IT General

Another iPhone Duo preorder deal just dropped: How to save $1,000

Mashable - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 16:19

SAVE UP TO $1,000: New and existing Xfinity Mobile Plus customers can slash up to $1,000 off the iPhone Duo with an eligible trade-in. Mobile customers without a trade-in can also get $400 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Xfinity Mobile: iPhone Duo for $1,000 off   Get Deal

After years of rumors, Apple's first foldable phone is up for grabs later this month. The iPhone Duo preorders kick off on Oct. 16, before general availability opens on Oct. 23. If you want to get your hands on one, but don't have $1,999 to dish out, Xfinity Mobile is offering up to $1,000 off the pricey device for new and existing customers.

New Xfinity Mobile Plus customers and existing Diamond members with the Mobile Plus plan can take up to $1,000 off their iPhone Duo preorder. You must complete your trade-in within 21 days of the ship date for the discount to activate. Don't have a phone to trade in? No worries; Mobile Plus customers without an eligible trade-in can still get $400 off the iPhone Duo.

If you're not quite ready to lock in your preorder, the $1,000 off trade-in deal will be live through Nov. 10. That's well after the phone is officially available everywhere. Just note that the deal will disappear if the phone sells out.

At $1,999, the iPhone Duo is Apple's most expensive phone yet. So, any chance to score a discount is definitely appreciated. If you're still weighing your options, AT&T also has a trade-in preorder deal worth checking out.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Where to buy the new Apple TV 4K — how to preorder the 4th generation of Apple TV

Mashable - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 16:18

PREORDER NOW: As of Oct. 13, preorder the 4th generation of Apple TV 4K. Shop now for $299 so it arrives on its Nov. 19 release day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple TV 4K $299 at Apple
  Preorder at Apple

Apple is turning its attention to the home. After last month's unveiling of new iPhones, Apple is back with tech for the home, including the HomeView smart display, the HomePod mini 2, LG smart security products, and the 4th generation of Apple TV 4K.

The latest Apple TV looks quite familiar to the previous generation, still the standard black box with silver remote. The difference is on the inside, according to Apple, as it's "supercharged by Siri AI." No longer do users need to pick up the remote to interact with the AI assistant. Instead, the new Apple TV recognizes your voice even when something is playing.

The 4th generation of Apple TV 4K is powered by the A19 chip, the same one used in the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air. It's also equipped with Find My and plays a sound to find your misplaced remote, a sweet feature for those of us with a tendency to lose our remote in the cushions (guilty).

The Apple TV 4K (4th generation) is now available for preorder. It costs $299 and will be released on Nov. 19. It's currently only available for preorder at the Apple Store.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple releases HomeView smart display with Siri AI

Mashable - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 16:16

Apple announced a new line of smart home products on Tuesday morning, including its first-ever smart display, the Apple HomeView.

Apple users can preorder the device now on the Apple Store for $299, and the product will be available starting Nov. 13. HomeView comes in four colors: silver, starlight, pink rose, and space gray.

The new smart display comes in two configurations: a version connected to a domed speaker base with a tilting steel arm, and a wall-mounted display-only version.

Meet the Apple HomeView, a new smart display from Apple Credit: Apple

As part of its "Welcome Home" event, Apple revealed the HomeView, a new take on HomePod that distinguishes itself with a 7-inch display alongside its other smart home features. This display can be used for entertainment, FaceTime calls, sending messages, and more. It's also equipped with Siri AI and can use personal context from a linked Apple Intelligence-capable device to remind you of calendar entries and other business.

Apple HomeView Smart Display $289.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Apple.com

"Apple HomeView is designed to be shared by everyone in the home yet feel completely personal to each user," said Greg Joswiak, Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, in a press release. "It recognizes your face to shift from a household screen to your own experience, fills the room with incredible sound, keeps you connected to the people who matter most with FaceTime, and makes it easy to control your smart home. And it’s powered by Apple Intelligence with Siri AI at its core, drawing on personal context from your iPhone to help you find what you need and get more done, all while keeping everyone’s information private and secure."

