For the first time in a long while, it seems like Silent Hill fans have cause for optimism, and Silent Hill f's appropriately unsettling reveal is a big part of that. Silent Hill f will be the first new game in the franchise since Silent Hill: Downpour in 2012, so needless to say, there is a lot riding on its success.

This article was originally published on GameDevDigest.com

Baby Steps was first revealed to the world in June 2023, and upon first viewing it, I didnt know what to think. Surprises are few and far between when you have been gaming for over 30 years, but the reveal trailer left me with perplexing emotions. I was in a mental tug-of-war between, Ive never quite seen something quite like this and, Does this concept really have a leg to stand on? Well, after about an hour of playing the game, I was ten toes down.The game starts with a snippet of exposition. Youre a grown man named Nate living at home, and without warning, youre thrown into the game world. Youre taught how to walk and tasked with making it out of a cave that serves as the tutorial area, and then you take the first steps into the open world, with one goal in mind: make it to the mountain in the far off distance.To the ends of the earthThis wasnt a mountain separated by cut-scenes and different hub areas, but a specific geographical goal I would have to advance to in real-time, creeping closer with every step. This realization swept me off my feet.It started on a much smaller course, Said Bennett Foddy, one of the creators of Baby Steps. But just as a test, I made a level that was 100 meters wide, and it was immediately clear to us that that was going to make for much more interesting gameplay, involving strategic route-finding as well as tactical foot placement. And surely it wouldnt be that hard to make an open-world game!Step-by-stepOnce the shock of the worlds scope wore off, I instantly bypassed the direct route for something more interesting that caught my eye and headed for what appeared to be a carousel in the distance. Since there is no map or waypoints here, where you go depends on you as the player. With campfires in the distance serving as markers for the true direction you should head toward. As I walked through mud, puddles, sticks, and stones, the DualSense controller features began to shine, as every texture was met with the appropriate sensation and the oddly satisfying crunch of the earth and other material under my feet.Theres a cutting-edge experimental music system that works in sync with the walking sim, Foddy said. I think weve woven a pretty thought-provoking story from Nates situation as well. And the game is packed full of other surprises.Since I breezed through the earlier tutorial and started making tracks through a bizarre, seemingly desolate carnival, I spied a mysterious object atop the carousel, which led me to my first challenge: conquering mediumto medium-high ledges and slippery surfaces.The object called me like a moth to a flame, and I spent some time figuring out how to raise my knees high enough for a step big enough to clear the ledge and how wide of a step to take to complete the motion without falling over. Though it was only a minute or two, I felt like I had conquered a tough boss battle. What awaited me at the top of the spiral slope? A hat.A simple hat, yes, but one that held surprises, that Ill let you discover for yourself. Baby Steps has dozens upon dozens of collectibles to find, and the purpose they serve is part of the journey. Though none of them will help you walk better thats always in your hands (or rather, feet).But dont worrythe devs assured me the game is something to enjoy for players of all skill levels. Thats the beauty of the open world. If you fail or fall, you can always head toward another point of interest or stumble upon the unexpected.I have had a pretty good time in the past putting out difficult games and not turning too many players away, Foddy said. But weve tried pretty hard to make a game that looks hard but plays pretty chill. Probably weve made it too easy.Break a legThere are no checkpoints, you cant die, and no fast travel. The only change is your ability to walk up straight and the terrain. While there is a story and a definitive end to the narrative, you can explore and see what you can find after the credits roll.Like many open-world games, how much youre willing to learn about the world and Nate will depend on the player. I saw Nate as nothing more than a vehicle to experience the world, but after a few discoveries and a cryptic note or two, my desire to find out the who, what, where, when, and why of his strange predicament became my first priority.While my time was brief, it was still enough to meet a handful of supporting characters, some of whom can be completely missed. There was always a new thread to follow and the proverbial/literal mountain to climb. I asked the team if Nates journey had some grander subtext, or if he was just a guy with an objective to complete.Everyone has days where theyre feeling a little awkward, said Foddy. A little clumsy, maybe a little lost and confused. I think we can all relate a little. But as for his glutes, thats a power I could only dream of having.I didnt expect to be so enamored with a game where every step you take can be challenging, but I was. I was willing to spend ten minutes or an hour to get that item slightly out of reach or to find out what that out-of-place structure was in the distance. While I have no idea whats out there in Baby Steps, Im looking forward to seeing where my feet will take me.

