Spoiler-Free Review of “Fear Street Part 1: 1994” on Netflix: 90’s Slasher Nostalgia

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

“It began as a prank and ended in murder…”

Fear Street Part 1: 1994 is a supernatural slasher film that premiered on July 2nd 2021 on Netflix. It is the first entry to the trilogy which will take place over the next three weeks. The film stars Olivia Welch, Kiana Madeira, Benjamin Flores Jr. and Maya Hawke. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.

Inspired by the R.L. Stine book series, the first film follows a group of teens in the town of Shadyside as they face off against a supernatural presence that threatens to wreak havoc on their town.

Here is the trailer:

Fear Street Part 1: 1994 turns back time and reels us in with some iconic 90’s slasher nostalgia along with a killer soundtrack, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Don’t f*** with the original.

The opening of this film was really strong. It helped having Stranger Things fan favorite, Maya Hawke lighting up the screen in a B.Dalton bookstore, which brought back so many memories. This film definitely channeled Scream and even gave me some Blair Witch vibes as well, but it did it in a clever way. It didn’t feel like a cheesy rip-off. It felt like a tribute to some iconic 90’s horror and I hope this also helps introduce a younger audience to some of these great films.

It still pains me to hear things like “oh I didn’t know the Scream show was based on a movie.” (This really happened by the way).

90’s dream.

Remember when people used to actually call one another? I thought this time jump back to the 90’s was a lot of fun. Similar to shows like Little Fire Everywhere and Cruel Summer, Fear Street is jumping on the bandwagon and they delivered in a lot of ways.

I thought the soundtrack was amazing and the throwbacks were a lot of fun, but I thought the fashion could have used some work. Other than the opening scene, I didn’t see any real iconic pieces of 90’s fashion thrown into the mix.

In a lot of ways, this time jumping theme for Fear Street is kind of reminding me of American Horror Story: 1984 and in a good way. Both of these entries understood the time period and the movies they were channeling, but they also did a good job of creating something on their own.

I’m interested to see how they will approach the next era in the second film. Bring it on!

The Cons:

Where’s the chemistry?

This film earned a R rating and stepped away from Goosebumps. I’m all for a group of kids or teens facing off against an unspeakable horror, but I need to actually care about the characters. Fear Street needed to take a lesson from Stranger Things and even the new IT film. The chemistry and humor between the characters was lacking here.

There were a lot of scenes where we witnessed some melodrama that didn’t really translate well. I won’t call it Riverdale-esque because I actually like Riverdale, but it felt empty and uninspiring.

I loved Olivia Welch in Panic and all of the actors put forth a valiant effort, but I needed more. There were some moments sprinkled in, but I think any major character layers were glossed over and as much as I appreciated the LGBTQ relationship at the core, we needed more development to truly care about these characters.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

The film had a really strong opening and ending. It did enough at the end of the movie to reel me in for more and I’m anxious to see the other two parts connect with everything. Overall, this was an entertaining watch and I think as long as you manage your expectations and power through the unnecessary teen melodrama, you will enjoy the watch. Besides, you can always just tune them out and focus on the amazing soundtrack!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Fear Street Part 1: 1994 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A HALLOWEEN THEY’LL NEVER FORGET…

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 new young adult horror thriller comes out October 7th 2021! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Sailor Moon Eternal” on Netflix: In the Name of the Moon…

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

“Moon Cosmic Power, Make Up!”

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal: The Movie premiered in early 2021, but it is now officially available to stream on Netflix as of June 3rd 2021. The film/series is broken up into two parts. Each part runs for approximately an hour and twenty minutes.

Following the Dream arc of the manga series, Sailor Moon Eternal introduces us to the Dead Moon Circus after an eclipse emerges. The circus is filled with potential villains and dangers, as each of our favorite guardians go through a personal dream/nightmare that could have deadly consequences.

Can the guardians defeat the evil and their nightmares to save the world?

Here is the trailer:

Sailor Moon Eternal feels more like a new season rather than a film, but it manages to capture the 90’s nostalgia from the cartoon series that holds a very special place in my heart. Is the new film worthy of a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Captures the essence of the original series.

While there were mixed reactions about the Sailor Moon Crystal series that came out in 2014, the 90’s cartoon is one of the best things I have ever watched and when I look back on it, I realize it also probably created my love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

There is a chosen one who must keep her identity a secret, a mysterious love interest, and a great balance of action, comedy, and drama sealed with a message of love and friendship.

The show is iconic and it’s difficult to get back to that level, but I thought that Sailor Moon Eternal felt very much like the original and I absolutely loved that.