HomeView's 7-inch Liquid Retina display is connected to a smart speaker by a stainless steel hinge. There's also a wall-mounted model (which only comes in space gray and silver) that does all of the same things but, obviously, from a wall instead of a nightstand. The device uses facial recognition to understand who is approaching it and tailor content on-screen appropriately. As many as six people can set up individual profiles with their own customized home screens, making it ideal for a family household.

Credit: Apple

Of course, there are a bunch of different aesthetics you can apply to the home screen. As you'd expect, one of them will shuffle through photos on a shared album, turning it into one of those digital picture frames, if you're into that sort of thing.

As mentioned previously, HomeView is compatible with Siri AI, giving it the ability to memorize information about you and use that information to perform actions across apps like Calendar and Music. The only rub here is that you also need a device with Apple Intelligence on it, like an iPhone or iPad, to make it fully work on HomeView. That said, Siri AI's basic chatbot functions seem like they will work on HomeView regardless.

The new Apple HomeView is available with a speaker base and in a wall-mounted version. Credit: Apple

Other bonuses include spatial audio for listening to music, as it is, you know, still a smart speaker at heart. It'll also connect to other HomePod or HomeView devices in the same household, enabling features such as multi-room music listening and an intercom system that will let you broadcast a message from one device to the others. If you want to use HomeView as a hub for controlling all your smart devices (like lights and security cameras), you can do that, too.

It feels like the dream of Facebook Portal has finally become reality.

What's next for Apple?

While the HomeView is available for pre-order now, some of the other products Apple announced today won't be available to order until later this year.

With the launch of the new HomeView, HomePod mini 2, Apple TV 4K, and smart security devices, Apple is making a big entry into the smart home market, with the new Siri AI at the center. It's the second big product launch under Apple's new CEO John Ternus, and the company is expected to release even more products later this month, including the first MacBook Pro with an OLED display.

The Apple HomeView is available for preorder now through the Apple Store for $299 for shoppers in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and the UK. The new Apple smart display will be released on Nov. 13.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

8 Ryobi tools you didn't know were recalled (and what to do if you own them)

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 16:00

Product recalls are surprisingly easy to miss despite their relative importance. If you’ve added any Ryobi tools to your garage in the last few decades, it’s worth checking that none of them have any outstanding recalls. If they have, you can easily use Ryobi’s website to rectify the problem with a replacement, refund, or repair.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 capable multi-tools under $50 that are worth buying

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 16:00

A solid multi-tool is one of those everyday carry items I think everyone should have. Personally, my multi-tool is indispensable, and I didn't need to drop $100+ to get Leatherman reliability. Whether you like always being prepared, tackling little repairs around the house, or tightening up a loose bolt, a multi-tool is the perfect EDC. Here are a few affordable options with premium utility.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple announces new Apple TV 4K

Mashable - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 15:46

Apple has unveiled a slew of new smart home products on Tuesday, including an updated version of the Apple TV 4K. 

The new Apple TV 4K is the 4th generation of Apple's set-top box and, like most of Apple's new home products, focuses on integration with Apple's new and improved Siri AI.

Apple says the new Apple TV 4K is "supercharged by Siri AI." Users will be able to interact with the AI assistant completely hands-free by just talking to their Apple TV 4K. The device will be able to pick up the user's voice even with something already playing on the TV screen.

Apple TV 4K's new Siri AI capabilities will provide users with recommendations based on their interests, deliver real-time information about the movie or TV show they're watching, and even answer more general questions, such as whether content is age-appropriate.

SEE ALSO: Apple releases HomeView smart display with Siri AI

The new Apple TV 4K is powered by the A19 chipset, which is the same chip that powers the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air. The new device is up to 50 percent faster in CPU performance, and GPU performance is up to 2x faster than the previous generation.

