Horror cinema is currently having a bit of a moment.
The genre has rarely held Hollywood's affection. The Silence of the Lambs (1991) remains the only horror film in the 97-year history of the Academy Awards to take home the Oscar for Best Picture. But in two recent releases, Obsession and Backrooms, something considerable is stirring.
Both are very different in terms of storyline, universe, tone, even gore. But what they share is an appreciation that jump-scares are for chumps. The true, money-shot scare relies on a crescendo dread. It's not just about holding the note for as long as possible but never taking your finger off it. The viewer experience is built entirely on that discomfort that the bad thing is about to happen. And that even when the bad thing happens, it might not be the end of it.
Obsession and Backrooms are the brainchildren of YouTubers Curry Barker and Kane Parsons. The former ticked over $300 million at the global box office after just 35 days on Friday, while the latter, which opened three weeks ago, is currently on $279.8 million. The unsettling-core sub-genre is thriving in the mainstream. And, who would have thought, at the top of English cricket.
Never have two episodes of the scaries run parallel in the summer game quite as they have done over the last week. The threads that link them are one man's obsession as England Test captain, a role that may yet be cursed, and the subsequent meandering through the back-rooms of the ECB, the Test dressing-room and, now even the Durham dressing-room, in search of an answer.
On Saturday, England found themselves hiding in the bathroom as New Zealand repeatedly hammered at the door with an axe. We were back to the "Joe Root or bust" days, with Root even back as captain, four years after he had ditched the role because he grown weary of the mental tax of endless bust. He remains 75 not out, with England still 281 runs off their 463 target in what may this time, truly, be his last Test as captain.
Meanwhile, some 275 miles north of The Kia Oval, the actual Test captain Ben Stokes was thumping 95 for Durham in a match the county's own chief executive, Tim Bostock, acknowledged felt wrong: "We are happy to have Ben here but not under these circumstances."
Resolution for both is imminent. On Sunday, New Zealand's series-levelling victory should be confirmed, requiring just five more wickets. The following day, The Cricket Regulator is expected to drop its findings into the investigation into Stokes and Gus Atkinson's breaking of team protocols after the first Test, closely followed by the ECB's own judgement.
There is, of course, one more Test to come at Trent Bridge, where England have a strong record, with three wins on the bounce. And it looks increasingly likely that Stokes will return to the fold as captain. His presence goes beyond leadership - he also offers crucial balance as the allrounder, and maybe even some overdue runs after this surprise time in the middle.
Root can then return to focusing on what he does best, and as of today, he has more than 14,000 examples of his best role to fall back on. Atkinson may be back with the new ball. Jamie Smith will definitely be back from paternity leave. Robinson, too, if he has overcome a knee issue. Shoaib Bashir may be back at the ground where he took an impressive five-wicket haul against West Indies in 2024. Normal service could resume. All could be well.
Except… it probably won't be. Whatever Monday's investigation dump reveals, the last few weeks have hinted that the protocol breach and the incident in the early hours of Monday morning at Chelsea nightclub Rex Rooms was more a catalyst for England's chaos than the primary issue at hand. Bostock says he is "bemused" at head coach Brendon McCullum's repeated "worry" for Stokes' well-being. That suggests an emotional misunderstanding between Stokes and McCullum who, for the longest time, have been the thickest of thieves. Down the line, the truth may come to reveal itself in not-so-guarded terms.
Perhaps, worst of all, is the collateral these days at The Oval are likely to bring. Those scrapping in south London have not just lacked their usual captain, but also the necessary tools and nous to compete with a proficient New Zealand side. And while there is sympathy to be had for an inexperienced side thrown into the deep end, the cold light of day will be harsh on them, and harsher on the ECB's performance pathway.
James Rew's dismissal - freeze-framed on the big screen once Ball Tracker's predicted path had picked up the impact of the actual delivery into his groin, and onto the stumps - belongs in a coffee-table book of cruellest DRS stills. The graphic nature of the replay prompted sympathetic "oooofs" from the crowd, even while Rew was still out in the middle, hoping for a reprieve. There was less sympathy for the shot itself, as he duly trudged (reprieve-less) back to the dressing-room moments later.
Rew had been doing his job capably up until that moment, seeing the day out with Root and showing sound composure, until indifferent bounce from Kyle Jamieson found his pull shot lacking. It was his last act of a difficult first go in Test cricket. On day three, Rew shelled two chances in New Zealand's second innings - Rachin Ravindra on 7 who went on to 76, and eventual centurion Henry Nicholls (121) on 42. Those, in turn, came after an unconvincing 24 had ended tamely against the short ball.
Even Sonny Baker, bouncing around with puppy-like enthusiasm after his first two Test dismissals on Wednesday, was left downtrodden. He had to wait until Saturday afternoon, when No.10 Matt Henry launched him high towards Ben Duckett at deep square leg, to feel that joy again.
Baker's jubilant celebration - both fists clenched, screaming to the air in relief - had more than a tinge of sadness. Most of his England team-mates had rushed off with New Zealand finally dismissed for 362, and the fourth innings due to begin 10 minutes later. Baker had otherwise been treated with disdain by New Zealand's batters, who thumped his 34.1 overs for a total of 161 runs.
Baker is a year older than Rew, but behind on experience. The Somerset batter has earned his call-up on domestic form, a first-class average of 41.71 and 12 centuries at the age of 22, which is as a clear an indication of talent as you can get. Conversely, Baker's raw pace had been identified and honed over the last two years. This season, for Hampshire in Division One, his 22 dismissals at 24.86 have reflected a greater control and a greater understanding of his craft, and body, after his tough first goes in the ODI and T20I formats.
For both players to have such chastening experiences in the same Test will be hard for them to shift, even if the failure has been collective. With five changes and no Stokes, this already feels like a team that will do the rounds on WhatsApp in a few years' time as a "Guess The XI" quiz.
But Rew and Baker were legitimate next cabs off the rank, in light of their Lions call-ups and subsequent selection meetings. That they do not seem ready makes you question the system itself, and the depth chart that it boasts. And certainly, those who are responsible for it.
Most galling was the period after 5.30pm, once Harry Brook had been dismissed for 58 to end what had been a thrilling 97-run stand with Root. The crowd petered out and those that remained sought distraction. For perhaps the first time in the McCullum-Stokes era, those who had paid to get through the gates on a balmy Saturday had completely lost interest in the England team batting out in front of them.
Beer snakes popped up across the JM Finn stand, each snuffed out by increasingly agitated stewards. It's been a tough couple of weeks for those working in security around the England cricket team. And a tough four days for those playing in it.
England will be put out of their misery on Sunday. Soon there will a line drawn under the speculation around Stokes. But that does not necessarily mean an end to both. The discomfort may go on. The bad things may yet happen.