Month: February 2024

Spoiler-Free Review of “Drive-Away Dolls” in Theaters: Saucy & Sex-Crazed Crime Comedy

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

“Love is a sleigh ride to Hell…”

Drive-Away Dolls released in theaters on February 23rd 2024. The crime thriller-comedy film stars Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Matt Damon, and Pedro Pascal. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-four minutes.

Two friends decide to take a road trip to Tallahassee, but when they are given the wrong vehicle in error, they discover a mysterious case in the trunk that puts them in danger with a group of criminals.

Here is the trailer:

Drive-Away Dolls features a fun concept with two likable leads, but does all the buildup lead to anything worthwhile? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Focus Features

Two worthy leads.

I really like Margaret Qualley as an actress and she lit up the screen in this one with her over-the-top accent and carefree portrayal. There were some fun cameos in this as well, but our two main leads stole the show. I thought the friendship and chemistry between them was believable and even though there were some ridiculous and trippy parts to this movie, this bond was grounded in something real.

Images courtesy of Focus Features

Fun concept.

I really liked the vibe of this film. The bright colors popped in an aesthetically pleasing way and for a time, this kind of felt like a mix of Pulp Fiction, Thelma & Louise, and Bottoms. This may seem like a crazy mash-up, but it kind of worked at some points as long as you don’t take it too seriously.

I also liked that this movie was on the shorter side. It could have dragged certain story-lines out more, but I think that would have taken away from the film.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Focus Features

Needed some more violence thrown in…

This film was filled to the brim with sex galore, but I think it could have benefited from some more blood and violence. The opening sequence hinted at unlocking this film’s true potential and I was hoping we would get a lot more of this throughout the rest of the film, but we never really got there.

I also thought that the ending needed a bit more of a bang to really sell me on this.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Focus Features

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I think that people will either love or hate this film. I’m somewhere in the middle of that. It had some entertaining moments, but the trailer was a lot more convincing than the actual result.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Drive-Away Dolls 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 “Madame Web” in Theaters: Dakota Johnson Gives it Her All

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

“I can see the future…kind of…”

Madame Web premiered on February 14th 2024 in theaters. The superhero action film stars Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Celeste O’Connor, Tahar Rahim, Adam Scott, and Emma Roberts. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty-six minutes.

After facing a near death experience, Cassandra Webb begins to show signs of clairvoyance as she realizes that it is her destiny to protect three young women from a villain connected to her past.

Here is the trailer:

Madame Web brings us another superhero film set in the Spider-Man universe, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

Dakota Johnson puts forth a valiant effort.

Honestly, I really wish she had gotten a better film. She was the BEST part of this movie. I’ve always liked her as an actress and thought she was truly exceptional here. Even though she had to work with dull dialogue and predictable plot-lines, she really was a likable character and I think that if the focus had been more on her and her actual origin story, I may have liked this one a lot more.

The rest of the cast was full of recognizable faces to be excited about as well. I really liked Cassie’s relationship with the three girls, but I’m not sure it was fleshed out as well as it could have been. There was some serious potential here though.

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

The nods at the time period worked.

This film was primarily set in 2003 and the music was great and on point. I think that this film really tried to channel this time period in an authentic way. In fact, I almost fell out of my chair at one cameo scene shown later in the film. I’m still excited about it! This helped lighten things up a little bit. There were a few scenes that were actually done really well and had me excited. I just wish there were a lot more of them…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

Messy and lacking in action…

This is billed as a superhero action film, right? Well, it needed A LOT more in that department, which was really frustrating. I thought the overall plot felt really messy…almost as if it were thrown together last minute. There were also certain moments that should have been fleshed out more so that the audience would actually invest in caring about these characters.

The dialogue was absolutely dreadful at times and the choppy editing gave me a headache. Sometimes less is more. I would have much preferred some simple fight scenes as opposed to that chaotic light show that was on display.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I don’t think this film was as bad as everyone is saying. It wasn’t good, but I’ve seen a lot worse and there were some redeeming moments here. That being said, I’m super frustrated because this movie could have been so much better and Dakota Johnson deserved that. Either way, that cameo was still the best part of the movie for me…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Madame Web 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 “Miller’s Girl” on Demand: Over-Complicated Erotic Thriller

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

“Writing is my means of escape…”

Miller’s Girl is an erotic-thriller film that released on February 16th on demand. It previously had a theatrical release on January 26th 2024. It stars Jenna Ortega, Martin Freeman, Gideon Adlon, and Bashir Salahuddin. The film runs for an hour and thirty-three minutes.

A creative writing assignment leads to unexpected results between a teacher and his talented student.

Here is the trailer:

Miller’s Girl has two talented leads and an edgy enough premise, but does it have enough going on to be worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate Films

Two solid performances.

