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Films We Love! That Almost Flew Over Our Heads
Unsurprisingly, most movie-going audiences don’t want to feel like they should be taking notes. Even for some blockbuster hits, complex storylines…

Unsurprisingly, most movie-going audiences don’t want to feel like they should be taking notes. Even for some blockbuster hits, complex storylines and interwoven narratives can spell trouble. Just look at the Marvel Universe, which continually overlaps and tweaks storylines as its primary heroes and villains interact across dozens of films.
The same can even be said for smaller hits, like Game of Thrones and its spinoffs. While many viewers find the richness of the fantasy world to be a highlight, just as many others stop watching because they can’t keep up with the characters, plots, and settings.
Still, that doesn’t mean that complexity is a turn-off for viewers. Instead, many audiences enjoy a challenge—especially a narrative or twist that they haven’t seen before. In other words, it’s not the audience’s responsibility to weed through a complicated production—instead, it’s the job of filmmakers and showrunners to craft stories that are equal parts inventive, straightforward, and richly intricate.
Let’s cover a few of the top projects that accomplish this.
Rounders, 1998
This film brought together Matt Damon, John Malkovich, and Edward Norton together in a high-stakes underground poker world. Damon’s character has to win back money on behalf of a friend… which involves plenty of high-stakes poker games and all their complexity. In fact, part of Rounders’ allure was its deep dive into poker terms.
Anyone who’s spent time at the poker table, online or in real-life, has likely run into a few distracting terms. Combing through the casino glossary will uncover some baffling lingo, from house edge to shoe to payout table. Despite the complexity of the game and the incorporation of poker terms, director John Dahl nailed his mark. Rounders helped contribute to the boom of online poker in the early 2000s—and has since become a cult classic.
Donnie Darko, 2001
Speaking of cult classics, even the most diehard Donnie Darko fans might struggle to explain exactly what happens in this suburban coming-of-age story. With a star-studded cast at the start of their careers (Jena Malone, Seth Rogen, the Gyllenhaal siblings), the film delighted, intrigued, and baffled thousands.
And, in the end, there’s little description that works for the film. A sleepwalking teen hallucinates a man in a rabbit costume. The man in the rabbit costume insists that the world will end in 28 days. And it does—at least, for the main character Donnie.

Memento, 2000
Y2K must have brought out the zaniest ideas from filmmakers in the US. Nearby Rounders and Donnie Darko, 2000 saw the release of Memento. As the first major project from Christopher Nolan, the film was dark, complicated, and incredibly innovative.
In fact, Memento is hailed as being one of the top-acclaimed projects of the year—and the decade. The film used a non-linear narrative, which is always a risk. However, it perfectly tied the plot together as both timelines meet at the end of the film. In other words, it lays out exactly what happened: a man with amnesia relies on photographs and tattoos to help him piece together the mysterious death of his wife and an attack that nearly killed him
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 2004
Clearly, some of the greatest and most complex films ever made had star-studded casts. This film includes Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Carrey, and Kate Winslet. Similar to Memento, the film takes place over a non-linear timeline, which leaves viewers to string together the film’s events.
And, similar to Donnie Darko, there’s a highly psychological thread that intertwines the main characters. In other words, viewers aren’t quite sure if they can trust the narrator—did things happen how this character remembers? And what do they remember? By weaving together elements of drama, psychology, and memory, there’s something deeply touching about the mismatched narratives in this film.
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Brandi Cyrus Says She Doesn’t Want Kids – ‘I Don’t Really Like Them’

Brandi Cyrus is opening up about her personal choice to live a life without kids. During the July 15 episode of Boyfriend Material with Harry Jowsey, the 38-year-old podcast host and DJ candidly explained why motherhood isn’t for her.
“I don’t want my own kids,” Cyrus said during a lighthearted conversation with her mom, Tish Cyrus, and host Harry Jowsey. When asked why, she replied, “Oh, I don’t really like kids,” sparking laughter from both Tish and Jowsey.
Despite not wanting children of her own, Cyrus admitted she was open to dating someone who already has kids. The topic came up as Jowsey discussed wanting to settle down and drive a “family car” in preparation for fatherhood.
Cyrus is currently in a relationship with Matt Southcombe, and she often shares glimpses of her lifestyle on social media. As more celebrities speak openly about choosing not to have children, Cyrus’s comments reflect a growing trend among women prioritizing personal freedom over parenthood.
The conversation also touched on another guest who chose a child-free lifestyle, making it clear that Cyrus is confident in her choice to live without kids.
Popular
Christina Haack’s ‘Christina on the Coast’ Reportedly Canceled at HGTV
The cancellation comes amid HGTV’s purge of many of its top shows.

