Month: February 2023

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:

Images courtesy of Netflix

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:

Images courtesy of Netflix

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?

Images courtesy of Netflix

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:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

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.

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

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:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

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?

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

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…

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 “The Strays” on Netflix: The Past Can’t Always Be Forgotten

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

“Is it wrong to want more?”

The Strays released on Netflix on February 22nd 2023. The social horror-thriller film stars Ashley Madekwe, Justin Salinger, Bukky Bakray, and Jorden Myrie . It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

A woman’s life is turned upside down when two strangers show up in her suburban town.

Here is the trailer:

The Strays has an eerie start with a fantastic lead, but does it try to do too much? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Strays no spoilers 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Ashley Madekwe puts forth a valiant effort.

I was already a fan of hers and I thought she really portrayed this character with everything she had. She elevated this film in a lot of ways and didn’t hold back. She was very convincing and I believed her performance. 

The rest of the cast did a solid job as well with what they were given.

The Strays no spoilers 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Eerie first half.

I was drawn in right away and wanted to know more. The first half of this movie was disturbing and uncomfortable, but it kept me intrigued. The film was clearly inspired by Get Out in a lot of ways and tried to dip into the social horror genre with its plot. It was heading in the right direction for me, but then things went off the rails once we got to the second half…

The Cons:

The Strays no spoilers 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

Tries to do way too much…

Just when I thought I was completely hooked, the film took a step back and presented things from another perspective, which didn’t transition seamlessly in my opinion. It broke the eerie tone and took on a lot with its reveal. I was still interested in what was going on, but things continued to spiral out of control from here. This film was guilty of trying to jam-pack in elements from every genre, which made this a confusing watch for me.

I appreciate what it was trying to accomplish, but I’m not sure that it translated that well.

I also wasn’t a fan of the ending. Sure, it was shocking and out there, but it left me wondering what I had just really watched and if it was worth it…

So am I in or out?

The Strays no spoilers 4

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I’m in for Ashley Madekwe, but this film was really confusing and left me wanting more. I was actually really disappointed by the time I got to the end because it had so much potential in the first half, but the ultimate resolution didn’t leave me completely satisfied.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Strays 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 “Unlocked” on Netflix: Throw your phone out the window!

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

“This could happen to any one of us…”

Unlocked premiered on February 17th 2023 on Netflix. The South Korean thriller film stars Chun Woo-Hee, Im Si-wan, Park Ho-san, and Kim Hee-won. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty-seven minutes.

A young woman’s life is put in immediate danger when a man steals her lost phone and uses it to track her every move.

Here is the trailer:

Unlocked is a well-paced thriller with a terrifying and realistic premise that may have you rethinking using your phone for everything. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Takes on a relevant fear…

It seems like our whole lives are on our phones and this film definitely reveals just how dangerous that can be if your phone ends up in the wrong hands. I thought that this was such a compelling plot with a few twists I didn’t see coming. If you enjoy edge-of-your-seat thrillers, you’ll find plenty here to latch on to.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Characters to root for!

It may seem like Na-mi is kind of routine and boring at first, but I actually think this enhanced the plot that much more. This can happen to ANYONE and the perpetrator may have a million random reasons for targeting you, which is that much more terrifying.

I did like Na-mi as a character and was rooting for her by the time we got to the end of the film, which was SO INTENSE! I could not stop watching it!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Some sub-plot confusion going on.

I think I might have liked this one a little better if it had focused more on the main plot. Sure, the sub-plots made sense by the time we got to the end, but it did split my focus at times. Overall, this film had solid pacing, but I think I wanted more of a straight-forward thriller to prevent my attention from wavering. Either way, this wasn’t a major con.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

A thriller that will make you think twice about leaving your devices unattended!

Suspenseful and engrossing!

If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers, you’re in the right place!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Unlocked 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 new young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt 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 “The Outwaters” on Demand: Trippy and Far-Out Found Footage Flick

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

“It is weird out here…”

The Outwaters released in theaters on February 9th 2023 and is now currently available to watch on Demand or on Screambox. The found footage horror film stars Robbie Banfitch, Angela Basolis, Scott Schamell, and Michelle May. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty minutes.