The wait is over! Masters of Light is now one of the first games to introduce full hand tracking on PlayStation VR2, pushing the boundaries of immersive gameplay like never before. As the creator of Masters of Light and co-founder of Coven, Im beyond excited to bring this revolutionary update to PlayStation fans.Learn specific gestures to teleport, block meteors and fight!Harness magic with your own handsImagine stepping into the world of Masters of Light and casting spells with nothing but your handsno controllers needed. This is the power of PS VR2s new hand tracking technology, allowing you to unleash beams of light, summon shields, and control energy like a true celestial warrior. Every flick of your wrist, every precise movement, translates into real-time spellcasting, making battles feel more intuitive, immersive, and exhilarating than ever.Masters of Light features high energy first person combat where focus, timing and strategy are keys to victory.A new standard for immersionWhen we first envisioned Masters of Light, our goal was to make players feel truly empowered. From the very beginning, we built our combat system around fluid, natural gesturesinspired by self defense moves. Now, thanks to PlayStation VR2s advanced tracking capabilities, players can experience the game as we originally imagined: with pure hand movement, free from controllers.Frantic hand tracking moves will keep you physically engaged in the fights. You WILL break a sweat!The evolution of Hand Tracking in VRAt Coven, weve been developing hand-tracking games for years, pushing the technology forward with every project. Bringing this feature to PS VR2 was an incredible challenge, but also a dream come true. This would have not been possible without the support of our incredible porting team, VR Monkey. Here is what they have to say:Implementing the hand tracking in two and a half months was a challenge, since officially Unity hasnt added PS VR2s hand tracking support. So one of our developers (Thanks Eric Gregory) created an in-house plugin that took advantage of Sonys new state of the art tracking system to make hand tracking run at 60 frames per second (currently the highest available on the market).After that, we could harness the powerful gesture detection system of the PlayStation 5 to recreate all of the games powers and interactions in a weeks work.Weve refined the system to make sure every motion is responsive, every action feels powerful, and every battle is a seamless blend of strategy and skill.New enemies and superpowers are unlocked as players progress in the game, climaxing in insane battles that will leave you breathless.Play your wayWith this new update, Masters of Light now offers multiple control options:Hand tracking mode No controllers, just pure hand movements for spellcasting and navigation.PS VR2 Sense controller mode Experience the game with the precision and feedback of adaptive triggers and haptics.Whether you prefer the tactile power of controllers or the freedom of true hand-tracked gameplay, the choice is yours.Use the shockwave gesture to push away all the enemies at once. Reactivate ancient crystals with your inner light to open Gates to other constellations.A galactic battle awaitsIf you havent joined the fight yet, now is the perfect time. Step into the role of The Wanderer, a being of light battling against the encroaching darkness. Travel across stunning cosmic landscapes, uncover ancient secrets, and challenge the black holes core in a fight to save the galaxy. With 36 action-packed levels, leaderboards, and the intense Grand Master difficulty mode, theres always a new challenge to conquer.Hidden in the 36 levels are ancient ruins that can be reactivated by the player to unlock pieces of the lore.Join the revolutionHand tracking on PS VR2 marks a huge leap forward for virtual reality, and were honored to be among the first to bring it to PlayStation fans. Whether youre a longtime VR player or diving in for the first time, Masters of Light delivers an experience thats intuitive, thrilling, and truly next-gen.Are you ready to wield the power of light with your own hands? Masters of Light is available now on PlayStation VR2download the update and step into a new era of VR gaming today!Play Video

If youre coming over to InZoi from playing The Sims, you may be wondering: Where are the InZoi cheat codes at? In The Sims games, cheat codes do way more than just give you money you can turn off aging, make it so you can move furniture not aligned to the grid, and many other things. So where are those options in InZoi?Below, we explain the cheat code situation in InZoi and how to get more money.Are there cheat codes in InZoi?The answer is: There are no cheat codes in InZoi yet. According to the developer roadmap streamed by Krafton in March, the first update in May will include in-game cheat codes players can use. We dont know fully what the cheats will let you do yet, but know that they are coming.There is, however, a built-in money cheat you can use to instantly get money!InZoi money cheatIf you open the Psycats Guide, indicated with the little book with the question mark on it in the bottom right of the screen, you can see a use money cheat button in the bottom left corner. Just hit that and youll be given an instant 100,000 Meows. Nice.Thats all there is for now, though well update this guide when more cheat options become available in InZoi.

