Spoiler-Free Review of “Christmas with You” on Netflix: Welcome back to Rom-Coms, Freddie Prinze Jr.

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

“I don’t really think that a Christmas song is my style…”

Christmas with You premiered on November 17th 2022 on Netflix. The rom-com holiday film stars Aimee Garcia, Freddie Prinze Jr., Zenzi Williams, and Deja Monique Cruz. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

A pop star named Angelina needs to come up with a Christmas hit so she isn’t dropped by her label, inspiring her to grant a fan’s wish in a small town.

Here is the trailer:

Christmas with You is very much a mashup of Marry Me and Falling for Christmas, but its likable stars help make it into an enjoyable holiday delight. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Dream team!

We just were blessed with Lindsay Lohan’s return in Falling for Christmas and now Freddie Prinze Jr. is making his return as well, giving me so much nostalgia for his 90’s/2000’s rom-coms.

I am a huge fan of Lucifer’s Aimee Garcia as well and couldn’t be happier with this team-up. Even though this film is very predictable and follows the holiday rom-com formula to a T, the stars allow you to forget about that for a while because it’s just so enjoyable watching them both on screen.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Cute and light.

Netflix keeps the holiday fun coming after last week’s premiere of Falling for Christmas. There is a good balance of humor and heart in this one. Even though I preferred one film to the other, this is a film that you can just simply enjoy. It’s a quick watch and perfect for the holiday season.

Let’s be honest, these films don’t need to be perfect. They just need to spark the holiday spirit with some charm and I think this film accomplished that for the most part.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Lacking in chemistry…

As much as I loved Aimee Garcia and Freddie Prinze Jr. separately in this movie, I didn’t fully buy the chemistry between them. Sure, there were some sweet moments and I got all the cues the film was throwing at us, but they were a little forced. I think Freddie Prinze Jr. was more believable as the loving father rather than the “romantic interest.”

This film checked off all the right boxes, but that lack of chemistry prevented it from reaching its full potential. It’s still a sweet watch, however (especially if you enjoy holiday rom-coms).

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent…

A quick holiday watch with plenty to enjoy, but I just needed a little bit more chemistry between our amiable stars to be all in.

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

**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 Santa Clauses” on Disney+: Scott Calvin is back and brings the nostalgia!

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

“So we’re just doing home invasions now?”

The Santa Clauses premiered on Disney+ on November 16th 2022 with the first two episodes available to stream now. There will be six episodes in total that will air weekly. The holiday comedy series is a continuation of The Santa Clause films (the first film released in 1994). The series stars Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Austin Kane, Elizabeth Allen-Dick, and Kal Penn. Each episode runs for approximately 33-35 minutes.

Scott Calvin begins to realize that he can’t be Santa Clause forever, as he searches for a suitable replacement for the job.

Here is the trailer:

The Santa Clauses has a good amount of nostalgia while creating something new with some decent humor.  Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Disney+

Good sense of nostalgia.

Much like Hocus Pocus 2, The Santa Clauses taps into some magical nostalgia, transporting us right back to 1994 when the first film released. I was super happy to see both Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell in the series and there will be another familiar face to be excited about later on.

The newcomers (especially the elves) do a fantastic job as well, making this series a lot of fun.

Images courtesy of Disney+

The production value is pretty impressive.

When Santa traveled across the world, there were a lot more bells and whistles this time around. I don’t necessarily need a film or series to be flashy with tons of special effects, but The Santa Clauses gets an upgrade, making things feel shiny and new without losing its original magic.

Decent humor.

I think it helps that the showrunner on this worked on shows like Modern Family and 30 Rock. There is a dry humor that works really well. The series is great for kids, but it may be even better for the adults who watched the original film.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Disney+

I’m not sure this needed to be a series…

While I’m having fun watching it, I think this series might have worked better as a film. It sort of feels like a film already and I’m not sure that the weekly release of episodes will do it any favors.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Disney+

I’m in!!!

A cute and light watch with some genuinely funny moments.

