Category: Hulu

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!

**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 “House of Darkness” on Hulu: Justin Long should Steer Clear of Creepy Houses…

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

“Once upon a time…”

House of Darkness released on Hulu on January 7th 2023. The supernatural horror film stars Justin Long, Kate Bosworth, Gia Crovatin, and Lucy Walters. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-eight minutes.

After meeting a mysterious woman at a bar, Hap agrees to drive her home, which turns out to be an extravagant mansion in the middle of nowhere. After she invites him inside for drinks and conversation, things take a sinister turn.

Here is the trailer:

House of Darkness has a great cast and a killer premise, but does this slow burn film pay off in the end? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Great cast.

Justin Long is no stranger to horror films so I was super excited about him starring in this one. Kate Bosworth was fantastic as always and I thought she played her part very well. Even the supporting characters did a great job with what they were given. The performances were the best part of this film and I’m not sure that I would have kept watching this one without this cast.

Enjoyable scenery.

Even though the film was primarily shot in just a few rooms in the mansion, they had such a Gothic feel. The use of dim lighting, the fireplace, and even the furniture created a vibe that accompanied this film very well. There was very little background noise or music in this film, allowing me to concentrate on a lot of other details while the plot unfolded.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Serious pacing issues…

This film was just under 90 minutes long, but it felt like I was watching it FOREVER at one point. I’m all for a good slow burn, but this one desperately needed something to happen. The dialogue was awkward and excruciating at times and if it weren’t for Justin Long and Kate Bosworth, I would have turned off the movie.

Don’t get me wrong, something finally happened in the end, but I’m not sure that the payoff was that rewarding. It was predictable and could have happened much sooner…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I’m in for Justin Long and Kate Bosworth, but this film fell flat, leaving me wanting so much more, which was really disappointing.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on House of Darkness 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 “Darby and the Dead” on Hulu: Cute Premise

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

“Lonely life…popular death.”

Darby and the Dead released on December 2nd 2022 on Hulu. The supernatural teen comedy film stars Riele Downs, Auli’i Cravalho, Asher Angel, and Chosen Jacobs. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

After a near-death experience, Darby finds herself able to communicate with the dead, as she makes it her life’s mission to help ghosts with their unfinished business. However, things become complicated when Darby’s former best friend winds up on the other side.

Here is the trailer:

Darby and the Dead is basically a mashup of Ghosts and Boo, Bitch with two very likable leads and some fun moments, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Two leads to root for.

I thought both actresses did a great job with what they were given. They put forth a valiant effort and were very believable. I think they honestly saved this film in a lot of ways. I’d love to see them both appear in more because I think they both have a bright future ahead of them.

Entertaining premise.

Sure, I’ve seen this type of film before, but I still enjoy supernatural teen comedies and this one did have some moments worth watching. There was a genuine and heartwarming feel to it. The pacing wasn’t bad either, which helped.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Falls into too many tropes…

From the high school hallway montage scene to the cheer-leading tryouts and everything in-between. This film had such a cute premise, but it got swallowed up by the generic teen moments you would expect to see in any other similar film, which was disappointing. The film wasn’t bad at all, but it was very predictable and lost itself in teen comedy mediocrity too many times.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in about 75 percent…

I loved the premise and the two main actresses were a lot of fun to watch, but this film lost its way and leaned too heavily on teen drama tropes. I’d recommend watching Ghosts first…

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

Girl Number Thirteen Lurking Promo

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 “Stars at Noon” on Hulu: A Powerful Performance

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

“Things aren’t as simple here as you want to think…”

Stars at Noon premiered on Hulu on October 28th 2022. The romantic drama-thriller stars Margaret Qualley, Joe Alwyn, Benny Safdie, and John C. Reilly. It runs for approximately two hours and seventeen minutes.

When a young American journalist is stranded in Nicaragua, she meets a handsome stranger who could help her escape, but she soon learns that their affair may have put them in even more danger.

Here is the trailer:

Stars at Noon tells a powerful story with a strong lead at its core, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Incredible performance by Qualley.

I was completely drawn in by her portrayal of Trish. She was stuck in a horrible situation and yet she still was able to find glimmers of hope and beauty, revealing different emotions along her journey. Her journey felt very real and scary at times, but she still managed to stay strong and driven, which made her such an interesting and layered character to watch on screen.