Frenzy shards are a material that you get from taking on special fights in Monster Hunter Wilds. The item is a must if you want to craft certain sets of armor, like the Feylne Artian set. To get these shards, you need to fight frenzied monsters, creatures that are in a special agitated state. This guide will go show you how to get frenzy shards in Monster Hunter Wilds, as well as explain how to unlock frenzied monsters and go over uses for the item.How to find frenzied monsters in Monster Hunter WildsMonster Hunter Wilds introduces frenzied monsters in the Chapter 4-2 main story quest Lurking Shadows. In this part of the game, you investigate changes that have affected the monsters in Wounded Hollow and fight a Frenzied Nerscylla. Frenzied monsters (unsurprisingly) have an ailment called the frenzy virus. This condition puts the monster an agitated state and gives them special powers.You can spot them by using your map and checking the forecast, as with any other monster. A frenzied monster will be labeled as Frenzied and then have the monsters name. For example, a Frenzied Blangonga is a monster that has this special condition. You can see what it looks like below.How to get frenzy shard in Monster Hunter Wilds The easiest way to obtain frenzy shards in Monster Hunter Wilds is by fighting frenzied monsters. We have seen reports that some frenzied monsters drop these items while fighting, however, we collected frenzy shard as a reward following the successful defeat of a Frenzied Blangonga via the menu. These monsters only spawn occasionally, so we werent able to create a comprehensive list of every single monster with the frenzy virus that drops these items. Its possible that a lot, if not most, of these monsters drop the item. (Every frenzied monster we saw listed frenzy shards as a drop.) However, the best way to be sure is to check the list of possible dropped items once you spot a frenzied monster. Here are the full instructions on how to check if a frenzied monster drops a frenzy shard.Open your map and find a frenzied monster using the instructions in the section above. Navigate your map cursor so that it highlights the frenzied monster, then examine its details.Tab to the reward section of the quest info page, and if shows Frenzy Shard as a possible reward, theres a chance youll get the item from the monster.As always, randomness will still factor into the items you get. Just because you can get something doesnt mean you will. Thats just one of many joys of huntin monsters!Crafting recipes with frenzy shards in Monster Hunter Wilds Frenzy shard is used as a material in several high rank weapons and pieces of armor. You need it to craft weapons from the Gore Magala monster, as well as several pieces of armor from that set. It can also be used to create the Alpha Artian Coil and Alpha Artian Mail for your hunter and the Felyne Artian Alpha set for your palico.Our Monster Hunter Wilds guides can outline your progress with ourmain story walkthroughandmonster listahead of reachingHigh Rank, help you settle on an armament with ourweapons listandbest weaponsexplainers, uncoverores,bones, andmonster tails, and teach you how tojoin friends in co-op multiplayer.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), collectively known together as Mixed Reality (XR), are rapidly advancing as companies focus on miniaturizing AR technology and enhancing VR capabilities. While fully immersive virtual collaboration may be the future, todays priority is to develop, learn, and collaborate on XR technology in the physical world. This vision is at the heart of the new XR Lab, designed by WindsorPatania Architects.The new XR Lab space is located at West Suffolk College in the United Kingdom, and was recently awarded the Inspiring Learning Space Award at the 2024 Education Estates Awards. The lab is an impressive high-tech space featuring a Collaboration Theatre, a Green Room, and a Conference Room. But this Green Room isnt the typical waiting area used in theaters or backstage of a concert venue its a fully immersive environment with green ceilings, walls, and floors, designed to make it easier to isolate real-world objects by removing the background, similar to green screen effects used in film production.Though it might seem that interior design wouldnt be a priority in a space dedicated to virtual experiences, the architecture is striking. The XR Lab repurposes an old workshop hangar and incorporates acoustic insulation to enhance XR immersion. Inside, high-end cameras and microphones are strategically placed to create a more natural and seamless XR experience. Beyond serving as a cutting-edge learning environment, the lab is also positioned as a business hub for the surrounding region, particularly focused on the development of XR projectors. The XR Lab is truly an inspired learning space, where ambitious architecture embodies the function of the building, says Giovanni Patania, co-director of WindsonPatania. We are very proud to have been part of this exciting and game-changing educational initiative.The design of the labs other spaces leans into a futuristic, modern aesthetic. This is emphasized by the 3D triangular mesh adorning the buildings exterior, symbolizing the advanced 3D technology being explored and developed within.We had different sources of inspiration for this project, which combined helped us deliver the wow factor our client wanted, Patania says. We reimagined the likes of the Tesla factories in the United States and the boxy Tesla Cybertruck, and even the minimalistic, monochrome interiors from the Men in Black films.Ultimately, the space will hopefully facilitate the development of new and exciting XR tech and software.You can learn more about it at windsorpatania.com. Photography courtesy of WindsorPatania Architects.