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Last Updated: October 20th

Although Netflix definitely has the superior selection of Horror choices, Hulu has got you covered on some unique titles too. The streaming service built its reputation with its TV offerings, but it’s quietly turned into a fine place to watch movies. We didn’t have to look too hard to find some scary must-sees, from bona fide classics to cult favorites. So here are the 10 best horror movies on Hulu.

Related: The Best Horror Movies On Amazon Prime Right Now

Cabin in the Woods (2011)

Run Time: 95 min | IMDb: 7/10

Chris Hemsworth stars in this Whedon creation directed by Drew Goddard that’ll make you wary of ever going on a mountain retreat again. Hemsworth plays one of a group of five friends who head to the woods for some R&R. The remote cabin they stay at quickly becomes a hellish prison they struggle to escape from.

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House Of 1000 Corpses (2003)

Run Time: 89 min | IMDb: 6.1/10

Rob Zombie’s cult classic still manages to scare the ever-living sh*t out of us, even if its main villains are a group of backwater clowns. The film follows two young couples with a murder kink who go on a trip to try to uncover some true crime legends. That whole “be careful what you wish for” saying comes into play when they’re taken hostage and terrorized by a family of inbred circus people who find increasingly inventive, gruesome ways to hurt them. You know, because it’s fun.

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Tragedy Girls (2017)

Run Time: 98 min | IMDb: 6/10

Two friends, McKayla and Sadie, run a blog called “Tragedy Girls” and are desperate for new followers. So desperate that they’ll do anything to become more popular — yes, this includes murder. As their actions continue to drive their small town into a frenzy, the two friends relish in the fact that they’re becoming real-life horror icons in the process.

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Hellraiser (1987)

Run Time: 94 min | IMDb: 7/10

Clive Barker became one of the leading voices of horror in the 1980s thanks to the graphic, bloody, sexually frank stories found in his Books of Blood collections. For his directorial debut, Barker turned to his novella The Hellbound Heart, the story of a mysterious puzzle box and the demonic creature it unleashes. It remains an effective combination of scares and kinkiness, filled with creepy images and the unforgettable Cenobites, the strangely reasonable-sounding monsters who’ve lost any distinction between pain and pleasure.

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Paranormal Activity (2010) (requires Showtime)

Run Time: 86 min | IMDb: 6.3/10

The found footage genre certainly seems done to death, but the first Paranormal Activity is still a lot of fun and fright. Although it certainly spawned some not as great sequels and inspired plenty of copy cats, the original should be on anyone’s Halloween horror list. The jump scare-galore film focuses on a married couple’s attempt to figure out and put an end to the supernatural occurrences happening in their home.

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The Host (2006)

Run Time: 119 min | IMDb: 7.0/10

#BongHive rejoice! Hulu’s giving us even more reasons to tap into the director’s eclectic collection of genre films with this monster-run-amock movie, which was first inspired by reports of a fish with an S-shaped spine being caught in the Han River. For The Host, Bong Joon-Ho made the creature significantly more menacing, as it eventually emerges from the Han River and causes immense havoc. Local snack bar vendor Park Gang-du (Song Kang-ho) tries to escape with his daughter, before realizing he’s escaped with the wrong girl. Soon, the U.S. military arrives and quarantines all those who’ve come into contact with the creature, making Park Gang-du’s attempts to rescuing his daughter from the creature’s lair significantly more difficult. It’s thrilling and imaginative and the perfect post-Parasite watch.

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Children Of The Corn (1984)

Run Time: 92 min | IMDb: 5.7/10

Based on the short story by Stephen King, Children Of The Corn is set in the fictitious town of Gatlin, Nebraska, where children are drawn to ritualistically murder both the local adults and hapless passers-by to ensure a plentiful corn harvest. They act on the whims of “He who walks behind the rows,” a mysterious, bloodthirsty deity. The film’s become something of a cult classic, spawning eight sequels, as well as a TV remake in 2009 that more closely followed King’s original story.

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Pet Sematary (2019)

Run Time: 101 min | IMDb: 5.7/10

This Stephen King adaptation isn’t as terrifying as its predecessor but it is bolstered by some good performances. If you’ve seen the original flick, not much has changed story-wise. Jason Clarke plays Dr. Louis Creed, a family man who relocates to rural Maine with his wife and young child (a girl named Ellie this time). They discover their new home is right next to an ancient burial ground and all hell breaks loose soon after. Clarke and John Lithgow make this thing watchable, even when the scares lose their jump-factor.

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Let The Right One In (2008)

Run Time: 115 min | IMDb: 7.9/10

For a great tale of bullying and revenge that would pair well with Carrie, look no further than this Swedish film from director Tomas Alfredson in which a picked-on boy meets a new friend who’s not exactly who she appears to be. There have been so many vampire stories over the years it’s easy to think that all the possibilities have been wrung from the concept. Yet this sweet, bloody, and ultimately unsettling story finds a new twist.

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Overlord (2018)

Run Time: 110 min | IMDb: 6.6/10

Wyatt Russell stars in this adventure horror flick about a group of American soldiers who uncover a horrible secret behind enemy lines on D-Day. There’s gore, there’s ridiculousness, there’s a surprisingly good cast. It’s really all you can ask for in a scary movie.

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Little Monsters (2019)

Run Time: 93 min | IMDb: 6.3/10

Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o stars in this darkly comedic zombie flick, playing a plucky schoolteacher charged with keeping her class safe amidst a surprise zombie outbreak. Josh Gad joins her as Teddy, an obnoxious television personality who hosts the class on the field trip gone wrong and, with the help of a washed-up musician, the three try to fight off the undead — and not kill each other in the process. It’s a nice change of pace to see Nyong’o flexing her comedy muscles and there’s enough gore and thrills to keep horror fans on the edge of their seats.

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After almost sixteen years of marriage, two children, and one divorce, Phil Collins and Orianne Cevey ended their second marriage back in August, and the aftermath has been rather dramatic. Now there’s been an even more shocking turn of events. According to Miami Dade County court documents, which were shared by The Miami Herald, Cevey has allegedly seized control of Collins’ $33 million dollar Miami mansion with the help of her new husband, a 31-year old musician, as well as four armed guards. The Miami Herald also reports that Cevey and her team “changed the security codes for the alarms, blocked surveillance cameras and barred real estate agents from showing the house.”