If you’re a fan of the original movie, there’s plenty to enjoy with this series.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Santa Clauses 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 “Terrifier 2” in Theaters and on Demand: Blood, Guts and Gore Galore

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

“It’s just a costume…”

Terrifier 2 released in theaters on October 6th 2022. The horror film stars Lauren LaVera, David Howard Thornton, and Elliott Fullam. It runs for approximately two hours and eighteen minutes.

Picking up right where we left off in the first Terrifier film, Art the Clown is back and ready to have some bloody fun while terrorizing his victims, setting his sights on Sienna and her younger brother.

Here is the trailer:

Terrifier 2 may be the goriest film I have ever watched with even more twisted moments than the first film. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Cinedigm

Art the Clown is back and better than ever…

If you came for gore-filled violence, you’re in the right place. I didn’t think Art the Clown could get any more extreme, but he goes all out in the sequel and doesn’t hold back.

I also appreciated that this film took the time to flesh out its characters more this time around and it expanded the world of Art the Clown, giving the film more intention. I’m not sure I needed too many layers, but it helped me connect to the other characters more.

Images courtesy of Cinedigm

All hail, Sienna!

I recently watched Terrifier for the first time and I was rooting for a particular character to make it and was crushed when we got an alternative Final girl instead. Even though this was a different approach, I felt like we didn’t spend enough time on her to really root for her or care about what happened to her.

In Terrifier 2, we are blessed with the introduction of Sienna, who was the BEST part of this movie for me. I loved the choice of costume and the symbolism behind it. She was fierce and absolutely electric on screen. I LOVED HER!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Cinedigm

Way too long…

I like my horror films to be about 90 minutes. While the film did a good job of holding my attention in a disturbing way, I still don’t think it was necessary to have a runtime well over two hours. There were plenty of scenes that could have been cut out.

Also as a warning, the gore in this film is extreme. I suggest watching it on an empty stomach. If you’re not a fan of gore and violence, steer clear of this movie…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Cinedigm

I’m in!!!

Shocking, disturbing, and bloody entertaining!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Terrifier 2 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 rule…they can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my 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 “Falling for Christmas” on Netflix: Surprisingly Charming

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

“This is just temporary…”

Falling for Christmas premiered on November 10th 2022 on Netflix. The rom-com holiday film stars Lindsay Lohan, Chord Overstreet, Jack Wagner, and George Young. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

An heiress accidentally falls while skiing and ends up with amnesia when a struggling lodge owner and his daughter agree to take her in.

Here is the trailer:

Falling for Christmas may be predictable, but it’s cute and charming in all the right ways. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Welcome back, Lindsay Lohan!

It’s been quite a while since she has appeared in anything, but I thought she was absolutely wonderful in this! There was great chemistry between our two main characters and she didn’t overdo it. There was a nice natural approach to everything, which made this film super easy to watch and enjoy.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Cute and fun!

Sure, this film was super cheesy and silly at times, but as long as you embrace that, you’ll enjoy it more. I loved the premise and there were actually some really touching moments sprinkled in. I’d absolutely re-watch this around the holiday season. It was light and entertaining without too much fluff. More please!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Rocky start…

This film started off really shaky and unsure of itself. The humor wasn’t landing and it was almost painful to watch. I was ready to turn it off, but then once we got to the main plot, the film finally found its way and identity. Phew!

If you’re unsure of things at first, just stick around until after she goes skiing. It gets better. I promise!

The film was also really predictable and generic, but I didn’t mind that because that’s what I’d expect with this type of movie.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

A pleasant surprise! Lindsay Lohan is back and better than ever!

This film is far from perfect, but it checked off all the boxes for a cute rom-com with plenty of heart.

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

**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 “Inside Man” on Netflix: Stanley Tucci is Fantastic

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

“Everything makes sense if you think about it long enough…”

Inside Man originally aired on BBC One back in September, but released on Netflix on October 31st 2022 with all four episodes available to stream now. The crime-thriller series stars Stanley Tucci, David Tennant, Dolly Wells, and Lydia West. Each episode is approximately 58-60 minutes.

A prisoner waiting to be executed crosses paths with a woman trapped in a cellar in an unusual way.

