Spoiler-Free Review of “Yellowjackets” Season 2 Premiere on Showtime: Trippy Goodness

*This is a spoiler-free review for season 2 so feel free to read on!*

“Nobody can help you…”

Yellowjackets season 2 premiered on March 24th 2023 on Showtime. This season will feature eight weekly episodes. It stars Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Sammi Hanratty. Each episode runs for approximately 53-55 minutes.

After surviving a plane crash in the middle of the wilderness, a high school girls soccer team attempts to keep going with no hope of rescue. Years later, they try to cope with the horrific events that took place after the crash as new characters emerge from their past.

Here is the trailer:

Yellowjackets instantly became one of my favorite shows, providing us with two compelling timelines and characters to root for in the midst of some trippy madness that somehow just works. Does season 2 deserve a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Dives back into darkness without holding back…

Season 2 jumps right back into things and quickly submerges us into some disturbing dark content. It’s clearly not afraid to unleash something twisted and outrageous, making the season 2 premiere such a compelling watch. I dropped my jaw at several moments and this is only the beginning!

Introduces new faces.

We already have our fair share of characters, but one of the most interesting characters of season 1 makes her first appearance in the present day timeline, which should shake things up for some of our other survivors.

We also get another timeline thrown into the mix and I hope we get to explore it more without overdoing things.

Either way, I’m intrigued!

The Cons:

A lot to keep track of…

I highly recommend that you watch the recap at the beginning of the episode to stay up to speed. But you still need to pay attention to a lot of different characters and timelines, which can be slightly overwhelming.

Similar to LOST, this series is branching off into several unique stories and I just hope that each character gets enough screen time because they all deserve it!

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!

Season 2 starts off with a bang and is not holding back!

I can’t wait to see what happens next and it’s safe to say that Yellowjackets is still just as fantastic as ever!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Yellowjackets in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Swarm” on Prime Video: A Disturbing Watch…

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“Who’s your favorite artist?”

Swarm released on Prime Video on March 17th 2023 with seven episodes available to stream now. The psychological-thriller series stars Dominique Fishback, Chloe Bailey, and Damson Idris. Each episode runs for approximately 30-35 minutes.

An obsessed fan goes on a violent killing spree while trying to get close to her favorite artist.

Here is the trailer:

Swarm is eerie and dark filled with truly disturbing moments. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A terrifying premise…

Part of the reason why this show was so disturbing was because we kept getting a reminder at the beginning of each episode that this is not a work of fiction. It is based on a series of real events, which makes what we witness on screen that much more horrifying.

There were some genuinely shocking moments that had me on the edge of my seat and by the time I got to the end, I still felt uneasy about what I had just witnessed.

The vignette style worked.

The episodes were on the short side and I actually really liked that we got a vignette approach as Dre traveled to different states across a period of time. I think that it would have been more of an exhausting watch if it didn’t take this approach. It broke things up for me and allowed us to see some fun guest stars as well.

The Cons:

A boring main character…

I’ve watched plenty of shows centering around a serial killer and while the actions were dark and distressing, the person doing them was often uninspiring to watch. I think I needed some more layers for her even though we got a few and a hint of a possible personality would have helped…

This just made the pacing feel incredibly slow at times until we got to the end of each episode and witnessed another shocking moment.

The order of episodes felt odd as well. By the time you reach episode 6, you’ll get a completely different feel and approach, which was perfectly fine. Episode 6 was actually my favorite one, but then we went back to the main story-line for the final episode and I no longer felt pulled in for the very end. The transition felt disjointed and forced.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

Obsession takes a dark turn in this chilling thriller.

I mostly enjoyed my watch, but I wanted more from our main character, which would have elevated this series that much more.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Swarm in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Class of ’07” on Prime Video: An Absolute Gem!

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Is this our reunion?!”

Class of ’07 premiered on Prime Video on March 17th 2023 with eight episodes available to stream now. The Australian comedy-drama series stars Emily Browning, Megan Smart, Caitlin Stasey, Steph Tisdell, and Sana’a Shaik. Each episode runs for approximately 30-35 minutes.

After tempers flare at a ten year reunion at an all-girls high school, a global catastrophe strikes, leaving them stranded together on an island as they must figure out a way to survive.

Here is the trailer:

Class of ’07 is the perfect mix of The Wilds and Mean Girls, making this a binge-watcher’s dream. Does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Fantastic characters with layers.