Intriguing plot.

Also like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, we channel some “Nightmares” and “Restless” vibes, as Sailor Moon and her friends each have to deal with a personal nightmare that comes to life. I thought that this helped me connect with each of the characters that much more and I was hooked by the familiar plot, which is usually pretty entertaining.

The Cons:

A lot to remember…

It’s been some time since I have watched Sailor Moon so there was a lot to remember. I started to piece things together, but you have to go into this movie knowing something about Sailor Moon or you will feel completely lost.

I’m not sure if this film will connect with a new audience, but I think that fans of the original will feel right at home.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

This movie brought me right back to the original series and I loved every minute of it. If you are a fan of Sailor Moon, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how well the new movie channels the nostalgia of the original series while still bringing in some new welcomed additions and elements.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

My new young adult horror thriller comes out October 7th 2021! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Checking in on “Cruel Summer” on Freeform: 5 Questions I’m Dying to Know the Answers to

Greetings TV Fans! Freeform’s Cruel Summer has really been picking up the pace lately and I’m excited to watch the final three episodes. While each episode shows us things from Jeanette and Kate’s perspectives, there are a lot of other characters jammed into the mix with potential secrets and motives.

I have a lot of questions and theories, but will we be able to answer them all by the end of the series?

**Please note spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the series.**

My top 5 questions I’m dying to know the answers to on Cruel Summer are:

Can Mallory be trusted?

Images courtesy of Freeform

I’m still somewhere in the middle with the whole Kate vs. Jeanette debate, but how does Mallory fit into it all? I find it odd that she jumped sides and is now best friends with Kate, especially after she even admits that she used to hate her.

So, can we trust her?

I like Mallory a lot. I think she really brings a real and authentic quality to her character, but could she be the wild card making trouble?

It’s certainly possible and we still don’t really know why she and Jeanette stopped being friends.

The parents are also really suspect and Jeanette’s mom clearly has more secrets, but what else is she capable of?

I started to form some theories about Mallory after Jeanette talked about how Mallory wants to be in control and make everyone follow her ideas. When she left Jeanette high and dry after the CD incident, I started wondering more about her true intentions.

We’ll have to see how this plays out, but I always love a good twist!

How did Jeanette’s necklace end up with Kate?

Images courtesy of Freeform

Jeanette claims the necklace found isn’t hers, but how did Kate wind up with it? Did Jeanette leave it behind while going through Martin’s house? Maybe Martin found it and gave it to Kate as a token of his weird love for her?

I don’t know, but things aren’t adding up. Mallory could also have a part in this too, but I think this piece of evidence should not be ignored.

Were Kate and Martin romantically involved?

Images courtesy of Freeform

After that major reveal at the end of episode 7, we know that Kate went to Martin’s house willingly, which “changes everything,” according to Jeanette.

But we also witnessed Kate swooning over her stuffed animal and touching Martin’s hand, which gave out some signals. Sure, Martin should not take advantage of her period, but was there more to this relationship than we know?

If Jeanette thought that Kate was romantically involved with Martin (maybe she saw them previously together), she could have thought that Kate was cheating on Jamie with him and that could have caused her to flee the scene, but there is still a lot left to uncover here.

Did Jeanette actually see Kate?

Images courtesy of Freeform

It’s the initial question we were presented with during this mystery, but I’m still kind of wondering about it myself. I saw this really interesting theory online about there being some kind of two-way mirror in Martin’s house and we did see Jeanette with mirrors in one of the flash-forwards. Maybe Kate did see Jeanette, but Jeanette never saw her?

I also still think it’s possible that maybe Jeanette thought Kate was doing wrong by Jamie, but Jeanette seemed like an innocent girl who was just trying to fit in. Even though we are presented with some serious Single White Female vibes, Jeanette seems more stable than that and I’m not sure that’s what is actually happening here.

But why is she hiding that key?

Who is Annabelle?

Images courtesy of Freeform

This is my number one question. After Kate’s creepy campfire story about a girl named Annabelle, she learns from her therapy tapes that she saw Annabelle before she was rescued, and she also has some serious memory loss.

The obvious answer is that Annabelle is a version of Kate and maybe she had a psychotic break, which would also explain the memory loss.

But I really want there to be more to this story. Maybe there really was an Annabelle. We know that another girl came forward about Martin from a different school. What if he was keeping more than one girl prisoner?

Maybe she helped Kate?

If we want to go with the split personality route, maybe Martin is Annabelle?

I have a lot of theories about this and I really hope we devote the time to this question because it is the most interesting part of the mystery for me.

