Spoiler-Free Review of “He Went That Way” on Demand: What did I just watch?

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

“Do you need a ride?”

He Went That Way released on demand on January 12th 2024. The crime thriller (loosely based on true events) stars Jacob Elordi and Zachary Quinto. It runs for an hour and thirty-five minutes.

Set in the 1960’s, a celebrity animal trainer and his chimpanzee, Spanky, offer a ride to a young stranger, but he quickly discovers that his passenger is actually a serial killer.

Here is the trailer:

He Went That Way is odd and uninspiring, allowing a chimpanzee to upstage the two leads of this strange thriller. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

Beautifully shot.

The backdrop of this film was exceptionally well done and I thought the majority of it was aesthetically pleasing. My attention was drifting a lot during this film, but the cinematographer did a solid job here and I thought the road trip aspect was captured well.

Spanky steals the show…

I was honestly bored out of my mind watching this one, but who would have thought that a chimpanzee named Spanky would actually be the most entertaining? We had two well-versed leads here, but they were definitely upstaged…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

Exhausting pacing with no real direction…

I think this goes to show that not every true crime story should be turned into a film. I actually found myself looking up these crimes during the movie, which was a lot more interesting than what I was watching. I just don’t think that it translated well at all in the film. The plot just felt really messy and choppy, never fully grabbing my attention.

The bond between our two main leads needed to be fleshed out more.

I think this would have made the movie a lot more interesting. Both characters needed to be fleshed out a lot more so that we would actually care about what happened to them. I think this film thought it accomplished that it, but it never truly did. There were a couple of worthy moments between them and more so between Spanky and them, but it never reached its level of potential.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

He Went That Way never finds its direction, making this a strange watch overall that never resonated with me until the end credits.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on He Went That Way 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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Spoiler-Free Review of “Role Play” on Prime: Kaley Cuoco Shows off her Spy Game

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

“Do you love what you do?”

Role Play released on January 12th 2024 on Prime Video. The action comedy film stars Kaley Cuoco, David Oyelowo, Connie Nielsen, and Bill Nighy. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

When a young married couple tries to spice up their marriage, they wind up caught in a dangerous predicament as secrets are revealed about their past.

Here is the trailer:

Role Play attempts to channel Mr. & Mrs. Smith with two likable leads, but does it get lost within its own story? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Great chemistry between characters!

The strongest part of this film was the chemistry between Cuoco and Oyelowo’s characters. I thought they both did a great job and they elevated this film in a lot of ways with their performances.

I’m really hoping that Kaley Cuoco gets her chance to shine outside of The Flight Attendant because she really has great presence and I think she’d be fantastic in other films, but she’s being cast too frequently in these types of films.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Solid opening and ending.

I thought this film started off with a lot of potential. It’s a premise I’ve seen before, but I had strong hopes for it. The ending was decent as well, preventing this movie from drifting off into a total loss. There were a couple of fun twists and some stylish fight scenes to appreciate as well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

The middle of this film left a lot to be desired…

I really wanted to like this film for Kaley, but the middle was tough to get through. The sluggish pacing didn’t help and it lost its way. This film took itself too seriously and wasn’t original at all. I’m all for a female spy comedy thriller in any capacity, but this film needed to just embrace the simplicity of the premise and go with it, rather than trying to over-complicate things.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I’m in for Kaley, but this film didn’t hold my attention and lost its way several times, making this one a struggle for me to get through. I really wish that they would stop trying to re-create The Flight Attendant for Kaley because she has a lot of range and I don’t want to see her get stuck in films that will never measure up to that…

That being said, if female spy thrillers are your jam, there’s enough here to check out to pass the time…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Role Play 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 “Lift” on Netflix: A Heist Movie by the Numbers

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

“Nice doing business with you…”

Lift premiered on January 12th 2024 on Netflix. The action heist film stars Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Vincent D’Onofrio, Kim Yoon-ji, Billy Magnussen, and Sam Worthington. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.

A master thief is offered a job from an FBI agent, who also happens to be his ex-girlfriend, as he tries to pull off an almost impossible heist on an airplane with his team.

Here is the trailer:

Lift is basically Ocean’s Eleven without the finesse, relying on its cast and flashy effects to hold your attention. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fun cast.

There are plenty of recognizable faces in this one to pull you into a mediocre film. That being said, I did enjoy the cast and thought that Gugu Mbatha-Raw stood out the most. She breathed the most life into her character and carried a lot of the team through some otherwise boring interactions.

The rest of the characters fit neatly into tropes, but I thought the cast did a decent enough job with what they were given.

