Month: February 2025

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Bayou” on Demand: A Gator Flick with some Bite

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

“Aggression is simply a means of survival…”

The Bayou released on Demand on February 21st 2025. The survival action-horror film stars Athena Strates, Madalena Aragão, Andonis Anthony, and Elisha Applebaum. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-seven minutes.

A vacation goes horribly wrong when a small plane crashes in the middle of the Louisiana everglades. While the survivors look for rescue, they quickly discover that they are in the middle of alligator territory.

Here is the trailer:

The Bayou gives the killer gators a chance to shine in this mostly watchable B movie. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

Plenty of gator screen time!

It’s no secret that I love shark flicks, but every now and again I like to watch a great gator film too. While I wouldn’t say this film is great, it did at least give us plenty of gator screen time. Sure, this was a lower budget film, but I love indulging in silly creature flicks like this and this one definitely fit the bill.

Quick watch.

I appreciated that this film was on the shorter side. This was a quick and fun watch. It didn’t spend too much time fleshing out story-lines (although it attempted to do so with our main character). Once the plane crashed, we got right down to business. There wasn’t too much excessive fluff and there were enough kills to keep me invested until the end.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

Unlikable characters.

Other than our lead (who was decent enough), the rest of the characters were really irritating. I was honestly rooting for the gators the entire time.

This was fine for the most part since there was a high body count, but I wanted to invest in at least a few characters…

Nothing new here.

Don’t expect to see anything new or unique with this film. It was basically a carbon copy of other creature flicks. That being said, if this is your genre, then there’s enough here to enjoy.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

I’m 50/50 on this one…

The Bayou is mindless fun with enough bite if you enjoy cheesy creature flicks.

If you love this genre, then you’ll enjoy your watch, but I’d manage your expectations on this one.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts on The Bayou 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 Monkey” in Theaters: A Campy Good Time!

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

“Turn the key and see what happens…”

The Monkey released in theaters on February 21st 2025. The American horror comedy film (based on the short story by Stephen King) stars Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Colin O’Brien, Elijah Wood, Rohan Campbell, and Adam Scott. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

When twin brothers discover a strange wind-up toy, they soon realize that it may be causing horrific deaths around them. Twenty-five years later, a new killing spree begins, forcing them to confront the toy once again.

Here is the trailer:

The Monkey doesn’t hold anything back, presenting us with violent and shocking kills while still having some fun. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Neon

Cringe-worthy kills.

If you enjoy films like Final Destination, then this is the film for you. The kills are outrageous, extreme, and stomach-turning. You won’t be disappointed and I was pleased that the trailer didn’t ruin them all.

I also really liked the dry humor included in this. I was worried that this movie might take itself too seriously, but it went with the bonkers concept and just had fun, making this a blast to experience in theaters.

Images courtesy of Neon

Theo James stole the show!

My new favorite genre is Theo James covered in blood! He was absolutely fantastic in this! Normally I hate voice-over narrations, but I enjoyed listening to him. The past and the present timelines were equally interesting and a lot of that has to do with the cast.

Tatiana Maslany was great as well and it was fun seeing a lot of familiar faces pop up in this one.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Neon

Sluggish pacing in the second half.

I think I preferred the first half of this film to the second. Don’t get me wrong…I liked the second half too and that’s where Theo James shined, but there were some pacing issues. The movie was only an hour and thirty-five minutes, but it felt like it was dragging a little bit until we got to the final act. I think we could have wrapped things up a little bit quicker.

That’s really my only con. I thought everything else came together seamlessly.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Neon

I’m in!!!!

The Monkey is a bonkers and bloody watch!

Theo James is a lot of fun in this one. I highly recommend it!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Monkey 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 “Yellowjackets” Season 3 Premiere on Showtime: Off to an Intoxicating Start!

*This is a spoiler-free review for season 3 so feel free to read on!*

“Their story does not end here…”

Yellowjackets season 3 premiered on February 14th 2025 on Showtime with the first two episodes. The remaining eight episodes will air weekly. It stars Christina Ricci, Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Sophie Thatcher, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Sammi Hanratty. Each episode runs for approximately 53-55 minutes.

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

Here is the trailer:

Yellowjackets is a bonkers and trippy show that provides just the right amount of mystery and juicy drama. Does the season 3 premiere do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Showtime

The dark mystery continues…

My favorite part about this series is the unexplained mystery surrounding the girls in the woods. It’s twisted and dark and I’m anxious to finally find out more about it and what this force wants from them. Is there actually something out there or is it all in their heads?

I don’t know, but I thought the opening two episodes did enough to hook me again. I’m hopeful we will get some more answers this season.

Images courtesy of Showtime

Our favorite characters expose more layers.

Yellowjackets is one of the few series that features past and present timelines that are equally interesting, making us invest in the outcome of every character that much more.

I was happy to see our favorite characters getting more screen time in the first two episodes of season 3 (even if it slowed down the pacing a little bit) because certain dynamics and relationships needed to be fleshed out.

I’m really liking the bond between Shauna and Callie a lot more this season and Misty is digging deeper this time around after coping with the death of one of my favorite characters. It’ll be interesting to see how the dynamic between the survivors changes now.

The Cons:

Yellowjackets season 3 (1)

Images courtesy of Showtime

Confusing time jump.

It’s clear that some time has gone by in the past timeline. We’re now in spring so the girls made it through the winter, but I felt a little confused and fuzzy on what was going on. I think we needed more of a seamless transition here or a better way to fill in the missing details.

I also thought that the pacing felt slower for the first two episodes. I’m hoping this improves by the next episode.

So am I in or out?

