Tag: author

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Beast in Me” on Netflix: Carrie Mathison is Back…Kind of!

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

“Sometimes bad things just happen…”

The Beast in Me premiered on Netflix on November 13th 2025 with all eight episodes available to stream now. The crime thriller mini-series stars Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys, Brittany Snow, Jonathan Banks, David Lyons, and Natalie Morales. Each episode runs for approximately 48-52 minutes.

After a family tragedy, Author Aggie Wiggs has trouble writing her next book until her new neighbor, Nile Jarvis moves in. After his wife went missing, he was blamed for her murder, but it was never proven, but Aggie begins to discover some connections of her own leading to a dangerous new friendship.

Here is the trailer:

The Beast in Me has a talented cast, an addicting premise, and quite a few entertaining reveals along the way to keep you invested until the end. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Claire Danes is back!

I’ve missed watching Claire as Carrie Mathison on Homeland and have been waiting for her to appear in a series like this. She was in Max’s series, Full Circle a few years back, but I thought this one was much more suited to her.

If you missed the over-the-top emotional crying and yelling…it’s back! But seriously, Claire Danes is absolutely terrific in this series and Matthew Rhys was charming in such an eerie way. The rest of the cast is stacked as well and there were quite a few familiar faces in this one.

Images courtesy of Netflix

A consuming watch!

I was hooked right from the opening episode. I loved the setting (I’m very familiar with it) and I thought it worked well against the chaos and turmoil going on between these characters. Each episode did just enough to pull me in for more and I found this series very easy to binge-watch. I finished all eight episodes in two days.

There were a few side-plots to deal with, but everything connected enough in the end so I didn’t mind this. Episode 7 was incredible!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Predictable at times…

Even though I enjoyed it, you can pretty much guess what’s going on in this one. None of the reveals were that surprising, but they were still satisfying enough. I really enjoyed my watch, but I would have appreciated at least one shocking twist here to keep me guessing.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

The Beast in Me is an engrossing watch enhanced by two powerhouse performances by Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys. 

This was such a nice surprise. I haven’t been able to get into a show in a while, but this one really hooked me and never slowed down for one second. Loved it!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Beast in Me 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 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 “Salem’s Lot” (2024) on Max: Has Some Bite!

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

“It’s one of a kind…”

Salem’s Lot (2024) premiered on Max on October 3rd 2024. The supernatural horror film (based on the Stephen King novel) stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, Bill Camp, and Jordan Preston Carter. It runs for an hour and fifty-four minutes.

Author, Ben Mears returns to his home town for inspiration, but soon discovers that the people there are turning into vampires.

Here is the trailer:

Salem’s Lot (2024) is the third adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, but does it do enough to set itself apart from other vampire films? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Max

Entertaining cast and setting!

I really like Lewis Pullman and it was great to see him in another horror film. I think the cast did a decent job here. The characters were likable enough and there were a few stand-outs to root for. I always love being transported to another place and time and I loved exploring this town through a new lens.

Images courtesy of Max

Some eerie and unsettling scenes!

I preferred the earlier scenes in this film. There was this tense and mysterious vibe that worked very well. Once things were out in the open, it felt a little forced and predictable. The ending scene was done very well; however, and I loved the change in scenery.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Max

Rushed and cheesy at times.

My biggest con for this film was that it felt super rushed. We didn’t get enough time to flesh out these characters, which was disappointing. I get that it’s difficult to jam-pack everything from a novel into two hours, but there was room for development here so that we could care more about the fate of each character. I think that Mike Flanagan did a much better job with his interpretation in Midnight Mass. Granted, that was a series, but this film needed more layers like that.

I also thought the vampire scares were a little cheesy and gimmicky. I much preferred the scenes where you didn’t see what was going on.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Max

I’m in about 75 percent…

Salem’s Lot (2024) is a watchable adaptation with some entertaining moments, filling in nicely as a quick “movie of the week.”

Ultimately, I don’t think it reached its full potential, but if you like vampire flicks, there’s enough here to enjoy.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Salem’s Lot 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…

Scream Hunt Halloween

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 “Argylle” in Theaters: Sam Rockwell is a blast to watch!

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

“The greater the spy, the bigger the lie…”

Argylle released in theaters on February 2nd 2024. The spy action film stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, and John Cena. It runs for approximately two hours and twenty minutes.

Author, Elly Conway is known for her spy novels, but when she learns that she may be able to predict actual events in a real-life spy organization, she becomes a target and must figure out who she can trust before it’s too late.

Here is the trailer:

Argylle has some entertaining moments sprinkled in, featuring a fantastic performance by Sam Rockwell, but does the rest of the film measure up? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Sam Rockwell is as brilliant as ever!

Honestly, he’s the BEST part of this movie. I absolutely loved him in this role. He had me rooting for him and laughing quite a bit. The rest of the cast was fun as well, but he shined just a little bit brighter than all the rest.

Although the cat was a major scene stealer as well…

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Cute concept.

I actually really liked the idea behind this film. As a writer, it was interesting seeing someone else’s process come to life on the screen. I mean, what’s better than your imaginary characters and plot coming true and impacting your real life? The flashy action worked for the most part as well and this film never took itself too seriously, which was a good thing.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Way too long…

This movie really should have only been an hour and forty minutes tops. It was way too long and it dragged certain plots out. I honestly feel like this film had lots of potential, but it went off the rails and some of the twists were really silly. Sure, I didn’t predict them, but they were so over-the-top and cheesy.

There were still enough entertaining moments to keep me invested, but this film could have been a lot better if it would have made up its mind about its actual intention.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

I’m in about 75 percent…

Argylle is flashy and fun with plenty to enjoy (mostly Sam Rockwell and the cat), but its uneven pacing and outrageous twists prevented me from fully investing in this one.

Either way, if you enjoy spy action films, there’s enough here to appreciate.

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