Some of the fight scenes were enjoyable and I thought that the pacing improved once we actually got onto the plane, but it took a while to get there.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Lazy and uninspiring…

This movie wasn’t terrible, but there really wasn’t anything that memorable or unique going on here. It borrowed a lot from films like The Fast and the Furious, Ocean’s Eleven, and even Netflix’s Red Notice (although I liked that film a lot more).

I normally enjoy Kevin Hart in films, but this was a rough one for me. He needed some of his trademark humor to lighten things up. Everything just felt way too serious. This film needed to find the fun and embrace some silliness to make this one more enjoyable.

Everything just felt phoned in and lifeless, which was beyond frustrating. The movie wasn’t that long, but I felt like I was watching it forever and by the time I got to the end, I had already forgotten about what had I just watched…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

Lift is a movie I’ve seen a million times before. There were some entertaining moments sprinkled in here and there, but I was expecting a lot more.

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

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Self Reliance” on Hulu: Jake Johnson and Anna Kendrick are Absolutely Charming!

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

“Congrats…you’ve been selected…”

Self Reliance premiered on Hulu on January 12th 2024. The comedy-thriller film stars Jake Johnson (he also wrote and directed the film), Anna Kendrick, Natalie Morales, and Andy Samberg. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty minutes.

Tommy receives a mysterious invitation to participate in a game where he is hunted for thirty days. If he survives, he wins a million dollars, but his friends and family think that it’s all in his head, making him question his own sanity along the way as he tries to come up with loopholes to stay alive.

Here is the trailer:

Self Reliance features a quirky and fun performance by Jake Johnson, who lights up the screen with the always delightful Anna Kendrick by his side. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

An entertaining premise.

Think the comedic version of The Game and that’s kind of what you get with Self Reliance. The concept behind this film is pure genius and I think that it executed everything really well for the most part. As long as you recognize that this is more of a comedy than a thriller, you’ll enjoy your watch.

The opening was really strong and I was just as curious as Jake Johnson’s character, which motivated me to see this one through until the end.

Images courtesy of Hulu

The chemistry between Johnson and Kendrick is the best part of the film.

I thought I was all in for this killer game and yet I was more intrigued by the bond forming between Johnson and Kendrick’s characters. If you enjoy Jake Johnson’s dry humor, you’ll get plenty of that here since he also wrote and directed the film. Once Anna Kendrick joined the mix, things got a lot more entertaining and I thought they were magic together on screen.

I almost wish we got even more screen time for them together.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Needed some more thrills…

Since this was billed as a thriller, I expected a little bit more in this department. I still enjoyed my watch overall, but I think it would have been more enjoyable to see Jake Johnson’s character in real danger more often. The times that this did happen were kind of watered down and they lacked the suspenseful edge I was hoping for.

I also had mixed thoughts on the ending. I didn’t need anything that complicated, but  I would have welcomed a clever twist to really throw the audience for a loop…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in!

Self reliance is offbeat, quirky, and a lot of fun.

This film wasn’t perfect, but it was unique and the performances by Johnson and Kendrick made it worth the watch.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Self Reliance 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 “Echo” on Disney+: A Marvel Series to be Excited About!

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

“Everybody should love something that much…”

Echo released on January 9th 2024 on Disney+ with all five episodes available to stream now. The Marvel series stars Alaqua Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Devery Jacobs, Chaske Spencer, and Zahn McClarnon. Each episode runs for approximately 40-50 minutes.

Maya Lopez first appeared in the series, Hawkeye. Echo explores her origin story as well as the events that take place after Hawkeye, as she tries to come to terms with where she comes from and who she’s meant to be.

Here is the trailer:

Echo brings Marvel series back to life with plenty of bad-ass and inspiring moments to appreciate. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Disney+

Bloody entertaining fight scenes.

I love how this series wasn’t afraid to unleash some fantastic fight scenes without holding back. In a lot of ways, this series reminded me of Daredevil, The Punisher, and Jessica Jones, taking on an edgier and more mature tone. It does take place in that world, but I was afraid that everything would feel flashy and overdone, but this wasn’t the case. The fight scenes were really impressive and I thought that Maya was bad-ass and then some!

Images courtesy of Disney+

Brings back familiar characters without taking away from our main story.

Marvel fans will be excited to see some familiar faces in this one, but I appreciated that Echo didn’t get lost in the cameos. Rather, it kept its focus on Maya and recognized that this is her story and journey.

