Spoiler-Free Review of “The Watcher” on Netflix: A Neighborhood full of Secrets

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

“Welcome…you know I will be watching…”

The Watcher premiered on Netflix on October 13th 2022 with seven episodes available to steam now. Created by Ryan Murphy and based on a true story, the series stars Naomi Watts, Bobby Cannavale, Jennifer Coolidge, Isabel Gravitt, and Mia Farrow. Each episode runs for approximately 44-47 minutes.

After a family moves into their dream home, they begin to receive threatening letters.

Here is the trailer:

The Watcher has an eerie premise with a terrific cast, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Strong opening episodes…

The premise for this series was really creepy and when I know that things are based on a true story, it makes it even more terrifying. I thought the opening episodes of this series were really good and they hooked me completely. I had to know more and I immediately began to make a list of suspects. Seriously, all of those neighbors were completely crazy!

Great cast!

This was a really interesting cast. It felt very much like a season of American Horror Story in a lot of ways, bringing plenty of well-known faces into the fold. I thought Naomi Watts did a great job and it’s always fun seeing Jennifer Coolidge on screen.

The Cons:

Loses steam as the episodes continue…

This was really frustrating because I was completely hooked in the beginning of this series. In typical Ryan Murphy fashion, the series then goes off on several tangents and subplots that really dragged out the rest of the series. By the time I got to the reveals, I had lost a lot of interest. I really wasn’t a fan of the ending either.

I’m also not sure that there was enough content here for a seven episode series. This might have been better suited as a film. There was a film that came out in 2016 (which I haven’t watched yet), but I think that was the right approach.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

An intriguing and addicting premise with a stellar cast.

There’s enough here to enjoy, but this series started a lot stronger than it finished.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Watcher 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 “The Curse of Bridge Hollow” on Netflix: Spooky Family Fun!

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

“My family doesn’t do Halloween…”

The Curse of Bridge Hollow released on Netflix on October 14th 2022. The Halloween comedy stars Marlon Wayans, Kelly Rowland, Priah Ferguson, Lauren Lapkus, and Rob Riggle. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-two minutes.

After moving to a new town filled with Halloween enthusiasts, a father and daughter must team up when something causes the Halloween decorations to come to life.

Here is the trailer:

The Curse of Bridge Hollow has something for everyone in the family, creating the perfect balance of spooky Halloween fun with comedy gold. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Has all the ingredients for the perfect family Halloween film!

I went into this film hoping for the best and it did not disappoint! It nailed the Halloween vibe and then some! I would honestly rank this film right up there with Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown and it’s absolutely going to become part of my yearly Halloween lineup.

There was the perfect balance of heart and spooky fun in this. I absolutely loved the concept and all of the characters were so much fun!

Marlon Wayans is hilarious!

This should come as no surprise since he’s so funny in everything he does, but I’m not sure that I would have liked this movie as much without him. Some of these films lack in the humor department even though they make a valiant effort (Hocus Pocus 2), but this film was laugh out loud funny and that was because of him.

I loved all of the other actors and characters as well. Everyone played the perfect role, adding to the fun!

The Cons:

I don’t have any…

I love Halloween. It’s my absolute favorite holiday and I felt like this film was made for true fans of the holiday. Hopefully it even convinced a few non-believers to join in on the fun! I don’t have any cons. This movie was everything I could have hoped for and more!

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!!!

Hilarious and so much fun!!!!

The Halloween movie I’ve been waiting for!

If you love Halloween, you’ll love this movie. Trust me!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Curse of Bridge Hollow 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 “Halloween Ends” on Peacock: Laurie vs. Michael…place your bets!

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

“You started this…”

Halloween Ends released in theaters and on Peacock on October 14th 2022. The film stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Andi Matichak, Kyle Richards, and Rohan Campbell. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty minutes.

Years after Michael Myers terrorized the residents of Haddonfield, a new evil emerges in town, giving Laurie a terrorizing sense of nostalgia.

Here is the trailer:

Halloween Ends should mark the end of the latest trilogy, but does it do enough to leave fans satisfied? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Solid beginning and ending.

I thought the beginning of this film was so unexpected and brutally fantastic. It really set the tone for the rest of the film. The ending was also really well done. The showdown we’ve been waiting for did not disappoint. There was also enough nostalgia weaved in without overdoing it. I wanted it to go on a little bit longer, but I thought it was satisfying enough for fans.

