The leaves are falling, spooky season is formally upon us, and all eyes are on Joker: Folie à Deux, coming to theaters October 4. For those who’re a DC fanatic (or a Girl Gaga stan), likelihood is you’ve made plans to see Todd Phillips’ sequel this weekend. And who wouldn’t, after watching Joaquin Phoenix’s stellar, Oscar-winning efficiency within the first Joker?

However in case you haven’t ventured into the DC Universe, RT’s Mark Ellis has you coated with all the pieces you need to know earlier than you head to theaters. Discover out who you possibly can anticipate to see appearing alongside Phoenix and Gaga and the way this movie is completely different than some other DC film. “Everybody’s favourite clown with unhealthy intentions is again!”

For all the pieces else you need to know earlier than you go, try the the total video above. And ensure to get your tickets to see Joker: Folie à Deux when it hits theaters on October 4.

Joker: Folie à Deux
(2024)
opens in theaters on October 1, 2024.

On an Apple gadget? Observe Rotten Tomatoes on Apple Information.

I’m in no way a hardcore anime fan, however there have been a handful of those sorts of exhibits that I’ve loved over time, from my childhood viewing of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dragon Ball Z Among the finest animated TV exhibits of all time), to presently making my manner by means of One Piece after having fun with the live-action adaptation’s first season with my Netflix subscription final yr. However now I can confidently say that Dan Da Dan is the weirdest anime I’ve ever seen, though I imply this in a great way, because it excels in mixing humor and absurdity with darkness. Extra importantly, in the event you’re a fan of physique horror and/or The X-Recordsdata, it’s essential test this present out.

The primary episode of Dan Da Dan, tailored from the same-named manga by Yukinobu Tatsu, has premiered on each Netflix and Crunchyroll, although full disclosure, I used to be in a position to see the primary three episodes early. The sequence, which is arguably one of many greatest anime releases of the yr, follows excessive schoolers Momo Ayase and Ken “Okarun” Takakura, with the previous believing in ghosts, the latter believing in aliens, and neither believing within the different’s fascinations. The 2 quickly study that they have been each appropriate, and these discoveries result in the 2 gaining particular powers. Should you want a little bit of a push in direction of watching this bonkers anime, listed here are the trippy Dan Da Dan opening credit:

Want further incentive to observe? Nicely, to these of you who fall into one or each of the classes I discussed earlier, learn on!

Why Physique Horror Followers Will Like Dan Da Dan

The primary story of Dan Da Dan correctly kicks off when Momo dares Okarun to go to a tunnel that’s rumored to be haunted, and Okarun dares Momo to go to an deserted hospital the place a UFO was supposedly sighted. In Okarun’s case, he runs right into a decrepit and lewd demon known as Turbo Granny that not solely curses him, but in addition, and I swear I’m not kidding, takes his penis. The result’s him steadily turning right into a monster resembling Granny, and it’s solely due to the psychic powers that awaken inside Momo throughout her alien abduction that this new a part of himself might be stored at bay.

Watching Okarun’s transformations into this demonic entity might be uncomfortable, however those that’ve watched the perfect physique horror motion pictures ought to delight on this side of Dan Da Dan. Frankly, this may additionally apply to these of you who’ve loved the perfect motion pictures about demonic possession, too, as that’s precisely what Okarun has to take care of throughout Dan Da Dan. Perhaps he’ll ultimately attain some extent the place he can management the curse Granny placed on him, however for now, if Momo wasn’t with him, he’d be wreaking havoc.

Why The X-Recordsdata Followers Will Like Dan Da Dan

Let me clear one thing first: under no circumstances does Dan Da Dan emulate the procedural points of The X-Recordsdata, which might be streamed with a Hulu subscription. Nonetheless, in the event you appreciated the exploration of aliens on that present and wish to see that ratcheted as much as a ten on the weirdness scale, then Dan Da Dan’s for you. Whereas Okarun is coping with the madness that’s Turbo Granny, Momo is kidnapped by aliens that put on bizarre-looking human fits and and are determined to procreate together with her. It’s solely as a result of the cursed Okarun was in a position to journey by means of Momo’s telephone and arrive on the spaceship that this was prevented.

These aliens are not like something I’ve seen in different media, and are arguably simply as creepy-looking as Turbo Granny. They usually’re not the one forms of aliens that will probably be current in Dan Da Dan, however I can’t say any greater than that. Regardless, I’m to see extraterrestrials explored on this present, significantly studying about their homeworlds and cultures. Additionally, hopefully not all of the aliens, and for that matter ghosts, are antagonistic in direction of Momo, Okarun and their allies… however I’ll have a blast watching them combat those which can be.

