As we step into 2025, the world of technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. It is bringing a whole new wave of innovative and refreshing gadgets into our lives, with the hope of reshaping them. Ranging from heath-focused wearables to eco-friendly devices these tech trends showcase a growing focus on sustainability, connectivity, and personalized experience.In 2025 we are going to see innovations and designs that will elevate and smoothen our interactions with technology, making it more intuitive, integrated, and aligned with our daily needs. These top tech trends of 2025 will redefine convenience and functionality in exciting ways. Dive into these cutting-edge innovations that are capturing the imagination of tech enthusiasts and setting the stage for the future!1. Folding SmartphonesFolding phones will solidify their place in the market by 2025. They will feature improved hinge mechanisms and more resilient screens, thereby improving their utility and value. These devices offer the convenience of a compact phone that can unfold into a larger display. They are ideal for multitasking and media consumption. Folding phones are equipped with enhanced durability and innovative designs, which will make them a popular choice amongst tech enthusiasts and lovers in 2025.Nothing Fold(1)Called the Nothing Fold (1) this conceptual design is a groundbreaking entrant in the folding phone market, and it is set to redefine portable computing with its innovative design and state-of-the-art technology. This device boasts a 6.5-inch screen on the front and an expansive 8.37-inch screen inside, providing users with a versatile and immersive experience. It also features a unique Glyph Interface, which spells out the number 1 upon boot-up and transforms into a third screen for notifications.The Fold(1) is equipped with five cameras including a main shooter, ultrawide, and telephoto/macro lenses which serve as a comprehensive toolkit for capturing stunning images. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 5G chip, featuring an 8-core CPU, 12-core GPU, and an NPU for AI tasks.What we likeDual-screen setup offers a versatile and immersive experience, enhancing productivity and entertainment.The five-camera system provides a comprehensive range of photography options, catering to both amateur and professional photographers.What we dislikeThe complexity of the folding mechanism may affect long-term durability and reliability.2. Wearable Health TechIn 2025, we will see impressive advancements in wearable health technology. They will provide more comprehensive health monitoring features, allowing us to keep a better check on our health and fitness. Devices like smart watches, smart rings, and fitness bands now provide real-time health analytics, including blood pressure, glucose levels, and stress indicators. These devices empower users to take proactive control of their health and facilitate remote patient monitoring for healthcare providers.Samsung Galaxy RingThe Samsung Galaxy Ring is designed to bring a whole new approach to wearable technology. It seamlessly merges style with functionality, creating an elegant device that provides comprehensive health tracking without the bulk associated with traditional wearables. It is priced at $400 and serves as a compelling value proposition for health-conscious individuals.The Galaxy Ring is excellent at health monitoring, delivering detailed insights into sleep patterns, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen levels, and skin temperature. It integrates with the Samsung Health app, offering a user-friendly interface for viewing and analyzing data. The ring also generates an Energy Score, helping users manage their daily activity and recovery needs effectively.What we likeLightweight and comfortable to wear design.Monitors sleep, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen, and skin temperature with detailed app insights.What we dislikeThere is no iOS support. Some features require a Samsung phone, which limits compatibility.3. Smart Home EcosystemsThe smart home ecosystem has advanced significantly, becoming more interconnected and intuitive than ever before. Today, devices like smart speakers, lighting systems, and security cameras seamlessly communicate with each other, providing enhanced automation and improved energy efficiency. This level of integration allows for a more cohesive and responsive home environment, where each device works in harmony to enhance the overall user experience. We will see a rise in smart home ecosystems in 2025, creating a trend that will form seamless home ecosystems.The FrameMeet the Frame a sleek and sophisticated smart device that blends advanced technology with elegant design. Measuring 13.3 inches, this full-screen touch system acts as the central hub for all your IoT devices, ensuring seamless connectivity throughout your home. It is encased Kvadrat fabric and available in a beautiful color palette. It is intended to be a design statement, as well as a functional appliance.The Frame is also designed to