Spoiler-Free Review of “The Curse” on Showtime: A Disconcerting Watch

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

“We have a chance to make something really, really good…”

The Curse premiered on Showtime on November 12th 2023 with its premiere episode. There will be ten weekly episodes in total. The dramedy series stars Emma Stone, Nathan Fielder, and Benny Safdie. Each episode runs for approximately 60-62 minutes.

A newlywed couple begins to shoot a reality television series documenting their efforts to make housing more eco-conscious and affordable for the small community of Española. However, their efforts are complicated when a girl puts a curse on them, prompting their reality producer to exploit some of their flaws off camera, which puts a strain on their relationship.

Here is the trailer:

The Curse takes a stab at uncovering some of the problematic issues behind typical HGTV series, making this a unique and intriguing watch, but does it do enough to keep us coming back for more? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Showtime

Emma Stone is mesmerizing on screen.

She’s so talented and terrific in everything, which helps this series quite a bit. There are already a lot of layers to unfold with her character and within her marriage. Her expressions and cheerful delivery are worth noting. She’s a force to be reckoned with and I’m curious to find out more about her character.

Odd and unique.

I really didn’t know much going into this series, which actually helped. There’s a lot going on and things are odd, bizarre, and all over the place, which could be a good or bad thing. So far the premiere episode held my attention enough, but I need to see where we go with all of this content.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Showtime

Where’s the hook?

I don’t really know where we’re going with this series. I’m not even sure what kind of show it is and while there is interesting content going on, I’m just worried that this show can quickly fizzle out or lose steam as it continues. It was originally billed as a comedy, but it seems to be more of a dark drama. I’m all for giving it a shot for a few more episodes, but I’m not sure if there’s enough here for ten of them.

The episodes are also on the long side, which can drag things out even more.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Showtime

I’m in about 75 percent…

The Curse is unlike anything else on TV right now, which works in its favor, but I don’t really know what I’m signing myself up for just yet. 

Either way, consider me intrigued!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

IN THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS, HER NIGHT FROM HELL HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN…

After working the night shift, Ashley becomes entangled in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a local street gang, forcing her to come up with a plan to survive the night by turning the tables on them.

Ashley must fight for her life and take them out one by one if she wants to make it to morning…

My young adult revenge thriller comes out November 30th 2023! I hope you enjoy!

Make it Through the Night is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Marsh King’s Daughter” in Theaters: Daisy Ridley is Worth the Watch

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

“It’s time you finished the hunt…”

The Marsh King’s Daughter released in theaters on November 3rd 2023. The thriller-drama film (based on the novel of the same name) stars Daisy Ridley, Ben Mendelsohn, Garrett Hedlund, and Gil Birmingham. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-eight minutes.

A young mother’s happy new life is threatened when her dark past returns as her father is released from prison, targeting her daughter.

Here is the trailer:

The Marsh King’s Daughter features some gripping performances centered around an interesting story with layers and some powerful moments. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate Films

Stellar performances.

The force is strong with Daisy Ridley! She was absolutely mesmerizing on screen and did a really great job with this role. I believed her performance and then some. Ben Mendelsohn was terrific as well and the dynamic between the two of them worked really well on screen. I’m not sure that I would have liked this one as much without these two actors. They really elevated every scene to the max, making this an intriguing watch.

Images courtesy of Lionsgate Films

Solid start and a satisfying ending.

I was pulled into this film immediately. Usually I don’t always like films that skip from the past to the present, but this one had seamless transitions and I actually found the events in the past to be really interesting.

I really thought the ending was fantastic as well. The casting was superb in this one. I’d like to read the book now because I want to explore this world a little bit more and I’m sure it went into more detail there.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate Films

Slow-moving in the middle.

As much as I enjoyed the beginning and end of this film, the middle slowed down quite a bit. The pacing felt sluggish and things went on for a little bit too long. I also wanted some more edge and grit in this one. It had a lot of potential with a strong story and great performers, but I wanted a touch more darkness in this one to really make it come to life on the big screen.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Lionsgate Films

I’m in!

