Spoiler-Free Review of “The Mean One” in Theaters: Campy Christmas Chaos

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

“You’re a monster…”

The Mean One released in theaters on December 9th 2022. The holiday horror film (inspired by How the Grinch Stole Christmas) stars David Howard Thornton, Krystle Martin, and Chase Mullins. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

After witnessing the murder of her mother, Cindy returns to her hometown twenty years later when the monster responsible resurfaces.

Here is the trailer:

The Mean One turns a classic holiday tale into a campy slasher film, which does have a few redeeming qualities. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Sleight of Hand Productions

Fun twist on the story.

With Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey on its way for 2023, it seems like this may have paved the way for more classic tales to turn into mindless slasher films and so we have The Mean One, which is a slasher take on How The Grinch Stole Christmas. 

There have already been a few versions of The Grinch, but this one decided to really destroy all holiday cheer with a monster that will rip you to shreds if you even think about humming “Jingle Bells.”

Even though it was campy and silly, I liked the spin on the story and I’m always up for a campy slasher film.

Images courtesy of Sleight of Hand Productions

Violence galore.

The blood effects were pretty cheesy and poorly done, but there were actually a few decent kill scenes that were entertaining. David Howard Thornton brought his killer charm from The Terrifier and easily embraced this role, giving it as much as he could.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Sleight of Hand Productions

Shaky camera effects and poor quality…

I actually felt dizzy a few times watching this. The camera angles felt odd and really shaky. There was poor lighting and some of the worst transitions into scenes I have ever seen. The gore effects needed some work as well. 

The acting wasn’t really that great either, but the film did channel some campy fun. If you enjoy B-horror movies, you’ll find some things to enjoy. I just wanted this film to put in a little bit more effort in all departments. I also thought this film should have released exclusively on a streaming site like Shudder instead. My theater was practically empty on a Friday night…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Sleight of Hand Productions

I’m 50/50 on this one…

The Mean One has some campy slasher fun with the classic holiday tale, but the poor quality got in the way several times.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey 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 new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

 

Spoiler-Free Review of “National Treasure: Edge of History” on Disney+: A New Treasure Hunt to Indulge In

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

“Remember the treasure I told you about?”

National Treasure: Edge of History premiered on Disney+ on December 14th 2022 with the first two episodes. The remaining episodes will air weekly. Based on the popular film series, the series stars Lisette Olivera, Zuri Reed, Jake Austin Walker, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Harvey Keitel. Each episode is approximately 48-50 minutes.

Jess searches for answers about her family when she stumbles upon clues that may lead her to a famous lost treasure.

Here is the trailer:

National Treasure: Edge of History branches off into a new story without Nicolas Cage, but does the new series do enough to keep fans invested? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Disney+

A mystery with potential.

I love a good treasure hunt mystery and there is already a lot of potential with this one. The cast is likable enough and it’s embracing the young adult angle, which is working so far. I’m looking forward to getting more into the actual treasure hunt aspect, but so far it’s heading in the right direction.

Images courtesy of Disney+

Catherine Zeta-Jones is a lot of fun!

I loved seeing her in Wednesday and she is already dominating the screen in the best way possible in National Treasure. She looks incredible as always and is really channeling the female villainess vibe, which is working in her favor. More please!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Disney+

Falling into the standard YA tropes…

This isn’t a huge con, but I want to keep watching this show and I’m slightly worried that it will fall into overused tropes I see in countless shows and reboots that are trying to be “fresh” for a new generation. I actually really like the new characters so I’m hopeful the show will settle down into its own identity without having to rely on these tropes, but they have the potential to make this show forgettable…

We’re also missing a key main character, but I’m crossing my fingers that he’ll show up in some capacity…even if it’s later on.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Disney+

I’m in about 75 percent…

I love a good treasure hunt movie and the YA spin is fun, but I’m hoping for more substance as the episodes continue.

I’m hopeful we’ll get there!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on National Treasure: Edge of History 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 Wonder” on Netflix: Florence Pugh does it again!

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

“Believe in their stories with complete devotion…”

The Wonder released on Netflix on November 16th 2022. The psychological period drama stars Florence Pugh, Kíla Lord Cassidy, and Tom Burke. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-nine minutes.