I also appreciated that this series was short and sweet. So many streaming series have gone back to the weekly episode approach and I was happy that Disney+ released all five episodes at once, making this one very easy to binge-watch. Everything was really well-paced and I thought it had a satisfying conclusion.

I also loved the connections to ancestry and culture. I thought it really helped this series stand out among some of its predecessors, giving us a rising hero with believable and authentic layers.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Disney+

Some of the trippy flashbacks were confusing…

At first, I was a little thrown off by the flashbacks, but they made sense by the time I got to the end of the series so this wasn’t a major con. They felt a little rushed at times, but I didn’t need this series to be really drawn out either.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Disney+

I’m in!!!

Bloody, bad-ass, and beyond entertaining!

It’s been a while since I have really enjoyed a Marvel series, but Echo was a welcomed surprise. I really loved it!

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

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Night Swim” in Theaters: Skip the Dip…

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

“I always wanted a pool…”

Night Swim (based off the 2014 short of the same name) released in theaters on January 5th 2024. The supernatural horror film stars Wyatt Russell, Kerry Condon, Amélie Hoeferle, and Jodi Long. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-eight minutes.

A former baseball player moves into a new home and is hoping that their pool can give him the therapy he needs, but a malevolent force is unleashed instead, terrorizing those closest to him.

Here is the trailer:

Night Swim attempts to channel films like Jaws and The Amityville Horror, but goes off the deep end with its reveals. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Eerie premise with a decent enough opening.

The film started off with some potential. I liked the opening and thought we were on our way to experiencing a creepy supernatural flick, but sometimes a film can’t find its way past an initial concept.

That being said, there were some more disturbing moments sprinkled in throughout the film, but nothing to get too excited about…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Takes itself too seriously.

I think this was my biggest issue with this film. It really could have benefited from some campy fun. Instead, it was just laughable and silly in all the wrong ways. The reveal was not worth sticking around for and some of the dialogue was beyond atrocious. The actors were decent enough, but they were stuck in uninspiring roles so it made it difficult for me to really invest in any of them.

This film also relied too heavily on desperate jump scares, which didn’t add anything to the film. Instead, it just showed off how extremely shallow it was.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

Night Swim gets off to a creepy start, but it never quite finds its way past the concept, making this an uninspiring watch overall.

I was expecting a lot more from my first horror watch of the year.

I hope you enjoyed the review and please feel free to share your thoughts on Night Swim in the comments section!

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 is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Make it Through the Night is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Fool Me Once” on Netflix: Harlan Coben Starts the Year Off with a Bang!

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

“Death follows you…”

Harlan Coben’s Fool Me Once premiered on Netflix on January 1st 2024. The mystery thriller limited series features eight episodes available to stream now. It stars Michelle Keegan, Joanna Lumley, Adeel Akhtar, Emmett J. Scanlan, and Richard Armitage. Each episode runs for approximately 42-50 minutes.

As Mya tries to cope with the recent murder of her husband, she gets a shocking surprise when she spots him on her nanny cam after his death, leading to dangerous secrets and reveals.

Here is the trailer:

Fool Me Once is addicting in all the right ways, presenting us with shocking twists and plenty of action-packed moments, making this an easy guilty pleasure thriller to indulge in. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

So addicting!

I always get excited when a new Harlan Coben series is released. Fool Me Once held its own and really grabbed my attention right away. It didn’t waste too much time with set-up, hooking the audience and never letting go.

I was really impressed by how well-paced this series was. It was very easy to binge-watch and the end of each episode did just enough to bring you back for more. I watched all eight episodes in one day.

I also appreciated that this series was less complicated than some of its predecessors. Sure, there were still a lot of sub-plots to sift through, but I found this one to be a little bit more straightforward, which made this a seamless and enjoyable watch.

Images courtesy of Netflix

A strong female lead to root for!

I really liked the character of Mya. I thought the actress did a great job and her fashion was on point with all of those fabulous coats! Sometimes I get too wrapped up in the mystery behind these series to care that much about the characters, but this series took enough time to flesh hers out without presenting us with too much excessive fluff.

Mya was bad-ass and relatable in a lot of ways. I hope to see this actress in more soon because I thought she was absolutely fantastic!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Repetitive flashbacks.

The crazy sub-plots didn’t bother me that much this time around…especially since I have learned to expect them with every Harlan Coben series I watch. That being said, I thought some of the mini flashbacks thrown in were a little exhausting.

I didn’t find the plot to be that complicated and it felt like the writers were over-explaining things to the audience. This didn’t overpower the series, but it was frustrating at times.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!!!

