Wolf Man is the latest horror movie from Leigh Whannell, who’s known for horror hits including Insidious, Saw, and most recently, his adaptation of the Universal Monster movie The Invisible Man. Wolf Man was one of my most anticipated horror movies of 2025, and I'm pleased to say that Whannell has delivered once again, with a surprisingly heartfelt tale that takes us on a horrifying journey of grief and loss.
These themes are present throughout the whole movie, and it wastes no time in throwing us straight into the action after a family – parents Blake (Christopher Abbott) and Charlotte (Julia Garner), and their daughter Ginger (Matilda Firth) – are attacked by a creature during a full moon. The family end up barricading themselves into their isolated farmhouse hoping to protect themselves from the danger that lurks outside – but unknowingly, they’ve inadvertently locked dangerinside with them.
Blake’s body begins to deteriorate and transform into something monstrous, confronting the viewer with horror that is both physical and psychological. Much like The Substance, our favorite body horror of 2024, it doesn't shy away from the gory detail and physiological trauma of a human being metamorphosing into something utterly inhuman . Expect nails ripping off, a jaw being broken, and bones moving – and it sounds as dreadful as it looks, thanks to a sound design that leaves nothing to the imagination, and which really elevates the whole movie. And yet, as horrific as it is to witness, it's the psychological aspects of Blake's transformation that scared me the most. The loss of a person’s identity is a recurring theme across many body horrors; it’s perhaps captured best in the way that Jeff Goldblum’s scientist slowly loses his mind as he loses his humanity in The Fly, and in Wolf Man Whannell approaches a similarly traumatic metamorphosis through a very sympathetic lens.
Without giving too much away, Wolf Man uses some clever POV shifting so we get to experience Blake’s transformation through both human and wolf's eyes, with the latter making for some particularly distressing scenes. As he changes into a ferocious wild animal, Blake can no longer understand his terrified wife and daughter., everything is more heightened. Their inability to communicate cleverly mirrors Blake and Charlotte's already strained relationship.
(Image credit: Blumhouse)
The goal of a the original Universal Monster movies was to be scary, and the creature in the latest Wolf Man adaptation certainly is. There are some effective jump scares here, again thanks in part to the sound design, which are best experienced on a big screen, though some might argue that the movie is too reliant on the jump. I'm inclined to agree – and for me the psychological aspects of the story are just as frightening if not more so.
The creature design did seem to divide audiences when teasers for Wolf Man were first released, and while I do think it could have been a bit more, well, wolf-like in places, no horror movie has so far really managed to nail the werewolf, and any shortcomings in this department are easily made up for by Abbott’s performance as a man losing both his own humanity and the people he loves. I can easily forgive some slightly-off special effects when a story is as rich and thought-provoking as this, proving that sometimes raw, human emotion is the scariest thing of all. All three of the lead actors are fantastic, but 10-year-old Matilda Firth deserves a special shoutout for the way in which she skilfully navigates the terrifying, dark, jump-filled landscape of Wolf Man, displaying a confidence and maturity way beyond her years. Considering I'm approaching 30 and I watched a lot of this through my fingers, she's officially braver than me.
Wolf Man is quite a way to start 2025, and while January is not typically the season for horror, it's already set the bar high for scarier entries among the new movies we’re looking forward to this year. You’ll want to catch it in the theater for the best experience – but you might want to make sure there's not a full moon that night, as it could make for a nerve-jangling walk home.
It's been three years since Severance captivated us with its mystery-filled plot. Apple's dark comedy thriller series rightly earned plenty of acclaim and awards for its debut season, but, amid the seemingly infinite unanswered questions its twisty-turny story posed, one in particular has stood out since season 1 ended in April 2022: could a second installment, which was greenlit days after season 1's final entry, live up to or even exceed fan expectations?
Mark Scout's return to Lumon Industries poses some immediate questions for him and viewers alike (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
After a brief audio montage of the season 1 finale's bombshell moments plays over a black screen, Severance season 2 opens on Mark Scout's (Adam Scott) surprisingly swift return to Lumon. Episode 1's cleverly-executed 'one-shot' reintroduction sequence, which is essentially an extended version of Severance season 2's first teaser, shows Mark's 'innie' – i.e. Mark S – racing through the shady institution's maze-like corridors to seemingly reunite with his colleagues Helly R (Britt Lower), Dylan G (Zach Cherry), and Irving B (John Turturro).