Images courtesy of Hulu

Beautifully shot.

There was something very simple about the way this film was shot. The setting was dark and hopeless at times, but it was also incredibly beautiful and peaceful. I really felt like I was transported to another part of the world. Even the simple moments of Trish walking down the street were just so well done. The overall tone just worked really well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Not what I was expecting…

I thought I was going to witness some kind of erotic thriller and there was plenty of flesh shown, but I wanted some more thrills to hold my attention. This movie was way too long and things didn’t really start to get interesting until well over an hour. I couldn’t finish this film in one sitting.

I appreciate that the film was going for a more realistic feel, but I wanted something with a little more edge because this film had the potential to be truly spectacular.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in about 75 percent…

A strong performance and moments of true brilliance, but this film could have eliminated a lot of its unnecessary moments to shorten its overall runtime.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Stars at Noon 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 “See for Me” on Hulu: Modern take on “Wait Until Dark” Delivers with Edge-of-your-seat Thrills!

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

“You think being blind is going to save you?”

See for Me originally released in January 2022, but premiered on Hulu in October 2022. The home-invasion thriller stars Skyler Davenport, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Laura Vandervoort and Kim Coates. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-two minutes.

When a blind former skier named Sophie cat sits at an extravagant mansion, three men break in to rob the place. Sophie reaches out for help through an app when an army veteran named Kelly answers her call, determined to help her survive the night.

Here is the trailer:

See for Me grips you from the start and never lets go with strong characters to root for and plenty of intense moments up until the very end. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Thrilling from start to finish.

If you enjoy home-invasion thrillers, there is plenty to enjoy with this one. I thought the film did a fantastic job of building suspense with a fast pace. There wasn’t too much set-up and the house setting worked perfectly. I was honestly on the edge of my seat the entire time and I loved the modern take on Wait Until Dark. Sure, it borrowed a lot from it, but it also found its own voice and made the necessary adjustments to make this relevant with today’s generation.

I loved that this film didn’t try to do too much. It didn’t indulge in silly twists or unnecessary fluff. It just embraced a simple and effective formula that worked and went with it. I loved every second of it!

Images courtesy of Hulu

Characters to root for!

Both of the female leads were incredible! I loved the team-up and I thought both actresses gave believable performances. We got enough layers to invest in them without weighing down the film. Girl power to the extreme!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

I don’t have any…

This was my type of movie from start to finish. I love simple thrillers that pull you in without trying to over-complicate things. This film just earned its spot as one of my favorite thrillers and I look forward to re-watching it in the future because it was exactly what I was looking for!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in 100 percent!!!

An intense thriller worth your time with incredible leads and a simple formula that just works!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on See for Me 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 “Rosaline” on Hulu: Charming Retelling of “Romeo & Juliet”

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

“One day we will be together forever…”

Rosaline premiered on October 14th 2022 on Hulu. The romantic comedy film stars Kaitlyn Dever, Kyle Allen, Isabela Merced, and Sean Teale. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-six minutes.

Rosaline is a comedic retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet told from Rosaline’s (Romeo’s ex) point of view.

Here is the trailer:

Rosaline is hardly the first retelling of a Shakespeare story, but it does have a witty approach with a wonderful female lead. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Kaitlyn Dever is fantastic!

I really like her as an actress. She excelled in this role and made it her own. The witty dry humor worked to her advantage and allowed her to truly shine. I was rooting for her the entire time. She brought something fresh and unique to this role and was the best part of the movie.

Images courtesy of Hulu

Super cute take on the original.

I’ve seen countless versions of Romeo and Juliet, but this one may have been my favorite. I loved the comedic approach and it was honestly so much fun to watch. The subtle humor worked perfectly and the pacing was well done. More please!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Predictable.

Even though I enjoyed this film, I’m not sure that it did anything that new or different. The film ends the way you think it will. Even though the witty charm works, the formula is pretty much the same as other adaptations. That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed my watch and Kaitlyn Dever elevated it in a lot of ways.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in!!!

A clever and delightful adaptation with a fantastic lead.

If you enjoy romantic comedies, you’ll find plenty to enjoy with this one.

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