A group of campers in the Mojave Desert start to experience weird sounds and hallucinations, leading them toward a descent into a never-ending nightmare.

Here is the trailer:

The Outwaters is bizarre and extreme with some terrifying moments, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Screambox

Visually stunning moments.

The use of light worked really well in this particular setting. There were some moments that were absolutely breathtaking to witness on screen. I enjoyed some of the camera visual effects and the use of sound was pretty unique here.

Extreme, jaw-dropping moments.

It definitely took a while to get there, but there were some gross and gory moments that chilled me to my core. I still have one particular image stuck in my head that will definitely be giving me a few unwanted nightmares…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Screambox

Uneventful first half…

Like most found footage films I have watched, absolutely nothing goes on for the first hour of this movie. I would have preferred to witness some more meaningful conversations between the characters so that I actually cared about what happened to them. I was really bored until we hit the hour mark.

Dizzy camera effects.

I have come to expect this with found footage films so I can’t really complain too much here, but I felt dizzy after a while. Even though I appreciated the use of sound over visual effects at times, a lot of the terrifying moments happened in complete darkness, which was a little disappointing. I’m also still not sure what really went on, which made this a confusing watch for me.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Screambox

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Trippy and horrifying with some genuinely disturbing content, but I wanted a lot more here.

This will be one of those movies that people either love or hate. If you enjoy found footage films, I think you’ll appreciate this entry, but if you’re not a fan of the genre, you don’t need to rush to see this one.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Outwaters 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 “Red Rose” on Netflix: YA Horror Series Delivers with Chilling Moments and a Chase Scene to Die For!

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

“Welcome to the new you…”

Red Rose originally aired on BBC Three back in August 2022, but has now released in the US on Netflix as of February 15th 2023. The series features eight episodes in total that are all currently available to stream. The British YA horror series stars Amelia Clarkson, Isis Hainsworth, Ashna Rabheru, Harry Redding, and Ellis Howard. Each episode runs for approximately 42-48 minutes.

A dangerous app threatens a group of friends and targets them one by one, as they try to uncover the mystery surrounding it before it’s too late.

Here is the trailer:

Red Rose channels films like The Ring and Unfriended in an effective way, creating a consuming mystery while presenting us with some solid YA horror content. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Not afraid to take big risks…

At first, I thought I was watching your average YA horror series, but I was pleasantly surprised by the time I got to the end of episode two. This series was not afraid to kill off main characters. It presented us with some truly twisted reveals that I absolutely loved and it did a good job of providing us with some genuinely disturbing content. 

After all, this is a horror series…

While I wouldn’t necessarily say that anything was really that terrifying, it made the YA horror genre proud and created an addicting mystery that will keep you coming back for more. 

That chase scene though…

Truly exceptional!!!!

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fun group of Scoobies to root for!

It took me a few episodes to warm up to them, but I really liked this group of friends and it was very easy to cheer for them. There were enough layers presented for each of the main characters and some heartwarming connections as well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A plot I’ve seen before…

This series was far from original, but it was definitely aware of that and it even made a joke later on talking about The Ring, so I can’t fault it too much here. That being said, I’ve seen plenty of films involving killer apps/technology, but I think the series did a good job trying to branch things out past this theme.

The music soundtrack was really odd for me. I personally LOVED it because those are my jams, but it seemed ill-fitting for a show set during the current time. There were also some moments that dragged a little. I wanted things to happen and loved when they did, but maybe we only really needed six episodes here…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

A solid entry to the YA horror genre with a disturbing mystery at its core.

This series wasn’t perfect, but I really enjoyed it and found it very easy to binge-watch. If you’re looking for a new horror/mystery to indulge in, you’ve found it!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Red Rose 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 “She Came from the Woods” in Theaters: Campy Fun

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

“You have to make the threat feel real..”

