Month: October 2022

Spoiler-Free Review of “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone” on Netflix: Be Careful What You Wish For…

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

“Since that date I’ve wondered what if…and why me?”

Mr. Harrigan’s Phone premiered on Netflix on October 5th 2022. Based on the short story by Stephen King, the film stars Jaeden Martell, Donald Sutherland, Joe Tippett,  and Kirby Howell-Baptiste. The film runs for an hour and forty-five minutes.

Craig befriends a billionaire named Mr. Harrigan, who hires him to read to him. After giving him a cellular phone before he dies, Craig realizes that his friend may be able to communicate with him from beyond the grave.

Here is the trailer:

Mr. Harrigan’s Phone has a talented cast and an eerie premise, but does it do enough to be worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Mr. Harrigan's Phone Spoiler Free 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

The opening is intriguing.

I thought Donald Sutherland and Jaeden Martell were both very good in this. The opening was actually really interesting. I liked the discussions about literature and I enjoyed watching the friendship grow between them. There was an eerie vibe present throughout the film and it had the potential to lure us in with a compelling story that was much more than your average ghost story.

The Cons:

Mr. Harrigan's Phone Spoiler Free 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Took way too long for things to happen…

The pacing was not good at all in this film, unfortunately. The magic from the opening disappeared and was replaced with a very boring tone that made this film drag and drag. 

Not every story should be made into a film and I don’t think this one translated that well at all, even though I enjoyed the performances and certain elements. 

Once the big moments happened, they didn’t feel that scary or meaningful. I was expecting a slow burn, but this one fizzled out and never quite reached its full potential.

So am I in or out?

Mr. Harrigan's Phone Spoiler Free 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m 50/50 on this one…

The film had decent performances and an interesting eerie premise, but it never quite grabbed my full attention.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Mr. Harrigan’s Phone 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 “My Best Friend’s Exorcism” on Prime Video: YA Friendly “Jennifer’s Body” has some Potential

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

“We’ll always be friends…”

My Best Friend’s Exorcism released on Prime Video on September 30th 2022. Based on the novel of the same name, the teen horror comedy stars Elsie Fisher, Amiah Miller, Chris Lowell, and Rachel Ogechi Kanu.

Set in the 1980’s, the friendship between Abby and Gretchen is tested when one of them gets possessed by a demon.

Here is the trailer:

My Best Friend’s Exorcism has a cute premise with a killer soundtrack, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Fun idea with a great soundtrack!

This film was pretty much a mashup of Jennifer’s Body and Saved! If you enjoy those films, you’ll find some decent content here, but the scares are really watered down. I am a big fan of the author, Grady Hendrix, and I had high hopes for this one. It did have plenty of entertaining moments to enjoy even though the plot went off course as the film continued…

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Believable performances and a friendship to root for.

The friendship between Abby and Gretchen kept me around until the end. I thought both actresses did a really great job and Chris Lowell was a scene-stealer! Some of the issues seemed heavily based in tropes and you’ll get your typical high school drama in this one, but the friendship made it feel more authentic at times.

The Cons:

My Best Friend's Exorcism no spoilers 3

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Watered down scares…

I wouldn’t have minded the watered down scares so much since this was more of a YA film, but there were a few scenes that had the potential to be really incredible if they had gone a little bit darker with them. Don’t expect to see too much horror in this one, although there are some glimmers here and there.

The plot also went off the rails, which was disappointing, especially since it started off really strong and with a lot of potential. I think it still found its way in the end, but I’m not sure it really honored the novel as well as I wanted it to.

So am I in or out?

My Best Friend's Excorcism no spoilers 4

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in about 75 percent…

A fun idea with a believable friendship, but it needed a little more edge at times. Overall, this was a decent watch, but I just wanted a lot more.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

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!

**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 “Last Seen Alive” on Netflix: Modern take on “The Vanishing” has its moments

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

“Tell me where she is…”

Last Seen Alive originally premiered in June 2022, but released in the US on Netflix on October 1st 2022. The action thriller film stars Gerard Butler, Jaimie Alexander, Russell Hornsby, and Ethan Embry. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

After Will’s wife goes missing at a gas station, he takes the law into his own hands to track her down before it’s too late.

Here is the trailer:

Last Seen Alive has a great cast with some really intense moments built in. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

My kind of thriller…

This movie definitely channeled The Vanishing in a lot of ways. The premise was really similar and it had a darker tone that I really liked. Even though this film was far from perfect, it fit very nicely into that “movie of the week” category with lots of action and a mystery that kept you on the hook in a good way.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fast-paced plot with a really solid opening.

