Deadly Soviet nerve gas Novichok explained after new ‘10/10’ Netflix film shows how dangerous it is
Carry-on has shot up to the number one film spot on Netflix
Netflix has a new number one film and fans can’t get enough of the Christmas themed action thriller starring Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman.
Released to the streaming giant on Friday (13 December), it stars Egerton of Kingsman fame as Ethan Kopek, a TSA officer at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) working a gruelling Christmas Eve shift before enjoying festivities with his pregnant girlfriend.
That is until Hollywood heavyweight Bateman – known for countless roles including in Ozark, Arrested Development, and Horrible Bosses – causes a whole world of problems as a nameless character known only as ‘the Traveler’ in the credits.
The film – spoiler warning from here on in – focuses on the Traveler demanding multiple things from Kopek, threatening to kill his girlfriend if he doesn’t follow his high stake demands.
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It sees Kopek, who is checking bags at airport security, allow a carry-on suitcase carrying deadly nerve agent Novichok to pass by without any warning.
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The end result? Kill an entire plane of passengers, including a Washington DC Congresswoman.
With the case finding its way on to the plane, Kopek boards it via the luggage hatch where he tries to disarm the bomb – only to be thwarted by the Traveler.
Taron Egerton as Ethan Kopek when tasked with disarming the Novichok bomb (Netflix)
The two of them come to blows, with Kopek shot by the Traveler.
Thankfully, though, Kopek gets the upper hand, locking him in an airtight freezer unit in the cargo hold – alongside the Novichok, which is released and kills him.
Labelled a hit with fans, many have taken to social media to label it a ’10/10′ film that is like a ‘modern day Die Hard’.
A very real Novichok threat
Created by the Soviet Union and Russia between the years of 1971 and 1993, Novichok – meaning ‘newcomer’ in English – is a group of nerve agents that cause immense farm to organic matter.
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Officially labelled chemical weapons, they are claimed to be the deadliest ever nerve agent that humanity has create.
The purpose of its creation was to be undetectable by NATO during the 1970s and 1980s and to overcome chemical protective uniform if encountered by NATO personnel.
Since 1997, it has been banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1997; something Russia has signed and ratified.
The Salisbury Poisonings saw one person die and four more hospitalised (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
Is there a Novichok antidote?
While Carry-on says there is no antidote for Novichok, it’s not quite true.
In 2018, Sergei Skripal – a former Russian military officer who became a British informant – was poisoned with Novichok alongside his daughter, Yulia, in an incident that is known as the Salisbury Poisonings. Police officer Nick Bailey was also poisoned after responding to the incident and coming in to contact with the Skripals.
Three months later, two British nationals in Amesbury – seven miles north of Salisbury – became seriously ill after coming in to contact with the nerve agent after finding a perfume bottle containing Novichok – with enough dose inside it to kill thousands of people.
One of the two, Dawn Sturgess, sprayed it on her wrist. She fell in within 15 minutes and died just over a week later. The other victim, Charlie Rowley, survived.
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A Novichok attack on British soil (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
All four victims other than Sturgess survived, with it nearly killing Skripal and his daughter. Yulia was in a come for 20 days and underwent treatment described by her as ‘invasive, painful and depressing’.
“Our recovery has been slow and extremely painful,” she said, as per the BBC.
The British government identified two Russian nationals, known as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, as the men behind the attack.
It later came out these were aliases for two Russian intelligence officers, real names Alexander Mishkin and Anatoliy Chepiga.
According to the BBC, the trio were charged with conspiracy to murder, three counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievious bodily harm with intent, and one count of use or possession of a chemical weapon.
Novichok in Carry-on (Netflix)
What is the treatment for Novichok?
Treatment for Novichok starts with high doses of a drug known as atropine.
Dr Peter Chai, of the Division of Medical Toxicology in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said that people poisoned with Novichok and other nerve agents die due to secretions – vomiting, diarrhoea and urinary incontinence that all happen at the same time.
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Atropine is a drug that counteracts these effects and also increases your heart rate. This slows how quickly the Novichok goes through your system.
After buying yourself some time, the antidote for Novichok is administered; a nitrogen-containing chemical compound known as an oxime, CNN reports.
This works by stopping the Novichok from taking ahold of your nervous system and hindering it. How successful this works, though, depends on how the nerve gas is ingested and how much of it goes in to your system.
Knowing all this, in terms of Carry-on, it seems like should that weaponised Novichok have been detonated at 30,000 feet the outcome would have been rather grim for anyone involved.Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Netflix, Christmas, Entertainment, Crime, Russia, US News, World News, Film
Tom Earnshaw
Updated 14:11 3 Jul 2025 GMT+1Published 13:57 3 Jul 2025 GMT+1
Little known Netflix hack shows you exactly how good every show is
The little known Netflix hack is a game-changer
Netflix viewers have discovered a little-known hack you can add to the streamer in order to tell you exactly how good certain shows and films are.
Oftentimes picking the next best TV show or movie to stream can be an overwhelming experience.