According to the documents, Cevey also requested “a preposterous amount of money based on an oral agreement that does not exist.” It also says that Cevey and her new husband are “threatening, implicitly and explicitly, to prolong their unlawful occupation of the property through force.” Despite his ex-wife’s attempts to gain control of the mansion, Collins says Cevey has no right to take it over as he “100 percent” owns it.

In a statement to The Miami Herald, Collins’ attorney Jeffrey Fisher said, “Mrs. Bates, as she is now known, is trying to shake down Phil Collins for money, and as his attorney and former federal prosecutor, I have zero tolerance for that type of behavior. I’m going to use every legal remedy to get her out of the house.”

The Miami Herald

Phil Collins is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

It’s been nearly 20 years since a mostly modest summer movie about criminal street racers called The Fast and the Furious first hit theaters. Who back then could have imagined this little car picture, mostly confined to Los Angeles and the American southwest, would spawn a franchise that would span the globe, and may even wind up in outer space? Well, all good things come to an end, and as per Deadline, the franchise is coming to an end — eventually.

Deadline reports that there will only be two more films, and then the story of Dominic Toretto and his makeshift family will come to an end. Mind you, that doesn’t count F9, the most recent installment, which was supposed to hit this year but had to be bumped to next May due to the little pandemic American can’t get under control. So, really, you have three Fast & Furious movies to look forward to.

That also doesn’t even account for any potential spin-offs, such as last year’s Hobbs & Shaw, which could conceivably live on after the F&F main slate has ended. It’s not 100% clear if stars Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham are permanently banished from the Toretto wing of the franchise, but it is known that both of the last films will be helmed by Justin Lin, who came aboard on Fast Five and helped rescue a flailing franchise, mostly by making it increasingly, if you will, ludicrous.

In any case, don’t fret now. After all, you won’t see the last of Dom and crew for many years from now. But maybe you should start saying your long goodbyes right now.

(Via Deadline)

The wait continues for Kendrick Lamar’s upcoming fifth album, but according to Top Dawg Entertainment’s president, it won’t last much longer. On Tuesday, Punch took to Twitter to ask fans how they were doing. One cut to the chase, simply asking, “when’s Kendrick dropping?” In response, Punch gave an optimistic answer: “pretty soon.” Another chimed in, asking, “As in……. this year soon????” Punch wasn’t willing to put an exact date on it, saying only, “soon soon.” A third entered the conversation to push for a more specific date asking, “As in .mOnDaY soon or soon soon?” But Punch held his ground, writing only, “Leaning towards soon soon.”

The interaction occurred after Kendrick, in a recent interview alongside Baby Keem for i-D, revealed why fans have to wait “so long” between albums. After Keem said his Die For My B*tch mixtape offered him the chance to experiment with new sounds and “open up the lane to grow in confidence,” Kendrick said, “That’s what will take me so long to do albums. I spend the whole year just thinking about how I’m gonna execute a new sound, I can’t do the same thing over and over.” He added, “I need something to get me excited. I see you get frustrated sometimes because you want some new sh*t.”

Kendrick was also seen in Los Angeles earlier this year reportedly shooting a music video, presumably for one of his news songs.

Vodka is one of the best selling spirits on the market. It’s also one of the most misunderstood. Foremost among these misconceptions is that vodka is viewed as flavorless. That’s just wrong. It can be briny, peppery, or vegetal; it can conjure citrus, caviar, or the earth itself. Another blank spot in the consumer knowledge of this spirit is just how popular it is. Vodka alone makes up an entire third of all spirits sold. That means whiskey, rum, tequila, brandy, and all the others share the other two-thirds.

That’s a lot of people drinking one hell of a lot of vodka. So what makes one bottle “the best?”

As with other spirits, there are a lot of factors at play when it comes to making a quality bottle of the clear stuff. First, you have the mash bill. Potatoes, rye, and wheat are the cornerstones of most vodka expressions. There are also some distillers out there using corn, grapes, beets, and even quinoa. You can make vodka from most plant, at the end of the day. Next, there’s the distilling and filtering process. Most vodkas are distilled several times. As for the filtration, the short of it is the more filtering that goes into the vodka, the more refined (and expensive) it’ll be. As with bourbon or rum or any other spirit, the combination of these factors — ingredients, processes, and craft techniques — inform how tasty the juice in the glass is.

With all of this in mind, we’re highlighting the ten vodkas below. Are these the best vodkas on earth? That’s tough to say. New expressions are emerging daily. For right now, these are our favorites at their particular price points from $10-100. Check them out and see just how wrong your “all vodkas taste the same”-friends actually are.

$10 — Smirnoff

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Smirnoff Vodka, Illinois (Diageo)
Average Price: $9

The Vodka:

America’s signature vodka (by way of Russia) is shockingly drinkable for a bottle that comes in a plastic bottle. The juice is made with non-GMO corn. It’s then charcoal filtered and cut with mineral water to bring it down to proof.

Tasting Notes:

Clean is the word that’s most associated with Smirnoff. The nose has a slight corn edge. That note turns mildly sweet as a bit of alcohol pops in with a faint hint of spice. The end is very neutral, to the point of being almost too easy to drink.

Bottom Line:

This Ted Danson-approved vodka is the perfect cocktail base. Do yourself a favor and grab a bottle.

PRO TRICK: Grate a thumb of fresh ginger into your Smirnoff. Reseal and let sit on the shelf for 24-hours. Strain the ginger out of the vodka and pour that clean juice back into the bottle. Store the vodka in the freezer. Then, the next time you make a Moscow Mule, use this ginger-infused vodka as the base.

You can thank us later.

$20 — Tito’s Handmade Vodka

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Fifth Generation, Austin, TX
Average Price: $22

The Vodka:

Austin’s Tito’s Vodka is a pretty solid bottle of vodka at a very affordable price point. The vodka is distilled from yellow corn and goes through six distillations.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a slight must on the nose of this vodka that leads towards a hint of that yellow corn. The taste is very neutral at first. Then, as the sip warms, notes of vegetal peppers and mildly sweet corn arrives. The end is swift and very svelte.

