Watch the trailer for Blink 182 member Tom DeLonge's UFO conspiracy film
Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge has long been a vocal believer in aliens, government cover-ups around UFOs and the paranormal. Now, he has directed a feature film which deals with subject, and which gives a not-so-subtle nod to his own worldview of extraterrestrial life. The film, Monsters of California, centres around a group of high school misfits in America, who discover research left behind by a missing government agent. They embark on a “dangerous adventure to uncover a paranormal conspiracy in Southern California that brings them face-to-face with some of the government's most guarded mysteries”. It comes as UFO hysteria hit fever pitch this year, with multiple high-profile investigations into reports of potential alien activity by the US government. The first was a US Congressional hearing into unidentified anomalous phenomena which took place over the summer. The second was a NASA report into the subject, which culminated in a press conference last week, where the agency’s boss Bill Nelson admitted that he believed there were aliens somewhere in the universe. DeLonge said: "The film takes my fascination with the unexplained, combines it with the skate culture I grew up a part of, and tosses in my ridiculous sense of humour that millions got to witness during my Blink-182 days. “In recent years, I’ve had the good fortune of helping the government remember how much they care about UFOs through the work we do at To The Stars, and it's that experience which helped inspire this movie. I can't wait for audiences to see the f****d up fun adventure these kids go on.” DeLonge’s film is set for a 6 October release. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Ukrainian forces ‘smash through Russian front line’ in counteroffensive breakthrough
Ukrainian tanks appeared to have broken through Russia’s final line of defence in western Zaporizhzhia, signalling a major breakthrough for Kyiv’s counteroffensive. A report published by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Ukrainian armoured vehicles were behind the Russian defence line – known as the Surovikin line – for the first time, and involved in fighting near the village of Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia region. “Ukrainian forces have brought heavy equipment beyond the anti-vehicle ditch and the dragons’ teeth for the first time,” said George Barros, an analyst for ISW, on X, formerly known as Twitter. He added: “Forces have been widening their breach of the lines for the past several weeks and may be preparing for a new push.” The reported breakthrough comes as Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky looked to Canadian’s prime minister Justin Trudeau for further military support, after securing a $325m defence package from US President Joe Biden on Thursday. Some 577 days into the conflict, experts see the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive to liberate Zaporizhzhia as the key to breaking Russia’s backbone, and potentially winning the war. If Ukrainian forces maintain and widen the opening within the fortified Surovikin line, it could open the way for its Western tanks and reserve troops to reach the Sea of Azov and effectively cut Russian forces in half. For months, Ukraine’s progress in the region has struggled against the 81-mile line heavily fortified with defensive weapons, including tank traps, minefields and huge concrete blocks designed to stop armoured vehicles. The ISW report’s claims of the armoured vehicle advancement are yet to be confirmed and the Russian-appointed officials in Zaporizhzhia have provided a different picture from the ground. Vladimir Rogov, from the Russian-installed Zaporizhzhia military-civilian administration, told Russian news agency RIA Novosti that Ukrainian soldiers were forced to retreat after a failed assault on the line. “Our attack drones have hit an assault group of Ukrainian militants who tried to break through to our positions on the Orikhiv direction between the villages of Robotyne and Verbove,” he said. Breaking the Surovikin line could have a big impact on the rest of the war, according to military experts such as Sean Bell. He told Sky News this week: “You are never sure what will be the chink that will break the dam, you will never know until the crack emerges and the floodgates open. “The question is whether the Ukrainians then have the stamina and the morale and the equipment to take advantage of it.” The battle to win back territory in the south has been costly for Ukraine over the past few months. There has, however, been progress. Earlier this month, forces captured the village of Robotyne. Since then, Kyiv has focused on breaching and opening a gap in the Surovikin line by moving toward the village of Verbove. This latest reported advancement will be a boost for Mr Zelensky, who on Wednesday accused Russia of weaponising everything from food to energy during an address to the UN General Assembly. Mr Zelensky told world leaders: “While Russia is pushing the world to the final war, Ukraine is doing everything to ensure that after the Russian aggression, no one in the world will dare to attack any nation.” Visiting President Joe Biden in Washington on Thursday, Zelensky secured a fresh $325m aid package that will include air defence systems and other weaponry to help Kyiv face a tough winter. And on Friday, he was meeting Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau as he rallied for further support to Ukrainian war efforts. Read More Ukraine-Russia war - live: Kyiv tanks break through gap in Putin’s final line of defence near Verbove Zelensky heads to Canada after Washington in a first since invasion Zelenskyy to speak before Canadian Parliament in his campaign to shore up support for Ukraine
1970-01-01 08:00
MohBad mourners teargassed at Nigeria's Lekki toll gate after Lagos concert
It happened after a memorial concert in Lagos for MohBad, who died last week aged 27.
1970-01-01 08:00
Dame Olivia Newton-John’s Totally Hot Celebrates 45th Anniversary With a Sizzling Return to Vinyl and CD on November 17
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 22, 2023--
1970-01-01 08:00
'Expend4bles' reloads the action franchise with Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham
After three movies in four years, "The Expendables" waited more than nine to unleash its latest adventure, likely a testament to the poorly received youth movement introduced in the third film. "Expend4ables" seeks to provide a badly spelled tonic to that misstep but works from such a flimsy, threadbare script, "The Disposables" would describe it better.
1970-01-01 08:00
'Guess they haven't heard the news': Lizzo trolled over getting BMAC's Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award
After Lizzo's acceptance speech at the BMAC gala went viral, netizens slammed the decision to give her the humanitarian award
1970-01-01 08:00
Ukraine missile strike hits Russia’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters, kills 1 serviceman
Russia says Ukraine carried out a missile strike on the main headquarters of its Black Sea Fleet, killing one service member
1970-01-01 08:00
Who is Pauline Newman? Oldest federal judge, 96, lashes out after being suspended from hearing cases
America's oldest federal judge has retaliated after being barred from hearing cases because of the dispute over her 'cognitive impairment'
1970-01-01 08:00
Jack Osbourne shocked at allegations against pal Russell Brand but says he has always done 'crazy things'
Jack Osbourne, along with his family, appeared on 'Piers Morgan Uncensored' and shared his shock over the accusations against Brand
1970-01-01 08:00
Corporate America is growing concerned about a government shutdown
Corporate America's leaders are mentally preparing for an especially long and chaotic government shutdown.
1970-01-01 08:00
10 celebrities who married the same person twice
'Can't live with them, can't live without them' — this aptly describes the marriage and divorce sagas of the 10 couples we have listed here
1970-01-01 08:00
How tall is Adam Sandler? 'Big Daddy's teen daughter Sunny is almost as tall as her famous father
Adam Sandler recently joked that he missed out on a 'Friends' role next to Jennifer Aniston because of David Schwimmer's height
1970-01-01 08:00