enhance the aesthetic appeal of any living space. The design allows it to integrate effortlessly with your home decor, ensuring it complements rather than detracts from your interior style. Unlike traditional, bulky smart devices, the Frame is crafted to be both visually pleasing, making it a perfect addition to modern homes.What we likeThe Kvadrat fabric and color palette add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your home.You can manage all IoT devices from a single interface.What we dislikeIt will require some professional installation for optimal integration.4. Augmented Reality GlassesIn 2025, Augmented Reality (AR) Glasses are gaining traction as a must-have gadget. They are designed to be sleek and lightweight, overlaying digital information into the real world, thereby enhancing and elevating navigation, entertainment, and communication. It has applications in gaming, education, and professional settings. These glasses are designed to revolutionize and elevate the way users interact and engage with their surroundings, creating a more interesting and livelier environment.XREAL OneThe XREAL One ventures into the mixed reality territory by incorporating a spatial computing processor called the NREAL X1. Any device that you may connect to the XREAL One, from PCs to iPhones can benefit from this spatial computing upgrade. You dont need to connect an external battery to power the glasses, since it uses the USB-C connection.The XREAL One showcases improved design quality ranging from ergonomics to eye comfort, as compared to its predecessor. The spatial audio has been improved using Bose tuning and four microphones. The base model is priced at 499 for the base model, while the Pro version is priced at $599.What we likeIntegration of the NREAL X1 spatial computing processor eliminates the need for additional devices like the XREAL Beam.Creates a more immersive and believable AR experience.What we dislikeThe inclusion of a detachable camera module raises potential privacy issues.5. Eco-Friendly Tech GadgetsEco-friendly tech gadgets will make a trendy appearance in 2025. The demand for eco-friendly tech gadgets is rising, as consumers today are focusing on sustainability. Designers are now innovating and creating products that are made from recycled materials, and incorporating energy-efficient technologies. We can see a rise in solar-powered chargers, biodegradable phone cases, and energy-saving smart appliances. These products not only cater to environmentally conscious consumers but also reflect a broader industry trend towards reducing environmental impact.EcoFlow Power HatMeet the Power Hat by EcoFlowa sun hat with a unique twist! Unlike ordinary hats, its sun-blocking brim is outfitted with solar panels that not only shield you from glare but also harness and convert sunlight into electrical power. It debuted at IFA 2024, and it is a distinctive accessory sure to capture attention.At first glance, the Power Hat resembles a typical wide-brimmed hat, but it cleverly conceals a flexible solar panel sewn into the brim. This innovative panel absorbs sunlight and transforms it into usable energy, allowing you to charge your devices via a USB-C port discreetly tucked into the inner band. This fusion of fashion and technology makes the Power Hat an excellent piece for those seeking style and sustainability in one smart package.What we likeGreat for those who spend time outdoors such as hikers, campers, etc.What we dislikeThe size is quite comically huge on the head and may be uncomfortable to wear.The post Tech Trends of 2025: Folding Smartphones, Eco-Friendly Gadgets & More first appeared on Yanko Design.

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Just a day after the Goldman Sachs CEO said that his company's deal to service Apple Card customers may end early, two banks are said to be in active discussions to take over.Apple CardBarclays and Synchrony Financial are the latest names tied to discussions about taking over Apple Card. A report published late on Wednesday by Reuters discussed the pair entering discussions with Apple and Goldman Sachs about Apple's credit card.Sources familiar with the matter cited in the report say that the discussions are ongoing. They have been going on for months, apparently, and it's not clear where in the process the negotiations stand. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Color.Tip: Use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles. 35-sqm Micro-apartment in Athens, Greece by Oikonomakis Siampakoulis architects Vanke Lyf Hotel Orange Funnel in Hangzhou, China by UNFOLD PLANE Blooms in San Jose, CA by Hou de Sousa Zhongtian Jing Yue Qing Lan "Multicolor Villa" in Hangzhou, China by line+; Photo: Zhang Dengxing InnoDom in Cologne, Germany by kadawittfeldarchitektur; Photo: Jens Kirchner UnStack House in Los Angeles, CA by FreelandBuck "The Cabanon - the biggest smallest apartment in the world" in Rotterdam, Netherlands by STAR strategies + architecture and BOARD (Bureau of Architecture, Research and Design); Photo: Ossip van Duivenbod...