Bottom Line:

This is an all-around drinker. You can shoot it, mix it, and throw it in a highball with some fizzy water. Dealer’s choice.

$30 — Chopin Potato Vodka

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Polmos, Siedlce, Poland
Average Price: $30

The Vodka:

This Polish vodka feels like a classic but it only goes back to the early 1990s. The distillery sources their potatoes from the fields around the distillery within a 25-mile radius. The potatoes are cooked in their skins before fermentation. The wash is then copper pot distilled and highly refined.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a natural minerality to the nose that leads towards an almost wet grass note. The palate is very soft with a hint of bitter behind a real earthen taste. A note of black pepper spice arrives late as the continued softness brings about a pleasant end.

Bottom Line:

This certainly works as a sipper with a drop or two of bitters (in a very ice-cold glass). Also, give this vodka as try as part of a Hilde — that’s a shot of Champagne chased with a shot of vodka in quick succession.

$40 — Absolut Elyx

ABV: 43%
Distillery: Absolut Distillery, Åhus, Sweden (Pernod Ricard)
Average Price: $42

The Vodka:

Absolut Elyx is Absolut’s answer to the high-end vodka market. The vodka is made from winter wheat grown on a single farm estate from the middle ages in Southern Sweden. The vodka is made in Absolut’s all antique-fitted out Åhus Distillery, right on the waterfront of the small village.

It’s a super-refined vodka that lives up to the hype.

Tasting Notes:

The sip opens with a wheat field after a rainstorm. There’s a fresh-baked bread with a buttery edge next to a fatty nuttiness. A mild spice comes in late with a nutmeg feel to it. The end is slightly long, full of that bready nature, and very satisfying.

Bottom Line:

You can easily sip this vodka with a rock or two. It’s also a very solid cocktail base with that slightly higher-ABV.

$50 — Nikka Coffey Vodka

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Nikka Whisky Distilling, Tokyo, Japan (Asahi Group)
Average Price: $52

The Vodka:

There’s a refinement and uniqueness to this vodka that helps it really stand out. The mash is a blend of corn and malted barley. The distillate is then filtered with white birch charcoal and then cut down to proof with soft local spring water.

Tasting Notes:

This is the perfect balance of neutral and flavorful. The nose brings about a hint of the sweeter malts with a flutter of orchard fruit. The palate delivers on those notes while leaning into an almost stonefruit sweetness, with a grain underbelly. The end is warming with a velvety texture that’ll leave a smile on your face.

Bottom Line:

This is so smooth and drinkable that’ll be hard not to just sip it neat or with a single rock.

$60 — Crystal Head Vodka Aurora

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Globefill Inc., Newfoundland, Canada
Average Price: $60

The Vodka:

Dan Akroyd’s Canadian vodka is a solid entry in the vodka pantheon. This expression utilizes English wheat in the mash. The distillate is then filtered seven times through Herkimer diamonds (quartz, really). The bottle is certainly a gimmick here but it is kind of cool, especially with the Aurora Borealis coloring to the skull.

At the very least, this one is a conversation starter.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear sense of the wheat up top with a note of vanilla beans. The taste carries on in that direction and adds in a flourish of mint next to a mild spice. The end is short, warm, and slightly sweet with another touch of that vanilla.

Bottom Line:

This is just good enough to justify the price. The addition of mint and vanilla adds a nice change up to the usual neutrality of vodka, especially when you add some ice.

$70 — Stolichnaya Elit

ABV: 40%
Distillery: SPI Group, Riga, Latvia
Average Price: $73

The Vodka:

There’s a lot that goes into making Stoli a great vodka, even more so for Elit. The juice is made from a majority of special winter wheat grown in a very isolated part of Russia that’s cut with a small percentage of rye (also grown in a very rural area). Then there’s the spring water, quartz sand filtration, charcoal filtration, and another round of quartz sand filtration that the distillate goes through to make it pop.

Tasting Notes:

You’re greeted by freshly cut green bell pepper, a bit of vanilla, a touch of fresh mint, a dusting of white pepper, and a nice hit of bright citrus. The palate leans into those notes and adds a light toffee sweetness with a super clean body.

Bottom Line:

This is one of those “I get it now” vodkas. It works as an easy sipper with a rock or two or as a fantastic martini base.

$80 — Carbonadi

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Carbonadi Distillery, Piedmont, Italy
Average Price: $80

The Vodka:

Ricky Miller’s Carbonadi is a high-end vodka for the 2020s. The Italian juice is made from winter wheat and handled by northern Italian artisans through each step of the process, leading to a black diamond filtration process and a micro-oxygenation (a process used to soften wines).

Tasting Notes:

Carbonadi hits the “high-end” vodka notes square on the head. There’s a bit of vanilla next to the wheat. Then comes a note of toasted coconut with a note of fresh mint and a touch of spice. It’s enticing.

Bottom Line:

The complexity of this sip makes it an easy sipper and pairing vodka, especially with Goan curries or any spice-laden dishes.

$90 — Grey Goose VX

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Grey Goose Disitllery, La Vallee de l’Oise, France (Bacardi)
Average Price: $90

The Vodka:

France’s Grey Goose is specifically engineered for the U.S. market. This very high-end expression from the Maison leans into the refinement of cognac via vodka crafting. The juice is winter wheat-based and cut with local spring water to create the easiest of vodka drinking experiences. The vodka is then cut with a bit (five percent) of cognac. That technically makes this a “spirit” instead of a “vodka.” But that’s really splitting hairs.

Tasting Notes:

This sip is equal measures floral and fruity. Ripe stone fruits mingle with wildflowers and honey sweetness. A rush of bright citrus arrives late to counterpoint the more floral and fruity sweet edges and helps bring about a real smoothness to the overall sip.

Bottom Line:

This is crafted as a sipping vodka. Maybe add a rock if you need to, but try it neat first.