She Came from the Woods released in theaters on February 10th 2023. The horror-comedy film stars Cara Buono, Clare Foley, Spencer List, and William Sadler. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

Set in the 1980’s, a summer camp celebrates the end of its season by conducting a blood ritual, but things go horribly wrong when they accidentally unleash an evil spirit who hunts them down one by one.

Here is the trailer:

She Came from the Woods has a super fun premise and some bloody entertaining moments, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Mainframe Pictures

The horror-comedy moments are brilliant!

The best parts of this film involved the campy moments. There were some parts that had me laughing out loud. This film wasn’t afraid to be a little darker with its comedy, which worked in its favor. I loved the overuse of gore and the banter was actually a lot of fun once the film found its groove.

Strong second half.

I much preferred the second half of this movie to the first. It was really entertaining and even though some of the twists and reveals were a little out there, I just went along for the ride and enjoyed it. This film wasn’t afraid to kill off characters and it really put forth a valiant effort to channel films like Friday the 13th and Sleepaway Camp while still finding a voice of its own.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Mainframe Pictures

Takes itself too seriously at times…

I personally loved the horror-comedy aspects of this film and even the trailer made it seem like this would be a campy good time. It did have moments of this, but the film also went off on several tangents and tried to be too serious. 

The first half of this film was also really slow-moving. The dialogue was painful and the acting wasn’t great, but thankfully things picked up once the evil was unleashed…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Mainframe Pictures

I’m in about 75 percent…

B-movie campy horror fun with plenty of entertaining moments.

This film was far from perfect, but I think horror fans have a lot to enjoy with this one. I just wanted it to fully embrace the horror-comedy angle because that’s where the magic was, but overall I enjoyed my watch.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on She Came from the Woods 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 “You” Season 4: Part 1 on Netflix: A New Setting does wonders for Joe

*This is a spoiler-free review for season 4 (part 1) so feel free to read on!*

“It’s you…or nothing…”

You season 4 (part one) released on February 9th 2023 on Netflix with the first five episodes available to stream now. The remaining five episodes in part two will be available to stream on March 9th 2023. The thriller-drama series stars Penn Badgley, Tati Gabrielle, Charlotte Ritchie, Tilly Keeper, and Lukas Gage. Each episode runs for approximately 45-50 minutes.

Joe Goldberg attempts to make a fresh start as Jonathan Moore in London, but he winds up caught in the middle of a dangerous whodunnit mystery.

Here is the trailer:

You (season 4, part 1) is off to an entertaining start, luring us into Joe’s twisted world once again with a few new twists to liven things up. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

You season 4 part 1 no spoilers 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Sometimes change is good!

After the explosive season three ending, Joe left the US to start over, but can he really leave his past behind? Well, probably not and it will most likely continue to haunt him, but he’s got a new gig working as a professor in London and a new identity. There are still some ghosts lingering from his past; however, and we’ll have to see what else emerges once part two releases, but I absolutely love some of the changes to the show already.

The setting works for the most part and we have a brand new bunch of characters that all have a secret or two. Joe is transforming more into an “anti-hero” this time around, playing the role of the amateur detective. I have to say that Joe’s voice-over narration has been so incredibly funny and entertaining. I used to find him a little whiny when he obsessed over someone, but change looks good on him so far and I was actually laughing out loud quite a few times.

I also absolutely LOVE that the writers decided to turn the tables on him in season four. It’s genius! It’s really allowing Joe to shine and it’s preventing things from feeling too repetitive.

Fantastic pacing!

I got through all five episodes in one day and it was a binge-watcher’s dream! I thought each episode did just enough at the end to lure us in for more. This was always such an entertaining show, but I’m loving all of the tweaks and improvements in this department. I never felt like I had to sit through too much fluff, which was great.

The Cons:

You season 4 part 1 no spoilers 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

We have to wait for the rest of the episodes!

I really don’t have many cons at all. I’m not a fan of some of the new characters, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed my watch and I can’t wait for the rest of the episodes to drop. This season is checking off all the boxes and then some!