A nurse travels to Ireland during the late 1800’s to investigate a girl who has stopped eating for four months and miraculously still lives.

Here is the trailer:

The Wonder is chilling and powerful featuring another stellar performance by Florence Pugh. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Florence Pugh is out of this world…

She is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses and really gave a powerful and captivating performance in The Wonder. She is the main reason why I tuned into this one and she did not disappoint. Even during the quiet moments, her presence was electric, creating a character with so many layers and dimensions.

Images courtesy of Netflix

An eerie mystery.

From the odd soundtrack to the quiet setting, this film was filled to the brim with an overall chilling quality that only amplified the mystery surrounding Anna. The story was unique and strange, but it also created an interesting conversation connecting what women faced in the past and the present. I can honestly say that I haven’t seen anything like this before and I don’t even have a film to compare it to. 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Pacing issues at times…

Things did move at a slower pace at times and I needed to stay alert during my watch so that I wouldn’t miss anything. That being said, Florence Pugh did enough to keep me invested from start to finish. If you’re looking for a film with a lot going on, you won’t find that here. This film had a more simplistic approach, but it was still just as effective (maybe even more so) than other films that might have handled this mystery in a different way.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

A captivating, unique watch with a brilliant performance by Florence Pugh.

The Wonder is like nothing I have seen before and it was such an experience watching it.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey 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 new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Christmas Bloody Christmas” on Shudder: Campy Fun

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

“A killer Santa Claus…”

Christmas Bloody Christmas released on Shudder on December 9th 2022. The holiday horror film stars Riley Dandy, Jeff Daniel Phillips, and Sam Delich. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-seven minutes.

A record store owner just wants to spend Christmas Eve getting drunk, but her plans are interrupted when a robotic Santa Claus goes on a killing spree.

Here is the trailer:

Christmas Bloody Christmas is an absolute blast to watch as long as you don’t take it too seriously. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Shudder

Lots of fun.

Sure, the plot was completely bonkers, but I had a lot of fun watching this one. Don’t expect to get any real answers about why a robotic Santa Claus is on the loose, but do expect to enjoy plenty of gory kills. I loved the use of color and how this film channeled an 80’s horror vibe in so many ways.

Images courtesy of Shudder

Riley Dandy is one to root for!

I absolutely loved her in this. Her character was fierce and then some! She was really inventive and I was cheering for her the entire time. She fully embraced this role and elevated this film in a lot of ways.

That ending image was perfection!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Shudder

Takes a while to get going…

The film was on the shorter side, but we had to sit through some exhausting dialogue for quite a long time. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the random first-person camera angle in the beginning, but luckily this didn’t stick around for too long.

The first half wasn’t bad, but things drastically improved once Santa got going…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Shudder

I’m in!

Campy goodness filled with gory Christmas cheer!

Christmas Bloody Christmas lives up to its name and is a bloody good time!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey 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 new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Spirited” on Apple TV+: One too many musical numbers…

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

“We are in the business of change…”

Spirited premiered on Apple TV+ and is showing in select theaters as of November 18th 2022. The holiday musical film (inspired by A Christmas Carol) stars Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, and Octavia Spencer. It runs for approximately two hours and seven minutes.

The Ghost of Christmas Present takes on the challenge of trying to redeem an “Unredeemable,” when he starts to contemplate his own past, present, and future in the process.

Here is the trailer:

Spirited is jam-packed with musical numbers and an all-star cast, but did we really need another version of A Christmas Carol? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Apple TV+

Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds make a good team.

I was slightly worried that they would feel mismatched in this, but once the film got going, I really enjoyed watching them together on screen. There was some fun banter and some entertaining moments sprinkled into the mix.

Octavia Spencer stole the show; however, and played my favorite character by far. She continues to be such a compelling presence in every film she’s in and this one was no exception.

Attempts to put a spin on the traditional story.

This film was not afraid to admit its inspiration and while it didn’t come close to Scrooged or even Mickey’s Christmas Carol, it did put a unique twist on things to freshen up the story. I’m not sure it all worked, but the intention was there.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Apple TV+

Way too many musical numbers…

Honestly, they were so distracting and oddly placed. With the exception of one musical number that I actually thoroughly enjoyed, the other ones felt forced and awkward. Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell are not natural singers, which is fine, but every single time I started to connect to the story, the magic was broken when we burst into another unnecessary song, which also made the runtime of this film go on for over two hours…

The tap-dancing was on point though!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Apple TV+

I’m in about 75 percent…

Spirited has some entertaining moments and puts forth a valiant effort to do something different with A Christmas Carol, but the excessive musical numbers get in the way of real entertainment.