Daisy Ridley shines in this powerful and consuming thriller.

This film wasn’t perfect, but it captivated my attention and had enough going for it to make this an entertaining watch overall. If you like crime thrillers, there’s enough here to enjoy.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Marsh King’s Daughter 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 Royal Hotel” on Demand: A Vacation Gone Wrong

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

“You’re here on vacation?”

The Royal Hotel released in limited theaters on October 6th 2023 and is currently available to stream on demand as of October 23rd 2023. The thriller-drama film stars Julia Garner, Jessica Henwick, Hugo Weaving, Toby Wallace, James Frecheville, and Daniel Henshall. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

Hanna and Liv are having the time of their lives vacationing in Australia, but when they wind up short on cash, they agree to take a temporary job bartending in a remote Outback mining town that puts them in danger.

Here is the trailer:

The Royal Hotel features two gripping performances in a chilling setting, but does all the buildup lead to anything worthwhile? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Neon

Two worthy leads.

The best part of this film was the two strong performances by Julia Garner and Jessica Henwick. They were both very believable and portrayed some heavy stuff in tense situations. I wish they were given a little bit more content to work with here, but I enjoyed their performances and they elevated this film in a lot of ways.

A setting and premise with loads of potential.

When I first saw the trailer for this film, I was so beyond excited to watch it. It screamed vibes of Wolf Creek and Brokedown Palace. We had a really good set-up and some intense moments built in, but the end result wasn’t what I was expecting…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Neon

Not sure why this was billed as a thriller?

Sure, there were some intense moments here and there, but I was super frustrated with this film because it felt like we were building up to an insane climax and then the end result was lukewarm at best. It just never really went anywhere…

This really should have been billed as a drama instead. I think that it will disappoint an audience looking for an actual thriller. The drama wasn’t bad, but setting up that expectation made this a confusing watch for me.

Lacked necessary character layers.

I didn’t need that many, but some would have been nice, especially since our two leads are incredibly talented and basically carried this movie. I needed to know more about why they were in Australia in the first place and maybe some crucial moments between them in their past could have explained some of the tension building throughout the film.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Neon

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 wasn’t bad by any means and I actually thoroughly enjoyed the performances by our two main leads, but I wanted SO MUCH MORE!

Julia Garner needed to unleash her inner Ruth Langmore from Ozark to give this movie some serious edge.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Royal Hotel 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 Fall of the House of Usher” on Netflix: An Enthralling and Eloquent Masterpiece

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

“Nobody gets away with anything…not really…”

The Fall of the House of Usher is a limited series from The Haunting of Hill House creator, Mike Flanagan that released on October 12th 2023. The supernatural horror series features eight episodes available to stream now on Netflix. It stars Bruce Greenwood, Carla Gugino, Mary McDonnell, Samantha Sloyan, Kate Siegel, Willa Fitzgerald, Mark Hamill, Zach Gilford, and Carl Lumbly. Each episode runs for approximately 60-65 minutes.

Siblings, Roderick and Madeline Usher, have built an empire of wealth with their prosperous, but potentially harmful company, but when their heirs all begin dying one by one, dark secrets are unlocked.

Here is the trailer:

The Fall of the House of Usher has plenty of familiar faces from The Haunting of Hill House world, but this show has a slightly different feel, shining a light on some of the most disturbing aspects of humanity. Is this series worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A clever mix of gothic horror and whodunnit mystery.

The gothic horror elements were absolutely present in this particular series, channeling the works of Edgar Allan Poe in a modern way. The whodunnit mystery style added some charm in as well, hooking the audience completely as we watched this unfold.

By the time I got to the end of episode two, I could not stop watching this series. The episodes were on the longer side, but it never felt that way. Each one was filled with beautiful cinematography, moving performances, and welcomed nods to a classic short story that transported me back to the page. I loved that this series embraced its inspiration while still creating something chilling, thought-provoking, and shocking of its own in the process.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Exceptional performances.

