Debut The Night Has Eyes

Long-lost NYC trio The Spells has announced the long-overdue release of their 1997 debut album The Night Has Eyes, arriving Halloween 2025 on vinyl and digital via Garganta Press. The deluxe LP package includes a 16-page booklet filled with never-before-seen photos and stories from the band’s brief but unforgettable run. (US/THEM Group, 2025)

Originally shelved after the band dissolved in 1998, The Night Has Eyes became the stuff of underground legend, whispered about among fans of ‘90s garage punk and NYC’s darker sonic corners. Now, nearly three decades later, it finally sees the light of day.

From Austin to NYC: A Short, Brilliant Flame

The Spells, made up of Nicole Barrick (guitar, vocals), Marisa Pool (bass, vocals), and Leni Zumas (drums) formed in Austin, TX in 1995, rising from the ashes of an earlier project called The Red Scare. They relocated to New York City, where they recorded their debut with producer Greg Talenfeld (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Pavement, The Walkmen) at Waterworks Studio in November 1997.

A Hidden Treasure Resurfaces

The newly mastered LP, produced by Greg Talenfeld and The Spells and mastered for vinyl by Honza Kapak at Hellsound Studio in the Czech Republic, captures the raw energy and shadowy allure of the late-‘90s NYC underground.

The 16-page booklet features unseen photos from Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Iggy Pop) and Lilian Lee, taken during the band’s final years in 1997–98.

Read the full story and in-depth interview with The Spells today via It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine.

Pre-orders for The Night Has Eyes are available now HERE.

Artist: The Spells
Album: The Night Has Eyes
Record Label: Garganta Press
Release Date: October 31, 2025

The Night Has Eyes tracklist:

  1. Lilith
  2. Vanishing Act
  3. Strange
  4. Snow White’s Coffin
  5. The Night Has Eyes
  6. If The World Should End Tonight
  7. Isadora
  8. Yumiko

Photo: Nick Zinner, used with permission

Dead Giveaway: The Hilarious Horror Premiere Lighting Up the Philadelphia Film Festival

Mikaela Hoover and Ruby Modine in Dead Giveaway. Photo: VP Independent, used with permission.

🎬 Philadelphia Film Festival 2025: Celebrating the Best in Global Cinema

Every October, the Philadelphia Film Festival transforms the city into a global stage for cinematic storytelling — welcoming tens of thousands of film lovers, emerging talents, and celebrated filmmakers for an electrifying 11-day experience. (Philadelphia Film Society, 2025)

Curated by the Philadelphia Film Society’s expert programming team, who travel the world from Sundance to Cannes, Berlin to Toronto, the Festival delivers a handpicked lineup of the year’s most talked-about, award-winning, and visionary films. From bold debuts to international sensations, every screening is a chance to discover the next big thing in film.

This year’s Festival runs October 16–26, 2025, featuring 11 days of world-class cinema, exclusive events, and celebrations that bring the city’s film community together.

🌟 Spotlight Feature: Dead Giveaway

World Premiere | Section: Filmadelphia

One of the most anticipated screenings of the Festival is Ian Kimble’s Dead Giveaway, a wickedly funny horror-comedy making its world premiere right here in Philadelphia. (Emma Griffiths PR, 2025)

Film Details

Feature Film (USA)
Genre: Horror Comedy
Runtime: 87 minutes
Year: 2025

Written and Directed by: Ian Kimble
Producers: Suzann Toni, Andrew Vogel, Ian Kimble
Executive Producer: Hallee Adelman
Co-Producer: Amanda Frederick

Starring:

  • Ruby Modine (Silent Night, Deadly Night, Shameless)
  • Mikaela Hoover (Superman [2025])
  • Scout Taylor-Compton (Rob Zombie’s Halloween)

🩸 Synopsis

Jill (Ruby Modine) wakes up from a blackout night of drinking and partying to find herself covered in blood — and sharing her bed with a dead man. Hungry, hungover, horrified, and possibly a murderer, she scrambles to clean up before her roommate Sarah (Suzann Toni) notices.

When her best friend Lia (Mikaela Hoover) shows up, half-concerned, half-annoyed, she reluctantly agrees to help Jill figure out what happened, but only under one condition: they have to make it to brunch before 3 p.m.