While Siri AI can be accessed just by talking, the new Apple TV 4K still has a remote and comes with new features as well. It comes with Find My and can play a sound to help users stop misplacing or losing the remote.

Users can now also pair up to four HomePod mini 2 speakers or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers to the Apple TV 4K to create a surround sound experience.

SEE ALSO: Apple releases HomeView smart display with Siri AI

The new Apple TV 4K also integrates with Apple's other smart home products. For example, users can pair their device with compatible doorbells to see who's at the door on their TV screen, or even remotely unlock their door using Apple TV 4K if it's paired with a compatible smart lock. 

There are other new Apple TV features, such as customizable iCloud photo feeds for the device, a new screen saver shuffle, and Continuity Camera capabilities that will allow users to pull up FaceTime calls on their TV screen while using their iPhone as a camera.

The new Apple TV 4K will be available starting Nov. 13 and will retail for $299. It's available for pre-order on the Apple Store website now.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Why Stand-Up Comedians Are Uniting Against SiriusXM & Sebastian Maniscalco

Mashable - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 15:44

On October 5th, Comedian Liz Miele spearheaded a social media campaign demanding Sebastian Manisclaco and Sirius XM reverse their decision to replace Raw Radio with Sebastian Maniscalco's Comedy Radio, removing over 500 comedians from the channel. Comedians like Josh Johnson, Rosebud Baker, Marc Maron and Patton Oswalt amongst many others shared videos asking Sebastian and SiriusXM to reconsider.

In this video, Liz Miele, Raanan Hershberg, Myq Kaplan and Brandie Posey share how passive revenue from satellite radio play has been a crucial source of income for hundreds of working-class comics, allowing them to pay rent, offset special production costs, and maintain a sustainable career. The comics discuss their organized response and the broader economic challenges facing comedians today.

These interviews occurred before Maniscalco made his official comment on social media on October 7th.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pokémon x Beats: Where to buy Pokémon collab that turns the Beats Pill into a Pikachu-themed speaker

Mashable - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 15:40

TL;DR: Following a viral teaser, Beats by Dre officially revealed the special-edition Pokémon x Beats Pill. Featuring Pikachu, Mimikyu, and custom charms, the speaker drops Oct. 15 for $149.99.

If you needed more proof that Pokémon’s 30th anniversary year is going all-out on brand crossovers, Beats by Dre just dropped another banger. The Apple-owned audio brand officially announced the special-edition Pokémon x Beats Pill, pairing two of the franchise's most iconic characters with Beats’ signature portable sound.

A teaser video sparked heavy fan speculation about an electric-type collaboration, and now the full reveal confirms that both Pikachu and the mysterious Ghost/Fairy-type Mimikyu are starring in the drop.

The front of the speaker sports Pikachu’s signature electric yellow, while the reverse side features a greyscale design dedicated to Mimikyu. This release also marks a first for Beats: the brand has included custom clip-on charms with the Beats Pill.

Every unit ships with a set of bespoke Pokémon charms attached to its color-matched lanyard — including a classic Poké Ball, the Beats “b” logo, and Pikachu’s lightning bolt emblem — along with interactive collector packaging.

Credit: Beats by Dre / The Pokémon Company

The limited-edition model carries all the hardware upgrades of the 2024 Beats Pill redesign. It offers up to 24 hours of battery life, IP67 dust and water resistance, USB-C lossless audio playback, reverse phone charging, and seamless Apple ecosystem perks like one-touch pairing and Find My support. You can also wirelessly link two units together in Amplify or Stereo mode.

The Pokémon x Beats Pill officially launches Thursday, Oct. 15, priced at $149.99 — the exact same MSRP as the standard colorways. Fans can grab one online at Apple and Target (as well as select Target stores).