We have three episodes left and a lot of questions that are still unanswered, but I’m excited to reveal more pieces of the puzzle.

Stay tuned, Cruel Summer fans!

I hope you enjoyed today’s post and please leave your own thoughts and theories on Cruel Summer in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Cruel Summer” on Freeform: Mean Girls with Bite

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

“Who do you believe?”

Cruel Summer premiered on Freeform on April 20th 2021. The series is set to air ten weekly episodes. It stars Olivia Holt, Chiara Aurelia, Harley Quinn Smith, Michael Landes, and Froy Gutierrez. Each episode runs for approximately 50 minutes.

The events we witness take place over three summers in the 1990’s as a teen goes missing and another girl mysteriously takes her place.

Here is the trailer:

Cruel Summer adapts a typical teen thriller formula into something different by presenting us with three timelines that jump back and forth. It’s something bold and unique, but does it get in the way of this already entertaining plot? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Freeform

Mean Girls meets Single White Female.

Sure, it’s been done before, but this is a formula for success. I really loved this vibe and I was drawn into the plot and mystery completely. I can’t predict what is going on and I am actually really excited to see what happens next.

I also really like that I’m not sure who to root for just yet. The opening two episodes present us with different perspectives and of course things are not as they seem.

The performances are actually pretty on point and I thought that Kevin Smith’s daughter, Harley Quinn Smith was really great and I’m excited to see her in this role.

Images courtesy of Freeform

90’s nostalgia.

Much like Little Fires Everywhere, this show is also bringing us some 90’s nostalgia with the fashion and music soundtrack. I’m not sure it was truly necessary for this show, but it’s an added bonus and I am enjoying the throwback so far.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Freeform

Trippy time jumps.

While I appreciate that this show is trying to do something different, the trippy time jumps become really confusing and distracting. I actually think that the show is really good without these flashes every few minutes and while the actresses do a great job of reminding us which Jeanette and Kate we are dealing with, my head started to hurt after a while.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Freeform

I’m in!

Even with the trippy time jumps, this show is really addicting. I think that it might quickly become one of my favorite shows and I am really excited to see the mystery unfold over the next several weeks.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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

Spoiler-Free Review of “Little Fires Everywhere” on Hulu: Deliciously Deadly Suburbia

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

“If they’re saying something untrue, then you should change the story…”

Little Fires Everywhere premiered on Hulu on March 17th 2020 with 3 new episodes (Approximately 50 minutes in length). The remaining 5 episodes of the limited series will air weekly on Wednesdays. It stars Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, Joshua Jackson, Lexi Underwood, and Gavin Lewis.

The show is based on the best-selling novel written by Celeste Ng. It follows a 90’s family living in the picture perfect suburban town of Shaker Heights. They cross paths with a mother and daughter who have just arrived in town, as secrets, dark pasts, and mysteries are revealed. Each character’s story is intertwined with another, creating a vortex of drama along the way.

This plot and setting may seem familiar, as it definitely channels some aspects of Big Little Lies, The Affair, and Desperate Housewives.

However, the connections and story lure you in right away, making this binge-watch friendly option entertaining. But does it do enough to stand out from its predecessors? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Little Fires Hulu 3 — Images courtesy of Hulu

Witherspoon and Washington are electric on screen.

Their characters certainly have an interesting dynamic and we can absolutely feel the awkward tension between them, as each mother comes from a different socioeconomic background. However, the performances of these two incredible actresses transform these intriguing characters into something far greater. I can’t get enough of them!

The rest of the supporting characters are actually terrific as well and I would like to spotlight Lexi Underwood, who plays Mia’s (Washington) daughter, Pearl.

A mystery that leaves you wanting more.

The opening scene of the series immediately draws you in, as we discover that Elena Richardson’s (Witherspoon) beautiful home is on fire. We know that this is not an accident and it certainly makes you suspect everyone we meet, as we try to get to the bottom of this mystery, while other secrets are exposed along the way.

Little Fires Hulu 2 — Images courtesy of Hulu

90’s nostalgia.

I don’t know about you, but I love a show that can transport me back to a time that I know very well. The show is set during the late 90’s and we get several mentions of this, but the pop culture references seamlessly mentioned really make you feel like you are turning back time.

The kids are seen watching Ricki Lake and The Real World. Elena’s daughter throws in some comments about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and even compares her own high school relationship to Brenda and Dylan’s on Beverly Hills, 90210.

Once you get to the high school dance, the songs will absolutely make you smile. Seriously, one song after the next had me singing along from Chumbawamba’s Tubthumping to The Cardigans’s Lovefool to Savage Garden’s Truly Madly Deeply.