This film didn’t waste too much time with unnecessary fluff or set-up. There were some flashbacks thrown in to reveal a little bit more about the relationship between Will and Lisa, but this never impacted the pacing in a negative way. Everything moved really quickly with lots of action and that opening was really chilling in the best way possible!

Sure, this movie took some ridiculous turns after that, but as long as you manage your expectations, you’ll still enjoy the ride.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Far-fetched at times…

I’m not sure that this film really did its research on police procedures and a lot of things just seemed really outrageous. I’m all for letting Gerard Butler cause some serious damage, but there were some moments that were really out there…

As long as you just go with it, you’ll still enjoy the film, however.

I also found Lisa’s parents to be really odd characters. The dialogue was awkward and forced. It might have been better to leave them out of the film all together because I’m not sure that they added anything to it.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

Far from perfect, but still an intense thrill ride with plenty of action and a simple formula that worked. If you enjoy films like The Vanishing, you’ll find lots to like with this one.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Last Seen Alive 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…

Main promo smaller

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 “Smile” in Theaters: Unsettling and Completely Terrifying!

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

“Before she died, she was smiling…”

Smile premiered in theaters on September 30th 2022. The supernatural psychological horror film stars Sosie Bacon, Kyle Gallner, Jessie T. Usher, Gillian Zinser, and Kal Penn. It runs for an hour and fifty-five minutes.

After witnessing a disturbing and traumatic event featuring one of her patients, Dr. Rose Cotter starts to think that she may be hallucinating when she sees and hears things she cannot explain, which threatens her own sanity.

Here is the trailer:

Smile delivers with atmospheric horror that will leave you completely petrified, channeling films like It Follows. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Creepy AF!

This movie freaked me out in the best way possible. Those smiles were completely chilling and even the jump scares were well done. There was this disturbing vibe that slithered through the entire film. It never really faded away, making this a startling, but enjoyable watch.

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Believable lead.

I thought that Sosie Bacon did a really good job with this. Her character was believable and she really went all in with her performance. I’m not sure that this film would have worked so well if she didn’t seem so utterly frightened and deranged all the time. She really committed to this role, making everything else flow together seamlessly, connecting to her character’s own past trauma in an effective way.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Predictable at times and a little too long…

I saw the ending of this movie coming a mile away. That being said, I still thought it was a satisfying one. I usually prefer my horror movies to run just over 90 minutes and this one lasted a little bit too long in my opinion.

Even though I thoroughly enjoyed my watch, I can’t say that this film did something that new and extraordinary because it really borrowed a lot from It Follows. That being said, I still think there’s enough to enjoy with this one, especially if you’re a horror fan.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures

I’m in!!!

Smile stirs up a feeling of dread and terror that latches on to the audience with full force. It’s a worthy entry to the horror genre with plenty of terror drenched moments to make you second guess that smile from across the way for quite some time…

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

**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 “Hocus Pocus 2” on Disney+: The Witches are Back!

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

Beware the black flame candle….

Hocus Pocus 2 released exclusively on Disney+ on September 30th 2022. The sequel to the cult Halloween classic stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Doug Jones, Sam Richardson, and Tony Hale. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.

When Becca and Izzy accidentally light the black flame candle, they re-summon the Sanderson sisters back to the town of Salem.

Here is the trailer:

Hocus Pocus 2 brings plenty of nostalgia for fans of the original film with a few new tricks up its sleeve. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Disney+

They still got it!

The original film premiered in 1993 so it’s been quite a while since we last saw the Sanderson sisters. I’m happy to report that these three still have it and then some! They were so much fun to watch on screen with delightful chemistry. It’s like they never left! There are plenty of new obstacles to get in their way and distract them, but whenever these three step on screen, they’ll put a spell on you for sure!

The new characters had their charms as well. I particular liked Tony Hale as the mayor, who added some quirky fun and Doug Jones continued to be a scene stealer in this film!

Images courtesy of Disney+

Lots of Easter eggs and nostalgia for fans of the original.

I personally really enjoyed the Easter eggs in the sequel. It channeled the vibe of the original film but it also found a new voice and story of its own. I was worried that things would feel redundant, but the new spin kept things fresh enough to keep me entertained until the end.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Disney+

Doesn’t hold a candle to the original…

Let’s be honest, it never was going to live up to the original film. I think it put forth a valiant effort with the nostalgia, but since it leaned on that quite a bit, I would have enjoyed seeing a few other familiar characters pop up in town.

Even though I enjoyed the new characters, they didn’t get the chance to truly shine or reach their full potential.

The musical numbers were fun, but they didn’t have the same punch this time around either.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Disney+

I’m in!!!

A fun sequel with plenty of bewitching moments featuring our beloved Sanderson sisters.

The original film is one of my favorite movies, but I think that the sequel did a decent enough job after all this time.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Hocus Pocus 2 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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