Credit: Beats by Dre / The Pokémon Company
Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Useful Ryobi Tools You Can't Get From Milwaukee

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 15:30

Every homeowner or trade worker has their preferred power tool brand, and whether you're team Ryobi, love everything Milwaukee, or something else, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the nearly identical options at big-box retail stores. Each brand makes a few unique items catering to certain professions or tasks, and here are five useful Ryobi tools that Milwaukee doesn't make.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This official Android app is the easiest way to send files between your phone and Windows

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 15:00

People use all kinds of unconventional workarounds to share files between Android phones and Windows PCs, such as emailing themselves or shuffling files through cloud storage.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Bundle is now only $55 at Walmart — save $25 on preorders

Mashable - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 14:30

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Bundle is available to preorder for $64.45 at Amazon, but Walmart is cheaper at $54.49.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Bundle $54.49 at Walmart
$79.99 Save $25.50   Preorder at Walmart

Prices for the Pokémon TCG Delta Reign expansion have been settling down ahead of launch, but sellers on Walmart have been aggressively trying to get you the best price vs. Amazon — and the latest price drop on the booster bundle even beats TCGplayer. 

As of Oct. 13, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Bundle is available to preorder for just $54.49 at Walmart, reduced from its $79.99 listing price. To give this $25.50 price drop from third-party seller Cataclysm Games some added context, the lowest price we’d seen last week was a much higher $74.99 at Amazon. 

Amazon has a price drop of its own, but that’s only down to $64.45 via Collectors Expedition. 

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Display Box is way under market price at Walmart — save $30 vs. Amazon

What’s more, Walmart’s $54.49 price hugely undercuts the Delta Reign Booster Bundle’s estimated market price of $73.20 on TCGplayer. Walmart also beats any listings there — with the best going as low as $72.38. 

With six Delta Reign packs per box, Walmart’s $54.49 booster bundle means you’ll only be paying around $9.08 per pack. That massively trumps the prices on TCGplayer (which normally has the best price on single packs), with the lowest going for $13.40 — saving you $4.32 per pack by comparison. 

Each pack contains 10 trading cards from Delta Reign’s total of 135+, a Basic Energy, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Keep warm and cozy this fall with Ninjas Fireside360 fire pit — now down to its best-ever price

Mashable - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 14:23

SAVE $50: As of Oct. 13, the Ninja Fireside360 fire pit and heater is back to its lowest-ever price of $449.99 at Amazon. That's $50 off its full price of $499.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Fireside360 Fire Pit and Heater $449.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon

Now that the weather is getting cooler, it's the perfect time to hang out around a fire pit outside and enjoy the cozy warmth in the autumn air. If you don't have a bonfire pit on hand, the Ninja Fireside360 is an excellent alternative, serving as both a heater and a fire pit. It's even back to its lowest-ever price on Amazon right now.

Normally priced at $499.99, the Ninja Fireside360 has been discounted to $449.99 at the retailer, ultimately saving you $50. There are multiple color variants available at this price as well, so you can choose between the stainless steel, cyberspace, maroon, stone, and brown models to find the perfect fit for your outdoor setup.

SEE ALSO: We tested the most popular Ninja appliances, and these are our favorites

The Ninja Fireside360 offers three modes for keeping you warm: flame-only, heat-only, or both flame and heat. It's smokeless as well, so if you have the flame going, there's no need to worry about your clothes getting smoky or having to clean up ashes. Plus, the flame is controlled from a dial, so getting it started (and extinguished) is quick and easy.

It's weather-resistant, so it's safe to store outdoors all year-round. And on top of that, it's safe to use on a variety of surfaces, including grass, stone, and wood, as it's designed to avoid any sparks flying around.