What follows is a blood-soaked comedy of errors involving mistaken identities, suspicious visitors, and a very inconvenient corpse. Between hiding bodies, dodging questions, and keeping their mimosas on schedule, Jill and Lia stumble through a hangover-fueled nightmare where every fix only makes things worse.

With an endlessly creative script by Ian Kimble, Dead Giveaway delivers a sharp mix of horror and humor — and the irresistible chemistry between Ruby Modine and Mikaela Hoover keeps audiences laughing (and screaming) until the very end.

🎥 About the Filmmaker

Ian Kimble is a writer, producer, and director with a background in award-winning short films and independent features. Dead Giveaway marks his feature debut as writer, director, and producer — expanding on one of his original short films. With this project, Kimble cements his place as one of Philadelphia’s most exciting emerging filmmakers.

📅 Screening Schedule

Philadelphia Film Festival 2025 Official Screenings

World Premiere
📍 Friday, October 17 at 9:45 p.m.
Location: Film Society Center
1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Encore Screening
📍 Sunday, October 26 at 8:00 p.m.
Location: Film Society East
125 S. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19106

Whether you’re a die-hard horror fan or just love a clever dark comedy, Dead Giveaway is a must-see at this year’s Philadelphia Film Festival, proof that the city’s film scene is as bold, fresh, and fearless as ever.

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Dr. Scott Bonn’s One-Man True Crime Show Comes to the Empire Theatre

Criminologist Dr. Scott Bonn brings the terrifying minds of serial killers to the San Antonio stage. Photo: ATG Entertainment

Step Inside the Minds of Serial Killers: Dr. Scott Bonn’s Chilling One-Man Show Comes to San Antonio

What makes someone kill again and again—and feel nothing? Why are we so captivated by those who commit the unthinkable? If you’ve ever found yourself glued to a true crime documentary, questioning the psychology behind the world’s most notorious murderers, Dr. Scott Bonn is about to take you deeper than you’ve ever gone before.

San Antonio, TX — Renowned criminologist, media commentator, and author Dr. Scott Bonn is bringing his chilling and thought-provoking one-man show to the Empire Theatre on Thursday, October 23, 2025. This thrilling evening promises audiences an unprecedented look inside the twisted minds of some of history’s most infamous serial killers. (ATG Entertainment, 2025)

🎟 Tickets are available online.

A Rare Glimpse Into the Darkest Corners of the Human Mind

Dr. Scott Bonn, widely recognized for his expert commentary in true crime documentaries and major media appearances, has studied and interacted with infamous figures such as Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer. His sharp insights and compelling storytelling have captivated audiences nationwide, with appearances on NPR and other major outlets sparking surges in ticket demand wherever he performs.

What to Expect

Audiences attending this unforgettable evening will experience Dr. Bonn’s penetrating exploration of:

  • The motivations, fantasies, and compulsions that drive serial killers—and why they cannot stop.
  • The key differences between psychopaths and sociopaths.
  • The origins and secrets of FBI criminal profiling.
  • The myths surrounding serial killers, including the belief that they are all white males or “evil geniuses” like Hannibal Lecter.
  • Why the true crime audience is predominantly female, and what this reveals about society’s enduring fascination with the macabre.

“Join me for a thrilling evening at the Empire Theatre on October 23rd when I’ll delve into the terrifying minds of serial killers in my exciting one-man show. Together, we will uncover the mysteries of their dark motives and deplorable acts, and explore the curious allure that captivates true crime fans everywhere.”
— Dr. Scott Bonn

The Mind Behind the Madness

Dr. Bonn’s rare ability to dissect society’s morbid curiosity about “monsters” makes his live appearances both chilling and intellectually gripping. His performances consistently sell out, as audiences are drawn to his powerful blend of academic expertise, media savvy, and captivating storytelling.

About Dr. Scott Bonn

Dr. Scott Bonn is a criminologist, professor, and media personality who has appeared on major networks, NPR, and leading true crime programs. A sought-after expert in his field, he specializes in the psychology of serial killers, mass murderers, and criminal profiling.

Bill Scorzari’s Sidereal Days (Day 1) is a Soulful Journey Across Time and Truth

Bill Scorzari announces double album release. Photo: Dreamspider Publicity, used with permission.