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Amazon's Big Spring Sale (spanning seven days from March 25 to March 31) gives shoppers the chance to grab great deals on everything from tech to home goods. It's Amazon's second-ever spring sale, and while it may not be as flashy as Prime Day, it's still packed with discounts that are hard to ignore. Prime members get the best deals, so if you want in but dont want to commit, Amazons 30-day free trial of Prime does the trickjust remember to cancel after the sale.One of the better deals in the mix is the EufyCam S3 Pro (2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3), now going for $439.99, marked down from $549.99it's lowest price ever, according to price-trackers. It's still pricey, no doubt, but its one of the few security cameras that manages to deliver actual 4K resolution without locking you into a subscription plan. eufy Security eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit, Solar Camera Outdoor Wireless, MaxColor Night Vision, 4K Security Camera with Solar Panel, Face Recognition AI, Expandable Local Storage, No Monthly Fee $439.99 at Amazon $549.99 Save $110.00 Get Deal Get Deal $439.99 at Amazon $549.99 Save $110.00 The cameras come equipped with Eufy's MaxColor Vision technology, which uses AI-powered image enhancement and an impressive f/1.0 aperture to deliver vivid nighttime footage that's almost daylight-clear. Plus, the added benefit of the SolarPlus 2.0 panel means you can go nearly an entire year without charging the camera, provided it gets an hour of direct sunlight daily. All of this is backed by the included HomeBase 3 (with 16GB of built-in local storage, expandable up to 16TB if you ever need it), which acts not only as a storage hub but also as a siren-equipped central control for Eufy's security lineup, ensuring local video storage without recurring cloud fees.That said, while the IP67-rated EufyCam S3 Pro offers a robust feature settwo-way audio that allows you to communicate through the camera, customizable motion detection zones that can be adjusted to avoid false alerts, and AI-powered system that can distinguish between people, pets, and vehicles, ensuring you only get the notifications that matterits important to note that integrating it with Apple's HomeKit can be a bit of a headache, with resolution dropping to 1080p and necessitating an iCloud subscription for video storage (which kind of undercuts the whole no-subscription appeal), according to this ZDNet review.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Modern movie audiences seem to be as prudish as ever when it comes to sex on the big screen, as online discourse frequently runs to the tiresome topic of whether or not sex scenes are strictly "necessary" to the plot of any particular film. I'm not convinced movies ought to be so laser-focused on plot anywayreducing a Shakespeare play to just the dialogue that advances "plot" would have us in and out in 20 minutesbut suggesting sex is somehow uniquely unnecessary strikes me as an overcorrection.Yet it seems explicit sex scenes in Beau is Afraid, All of Us Strangers, Infinity Pool, Passages, Saltburn, Baby Girl, and Queer have been traumatizing unwary theatergoers as of late, even as the Oscars haven't shied awaythis year's Best Picture winner, Anora, includes a fair bit of steaminess, while last year's Poor Things, was racy enough to draw controversy and criticism, particularly in the U.K., where only a censored version was initially released.Leaving aside whether I personally find this discussion worthwhile, there certainly are films for which we can draw a straight line between sex scene and plot, or which use sex to reveal their characters (no pun intended). Consider these 31 movies, and see if you come away feeling any better about the existence of characters who fuck. Boogie Nights (1997) Though the sex isn't wildly explicit, it would be altogether silly for a film set in and around the world of 1970s cinematic porn to skip the sex scenes entirely. One moment in particular comes at the outset of Dirk Diggler/Eddie Adams' career, as he's filming his first explicit scene with Julianne Moore's Amber Waves/Maggie. The moment captures Eddie's nervousness as well as his sexual charisma, while also making clear that this is a job for everyone involved. The crew looks on while Maggie gently guides her co-star through his first on-screen orgasm. It's not an overwhelmingly passionate scene, but it is a surprisingly tender one. You can rent Boogie Nights from Prime Video. Boogie Nights (1997) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Poor Things (2023) Rather hard to choose just one sex scene here, given that the entire movie has to do with the sexual exploration of Emma Stone's childlike Bella Baxter. Running the gamut from deeply icky to aspirational, the movie doesn't lack for sexual energy, but the key moment, perhaps, is a relatively brief moment between Bella and sex worker Toinette (Suzy Bemba). It's a scene that opens Bella up to the possibility of sex as comfortable and companionable, and not merely an animal urge. Socialist Toinette teaches Bella about a world outside of fancy houses and privilege, and the beginning of their relationship marks the moment at which Bella begin her real journey. You can stream Poor Things on Prime Video. Poor Things (2023) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Brokeback Mountain (2005) OK, granted, the impromptu sex scene at the center of Brokeback Mountain was clearly choreographed and performed by people with only the vaguest notions of what sex between two men can look likeas if there exists not a single queer in Hollywood who might have been consulted. The moment pays off sexual tension that has been building between Ennis (Heath Ledger) and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) from the first frame. It's significant that the filmmakers choose to make clear that sex is a component of the attraction here, beyond the cutesy stuff. You can stream Brokeback Mountain on Peacock or rent it from Prime Video. Brokeback Mountain (2005) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Oldboy (2003) Park Chan-wook's action classic is not for the faint of heart on any level, and that includes the sex scene between Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) and Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung). It's not that the moment is itself wildly explicit, but the movie's last-act reveal of Mi-do's true identity is genuinely shocking in context, and brings the 15-year timeline of revenge and counter-revenge full circle. You can rent Oldboy from Prime Video. Oldboy (2003) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Beau is Afraid (2023) A nearly three-hour journey into the headspace of the deeply anxious title character (Joaquin Phoenix), Beau is Afraid was one of the last year's most polarizing filmsand was probably my favorite of 2023. Many of Beau's troubles stem from the vaguely psychosexual manipulations of his mother, Mona (Patti Lupone), who made sure to describe to the young Beau the mid-coitus death of his father in excruciating detail. Sexual phobias aren't the entirety of Beau's problems, but they're a key component of his inability to connect with other people. When he does finally have sex, at the movie's climax (ahem), it only makes things so, so much worse for a guy who cannot