Fans of The Haunting of Hill House anthology will be pleased to see several familiar faces in this entry. We also welcomed in several new actors, who did an incredible job. Overall, I was really impressed by the performances, as these characters didn’t necessarily have the heart and soul of previous ones, but they were still layered and intriguing all the same.

Stand-out performances go to the amazing Carla Gugino and Willa Fitzgerald, who dominated the screen and then some. Wow!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Jam-packs in a lot…

I really don’t have too many cons for this series. Episode one was really over-stuffed with set-up and I was slightly overwhelmed by the time jumps, but I think the series found its way with this with the remaining episodes.

This series had a different feel from the others, highlighting characters obsessed with drugs, sex, and power, but it still resonated with me by the time I got to the end, proving to be another worthy Mike Flanagan series.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 1000 percent!

Sheer perfection with a deliciously dark plot worth devouring.

The best show I’ve watched all year!

If you enjoyed Mike Flanagan’s previous series, you’ll find plenty to love in this new entry that isn’t afraid to take some risks along the way that certainly pay off.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Fall of the House of Usher 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!

Play 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 Retirement Plan” in Theaters: Enjoyable Action-Comedy

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

“No one will find you there…”

The Retirement Plan is an action-comedy film that released on September 15th 2023 in select theaters. The film stars Nicolas Cage, Ashley Greene, Ron Perlman, Ernie Hudson, and Thalia Campbell. It runs for an hour and forty-three minutes.

After her husband takes something from the wrong people, Ashley and her daughter seek out the help of her estranged father to escape a dangerous crime boss.

Here is the trailer:

The Retirement Plan features a fun cast, some hilarious and heartwarming moments, and some inventive fight scenes. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Productivity Media

Great action and creative fight scenes.

Nicolas Cage plays this part to perfection. He’s a little bit crazy and very bad-ass, which makes the perfect combination. This film is brought to us from the same production company as The Baker and several of the same actors appear in it, which was a welcomed surprise.

The fight scenes were well choreographed and they really used the setting to their advantage, making this a lot of fun for action fans.

Images courtesy of Productivity Media

Good balance of genres.

There were some moments in this film that had me laughing out loud. Nicolas Cage seamlessly provided some welcomed sarcasm and fun with his character. I also really liked the heartwarming moments too and I thought that Thalia Campbell was terrific as Ashley’s daughter.

She elevated every scene and whether she was paired with Cage or Perlman, these moments were pure magic and the best parts of the movie.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Productivity Media

I wanted a little more from the ending.

It was solid and I can’t complain too much about the conclusion, but there were a few loose ends that needed to be tied up. I also wanted something a little bit more explosive since we were building up to this final showdown.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Productivity Media

I’m in!!!

A fun and breezy comedy-action flick packed with great fight scenes and a talented cast.

If you’re looking for a quick action-comedy film to enjoy, this one fits the bill.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts on The Retirement Plan 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 “A Haunting in Venice” in Theaters: A Solid Halloween-themed Murder Mystery

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

“Time to put some life back into your life…”

A Haunting in Venice released in theaters on September 15th 2023. The murder mystery film stars Kenneth Branagh, Tina Fey, Kelly Reilly, Kyle Allen, Jamie Dornan, and Michelle Yeoh It runs for approximately an hour and forty-three minutes.

Belgian detective, Poirot, is back in this adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel, Hallowe’en Party, as he takes a break from retirement to solve a murder involving some deadly spirits.

Here is the trailer:

A Haunting in Venice gives fans of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile a chance to experience a new mystery with eerie potential involving Poirot, but does this film measure up? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of 20th Century Studios

A breathtaking setting.

I always find these films to be aesthetically pleasing, but this setting of Venice in the 1940’s was absolutely divine and so lovely to witness on the large screen. This film was beautifully shot and even the chilling and unsettling moments complimented the backdrop well, immersing the audience into a gorgeous world worth noting.