Bill Scorzari Returns with Sidereal Days (Day 1) — The First of a Double Album Project

HUNTINGTON, NY — New York-based singer-songwriter, recording artist, and performer Bill Scorzari is set to release his fifth and sixth albums, Sidereal Days (Day 1) and Sidereal Days (Day 2). (Dreamspider Publicity, 2025)

The first installment, Sidereal Days (Day 1), arrives October 17, 2025, with Day 2 scheduled for release in 2026.

Scorzari has independently released four acclaimed studio albums to date:

  • Just the Same (2014)
  • Through These Waves (2017)
  • Now I’m Free (2019)
  • The Crosswinds of Kansas (2022)

A Writer’s Writer

Known for his poetic lyricism and emotional depth, Scorzari has often been described as a “writer’s writer.” His music has drawn comparisons to Sam Baker, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Townes Van Zandt, and Chris Stapleton.

What sets Scorzari apart is his distinctive voice, one that can be both subtle and striking, as he examines the complexities of the human condition.

The Sound of Sidereal Days (Day 1)

The ten tracks on Sidereal Days (Day 1) are both wide-ranging and deeply personal. Listeners will find:

  • Songs of love and regret
  • Tracks that came together quickly, and others that took years to shape
  • Multi-layered arrangements balanced with short, sublime pieces

Scorzari’s music reflects a deep pursuit of clarity — his songs are as much about introspection as they are about connection. The result is a blend of the radio-ready and the contemplative, showcasing his gift for nuance and storytelling.

From Huntington to Nashville

Scorzari recorded his instrumentation and vocals for the double album himself at First Thunder Recording, his studio in Huntington, New York. Beginning in July 2022, he spent two years refining the compositions before heading to Skinny Elephant Recording in Nashville in August 2024 to collaborate with engineer Dylan Alldredge, with Scorzari and Neilson Hubbard co-producing.

Final mixes were completed by engineer Nic Coolidge at Dead Pop Studios in Providence, RI, in early 2025. Mastering was done by Hallie Melton in Nashville in April 2025, bringing the project to its polished conclusion.

Sidereal Days (Day 1) tracklist

  1. All This Time
  2. And Carries Me Away
  3. And So (Deep Into the Dark)
  4. Borrowed Hearts
  5. Can’t Break This Fall
  6. Did We Tie
  7. Endgame
  8. From Your Heart
  9. Grace
  10. Breathe

October Events You Won’t Want to Miss at Pearl

From Diwali to BBQ, there’s something for everyone this fall. Photo: Pearl

🎃 October at Pearl: A Month Full of Music, Food, and Community Fun

Fall has officially arrived, and there’s no better place to soak it all in than Pearl. As the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, Pearl transforms into a vibrant hub of activity — filled with live music echoing through the courtyards, the scent of barbecue and baked goods drifting from the Food Hall, and the joyful buzz of friends and families gathering under twinkle lights. (Pearl, 2025)

Whether you’re here for the flavors, the fashion, or the fun, October is packed with can’t-miss events for every mood and moment.

Below is your guide to everything happening across Pearl this month — from one-night-only experiences to free community favorites that make Pearl the heart of San Antonio in the fall.

🌟 One-Night-Only Events

Runway at Stable Hall

📅 Thursday, October 16
A fashion show co-chaired by Cody Shown and Lisa Longoria Scott, benefiting the San Antonio Food Bank’s flood relief efforts. Voted Best Fashion Show in San Antonio.
💲 18+ | Ticketed Event

Pullman Market’s Smoke & Fire Celebration

📅 Saturday, October 18
A first-of-its-kind gathering of 10 celebrated pitmasters. Enjoy BBQ tastings, live-fire demos, craft beverages, and live music — all family-friendly.
💲 General Admission: $77.08 (taxes & fees included)
💲 VIP: $146.39

Ladino’s Birthday Cookout

📅 Sunday, October 19
Celebrate Ladino’s 3rd birthday with bites from Mezquite, Pullman Market, and The Jerk Shack, plus live music, balloon art, and face painting.
💲 Adults: $55 (includes 5 food & beverage tickets)
💲 Kids: $20 (includes 2 tickets)

Diwali at Pearl

📅 Wednesday, October 22
Celebrate the Festival of Lights with themed vendors, delicious food and drinks, live entertainment, and cultural showcases. A family-friendly evening of light, love, and community.
💲 Free Event