I was worried that a lot of the characters would fit neatly into tropes and while some did, others broke through barriers with charm. These girls were hilarious, fierce, and such a pleasure to watch on screen. The chemistry between them was so believable and I really thought I was witnessing former frenemies at a high school reunion under the worst possible circumstances ever!

Stand out performances go to Emily Browning as Zoe and Caitlin Stasey as Saskia, who could give Regina George a run for her money! I loved them!

Short episodes.

If you’re looking for a lighter take on shows like The Wilds and Yellowjackets, Class of ’07 finds a happy medium and is a lot of fun! The episodes are short, which made this perfect to binge-watch over the weekend. There wasn’t too much fluff to sit through, which allowed the audience a chance to connect to these characters while enjoying all of the end-of-the-world outrageous fun.

The Cons:

Gross-out humor…

This series was really close to perfection for me and exactly the kind of show I love, but the crude/gross-out humor wasn’t my cup of tea. I would have been fine with just a little bit of it, but it really kept pushing the envelope in this department when it could have taken more time to flesh out some of the other characters instead.

Either way, by the time I got to the end of the series, I wanted more! I hope this series gets picked up because it really is a lot of fun.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Class of ’07 is a delightful treat with incredible characters and an addicting premise that doesn’t disappoint!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Class of ’07 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rule…they can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Inside” (2023) in Theaters: Willem Dafoe is Insanely Brilliant

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“Art is for keeps…”

Inside (2023) released in theaters on March 17th 2023. The psychological-survival thriller film stars Willem Dafoe. It runs for an hour and forty-five minutes.

An art thief gets trapped inside a luxury penthouse with nothing but priceless pieces of art as he must figure out a way to survive.

Here is the trailer:

Inside features a captivating performance by Willem Dafoe in a simple, but chilling thriller. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Fantastic performance!

I don’t think that ANYONE else could have played this part to perfection other than Willem Dafoe. It’s like he was made for this role. Even in the quietest moments of the film, he was so magnetic and fantastic on screen. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him and was so blown away by his performance.

He has such a talent for revealing raving mad energy in the best way possible.

Thrilling in an unconventional way.

I didn’t really know what to expect with this one, but I was surprised by how interested I was in such a lackluster setting. Sure, the actual penthouse was stunning to look at, but there’s not too much going on and yet I still couldn’t look away from the screen because these simple dilemmas were much more terrifying to me than something extreme and ridiculous.

The Cons:

Pacing issues at times…

This film had an overall slow feel, but luckily Willem Dafoe elevated it, especially when he actually started talking…

If you’re looking for lots of thrills and action, this is not your type of movie. I’m not sure that this film is for everyone and that’s OK, but I think you should manage your expectations accordingly.

Some things seemed a little unrealistic to me and had me scratching my head, but I just went with it.

There were also some gross scenes to sit through so be aware of that…

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

A unique thriller featuring a chilling and intense performance!

This film was far from your average thriller and it really held my attention up until the very end. It had me thinking about it well after the film was over as well.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Inside (2023) in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Shadow and Bone” Season 2 on Netflix: The Crows Steal the Show…

*This is a spoiler-free review for season two so feel free to read on!*

“They’re not nightmares…it’s really happening…”

Shadow and Bone season two premiered on Netflix on March 16th 2023. The second season features eight episodes available to stream now. It stars Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Ben Barnes, Freddy Carter, and Amita Suman. Each episode runs for approximately 55-60 minutes.

Based on the popular Grisha book series, Shadow and Bone follows a Sun Summoner named Alina Starkov, who must battle against General Kirigan and his powerful army in order to protect the world.

Here is the trailer:

Shadow and Bone season two is visually stunning to watch on screen, but overstuffed to the brim with sub-plots. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A sexy villain and characters to root for against all odds…

Sure, you can put scars on his face, but General Kirigan is still very easy on the eyes and a wickedly entertaining villain. I loved him even more in season two. Alina embraced her destiny as a chosen one and wasn’t so wishy-washy this season, but my attention was stolen by the Crows, who were the most entertaining characters of the bunch and deserve their own series…

Intense battle/action sequences.

We had to sit through a lot of fluff to get to them, but this series had some worthy scenes for sure. I loved the action, but I just wanted more of it. The visuals were stunning once again and the costumes were on point.