Be quick to save on the Ninja Fireside360 at Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The surprising places Linux is quietly running (including an entire country's elections)

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 14:00

Linux has a reputation as a difficult operating system for enthusiasts only or as the operating system running in a data center. However, it is more widespread than that. It runs countless devices you see and use regularly—and a few you don't—even though it isn't immediately obvious.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why your Ethernet cable gets stuck every time (and how to remove it without breaking anything)

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 13:30

It's a very common issue to try to unplug an Ethernet cable and it won’t move. You squeeze the tiny clip, yank back, and the plastic refuses to budge. I've broken one before, so my first instinct is to assume that I broke another one. Don't let your anger get the best of you and try to pull more. Your method is likely the problem.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I just wanted a home server for photos. Somehow I ended up with these 3 self-hosted services, too

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 13:00

Earlier this year, I bought a 6TB hard drive and hooked it up to an old laptop for one simple task: to back up my photos and manage them through Immich so that I could finally stop paying for Google Photos. Between my wife and me, we had around 50,000 photos to move over, but even after loading them all onto the server, I’d barely scratched the surface of the drive’s capacity.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apples new iPad mini might be getting more expensive — save over $20 on the 128GB iPad mini

Mashable - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 12:51

SAVE OVER $20: As of Oct. 13, the 128GB iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi) is on sale for $569.99 at Amazon. That's $29.01 off its list price of $599.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $569.99 at Amazon
$599 Save $29.01   Get Deal at Amazon

Rumor has it there's a new iPad mini on the horizon, but it's supposedly going to cost about $200 more than the previous model's starting price.

If that price hike news made you wince but you still want to buy a mini, the A17 Pro is certainly worth looking at. As of Oct. 13, the 128GB iPad mini has had nearly $30 knocked off its price tag at Amazon.

While it's normally listed at $599, this 128GB iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi) has been marked down to $569.99. It may be pretty minor savings, but considering how often tech prices fluctuate these days, it's worth checking out nonetheless. Plus, with your purchase, you get up to three months of Apple Arcade, Fitness+, and News+ for free.

SEE ALSO: The first iPhone Duo preorder offer has landed — how to save $1,200

The iPad mini boasts an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, high-quality cameras (a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera and 12MP Wide back camera), and the A17 Pro chip, which offers fast performance and graphics for scrolling, watching videos, and more. We're big fans and think it's an excellent pick for reading.

If the iPad mini has been on your radar, why wait for a new model to drop? This 128GB iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi) delivers everything you need at a lower price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazfit’s new LiveShare feature brings real-time safety tracking to the T-Rex Dual Solar smartwatch

Mashable - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 12:45

TL;DR: Amazfit has rolled out LiveShare, a real-time safety tracking feature for its flagship T-Rex Dual Solar smartwatch. It lets hikers and mountaineers stream their live GPS location, elevation, pace, and biometric data directly to friends and family via a web link.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazfit Amazfit T-Rex Dual Solar Smart Watch $649.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon

Heading into the backcountry as winter creeps in hits different. The air is crisp, and the trails are quiet, but the sun sets with zero warning. If you love cold-weather hikes or mountain scrambles, you know the low-key anxiety of heading out solo. You promise you’ll be home for dinner, but one wrong turn or slow mile, and everyone back home is staring at the clock, waiting for a text.

That’s where Amazfit’s new LiveShare feature changes the game. Built for the flagship T-Rex Dual Solar, it creates a digital breadcrumb trail of your trek. You just drop a link through the Zepp App before hitting the trail, and your contacts can open it in any standard web browser — no account creation or app downloads required on their end.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Ultra 4 Review: The smartwatch for the health-conscious

What makes this useful for smartwatch fans is the depth of data it shares. LiveShare streams your elevation, pace, distance, and even your heart rate in real-time. If your pace slows to a crawl on a brutal incline, your family can still see you moving steadily upward. If you stop for an unusually long time, they have instant context instead of pure panic.

Hardware built for brutal winter trails

A safety feature is only as good as the watch running it, and the T-Rex Dual Solar is built for harsh elements. It features dual-sided solar charging to stretch battery life for days, a 3,000-nit display that stays readable against glaring snow, an onboard flashlight for late finishes, and a low-temp mode that keeps tracking alive down to -30°C.

It's a heavy-duty tool built for cold-weather adventures. LiveShare turns a rugged outdoor watch into a safety net, letting you log miles off the grid without leaving anyone back home guessing.