Satisfying, addicting, and perfect for binge-watchers!

Harlan Coben does it again with a well-executed mystery worth your time.

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

Ranking my Top 10 Television Shows of 2023: Which Shows Made The Cut?

It’s that time of year again! As we get closer and closer to approaching 2023, I thought it would be the perfect time to count down my Top 10 TV Shows of 2023. 

While some returning shows continued strong, others fell off slightly. Meanwhile, some other new shows completely captivated my attention, paving their way into my top 10.

Without any further delay, let’s get to my list!

My Top 10 Television Shows of 2023 are:

10

Who Is Erin Carter?

Image courtesy of Netlix

I love guilty pleasure thrillers and this series checked off all those boxes and then some. It was so addicting and a binge-watcher’s dream. If you’re looking for a soapy action-packed series with tons of twists and turns, this one is for you!

9

Poker Face

Image courtesy of Peacock

While I personally feel that this series started off a lot stronger than it finished, Natasha Lyonne was absolutely fantastic in this one. Her quirky, dry humor really elevated things and I really liked the vignette style with each episode. 

8

A Murder at the End of the World

Image courtesy of FX on Hulu

A fantastic and modern whodunnit that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Every reveal was so well crafted and I liked the flashbacks just as much as the present day mystery, making this a layered and thought-provoking series worth checking out.

7

School Spirits

Image courtesy of Paramount+

A delightful and charming surprise that I absolutely fell in love with. A clever mix of Ghosts and Veronica Mars, featuring a major twist that really elevated this show into something spectacular.

6

Yellowjackets (season 2)

Image courtesy of Showtime

One of my favorite shows of last year stayed strong with season 2, providing us with darker and more shocking moments than ever before. Yellowjackets is so addicting and doesn’t hold anything back, bringing two timelines together seamlessly in a disturbing, but fascinating series.

5

Found

Image courtesy of Peacock

Another big surprise was how quickly I became addicted to this series. It started off like your standard crime series and then it presented us with an insane twist that hooked me completely and didn’t stop there. Each week reveals more pieces of the puzzle and Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar are dynamite on screen!

I can’t wait for new episodes to return in the new year!

4

The Horror of Dolores Roach

Image courtesy of Prime Video

This series was an absolute gem for horror fans and Justina Machado killed it! The bite-sized episodes made this one extremely easy to binge-watch and the plot channeled Sweeney Todd in a clever way.

I’m really disappointed that this series was canceled because it was so fresh and spectacular. I’m hoping another platform picks it up, but either way, you can still enjoy the first season. That cliffhanger is still bugging me though…

3

The Last of Us

Image courtesy of Max

Probably the best video game adaptation I have seen on the small screen. The Last of Us has been a long time coming and it delivered with powerful moments and performances on screen.

2

The Night Agent

Image courtesy of Netflix

The most addicting series of the year for me. The Night Agent was jam packed with insane twists and plenty of action to keep you anxiously pressing play on the next episode until the very end. More series like this please!

Honorable Mentions:

Full Circle

Based on a True Story

Class of ’07

You (season 4)

The Witcher (season 3)

The Summer I Turned Pretty (season 2)

Harlan Coben’s Shelter

Justified: City Primeval

Only Murders in the Building (season 3)

Nancy Drew (final season)

Drum roll please…

1

The Fall of the House of Usher

Image courtesy of Netflix

An eloquent and deliciously dark masterpiece from start to finish. This series was everything I hoped for and more with powerful characters, stand-out performances, and beyond shocking moments, making this my favorite series of the year by far! I loved every second of it!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post some of YOUR favorite television shows of 2023. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing in the new year!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

 

 

Ranking my Top 10 Films of 2023: Which Movies Made The Cut?

It’s that time of year again! As we get closer and closer to approaching 2024, I thought it would be the perfect time to count down my Top 10 Films of 2023.

There are still a lot of movies that I have not seen yet, but I wanted to highlight some of my favorites of the year so far!

My Top 10 Films of 2023 are:

10

Totally Killer

Image courtesy of Prime Video

If horror comedy films like Happy Death Day and Freaky are your jam, you’ll find plenty to love in Totally Killer, featuring out of this world performances by both Kiernan Shipka and Olivia Holt.

9

The Passenger

Image courtesy of MGM+

Kyle Gallner gives the performance of his career in this dark and emotional film that was one of the most unique entries to cinema I have watched all year. Moving and resonating.

8

Barbie

Image courtesy of Max

The movie event of the year! Barbie was so much fun! Ryan Gosling gave one of my favorite performances of the year and I loved the humor sprinkled into this bubble gum pop world.