The Cons:

Way too much going on…

I thought season one was jam-packed, but season two pushed the limit even further. I get that the series was trying to borrow from several of the books, but I felt like I needed to take notes to keep up with all of the sub-plots and extra characters. Honestly, it was a lot of work and I’m not sure that it was worth the effort…

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

There’s plenty of moments to enjoy and lots of characters to root for, but sometimes less is more…

I preferred the first season, but I still think there’s enough here for fans of the book series to enjoy.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Shadow and Bone season two in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “School Spirits” on Paramount+: A Charming YA Supernatural Mystery

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Welcome to the club…”

School Spirits released on March 9th 2023 on Paramount+ with the first three episodes available to stream now. The remaining five episodes will air weekly. The YA supernatural mystery series stars Peyton List, Kiara Pichardo, Kristian Flores, and Spencer MacPherson. Each episode runs for approximately 44-48 minutes.

Maddie winds up stuck in limbo in her high school as she attempts to investigate her own mysterious disappearance with the help of other ghosts who reside there.

Here is the trailer:

School Spirits is a delightful mix of Ghosts and Nancy Drew with a mystery that really pulls you in. Is this YA series worth your time? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Light and fun.

This series could have easily overdone it with teen drama and excess fluff, but it already managed to find the perfect balance of mystery and fun from the very start, which is not always easy to do.

The show is filled with likable characters and I really like Maddie, which has kept me more invested in the mystery revolving around her own disappearance.

The episodes aren’t super long and the pacing has been on point for the most part, knowing just how to hook the audience at the end of each episode, reeling us back in for more.

A solid mystery.

Sure, it may not be that original, but I’m already forming my own list of suspects and I really want to know what happened to Maddie. The time jumps were a little jarring at first, but I started to get used to them as the series progressed, giving us more clues to ponder over. I’m hoping for a shocking reveal, but it’s too early to tell how this mystery will unfold.

The Cons:

Weekly episodes…

I watched the first three episodes in one sitting and was ready for more, but we’ll have to wait for the rest of the episodes to release each week, which is a bummer. This is one of those shows where you get really wrapped up in the story so I’m just afraid that viewers may forget to tune back in or could lose interest without the binge-watching option available. You may be better off waiting until all the episodes drop before watching this one…

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

School Spirits has a super cute premise and a charming cast with an addicting mystery at its core.

This series has been a pleasant surprise so far and I can’t wait to watch more episodes!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on School Spirits in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Scream VI” in Theaters: New Sequel Takes a Killer Bite Out of the Big Apple

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

What’s your favorite scary movie?

Scream VI released in theaters on March 10th 2023. The sixth installment of my favorite franchise of all time brings us close to my home as Ghostface terrorizes New York City. The slasher horror film stars Melissa Barrera, Courtney Cox, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Jenna Ortega, Samara Weaving and Hayden Panettiere.

The Carpenter sisters are trying to start over in New York City, but Ghostface begins targeting those closest to them in this new sequel to the requel.

Here is the trailer:

Scream VI brings us a solid entry to the franchise with inventive kills, fantastic twists, and a few chase scenes to die for. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Uses NYC in an effective way.

I was super excited that Scream was making its way to my state, but was slightly worried about how it would use this setting. Jason Takes Manhattan is one of my favorite slasher films, but Scream VI used NYC in a chilling and effective way, bringing us some edge-of-your-seat moments that were truly fantastic.

More please!

A cast to die for!

Sure, we were missing our star player, but this cast did such a wonderful job and I actually started to really care about these characters a lot more this time around.

Melissa Barrera was a SCREAM QUEEN and then some! Wow!

Our “legacy” characters really held their own as well and even stole the film at one point…

I don’t think I’ve cheered this much for a bunch of characters since Scream 2…and that had Queen SMG so that’s saying a lot!

The twists and reveals were also well-played and had me guessing! Loved them!

The Cons:

I don’t really have any…

This should come as no surprise since I adore this franchise, but after thinking about it, I really loved every aspect of this movie. There was enough nostalgia and Easter eggs to keep fans happy while still keeping things fresh and new.

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!

Already one of my favorite films of the franchise! Scream VI is bad-ass and beyond entertaining!

It’s safe to say I’ll be re-watching this one again and again!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Scream VI in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Unseen” on Demand: Satisfying Thriller Worth Your Time

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“It’s a miracle I got you…”

Unseen released on Demand on March 7th 2023. The horror-thriller film stars Midori Francis, Jolene Purdy, Michael Patrick Lane, and Missi Pyle. It runs for approximately an hour and sixteen minutes.

A gas station clerk named Sam receives a random phone call from a nearly blind stranger named Emily who has been abducted by her ex-boyfriend. Acting as a guide for Emily through her phone, Sam quickly becomes her only hope at survival.