$100 — Beluga Gold Line

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Mariinsk Distillery, Mariinsk, Russia
Average Price: $100

The Vodka:

This vodka was born from far off in the forested Siberian depths of Russia. The brand’s Gold Line takes its very solid base and adds more layers of filtration and amps the distillation process by adding milk thistle, oat, and rice extracts. After the multiple quartz filtration, the vodka then rests for three months before bottling, adding an extra nuance to this drink.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a wildflower herbal nature on the nose and taste that draws you in. The graininess of the vodka is subtle, while a creamy nature takes over. The grassiness, florals, and sweet edges all balance each other perfectly as the sip fills your senses with each note.

Bottom Line:

This is a great pairing vodka, especially with seafood. It might sound cliché, but it’s great with caviar. If that’s too rich for your blood, try cold smoked salmon, oysters, and crab.

Neymar became the latest member of the Puma family earlier this year when the PSG and Brazil star made the jump from Nike. Now, on the day of PSG’s first match in the 2020-21 Champions League, the company announced a new line of apparel inspired by the talismanic forward.

While Neymar did not play in the Parisians’ tilt against Manchester United — the English side came out on top, 2-1, on a late strike by Marcus Rashford — following his return to the side from the recent international break, Puma dropped a signature version of their Puma King boot that prominently features his NJR logo. Additionally, the collection will include a t-shirt, a track jacket, track pants, and a hoodie for children. The standout, though, is the sleek black boot, which uniquely uses Neymar’s logo throughout Puma’s formstrip.

The boots will retail for $200 starting on Oct. 21, with everything else in the collection ranging between $30 and $60. As for Neymar, while he did not make his way onto the pitch on Tuesday, PSG has a packed slate of fixtures on the horizon — the clubs will play host to Dijon on Saturday before traveling to Turkey on Wednesday next week for a Champions League match against Istanbul Basaksehir.

Like so many of us who follow wrestling, I spend plenty of time thinking — and talking — about the creative decisions that don’t work for me. Even today, I could write paragraph after paragraph about why Retribution’s still not working, why breaking up the IIconics was a bone-headed decision, and how WWE desperately needs to give up on “Lana tries really hard but she’s just not very good” as an angle. But instead of all that, I’d like to talk about something that does work for me, and how I’d like to see it develop.

As expected, the pre-draft hints of Alexa Bliss being influenced by the Fiend have paid off now that they’re both on Raw, with a gothy Alexa joining the Fiend in the ring, and a pigtailed, sweater-wearing Alexa joining Bray on Firefly Fun House. We’ll see where it all goes, but for right now, I have to say, I’m here for it.

First of all, this new character seems to align with Alexa’s real-life interests, possibly the most of any character so far. Because Alexa is conventionally gorgeous, her WWE character tends to revolve around being gorgeous and conventionally feminine. There’s nothing wrong with that, but Alexa has always had a weirder side — she literally has a podcast about being a nerdy loser in high school. Fans may also remember that she was cosplaying Freddy Krueger way back in NXT, and she’s experimented with various Harley Quinn-inspired looks since arriving on the main roster four years ago.

Now Alexa gets to play a horror character who’s also a variation on Harley Quinn, and it looks like she’s having a lot of fun doing it. It can be a huge benefit to the Fiend as well, having a manager-esque figure who’s unmasked and can talk. That way he can spend less time with another version of himself on the jumbotron while he’s in the ring (or hiding underneath it).

We already know that Alexa can play a more conventional cocky heel better than just about anybody, because we’ve seen her do a lot of that. We’ve also seen her as a confident, friend-supporting babyface, and she’s great at that, too. This is her opportunity to try a third thing that she’ll probably also be great at.

My only hope is that the new Alexa Bliss gets to stay involved in the women’s division, rather than just being a part of Bray’s storylines. Becoming a new character with a radically different personality than she’s ever had as a face or a heel means that Alexa can have fresh feuds even with people she’s fought before. It’s certainly easy to imagine her going after Asuka’s Raw Women’s Championship for the glory of the Fiend.

First though, she needs to wrap things up with Nikki Cross. Alexa’s former best friend and tag team partner is still trying to understand how their friendship abruptly ended, and has yet to even deal with the prospect of a fully corrupted Alexa. Surely WWE can give Alexa and Nikki some time to tell that story while Alexa still appears in the Fiend’s segments as well.

It’s hard to know right now how long this will go on, and how much they’ll do with it. As of right now, I think bringing in Alexa has potentially revitalized the Fiend gimmick and given it more longevity. As for Alexa herself, she’ll spin gold out of just about anything that she’s given. We’ll see as this goes on how much gold WWE wants from her.

President Donald Trump is in the final two weeks of his re-election campaign, making the case that he’s the only one who can calmly steer America out of months of mismanaged turmoil. So far, he hasn’t been particularly reassuring. Between recording deranged videos on the White House lawn, getting into a feud with the most trusted person involved in the COVID task force, and dancing weirdly to The Village People, he may have only succeeded in driving away any sensible people still unsure how they’re voting. If you had “storms out of a 60 Minutes interview” on your Trump Bingo card, guess what? You made a pretty good guess.

As per CNN, the sitting president of the United States lasted all of 45 minutes in a one-on-one with Lesley Stahl, one of the calmest and most old-school reporters on the longtime infotainment show. The news was broken by CNN’s White House reporter, Kaitlan Collins, who did not provide specifics on what drove Trump from the chat.

“Apparently there was some drama while President Trump was taping his 60 Minutes interview today. He abruptly ended his solo interview after around 45 minutes & did not return for a scheduled walk & talk he was supposed to tape with Pence,” Collins tweeted. She pointed out that Pence and his running mate were supposed to do another, joint interview with Stahl, which wound up not happening. Pence taped his separately, as did their rivals Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, as part of the same segment.

Again, details on what happened have not been revealed, but it wasn’t hard to social media sleuths to come up with their own possible solutions. One wild theory? It did not go well.

It sure seems suspect.

Perhaps it happened because Trump does not tend to do well outside of his own protective bubble.

Maybe he really thinks that he’s going to lose.

Someone pointed out he couldn’t even do 60 minutes.

Whatever the case, attacking trusted sources like Stahl and Dr. Anthony Fauci are curious ways to wind down a campaign.

Will he play it off as people once again being mean to him?

That said, Trump was quick to spin the incident on social media, tweeting out a very brief video of Stahl not wearing a mask, which he also does not enjoy doing. He also threatened that there was “much more to come.”