Jenna Ortega and Gideon Adlon were both fantastic in this and elevated this film as much as they could. While I wouldn’t have necessarily cast them in roles like this, I thought they defied expectations and really held their own with what they were given.

Images courtesy of Lionsgate Films

Decent enough setting and premise.

I actually really liked the southern feel and charm within this film. Some of the “dream-like” sequences felt almost like works of art. Everything was well shot and I think this complimented the wordy narrations throughout the film.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate Films

Super slow and boring.

Like, painfully so! The pacing really didn’t work for me. Everything felt sluggish and dragged out and the thrills were really hard to uncover. I think this film could have benefited from some camp and Lifetime-esque insanity similar to The Crush. Sure, films like that are cheesy and ridiculous, but at least they are entertaining.

This film just felt too serious and icky and I think it thought it was a lot edgier than it actually was…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Lionsgate Films

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I thought both actresses did a great job, but I’m still not sure of this film’s actual overall intention. I think it tried to do a little too much when it could have just indulged in some guilty pleasure camp to liven things up…

Either way, if you’re a fan of Jenna Ortega, her performance is note-worthy.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Spoiler-Free Review of “No Way Up” on Demand: B Shark Movie Has Some Moments with Bite

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

“Don’t think about what can go wrong…”

No Way Up released on demand on February 16th 2024. The survival thriller film stars Sophie McIntosh, Phyllis Logan, Colm Meaney, Will Attenborough, and Jeremias Amoore. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty minutes.

After their plane crashes into the ocean, a group of survivors work together to escape some killer sharks.

Here is the trailer:

No Way Up attempts to give sharks a new space to invade, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Altitude Film Entertainment

Doesn’t take too long for things to happen.

I appreciated that there was minimal set-up in this one. There were some intense moments during the initial plane crash that actually captured my attention. I’m all for shark flicks and will continue to watch them no matter what the gimmick is. 

Well, for this one, we’ve got sharks on a plane and I thought the concept was actually a lot of fun. This movie is from the same executive producers as 47 Meters Down and the thought alone of being trapped in a plane underneath the ocean with sharks swimming around is completely terrifying.

I don’t think this film had the same intensity as 47 Meters Down by any means, but there were some toothy moments sprinkled in for fans of cheesy shark films.

Images courtesy of Altitude Film Entertainment

Our lead had some potential.

I don’t need too many character layers in shark flicks. We know the body count is going to be high and most often I am rooting for the shark to pick off annoying characters one by one, but I thought that our lead had a lot of potential and stood out from some of the other characters who felt very bland and one dimensional. I did find myself rooting for her, which helped me invest in this one a little more. 

The stuffed animal was a scene stealer though…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Altitude Film Entertainment

Takes itself too seriously…

Look, I didn’t need for this film to make sense logically. I usually throw all reason out the window when I watch these films and I’m fine with it. However, it helps when films recognize their limitations and just go with it. 

This film could have been a lot better if it would have had some more fun with things. Some of the moments felt very dragged out and since the acting wasn’t really that great from the majority of the performers, I didn’t care.

We also needed more shark action. I think this movie attempted to do a little bit too much when it could have just let our toothy friends shine.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Altitude Film Entertainment

I’m in about 75 percent…

No Way Up is far from perfect, but if you’re looking for a B shark movie to indulge in, there’s enough here to enjoy. Just manage your expectations accordingly…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on No Way Up 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 “Lisa Frankenstein” in Theaters: Charmingly Twisted

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

“You need socialization…”

Lisa Frankenstein released in theaters on February 9th 2024. The horror comedy film stars Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Liza Soberano, and Carla Gugino. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

Set in 1989, a misunderstood teen accidentally awakens a Victorian corpse, as the two set out to find love and happiness in unconventional ways.

Here is the trailer:

Lisa Frankenstein is everything I hoped it would be, featuring a romance that is anything but ordinary. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton are electric together.

Honestly, they were so much fun to watch in this one. In a lot of ways, this movie had a Warm Bodies meets Jennifer’s Body kind of vibe and I loved it. For not saying much, Cole Sprouse really stole the show and I think that Kathryn Newton is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the horror genre.

I couldn’t help but smile when the two of them were on screen together, which made this such a delightful and effortless watch for me.

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Loved the 80’s vibe!

The music and fashion were fantastic in this one and I loved the use of bright colors throughout it. Everything just popped and it worked. This film never took itself too seriously and the time frame complimented the outrageous points of the plot really well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Needed a touch more blood and gore in certain parts.

This may come down to preference, but I wanted a little more here since this movie wasn’t afraid to dabble into horror territory. Don’t get me wrong, we had some, but it felt very watered down. I don’t think it hindered the quality of this film in any way, but it would have been an added bonus.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

I’m in!!!