Whilst Pokmon TCG trainers are scrambling to find Prismatic Evolutions this weekend, I'm thinking outside Bills PC Box by looking at older sets that are still available for RRP. Silver Tempest is in a unique position right now, with single card prices soaring and stock set to run out by the end of 2025. It's also one of the cheapest sets to collect right now, with Elite Trainer Boxes dipping just below 40 at Amazon and Zavvi. But why Silver Tempest specifically? Let's look at the insane pulls this Sword and Shield era expansion delivers.UK Deals: I'm Buying Silver Tempest Before It Goes Out Of StockPokmon TCG: Sword & ShieldSilver Tempest Elite Trainer Box39.99 at Amazon Pokmon Sword & ShieldSilver Tempest Build & Battle Stadium See it Pokmon Silver Tempest Triple Pack12.99 at AmazonPokemon TCG: Sword & Shield 12 Silver Tempest Elite Trainer BoxLugia V 186/195 (Alt Art)Credit: The Pokmon Company / Creatures IncThis is hands down the best Lugia Pokmon card out there; look at that amazing artwork! Whilst being playable to quickly get through a deck, this is one for the collectors. Lugia V Alt Art is starting to climb in value, from around 150 on the secondary market at the end of 2024 to around the 230 mark at the time of writing. There's every chance to still pull one of these bad boys in Silver Tempest products on store shelves right now.Rayquaza VMAX TG20/TG30 (Trainer Gallery)Credit: The Pokmon Company / Creatures Inc.Honourable Silver Tempest Mentions- Lugia VSTAR 202/195 (Rainbow Rare)- Unown V 177/195 (Alt Art)- Regidrago V 184/195 (Alt Art)- Trainer Gallery Cards, the artwork is stunning on them allTrainer Gallery cards are still very cheap for the most part (usually under 5), so I'd highly recommend picking them up. They're stunning, and their value will only climb as time goes on. Plus, they're so fun to collect. Rayquaza Vmax is stunning, rocking its Dragon Clan routes whilst considering how massive this Pokmon is. This card has nearly tripled in value from the back end of 2024, with sold listings from December going for as low as 25. Most recent sales are going for between 60 to 80, and I don't see that price getting any cheaper as 2025 progresses.Pokemon TCG: Sword & Shield 12 Silver Tempest Elite Trainer BoxPokmon TCG: Sword & ShieldSilver Tempest Elite Trainer Box39.99 at Amazon8 booster packs of Silver Tempest, Alolan Vulpix sleeves, dice, damage counters, and a cool box to store your bulk are a solid deal for 39.99. Unfortunately, this is the dark times before every ETB has a cool promo card, but it's still a sweet deal. It's also probably a good idea to keep one sealed if you're a collector; the value for these will certainly rise as stock runs out in stores. Pokmon Sword & ShieldSilver Tempest Build & Battle Stadium Pokmon Sword & ShieldSilver Tempest Build & Battle Stadium See itFor an extra 20 over the Silver Tempest ETB, trainers can snag 12 booster packs, two 40-card build and battle decks, extra energy cards, damage counter dice, coins, and status markers. There's also a foil promo card. It's certainly worth the extra few quid to pony up. It is perfect for trainers wanting everything they need to start battling with one handy product. Pokmon Silver Tempest Triple Pack Pokmon Silver Tempest Triple Pack12.99 at AmazonLooking for cheap Silver Tempest pulls? The triple booster blister packs are a good deal at 12.99, with a cool promo card and game-legal coin to sweeten the deal. Buying three will get you one extra booster over elite trainer boxes for 1 less. If you're not bothered about the ETB swag, this one's for you.Pokemon TCG: Sword & Shield 12 Silver Tempest Elite Trainer BoxPokemon TCG: Sword & Shield 12 Silver Tempest Elite Trainer BoxUse Code "POKE20" for 20% off Pokmon TCGAn honourable mention goes to Zavvi as they've got a sale going this weekend with 20% off in-stock Pokmon TCG products. This brings down the Silver Tempest ETB to the same price as Amazon, but adding more products to your basket means a solid deal for any trainers looking to stock up on other Scarlet and Violet boxed products.Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.