But some people weren’t buying it.

In any case, if you, too, find this kind of stuff exhausting and would like it to be replaced by an administration far more boring, make sure you’re ready to vote on November 3. If you need some help figuring out the rules to your state, the cast of Succession’s may be able to help.

(Via CNN)

Eight months into the pandemic, you’d think people would have the basics figured out. Sure, there was some confusion in the beginning as to whether or not masks were going to help, but that was months ago (which might as well be years in pandemic time). Plenty of studies have shown that face masks are an effective way to limit the spread of the virus and public health officials say universal masking is one of the keys to being able to safely resume some normal activities.

Normal activities include things like getting a coffee at Starbucks, but a viral video of a barista’s encounter with an anti-masker shows why the U.S. will likely be living in the worst of both worlds—massive spread and economic woe—for the foreseeable future.

Alex Beckom works at a Starbucks in Santee, California and shared a video taken after a woman pulled down her “Trump 2020” mask to ask the 19-year-old barista a question, pulled it back up when the barista asked her to, then pulled it down again.

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All Beckom did was inform the woman that she needed to keep her mask on, and the scene turned into the woman throwing a fit. She claimed that she didn’t have to listen to the barista because “this is America.” She said the virus (or the pandemic, or the mask order—it’s not clear) is “a hoax.” And she berated Black Lives Matter, which had nothing whatsoever to do with the exchange, other than Beckom existing in front of her in her Black skin.

Beckom remained completely professional and friendly throughout the bizarre interchange, even after the woman accused her of discriminating against her for being a Trump supporter, and even after the woman said “F*ck Black Lives Matter,” and then yelled the same thing again as she left the store.

“If she thinks she’s being discriminated against, that’s on her,” Beckom told 10 News, San Diego’s ABC affiliate. “I never brought up anything about her politics … I wasn’t even angry. I was just like, ‘Why is this happening?'”

Beckom had every right to ask the woman to keep her mask on, both due to company policy and the state of California mandate. And no one would blame Beckom if she’d had a more emotional or forceful response considering this woman’s rude and inappropriate behavior, but the contrast of her calm reaction beautifully highlighted how off-the-rails the woman’s own response was.

The video has had more than 4 million views since Beckom shared it on Sunday, and people have praised the dignity and grace with which the barista handled the situation.

“I think it’s important to show this type of behavior shouldn’t be normalized and shouldn’t be acceptable …” Beckom told 10 News. “As this behavior continues, the cycle continues, and we need to get this cycle to stop.”

Indeed, we do need to get this cycle to stop. People like this woman are partially why the U.S. is in the dismal state that we’re in with the coronavirus pandemic. Calling it a hoax, refusing to keep her mask on, berating a lovely young woman who is just doing her job—these kinds of videos are so old, but so indicative of where we are.

But Beckom’s response is also an indicator that there is hope to be had in all of this madness. To have such presence of mind and maturity at 19 years old is impressive, and the more we see people doing the right thing, the better. Beckom represents the millions of Americans who work with the public and have to put up with people’s nonsense. It’s heartening to see someone so young handling it so well.

Keep up the great work, Alex. (And hey Starbucks, maybe give that woman a raise. In the meantime, here’s a GoFundMe if you want to give her a tip for her excellent customer service.)

Even in the best of times, it’s never perfectly safe to travel. There are risks that are inherent to every trip you take — from the plane/bus/car/boat crashing to falling off a cliff while taking a selfie. But 2020 has added a new layer of risk to the travel equation: the COVID-19 pandemic. By the very act of leaving home, you’re opening the door to potentially spreading a disease that’s killing around three percent of the people who contract it. You could even do so asymptomatically.

There’s just no denying the increased risk (however slight) of spreading/contracting COVID for anyone who travels. But as with most risks, it is possible to mitigate these dangers.

On one end of the spectrum, of course, you could simply not travel in any way. If you don’t have to get on a plane right now, why are you? The world is bracing for second and third waves of the pandemic. Where do you really need to go? Do the people who live there want you to visit? Who might you be endangering? Though not traveling wouldn’t drop your overall coronavirus risk to zero, it would eliminate your risk of spreading or contracting coronavirus while away from home on a leisure trip.

A more moderate approach would be to listen to the advice of epidemiologists and public health experts with regards to road-tripping, hotel stays, or flying. In this scenario, you’d still follow the CDC Guidelines for travel during COVID. Especially this one:

Don’t travel if you are sick or if you have been around someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. Don’t travel with someone who is sick.

And this:

Is COVID-19 spreading at your destination? The more cases at your destination, the more likely you are to get infected during travel and spread the virus to others when you return.

Also, this:

Your chances of getting COVID-19 while traveling also depend on whether you and those around you take steps to protect yourself and others, such as wearing masks and staying 6 feet away from people outside your household (social distancing).

Between those two poles — not traveling and traveling moderately and sensibly (we’re not entertaining the other far end of the spectrum: traveling without any precautions or thought to the wellbeing of others) — there are endless shades of gray. And they’re not simple to navigate. To help us add context to the conversation, we reached out to professional travel writers, photographers, TV hosts, podcast hosts, and videographers. These are people who travel for a living and had to readjust their lives to manage the new risks of a world still very much in the throes of a pandemic. They’re people who think about travel every single day, because their actual livelihoods depend on it.

For this roundtable discussion, we tapped:

• Melanie Sutrathada — Travel, food, and style host, influencer, and writer.
• Brian McIntosh — Travel photographer and influencer.
• Alex Alex — Travel, food, and style host, writer, and influencer.
• Mike Schibel — Travel writer and podcaster.
• Kinga Phillipps — Travel TV host on Travel Channel, BBC, and Epix.
• Karl Watson — Travel writer and YouTube travel host

Check their answers below. Hopefully, their thoughts add helpful nuance to this issue as you navigate it for yourself.

Do you think it’s okay to travel before 2021?

