Spoiler-Free Review of “The Strangers: Chapter 2” in Theaters: A Vast Improvement Over Chapter 1

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

“Is Tamara here?”

The Strangers: Chapter 2 released in theaters on September 26th 2025. The slasher horror film stars Madelaine Petsch, Rachel Shenton, Gabriel Basso, and Ema Horvath. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

Picking up right after the events of Chapter 1, Maya wakes up in the hospital after surviving a brutal attack, but soon realizes that she’s not out of the woods just yet.

Here is the trailer:

The Strangers: Chapter 2 manages to take a step in the right direction, giving us some solid chase scenes and actual answers. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Madelaine Petsch killed it!

Wow, she was FANTASTIC in this! I’m not just saying that because I’m a huge fan of hers from Riverdale. She was bad-ass and I thought her acting was on point. I’d love to see her in more horror movies. She really elevated this film in so many ways.

One extended chase scene!

Chapter 2 skipped the fluff and got right to the point. The movie felt like an extra long chase scene featuring our girl and I loved every second of it! It’s no secret that I love simple formulas like this with a resourceful female lead trying to survive against all odds while out in the middle of nowhere. This film DELIVERED on that. There were several scenes that actually felt suspenseful here.

Chapter 1 was such a disappointment because it really didn’t stray from the original film at all. At least in Chapter 2, we did something new here.

We also got some answers that I was looking for since the original film so I was happy about that.

I’m actually somewhat excited to see Chapter 3 now.

I’m seeing some horrible reviews for this film going around, but I went into this one with extremely low expectations after Chapter 1 and can honestly say that I enjoyed my watch here.

Is this the best film I’ve ever seen? Absolutely not…but I think Chapter 2 was SOLID!

The Cons:

The flashbacks slowed things down a little bit…

I was happy with the final flashback, but some of the earlier ones impacted the overall pacing of the film a little bit. The random killings always made the concept of The Strangers so terrifying to me. There was never any reason, which is frightening to think about.

The flashbacks took away from that slightly, but the final one delivered so I have mixed thoughts on this.

There was also one random scene in the middle of the woods that seemed far-fetched and a little too out there for me, but I guess they were trying to throw whatever they had at our girl. It did seem silly and unnecessary though…

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

The Strangers: Chapter 2 takes a much needed turn in the right direction. Madelaine Petsch CARRIED this film on her back and delivered!

Bring on chapter 3!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Strangers: Chapter 2 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A Halloween they’ll never forget…

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

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

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

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “TRUST” on Demand: Sophie Turner stars in a Watered Down “Panic Room” Thriller

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

“You’re not in control anymore…”
TRUST originally released in limited theaters on August 22nd 2025, but is now currently available to stream on Demand. The American thriller film (directed by Carlson Young) stars Sophie Turner, Billy Campbell, and Katey Sagal. It runs for 90 minutes.

A Hollywood actress tries to stay off the grid in a remote cabin with her dog after being involved in a scandal, but when intruders show up at her home, she must do everything she can to survive.
Here is the trailer:

TRUST immediately gives off a Panic Room vibe, but it fails to deliver the same level of intensity despite Sophie Turner’s efforts. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Sophie Turner gives it her all.

I really like her as an actress and she’s come a long way since Game of Thrones. I saw her in Survive back in 2020 and she was brilliant in that so I was very excited to see her in another thriller. The premise for this movie seemed right up my alley and I think she did a good job with what she was given.

She had her time to shine toward the end of the movie, but I think her talent was stifled for the majority of the film. I hope to see her in more thrillers in the future.

Katey Sagal and the dog are the best parts of the movie…

I’m not going to lie, this movie was really dragging for me despite having a great premise. The dog was fantastic and Katey Sagal provided some quirky humor, which helped this movie in a lot of ways. I probably would have tuned out without her and the dog so they deserve some props here!