The idea of werewolves has existed since long before movies came along. The concept goes back to antiquity with ancient Greek historian Herodotus writing in the fifth century B.C. about a colony where settlers were transformed into wolves for several nights of the year; several centuries later the story of Greek King Lycaon turning into a wolf was passed down, becoming the root for the still-used psychological diagnosis of lycanthropy; and in the Middle Ages philosopher-saint Augustine of Hippo wrote as a matter of fact about how witches could cast spells that turned men into wolves.So yeah, werewolves have been around. But its safe to say so much of our modern conception of the furry hellhounds comes directly from the movies. In folklore the full moon was just one of the many ways a man or woman could be changed into a wolf; but in the movies it became the official doctrine, just as silver being the weapon of choice turned into the sanctioned way of dispatching the beasts. And no image associated with the critters has enjoyed greater cinematic appeal than the transformation.The sight of man morphing into beasta fleshy actor turning into one covered in furis among the great set pieces of horror, up there with the vampires seduction and a guy waving a chainsaw in a Texan sunrise. But not all werewolf transformations are created equal. Some are fun, others cheesy, and some have lasted in the popular imagination for going on a century. So without further ado, here are what we estimate to be the very best werewolf transformations.12. Van Helsing (2004)Like more than a few horror fans, we have mixed feelings about using CGI to create a werewolf transformation. Digital effects can at times be eerily immersive, especially when you dont notice them. Yet perhaps due to the unreality of a man transitioning into beast, computer-generated trickery seems a lot more obvious and spell-breaking, especially when compared to some of the best prosthetic wolf-outs.Nonetheless, we must give credit to writer-director Stephen Sommers for at least the big idea vision for the Wolfman transformations in Van Helsing. Like everything else in his movie, these scenes reach exceeds their grasp in terms of technology, with the movie looking more like a Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoon than a Universal Gothic horror, but at least in the case of the werewolfery, Sommers broke new ground.When Will Kemp and later Hugh Jackman fall beneath the sway of the full moon, neither just turns into a wolf by growing fur, fangs, and other fun stuff. Rather they rip off first their clothes and then their skin, tearing away their humanity to reveal the beast within. Its an impressive visualization. And for all the dated effects, Kemp and Jackman still sell the uncontrollable pain of the moment like addicts going through withdrawal.11. I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957)There is not a lot that can be said about the special effects in I Was a Teenage Werewolf, because there barely are any. A 50s cheapie produced by Roger Cormans favorite distributor, American International Pictures, and released as part of a double-bill with Invasion of the Saucer Men, the film is what one might call functional.Still, theres something memorably crude and sinister about the big scene where Michael Landon turns into a werewolf onscreen. The effect is simply a dissolve between a shot of Landon without the makeup and another with it applied, but the sequence occurs as his teenage werewolf is watching a young woman in his high school perform gymnastics. Suddenly an innocuous all-American kid hears a bell go off in his ears and turns into a wolf before our, and more distressingly her, eyes. About 50 years before Sam Raimi drew a bright line between superpowers and puberty in Spider-Man, this cult classic C-movie did the same thing with more lascivious implications as a boy becomes a wolf and corners a girl.An appropriately 90s werewolf movie, Bad Moon follows a mother and son (Mariel Hemingway and Mason Gamble) who realize that moms brother, Uncle Ted (Michael Par), has returned from Nepal with more than just some good adventuring stories about meeting a wolf. The Stephen King-like setupwhich is actually based on a Wayne Smith novelprepares viewers for a proper domestic melodrama with a hairy supernatural climax, complete with a heroic dog saving its family.This popcorn finale is facilitated by a transformation sequence that mixes CG with practical effects. The body-warping digital trickery has aged poorly, and now better resembles a cutscene effect from a PS2 era video game. However, Par sells a menace that is still palpable in the moment beforehand as his estranged brother reveals his real toxic thoughts to his sister. There is something genuinely threatening about his laugh beneath practical fangs, even before his jawline goes crooked.9. The Wolfman (2010)Rick Baker dreamed of implementing 30 years of experience, as well as the toolkit of digital augmentation courtesy of CGI, while working on The Wolfman. He sought to match what he did as a young man on An American Werewolf in London. Alas, director Joe Johnston chose to go full CGI for the werewolf transformations, which visually made a poor match for the otherwise largely practical werewolf makeup job Baker designed, and which informed the rest of the picture.