Melanie:

The topic of travel is so complicated right now. It is different for everyone and is such a personal decision during these unprecedented times. I only recommend traveling by mode of public transportation like a plane, train, or bus if it’s absolutely essential. There are still so many unknowns and variables that we have to take into account and safety comes first. If traveling has taught me anything, it’s that we are more similar than different, so we owe it to one another to do what’s right. Going to Mexico on spring break with 20 friends is not acceptable during a global pandemic. We have to put the health of one another first. COVID-19 does not discriminate and until we see numbers decreasing significantly, it feels irresponsible to travel unnecessarily and put others at risk.

The exception for me would be carefully-planned road trips to National Parks or other destinations where you have very limited contact with others. I’ve seen a handful of people actively traveling for fun and without caution these past few months and it comes off as very tone-deaf and like they are not taking this global pandemic seriously. Let’s just say that I’ve hit the unfollow button more times than I’d like to admit.

Brian:

I definitely think it’s okay to travel before 2021. At this point, if you don’t know how to place a mask on your face, wash your hands or sanitize the surfaces you touch, then you are just being reckless. You can’t control what other people do around you to limit the spread, but you can definitely control what you do.

On my recent flights, I’ve noticed airlines trying their best to spread out customers — so that they are sitting beside the people they know. None of the planes that I’ve been on have been loaded to capacity, which was reassuring to see. I know with Air Canada, they issue care packages on every flight. These packages contain a mask, a bottle of sanitizer, a bottle of water, gloves, and a few other things. I’ve personally witnessed every passenger adhering to the rules when it comes to wearing their masks.

Putting airlines aside, I think if travelers avoid immersing themselves in city life and place more of an emphasis on connecting with nature (where you are naturally distanced from other people) or choosing Airbnbs over hotels, then we should have greater confidence in being able to live through this pandemic while trying to clamp down on this viral spread. Now, if you want to resume life as normal and party it up with everyone else on a beach or at a club, then I can’t say traveling will be safe for you (or the people around you) at any time before there’s an available vaccine.

Alex:

I personally will not be traveling for leisure before 2021. I think, at this moment, traveling for leisure should be considered very carefully, and weighing the risks should be everyone’s personal social responsibility.

I relocated to London from Helsinki about two weeks ago due to my partner’s work situation, a move that had been carefully planned for over a year and completely unavoidable as it seriously would have affected our livelihood. Otherwise, traveling for leisure will have to wait and all of our travel plans are officially canceled until further notice.

Mike:

I think it’s okay to travel. Where you travel, how you travel, and WHY you travel is the real question.

Kinga:

I do think it’s okay to travel, with precautions. As testing becomes widely available for all folks, for free, and results are coming back quickly — now it’s less than 24-hours; my first test in May was 13 days; oof — we can take the necessary steps to make sure we are protecting ourselves and others. We are also all pretty clear that masks limit the spread of COVID … we are all clear on this, right? So wearing a mask over your full-face (not the weird nose-exposed look I’ve seen people sporting) is a gesture of goodwill for those around us and ourselves as well.

As far as “where,” well, that depends on what locations are letting travelers in. I’m planning a trip to Tahiti. That will require me to take a test before I leave and one when I land. I am happy to do that to visit a whale-laden paradise! I also call ahead and ask hotels and adventure outfitters if they are being responsible. If I’m going diving, you bet your ass I’m going to call you to make sure your dive shop is being responsible, and you bet your ass I will leave if I see that you are not.

Karl:

Trying to answer this is a bit like when people ask you for advice about visas. It all depends on where you’re traveling from and where you’re traveling to. What are the infection levels like where you are? And what are they like where you’re going? Those questions have to be answered — first and foremost.

What precautions are you taking before you leave for any potential trip?

Melanie:

My precautions before leaving would definitely include getting tested at least seven-days prior and taking a Rapid Results test 24-hours before I travel. I would pack hand sanitizer with at least 60-percent alcohol, extra face masks, and disinfectant wipes. I would check the travel restrictions on the destination and plan accordingly, making sure to allow for the 14-day quarantine period many states are requiring. I would look into the airlines I was considering flying with and carefully review their safety precautions, opting for airlines that are blocking the purchase of a middle seat, and enforcing the requirement of a face mask that covers the nose and mouth.

I’ve heard horror stories of nearly full flights and passengers who refused to properly wear masks. I want to avoid the airlines who do not put the safety of their crews and passengers first.

Brian:

There isn’t any precaution that I’m taking that I haven’t been practicing on a daily basis. The main precaution is carrying a few masks with me so I can change them out when they become soiled. It’s important for me to have ones that are breathable so I’m not tempted to take them off. Breathable masks also make it easier for me to enunciate my words when I’m trying to speak to someone.

Alex:

This year, I am not traveling for leisure. We are currently living in London due to my partner’s job. We still have our second home-base in Helsinki, and it will be a carefully considered and well thought out plan should we decide to visit. At the moment, we have nothing on the books because safety comes first. However, should we need to visit our home-base for work purposes, we will do so taking every measure and precaution possible, including testing, self-isolation, and whatever else is necessary.

Mike:

I have not had the desire to fly for the sake of flying. If I had business or a family reason, I would fly. Prior to the road trips I took, I checked weather and fire conditions and also made sure I had plenty of supplies in case I got stuck somewhere away from home.

Kinga:

I do a COVID test before I leave. I also research and book flights and seats and activities that are not jam-packed, and I research the destination I am heading to — to make sure I am not landing in “COVID Central.” If I am, then I practice my side-eye to those being irresponsible.

Karl:

I live by myself and work from home. So as long as I’m following my local area’s standard guidelines of social distancing, wearing a mask, cleaning my hands, then I’m fine.

What precautions are you taking while on the road?

Melanie:

While on the road, I make sure to wash my hands often, use hand sanitizer whenever soap and water are not available, wear my face mask any time social-distancing is not possible, and wipe down all of the commonly-used surfaces with disinfectant wipes. Small details like not wiping down the gas pump could make all the difference and the more precautions we all take now, the better off we will be.

I also avoid common spaces like lounges and lobbies, minimizing interaction with strangers.

Brian:

I like to rent cars when I’m away, so I can better explore my destination. So I make sure to keep a bottle or two of hand sanitizer in the car whenever I want to snack on something while I’m driving. They also are needed to simply wipe down the steering wheel and other surfaces in case the rental company wasn’t on their A-game with cleaning!