Here is the trailer:

Unseen is a fantastic mix of See for Me and Alone with a fast-paced, intense premise and two likable leads. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

No waiting!

Talk about starting off with a bang…

This film has minimal set-up and throws the audience into things with barely any warning. The pacing was on point and at barely an hour and twenty minutes long, I never looked at the time even once.

This film was filled with edge-of-your-seat moments and some touching ones as well without ever overdoing it. It all just worked in a simple and effective way, which is exactly the kind of thriller I love to see.

Two strong female leads to root for.

I absolutely loved both of these leading ladies. They were both incredible and I actually really dug the fact that they seemed so normal. It just made their bond and quest for survival that much more intriguing.

Even though we had minimal set-up in the beginning of the film, we still got enough layers between these two as they continued to talk, which helped me care about them even more.

The Cons:

Far-fetched at times…

Sure, some of the characters were a little outrageous and there were some moments that had me scratching my head, but just go with it and you’ll enjoy the ride. It all added to the intensity so I’m not complaining too much here.

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!!!

Keep making horror-thrillers like this and I’ll keep watching them and so will a lot of other viewers!

Fast-paced, fierce, and absolutely FANTASTIC from start to finish!

I absolutely loved this film and highly recommend it.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Unseen (2023) in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “We Have a Ghost” on Netflix: By the Numbers Family-Friendly Ghost Flick

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“This place is a dump…”

We Have a Ghost released on Netflix on February 24th 2023. The supernatural horror-comedy film stars David Harbour, Anthony Mackie, Tig Nataro, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, and Jennifer Coolidge. It runs for approximately two hours and seven minutes.

After moving into a new home, a boy and his family discover a ghost named Ernest already residing there.

Here is the trailer:

We Have a Ghost has some cute and heartfelt moments, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Fun idea.

Similar to Casper, this film takes on a family-friendly approach to the haunted house/ghost genre with some magical and sweet moments. I was super hyped about this film because it was directed by Christopher Landon, who brought us films like Freaky and Happy Death Day.

Landon’s films sometimes channel past films in a new and effective way while bringing us moments of pure brilliance in the horror comedy genre. I was all for a slightly different approach with the family-friendly entry here, but I’m not sure that it ever quite found its way despite having a cute plot.

Great cast!

I couldn’t have been more pleased with this cast although I’m still scratching my head over the decision to bench their star player…

There will be no spoilers in this review, but you’ll see what I mean.

Jennifer Coolidge’s part also seemed silly and pointless…

Either way, it was fun to see some familiar faces and I thought that Jahi Di’Allo Winston did a great job with his role.

The Cons:

Jam-packed with too much…

I think that this film would have been better if it had just focused on the main plot and stuck with it. It had some heartfelt moments, but these would have translated better without all the excess fluff.

This movie was way too long and a lot of the humor felt forced and exhausting. There was nothing original about this film and while it was certainly watchable, it wasn’t anything special, which is a shame.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

Some spooky fun moments and an entertaining cast, but I just wanted so much more from this film.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on We Have a Ghost in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now! I hope you enjoy!

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Cocaine Bear” in Theaters: An Absolute Blast!

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“This is your brain on drugs…”

Cocaine Bear released in theaters on February 24th 2023. The thriller-horror-action film (directed by Elizabeth Banks) stars Keri Russell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Ray Liotta, and Margo Martindale. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

After a bear consumes a large amount of cocaine, it goes on a killing spree in a Georgia forest.

Here is the trailer:

Cocaine Bear is a bloody delight with plenty of insane violence and humor that actually lands. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The perfect balance of gore galore and laugh out loud moments.

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE when a movie can accomplish this without skipping a beat. This movie was so much fun to watch from start to finish. It didn’t hold back in the violence department, but it also knew not to take itself too seriously at all, making this such an effortless watch.

The best ensemble I’ve seen in a while!

It didn’t matter how small their part was…EVERY single character was a lot of fun. The actors did a great job with the content. Usually in films like this, I’m not really rooting for anyone, but I actually cared about quite a few characters, which had me more invested.

The Cons:

Don’t expect an amazing plot…

There were quite a few people in my theater who did not seem too thrilled with this film and I even saw a couple actually leave. I don’t know what they expected with this movie, but you won’t get a well-layered plot.

As long as you go into this understanding that this film is meant to be silly and outrageous, you’ll have a good time though.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Bloody, bonkers, and an absolute blast!

I couldn’t ask for anything more with a film like this.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Cocaine Bear in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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