Beyond keeping your family in the loop, this watch is stacked with high-end tools for athletes and adventurers. When you step out of cell service, you get full-color offline maps on your wrist, complete with turn-by-turn navigation and automatic rerouting if you wander off course.

It also acts as a full-blown training partner, tracking your VO₂ Max, training load, and recovery metrics while syncing seamlessly with apps like Strava and TrainingPeaks. Plus, with 10 ATM water resistance that handles dives down to 50 meters, automatic weather alerts, and hands-free messaging, it transitions effortlessly from a mountain-climbing beast to a capable daily smartwatch.

Ready to log winter miles with peace of mind? Head over to Amazon and snag the T-Rex Dual Solar before your next big trek.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Mark Zuckerberg attempting to drink Guinness goes predictably viral

Mashable - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 12:33

Remember the feeling of drinking your first beer and pretending to enjoy it so you'd fit in?

It appears Mark Zuckerberg had that exact experience recently with a pint of Guinness.

SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg largely ignores smart glasses privacy backlash at Meta Connect

Appearing on Stripe co-founder John Collilson's Cheeky Pint podcast alongside Meta's Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang, the Meta CEO was faced with the daunting challenge of a full pint of the famous Irish stout.

As some X commentators were quick to point out, he seemed to be struggling.

"Mark Zuckerberg pretending to enjoy Guinness is my new favorite thing," wrote Mark Malone, sharing a clip of Zuckerberg's suffering that's now been viewed over five million times.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

It's an undeniably amazing 12 seconds. You can see him sloshing it around his mouth, barely repressing disgust, and then putting on his best poker face to give the illusion that he might not be completely hating it.

If you want to watch the interview in full, you can check it out here.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This simple 3D print transformed my Pixel Watch into a minimalist "dumb" phone

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 12:30

Now that smartphones are firmly ingrained in our lives, we've seen "minimalist phones" rise in popularity. The problem is, these phones are often too simple, and a regular smartphone is still required. LTE smartwatches are a nearly perfect middle ground, but what if you don't like wearing a watch? I've got a solution.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Josephine review: One of the most important films of the year is a hard, vital watch

Mashable - Tue, 10/13/2026 - 12:20

Content warning: sexual assault.

I rarely leave a cinema shaking, but Josephine is a rattling film. Nonetheless a vital one.

Based on her own life experiences, writer and director Beth de Araújo asks an impossibly hard question: what if a child witnessed sexual violence they had no way of understanding? How would you help them process it as a parent? And how will seeing such a violent act manifest in their connection to the world? 

One of the most important films of the year, Josephine might be disturbing and harrowing to watch, however, with one in five women in the United States experiencing rape or attempted rape during their lifetime, the unacceptable prevalence of such violence means it's more crucial than ever to consider the impacts — on survivors and anyone connected to such crimes. 

SEE ALSO: 'I am Jane Doe': The internet rallies to protect a Cornell student's identity

With magnificent, complex, and devastating performances from Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan (who also produced the film), and an intense breakout from extraordinary newcomer Mason Reeves, Josephine forces us to comprehend a child's view of sexual violence. The reality is shattering.

Josephine brings a harrowing perspective to the impact of sexual assault

Rather than focusing on the experience of a survivor of sexual assault, Josephine considers the perspective of a young witness, someone who hasn't even had a conversation about sex and consent with her parents and likely wouldn't for years. And here, de Araújo's Soft & Quiet cinematographer Greta Zozula balances a childlike point of view with searing reality. 

Eight-year-old Josephine (Reeves) and her father Damien (Tatum) run through San Francisco's Golden Gate Park every morning. It's their thing. Through POV shots, we're gleefully integrated into their routine, following the pair into the park as Josephine outruns her dad and takes a fateful fork in the road. However, what awaits in this everyday, playful situation is a nightmare, when Josephine's path takes her to witnessing a brutal rape.