Netflix alone has over 15,000 titles across the entire platform based on engagement reports for 2024 and picking from that many options can make decision making impossible.
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This was part of the logic of Netflix’s newest update, to declutter feeds on the platform. This ended up backfiring though as users ended up threatening to cancel their subscription.
The update streamlines things but left fans furious (Netflix)
Netflix viewers however will be sure to be bigger fans of an add-on a user has come up with which will help declutter the choices on the streamer.
Someone has now made an add-on which can show you the up-to-date IMDb score for every title on Netflix.
While not the be-all and end-all regarding the quality of shows and films, an IMDb score is often the first marker of quality people will go to in order to decide what to watch.
For those who live under a rock and are unaware of IMDb, it stands for the Internet Movie Database and is powered by user ratings.
Though not useful as a sole judge of a show, it can be a great sign regarding the general consensus on a show or film.
It allows you to see the IMDb score for any given show to help you make your choices (Netflix)
A perfect example which exemplifies this is looking at the three highest rated fiction shows on the platform, Breaking Bad, Band of Brothers, and The Wire, three of the consensus best shows ever.
The creator of the add-on posted it to the r/Netflix subreddit, saying: “I developed a chrome extension that brings IMDb ratings directly into your Netflix experience!”
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They said: “I’ve always valued IMDb ratings, as they usually provide an accurate reflection of how good a movie or a show really is, often aligning with my own opinion—which made me realise how helpful it would be to have those ratings visible while browsing Netflix.
The creator has promised updates such as Rotten Tomatoes (Netflix)
“The idea came from the all-too-familiar struggle of endlessly scrolling through Netflix, unable to decide what my next watch is going to be.”
It can be added as a Chrome extension which can be found here, however, the creator stated they would also be looking into how to get it added for Firefox.
They also promised that Rotten Tomatoes scores would be coming in the future, potentially even the new update.
This already exists on certain platforms such as Now TV, however
Fans on Reddit congratulated them for the idea, with one comment saying: “Wow! This is awesome! Definitely gonna give this a try.”Featured Image Credit: wutwhanfoto via Getty Images
Topics: Netflix, TV and Film, Film
Michael Slavin
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Published 19:41 25 Apr 2025 GMT+1
Tom Hardy admitted he ‘didn’t think he’d make it’ due to scene he had to film for new Netflix thriller
Havoc was released on Netflix on Friday (25 April)
Tom Hardy has opened up on filming the new Netflix thriller, Havoc, explaining that there was one scene in particular that caused a bit of, er, havoc.
The movie, which drops on Netflix on Friday (25 April), stars Hardy as a detective named Walker, who is dragged into a dangerous circle of drug dealers, corrupt police officers and dodgy politicians.
The film also stars Luis Guzmán, Jessie Mei Li, and Timothy Olyphant, and follows Walker as he digs into a disturbing criminal underworld, which sees him get into a *lot* of fights.
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In fact, in one brutal scene, Hardy explains he almost ‘didn’t make it’.
Speaking about nearly overheating during the scene, Hardy explained that after filming in the summer, in thermals, he had to make some changes.
“The Medusa fight scene was hot,” he told RadioTimes.com. “I was wearing a thermal and a shirt, a wool shirt and a T-shirt. And it was summer.
“Like, after the first 10 minutes of throwing my arms around, I was like, ‘I’m not gonna make this. I’m not gonna make the day, Gareth. I think I need to cut the sleeves off this!'”
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Hardy explained that not only did he cut off the sleeves, but most of the rest of the t-shirt, too.
Hardy stars as Walker in the movie (Netflix)
“In the end, I just had the shirt bolero with two buttons, and then the Patagonia fleece over the top of it, and then an ice pack at the back. And then we were good to go! But until that point, I was struggling,” he said.
Despite feeling like a ‘Muppet suit in the sunlight’, however, the star said he ‘absolutely loved it’.
Despite the movie being set in an unnamed city, viewers may be surprised to learn it was actually filmed in Wales.
“I started going around, like, Swansea, Port Talbot, Cardiff and Newport, looking for any little bit of architecture that I could find that might pass as a little bit Americana,” director Gareth Evans told BBC.
“And so we took a look and we thought if we can get 30% or 40% real in camera then the VFX (visual effects) can take care of the rest.”
The director also praised working with Hardy, adding: “One of the nicest things about Tom [is] I knew I was in my wheelhouse when it came to action film-making, but with Tom his skillset is deep dive explorations into morally complex characters and so we were able to fuse two styles together.”
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You can catch Havoc on Netflix now.Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Tom Hardy, TV and Film, Netflix, Entertainment
Lucy Devine
Published 16:35 11 Feb 2025 GMT
Netflix viewers are ‘appalled’ after new doc gives totally new perspective on classic war film
The documentary features interviews with those who were on the front lines
Viewers have been shown a new side to a 2001 war film following the release of a new Netflix documentary – and it’s left some feeling ‘appalled’.
True stories being made into films is a tricky art, with directors and writers having to balance telling a great story with what actually happened.
In the case of war films based on true stories, this is even more accentuated, because you want to root for one side completely – but it isn’t always that simple.