Lisa Frankenstein is a love letter to those of us who never quite fit in and were the better for it.

Quirky, offbeat, and wickedly delightful!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Lisa Frankenstein 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 “Marmalade” on Demand: A Thrilling Twist Worth Sticking Around For!

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

“Dream big or don’t dream at all…”

Marmalade released on demand on February 9th 2024. The romance thriller film stars Joe Keery, Camila Morrone, and Aldis Hodge. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

A prisoner strikes up a conversation with his new cellmate about how he met the love of his life, hoping he will help him escape so that they can be reunited again.

Here is the trailer:

Marmalade has a killer fun premise with one of the best twists I have seen in a while. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Signature Entertainment

Blends several genres together seamlessly.

I loved the combination of heist thrills with crazy romance thrown in for good measure. This movie was fresh and fun, and it really captured my attention. I thought the chemistry was believable and the pacing was on point for the most part.

Images courtesy of Signature Entertainment

An insane twist I didn’t see coming…

There will be no spoilers in this review, but wow! That twist threw me for a loop in the best way possible. It was truly exceptional and it made my watch that much more engaging. I’m still floored by it!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Signature Entertainment

Takes a while to find its groove…

Don’t worry…it sticks the landing, but it took me some time to fall in love with this film. I had trouble getting used to Joe Keery’s accent, but eventually that felt less overwhelming and things fell into place nicely.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Signature Entertainment

I’m in!!!

Marmalade is a satisfying ride from start to finish with a twist that will stick with you long after. An absolute gem!

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

**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 “Cat Person” on Hulu: The Dangers of Dating…

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

“Am I going to have to take care of you already?”

Cat Person released on Hulu on February 9th 2024. It previously had a limited release on October 6th 2023. The psychological thriller film (based on the short story of the same name) stars Emilia Jones, Nicholas Braun, and Geraldine Viswanathan. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty-eight minutes.

Margot starts up a relationship with an older man she meets at a movie theater, but soon suspects that he may actually be a murderer.

Here is the trailer:

Cat Person takes a close-up look at why dating can be so volatile in today’s day and age, but does it do enough to be worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Realistic depiction of modern dating and what can go wrong…

I think that this movie nailed certain aspects of modern dating. It showed how a new relationship can progress through text messages without really knowing someone and how quickly the relationship dynamic can change when one party suddenly loses interest or realizes that maybe they don’t know that much about the other person…

Some of the doubts and fears shown in this movie were spot on. I was literally yelling at the screen at certain points because Margot was ignoring so many red flags and putting herself in bad situations. I also thought it was interesting how this film showed two sides of this story. It’s not always clear cut in relationships and this film did a good job of allowing both parties to express themselves.

Images courtesy of Hulu

Two solid performances.

I thought both actors did a good job with this one. In a way, I almost felt like I was watching a real story unfold. There were some really tense moments in the last forty minutes or so and both actors really committed to everything without holding back, but I’m not sure that they could fully redeem this one.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

All over the place…

The pacing was really slow in this one and the vibe changed drastically with each scene. I’m not sure if this was intentional or not, but I was really confused at times while watching this. The weird narrations and hallucinations were distracting at times and I don’t feel like everything progressed the way it was meant to. It had a thrilling premise, but I felt my attention wandering a lot because of this.

I also feel like this movie tried to do a little too much and got lost along the way because of it. Sometimes less is more…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Cat Person had some creepy potential with a Lifetime feel to it, but it never quite found its way, making this a confusing and disappointing watch overall.

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

**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 “Upgraded” on Prime: Camila Mendes is an Absolute Delight!

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

“This is what you wanted, right?”

Upgraded released on Prime on February 9th 2024. The romantic-comedy film stars Camila Mendes, Archie Renaux, Marisa Tomei, Lena Olin, and Anthony Head. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.

A hard-working art intern is given the opportunity to travel to London to help her demanding boss when she meets a handsome stranger, which distracts her from her priorities.

Here is the trailer:

Upgraded successfully channels films like The Devil Wears Prada and Confessions of a Shopaholic, making this a charming treat for rom-com fans. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime

Cheers to Camila Mendes!

She’s an absolute dream in this film and she elevated it in a lot of ways. The Riverdale star definitely has a long career in front of her and I think she should continue to do films like this because she was likable and down-to-earth in her portrayal, making it very easy to root for her character.

The rest of the cast was great as well. I thought Marisa Tomei was hilarious (although her accent took a little getting used to) and I was so beyond excited to see Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum, Anthony Head in this! He was bloody fantastic!

Images courtesy of Prime

Believable chemistry.

I hate it when chemistry feels forced in films like this, but I was pleasantly surprised by how easily I fell in love with these two. I think what helped was that the main focus wasn’t on the new romance.