So am I in or out?

You season 4 part 1 no spoilers 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!

You (season 4 part 1) is addictive in all the right ways with some clever new improvements.

I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on You (season 4, part 1) 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!

**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 “Knock at the Cabin” in Theaters: Moving and Engrossing Watch

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

“Our choices make our destiny…”

Knock at the Cabin released in theaters on February 3rd 2023. The M. Night Shyamalan thriller stars Dave Bautista, Ben Aldridge, Jonathan Groff, Abby Quinn, and Rupert Grint. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-nine minutes.

A young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four strangers while vacationing at a remote cabin in the woods. They are told that they must make an impossible choice in order to avoid the apocalypse.

Here is the trailer:

Knock at the Cabin is a thrilling and emotional roller-coaster ride, creating an effective story that hooks you right from the start. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Doesn’t mess around…

This film gets straight to the point without any unnecessary fluff or set-up. I was pulled in immediately and I thought that the pacing worked really well. I never felt like I was watching this one for too long and I was completely captivated by it.

This was such an intense story and premise and I think it executed everything perfectly. It was a lot better than I anticipated, which was a nice surprise.

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Emotional and touching.

I was really invested in this film because the chosen family was so convincing and believable. The flashbacks sprinkled into the film worked seamlessly and created necessary layers for these characters so that we actually cared about what happened to them without ever overdoing it. It just worked naturally, giving this film a solid balance that helped it surpass your average thriller.

The performances were chilling and top-notch.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Predictable at times…

This wasn’t a huge con, but I saw certain outcomes coming a mile away. We didn’t really get any insane twists thrown at us either, which was actually kind of refreshing since M. Night Shyamalan movies are usually hit or miss for me because of this very reason. If you’re looking for crazy twists, you won’t necessarily find them here, but I think as long as you manage your expectations, you’ll still enjoy your watch.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

I’m in!

A thriller that will stay with you well after it’s over!

This movie really makes you think a lot about things and it explores a chilling concept that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Knock at the Cabin 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 “The Watchful Eye” on Freeform: Guilty Pleasure Gold

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

“I know what it’s like…”

The Watchful Eye premiered on Freeform on January 30th 2023 with the first two episodes. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly and each episode is available to stream on Hulu the next day. The mystery thriller series stars Mariel Molino, Amy Acker, Warren Christie, and Kelly Bishop. Each episode is approximately 45-48 minutes.

A young woman with a secretive past accepts a job as a live-in nanny for a wealthy family in Manhattan, where everyone has something to hide.

Here is the trailer:

The Watchful Eye is a delightful mix of Jane Eyre and Gossip Girl with fantastic twists that will have you hooked from the start. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Freeform

Amazing twists!

This series did not waste any time at all! It hooked me immediately and already presented us with some insane twists that may seem completely bonkers, but they’re working. Just when I thought I had things figured out, I was thrown for a loop in the best way possible and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

It’s safe to say that this series is already so addicting, falling nicely into the guilty pleasure thriller genre. Love it!

Images courtesy of Freeform

Killer concept.

The series is not that original. It’s basically Only Murders in the Building without the quirky humor, but I love the upper east side edge (similar to Gossip Girl) and Amy Acker is already stealing the show as the Queen Bee of the apartment. I’m so happy to see her in this!

I think our lead is also very likable and she definitely has a few tricks up her sleeve as well so I will not be underestimating her.

I love the setting and the focus on the residents as potential suspects. I’m looking forward to figuring this one out each week.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Freeform

Over-stuffs the premiere with too many characters…

I liked a lot of the characters, but I had a little trouble keeping up. I just think that way too many people were introduced in the premiere and it was already jam-packed enough as it is.

There is also some typical soapy melodrama to deal with, but I’ve come to expect that now with these types of shows.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Freeform

I’m in!!!

The Watchful Eye is my new addiction!

It has everything I could possibly want in a guilty pleasure thriller and more! I’m intrigued!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Watchful Eye 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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