The Cons:

The execution didn’t quite land…

I REALLY wanted to like this movie. I love thrillers with strong, resourceful female leads with a simple formula and this initially seemed to fit the bill. However, it was messy and attempted to do a little too much. While I appreciated the Panic Room nod, I think it took up too much of the movie. I wanted to see Sophie Turner just kick some ass and it took way too long to get her covered in blood…

There was a great thriller here somewhere, but it only scratched the surface, which was disappointing.

So am I in or out?

I’m 50/50 on this one…

TRUST has a convincing lead and a solid premise, but it never quite reached its full potential, ultimately leaving me wanting more.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl
A Halloween they’ll never forget…

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

Scream Hunt is available here!
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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Girlfriend” on Prime Video: Sleazy, Guilty Pleasure Thrills

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

“This one’s different…”

The Girlfriend premiered on Prime Video on September 10th 2025 with all six episodes available to stream now. The limited psychological thriller series (based on the novel of the same name) stars Robin Wright, Olivia Cooke, and Laurie Davidson. Each episode is approximately 50-52 minutes.

Laura becomes paranoid when her son’s new girlfriend, Cherry begins to get between them, taking it upon herself to investigate her to see what her real agenda is.

Here is the trailer:

The Girlfriend is the latest trashy thriller to show up on streaming, but does it do enough to be worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Two unhinged performances.

When I saw the cast for this, I knew it would be good. Robin Wright is exceptional and I’m a big fan of Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel). Both actresses excelled with what they were given. They were both diabolical and manipulative, making this such a fun popcorn watch.

The back-and-forth really worked here and Olivia Cooke’s wardrobe was to die for!

Addicting and easy to binge-watch.

There are only six episodes so you can effortessly watch this in a weekend. Each episode did just enough to keep me hooked and coming back for more. This series is very Lifetime-esque, but I love watching shows like this from time to time. You can just turn your mind off and indulge!

The Cons:

Loses direction at times.

Overall, I thought this series did a great job of sticking to its core material, but it did change gears a few times. The switch in perspective between Laura and Cherry was distracting at times, but I understood the point of it and eventually got used to it.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

The Girlfriend is deranged, soapy, and over the top, but I loved every second of it!

If you enjoy guilty pleasure thrillers, this one is worth your time.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Girlfriend 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 Long Walk” in Theaters: Executed Brilliantly!

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

“There’s one winner and no finish line…”

The Long Walk released in theaters on September 12th 2025. Based on the novel by Stephen King and adapted from the screenplay by JT Mollner (Strange Darling), the dystopian survival thriller stars David Jonsson, Cooper Hoffman, Ben Wang, Garrett Wareing, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-eight minutes.

Teenage boys participate in a competition that could change the winner’s life forever where they must continuously walk without stopping or be shot.

Here is the trailer:

The Long Walk is a mix of Stand by Me and The Hunger Games, featuring some moving performances. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Characters to root for!

This film would not work without this key component. As the audience, when you understand the stakes of a movie like this, you have to think about whether you are invested or not in the outcome. Well, I can report that I was absolutely invested here. The characters were all exceptional and the performances were truly moving and fantastic.

David Jonsson (Alien: Romulus) was the BEST part of the film, giving us such a thought-provoking and superb performance. Wow…I’m still thinking about it!

Draws you in completely.

Honestly, I felt like I was in this movie. Time seemed to stand still and the only thing in existence was this never-ending road filled with unlikely friendships, impossible odds, and shocking moments, leading up to a jaw-dropping conclusion. This film reminded me why I fell in love with movies in the first place.

The Cons:

Really depressing at times…

I don’t really have many cons for this film because I thought it was incredible. However, it did feature some heavy, gross, and difficult content to watch at times. It’s not a film you can experience lightly. You will be sucked in and invested in what happens and it will make you think about a lot, but that’s sort of the point. Just be aware that there are some disgusting and bleak moments here.

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!