It’s a 2000s (Halloween) Party

📅 Friday, October 31
The Y2K throwback dance party returns to Stable Hall! Bring your best Halloween costume and relive the early 2000s in style.
💲 Tickets: $20–$31

💪 Fitness Get-Togethers

ACTIVATE Boot Camp

📅 Tuesdays through December
Join ACTIVATE for free fitness sessions designed to boost physical and mental well-being.
💲 Free

📽️ Weekly Rituals

Movie Mondays

📅 Every Monday starting October 20 | Sunset at Pearl Park
Catch your favorite films under the stars! Bring a blanket or chair and grab snacks from the Food Hall.
💲 Free / Cost of purchase

Pearl Farmers Market

📅 Every Saturday
Shop local produce, meats, and handmade goods from South Texas farmers and ranchers.
💲 Free / Cost of purchase

Pearl Makers Market

📅 Every Sunday
Explore culinary-inspired home goods and one-of-a-kind artisan finds.
💲 Free / Cost of purchase

Si Art San Antonio Pop-Up Market

📅 Saturday, October 18 | Larder, Brewmeister Alley
Discover ceramics, photography, paintings, and prints from local artists.
💲 Free / Cost of purchase

🎶 Live Music Lineup

Chavela: Album Release Party

📅 Sunday, October 19
Celebrate San Antonio artist Chavela’s debut album live.
💲 Ticketed Event

Performances at Jazz, TX

📅 Ongoing
From Broadway reimaginings to Latin Jazz Nights, there’s always something new on stage.
💲 Ticketed Events

Live Music at Otto’s Ice House

📅 Fridays by the River
Relax with a drink in hand, river views, and live country tunes.
💲 Free / Cost of purchase

Sternewirth Sessions at Hotel Emma

📅 Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays
Enjoy a rotating lineup of Texas and national artists at the cozy tavern inside Hotel Emma.
💲 Free / Cost of purchase

✨ No matter your vibe—music, food, fashion, or fitness—there’s something happening for you this October at Pearl. Grab your friends, mark your calendars, and make the most of fall in San Antonio!

Lying in Wait Delivers a Dark, Gripping Mystery

Lying in Wait is a girls’ night gone wrong thriller that keeps you guessing. Photo: One Tree Entertainment, used with permission.

🎬 Lying In Wait (2025) — Movie Review

Synopsis:
During a girls’ night out, Skyler goes missing and Rachel and Daniela desperately search for her. All clues point to a kidnapping, but Rachel knows there’s more to the case and everyone has a secret. (One Tree Entertainment, 2025)

Lying in Wait is available to rent or own on Amazon Prime Video.

Written by: Tomas Decurgez & Savanah Joeckel
Directed by: Tomas Decurgez
Starring: Savanah Joeckel, Tony Garza, and Tomas CL
Genre: Thriller

Review

Lying in Wait delivers a tense, twist-filled thriller that keeps you guessing until the final moments. The film opens with a chilling scene: a couple enjoying a quiet day outdoors when their dog uncovers a buried body with only a fly-infested hand visible. From there, the focus shifts to Skyler and Rachel, who are picking up Daniela for what’s supposed to be a carefree girls’ night out.

That night quickly unravels into a nightmare when Skyler vanishes without a trace. Her friends Rachel and Daniela, portrayed with raw urgency and emotional depth, refuse to sit back as the police chase dead ends.

As Rachel digs deeper, the film peels back layers of deceit and every character hides something, and no one is who they seem. Director Tomas Decurgez balances moody cinematography with tight pacing, creating an atmosphere where even silence feels dangerous. The urban nightlife scenes, shot with grainy realism, amplify the sense of dread.

While some secondary characters feel underdeveloped, the suspense never lets up. The psychological tension drives the story, exploring friendship, guilt, and secrets that resurface when trust is broken. Told through a non-linear narrative, flashbacks gradually reveal the truth behind Skyler’s disappearance.

By the time the mystery unravels, Lying in Wait proves to be more than a simple kidnapping story; it’s a haunting exploration of betrayal and the dark corners of the human heart.

⭐ Rating: 4/5 — A gripping and atmospheric thriller worth watching.

*Thank you to One Tree Entertainment for the screener link for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Lying in Wait still. Photo: One Tree Entertainment, used with permission.