7

Thanksgiving

Image courtesy of TriStar Pictures

Halloween isn’t the only holiday featuring amazing slasher films. Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving channeled 90’s slashers to perfection with plenty of gore and twists around each corner.

6

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Image courtesy of Peacock

The perfect blend of nostalgia for the generation that grew up playing these classic video games mixed with tons of cute and fun moments for kids now, making this a family friendly film worth your time. Plus, Jack Black KILLS it as Bowser and I think I’ll be singing “Peaches” for a very long time.

5

Plane

Image courtesy of Starz

Every now and then, there is a non-stop action film that leaves me cheering and Plane is that movie for 2023. I loved it from start to finish and I’ve already re-watched it several times. It’s filled with adrenaline and plenty of bad-ass moments!

4

Unseen

Image courtesy of Prime Video

An absolute gem that shouldn’t fly under the radar. Unseen is on the shorter side, but it hooks you from the start and features two strong female leads. If you enjoy simple, but effective thrillers, this one is for you!

3

Scream 6

Image courtesy of Paramount+

I didn’t know how I felt about Scream 6 switching up its setting and main character, but it all worked perfectly, making this such a wonderful surprise. It carved its way into the franchise without holding back, creating a bloody good time for Scream fans everywhere.

2

Evil Dead Rise

Image courtesy of Max

Maybe not for everyone, but Evil Dead Rise presents horror fans with gore galore and introduces us to a new bad-ass female lead. I love the Evil Dead franchise and although this one had a very different feel to it, I couldn’t look away and that title card will be haunting me for years to come…

Honorable Mentions:

Leave the World Behind

Missing

No One Will Save You

Sick

The Blackening

Drum roll please…

1

Bottoms

Image courtesy of MGM+

Raunchy, laugh-out-loud funny, and so entertaining! Bottoms is my favorite film of the year! It’s been a long time since I truly fell in love with a teen comedy and this one brought that genre back to life and then some!

I hope to see more films from 2023 soon, but I hope you enjoyed the list!

Did you have a favorite film of 2023? If so, drop it in the comments!

I wish you all a happy and healthy new year and can’t wait to review more new films in 2024! Happy viewing!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Raging Grace” on Demand: Twisted and Unsettling

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

“I’ve got a job…”

Raging Grace released in select theaters on December 1st 2023 and is now available to watch on demand as of December 8th 2023. The horror mystery film stars Max Eigenmann, Leanne Best, and David Hayman. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

An undocumented immigrant takes a job at a lavish home as the caretaker of a terminally ill man, but as dark secrets are revealed, she and her daughter quickly realize that they may be in terrible danger.

Here is the trailer:

Raging Grace is a unique entry to elevated horror, revealing the ugly truth lurking within humanity, executed brilliantly by some convincing performances. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Brainstorm Media

The Gothic Horror vibe works well.

From the house to the style of this film, it had a Gothic Horror feel that I absolutely loved. However, it didn’t stop there. It could have very easily just gone with that theme and we would have been presented with an average film and yet it decided to present us with so many layered themes dealing with racism, class, and the darkest parts of humanity, making this such a captivating watch.

It didn’t hold back, reminding me a little of Soft & Quiet, which is another brutal gem that lingered with me well after it was over.

I expected a slow burn going into Raging Grace and yet I was drawn in the entire time, which was a welcomed surprise. Part of that was thanks to the powerful performance by Eigenmann, who did a great job with what she was given. I thought she was very believable. Her character was flawed in a lot of ways, but you still felt for her throughout the entire film.

Images courtesy of Brainstorm Media

Insane and shocking twists!

Wow, I honestly did not see them coming. This was such a crazy watch for me in the best way possible. I thought I knew what type of movie I was getting and then it twisted the knife and then some, creating a horrifying spiral of events that were uncomfortable and unsettling to see unfold on the screen.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Brainstorm Media

The jump scares were unnecessary.

They didn’t startle me at all and I don’t think they added anything to the film. In fact, they brought down the level of this one just a touch for me because they seemed like fluff meant to build up suspense when there were already plenty of creepy and disturbing things going on. 

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Brainstorm Media

I’m in!!!

An unexpected and horrifying surprise that gave me chills!

If you’re looking for a different kind of horror movie, I’d highly recommend giving this one a shot. I thoroughly enjoyed my watch.

I hope you enjoyed the review and please feel free to share your thoughts on Raging Grace in the comments section!

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 is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Make it Through the Night is available here!

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