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Its a missed opportunity, but of all the CGI-heavy werewolf transformations of the last 25 years, The Wolfman is probably the best due to superb table-setting. In the centerpiece transformation where we get a good look of how Benicio del Toro gets his wolf on, he is tied to a chair and in a straight jacket while an auditorium of stuffed Victorian shirts scoff and guffaw at his pleas to kill him. If not, I will kill all of you! he cries. More laughter as the full moon slowly begins to rise. The subsequent changeover, with its cracked-bone sound effects and build-up to del Toro and Bakers (proper) werewolf ripping his tormentors to shreds, is the stuff of monster movie nirvana.8. Underworld (2003)The Underworld franchise is a strange one because it tapped into the zeitgeist idea of vampires versus werewolves before Twilight turned it into a YA phenomenon later in that decade, and it similarly realized Kate Beckinsale looked great fighting the undead right before she did Van Helsing. Yet the more money they got in sequels, the worse-looking the Lycans became. (Also the term Lycans always felt like a clunky studio note from an exec who thought werewolves sounded cheesy). In the first movie, though, the films relatively small budget for a Hollywood production led to a lot of visual innovation for the creature feature designs.Computer-generated imagery is definitely used to enhance the transformation scenes of when another future Twilight star, Michael Sheen, goes Lycan. And the same is true of Kevin Grevioux and his wonderfully baritone Raze. Luckily, most of the effects are achieved by practical creature designs where monstrous faces extend like an accordion, and their fingers crack with rapid speed and bone-snapping sound design. Its simple and effective, achieving these movies goal of everything looking early 2000s cool at all times. The same can apply to Scott Speedmans third act transformation as the hybrid between vampire and werewolf where his skin and eyes seamlessly turn onyx black while a snout digitally protrudes and sinks back in. Its nifty. Pity the franchise didnt know how to use this missing link between the species.Read more 7. Trick r Treat (2007)Well never fully understand why Michael Doughertys instant cult classic, Trick r Treat, was denied a proper theatrical release 18 years ago. But the anthological Halloween flick is still an October favorite for how it synthesizes everything you love about the spooky season into a low-tech but high-concept monster mash. Take the twist ending to the storyline starring Anna Paquin. Depicted as a shy and introverted wallflower next to her big sister (Lauren Lee Smith), Paquins Laurie looks vulnerable even before she dons a Little Red Riding Hood costume to attend a secret Halloween party in the woods.Viewers are encouraged to think theyre watching a vampire story, as a strange cloaked figure with fangs stalks Paquin into the wilderness. Instead we learn that this was a werewolf yarn all along when her predator (Dylan Baker) is captured and unmasked to be a pitiful serial killer with prosthetic fangs. Paquins growing teeth, however, turn out to be the real deal as she greets her unsuspecting date with the ominous taunt, Its my first time, so just bear with me.The party music turns to Marilyn Mansons Sweet Dreams cover, and all the pretty girls begin ripping off more than just clothes. Their flesh is also torn asunder, revealing fur and fangs beneath. Its probably influenced by Van Helsings idea of tearing through the skin to reveal the inner-monster, but even though its clearly done with prosthetic insert shots here, it immediately feels more visceral, unsettling, and frankly exhilarating as it turns the tired trope of the man preying on women on its head. Instead Paquin is the one with glowing pupils as she teases, My, my, what big eyes you have. Chomp.6. Fright Night (1985)Less of a transformation into a wolf than an agonizing one out of it, Stephen Geoffreys Evil Ed goes through one of the most painful looking metamorphoses this side of David Cronenberg. By tapping into the half-forgotten factoid that Dracula can also turn into a wolf in Bram Stokers 1897 novel, Tom Hollands campy throwback to Hammer horror classics, Fright Night, features newly turned vampire pal Evil Ed going through a really bad night.It begins when his white wolf is staked in the heart by a haphazard and cowardly vampire hunter (Roddy McDowall) and then goes flying over a suburban bannister. On the other side of that fall, McDowall finds a wretched creature caught somewhere between boy and beast, dying from its stake wound as it slowly reverts back into a crying and terrified child named Ed. Some of the prosthetic tricks used are obvious to the modern eye (like the fake floor beneath the quadrupedal body), but many of them are a showcase from a decade that marked a highpoint in movie monster prosthetics work. The exaggerated lupine features on Geoffreys heads are almost as pitiful as the actors own face as it slowly is revealed in later shots while still encrusted in a dying husk around his frame. Hes a tortoise trapped in a collapsed shell waiting to be put out of his misery.5. The Werewolf of London (1935)The very first werewolf movieor at least the first made in the U.S. and to survive 90 years laterUniversal Pictures original Wolfman flick would be eclipsed by the studios second stab at the material six years later. Nonetheless, this 1930s hair-raiser has the better transformation scene when Henry