Another HGTV favorite is coming to an end. Christina Haack’s long-running home renovation series Christina on the Coast will not return for a new season, a source confirmed to PEOPLE. The news follows a wave of cancellations at the network, including Bargain Block, Farmhouse Fixer, Married to Real Estate, and Izzy Does It.
The second half of Christina on the Coast Season 5 premiered on February 27, just months after Haack’s split from husband Josh Hall, who filed for divorce in July 2024 after nearly three years of marriage. The series, which first aired in 2019, followed Haack as she redesigned homes in Southern California while balancing her personal life, motherhood, and real estate ventures.
While fans are disappointed to see the show go, Haack’s presence in the home renovation world isn’t over. She continues to run her design business and has hinted at new projects on the horizon.
At a time when HGTV is undergoing major shifts, Christina on the Coast joins a growing list of fan-favorite shows being cut from the lineup.
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Zak Bagans Isn’t Married but Has a Girlfriend Holly Madison — They Rekindled Their Romance
Zak Bagans is not married but is currently in a relationship. The notable paranormal investigator and television personality has been romantically…

Zak Bagans is not married but is currently in a relationship. The notable paranormal investigator and television personality has been romantically involved with Holly Madison.
Despite a brief separation in 2021, the couple has officially rekindled their romance, as reported by TMZ. The sources close to them revealed that the split was amicable, and Bagans and Madison have remained in contact since then.
Their connection, which began after Madison visited Bagans’ Haunted Museum in Las Vegas in May 2019, seems to have endured the test of time and distance.

Zak Bagans and his girlfriend Holly Madison. (Source: TMZ)
Madison, who travels between Los Angeles and Vegas due to her kids, and Bagans, who travels extensively for the filming of his show, manage to spend time together almost every week.
Despite being public figures, the couple has chosen to keep their relationship relatively private, rarely being photographed together. I
That being said, Madison’s Instagram post, where she wished Bagans a happy birthday with a photo of a clown birthday cake, provided a glimpse into their intimate relationship.
Before dating Bagans, Madison was previously married to Pasquale Rotella until February 2019. They have two children together.
Zak Bagans’ ghost adventures
Bagans collaborated with Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin in 2004 to create a documentary-style film of Ghost Adventures, which ultimately aired on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2007.
The success of the film paved the way for a full-fledged series that premiered in 2008 on the Travel Channel, marking the beginning of a captivating journey through haunted locations.
Despite its popularity, Ghost Adventures and other ghost hunting shows have faced criticism and accusations of fakery. Bagans, however, has continued to lead investigations and explore the unexplained.
In addition to Ghost Adventures, Bagans ventured into a spin-off series titled Ghost Adventures: Aftershocks from 2014 to 2016. The show delved into the aftermath of prior Ghost Adventures investigations, focusing on the impact and changes experienced by individuals involved in the paranormal encounters.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Bagans’ paranormal journey is his alleged communication with the late actor David Strickland, known for his role in NBC’s Suddenly Susan.
Strickland’s tragic suicide in 1999 at the Oasis Motel in Las Vegas became a focal point for Bagans, who claims to have recorded Strickland’s voice almost a decade after his death. This recording found its way into a track on Bagans’ album NecroFusion.
Interestingly, no known scientific analysis has been conducted on the raw recording, leaving questions about the veracity of Electronic Voice Phenomena and its connection to the famous actor unanswered.
Zak Bagans’ other projects
Bagans, known for his paranormal investigations on the hit show Ghost Adventures, has extended his passion for the supernatural into various other projects.
One notable venture is the creation of a “haunted museum” in Las Vegas, Nevada, as depicted in the Travel Channel series Deadly Possessions, which premiered on April 2, 2016.
The show captured Bagans’ quest to procure items with haunted histories, eventually culminating in the opening of the museum to the public in October 2017.
The museum boasts 33 rooms, each showcasing an array of intriguing and eerie artifacts. Among the notable items on display are Bela Lugosi’s mirror, the infamous Dybbuk box, Peggy the Doll, and even Jack Kevorkian’s chilling “Death Van.”
However, some controversy surrounds certain claims attached to these artifacts, with skepticism raised about the provenance of items like the Lugosi mirror and Captain Smith mirror housed in the museum.
Despite the controversies, the museum earned recognition in 2018 when it received the Las Vegas Mayor’s award for historic preservation and adaptive reuse.
In a fascinating addition to the museum’s collection in 2021, the transaxle salvaged from the Porsche 550 Spyder of American actor James Dean found its place among the eerie artifacts.
Furthermore, Bagans announced in May 2021 that he would be hosting and executive producing The Haunted Museum, a horror anthology show set to be broadcast on the Discovery+ Channel.
The series, filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Toronto, Canada by Cream Productions, features Eli Roth as a filmmaker and Matt Booi, Kate Harrison Karman, and David Brady as executive producers.
Notably, the museum also houses a large painting of P.T. Barnum, a figure whom Bagans is said to idolize. This addition further reflects Bagans’ eclectic taste in curating a collection that spans not only the supernatural but also historical and cultural dimensions.
Zak Bagans also has written books
Bagans has also made significant contributions to the literary world. Collaborating with author Kelly Crigger, Bagans co-wrote the book Dark World: Into the Shadows with the Lead Investigator of the Ghost Adventures Crew.
This collaboration proved to be a literary success, as the book made its debut on The New York Times Best Seller list at No. 18 on September 23, 2011.
In December 2019, Bagans expanded his literary repertoire with the publication of Ghost-Hunting For Dummies, a book that delves into the history of ghost-hunting.
Beyond a mere historical account, the book draws on Bagans’ own experiences, featuring true accounts and stories from his famous cases and investigations. It aims to guide readers on how to embark on their supernatural investigations, inviting them to explore the unexplained.
However, the reception of Ghost-Hunting For Dummies was not without its critiques. Paranormal investigator Kenneth Biddle, writing for Skeptical Inquirer magazine, noted Bagans’ apparent bias against skeptics and scientists throughout much of the book.
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