The Long Walk is an emotional, brutal, and consuming watch from start to finish.

This film is truly something special!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rule…they can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Only Murders in the Building” Season 5 Premiere on Hulu: Our Favorite Fall Trio is Back!

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

“This was no tragic accident…”

Only Murders in the Building season five premiered on Hulu on September 9th 2025. The comedy crime series will have ten episodes in total. The first three episodes are available to stream now and the remaining episodes will air weekly. The show stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. Each episode runs for approximately 30-35 minutes.

Mabel, Charles, and Oliver are back to solve a new murder mystery in the building as they unlock a secret within the Arconia.

Here is the trailer:

Only Murders in the Building season 5 is jam-packed with recognizable guest stars, but is the new mystery enough to keep us coming back for more? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The bond between our trio is still the best part of the show!

I love that our trio seems closer than ever. Mabel has gotten her own apartment now and seems more mature, but luckily she’s still around to participate in the mystery-solving.

I’m a fan of this series because it has such a cozy, Fall vibe and the episodes are short. That definitely helps me remember to tune in, but the real reason why I love this show is because of these three stars who have really elevated this series in so many ways.

More please!

A fun new mystery.

While I wouldn’t say that it has the edge that some of the earlier cases had, it’s still a lot of fun. I love that we’re back in the Arconia and exploring new parts of the building. I think there is enough potential here for sure, but I just hope things don’t go too off-track.

The Cons:

Too many guest stars…

I know that Only Murders in the Building is known for this, but this season feels a little overstuffed already. We’ve got a lot of new players in the mix and I’m worried they could take away from the magic of our core characters.

Also, I’m not sure how many more seasons we need of this series. Don’t get me wrong…I’m a fan, but things are starting to feel a touch stale and I’d rather the series go out on a high note than continue to beat an old plot to death…

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Only Murders in the Building season 5 features a new mystery with potential, but let’s hope our favorite trio gets something out of the box to do to keep things fresh.

Either way, it’s safe to say I’ll be tuning in each week.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Only Murders in the Building season 5 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Conjuring: Last Rites” in Theaters: A Worthy Conclusion!

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

“We’ve been waiting so patiently…”

The Conjuring: Last Rites is the fourth and final installment of the popular horror franchise. The supernatural horror film stars Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson, and Ben Hardy. The film runs for approximately two hours and fifteen minutes.

Ed and Lorraine Warren return to investigate a demonic presence from their past that threatens to wreak permanent damage on their family.

Here is the trailer:

The Conjuring: Last Rites is advertised as the last film of the franchise, but does it do enough to close the book on the Warren family in a proper way? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Bone-chilling moments!

The Conjuring movies do a spectacular job of creating some genuinely scary moments and I thought that Last Rites really held its own. There were a few moments that genuinely made me jump. Overall, I thought this film had the perfect amount of scares and disturbing occurrences that will satisfy fans of the franchise with plenty of nods at all of the films within this universe.

Love and demons featuring our favorite couple in horror.

I’ve always said that the chemistry between Ed and Lorraine Warren in these movies is truly moving and the glimpse into their past made their bond appear that much stronger to me. Vera Farmiga is so powerful and convincing in these films and I’m always on the edge of my seat when these two are on screen because I don’t want anything to ever happen to them.

There was a solid balance in this film that allowed us a chance to understand the Warren family dynamic a little bit more without taking away from the terrifying core of the film. That’s not easy to accomplish and somehow this movie made everything unfold effortlessly.

The Cons:

A touch too long…

I get why this movie was a little bit longer. There was a lot of backstory to fill in, but I still think there were a few moments that were dragged out. I think this movie should have been just under two hours, but I’m nitpicking here because I thought the movie was fantastic from start to finish.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

The Conjuring: Last Rites possesses the perfect balance of bone-chilling scares and heartfelt moments, making this a consuming and moving conclusion for the Warren family.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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