If you’re looking for a new holiday film to watch this year, I’d recommend Falling for Christmas or Violent Night instead.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey 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 new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

 

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 “Violent Night” in Theaters: Plenty of Bloody Violence and Christmas Cheer to go around

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

“Welcome to your worst Christmas ever…”

Violent Night released in theaters on December 2nd 2022. The holiday action film stars David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Alex Hassell, Cam Gigandet, and Beverly D’Angelo. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty-two minutes.

After a team of mercenaries holds a family hostage in their extravagant home, the real Santa Clause gets involved to help a selfless girl named Trudy.

Here is the trailer:

Violent Night is the perfect mashup of Die Hard and Home Alone. It has plenty of entertaining action while still managing to channel the holiday spirit, making it the ultimate holiday film to watch this year and for years to come. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

David Harbour is perfection!

He was the perfect actor for this role and he really shined in the best way possible. He was hilarious, charming, and a hero to root for! The rest of the cast did a great job as well. Trudy was a delight to watch on screen and it’s always fun seeing John Leguizamo.

The dynamic between the family and the villains really worked well. The humor mixed with violence was pure magic, giving me so many Die Hard vibes. The film was clearly aware of the inspiration, but it also branched off into its own story without holding back.

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

A holiday film that has it all!

It’s not easy making a holiday film for everyone. While this film was clearly not for children, I appreciated that it still managed to capture the essence of Christmas in the midst of all the bloody violence (which was fantastic). I’m always looking for new holiday films to add to my watch-list each year and it’s safe to say that Violent Night will definitely become a yearly watch for me.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Some of the puns were a little on the nose…

Look, I still enjoyed them and this was the perfect film to just sit back and enjoy. Some of the Christmas puns needed some work. Perhaps I’m just spoiled by Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s clever puns and I wanted a little more here, but they were still fun so I can’t complain too much.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

I’m in!!!

A jolly, bloody good time!

Violent Night was the perfect film to watch this holiday season and David Harbour was beyond fantastic!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey 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 new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” in Theaters: An Entertaining Mystery

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

“I need a great case…”

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery released in theaters on November 23rd 2022 and will be available to stream on Netflix on December 23rd 2022. The whodunnit mystery film stars Daniel Craig, Kate Hudson, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, and Leslie Odom Jr. It runs for approximately two hours and nineteen minutes.

Detective Benoit Blanc returns when he gets mysteriously invited to a billionaire’s private murder mystery party on a remote island in Greece. 

Here is the trailer:

Glass Onion is a delightful sequel with the perfect blend of humor and mystery to keep you entertained until the very end. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Glass Onion no spoilers 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Talented cast.

The first Knives Out film had an all-star cast and the sequel does not disappoint in this department. I loved all of the characters and I thought the performances were top-notch. Kate Hudson was a scene-stealer!

Daniel Craig was fantastic as always as the quirky Benoit Blanc and Janelle Monáe was absolutely incredible in this. 

Glass Onion no spoilers 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Perfect balance of humor and mystery.

I loved the quirky dynamic between the group, which added to the humor. This was such a clever and entertaining mystery with an Agatha Christie feel. The sequel felt different from the original film, but that actually worked in its favor. The sequel was fresh and fun, even though some reveals were slightly predictable.

There were also plenty of well-placed twists to throw you off your detective game so you may not have it all figured out…

The Cons:

Glass Onion no spoilers 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

Takes a little while to get going…

I get that we needed some set-up to get to know each of our suspects, but I would have liked for everyone to have gathered at the island a little bit sooner. That being said, I still enjoyed all of the extra fluff.

So am I in or out?

Glass Onion no spoilers 4

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

A captivating mystery stuffed with entertaining moments.

Mystery fans will thoroughly enjoy the sequel, which cleverly finds a voice of its own, separating itself from the original film in the best way possible.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey 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 new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin” on Peacock: Sarah Hyland and Adam DeVine prove to be a dynamic duo on screen once again!