I would've liked to have seen more of Mark butting heads with his new co-workers
Or so he thinks. Eventually finding his way back to the Macrodata Refinement office, Mark S is unexpectedly greeted by some unfamiliar faces, including the Severed Floor's new deputy manager Ms Wong (Sarah Bock).
Seth Milchick (Tramell Tillman), who's replaced Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette) as the the floor's head honcho, then appears to reveal that five months have passed since Mark and his fellow 'innies' carried out their Overtime Contingency stunt. That prison break-style quest, dubbed the 'Macrodata Uprising', saw the 'innies' successfully – albeit temporarily – merge with their 'outies' in the real world and almost expose Lumon's nefarious working practices to the unsuspecting public. That incident, Milchick claims, led to 'Severance Reform', a supposedly radical overhaul of Lumon's working conditions and employees' rights.
Way to burst Mark's balloons, Seth... (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
But it's not all good news. Per more succinct story exposition, Milchick claims that Helly, Irving, and Dylan decided not to rejoin Mark at Lumon, hence the aforementioned strangers being hired to replace them.
This specific revelation cleverly reimagines the show's very first episode, which saw Mark S welcome chaotic newcomer Helly to Lumon. This time, Mark is positioned as the group's rebel-in-chief, with his attempts to sabotage his new colleagues and reunite with his previous workmates bringing the series' pleasing blend of absurdist humor and disquieting drama to the fore mere minutes into season 2's premiere.
Peculiarly, this nascent team restructuring is a short-lived affair as, spoilers notwithstanding, it isn't long before Mark S is reunited with his Lumon peers. Given the slick and sharp chemistry between the show's main cast, I understand why creator Dan Erickson and director/producer Ben Stiller waste little time in reconnecting them. Nevertheless, I would've liked to have seen more of Mark butting heads with his new co-workers, and raging against the megacorporate machine over their hiring to humorous and dramatic effect before being reunited with the aforementioned trio.
Getting the band back together
Helly and Mark S investigate new areas of Lumon Industries throughout season 2 (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
That reunion, which occurs just before episode 1's midpoint, is necessitated by season 2's overarching plot, and the inter- and intrapersonal relationships that make the Apple TV Plus show tick.
Severance's strength lies in the friendships, and the budding romance between Mark S and Helly, that were established in season 1. So, while there's a need to fill in the narrative gaps between last season's cliffhanger and this season's premiere – a series of episode 2 flashbacks get us up to speed on what's happened in the interim – expanding on those key relationships and other character-driven aspects is vital to Severance's ongoing success. It's not a complete shock, then, that Mark S is reunited with his buddies as early as possible.
Season 2's expasion of those key relationships and other character-driven aspects is vital to Severance's ongoing success
But things aren't hunky dory upon the group's reformation. Whether it's Helly's reluctance to tell the others that her 'outie' is none other than Helena Egan, aka the daughter of Lumon's current CEO, or other spoiler-filled subplots which I can't expand on, season 2 does a upstanding job of putting its core characters through the psychological and emotional wringer. Much of that stems from their individual and collective decision-making in last season's finale, the ramifications of which are keenly felt in this season's early episodes and make for engrossing viewing as Mark S and company grapple with the severity and significance of their so-called uprising.
Dylan and Irving's entertaining bromance is examined further in season 2 (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
Those problems also bring the conflicting ideals, motives, and desires of each individual's 'outie' and 'innie' into sharp focus. As the show's protagonist, Mark's intrapersonal dynamic was examined extensively throughout season 1, but, as he wrestles with new and long-standing issues this season, there's a gratifying evolution to his character arc that puts a distinct spin on the series' exploration of morality. Indeed, whether it's his desire to quit Lumon, ensure his 'innie' succeeds in rescuing Ms Casey (Dichen Lachman) – remember, she's the 'innie' version of Mark's deceased, real-world wife – or take an experimental, life-threatening leap into the unknown, the moral complexities of Mark and his 'innie' character feel more substantial this season.