Images courtesy of 20th Century Studios

A compelling murder mystery with a satisfying reveal.

This film followed a similar pattern to other films based on Agatha Christie novels, but this one might have been my favorite. I may be partial because I absolutely adore Halloween and anything related to it, but I really loved the balance between logic and the supernatural in this one.

It really kept me on the edge of my seat and I thought the reveal was very well done.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Slow moving at times.

I come to expect this with these types of films, but the middle dragged a little bit for me. I appreciated that this film was shorter than Death on the Nile, however. This wasn’t a major con and I think that the film did enough in the beginning and end of the film to capture the audience’s full attention, but I’d recommend watching this one when you’re fully awake…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of 20th Century Studios

I’m in!!!

An eerie and unsettling murder mystery with a fun cast and gorgeous setting!

If you enjoy Agatha Christie murder mysteries, you’ll find enough in this one to enjoy with some spooky surprises along the way.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on A Haunting in Venice 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 “Bottoms” in Theaters: Raunchy and Delightful!

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

“Welcome to our f*cking fight club!”

Bottoms released in theaters on September 1st 2023. The dark teen comedy stars Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Havana Rose Liu, Ruby Cruz, Kaia Gerber, and Marshawn Lynch. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

Unpopular best friends, PJ and Josie decide to start up a self defense club for women to impress their two crushes.

Here is the trailer:

Bottoms manages to find the perfect balance of unrestrained humor and utter charm, setting the new standard for teen comedies. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of MGM

Outrageously funny!

I’ve been waiting for a movie like this for a long time. I’m a huge fan of 90’s and 00’s teen comedies and many of the entries for the new generation have paled in comparison. Well, I can’t say that anymore. This movie was laugh-out-loud funny and so much fun! I loved every second of it and thought these characters dominated the screen.

I can’t wait to go back and see this again. It was such a blast!

Images courtesy of MGM

Every single character was a stand-out!

Usually there are a few scene-stealers in films like this, but I am happy to report that every single character was bloody fantastic! I almost wish this movie was longer because they all deserved so much screen time. Our two leads were great. Rachel Sennott is dominating the industry right now and she did not disappoint. I’m so impressed that she also co-wrote this film.

Marshawn Lynch stole the film for me though. He was AMAZING and I loved his interaction with the girls.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of MGM

I don’t have any…

Honestly my only con is that this film didn’t release in my local theater until the second week. Let’s work on that…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of MGM

I’m in 100 percent!!!

Bottoms packs a punch with unforgettable characters, bloody violence, and over-the-top humor, making this an absolute dream come true for the teen comedy genre.

My favorite film of the year so far!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Bottoms 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 Dive” on Demand: Solid Survival Thriller

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

“I still get a bit nervous every time…”

The Dive released on Demand on August 25th 2023. The survival thriller film stars Sophie Lowe and Louisa Krause. It runs for an hour and thirty-two minutes.

Two sisters go deep-sea diving in a remote location when a landslide sends rocks into the ocean, trapping one of them beneath the surface, as the other must figure out a way to save her before their air runs out.

Here is the trailer:

The Dive channels 47 Meters Down and Fall, giving us another extreme example of two women facing off against unlikely odds. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of RLJE films

Intense moments that will have you holding your breath!

I was on the edge of my seat for this one and there were plenty of moments that captivated my undivided attention. Similar to other well-done survival thrillers, this film never let the audience off the hook. While some of it may have been far-fetched, it definitely kept my adrenaline pumping and met my expectations in this department.

Images courtesy of RLJE films

Characters to cheer for.

I liked that they were sisters, which made me root for them that much more. There were so many possible moments of “giving up” and these two kept fighting. Their bond was apparent…even though I didn’t get too many details about their characters. That being said, both actresses put a lot into their performances and these dire circumstances made me care enough about what happened to them.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of RLJE films

The bite-sized flashbacks didn’t add much to the story…

They didn’t successfully add in any real details or layers to these characters and they were kind of confusing. I got that there was some kind of trauma involved in their past, but not enough of this was explained and it honestly wasn’t needed in the movie.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of RLJE films

I’m in!