Here is the trailer:

Inside Man has a strong cast and some solid thrills going for it. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Stanley Tucci is the best part of the show.

I thought he nailed the character and then some! I loved the dark humor, which separated this series from other crime thrillers with a similar premise. There were a few other standout performances as well, but he really sold me on this one and elevated this series.

Real moments of intensity.

The opening of this series was fantastic and I was completely hooked. I thought that the series had plenty of nail-biting moments and since there were only four episodes, it was very easy to binge-watch this. The episodes were on the long side, but I thought the pacing worked and each episode gave you enough at the end to keep you coming back for more.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Split focus…

While I enjoyed both plots, I also felt like I was watching two different shows at the same time. Both were really interesting on their own, but they felt disjointed when looking back at the series as a whole. I often felt disconnected because of this and even though things came together at the end, I think there could have been a more seamless connection between them.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent…

The Patient meets Hannibal with a compelling plot of its own.

Overall, I enjoyed my quick watch and really loved Stanley Tucci’s performance, but the sub-plots were a bit all over the place at times.

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

**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 “Soft & Quiet” on Demand: Seriously messed up…

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

“I am really happy that we are finally doing this…”

Soft & Quiet premiered on Demand on November 4th 2022. The horror film stars Stefanie Estes, Olivia Luccardi, Eleanore Pienta, and Melissa Paulo. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-two minutes.

A kindergarten teacher sets up a gathering with like-minded women when an encounter with a woman from her past turns their afternoon into something catastrophic.

Here is the trailer:

Soft & Quiet is beyond disturbing, as a chain of events unravels into something truly horrific. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Blumhouse

Completely terrifying…

I don’t know if this is more of a pro or a con. This was not an easy watch by any means and what I witnessed was truly horrific. Social horror movies are emerging more and more and this one really pushed the envelope without holding back. I didn’t know much going into this, but I was completely shocked by what I watched.

This type of horror film scares me more than other genres because it’s something that could actually happen. You never know what a person is thinking or capable of and that can be way more distressing than someone you already know wants to do you harm.

This was an uncomfortable watch, but that was sort of the point.

Impressive cinematography.

I think this film was shot in such a smart way. It almost mirrored the way everything unfolded in front of the audience, never breaking our concentration. Rather, we followed the camera and watched this horrible chain of events unfold across the screen in real time. I’ve seen too many films with messy camera work or gimmicks and this approach worked flawlessly, making this even more of a gripping watch.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Blumhouse

Sensitive content.

The audience should be aware that this film depicts disturbing racial violence and pervasive language. The writer and the director really went all out with this to further the point of this film, but this will understandably be difficult for the audience to watch so just be aware of that.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Blumhouse

I’m in!

The most disturbing film I have watched all year…

I’m not sure that I could ever re-watch this film, but it was completely shocking and the director made a really strong debut.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Soft & Quiet 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 “The Devil’s Hour” on Prime Video: Creepy and Bizarre

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

“You don’t know me…”

The Devil’s Hour released on Prime Video on October 28th 2022 with six episodes available to stream now. The supernatural crime drama series stars Jessica Raine, Peter Capaldi, Nikesh Patel, Phil Dunster, and Thomas Dominique. Each episode runs for approximately 58-60 minutes.

Every night at 3:33 am, a woman wakes up during the devil’s hour as she starts to wonder if her nightmares and hallucinations are all too real.

Here is the trailer:

The Devil’s Hour has an intriguing mystery at its core and an interesting mashup of genres. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Solid performances…

Jessica Raine and Peter Capaldi were both so good in this. I really believed Jessica’s portrayal of Lucy. She elevated this series in a lot of ways. Peter Capaldi had such a creepy presence throughout the entire series. He gave me the chills several times and I’ll probably have a few nightmares of my own thanks to him.

Well played!

An interesting mystery.

I personally enjoyed the mashup of a serial killer crime drama with something supernatural. The pairing was slightly odd, but it somehow worked for the majority of the series. As we got to more of the reveals later in the series, we lost this magic a little, but the overall tone and vibe of this series was chilling and captivating.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Goes off course…

By the time I got to the end of the series, my head was spinning. There were so many different elements jam-packed into this series and I’m not sure that all of them worked. I preferred the first half of the series. Once things were out in the open, I felt exhausted and I’m still not sure that all of my questions were answered.