Season 2 does a upstanding job of putting its core characters through the psychological and emotional wringer
Pleasingly, this exploration also extends to Helly, Irving B, and Dylan G, how the choices made by their 'innie' personas impact their 'outies', and the growing unease and/or anger over the lack of autonomy that these 'innies' have compared to their 'outie' counterparts.
Just as season 1 did with Mark, season 2 analyzes who these people are outside of Lumon, including the struggles they face – yes, even someone as emotionally manipulative and callous as Helena is confronted with everyday challenges – and the real-world relationships they maintain. Examining the lives of each character's 'outie' humanizes (or, in Helena's case, dehumanizes) them in enlightening ways and occasionally made me re-evaluate who I was rooting for as new light was shed on the moral ambiguity of, and internal battles taking place within, each character.
Out of office
In season 2, the 'innies' are intentionally dropped into the real world by Lumon Industries (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
Following on from the embryonic blending of the real-world and Lumon narratives in last season's finale, Severance's second chapter slowly and deliberately continues to merge its dual storylines together, oftentimes to devastating effect. From episode 4's real-world company retreat for the 'innies', which adds a deliciously novel layer of trippy horror to proceedings, to Lumon's unsevered higher-ups wilfully seeking out the Macrodata Refiners' loved ones, such as Mark's sister Devon (Jen Tullock) for devilish reasons, the interweaving of the 'innie' and 'outie' worlds triggers some blindsiding character incidents that' I suspect will reverberate through season 2 and beyond.
The interweaving of the 'innie' and 'outie' worlds triggers some blindsiding character moments
Season 2's much-needed exploration of the wider threat posed by Lumon is most welcome, too. The Egan family-founded organization's questionable practices have been notable from the outset, but there was the inherent belief among audiences that their operation was restricted to the US. Season 2 heavily implies that this isn't the case, however, and I'm certainly intrigued to see how big Lumon's global reach is as this season and the overall series progresses, and whether Mark S and his cohorts stand any chance of tearing it down from the inside.
Sarah Bock's Ms Wong is one of nine new additions to Severance's cast in season 2 (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
Severance's ability to dangle mysteries right in front of our noses without offering much, if anything, in the way of explanations is equally riveting. Season 2 maintains the show's puzzle-laced aura and penchant for 'new weird' storytelling with mesmeric effect, and I'm convinced an immeasurable amount of new fan theories will be born out of the latest secrets and enigmas it presents. Oh, and for anyone besotted by season 1's baby goats, you'll be pleased to learn that, even though they were teased in Severance season 2's official trailer, their reappearance isn't superficial. Just don't expect any of your most pressing questions about them to be answered (there is, though, an amusing season 1 call-back as part of this installment's goats-based subplot, which I appreciated).
Gwendoline Christie's enigmatic character has ties to Severance's adorable baby goats (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
As for this season's fledgling new dynamics, Milchick and Ms Wong's is the most worthy of being highlighted. The introduction of other enigmatic characters, such as Mr. Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson), certainly add sinister weight to one of the best Apple TV Plus shows' sophomore outing. Nevertheless, the addition of a pre-teen in Bock's Ms Wong to Lumon's ranks underpins the clandestine organization's iniquitous nature and only intensifies the unease I felt every time she appeared and/or was chastized by one of her superiors. Her hiring as Milchick's junior and questioning of his true aspirations, though, ruffles her supervisor's feathers, and I'm fascinated to see how this dynamic evolves as season 2 progresses.
Harmony Cobel is largely relegated to the sidelines in season 2's early entries
The only minor issue I have with this dynamic is it deprives us of season 1's tetchy and enthralling Cobel-Milchick partnership. In fact, Cobel is largely relegated to the sidelines in season 2's early entries, which greatly disappointed me. I've no doubt that Arquette's cryptic individual has a bigger role to play in Severance's sequel season, but I would've loved to see more of her verbal bouts with Lumon's hierarchy and Mark, especially in the wake of last season's fiery finale.