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

“‘Aca Serious?”

Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin premiered on Peacock on November 23rd 2022 with all six episodes available to stream now. The comedy-musical series stars Adam DeVine, Sarah Hyland, Flula Borg, Jameela Jamil, and Lera Abova. Each episode runs for approximately 26-30 minutes.

Ten years after college, Pitch Perfect’s Bumper decides to move to Berlin to become a pop star.

Here is the trailer:

Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin is the continuation of the Pitch Perfect franchise I didn’t know I needed and yet it was surprisingly entertaining, thanks to the chemistry between Hyland and DeVine. Is it worthy of your next watch?  Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Undeniable chemistry…

I absolutely loved these two together on Modern Family and was bummed when DeVine left the show. Well, they have been reunited once again in Bumper in Berlin and they were a dream to watch together. The chemistry was so believable and natural, which elevated this series in so many ways. 

Bumper was always a scene-stealer in the Pitch Perfect films, but I was worried that an entire series about him would feel forced and exhausting. Hyland helped balance this out along with the other supporting characters, which made this such an enjoyable treat.

Images courtesy of Peacock

Solid balance of humor and entertaining musical numbers.

It’s what Pitch Perfect did best and even though the humor had a slightly different feel this time around, it still worked. The supporting characters were actually hilarious and I loved all of the musical performances. This is what I expect when watching one of these movies and I was happy with the result. The episodes were also super short so I was able to binge-watch this one very easily.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

It would have been fun to see a few more familiar faces…

I get that this was Bumper’s story, but I would have liked to have seen a few more cameos thrown in for fans of the films. Bumper was also an odd choice for a spin-off series. I can think of other characters that may have deserved the spotlight a little bit more, but I can’t complain too much because the execution worked a lot more than the idea.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in!!!

Surprisingly entertaining with humor that actually landed and swoon-worthy chemistry to root for.

If you’re a fan of the film series, I think you’ll find plenty to enjoy with this new series.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey 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 new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Wednesday” on Netflix: Jenna Ortega is Fantastic

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

“Emotion equals weakness…”

Wednesday premiered on November 23rd on Netflix with eight episodes available to stream now. The supernatural drama series stars Jenna Ortega, Christina Ricci, Gwendoline Christie, Emma Myers, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Each episode is approximately 48-50 minutes.

While attending Nevermore Academy, Wednesday Addams finds herself caught up in a mystery involving her parents from twenty-five years ago.

Here is the trailer:

Wednesday is addicting in all the right ways with an interesting mystery and wickedly fun premise. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

All hail, Jenna Ortega!

I expected her to be really good in this role, but she was even better than I could have hoped for. She was the BEST part of the series. This may be my favorite role by her yet. She does a fantastic job of paying tribute to the character while really putting her own spin on her as well.

I enjoyed the other characters as well and it was so wonderful seeing Christina Ricci in this one too for obvious reasons.

Emma Myers was a scene-stealer as Wednesday’s roommate along with Thing. Even though a lot of the characters fit into tropes, they were still a lot of fun to watch and I enjoyed the supporting characters more in this one than I typically do with other teen supernatural dramas.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Easy to binge-watch with very entertaining moments.

I enjoyed the sleuth-mystery approach to this series and even though we got to see some of the iconic characters from the Addams family, this was clearly Wednesday’s show and we stayed true to that, which I appreciated.

I loved each episode and the typical teen moments were actually really entertaining because of Wednesday’s reaction to them. The pacing was a little slow at first, but it improved significantly as the episodes continued. By the time I got to episode three, I was completely hooked.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Predictable at times with your typical teen drama.

I saw the ending reveal coming and I thought some things were easy to figure out, but I still enjoyed everything. There was also some typical teen drama in this series with another love interest triangle. In a lot of ways, this show was like a mashup of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Nancy Drew. I love both of those series so that’s not really a con, but some of the moments of drama could have easily appeared in any show on The CW.

That being said, the drama wasn’t overdone so it didn’t take away from the series that much at all.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

Jenna Ortega is perfection!

This show was so entertaining and really put a unique spin on The Addams Family, allowing Wednesday to truly shine.

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