Rather, we learned more about Camila’s character as an individual and focused more on her challenges at work, which made the rest of the pieces fall together seamlessly. Adding in a charming romance was a bonus and while traditional rom-com fans may be looking for a little more in this department, it was the perfect amount for me.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime

Predictable at times…

I mean, but most rom-com films fall into some ounce of predictability so I can’t really fault it too much here. The film played it safe a lot, but I honestly couldn’t care less. I knew what I was getting when I started this film and it delivered and then some. Just don’t expect anything too shocking or unique here.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime

I’m in!!!

Upgraded is the artsy version of The Devil Wears Prada, delivering with super cute and charming moments worth indulging in.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film and I think it found the perfect balance of self-discovery and romance.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Upgraded 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 “Somewhere Quiet” on Demand: An Eerie and Effective Slow Burn

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

“Sometimes the nightmares can feel really real…”

Somewhere Quiet released on demand on February 2nd 2024. The horror mystery film stars Jennifer Kim, Marin Ireland, and Kentucker Audley. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-two minutes.

After surviving a kidnapping, a woman tries to cope with what happened to her by traveling to her husband’s family home in the middle of nowhere, but her grip on reality begins to deteriorate as she tries to return to normal, causing her to question everything and everyone surrounding her.

Here is the trailer:

Somewhere Quiet is not your average slow burn film, creating a true sense of confusion for both the characters and the audience, as we try to piece together what is transpiring on screen, making this complicated, but also intriguing. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Vertical

Effectively creates a creepy and unsettling tone from start to finish.

The setting and score complimented this film so well. There was such an eerie vibe going on and it continued to build and build with great suspense. This film was honestly a complete mindf*ck. It was really out there and strange, but it kept my attention and brought me into everything in an unconventional way.

Images courtesy of Vertical

Marin Ireland and Jennifer Kim are beyond brilliant!

Wow, Marin Ireland nailed the extra creepy vibe here. She gave such a twisted performance and had my skin crawling several times just from some of her expressions. She was bloody fantastic!!! Jennifer Kim was really strong as our lead as well and I loved the dynamic between them. This movie was so weird and these elevated performances heightened this that much more, making this such a compelling watch.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Vertical

A lot of questions by the time I got to the end…

This was good and bad for me. I like when a movie resonates with me well after it’s over, but there were so many missing pieces here that were never explained. In a way, that mirrors what our main character was going through so I get the intention, but I did need a little bit more here.

If slow burns are not your jam, this may not be for you. The pacing is sluggish for a long time, but it still manages to create this sense of dread without doing much, which says a lot, so I wouldn’t say this was a major con.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Vertical

I’m in!!!

Somewhere Quiet is trippy and unsettling with two note-worthy performances!

This film wasn’t what I thought it would be, but it stuck with me well after I finished it.

If you enjoy films like Mother, May I? and The Night House, this one is right up your alley.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Somewhere Quiet 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 “The Hunted” on Demand: Bloody and Brutal

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

“Maybe it’s a sign that we found you…”

The Hunted released on Demand on January 19th 2024. The survival-thriller film stars Lily Banda, Alec Newman, Vassilis Koukalani, and Daphne Alexander. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

After a boat capsizes, a group of refugees are rescued by European strangers who promise to get them to safety after taking them to a remote island, but their real intention is to hunt them down one by one, forcing a mother to do whatever’s necessary to protect her child.

Here is the trailer:

The Hunted is similar to other films in this genre with a simple formula and a bad-ass female lead to root for, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Voltage Pictures

The hunt was pretty intense!

The initial set-up was OK, but once we got into the actual hunt, things changed drastically in the best way possible. The hunt itself was very intense and this movie was not afraid to kill characters off without thinking twice about it. Some of the kills were really bloody and twisted, giving me the adrenaline-filled rush I was looking for. I was really impressed by how well this was executed.

A bad-ass female lead to root for.

Lily Banda was fantastic in this and it was hard not to root for her. She had to tap into a different side of her, but once she unleashed her rage, she lit up the screen and really captured my attention. More please!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Voltage Pictures

A movie I’ve seen before…

Don’t get me wrong, I love these kinds of movies and I will continue to watch them, but at times it seemed like this film picked a premise and just went with it without fleshing certain elements out enough.

I needed more answers about why this was happening and the motivation of the other characters. There were some choppy flashbacks presented for Lily Banda’s character to give me a little bit of backstory, but I needed a touch more for her as well.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Voltage Pictures

I’m in about 75 percent…

The Hunted is a decent enough thriller that has enough going for it, but it needed a bit more to make it truly stand out against similar films.

Either way, this was a nice surprise and a lot better than I thought it was going to be.

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