Yellowjackets season 3 spoiler free

Images courtesy of Showtime

I’m in!!!

Yellowjackets season 3 already has a lot of potential, luring us back into a dark and twisted mystery worth exploring.

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 Yellowjackets in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

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

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

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

Scream Hunt is available here!

**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 “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” on Peacock: A Heartfelt Conclusion to the Franchise

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

“It’s not enough to survive, you’ve got to live…”

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy premiered on Peacock on February 13th 2025. The rom-com film is the fourth and final entry to the Bridget Jones franchise and it stars Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Leo Woodall, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Colin Firth. It runs for approximately two hours and four minutes.

Bridget’s luck begins to turn around as she tries to manage going back to work while taking care of her two children in the midst of finding romance in unexpected places.

Here is the trailer:

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is a charming, emotional, and nostalgic watch. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Bridget Jones shines once again!

It’s hard not to fall in love with our Bridget who we simply adore “just as she is.” She’s hilarious, lovable, and awkward, making it very easy to relate to her. I thought Renee did a fantastic job as her once again and I appreciated some of the more emotional layers added to her character this time around. She really did the character proud.

It was fun seeing some returning cast members again and the newcomers did a solid enough job as well. 

Images courtesy of Peacock

Understood the assignment.

It’s not easy ending a franchise…especially one that first premiered back in 2001. I fell in love with the first book and the original movie is one of my favorites. The other two films were OK enough, but I really thought that the final movie took things to another level. It didn’t have the same impact as the first movie, but it tackled enough for Bridget, making this a compelling watch. It gave her a lot more layers and allowed her to really take a look at what’s important in life.

Bridget’s life changed in a lot of ways, but she still managed to be the same quirky girl we met back in the original film. I really loved all of the elements of this film. I found myself crying on more than one occasion and I think that’s because this film spoke a lot of truth that we can all relate to in some form or another.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Lacking in chemistry.

There was enough there, but I didn’t necessarily feel the spark between Bridget and her love interests in this one. Let’s be honest…no one can measure up to Mark Darcy, but I even felt more of a connection between her and Daniel than I did with the other two love interests.

That being said, there were still enough sweet and charming moments between them to get me onboard for the most part.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in!!!

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is a charming conclusion to the Bridget Jones franchise, giving us plenty of moments to laugh and cry about.

We’ll miss you, Bridget Jones!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy 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 “Heart Eyes” in Theaters: Rom-Coms are making a Killer Comeback!

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

“This is going to be the best Valentine’s Day ever…”

Heart Eyes released in theaters on February 7th 2025. The slasher-romance horror film stars Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Devon Sawa, and Jordana Brewster. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-seven minutes.

A masked killer targets couples each year on Valentine’s day, but when two co-workers get mistaken for a pair in love, they must work together to survive the night.

Here is the trailer:

Heart Eyes is my type of movie, effectively channeling slasher comedies like Happy Death Day, making this an absolute blast to experience. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

Perfect balance of genres!

In the mood for a rom-com or a gory slasher? Why not combine both? This film understood the assignment and just went for it in the best possible way. The opening really set the tone and we even had some fun chase scenes!

The comedy really landed for me and I loved the outrageous gory kills. There were also a lot of sweet moments in this one without overdoing it. Honestly, it was the perfect mash-up and I will be watching this one every Valentine’s day for sure!

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

Great chemistry between characters.

Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding were delightful in this one. I believed the chemistry between them. It felt real and genuine and it wasn’t too over-the-top, which I appreciated.

They are both starting to appear in more and more horror movies (which I love) and I can’t wait to see them in more films in the future.

It was also fantastic seeing horror alum, Devon Sawa and Jordana Brewster in this.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

Predictable reveal.

I still loved it, but I saw it coming a mile away. The ending was a little messy, but I think it managed to stick the landing for the most part and make sure you stay for the after credits scene!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

I’m in 100 percent!!!

Heart Eyes is a self-aware slasher with the perfect balance of gory kills and genuine laughs.

I had a feeling that I would fall in love with this film. It exceeded my expectations and then some!

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

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 “Companion” in Theaters: Sophie Thatcher is Bloody Charming!

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

“It’s not you…it’s me…”

Companion released in theaters on January 31st 2025. The sci-fi-horror comedy film stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Megan Suri, Lukas Gage, Rupert Friend, and Harvey Guillén. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-seven minutes.

A weekend getaway with friends turns violent when a subservient Android girlfriend strays from her normal programming.

Here is the trailer:

Companion turns the rom-com genre upside down with the perfect balance of thrills and comedy. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of New Line Cinema

Sophie Thatcher DOMINATES this film!

She has been making a name for herself in the horror genre in a short amount of time and I absolutely LOVED her in this. This was probably my favorite role for her yet.

She was funny, clever, and bad-ass!

I enjoyed the rest of the cast as well.

Images courtesy of New Line Cinema

Great balance!

I really love when horror comedies can achieve this so effortlessly. This film definitely dipped toward the horror side, but it also kept things light and fun, which worked perfectly here. 

There were some genuinely laugh-out-loud funny moments and lots of bloody violence as well…the perfect combination!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of New Line Cinema

The second half was stronger than the first half…

Don’t get me wrong…I absolutely fell in love with this film. I did think that the second half was a lot stronger, however. It really turned things up a notch and allowed Sophie Thatcher a chance to really shine in the best way possible.

I think a little too much may have been shown in the previews. It’s best if you go into this one blind.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of New Line Cinema

I’m in!!!

Companion blends rom-com delight and blood-soaked revenge seamlessly, making this a must-watch for horror fans!

I absolutely fell in love with this film!

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