catch a break. You can stream Beau is Afraid on Max and Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Beau is Afraid (2023) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Saltburn (2023) Another of the year's most hotly debated films, Saltburn transports The Talented Mr. Ripley to Northamptonshire, England, with mixed results. Scholarship student Oliver (Barry Keoghan) has pursued Felix (Jacob Elordi) from Oxford all the way to the guy's ancestral home, only for Oliver to find (*major spoilers coming*) that his plans of getting in with the posh crowd are going to need to involve murder. His dreams of sex with Felix having gone down the drain (somewhat literally), Oliver instead fucks Felix's fresh grave. The scene is there for shock value, sure, but also makes clear that Oliver's machinations to that point were never purely strategic, and that his lust/obsession with Felix was very real. You can stream Saltburn on Prime Video. Saltburn (2023) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Terminator (1984) The love scene between Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) is neither particularly hot nor explicit, but it is essential to the film, and the franchise as a whole. Without the sex-on-the-run between the two, John Connor will never be born to save humanity, and won't be around to send Kyle Reese back in time to train Sarah. Very timey-wimey. The moment makes the great Terminator 2 possible, but also a series of largely forgettable sequelsso it's not all good news for humanity. You can stream The Terminator on MGM+ and The Roku Channel or rent it from Prime Video. The Terminator (1984) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Atonement (2007) Set over the course of, nearly, a lifetime, Atonement kicks off with Briony (Saoirse Ronan) witnessing mildly rough sex between her sister Cecilia (Keira Knightley) and the housekeeper's son Robbie (James McAvoy). Jealous and confused, the young heiress mistakes what she sees for rape, which clouds her judgement when she accuses Robbie after an actual sexual assault occurs shortly thereafter. Briony's allegation sets in motion a cascade of events that darkens the lives of those around her, allowing the real assailant to go free. As the movie's title suggests, Briony spends much of her life trying to make amends for her mistake. You can rent Atonement from Prime Video. Atonement (2007) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Shape of Water (2017) Guillermo del Toro's fantasy romance involves love between a deaf custodian and the mysterious fish man with whom she forms a bond. From that premise, del Toro crafts an instant classic that earned him Best Picture and Best Director Oscars. When Eliza (Sally Hawkins) makes love to her amphibian companion (Doug Jones), it's in a bathroom that's entirely submerged, with an explosive release of water taking the place of a more traditional climax. Eliza later explains the mechanics of the event to a friendall of this serving to make clear that this love story is both emotional and sensual, and not merely the chaste romance of a Disney movie about mer people. You can rent The Shape of Water from Prime Video. The Shape of Water (2017) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Gerald's Game (2017) Not much of a spoiler here, since the inciting incident occurs within the first 10 minutes of this Stephen King adaptation: Jessie and Gerald Burlingame (Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood) arrive at an isolated lake house, where Gerald tries to engage in a rape fantasy that Jessie is deeply uncomfortable with. The interaction makes obvious the rift that has developed in their marriage, but before Gerald can take things further, the two have a fight during which he has a heart attack and dies...leaving her handcuffed to the bed and totally isolated. Stephen King-style shenanigans ensue. The opening is more troubling than explicit, but without it, the movie doesn't happen. You can stream Gerald's Game on Netflix. Gerald's Game (2017) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix In the Realm of the Senses (1976) Nagisa shima's gorgeous art film was wildly controversial upon release, largely for the very realistic sex scenesrealistic, because they were largely unsimulated. It's based on the true story of Sada Abe (Eiko Matsuda), a one-time sex worker who begins an obsessive affair with a patron (Tatsuya Fuji) of the hotel where she works. Sada Abe's refusal to conform to societal expectations of her gender and class don't make her a hero, exactly, but it does bestow upon her a strange sort of freedom. The impact comes in part from the film's refusal to undersell Sada Abe's sexual powersex is a critical part of her story, in the movie and in real life, and shima isn't afraid to show rather than merely tell. You can stream In the Realm of the Senses on The Criterion Channel. In the Realm of the Senses (1976) at The Criterion Channel Learn More Learn More at The Criterion Channel Babygirl (2024) Nicole Kidman stars in this modern erotic thriller as successful CEO Romy Mathis, who begins a dangerous affair with her much younger intern (Harris Dickinson). But the key sex scene isn't between the two of them, but between Romy and her husband in the film's opening moments. After faking an orgasm, Romy waits for Jacob (Antonio Banderas) to leave and then grabs her laptop so that she can masturbate. If we're willing to suspend disbelief and accept Antonio Banderas as a schlubby, sexually disappointing husband (OK, whatever), the scene does a lot of work efficiently setting us up for the boundary pushing exploration to come. You can rent Babygirl from Prime Video. Babygirl (2024) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Baby Face (1933) Though we're firmly pre-code here, there's nothing explicit in this filmbut still, little is left to the imagination. Barbara Stanwyck plays Lily Powers, a young woman working in a speakeasy run by her father, who also prostitutes her to his customers. When her father dies (seemingly because she refused the advances of a politician who'd threatened the speakeasy's existence), Lily finds herself adrift, until she runs across a family friend who introduces her to Nietzscheas a woman in her position, her choices are to be exploited, or to be the one who does the exploiting. This sets her to climbing the corporate ladder at a Manhattan bank using sex as a tool. The plot turns on a moment that takes place before all that, when Lily and her friend Chico (Theresa Harris) hop a freight train bound for New York. When discovered by a