Hulls priggish professor discovers he is cursed by the bite of the werewolf. The scene in question has cozy Universal table-setting, as the cat in his study hisses at the rising danger in the room, warning Hulls stiff he is a monster before he knows it.The subsequent transformation is both rudimentary and still impressive. In order to create the illusion of Hull turning into a werewolf in a single shot, the panicked man rushes by a series of pillars outside his family home. As he passes each stone structure, he takes on more and more characteristics of a wolf. Obviously filmmakers stopped to apply makeup after he passed each pillar before combining it into a single shot, but its still a visually pleasing magic trick to behold, especially for its age. The makeup design of this werewolf, however, has always left me wanting.4. Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)While The Wolf Man (1941) might be the gold standard that codified almost everything we associate with a traditional werewolf story, it truthfully lacks a few of the motifs people misattribute to the film. For starters, nowhere in The Wolf Man is a full moon mentioned or seen (merely an autumn moon is needed to transform). Secondly, the transformation is only hinted at in the film as his legs are shown growing hair. Later dissolves are used to reveal poor Lon Chaney Jr.s face in repose after the werewolf is slain at the end.The sequels, however, correct these oversights, beginning with the best of them in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943). Beneath a retconned and beautiful full moon, a sleeping Chaney is jolted awake by a premonition of inescapable doom. The cursed man realizes the moon is up and in an extreme closeup from his hospital bed accepts with resigned eyes his fate. His face slowly grows the iconic Jack Pierce-designed werewolf fur and fangs. Its obviously done through many dissolves that combine shots of Chaneys face in various stages of makeup application (they even created a special pillow so the wrinkles in the sheets would not move). It still looks charming in the way a great haunted house decoration would in October, especially as the best version of Pierces design reaches maturation and turns to the camera to growl boo.3. The Company of Wolves (1984)With two distinctly different, eye-popping werewolf transformations, Neil Jordans dreamlike The Company of Wolves deserves more credit than it often gets. A childhood fairytale designed for an adult audience, the film is like a half-forgotten reverie caked in Freudian meaning. It likely was a personal one, too, for Angela Carter who co-wrote the screenplay with Jordan from her own short story of the same name. Jordan, however, adapts it with expressionistic wonderment in the main and 1980s creature feature grisliness in the transformation details.In the first transformation sequence, Stephen Rea plays a groom who returns to his brides years after abandoning her on their wedding night. Hes back to reveal there was always something wild beneath his kindly smile. He rips off his flesh not to unveil the beast, but to abjectly destroy everything humane and cultured which civilization has deceptively placed on him. Only as a skinless flayed man does he begin to transform into a dog.The better transformation, though, comes at the end when the films heroine Rosaleen (Sarah Patterson), who is Red Riding Hood by another name, finds her much older suitor at Grandmamas house. The teenage girl is attracted to the seductive nobleman (Micha Bergese) but is also rightly threatened by his worldly airs and their thinly veiled implications. Sure enough after she shoots him, the wolf within protrudes from beneath his skin like a Ridley Scott chestburster before exiting through his mouth. It is a tremendous and still eerily believable magic trick to the modern eye.2. The Howling (1981)Special effects makeup artist Rick Baker was originally supposed to design the werewolves in Joe Dantes The Howling but had to back out due to an older commitment to John Landis finally coming to fruition (more on that in a moment). But even if Dante couldnt work with wunderkind Baker, he still got the next best thing with Bakers protege who worked with the master on Star Wars, Rob Bottin. Ironically, Bottin would mastermind the second best werewolf transformation in movie history (after his mentors) in The Howling.Saved until near the very end of the picture, The Howlings big transformation sequence is absolutely terrifying because unlike most cinematic werewolves before or since, the films main big bad wolf is already a predator who delights in the transformation. There is a not-so-subtle threat of sexual violence and depravity to Robert Picardos Eddie Quist, a serial killer character who corners a journalist (Belinda Balaski) in a cabin in the woods. She is able to put some pain into him, but he comes back as a seven-foot tall, bipedal wolf that towers over her in the films most disturbing scene. Afterward, we witness how Eddie can transform into a wolf at will several more times, and he does so in front of Balaskis widower (Kevin McCarthy) and another woman who has to put the bad beast down (Dee Wallace).Part of the memorability of the transformation(s) stems from how long theyre drawn out. Each part of Picardos body seems to simmer and bubble, as if his bones have melted beneath the flesh and are about to burst in a boiling geyser. Yet the more nightmarish