The gory kills don’t disappoint…

I was slightly worried that we wouldn’t get that many gory kills in this film since it took a different path, but the later attacks in the film were bloody and terrifying. I had a few favorites in particular, but it’s safe to say that I won’t be leaving my door unlocked…ever!

The Cons:

Didn’t really feel like the ending of a trilogy…

I actually liked the different story and subplot going on. Rohan Campbell was really good in this. My only issue with it was that it didn’t feel like it was the perfect fit for this trilogy. I enjoyed this film, but it felt like a standalone movie, rather than a killer ending. Don’t get me wrong, we eventually got there and things came full circle, but things just felt odd and bizarre for the majority of the movie.

I also thought that Allyson made some decisions that seemed really out of character for her. I really liked her in the other films, but it’s like she threw all of her common sense out the window…

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

Halloween fans will find plenty to enjoy in the ending to this trilogy, but I had a lot of mixed thoughts on its approach and the subplots, which may have been better suited to a film separate from this trilogy…

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

HAVE A KILLER HALLOWEEN…

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 “Blackout” (2022) on Netflix: Josh Duhamel can’t remember who he is…

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

“Do you remember how you got here?”

Blackout premiered on October 12th 2022 on Netflix. The action-thriller film stars Josh Duhamel, Abbie Cornish, and Nick Nolte. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-two minutes.

A man wakes up in a Mexican hospital with no memory of how he got there, now hunted down by a dangerous drug cartel as he tries to piece together which side he is actually on.

Here is the trailer:

Blackout attempts to channel the films of the Bourne franchise with a familiar plot and flashy action. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Josh Duhamel is a fun lead.

He’s the main reason why I tuned into this movie and he was the best part of it. I find him captivating in everything, including the Nacho Fries commercials for Taco Bell. I thought he was bad-ass in this film and elevated a generic script as much as he could.

Plenty of action.

If you’re looking for lots of action and fight scenes, you’re in the right place. This film kind of felt like a mashup between The Bourne Identity and pretty much any Liam Neeson movie (in terms of the action at least). The film is on the shorter side and the pacing keeps things moving enough to keep you invested until the end.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

The dialogue is really really bad.

I didn’t have high expectations for this film at all, but wow was the dialogue atrocious. I started laughing several times and not in a good way. I’m all for a mindless action flick, but this film could have been so much better if it would have put in just a little bit of effort in this department.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I’m in for Josh Duhamel and some of the fight scenes were decent, but this film didn’t have enough edge or substance to make it that memorable. If you’re looking for a quick watch, you’ll find enough to enjoy, but I would recommend managing your expectations.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Blackout 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!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Deadstream” on Shudder: An Absolute Blast!

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

“I will be spending one night alone in a haunted house!”

Deadstream released on Shudder on October 6th 2022. The horror-comedy film stars Joseph Winter and Melanie Stone. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-seven minutes.

A disgraced internet personality attempts to gain back his followers by livestreaming himself in an abandoned haunted house when he accidentally unleashes an evil spirit.

Here is the trailer:

Deadstream is so much fun to watch and really spot on with its depiction of the livestreaming culture. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Channels The Evil Dead and nails the horror comedy angle!

You basically get a crazy mashup of Paranormal Activity, Ghost Hunters, and The Evil Dead with this clever and hilarious found-footage horror film and it somehow just works! The “Wrath of Shawn” may seem ridiculous and silly, but it’s actually really spot on with a lot of the livestreamers I have watched and I think it nailed the vibe it was going for.

Joseph Winter and Melanie Stone killed it!

The film pretty much centers around these two main characters and I was worried that I would grow tired of them, but they were so amazing! The dynamic between them was so entertaining and even though Shawn was really extreme, he was playing the part to perfection and it sold this film in the best way possible. I think it’s really cool that he’s actually the director of the movie as well!

More please!

The Cons:

Not super scary…

This didn’t matter to me at all because I embraced this as a true horror comedy, but if you’re looking for some actual serious scares, you won’t find too many here. As long as you just go with the Raimi tone, you’ll find plenty to enjoy as a horror fan, however.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

The most fun I have had watching a horror comedy in quite a while!

I don’t need to “fansplain” how much I enjoyed this film. Just watch it. Trust me! You’ll love it!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Deadstream 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 “The Midnight Club” on Netflix: Mature version of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” has Heart

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

“The next chapter…like it’s already been written…”

The Midnight Club released on Netflix on October 7th 2022 featuring ten episodes available to stream now. Created by Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass), the horror mystery-thriller series stars Iman Benson, Annarah Cymone, Igby Rigney, Heather Langenkamp, Zach Gilford, and Samantha Sloyan. Each episode runs for approximately 53-56 minutes.