New episodes of Dan Da Dan drop Thursdays on Netflix and Crunchyroll. Should you’re in search of related exhibits to take a look at, take a look at what different anime are good to observe for the Halloween season.

This month, we take a look at native assets for training and help for breast most cancers sufferers and survivors.

This 12 months, in gentle of an unlucky gradual however regular uptick in breast most cancers diagnoses, we search to deliver consideration again to the month lengthy observance of breast most cancers consciousness. Breast Most cancers is the second most typical most cancers recognized in ladies, and was accountable for over 55,000 deaths in the usa in 2023.   Males are additionally recognized in a single out of each hundred instances, with a proportional fatality price.  It’s tough for these recognized, in addition to their households and associates, to deal with this scary, life altering sickness. We wished to share academic and well being assets, in addition to native charity occasions and methods to contribute in the neighborhood in help of these preventing this power sickness.

• The nationwide Middle for Illness Management (CDC) provides a useful academic information on most cancers signs, remedies and screenings, and extra.  This may be helpful as a place to begin alongside dialog together with your Physician.
• This web page from the American Most cancers Affiliation additionally highlights various kinds of remedies and the steps for every kind of therapy.
• The Boston Public Well being Fee’s Pink and Black Marketing campaign is an ongoing training and advocacy motion aimed toward supporting ethnic minorities and feminine survivors of breast most cancers.   The web page linked provides quite a few assets and statistics to discover.
• The Most cancers Help Group of Massachusetts provides a assist line, in addition to digital help and wellness teams for survivor, households, and caregivers, in addition to bereavement teams for people who have misplaced a cherished one.
• The Ellie Fund is a Needham primarily based charity that provides data and help for these battling a Breast Most cancers prognosis.  You should definitely examine their occasions calendar for 2024 and past for neighborhood occasions donation .
• The Massachusetts Breast Most cancers Coalition is a neighborhood nonprofit devoted to training and prevention-based advocacy.   They provide their very own academic assets, internet primarily based and in particular person occasions and volunteer alternatives.
• There are extra Breast Most cancers Consciousness occasions occurring within the Boston space, together with fundraisers, networking occasions, dances and social actions, and extra.

For breast most cancers therapy and screening, listed beneath are a number of main hospital providers within the better Boston space:

Have a secure and wholesome month, please attain out to us on the Worker Help Program (EAP) when you’ve got any extra assets or occasions you desire to us to characteristic right here for Breast Most cancers Consciousness Month.

A toddler from the Brantford, Ont., space has died from rabies, says a neighborhood medical officer of well being. 

Dr. Malcolm Lock of the Haldimand-Norfolk Well being Unit advised councillors at a board of well being assembly Wednesday that the kid had been uncovered to the virus within the Timiskaming area, simply north of Sudbury. 

“They awoke with a bat of their room,” Lock stated. “The dad and mom appeared, did not see any indicators of a chew or scratches or saliva, and did not search getting a rabies vaccine.” 

Final month, the kid was in hospital. No different particulars, together with the kid’s age, have been launched.

It is the primary domestically acquired case of human rabies in Ontario since 1967 and the primary ever of a Brantford-Brant resident.

This case demonstrates that rabies, which may trigger extreme harm to the mind and spinal wire, remains to be circulating, Lock stated. 

This yr, 16 per cent of bats within the Haldimand-Norfolk space have examined constructive for rabies, in comparison with fewer than 10 per cent in earlier years, stated Lock. 

“It is extraordinarily vital anybody who has a type of publicity [to bats] seeks medical consideration,” he stated.

Remedy must be sought immediately after contact with bats, even when there aren’t any indicators of a chew or rabies signs, stated Lock. 

Remedies embrace a dose of rabies immune globulin and a sequence of rabies vaccines, which should be administrated as quickly as potential after publicity, Lock stated. The therapies are almost 100 per cent efficient.

Bat bites are simply missed: veterinary prof

Since reporting started in 1924, there have been 26 instances of rabies in Canada, a few of which occurred after publicity to a rabid animal outdoors the nation, based on the federal authorities.  All 26 instances had been deadly. 

Whereas different wild animals resembling raccoons, skunks, foxes and canines can grow to be contaminated, rabid bats have triggered virtually all human instances of rabies in Canada. 

“We all know bats have rabies,” stated Prof. Scott Weese of the College of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary School. 

“We must always take into account each bat to be carrying rabies and steer clear of it.” 