And of course, I make sure to bring a mask in the car — in case I forget to bring one with me whenever I leave my accommodation.

Alex:

I would not suggest traveling at this time. But if it is unavoidable, then I highly suggest all who do to get tested first and foremost. Next, I would have a serious consideration concerning how important is this trip to my livelihood? Can it be postponed or moved to a later date, or could it be done virtually?

Mike:

Extra mask, water, snacks. Trying not to stop if I don’t have to — this has been really hard when I really want to visit a local ice cream shop on a hot day.

Kinga:

I wear a mask over my mouth AND nose the entire flight and bring enough sanitizer to flood a continent. I also recently did a road trip from L.A. to Houston and along the way booked hotels that advertised online as being responsible. Trust me when I say that parts of the Midwest (and elsewhere) are taking this quite lightly and some businesses — from hotels to restaurants to gas stations — are being very flippant about it. It’s totally okay to politely ask someone to give you space or to walk out of a restaurant that is not being cautious (I only do takeout unless it’s outside and super spaced out). We did. It’s your own health after all.

I also avoid crowded locations. No need to be in a restaurant or bar or at a party right now.

Karl:

The same as when I’m at home, just follow the local guidelines. And if I’m not sure what the local rules are, just behave how I would at home, which, come to think of it, is good generic travel advice anyway!

What precautions are you taking when you get home?

Melanie:

This is a question that we need to be talking about because the risk isn’t over when you get back. We pose a risk to our family, friends, and those in our communities when we get home from travel, especially if it’s from a place where the COVID-19 numbers are high. I would get a Rapid Results test immediately upon returning and then quarantine, just in case, while still wearing a face mask and maintaining social-distancing rules when it’s absolutely mandatory to leave the home.

Brian:

Thankfully, I don’t need to interact with many people when I am home. But the precautions are the same. I think if I continue to build this habit of wearing a mask, limiting the surfaces that I touch, and using sanitizer where water and soap are not available, then I’ll carry these good habits in every situation that I’m in. If I don’t have a mask on hand, then I definitely try to keep my distance from others.

Alex:

Anyone traveling in these times should be up to date on testing before and after travels, as well as self-isolating after arrival at their final location. Again, this highly depends on where one is traveling from and where they are traveling to. I can only comment on the Finnish perspective (I’m American/Finnish) since that is where I have been residing. Each country is different and we need to respect the safety measures that have been put in place to protect one another.

Mike:

I wash all my shit really well! Also, I share with others about the trip to inspire them and let them know it’s safe to travel — if you’re smart.

Kinga:

I wait for three days and take a COVID test. Until I do, I am cautious about where I go and who I interact with.

Karl:

I came back from a non-travel job in Switzerland last month, and the U.K. government’s rules were that I had to quarantine for 14 days, so I did just that. That’s pretty easy for me since I live by myself and can work from home. I’m fortunate in that sense.

What’s your plan if you get sick while traveling? What does sheltering in place look like on the road? How would you cover those costs?

Melanie:

I would 100 percent shelter-in-place and alert my host or the manager of the accommodations and discuss our options. I think people are afraid to admit that they are not feeling well and instead pretend that they are completely fine because they don’t want to miss out or be shamed for having COVID-19. But, we can’t be afraid to say that we are showing symptoms in fear that we won’t be able to do all the fun things that come with travel. We have a responsibility to one another. I don’t want to be the reason that someone else gets sick and if it comes to covering a hotel or Airbnb for two weeks out-of-pocket, it’s worth it for me.

Brian:

This is where having a good insurance plan comes into play. If I am hospitalized while I’m away, then my current plan covers most, to all of my expenses. I’ll have to check to see what the plan says about quarantining abroad though. If I’m not covered, then I’d be thankful for the nest egg that I’ve built to help me weather that unfortunate storm. But that’s only if the accommodation even allows me to enter the building. This is something I would have to further look into because I could be in a country that is very strict and deny me entry into any accommodation if they catch me with a fever or symptoms. And this could even be the case in my home country.

This is something every traveler should think about! A contingency plan is crucial.

Alex:

Right now, I am taking it one day at a time. When the restrictions loosen, there may be a possibility to plan a leisure trip in Spring 2021. But this all depends on the situation and what is safest and best, not just for my own safety/health but for others as well.

Mike:

I’ve been going on the strategy of only traveling five-hours from home and only by car. At least that’s what I’ve done so far. If I did get sick I would come home and quarantine. I have not thought about if I was on a trip and returning home was not an option. But I’ll have a plan in place when that time comes.

Kinga:

That’s really the catch! Say I go to Tahiti with a negative test before boarding the flight as required and upon landing take a test that is positive. That means I have to find a place to stay for 14 days. So the responsible thing to do is to make sure you have the time and the money to be able to do that.

Karl:

For a start, I wouldn’t leave my hotel room. Then I would get in touch with my travel insurance company and see what they advise. So I guess step one before all this is to make sure you have travel insurance that covers COVID-19 before you leave home.

What about getting people sick and you spreading the disease (especially, if you’re asymptomatic) while traveling?

Melanie:

This is something that I think about all the time. If I were to get someone sick and spread the disease while traveling, I don’t think I would be able to forgive myself. Over 200,000 Americans have passed away because of this disease. That’s not something I take lightly and I don’t think anyone else should either. I hear the excuse of, “I’m young! It won’t affect me!” and that is such a selfish way to look at this. Maybe you won’t get sick, but what if you are asymptomatic and spread the virus to the girl at the coffee counter at the hotel you’re staying at? The same person who is interacting with 100 different people in the course of a day, potentially infecting each of those travelers who then go to their homes and infect their loved ones? What if that same girl at the coffee counter goes home to her family and gets her mom and dad sick too? Every single person is someone’s sibling or child or friend.

So many people have lost parents or brothers or uncles or cousins, and I don’t want to be someone who puts the desire for fun before the safety of others.

Brian:

I would feel terrible knowing that I was the cause of spreading COVID-19 to people around me and even worse if it led to death. That’s why, when I take these precautions, I am always thinking about the “other” person and myself. If we all keep this attitude in mind, it’s hard for me to see the numbers climbing at the same rate they are now.