railroad worker, Lily trades sex for a promise that they won't be reported. The scene makes clear that Lily knows sexuality is a commodity to be used to her own best advantage, and is not something for men to control. You can rent Baby Face from Prime Video. Baby Face (1933) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Mulholland Drive (2001) Analyzing any given David Lynch movie points us immediately toward the problem of determining whether a sex scene is "necessary to the plot," since figuring out the plot is a trick unto itself. Mulholland Drive is a tiny bit more approachable than most of his output, following "Rita" (Laura Herring), an actress who suffers from amnesia following a Los Angeles car crash, who stumbles into a wholesome midwestern transplant (Naomi Watts), who is setting out to become a star. The two set out to uncover Rita's true identity, before engaging in some undeniably hot sex. I'm not sure to what extent it impacts the plot, but the sex scene represents a liminal moment between the two characters, each inhabiting multiple potential identitiesfor those few moments, the characters connect with such intimacy that questions of identity don't matter in the least. You can stream Mulholland Drive on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Mulholland Drive (2001) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Y Tu Mam Tambin (2001) The climax (ahem) of Alfonso Cuarn's instant-classic Mexican road trip film finds the central characters (Luisa, Julio, and Tenoch) engaging in a rather sweet threesome. The trio have been circling one another, emotionally and physically, for the entire film, and this moment flips the script, briefly, on their apparent love triangleoffering the possibility that none of them needs to choose. You can stream Y Tu Mam Tambin on Hulu and Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. Y Tu Mam Tambin (2001) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Party Girl (1995) A bit of a spoiler here, since the key moment comes toward the climax (ahem). The always brilliant Parker Posey plays Mary, the party girl of the title, who takes a job at a public library in order to pay back bail money she owes after being arrested for hosting an illegal rave. She eventually takes to the work, but also to smart Lebanese street vendor Mustafa (Omar Townsend), who hopes to become a teacher. After hours, the two consummate their romance in the library where she worksa fitting, if slightly on-the-nose sequence that solidifies Mary's transformation from a pure party girl, to a party girl who also has a sweet boyfriend and knows the Dewey Decimal System inside and out. You can stream Party Girl on Peacock, Hulu, Kanopy, The Criterion Channel, and Prime Video. Party Girl (1995) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Forget about the orgy sequence; let's focus instead on the earlier sex scene between Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman that formed the basis of the scandalous teaser trailer (a true tease back when no one knew what the movie was going to be about). She's mostly focused on looking at herself in the mirror, and while the scene approaches something sweaty, what we mostly feel is the lack of connection between the two. In the context of the film, the sequence makes clear this is a marriage already in the process of disintegrating. You can rent Eyes Wide Shut from Prime Video. Eyes Wide Shut (1999) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Don't Look Now (1973) Nicolas Roeg's haunting thriller includes one of the most notorious sex scenes in film history, infamous in part because of rumors (still promulgated and still disputed) that the intimate contact between Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland was unsimulated. Whether there's any truth to that or not, it certainly speaks to the authenticity of the moment, which is hardly gratuitous: The movie follows a couple shattered by the death of their only child, and the sex scene is a major emotional turning point: a moment of clear connection right before things go even more wrong. You can stream Don't Look Now on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Don't Look Now (1973) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Call Me By Your Name (2017) Mainstream movies with gay themes are frequently prudish in the extremeassuming that audiences might accept the existence of queer people, but not that they might also come now and again. During the sweaty Italian summer of 1983, a frustrated 17-year-old Elio (Tomothe Chalamet) makes reasonably good use of a ripe peach, only to be discovered by Oliver (Armie Hammer)...who finds his own use for the bit of fruit. The scenes captures their character dynamic nearly in full, while offering up something a tiny bit kinkier than we're used to. You can stream Call Me by Your Name on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Call Me By Your Name (2017) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max North by Northwest (1959) OK, maybe it's not entirely essential to the plot, and the sex here is only strongly impliedbut Hitchcock's classic caper gets extra credit for being so brazen about it, considering when it was produced. As Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint begin making out in the top bunk of their train berth, Hitch cuts away (as the censors would have surely demanded) and we watch the train plowing into a tunnel. What plays like a juvenile joke now was a clear middle finger directed at the Hollywood production code. You can rent North by Northwest from Prime Video. North by Northwest (1959) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) Fairly chaste as sex scenes go, but the backroom tumble involving Daniel Day-Lewis and Gordon Warnecke is important, in part, because it is so low-key. There's drama around this same-sex, interracial relationship...but on the folding table in the back of the laundromat, it's just desire. You can stream My Beautiful Laundrette on Prime Video and Pluto TV. My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Happy Together (1997) This Wong Kar-wai film stars Tony Leung and Leslie Cheung as a pair of desperately mismatched lovers whose passion nonetheless keeps bringing them back together. Happy Together opens with the two in their underwear, on a bed in South America. Their kissing turns to tussling, then to wrestling, then to sex, and back again, their entire dynamic laid out in one impressively intense scene. You can stream Happy Together on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Happy Together (1997) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max I Am Curious (Yellow) (1967) Lena Nyman stars in this wildly controversial (in 1967, anyway) Swedish film that uses documentary style to tell the story of a 20-year-old exploring the world as an adult for the first time, and finding her own passion for social justice challenged and expanded. Sex goes right alongside politics for Lena (also her character's name), and one of the key, ostensibly shocking scenes finds her gently kissing her boyfriend's flaccid penis. It's a moment in Lena's growth as a young activist and as a sexual being, but it's also a rare instance of male nudity on the movie screenparticularly way back in the 1960s. You can stream I Am Curious (Yellow) on The Criterion Channel. I Am Curious (Yellow) (1967) at The Criterion Channel Learn More Learn More at The Criterion Channel It Follows (2015) It Follows isn't about just one thing, but there's certainly a pervasive air of tension around young sexuality and its potential consequences, both physical and emotional. Fear of sexually transmitted infections is certainly a lens through which to view the movie's horror conceita curse that literally follows its subjects to their deaths, unless (and until) they're willing to pass it along to someone else via sex. Pairing sex and existential dread is a choice, but a choice worth exploring. You can stream It Follows on Max or buy it from Prime Video. It Follows (2015) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Halloween (1978) Best not to hold Halloween responsible for the many, many imitators that got it all wrong: The slasher genre that this film helped to solidify quickly became laughably sexually conservative in a "sex = death" kinda way, but that wasn't this movie's message. Director John Carpenter wrote most of the scary stuff, but late, great producer Debra Hill wrote everything involving Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her friends. When Lynda (P.J. Soles) and Bob (John Michael Graham) have sex and get killed, the only intent was to show teens doing normal teen stuff. They were meant to be relatable, not sinners getting what was coming to them. You can stream Halloween on AMC+ and Shudder or rent it from Prime Video. Halloween (1978) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Bound (1996) The sex scenes between ex-con Corky (Gina Gershon) and Mafia moll Violet (Jennifer Tilly) are as sensual and erotic as they come, sidestepping then- and still-common cinematic lesbian tropes in favor of genuine sexiness. Nothing here feels like it's strictly intended for the straight white gaze, even though the movie toys with that notion in the ways the relationship between the two women eggs on the very straight male insecurities of mobster Caesar (Joe Pantoliano). The Wachowskis hired feminist author and sex educator Susie Bright (who has a cameo in the movie) as an intimacy coordinator before that job even had a name. The finished product makes a very strong case that having someone around who understands sex and intimacy does't put a damper on things; quite the opposite. You can stream Bound on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Bound (1996) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Living End (1992) Gregg Araki's New Queer Cinema masterpiece is as angry as it is jubilant. In an era where queer people were either invisible in cinema, or victims, Araki crafted a narrative about a couple of gay, HIV+ drifters who kill a homophobic cop and a couple of gay bashers before setting out on an uninhibited road trip. Their shower sex scene isn't particularly graphic, but the explicit non-use of a condom and the light choking involved outraged audiences from across the political spectrumthough the movie's dedication to: The hundreds of thousands whove died and the hundreds of thousands more who will die because of a big white house full of Republican Fuckheads was more on-the-nose about its intention to offend the wrong type of people. You can stream The Living End on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. The Living End (1992) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Ice Storm (1997) Director Ann Lee caps the incredibly awkward, instantly regrettable car sex scene between Elena (Joan Allen) and Jim (Jamie Sheridan) with him admitting, "That was awful." In a movie that's all about awkward and ill-conceived sexual encounters, Jim sums it up nicely. You can rent The Ice Storm from Prime Video. The Ice Storm (1997) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Body Heat (1981) Kathleen Turner stars in Lawrence Kasdan's essential neo-noir as one of cinema's ultimate femmes fatalematching the energy of Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity, on which this is loosely based, but wearing much less clothing. As in the best noir films, the sex here is all part of the game that she's playing with William Hurt, even as he thinks that he's the one toying with her. When he finally smashes a window just to be with her again, it's clear who's in charge. You can rent Body Heat from Prime Video. Body Heat (1981) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video When Harry Met Sally... (1989) OK, there is no actual sex here, but there is a wildly memorable scene centered around a full-throated discussion of a woman's orgasm. Which was not something that was spoken of in polite company circa 1989! Writer/director Nora Ephron didn't care, and Meg Ryan played it to the hilt. So iconic was the scene that "I'll have what she's having..." became a catchphrase, and Miss Piggy offered up her own climax on an episode of Muppets Tonight. If we still have a long way to go, this scene certainly opened some doors for more transparent discussions of women's sexuality. You can rent When Harry Met Sally... from Prime Video. When Harry Met Sally... (1989) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Female Trouble (1974) Following a Christmas celebration gone horribly awry (they shoulda gotten her them cha-cha heels!), young Dawn Davenport (Divine) strikes out on her own, hitchhiking and then immediately having an unprotected, and unhinged sexual encounter with a lecherous creep on an old mattress at the dump. Not only is the scene itself one of the most memorably repellant bits in the entire movie, it also sets in motion everything to come: Dawn isn't entirely cut out to be a single mother, and trying to raise Taffy (Mink Stole) only sends her further down the road to depravity. The sex scenes in basically any Waters movie are similarly obscene, which is entirely the point, and