A group of terminally ill teens meet each night at midnight to share scary stories with one another at Brightcliffe Hospice, which may have its own supernatural mystery embedded in its walls.

Here is the trailer:

The Midnight Club follows a younger generation of characters, as they deal with unspeakable grief and horrors, unleashing a captivating mystery along the way. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Seamlessly transitions between the main plot and the vignettes.

I was worried that I would feel disconnected between the main plot and the stories each character told, but there was a really nice balance here. While I enjoyed some stories better than others, I liked that they connected to each of the characters, revealing more layers in an effective way.

This was a different approach for Flanagan, but I think the style paid off. The audience became more invested in each character because of the stories, rather than just focusing on past flashbacks or key moments.

Characters to care about.

I thought the younger cast did a really phenomenal job with what they were tasked with. There was a lot of heavy and emotional content and yet they still managed to bring so much heart and soul to their characters, taking us on a roller-coaster ride of feelings.

There were also plenty of familiar faces from Flanagan’s other series to be excited about and I thought that A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Heather Langenkamp was absolutely wonderful in this!

Twist ending!

I did not see that one coming and although I have more questions now, I really liked the way this series ended. More please!

The Cons:

Difficult to binge-watch…

The mystery was addicting enough, but I couldn’t get through this series that quickly. The episodes were on the long side and there was just a lot of heavy and emotional content. I thoroughly enjoyed my watch, but I had to take a break at times because this series really tugged at my heart and then some.

I’m always impressed by how well Flanagan is able to bring out so many emotions while sprinkling in horror elements. This series was no exception, but I think you should pace yourself to get the most out of your watch. The scares weren’t as horrifying this time around either, but I think that’s OK since this had more of a YA feel.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Meaningful, emotional, and an intriguing watch filled with extraordinary characters and a solid mystery to lure you in with each episode.

While not my favorite Mike Flanagan series, this show still has a lot of things going for it and is well worth a watch!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Midnight Club 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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Luckiest Girl Alive” on Netflix: Engrossing and Emotional Watch

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

“So maybe I keep some secrets from him…”

Luckiest Girl Alive premiered on Netflix on October 7th 2022. Based on the novel of the same name, the drama film stars Mila Kunis, Chiara Aurelia, Finn Wittrock, Connie Britton, and Jennifer Beals. The film runs for an hour and fifty-five minutes.

A successful writer is about to be married, but her life begins to unravel when a true crime documentary maker approaches her, bringing up her traumatic past.

Here is the trailer:

Luckiest Girl Alive tells a gripping and compelling story using both the past and present in an effective way. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Exceptional performances.

This was probably my favorite performance by Mila Kunis and I really thought that Chiara Aurelia (Cruel Summer) did an amazing job. This character was really layered in the past and the present and while I often prefer one timeline to another, I thought both of the timelines were equally interesting and compelling.

I also loved every outfit on Mila Kunis. She really looked and played the part to perfection.

Gripping from start to finish.

This story had a lot of elements, but the core plot really held my attention until the very end. Some parts were very difficult to watch, but overall this story was an important and necessary watch. It really moved me and hooked me completely.

The Cons:

Needed some more trigger warnings…

There is content dealing with sexual and gun violence and I personally feel that Netflix should have had a few more warnings displayed at the beginning of the film. This should be known prior to starting your watch.

Also, while the main plot was really interesting, the film did branch out into several subplots that were unnecessary and took away from the real story, which was interesting enough on its own.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

A compelling and important watch featuring two very electric performances.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Luckiest Girl Alive 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 “Old People” on Netflix: Creepy and Disturbing in the best way possible!

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

“What’s wrong with the old people?”

Old People released on Netflix on October 7th 2022. The German horror film stars Melika Foroutan, Maxine Kazis, Daniela Galbo, and Stephan Luca. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

A woman attends a wedding with her family, but ends up trying to defend them all when a group of old people at a retirement home go on a violent killing spree.

Here is the trailer:

Old People is completely bonkers, but so violent and terrifying, making your skin crawl. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Super creepy!!!!

This movie was so terrifying and disturbing. It does not hold back with the gore and violence and even the calm moments are creepy. This film nails the vibe it was going for and then some. If you’re looking for a mashup of X and The Visit, you’ll find a bloodbath of horror goodness with this one.

Characters to root for.