I'd argue, though, that its follow-up is a darker, more unsettlingly comedic, oft-times saccharine, and intelligently assembled season that's equal parts a coming-of-age story and corporate retelling of the classic David versus Goliath tale. Truth be told, there's very little about Severance season 2 that made me want to *ahem* sever ties with it. Simply put, it's the first unmissable show of 2025.
Severance season 2 premieres on Apple TV Plus on Friday, January 17. New episodes air weekly.
Moana 2 is not the follow-up we expected, as it was originally meant to be a Disney Plus show and instead arrived as a feature film. I must admit it was lovely seeing it on the big screen, especially during a gloomy December evening in London, but I can't help but imagine what a full series would've looked like.
Personally, I rather like the idea of an entire series dedicated to Hei Hei, a la Forky Asks a Question which centers on the much-loved toy fork character from Toy Story 4. An eight-episode series about a stupid chicken is right up my street.
I did have high hopes going into this movie, and I am happy to say that most of my expectations were met. Such bright and beautiful visuals are always a welcome treat. For example, I am fascinated by how well they seem to animate water. With this in mind, I would encourage you to see this on a big screen or at least have a great at-home setup for maximum immersion, as it's easy to find yourself swept away to the island of Motunui and what lies beyond.
Three years later...
(Image credit: Disney)
Moana 2 picks up three years after the first movie, where Moana is still fully connected to the ocean she adores so much. When she receives an unexpected call from her ancestors, she assembles a crew as a wayfinder where she hopes to track down the hidden island of Motufetu, reconnecting the people of the ocean once again.
As ever, she is enthusiastic about the mission, perilous as it may be, and would have been quite happy going off and doing it all by herself. She is encouraged to form a crew instead, and this merry band of misfits is thoroughly entertaining to watch. So much so, I think it will be worth rewatching when it arrives on Disney Plus.
The four-person crew is made up of Moana, Moni (Hualālai Chung), who is a superfan of the demigod Maui, Loto (Rose Matafeo), who is an engineer of sorts, and Kele (David Fane), a farmer who is grumpy and not massively thrilled to be recruited. This mismatch of personalities is excellent fun, resulting in some expected chaos, especially when you throw in Hei Hei and Pua. They say to never work with animals for a reason, right?
I really loved Moana's crew and all the performances. Still, one that stood out to me the most was Moana's little sister Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), who stole the show despite her limited screen time thanks to her feisty, lovable personality. If Moana 3 does happen, I'd certainly like to see more of her!
Exploring familiar shores
(Image credit: Disney Plus)
Along the way, they do locate Maui, of course, because Moana simply would not be complete without Dwayne Johnson's cocky, reckless demigod figure. When Moni finally meets Maui, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
While the plot of Moana 2 is centered around finding a new, long-lost island, it's quite ironic that many of the beats feel similar to what we've seen before. This is a journey we have undertaken as viewers, but I didn't mind following along for a second time!
Going on a voyage with Moana is always wonderful, I adore the songs, the atmosphere, everything about it. Even though we didn't quite reach the memorable heights of "You're Welcome", I have had some of the songs stuck in my head this week, especially "What Could Be Better Than This?", so it's not like any of the songs were complete duds.
While predictable in places, there is plenty of action, especially when it comes to the third act, where I did actually start crying, the mark of any good Disney movie, in my opinion. If I'm not sobbing into my popcorn, I do find myself kind of disappointed. There is also more than room for a follow-up movie, and I sincerely hope it happens.
Just give me more Hei Hei next time, please, I really do love him!
Mention SiriusXM and most people think of the service that uses satellites to beam hundreds of music, talk, comedy, news, and sports radio stations to automobiles. That service has become popular for several reasons. First, traditional (i.e., terrestrial AM/FM) radio isn’t what it used to be. Second, for many in rural areas, the ability to receive terrestrial station signals can be limited.
However, there is a SiriusXM internet-based mobile app that delivers virtually all of the content found on the satellite service. While that typically requires a line of site between the automobile and the satellite to work, like the best music streaming services, the SiriusXM app only requires a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. It will work on your iOS or Android-based phone or tablet and is also supported by many of the best TVs, the best streaming devices, and the best wireless speakers from brands such as Sonos and Bose. The app’s content can also be accessed on a computer web browser. SiriusXM’s app has you covered whether you are home, outside exercising, in your car, or anywhere else where you can access the internet.
