A generic teens-in-peril slasher, ‘Clown in a Cornfield’ can’t cut the crop

Is there anything as dependable as the slasher formula? It waxes, wanes and winks its way through cultural cycles but it endures; malleable yet sturdy, high or lowbrow (usually low), requiring just a few key elements: some teenagers and a masked killer. A small town would be nice. Change up the costumes and the weapons … Read more

From era-defining polemic to generic action thriller: How The Handmaid’s Tale lost its way

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting … Read more

Thinking a drug is a knockoff generic can cause worse side effects

A generic drug is pharmacologically identical to its counterpart branded medication AegeanBlue/Getty Images Drugs seem to cause worse side effects if people think they are cheap. This finding could encourage doctors to explain to people that treatments can be effective and safe regardless of whether they are trademarked brands or less expensive copies. “Most people … Read more