A stimulating watch that held my attention from beginning to end with a satisfying conclusion.

This wasn’t as good as Fall, but I love these types of movies and this one had plenty going for it. If you enjoy survival thrillers, you’ll feel right at home during your watch.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Dive 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 “Retribution” in Theaters: A Decent, but Familiar Thriller

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

“I need you to do your thing…”

Retribution released in theaters on August 25th 2023. The action film stars Liam Neeson, Jack Champion, Embeth Davidtz, Matthew Modine, and Noma Dumezweni. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty minutes.

While driving his two kids to school, Matt Turner receives a call from an unknown enemy who informs him that there is a bomb under his car and he must do what he says to keep him and his children alive. 

Here is the trailer:

Retribution is your standard Liam Neeson film with solid pacing and plenty of intense moments, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

A quick watch.

I’ve seen my fair share of Liam Neeson movies and some are a lot better than others. But I always love seeing him in these action-thrillers and I appreciated that this one didn’t mess around with unnecessary fluff or set-up.

We got right into things and I didn’t look at the time once. There were plenty of edge-of-your-seat and intense moments built into this one, making it an entertaining thriller…although don’t expect it to do anything too extraordinary.

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

Believable performances.

I expect Liam Neeson to be amazing even in mediocre movies. After all, that’s what keeps me coming back to the movies for more. He delivered in this one and met my expectations.

The kid characters were actually really likable, which surprised me. I thought they both did a good job and they helped me connect to the movie a little more.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

Predictable…

I think that the previews revealed a little bit too much. Some moments might have been a bit more shocking if they hadn’t been included in the trailer. We did get a twist thrown our way, but I wouldn’t say it was that shocking and everything just felt a little bit too safe and standard.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

I’m in about 75 percent…

I’m in for Liam Neeson and this was a good enough thriller, but I guess I was expecting a little bit more here. We’re still chasing after another Taken and I’m not sure that any of his new thrillers will ever come close to that, but maybe we need some more shock value added in to throw us for a loop.

Either way, if you like Liam Neeson movies, you’ll get what you expect in this one.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Retribution 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 “Live and Die in East LA” on Demand: A Crime Thriller with Grit

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

“How far are you willing to go?”

Live and Die in East LA released on August 4th 2023 on demand. The crime-thriller film stars Robert LaSardo, Richard Cabral, Cesar Garcia, and Corina Calderon. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-five minutes.

A doctor is pulled into a world of gangs and street violence while trying to help an injured boy.

Here is the trailer:

Live and Die in East LA features some note-worthy performances with plenty of action and violence to keep you invested until the end. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Octane Multimedia

The violent crime elements are solid.

I was actually surprised at how well this was executed. It took a while to get there, but once the film hit the thirty minute mark, I found myself drawn in a lot more. The fast-paced action worked for the most part and I thought a lot of the scenes were really intense and well done.

Images courtesy of Octane Multimedia

Decent performances with a few familiar faces!

I was impressed to see some well-known actors in this. Normally with lower budget films, we don’t always know the actors (which isn’t a bad thing), but I really enjoyed the performance by Robert LaSardo in particular. I remember him from Nip/Tuck and he stepped right into this role seamlessly. The rest of the cast did a decent job too.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Octane Multimedia

The random fable narrations were odd and distracting.

I got the point of them, but they took away from the overall vibe of the movie and had disjointed transitions. I almost felt like I started watching a different movie without realizing it. I wasn’t a huge fan of these at all.

There were also some shaky camera effects to sit through, but I expect that with lower budget films so this wasn’t a major con.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Octane Multimedia

I’m in about 75 percent…

A fast-paced and violent watch.

I’m all for supporting lesser known films and I was honestly surprised by how much this movie hooked me once it found its way through some initial rough edges. I’m looking forward to seeing more entries from this director.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Live and Die in East LA 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!