The SiriusXM app’s All Access” $9.99 per month subscription plan includes an astonishing amount of content that is sure to provide something for everyone. It features over 425 streaming stations and thousands of podcasts courtesy of Pandora, which is owned by SiriusXM. As discussed below, there’s also exclusive content, the crowning jewel of which is The Howard Stern Show and its related programming.
Unlike streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Qobuz, and Tidal, the SiriusXM app does not support the playback of specific music tracks or the creation of track-specific music playlists. (Users can train the app through thumbs up and down icons to play the type of music that they like, however.) Also, some of the music channels can get a bit repetitive and the sound quality won’t satisfy those using expensive, audiophile playback gear. Still, with the enormous amount of content available on the app, all of which is served up via a slick interface, we think the only problem will be deciding what to listen to and watch.
SiriusXM app review: Pricing and subscription
The SiriusXM app's Library, Live Sports, and Podcasts screens (Image credit: SiriusXM)
$9.99 per month
Three-month free trial
No free ad-based tier
A SiriusXM app All Access subscription plan costs $9.99 per month and can be canceled at any time. It provides access to over 425 channels of ad-free music, news, talk, comedy, and sports. Also included are the Howard Stern channels, video, sports talk, live sports coverage, artist stations, Pandora podcasts, and exclusive in-studio content.
If you want also to receive SiriusXM satellite radio for your car, numerous plans start at $16.98 per month. Details about those plans are available on SiriusXM’s website.
As with competitors like Apple Music, there's no free ad-based tier for any SiriusXM subscription plan. Nor is there a comprehensive family plan, although there is a discount for each additional subscription within the family. Students can get the All Access plan for $4 per month. Also, a three-month free trial for All Access will let you determine if it is right for you.
SiriusXM app review: Specs
SiriusXM app review: Content
SiriusXM app screens (Image credit: SiriusXM)
Over 425 diverse audio channels, plus video
Includes ad-free music and live-action sports
Pandora podcasts
The content library available with the SiriusXM app’s All Access subscription plan is, to say the least, extremely vast. For example, if you’ve come to the SiriusXM app for music, there are plenty of ad-free music stations ranging from SiriusXM Hits 1 (pop hits from Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus, etc.) to Oldies Party (The Supremes, Elvis Presley, etc.) and Miles Davis Radio (24/7 Miles Davis music).
Though the tracks on some of the app’s music stations can sometimes be repetitive, there’s always another interesting station or special event to tune in to. For example, SiriusXM’s Billy Joel Channel is currently broadcasting that artist’s final show from his ten-year Madison Square Garden residency.
Speaking of concerts, one fun thing about the SiriusXM app is the weekly giveaways. Some of the giveaways are tickets to see an artist at a venue near the entrant’s home. Others throw in an all-expenses paid trip to see an artist at a venue far away, such as Taylor Swift performing in Miami, Florida during her Eras tour.
For talk and entertainment fans, the elephant in the room is SiriusXM’s exclusive arrangement with talk host Howard Stern, who has two channels on the platform. Howard 100 broadcasts his show live and then repeats them until the next live show airs, while Howard 101 broadcasts a supplemental “wrap-up show,” archived Stern content, special features, and video clips recorded in Stern’s SiriusXM studio. Other interesting talk and entertainment channels include Business Radio (business, money, and life) and Crime Junkie Radio (24/7 true crime).
If you like sports, there is not only talk and analysis, but extensive play-by-play game coverage. ESPN Radio (sports talk and big games), SiriusXM College Sports Radio, and SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio (live tour coverage and talk) are just a few available stations. And there are also sports giveaway contests, such as VIP tickets to see the New York Jets play at their training camp.
Those seeking comedy on the SiriusXM app will want to check out Comedy Central Radio, Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Radio, Raw Comedy (uncensored), Pure Comedy (comedy for the entire family), and Comedy Classics. Yet another recent SiriusXM giveaway contest: an all-expense-paid trip to see Kevin Hart in Los Angeles. News junkies, meanwhile, will appreciate stations from the BBC, CNN, NPR, Fox News, and C-Span, among many others.