Alex:

I can only imagine the burden of any travel influencer who decides to hit the road and carries it with them. All my favorite destinations will still be there after all this blows over. I am definitely still researching and planning future fabulous trips but only prepared to go once the situation has gone in a better direction.

Mike:

That would suck. But what’s the difference between all the locals walking around in different cities in the world with some symptoms and NO mask? To answer this question: Be smart, mask up, wash your hands, and stay the f*ck away from others. Just be smart.

I get people are having FOMO and feel the need to go out, but is it worth it? Watch “Corba Kai” and chill the f*ck out.

Kinga:

There is always a risk, but I think that we can mitigate that enough with responsible actions to minimize the possibility. Testing regularly is really important because I know of several people who were asymptomatic.

Karl:

I wouldn’t travel to a place where infection rates are high or if there were some kind of lockdown restrictions. That would simply be irresponsible. I’m only willing to travel to and from regions/countries where the infection rates are low and so the risk is minimal. Of course, the rates are constantly changing, rules are changing, so any trip that I would potentially do, wouldn’t be booked until the last minute and after all the requisite research is done.

If you do get sick while traveling, what responsibilities are you willing to take? Would you consider not traveling again until there’s a vaccine (even if that meant finding another job)?

Melanie:

I would still be open to traveling. There is a risk every single time you leave your home and that shouldn’t stop you from living your life and finding joy in the things that light you up. It’s all about making smart choices and careful planning. Would I hop on a plane to Paris right now (if I was even allowed to)? Absolutely not. But I would take a weekend trip to somewhere new and go camping or exploring a National Park. I think travel is still possible. I’ve heard time and time again this year that 2020 is canceled. But I don’t think that has to be the case. We can still do things that make us happy.

Travel isn’t necessarily canceled. It will just look different than what we’re used to.

Brian:

If I get sick but then I am deemed safe to return to the public after the recommendation time frame, then I would definitely still continue to travel. Traveling is a part of my life and by me doing the responsible thing and quarantining myself would be me demonstrating the sacrifice of putting my travels on pause.

But I am not going to stop my travels if I am healthy and I’m not a risk to others.

Alex:

I don’t mind staying put for now. To all creators that find this time a threat to their career, I would say, “look at this as an opportunity to tap into your own true creativity.”

Most travel influencers — such as myself — have tons of unused content, photos, video clips, and plenty of stories to share. I think there is still a huge potential in turning this into an opportunity to connect with followers in new ways or maybe focusing on making more localized content until it’s safe to travel internationally again.

Mike:

I would take responsibility for my actions, but don’t have an answer with a resolution until I have a real-life situation of what to do if this happens. Fingers crossed I don’t have to figure this out.

Kinga:

Definitely, shelter in place is a must. I don’t think the extreme of not traveling again or finding another job is necessary IF extreme precautions are taken. I take these same precautions when I go to the grocery store and get gas too.

If someone came to you and said: “Fuck you for traveling, my mom died of COVID and you’re being reckless and selfish!” what would your response be?

Melanie:

That would be a very tough thing to hear. It’s also why I have been so incredibly cautious these past eight-plus months. I am a huge believer in leading by example and have not traveled, specifically to avoid confrontations like this. But, if this were to happen, the first thing I would do is try to be kind and listen. Getting defensive only makes things worse and often times we just need someone to take our frustrations out on or to vent to. Then I would let them know I am very sorry for their loss and explain that safety is a priority to me and I would let them know about the precautions I took during my travels.

I hope I would handle this type of confrontation with grace!

Brian:

Everyone is entitled to their opinions but they could also say I’m being reckless for grocery shopping. In fact, I’d be around more random people at a higher rate of frequency than I would be if I was traveling through an airport. The precautions that I take while flying are the same that I take while shopping so I’d let the person say their piece but life would go on.

Alex:

I only traveled locally in Finland this summer, and only in our own personal vehicle to not put anyone else at risk. I mainly stayed with my partner in cool summer cabins in the forests and lakesides in the middle of Finland. We could still enjoy the freedom of exploring nature around us and swimming in the lake while keeping a safe distance from others. Middle Finland is actually the perfect place to isolate and we found that very comforting and still fulfilling. On two occasions we stayed with friends (in groups under eight) and still in line with Finnish regulations in two different summer cottages on a big plot of land. That gave us some lovely travel feels without risking possible exposure to anyone outside the group.

Mike:

I’d say you have a very worthy point and I understand you’re upset and sad. I am as well, though, I am extremely safe when I do travel. I agree that some who are traveling have been reckless. I think what we can do is continue to encourage our friends, family, and community to be safe, wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance, and reduce being reckless by not being in large gatherings and only traveling if we really need too.

Kinga:

I actually know several people who have passed of COVID, including a 32-year-old. I’ve spent this pandemic being crazy proactive of my own parents and as responsible as I possibly can be to others. People have very strong opinions and a sliding scale of what is acceptable. Some people will say “fuck you” for leaving the house and not ordering groceries online. I’ve heard “fuck you” for going hiking even though I’m in a mask on an offbeat trail during the week.

In every situation in life, we have to operate from our own moral compass of doing the best for ourselves and others and educate ourselves to the best of our ability about the situation. Lavender oil and crystals charged by moonlight aren’t gonna help you here, but masks, sanitizer, social distancing, and tests are.

If I am doing my utmost to be responsible, then I can live with my choice. If I am at a spring break party doing shots off someone’s nether regions, then I’m a selfish asshole and that person has every right to tell me to “fuck off.”

I have “fuck you” on the tip of my tongue when I go to my own beach and I see dance parties and drum circles happening sans masks or social distance.

Karl:

This is the kind of comment you may expect to see online, and the online world doesn’t deal in nuance. If I had been traveling to/from an area with high infection rates, ignoring the guidelines, and spreading misinformation, then yes, I am being “reckless and selfish.”

However, if I had been traveling responsibly, following the rules, then this comment wouldn’t apply to me.

Everyone is tired and frustrated and wants this situation to be over. But unfortunately, it isn’t just going to magically go away. So we have to find a way to learn to live with it. Proper testing and tracing systems would certainly solve a lot of this.

But until then, it all comes back to where you’re from and where you’re going.