Stephen King’s Dystopian Classic ‘The Running Man’ Gets a Bold New Adaptation in 2025

The new book to movie adaptation starring Glen Powell hits theaters on November 7. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Stephen King’s “The Running Man” Returns — and Hits the Big Screen

Originally published under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman in 1982, The Running Man later appeared as part of The Bachman Books collection in 1985. Now, this dark, dystopian thriller is making its way to the big screen, with Paramount’s new adaptation set to premiere on November 7, 2025.

A Deadly Game of Survival

In the world of The Running Man, survival is the only goal.

Ben Richards has lost everything—his job, his savings, and nearly his hope. With a sick daughter in need of urgent medical care, he takes a desperate gamble and signs up for the nation’s most popular (and brutal) reality show: The Running Man, where contestants are hunted for sport.

If Ben can stay alive for thirty days, he’ll win a billion dollars. The catch? No one has ever survived more than eight days. Pursued by a lethal strike force trained to kill, Richards must navigate a world where every step could be his last.

It’s a chilling story about desperation, power, and the lengths one man will go to save his family.

The Film Adaptation

The Running Man (2025)
A man joins a game show where contestants can run anywhere in the world—while professional “hunters” track them down.

  • Director: Edgar Wright
  • Writers: Michael Bacall, Stephen King, Edgar Wright
  • Stars: Glen Powell, Emilia Jones, Josh Brolin
  • Genre: Dystopian Sci-Fi, Dark Comedy, Survival, Action Adventure
  • Running Time: 140 minutes

With Wright’s trademark style and a powerhouse cast, this adaptation promises to bring King’s high-stakes vision to thrilling, satirical life.

About the Author

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent works include Never Flinch, You Like It Darker, Holly, Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (co-written with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges Trilogy: Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch.

King is the recipient of numerous honors, including:

  • 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award
  • 2014 National Medal of Arts
  • 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
Photo: Paramount Pictures

Tally Koren: The Voice Turning Familiar Melodies into Unforgettable Moments

Tally Koren announces new EP featuring epic interpretation of Snow Patrol’s ‘Chasing Cars.’ Photo: TCK Productions, used with permission.

Tally Koren: Redefining the Art of the Cover Song

A rising artist making her mark on the UK music scene

Tally Koren is quickly becoming a name to watch in the music industry. Known for her innovative approach to both covers and original compositions, she recently reached No. 10 on the UK Club Chart, solidifying her reputation as a creative force with staying power. (TCK Productions, 2025)

Best known for her acclaimed single “Beauty of the Duty,” Koren boasts an impressive catalogue of live performances, including appearances at The Royal Albert Hall, The National Arboretum, The Belgrade Theatre (Coventry), and The House of Lords. She also performed live at the MK Dons Stadium to open a match on International Peace Day 2019.

A recipient of the Fringe Award for Best Singer-Songwriter, Koren has been featured on BBC Radio 2 with Graham Norton, Chris Evans, and Steve Wright—further testament to her growing influence and recognition.

A Bold New Chapter: Reimagining “Chasing Cars”

The acclaimed artist is set to captivate audiences once again with her highly anticipated new EP, featuring a stunning reinterpretation of Snow Patrol’s classic “Chasing Cars.” It is set for release on October 10, 2025.

Koren’s latest project promises to be her most ambitious yet, offering listeners an immersive musical experience that invites them to “escape and forget the world.” Working alongside her trusted team of producers, she has crafted a version that blends her signature laid-back vocal style with a heartfelt yearning for unity and connection.

“When I do covers, I never like to listen to the original and like to make the song my own,” explains Koren. “I will not dream to make the song as good as the original—it’s one of my favorite singers—but I know my version makes you fly higher.”

Making the Familiar Feel New

This fresh approach to reimagining classic songs has become Koren’s trademark. Her ability to honor the spirit of a beloved track while transforming it into something uniquely her own sets her apart from many of her contemporaries.

Her interpretation of “Chasing Cars” takes listeners on a journey through sound and emotion, turning a familiar melody into an epic, transcendent experience that showcases both her artistic vision and vocal power.

Continuing Her Ascent

This new EP marks an exciting milestone in Tally Koren’s musical journey. Building on her recent chart success, it reflects her evolution as an artist unafraid to take risks and push creative boundaries.

With her distinctive voice and her gift for breathing new life into established songs, Koren continues to establish herself as a truly unique presence in the contemporary music landscape.