Bats have small tooth and their bites may be simply missed, Weese stated. 

If individuals do come into contact with a bat, or are bitten by any mammal, they need to contact their public well being division for recommendation, he added.

WATCH | It is uncommon for individuals to catch rabies in Canada: 

Ontario little one dies from rabies after contact with bat: well being official | Canada Tonight

A toddler from the Brantford, Ont., space has died from rabies, says a neighborhood medical officer of well being. It’s the first domestically acquired case of human rabies in Ontario since 1967 and the primary ever of a Brantford-Brant resident.

Breast Most cancers Consciousness Month can imply various things to totally different individuals. For some, it’s a set off — 31 days within the fall of pink-ribbon reminders of a illness that eternally modified them. For others, it’s an opportunity to indicate their help for the greater than 2 million girls all over the world who’re recognized with the illness annually. Understanding the objectives behind the worldwide marketing campaign and the feelings felt by the numerous totally different individuals dwelling with the illness might enable you resolve if and the way you need to commemorate the month.

Breast Most cancers Consciousness Month is a global well being marketing campaign that’s held each October. The month goals to advertise screening and prevention of the illness, which impacts 2.3 million girls worldwide. Identified greatest for its pink theme coloration, the month options a lot of campaigns and applications — performed by teams starting from breast most cancers advocacy organizations to area people organizations to main retailers — geared toward: supporting individuals recognized with breast most cancers, together with these with metastatic breast most cancers educating individuals about breast most cancers danger elements encouraging girls to go for normal breast most cancers screening beginning at age 40 or earlier, relying on private breast most cancers danger fundraising for breast most cancers analysis.

Within the month of October, there are additionally particular dates designed to lift consciousness of particular teams inside the breast most cancers neighborhood.

Metastatic Breast Most cancers Consciousness Day (October 13)
October 13 is nationally acknowledged within the U.S. as Metastatic Breast Most cancers Consciousness Day. About 168,000 girls within the U.S. are estimated to have metastatic breast most cancers (most cancers that spreads past the breast to different components of the physique). Researchers estimate that about 30% of early-stage breast cancers finally metastasize. The day, which started in 2009, is supposed to teach the general public concerning the want for more cash to go to the examine of metastatic breast most cancers and the event of latest metastatic most cancers remedies.

Males’s Breast Most cancers Consciousness Week (October 17–23)
Though breast most cancers is far more frequent in girls, breast most cancers impacts males, too. In 2021, President Joe Biden designated October 17 to October 23 Males’s Breast Most cancers Consciousness Week. In keeping with the American Most cancers Society, 2,790 males within the U.S. will likely be recognized with breast most cancers in 2024, and about 530 are anticipated to die from the illness.

Supply: Breastcancer.org

The rabies-related loss of life of a Brantford-area baby is highlighting considerations Windsor-Essex well being officers flagged following an increase in bat bites.

At the latest assembly of the Windsor-Essex County Well being Unit’s (WECHU) Board of Administrators, members obtained a report from the Environmental Well being Division, displaying a spike in animal chew investigations in 2023, significantly involving bats.

“I’m involved,” mentioned Dr. Medhi Aloosh, WECHU’s medical officer of well being.

“My message to the neighborhood is just remember to will not be uncovered to wild animals, significantly bats.”

The Brantford-area baby who died from rabies is believed to have been uncovered to the virus within the Timiskaming area, north of Sudbury.

“They awakened with a bat of their room,” detailed Dr. Malcolm Lock of the Haldimand-Norfolk Well being Unit.

“The dad and mom seemed, didn’t see any indicators of a chew or scratches or saliva and didn’t search getting a rabies vaccine.”

The kid’s age has not been launched.

The an infection was confirmed on Sept. 6, with Public Well being Ontario saying it was the primary case of home human rabies recorded since 1967.

It was that an infection which prompted WECHU’s report and Dr. Aloosh’s feedback, made simply days earlier than the kid died.

“That is the primary case in additional than half a century,” Dr. Aloosh mentioned following the Sept. 26 WECHU assembly.

“The chance is comparatively low as a result of now we have an excellent program when it comes to post-exposure prophylaxis,” he added, urging anybody who might need been uncovered to name the well being unit or their healthcare supplier.

Up to now this yr, the well being unit stories 48 rabies post-exposure prophylaxis therapies (rPEP) have been administered as of Sept. 10, three associated to bat publicity.

WECHU reported they’ve investigated 696 animal bites — eight from bats.

Final yr, the well being unit issued 60 rPEP therapies — 16 associated to bat publicity. It investigated 1,075 animal bites, 34 of which had been from bats.