There are also several off-the-beaten-path channels on the app. These include Mental Health Radio (by NYU’s Langone Health), Road Dog Trucking (all things relating to the trucking industry), and Rural Radio (agricultural and other issues affecting rural America and Canada).
There’s also plenty of exclusive content to check out beyond Howard Stern such as music stations DJ’d by artists and celebrities and audio and video clips of interviews and musical performances recorded in SiriusXM’s studios. Recent videos that the app suggested for me included interviews of actor Matt Damon, comedian Will Arnet, musician Nelly Furtado, and actress Jamie Lee Curtis. Also recommended were musical performances by Upsahl and Common and Pete Rock, as well as several comedy clips by Jeff Lewis.
If all of the above were already not enough, the All Access plan also includes the full library of Pandora’s podcast stations.
SiriusXM app review: Apps and compatibility
The Sirius XM app is compatible with wireless streaming speakers from Sonos, Google, and Amazon (Image credit: Future)
Slick and attractive design
Smart channel surfing and playback features
No specific track playback, but app learns what you like
I very much enjoyed using the SiriusXM app, which is continually updated and improved and is available for iOS and Android devices, smart TVs, and streaming devices from Apple, Roku, Amazon, and Google. It looks great, is user-friendly, and works well.
The app has three main tabs. Discover is broken down by content type and is where user-specific recommended content, including daily “morning picks” are displayed. The Discover tab is also where frequently and recently listened to channels are located.
Search allows for app-wide content searches and also displays trending and popular searches. Library is where you will find your designated favorite channels (including artist channels) and downloaded content. (You can locally download content that does not contain music.) Another Library tab feature is the ability for sports fans to add favorite teams so they can quickly access team-related information, programming, and contests.
The app does not allow users to search for and play a specific music track or create track-specific playlists as you can with Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, and other services, though there is the ability to create what SiriusXM calls “artist-based” stations. To find such a station, just search for an artist in the app and a relevant station will typically appear in the search results. You can then train the app to better play more of what you like by selecting a thumbs-up or thumbs-down icon for each track played on that station.
A channel may play live and/or recorded content. Under one of the app’s default settings, “TuneStart,” music starts at the beginning of a track. This feature, which can also be disabled, facilitates channel surfing since you won’t call up a channel only to hear the end of the track.
The SiriusXM app generally lets users “skip” up to six times per hour for preprogrammed music and comedy channels. Outside of these channel types, skipping is not permitted on some channels and is unlimited on others.
SiriusXM app review: Sound and Video Quality
(Image credit: SiriusXM)
Sound quality gets the job done
No high-resolution or spatial audio
Video looks great
The SiriusXM app offers Normal, High, and Maximum streaming quality settings for both audio and video. No technical specifications for compression format, bit rate, etc. are given for these classifications. Indeed, sample streams on Tidal and Qobuz, and Apple Music’s ALAC (lossless) files typically sounded better than streams over SiriusXM when I made listening comparisons. There are also no options for high-resolution audio or Atmos/spatial audio.
For video, moving from the app’s Normal to Maximum settings on my iPhone 14 Pro Max didn’t appreciably improve picture quality, even in full-screen mode – sharpness and color accuracy were great at all settings. It’s possible, however, that the Normal setting will be the best option for a stable stream if your cellular reception is poor.
Bottom line: For most people, the quality of the SiriusXM app’s audio and video streams will be more than adequate.
Should you subscribe to the SiriusXM app?
Subscribe if...
You want an enormous content catalog: Most users will never come close to taking advantage of all of the content available under the All Access plan. If you seek lots of varied content, the app is for you.
You love The Howard Stern Show: SiriusXM is the only place where you will find Howard Stern’s shows and supplemental content. The app is a must for diehard Stern fans.
Don't subscribe if...
You want to be able to play specific tracks: The app does not allow you to play specific music tracks or make track-specific playlists. Look elsewhere if that’s important to you.
You want top audio quality: We prefer other streaming services in terms of audio performance. Look elsewhere if you seek the one with the highest level of sound quality.