Notably, this pivotal attack against fellow runner Sandra (Syra McCarthy), occurs early in the film and in its entirety, with the remainder focused on the emotional aftermath and legal procedures. Zozula's long-shot cinematography renders this disturbing, violent scene unsensationalised, seen from Josephine's perspective. Like this child, we watch without being able to intervene, however, for the adult audience, there's a cold undertow of understanding the young protagonist lacks.

SEE ALSO: Fighting violence against women, we need men to be part of the conversation

The moments immediately after Sandra's assault become a critical reflection on how law enforcement handles sexual assault; de Araújo has both Damien and the responding officers (all men) going into crisis management mode prioritising catching the perpetrator, while leaving Sandra alone, injured, traumatised, and searching for a glimmer of control. Josephine understands something happened, as she later googles the word "rape" after overhearing it from her dad. However, as her Damien instantly realises, her comprehension of Sandra's pain will require a level of explanation — and he will differ from Josephine's mother Claire (Chan) in how to help their eight-year-old grapple with such adult concepts. (Notably, Reeves herself was seven years old when shooting the film, something de Araújo navigated with care and her parents' consultation.)

Though not physically involved in the assault, Josephine's awareness of it begins to affect her mental health, manifesting in erratic behaviour, especially reacting to her parents' intimacy and the presence of men or boys in any situation. Editors Anisha Acharya, Nico Leunen, and Kyle Reiter have her constantly replaying elements of that day in the park, and in one of the most chilling elements of the film, de Araújo has Sandra's rapist, Greg (Philip Ettinger), physically haunting her at all hours, present in her own bedroom. Here, tiny Josephine experiences effects of sexual violence and trauma, with flashbacks and nightmares, as she tells law enforcement, "I see him everywhere, all the time." 

Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan are outstanding in Josephine

While Josephine struggles to make sense of what happened, Claire and Damien attempt to connect with their daughter — and become increasingly at odds with each other's approach and whether Josephine testifies in court. Shrouded in composer Miles Ross' haunting score, Tatum and Chan give career-best performances.

As Damien, Tatum brings his most dynamic and interior performance yet, a young father who feels the best way to protect his daughter from the adult world's violence is to distract her — or prepare her to fight back. Damien distances himself and his family from Sandra's rape, with the alternative of acknowledging such violence to his eight-year-old too much for him to bear, and Tatum's ability to present a man both terrified and practical is nothing short of heartbreaking. As Damien and Claire's physical connection becomes threatening and sinister to Josephine, and her once watertight relationship with her father becomes strained, Tatum shows intense vulnerability and hurt in his character.

For Claire, Josephine's mother, it lands differently. Claire knows the context of her own experience, and in superb subtlety from Chan, hints at possible trauma herself. "Sometimes you tell the truth and it doesn't even matter," she says, and I promise you, women know what she means. Like Damien, Claire is crushed her daughter has become exposed to such brutality, however, she reacts strongly to Damien telling Josephine that such an attack will "never happen" to her, knowing well that male violence against women and girls continues to destroy lives, even take them. 

Around Chan, Tatum, and Reeves, Josephine builds strong performances from its supporting cast representing the detectives, court-appointed witness advocates, and psychologists involved with building the case against Greg. Each interaction with Josephine and her parents feels tense and often chilling, especially hearing adult words and questions coming from a child. And importantly, de Araújo takes pains to show how long and drawn out the legal process can be in sexual assault cases, as well as the complexities of testifying. "Why didn't you help?" Josephine is asked in court by the rapist's defence lawyer. "Why aren't you?" the child replies, in one of the film's most powerfully quiet moments.

Ultimately, Josephine demands its audience consider the impact of a child exposed to sexual violence. Chillingly, the film has an undercurrent of impending maturity, a justified fear of possibility in adulthood. However, it also champions the strength of survival, whatever age a girl or woman may be — an ability to understand right from wrong, and the power of facing one's ghosts. Or, as the film puts it, "becoming the ghost of your ghost."

Josephine was reviewed out of BFI London Film Festival and will be released in cinemas Nov. 20.

If you have experienced sexual abuse, call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access the 24-7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.

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