Dr. Aloosh emphasised the significance of guaranteeing pets are updated on vaccinations and that kids are taught to respect wild animals and hold a secure distance.

“There have been many instances that children had been enjoying with bats — lifeless bats,” Dr. Aloosh mentioned.

“So, there’s some training that we have to do for our neighborhood.”

CVS Well being mentioned Monday that it’ll lay off about 2,900 individuals amid strain from buyers to chop prices and enhance its monetary efficiency. And extra dramatic modifications may very well be coming quickly.

A spokesperson for the well being care big, which has lengthy been primarily based in Woonsocket, R.I., and operates well being insurer Aetna in Hartford, confirmed the cuts, which is able to primarily fall on company roles. Late Monday, information service Reuters reported that the corporate is contemplating a fair larger transfer — splitting its pharmacy chain and its insurance coverage enterprise — although no last selections have been made.

A spokesperson declined remark to Reuters on a possible breakup, however did affirm the layoffs to the Globe, saying they have been a part of a $2 billion cost-cutting plan designed to enhance the corporate’s monetary efficiency. The job cuts can be companywide, “not remoted to a single company workplace or state,” the spokesperson mentioned, and quantity to lower than 1 p.c of the corporate’s headcount.

Throughout a press convention Tuesday, the Alma Police Division in Arkansas introduced a major replace within the Morgan Nick case: DNA present in a truck as soon as owned by the primary suspect in her disappearance has been linked to Morgan. 

On June 9, 1995, the 6-year-old was taken from a car parking zone close to Wofford Subject in Alma throughout a Little League sport. “After I couldn’t see Morgan, my coronary heart began to beat actually quick,” Morgan’s mom, Colleen Nick, instructed Dateline in 2019. “We had been someplace we hadn’t been earlier than. She wouldn’t go anyplace by herself.”

 Again in 1995, the Alma Police Division took statements from witnesses who had been there that night. “A suspect description was offered, as was an outline of a crimson truck with a white camper shell that was allegedly concerned,” Chief Jeff Pointer acknowledged through the press convention Tuesday. 

A person named Billy Jack Lincks rapidly grew to become an individual of curiosity. Lincks was questioned in 1995 however denied having any information of Morgan’s disappearance. 

In July 2019, the Alma Police Division took a contemporary take a look at Morgan’s case. In 2020, they tracked down the truck Lincks owned in 1995. By then, it had handed via a number of homeowners. The present proprietor allowed authorities to go looking the automobile, and so they vacuumed varied areas contained in the truck. “In doing so, they produced a number of vacuum canisters containing varied types of matter, together with hair, from the automobile,” Chief Pointer stated. At the moment, the proof was turned over to the FBI. 

A yr later, the FBI introduced they believed they had been getting nearer to figuring out the particular person chargeable for Morgan’s abduction. However they wanted extra info — particularly about Billy Jack Lincks. “Whether or not it was via college, work, church, or any social exercise, we’d like details about Lincks and particulars about his complete life,” the FBI launch acknowledged. “Keep in mind, every bit of details about Lincks’ life is vital—no element is just too small or insignificant.” 

In 2023, a detective from Alma PD discovered about a complicated evaluation course of offered by Othram Labs — particularly that they’d been profitable in creating DNA profiles from hair, with or with out roots. 

By the top of 2023, they obtained the proof again from the FBI and despatched it over to Othram. “On September 27, 2024, Othram Laboratory despatched a report [back],” Chief Pointer stated. “They decided that the hair contained within the proof that was submitted for evaluation was that of Colleen Nick, certainly one of her siblings or certainly one of her youngsters.” 

Alma PD reinterviewed members of the Nick household and decided none of them knew Lincks or had been in a truck comparable to the one he’d owned in 1995. Pointer stated this proof “strongly signifies” Morgan had been in his truck. Lincks died in 2000. 

Chief Pointer acknowledged that regulation enforcement officers have “spent 1000’s of hours working greater than 10 thousand leads on this case,” however he emphasised that the vital factor to notice is that Morgan Nick remains to be lacking.  

“We’ve reached some extent the place we will focus on one suspect to find out the circumstances surrounding Morgan’s abduction,” Chief Pointer stated. However many questions stay, he burdened. “How was she taken from the ball discipline? What occurred subsequent? Did Lincks have assist in abducting Morgan or concealing his crime all these years? And the place is Morgan now?”  

The investigation is much from over. “It’s ongoing and lively,” the chief stated. Authorities are reinterviewing identified associates of Lincks.