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Ewan McGregor is one of the many stars to appear in the film (Columbia Pictures)
That is the case for Black Hawk Down, the Ridley Scott film that won two Oscars from four nominations and is considered by many to be one of the best war movies ever.
Netflix’s newest documentary, however, looks at the ‘real’ story behind it, called Surviving Black Hawk Down. The film follows a group of American soldiers who are shot down in Somalia as they try and capture a group of warlords.
The film has an unreal cast too, with Ewan McGregor, Tom Hardy, Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, Jason Isaacs, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Orlando Bloom all appearing, with the stars all at varying levels of the fame they now possess.
Black Hawk Down is based on a real military event in which a Black Hawk helicopter flying over Somalia was shot down during the ‘Battle of Mogadishu’.
Netflix’s new documentary looks at both sides of things, including interviews with soldiers who were there. You can watch the trailer here:
The takeaway many are leaving with, however, is that they are ‘appalled’ at realising how Somali people were portrayed in the film, and the contrast to what actually happened.
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One viewer tweeted expressed their belief that America had committed war crimes in Somalia, writing: “Just finished watching the black hawk down documentary on Netflix and I’m honestly infuriated and appalled at the sheer audacity of these Americans.
“They committed war crimes, shooting and killing innocent civilians on sight but have the cheek to question the humanity of Somalis?”
While America has never been tried for any war crimes from the Battle of Mogadishu, the documentary led to a great deal of criticism for their actions in the interventionist battle.
One of the interviewees is a Somali photographer ‘Five’ who captured the conflict (Netflix)
Another said: “I’m watching that Black Hawk Down documentary on Netflix and there are Americans calling the Somalis cruel for how they treated the bodies of the dead American soldiers.
“It’s amazing that their own cruelties to Somalia never occurs to them. That or they just don’t care.”
A third said: “Black Hawk Down just shows how much Americans don’t know how to MIND THEIR OWN F***ING BUSINESS.”
Others praised the film’s alternate perspective on what happened, with one tweeting: “Another Black Hawk Down film but at least I appreciate the Somali perspective this time, Especially through the lenses of the Somali camera man that reported the 1993 incident.”
While another said more docuseries like Surviving Black Hawk Down were needed to ‘help us understand major historical events better’.
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The incident was filmed by a young cameraman called Ahmed ‘Five’, who speaks in the doc about filming the famous interrogation video of US pilot Mike Durant.
Surviving Black Hawk Down is on Netflix now.Featured Image Credit: Columbia Pictures
Topics: Netflix, History, TV, Film, Documentaries, World News
Michael Slavin
Published 18:23 14 Feb 2025 GMT
Netflix viewers are binging new ‘creepy’ 10/10 AI thriller in one go as fans label it ‘the new Dark’
The new sci-fi drama is proving very popular on the streaming service
It may be Valentine’s day but the focus for many, single or otherwise, will be looking for something new to binge this weekend.
Whether you just finished Apple Cider Vinegar, have got through Surviving Black Hawk Down already, or have finished the latest Scandi detective drama The Åre Murders, many will be looking for their next show to dive into.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for a show to cuddle up next to your partner and watch, or if you’re spending this weekend celebrating your solitude, when people are comparing any show to crtic favourite Dark, you can look no further
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The show is a creepy watch (Netflix)
That is exactly what is happening to Netflix’s newest thriller TV series, called Cassandra, and the comparisons to Dark are obvious.
The series is a German-made thriller TV Show which has reactions such as ‘I can’t stop watching it’ and ‘creepy, suspenseful, and brilliant’.
If I’d told you it was Dark you’d likely have believed me, but it’s actually Cassandra.
The series follows a family moving into an old ‘smart home’ decades after its owner dies.
The AI helper that comes with the home wakes up once they’ve moved in and creepiness ensues.
This led to one viewer tweeting: “Netflix should invest more in German shows… we had the masterpiece DARK… then 1899 from the same writers, now Cassandra…”
This love for Cassandra is a commonly held opinion, with some binging all six 50 minute episodes in one sitting.
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One viewer said of the show: “Strange, disturbing, and campy af, but every time I go to turn it off, I can’t do it. Please tell me someone else has seen this.”
Another said: “Cassandra on Netflix is definitely a 10/10 I’ve been hooked since the beginning #cassandranetflix”.
A third fan said: “that cassandra tv series on netflix was a wild ride.”
The show currently sits at a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Kelcie Mattson said in their 8/10 review for Collider: “Fusing elements of sci-fi, horror, psychological thriller, and women-focused family dramas of decades past, Cassandra is quieter than the company’s films but still a sleek, ambitious limited series with plenty of meat on its bones…”
The series is the top show on Netflix worldwide (Netflix)
Chris Joyce said in their review of the series: “The excitement and nervousness will have you on the edge of your seat while you constantly look over your shoulder to ensure your smart devices aren’t scheming behind you.”
The show’s success has landed it a spot in the streamer’s top ten.
The series is the top show worldwide currently, and sits at number ten in the UK.