I also thought the episodes were too long and I lost interest a few times because of the pacing.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in about 75 percent…

A chilling and eerie premise with top-notch performances.

This series was far from perfect, but it still had a lot going for it, making this an interesting watch.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Devil’s Hour 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 rule…they can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my 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 “Prey for the Devil” in Theaters: A Unique take on the Possession Genre

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

“Let me in…”

Prey for the Devil released in theaters on October 28th 2022. The horror film stars Jacqueline Byers, Christian Navarro, Colin Salmon, and Virginia Madsen. It runs for an hour and thirty-three minutes.

A nun learns how to perform an exorcism in order to protect herself from a demon from her past.

Here is the trailer:

Prey for the Devil has a fantastic lead with an intriguing story, creating compelling layers within a possession film. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

Jacqueline Byers is fantastic as Sister Ann!

She is the BEST part of the movie and gave a really solid performance. I loved the character of Sister Ann. She was so interesting and really came alive on screen. I’d love to see Byers in more horror films because she really blew me away.

Christian Navarro was great as well and I liked the team-up between them.

More please!

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

Not your average possession film…

I thought I knew what to expect with this film, but I was pleasantly surprised that it took a different route. The history behind everything and the way this story was presented was really unique and compelling. There was a good balance of backstory and set-up along with the typical scenes you expect to see in these types of movies. 

The pacing worked well and I never felt bored at all. 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

Predictable at times…

I personally feel that this film revealed too much in its trailers. I saw a lot of the scary moments coming because of this and it took away from my watch slightly. I think I would have been better off avoiding all of the trailers…

The film does lean on tropes you would expect to find in a possession movie. There are plenty of jump scares, but I actually think that a lot of them were executed in a satisfying way so this isn’t a huge con.

I saw a few of the twists and reveals coming a mile away, but I still enjoyed my watch all the same.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

I’m in!!!

An entertaining watch with plenty of twisted moments to keep you hooked until the very end.

I actually really enjoyed this film and I think it made a valiant effort at doing something different with a possession film.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Prey for the Devil 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 Takeover” on Netflix: Modern Version of “The Net” has some thrills

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

“How long have you been at this?”

The Takeover premiered on November 1st 2022 on Netflix. The Dutch action-thriller film stars Holly Mae Brood, Géza Weisz, and Frank Lammers.  It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-eight minutes.

Framed for murder after uncovering a privacy scandal, a hacker must track down the criminals who framed her and prove her innocence.

Here is the trailer:

The Takeover (2022) is a quick action-thriller with a lot going for it. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A simple formula that works…

This thriller didn’t try to do too much, which I appreciated. It embraced its identity and just went with it. The pacing was solid and there wasn’t too much set-up to weigh things down. Everything worked seamlessly and I enjoyed the action as well. If you’re looking for one of those films where you can just turn your brain off for a while, this one fits the bill.

Strong lead to root for.

I really liked our main character. She was uncomplicated and fearless. I wanted to see more of her hacking skills in action, but I thought she did a great job with the role and elevated this film in a lot of ways with her performance.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Predictable…

Even though I enjoyed this film, it followed its safe formula and stuck with it. It reminded me a lot of The Net starring Sandra Bullock and didn’t stray too far from that familiar plot. I would have liked for it to have found its own identity separate from that film, but it was still a lot of fun to watch.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

A quick action-thriller with a strong female lead to root for. 

If you enjoy films like The Net and Double Jeopardy, you’ll find plenty to like in this one.

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

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

Spoiler-Free Review of “Stars at Noon” on Hulu: A Powerful Performance

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

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

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

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

Here is the trailer:

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

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Incredible performance by Qualley.

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

Images courtesy of Hulu

Beautifully shot.

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

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Not what I was expecting…

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

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

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in about 75 percent…

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

Main promo smaller

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now! I hope you enjoy!

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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