I was in 90’s music heaven and I still know all the words! Enjoy!

The Cons:

Little Fires Hulu 4 — Images courtesy of Hulu

Same Reese. Different show.

I wouldn’t say that this is really a con, but I have seen Reese Witherspoon play this character before. Elena Richardson is very much a mix between Bree Van de Kamp from Desperate Housewives and Madeline Martha Mackenzie on Big Little Lies, played by Witherspoon. I’ve seen Reese play this character obsessed with perfection many times and I was hoping for a different role for her.

That being said, she plays the role brilliantly, but I guess I was looking for some more layers from her.

So am I in or out?

Little Fires Hulu 5 — Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in! This series is exactly what I need right now. The show keeps you on the edge of your seat and there are so many moments in-between the big ones that will take your breath away. Every character and plot point is important and Kerry Washington is out of this world. She’s truly incredible and she lights up the screen with Reese Witherspoon, as we unfold this mystery together.

While some of the suburban drama is predictable, the show has not let me down yet, surprising me with its reveals and twists. I can’t wait to watch the remaining episodes and I absolutely recommend this show.

It is the series to watch right now!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural? Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery? Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon! Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well. I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Light as a Feather” Season 2 Part 2 on Hulu: “The Skin Crawling moments are Back with a Vengeance!”

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

Light as a feather, stiff as a board.

She’s dying.

She’s dead.

She’s dead…

Your favorite deadly slumber party game is back! After airing the first 8 episodes of season 2 back in July 2019, Hulu has released part 2 of the season as of October 4th 2019. Episodes 9-16 are all currently available to stream.

The show stars Liana Liberato, Haley Ramm, Brianne Tju, and Jordan Rodrigues and follows a group of friends who play a deadly game of Light as a Feather, which predicts exactly how they will die, targeting them one by one. After a slightly disappointing start to season 2, I was worried about the second half of the season. Did it live up to the bone-chilling moments in season 1 or did it fizzle out for good? Let’s find out!

The Pros:

Light as a Feather Hulu October 2019 1 — Images courtesy of Hulu

The performances of Haley Ramm (Violet), Liana Liberato (McKenna), and Brianne Tju (Alex).

Again, I have to give it up to this trio. Some of the characters on this show seem filler, but these three ladies held my attention the entire time. I love that they all didn’t start out as friends and their bond becomes stronger when they are all linked together by this curse, but the dynamic between them is fantastic and they really elevate the show.

The skin crawling moments are back!

Season 1 gave me some nightmares for sure, as some moments were genuinely shocking and hard to watch. These moments really gave a show that is mostly dipped in bubble gum pop horror a chance to be a little bit darker and I was disappointed when this fizzled out in the first half of season 2. However, the second half of the season delivered with this, giving us several moments that will really make you cringe and then some!

Satisfying twists.

We all know the game and I knew it would be hard to keep the show fresh and interesting, but I thought the second half of season 2 did a good job of keeping us on our toes. The twists worked for the most part and they kept me guessing up until the end.

The Cons:

Light as a Feather Hulu October 2019 2 — Images courtesy of Hulu

Channeling too much Lifetime…

So, this show has had a lot of teenage drama since the start and that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you are used to shows like Pretty Little Liars and Riverdale. I didn’t even really mind the will-they-won’t-they love triangle and I appreciated the LGBTQ relationship, but there were some moments that just felt like a failed attempt to throw in some fatal attraction psycho components, which weren’t really needed in my opinion.

Some really obvious moments.

I don’t know what it was, but there were just some moments that had that hit you over the head feel that undermined the show slightly. For example, (hey, here’s a bottle of pills…he must have taken these). I don’t expect everything to be a major twist, but I do want it to be believable as well. This didn’t happen all the time, but I did notice it more than I did in the first season.

So am I in or out?

Light as a Feather Hulu October 2019 3 — Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m back in! Even though I had some issues with the season overall, I still enjoyed the watch. The short episodes really helped move the binge-watching along and it’s just one of those shows that you can really enjoy especially around Halloween, so I have to give it up to Hulu for perfect timing.

Overall, I think this series is a lot of fun and it really gives you a lot of nostalgia for 90’s movies like The Craft and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Sure, there is a lot of teenage drama mixed in, but the skin crawling moments really helped push this one over to the darker side for me. There is no word yet on a season 3, but I’m not sure that we necessarily need one, although there is always something left open at the end…

Enjoy the watch and perhaps you may want to re-consider any slumber party games in the future…

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice is available here!

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Do you love horror series? Of course you do! Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon. It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals!

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