entirely necessary. You can buy Female Trouble from Prime Video. Female Trouble (1974) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Watermelon Woman (1996) It was the sex scene that all but broke the National Endowment for the Arts. Cheryl Dunye plays herself in this faux-documentary following a filmmaker looking to unearth the story of the "Watermelon Woman," a fictional Black actress from the early days of Hollywood. Genevieve Turner plays Diana, a more overtly confident white woman who flirts with Cheryl as a customer of the video store where she works. This leads to a sweet, but also steamy sex scene, described by City Paper reviewer Jeannine DeLombard as "the hottest dyke sex scene on celluloid"a bit of an exaggeration, but it's up there, while also being a key moment of personal growth for the sometimes-awkward Cheryl. That blurb made its way to conservative columnist Julia Duin, who decried the film sight-unseen, demanding to know why taxpayers were spending money on lesbian filth (I'm sure that the characters' mixed skin tones had nothing to do with it). The debate made it all the way to the floor in Congress, where politicians tried to claw back the production's $31,000 grant. They ultimately settled on a restructuring of the program so that grants could go only to specific projects, rather than organizations. That, my friends, is a demonstration of the power of hot gay sex to fill the hearts of the dull with jealous rage. You can stream The Watermelon Woman on The Criterion Channel and Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. The Watermelon Woman (1996) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Law of Desire (1987) Antonio Banderas becomes both an object of terror, and a muse, following a gentle, lighthearted sex scene between porn-director-on-the-rebound Pablo (Eusebio Poncela) and same-sex virgin Antonio (Banderas). The cute, frank love scene sets up, and helps to subvert, everything that comes afterwith director Pedro Almodvar peppering his thriller with comedy and subverting expectations, as is his usual MO. You can rent Law of Desire from Prime Video. Law of Desire (1987) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) Martin Scorsese's oft-banned portrait of the final days of Christ (Willem Dafoe) pissed off a lot of people for its hallucinatory sex scene between Jesus and Mary Magdalene (Barbara Hershey). The scene itself isn't even PG-13 level, but the very idea sent scolds into apoplexy and fanatics off to firebomb theaters. Unsurprisingly, they'd missed the point entirely: In context, the scene is part of a ploy by Satanthe titular last temptation. He's showing Jesus what his reward might be if he turned away from mankind: a long and normal life instead of an agonizing death on the cross. That moment of lovemaking is central to the sequence, and helps to make clear everything he's sacrificing for humanity. You can stream The Last Temptation of Christ on Prime Video. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Tangerine (2015) Sean Baker's brilliant, ultra-low-budget comedy-drama follows a Christmas Eve in the life of trans sex workers Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor). The sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking film rides high on gritty realism, and it wouldn't be the same if it didn't give us a sense of their work lives. A central scene finds Alexandra taking refuge from a bad day in the car of a cab-driver client. He's happy about giving her a blowjob while they go through a car wash, and she's happy to earn a few extra dollars from a friendly, trustworthy client. As car wash blowjobs go, it's genuinely sweet, while also making clear that sex workers, too, have their good and bad days on the job. You can stream Tangerine on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Tangerine (2015) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max

Trevor Milton, the founder of electric truck company Nikola, has received a full and unconditional pardon from President Donald Trump. A jury found Milton guilty of one count of securities fraud and two counts of wire fraud in October 2022. In 2023, he was sentenced to four years in prison.Milton announced the pardon in a press release and the White House confirmed it to CNBC. It came two weeks after prosecutors asked a judge to order Milton to pay $680 million in restitution to Nikola shareholders as well as $15.2 million to a wire fraud victim. However, due to the pardon, the judge is unable to order any restitution.Prosecutors argued that Milton pumped up his company's stock by lying to investors about "nearly all aspects" of Nikola's business, such as having a fully functional electric truck. Nikola (which filed for bankruptcy last month) released a video in 2018 that appeared to show a Nikola One prototype moving by itself, but prosecutors claimed the truck was rolling down a hill and that Milton had a hand in the video's creation. Following a damning report by short-selling firm Hindenburg Research that prompted an SEC investigation, the company said in 2020 it never claimed that the "truck was driving under its own propulsion in the video," which has been made private on YouTube. Milton now plans to release a documentary to tell his side of the story.Milton has given Trump and his associates millions of dollars in political donations, according to reports. Filings show he donated $750,000 to MAHA Alliance now-Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr's political action committee in September and $920,000 to the Trump 47 Committee in October, just ahead of the election. CNBC notes that Milton did not make any six-figure political contributions before 2024, per federal campaign finance records.Trump has pardoned hundreds of people in the first couple of months of his second term, including around 1,500 who were convicted or charged with crimes related to the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. On his second day in office, Trump pardoned Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, who was sentenced to life in prison after being charged with money laundering, narcotics trafficking and computer hacking.Meanwhile, the family and associates of Sam Bankman-Fried are reportedly campaigning for Trump to pardon him. The founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX was sentenced in 2024 to a 25-year prison sentence after he was found guilty on seven fraud and conspiracy charges.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/nikola-founder-trevor-milton-receives-a-full-pardon-from-president-trump-160107880.html?src=rss