They’re additionally asking anybody who may need info that might reply their remaining inquiries to contact them at 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678).  

On the finish of Tuesday’s press convention, Morgan’s mom, Colleen, bought up and addressed the group. “There have been a military of supporters and advocates and heroes who’ve rallied to uncover the reality about Morgan’s disappearance,” she stated. “And also you see these folks right here on this room immediately.” 

“He stole Morgan from me, he stole her from her dad, and he stole her from Logan and Taryn,” Colleen stated, referring to Morgan’s siblings. “However he didn’t see that he might by no means win. As a result of our love for Morgan — her reminiscence and her voice — outlasted his life.” 

And on the finish of the day, Colleen is aware of that their love will proceed to take action. “That love continues to shine. Her coronary heart — Morgan’s coronary heart shines on,” she stated. 

When you have any details about the disappearance of Morgan Nick or about Billy Jack Lincks, please name 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678).

If the primary “Joker” requested if we might have empathy for the satan, the sequel questions if we’re prepared to look at him fall in love, undergo the emotional wringer and in addition placed on a present.

Co-written and directed once more by Todd Phillips, “Joker: Folie à Deux” (★★½ out of 4; rated R; in theaters Friday) takes greater swings than its audacious 2019 predecessor, a finest image nominee and the highest-grossing R-rated film in historical past till Deadpool and Wolverine teamed up. It even has its personal dynamic duo, with Joaquin Phoenix’s tortured Joker discovering a soulmate in Woman Gaga’s electrical tackle Harley Quinn.

Not every thing hums round them, because the dour and distracted however nonetheless well-acted “Folie à Deux” makes an attempt to be jail drama, courtroom thriller and supervillain musical unexpectedly. With Gaga belting old-school pop requirements and Phoenix tap-dancing like a madman, at the very least a type of features positively works.

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It’s been two years since failed social gathering clown/comic Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) turned a folks “hero” of types in Gotham Metropolis, placing on garish face paint and getting locked up at Arkham State Hospital for 5 murders (together with blowing away a late-night host on stay TV). TV motion pictures and books have saved his legend alive exterior jail partitions, however inside, the grim and emaciated Arthur has misplaced his signature cackle. He listlessly takes his meds and will get hounded by mockingly merry jail guard Jackie (Brendan Gleeson) to inform jokes.

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Arthur’s extremely anticipated trial is about to start out and with the state going for the dying penalty, his lawyer (Catherine Keener) desires to mount an madness protection and argue that it was a Joker “persona” that did these killings, not Arthur. His thoughts turns into extra concerned with issues of the center: In music remedy at Arkham, he meets Lee Quinzel, a disturbed songbird who set hearth to her mother and father’ condominium constructing and is an enormous Joker fan. She tells Arthur that after seeing him kill a man on nationwide tv, “I didn’t really feel so alone anymore.”

Like within the first movie, Arthur has showbiz fantasies in his head however they now characteristic him dueting with Lee on songs just like the Bee Gees’ “To Love Someone.” The 2 share a musical connection in his actual life, too, gently whispering “Get Pleased” lyrics to 1 one other. She’s free of the minimum-security ward to get her away from his “unhealthy affect” however performs a serious position as Arthur and her alter ego see their day in courtroom.

Phillips crafts a compelling narrative early on, contrasting gritty, merciless jail scenes with Arthur discovering actual happiness for the primary time in his life. That momentum screeches to a halt as soon as we get to the showy trial, because the “Folie à Deux” then turns into an pointless retelling of the unique film, with sure returning characters and plot factors. It does give Arthur a number of moments of precise contrition, and Phoenix inexplicably channels Foghorn Leghorn when he decides to mount his personal protection.

That first “Joker” leaned nihilistic and poisonous, if deep in its personal psychological means. The sequel can also be darkish however there’s a hope and sweetness to it at occasions. That spawns from the robust chemistry between Gaga and Phoenix in quiet moments and in energetic song-and-dance numbers, as they rip by means of the Nice American Songbook and tunes akin to “The Joker” (the Anthony Newley one, not the Steve Miller Band). Anybody aware of Batman comic-book lore is aware of Joker and Harley have their excessive ups and downs, and it’s pleasurable right here to look at Arthur and Lee’s unhealthy romance come to fruition.

Whereas “Folie à Deux” embraces a heightened, even cartoonish high quality in persevering with the story of Phoenix’s troubled soul, Phillips actually misses an opportunity to go full musical and do one thing actually totally different. Simply dipping its toes in that style, with these robust performers, is sufficient to drive you mad.