There were some characters that were really annoying and infuriating, but there were a few that were absolutely fantastic! I was really rooting for them and they elevated this film so much. Films like these are always much better when you actually care about what happens to the characters and I thought the film did a good job of presenting us with a flawed, but relatable family.

The Cons:

Takes a while to get going…

The beginning was a little slow for me. I was anxiously waiting for something to happen and we did get there, but not until the 45 minute mark. If you’re thinking of tuning out, at least get to that point and sit back and enjoy some bloody crazy violence.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending either, but the middle of the film was so good that I’m not too bothered by it.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Bloody, creepy, and so entertaining!

Don’t expect any thorough explanations, but the meat of this film is definitely worth a watch and then some!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

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 “Significant Other” on Paramount+: Maika Monroe Stumbles upon Something Horrifying in the Woods

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

“I haven’t been feeling like myself…”

Significant Other premiered on October 7th 2022 on Paramount+. The horror film stars Maika Monroe and Jake Lacy. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-four minutes.

Something other-worldly is lurking in the woods when a young couple goes backpacking.

Here is the trailer:

Significant Other lures us back into the woods for something creepy and sinister, but does it do enough to be worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Strong leads.

Maika Monroe is quickly becoming one of my favorite horror actresses. She is just so magnetic on screen and this film was no exception. Even in the quiet moments, she still commanded every frame with perfection.

Jake Lacy did a decent job too, which was important, especially since this film featured a very small cast. I thought the film did a good job of highlighting the ups and downs of relationships in the midst of something sinister.

Creepy setting.

The woods continue to be one of the creepiest backdrops of all time for horror movies, setting the overall tone for this movie. There’s just something so terrifying about being basically trapped out in the middle of nowhere when something horrible is unleashed. The setting definitely worked in the film’s favor.

The Cons:

Not a fan of the reveal…

Sure, it was out there and shocking, but once I knew what was happening, I lost a lot of interest. The leads still did a great job with it, but this film took an unexpected turn that had me scratching my head. The idea was interesting, but I don’t think that it was executed that well.

So am I in or out?

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Significant Other was really strange and out there, but Maika Monroe saved it in a lot of ways with her believable and captivating performance. This film took a different route than I was expecting, which was slightly disappointing, but it was a quick watch and had some redeeming moments.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Significant Other 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…

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Hellraiser” (2022) on Hulu: “No Tears, please.”

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

“It’s a puzzle box…”

Hellraiser (2022) released on Hulu on October 7th 2022. The reinvention of the 1987 original film stars Odessa A’zion, Jamie Clayton, Adam Faison, Drew Starkey, Brandon Flynn, and Goran Visnjic. The film runs for approximately 2 hours.

A young woman struggling with addiction must face off against the Cenobites when her brother is brutally taken by them.

Here is the trailer:

Hellraiser (2022) doesn’t hold back with its extreme gore, reeling fans of the original film back in for some gruesome pleasure. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Cringe-worthy gore that would make the original proud…

Hellraiser (1987) and the sequel are an acquired taste, but they are noteworthy for their extreme 80’s gore, bringing the audience into a twisted world of pain and pleasure with one of the scariest villains of all time. I thoroughly enjoy the first two films, but the franchise goes off the rails after that.

Hellraiser (2022) does not shy away from the bloody violence, bringing us something even more disturbing. This film is not for the faint of heart…

If you’re looking for lots of gore, you’ll get plenty to enjoy in the new film.

Jamie Clayton steps in nicely.

Pinhead is a terrifying villain and gave me nightmares for years. Jamie Clayton’s version had a different feel, but I thought she did a very good job. There was something so sinister and eerie about her presence. I didn’t find her as terrifying as Doug Bradley’s version, but she really went all in with this role and it worked.

More please!

The Cons:

A little too long and overcomplicates things…

I didn’t think this film needed to be two hours long. There was some unnecessary fluff that could have easily been cut out. I also could have done without the twists and additional story elements thrown our way.

I get that the film was trying to find its own separate identity while channeling the original film, but it lost a little bit of its magic this way. Sometimes less is more…

I also wasn’t a huge fan of our female lead. She didn’t come close to Kirsty and that’s OK since she isn’t her, but I found the character to be a little whiny and annoying. I couldn’t get behind her as a final girl to root for.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

Hellraiser (2022) delivers with extreme signature blood and gore, making this a decent reinvention of the original film, but I didn’t need all of the excess story-lines, which got in the way of pure greatness.

Either way, this film ranks very high in the franchise for me and easily beats out all of the films that came after the sequel.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Hellraiser (2022) 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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