the imagery, the more the serial killer within the movie seems giddy, getting off on his pain and the anticipation of inflicting it on the other characters. Its genuinely horrifying, but like the protagonists youre almost frozen in shock and awe at the disgusting sight.1. An American Werewolf in London (1981)The other, and ultimately definitive, landmark werewolf movie of 1981 is John Landis An American Werewolf in London. A remake of The Wolf Man in all but name, it follows an American fish caught out in UK water. Whether it is the close-minded moors of rural southern England or the punk-ish streets of early 80s London, David Kessler (David Naughton) really doesnt belong here, even before he is damned to a brief and bloody lifet of werewolfism. The movie is both modern, complete with its revolutionary blending of self-ware humor and horror, and old-fashioned.Its famed transformation sequence blends both sensibilities into cinema legend. After unwisely ignoring the warnings of his best friends ghost (Griffin Dunne), who materializes to warn David of his curse, this poor schmuck is caught with his pants down and an NYU shirt on before he tears it into pieces while screaming bloody murder to the heavens. And thats before hes even visually begun to show signs of transformation.The brilliance of this transition is Landis and Baker brazenly chose to do it in a brightly lit room where darkness could not hide any of their tricks. Instead Baker innovated uncanny techniques that still deceive to this day as Naughton screams in equal parts horror and agony as his hand grows a foot longer in a single shot. As his face expands, and the sounds of Sam Cookes velvety Blue Moon cover drifts on, tonally indifferent to Davids anguished damnation as cinemas ultimate hellhound, the final effect of the movie is settled. This is all brutally terrifying and darkly funny.

It's plenty of people's dream to own a second home, somewhere they can go when they need an escape from reality and that doesn't have a specific check-in and check-out time. And a house by the beach is the ultimate vacation house, which is probably why beachside property typically comes with a large price tag. Thankfully, our friends at Zillow pulled some data and found us the 20 most affordable seaside cities where you can make your vacation home dreams come true.While we're not saying these options will get you a beach house on the cheap, the locations typically offer a range of properties with lower price tags that still give you access to the ocean. Of the top 20, you'll find that Florida dominates the list, with a few other states sprinkled in. Keep reading to see which beach towns have the lowest typical home values.For more real estate stories:1Atlantic City, NJFederico ScottoAtlantic City may be best known for its casinos, but the iconic boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean is a close second. There's plenty to do in this New Jersey town, including visiting an amusement park, eating fresh seafood, and spreading out on the sand, of course. Since you're so close to New York City, day trips from either location are extremely easy as well.Typical home value: $215,336Learn More2Daytona Beach, FLmichellegibsonAny NASCAR fan is familiar with Daytona Beach, but did you know that this Northeastern Florida city is also a festival hub? Every year, the city hosts over 60 different art, music, and other cultural festivals, giving residents and tourists alike opportunities to experience new things. Though you could easily spend every day on the beach, there are plenty of other museums, adventures, and opportunities to try out.Typical home value: $251,750 Learn MoreAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below3Deerfield Beach, FLWiniker:Getty ImagesThe small city of Deerfield Beach is ideal if you want to experience South Florida's beaches without the crowds. Located between Boca Raton and Pompano Beach, the town is known for its fishing pier and abundance of outdoor water activities, like paddle-boarding, surfing, and water skiing. Typical home value: Learn More4Myrtle Beach, SCDale Fornoff:Getty ImagesMyrtle Beach is a seaside community with 60 miles of sandy beach and 14 unique communities meshed together. It provides those classic beach town activities, such as a fun boardwalk and theme park, and is generally a family friendly location. There are plenty of things to do and places to explore, from the Waccamaw River to 90 different golf courses. Typical home value: $300,720Learn MoreAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5Hallandale Beach, FLTHEPALMER:Getty ImagesSouth of Fort Lauderdale and north of Miami, Hallandale Beach is home to Gulfstream Park Racing and a handful of public beaches. It's a smaller community that offers a classic beach day if you want to escape the crowds. Typical home value: $301,130Learn More6Pinellas Park, FLMatthew Lindahl : 500px:Getty ImagesPart of the St. Petersburg metropolitan area, Pinellas Park has a population of about 53,000 and provides access to a string of beaches along the north-western coast of Florida. Though small, there is an arts and culture scene in the town that highlights the creative community. Typical home value: $314,991Learn MoreAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below7West Haven, CTRedtea:Getty ImagesLocated on the Long Island Sound, West Haven is an affordable option not far from New York City. This town has the longest