In both form and practice, the movie might frequently remind you of Ridley Scott's Alien, John Carpenter's The Thing, and Joe Carnahan's The Grey, which remains the finest of the gazillions of macho-badass thrillers clogging Liam Neeson's resume. It's unfortunate that Øvredal's handsomely produced, fiercely acted endeavor isn't half as scary as those aforementioned titles.

Two venues in downtown Rock Island will co-host one exciting literary event when the Midwest Writing Center presents readings and a release party for the annual literary magazine The ATLAS, the latest volume of which will, on August 17, be showcased in a late-afternoon event at the Rock Island Public Library and an evening celebration at the neighboring Rozz-Tox.

Held in tandem with the weekend's Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival and Rock Island's annual Family Fun Day, the August 19 Pulling Focus Black Film Festival's Winner's Showcase finds the Azubuike African American Council for the Arts partnering with Polyrhythms and the MLK Center for the first time in this celebration of African American and Black Diasporic voices.

To download a PDF of the puzzle, click here.

Currently touring in support of his recording Set in Stone, the artist's first original album release in 13 years, country, blues, gospel, and Southern-rock icon Travis Tritt headlines an August 24 concert event at Davenport's Adler Theatre, the two-time Grammy winner's chart-topping smashes including “Help Me Hold On,” “Anymore,” Can I Trust You with My Heart,” “Foolish Pride,” and “Best of Intentions.”

With this year's weekend event held in conjunction with Rock Island's annual Family Fun Day and the area-wide Alternating Currents Festival, Polyrhythms will collaborate with the MLK Center, Rock Island Parks & Recreation, and the Rock Island County NAACP for the ninth-annual Bill Bell Jazz & Heritage Festival, an August 18 through 20 celebration of cultural heritage in the Quad Cities named after the late musician, educator, and East Moline native lovingly known as “The Jazz Professor.”

Boasting a potent mix of old-school blues traditions and modern-day flair, singer/songwriter and guitarist Kara Grainger performs in the Summer Concert Series at Rock Island's Schwiebert Riverfront Park on August 24, with the Mississippi Valley Blues Society co-presenting a night with this native Australian whose vocals, according to Rock & Blues Muse, "packed a punch," and who "played monster guitar solos that had the crowd whooping and clapping."

An eagerly awaited day of outdoor fun culminating in an attempt to break a pair of Guinness World Records is set for August 19, when River Action hosts the 14th-annual celebration of paddle sports Floatzilla, with participants and spectators gathering at Rock Island's Sunset Park to see if the Quad Cities can boast the world's “Largest Raft of Canoes and Kayaks” and “Largest Simultaneous Kayak Launch.”

An eagerly awaited weekend happening taking place, for the first time, in conjunction with the Quad Cities' annual Alternating Currents Festival, the 2023 Beaux Arts August Fair will treat visitors to an outdoor celebration of visual arts and fine crafts on August 19 and 20, with the event in Davenport's Bechtel Park featuring food, live music, children's activities, and works for sale by more than two dozen artists and Midwestern vendors.