stretch of public beaches in the state where you can swim, sunbathe, fish, and explore. Typical home value: $326,043Learn More8Galveston, TXWirestock//Getty ImagesWith over 30 miles of beaches, Galveston is the only Texas seaside city on this list. It's located on the balmy Gulf of Mexico and there are plenty of museums and art galleries you can visit, along with beaches. The area also has a well-known restaurant scene.Typical home value: $333,127Learn MoreAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below9Palm Coast, FLMichael Warren:Getty ImagesParks, museums, beachesoh, my! Palm Coast is on the Northeast side of Florida and offers plenty of activities. Relax or fish at one of the beaches, then head over to Washington Oaks Gardens State Park for some biking amid the lush gardens, and end your day at the Florida Agricultural Museum. There's also plenty of delicious seafood to be had. Typical home value: $351,404Learn More10Largo, FLalex grichenko:Getty ImagesSouth of Clearwater, Largo offers access to beaches and two larger metropolitan areas, perfect for the homeowner who wants to be near the action but not caught up in it. There are multiple parks to visit in the town and art lovers will appreciate all the shows and performances. Typical home value: $353,576Learn MoreAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below11Pompano Beach, FLLagunaticPhoto:Getty ImagesPompano Beach is a hidden gem on the Gold Coast, neighboring Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Hollywood. The city offers miles of beach with temperate waters from the Gulf Stream, as well as plenty of things to do like snorkeling, shopping, festivals, and golfing. Typical home value: $356,795Learn More12Delray Beach, FLThomas Green:Getty ImagesFor a mix of water activities and a thriving art scene, consider Delray Beach. The arts district is part of what makes this South Florida city so special, and the municipal beach is just the cherry on top. It can definitely get busy on a nice day.Typical home value: $359,963Learn MoreAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below13Clearwater, FLJohn Murphy Photography:Getty ImagesIf Clearwater's three miles of white sand beaches aren't enough to entice you on their own, maybe the plethora of activities and events will. Clearwater is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area, and it has plenty to offer, from the nightly festival at Pier 60 to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Typical home value: $362,300Learn More14Bradenton, FLDawn Damico:Getty ImagesExplore your love of the beach and historical sites in Bradenton along the Manatee River. For a small city, you wouldn't expect to find so much to do and learn from, from the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, the riverwalk, the Manatee Village Historical Park, and the multiple beaches.Typical home value: $370,091Learn MoreAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below15St. Petersburg, FLJohn Coletti:Getty ImagesOne of the largest cities on this list in terms of population, St. Petersburg is known as the "Sunshine City" and is home to great shops, top-ranked beaches, and a thriving arts district. For those who want both beach and city life, this should be a top contender on your list. You can find multiple museums, like the Dali Museum which showcases an extensive collection of pieces by the Spanish surrealist, and a living museum of botanicals and tropical plants at the Sunken Gardens.Typical home value: $372,035Learn More16Ormond Beach, FLArt Wager:Getty ImagesGet that small-town feel in Ormond Beach, which is at the northern end of the Daytona Beach area. It's a quieter refuge, though it's not lacking in culture. There are multiple state parks located in this town, along with museums and cultural centers that are good to visit when you're not taking a dip in the Atlantic. Typical home value: $379,800Learn MoreAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below17Oakland Park, FLShobeir Ansari:Getty ImagesOakland Park is just north of Fort Lauderdale and has excellent access to the metropolitan area's beaches. Think of this town of around 44,000 people as any other small American town, just with closer access to the Atlantic Ocean. Typical home value: $381,61018Riviera Beach, FLCrystal Bolin Photography:Getty ImagesRiviera Beach is just off the coast of Singer Island, and it's a wonderful location for those who love to bask in the sun and take in all types of water activities. There are multiple parks to explore and plenty of opportunities to see and learn about the marine life that live in Florida.Typical home value: $397,829Learn MoreAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below19West Palm Beach, FLMasao Taira:Getty ImagesThis bustling city might not be the most affordable destination on this list, but it offers a lot for its elevated prices. From exciting nightlife to exceptional culinary options to an exciting art scene, West Palm Beach is a vibrant destination with plenty of beach access. Typical home value: $403,731Learn More20Navarre, FLArt Wager:Getty ImagesThis small city in Western Florida, on the Gulf Coast just an hour an a half from Mobile, Alabama boasts white sand beaches, clear blue water, and a proximity to Santa Rosa Island. It's a tranquil destination with opportunities to learn about marine life at the multiple refuges and conservation centers.Typical home value: $415,063Learn More