Spoiler-Free Review of “The Stranger in My Home” on Demand: Sophia Bush Stars in this Soapy Thriller

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

“I feel like every choice I’m making is wrong…”

The Stranger in My Home premiered on Demand on June 24th 2025. The drama thriller film stars Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill), Chris Carmack (The O.C.), Amiah Miller, and Chris Johnson. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

A family’s world is turned upside down when a stranger knocks on their door and claims that their daughters were switched at birth.

Here is the trailer:

The Stranger in My Home is very lifetime-esque with over-the-top twists and soapy drama, but Sophia Bush elevates it as much as she can. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Republic Pictures

Queen Sophia Bush!

I’ve been waiting for her to make a return to film and was so excited to see her in this. She really gave this film her all and honestly made it a better watch because of her talent and charisma. I am a big fan and hope to see her in more films in the future. She does excel in the horror/thriller genre. Welcome back, Sophia Bush!

Images courtesy of Republic Pictures

A few juicy twists.

I wouldn’t say that they were that great honestly, but there were some soapy ones thrown our way, which helped this watch a little bit. If you love lifetime movies, this one would be right up your alley.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Republic Pictures

Some terrible acting and dialogue…

Sophia Bush and Chris Carmack did the best with what they were given, but I really struggled watching the rest of the actors in this. The acting was so over-the-top and ridiculous and some of that dialogue was really out there.

I also thought these characters made some of the WORST decisions ever, but I guess we wouldn’t have a movie without them…

Takes too long to get to the hook!

My other issue was we had to wait 55 minutes before we actually got to the thrilling parts of this movie. There was a lot of unnecessary fluff to sit through. I was cheering for our girl once we finally got there, but it took way too long!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Republic Pictures

I’m 50/50 on this one…

The Stranger in My Home is a by the numbers thriller with too much unbelievable nonsense, but it was great seeing Sophia Bush on the screen again!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Novocaine” in Theaters: Jack Quaid Gives us Quirky Charm in this Enjoyable Action Flick

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

“I can’t feel pain…”

Novocaine is an action-comedy film that released on March 14th 2025 in theaters. The film stars Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Jacob Batalon, Ray Nicholson, and Betty Gabriel. It runs for an hour and fifty minutes.

When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped after a bank robbery, a man who cannot feel pain becomes an unlikely hero to try and save her life.

Here is the trailer:

Novocaine features some hilarious and heartwarming moments along with some terrific fight scenes. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Light and fun!

It’s good to see a movie like this every once and a while. This film didn’t take itself too seriously at all. I thought it was super fun with a lot of humor that actually landed. The chemistry between our two main leads was sweet enough and the dynamic with the villains was fantastic (mostly courtesy of the brilliant Ray Nicholson killing it again).

Jack Quaid’s awkward, but endearing charm worked well here, making him an unlikely hero to root for against all odds.

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Creative and entertaining fight scenes.

In a lot of ways, this film reminded me of a watered down version of Crank starring Jason Statham. I liked that film better, but Novocaine had the same type of outrageous fight scenes that were very entertaining.

The fight scenes were silly, but they were also great to watch on screen. It was awesome hearing the rest of the theater audience react during certain gruesome parts.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures

A touch too long.

I personally think this movie should have been just under 90 minutes. The beginning was a little sluggish. It also felt very by the numbers. We learned about why we should care about these two characters while getting a touch of chemistry between them. I think the chemistry could have been fleshed out a little bit more, but I didn’t need this movie to be any longer than it was.

Once we got to the robbery and action, things picked up a lot, but it was a slower start for me.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures

I’m in!!!

Novocaine is a fun and breezy comedy-action flick packed with inventive fight scenes.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts on Novocaine 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 “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” on Netflix: An Addicting YA Mystery

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

“Whoever it was might still be out there…”

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder released on August 1st 2024 on Netflix will all six episodes available to stream now. The YA mystery thriller series (based on the Holly Jackson novel of the same name) stars Emma Myers, Zain Iqbal, Asha Banks, Henry Ashton, and Carla Woodcock. Each episode runs for approximately 44-50 minutes.

A teenage girl named Pip decides to investigate the disappearance of Andie Bell from years ago for a class project. With a personal connection to the case, she questions whether or not Andie’s boyfriend, Sal, was truly responsible, leading her down a dangerous path to the truth.

Here is the trailer:

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a clever mix of Nancy Drew meets Veronica Mars with a decent enough mystery of its own to explore. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A mystery worth digging into!

I did read the novel, but it’s been quite a few years since then so my memory was a little fuzzy on certain details. This wasn’t a bad thing; however, because I was able to invest in the mystery with fresh eyes and I thought it was a solid one. There were a lot of layers to it and I thought that each episode did just enough at the end to keep me coming back for more, making this series extremely easy to binge-watch.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Emma Myers gives a convincing performance.

At first glance, I wasn’t sure if she was the Pip I pictured from the book, but as the episodes continued, she started to grow on me more and more. I think the actress did a fantastic job.

The other supporting characters were likable enough, but she was the only one that truly stood out to me. While she didn’t have the sassy comebacks of Veronica Mars or the inquisitive charm of Nancy Drew, there was an honest intention to her character that made her seem very realistic.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

One scene I could have done without in episode 5…

There will be no spoilers in this review, but I would recommend caution when you get to episode 5. You’ll know it when it’s coming, but be mindful of that. This series was nearly perfect for me except for that.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a binge-watcher’s dream, featuring a solid mystery at its core.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder 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 “Drive-Away Dolls” in Theaters: Saucy & Sex-Crazed Crime Comedy

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

Love is a sleigh ride to Hell…”

Drive-Away Dolls released in theaters on February 23rd 2024. The crime thriller-comedy film stars Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Matt Damon, and Pedro Pascal. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-four minutes.

Two friends decide to take a road trip to Tallahassee, but when they are given the wrong vehicle in error, they discover a mysterious case in the trunk that puts them in danger with a group of criminals.

Here is the trailer:

Drive-Away Dolls features a fun concept with two likable leads, but does all the buildup lead to anything worthwhile? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Focus Features

Two worthy leads.

I really like Margaret Qualley as an actress and she lit up the screen in this one with her over-the-top accent and carefree portrayal. There were some fun cameos in this as well, but our two main leads stole the show. I thought the friendship and chemistry between them was believable and even though there were some ridiculous and trippy parts to this movie, this bond was grounded in something real.

Images courtesy of Focus Features

Fun concept.

I really liked the vibe of this film. The bright colors popped in an aesthetically pleasing way and for a time, this kind of felt like a mix of Pulp Fiction, Thelma & Louise, and Bottoms. This may seem like a crazy mash-up, but it kind of worked at some points as long as you don’t take it too seriously.

I also liked that this movie was on the shorter side. It could have dragged certain story-lines out more, but I think that would have taken away from the film.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Focus Features

Needed some more violence thrown in…

This film was filled to the brim with sex galore, but I think it could have benefited from some more blood and violence. The opening sequence hinted at unlocking this film’s true potential and I was hoping we would get a lot more of this throughout the rest of the film, but we never really got there.

I also thought that the ending needed a bit more of a bang to really sell me on this.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Focus Features

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I think that people will either love or hate this film. I’m somewhere in the middle of that. It had some entertaining moments, but the trailer was a lot more convincing than the actual result.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Drive-Away Dolls 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 Beekeeper” in Theaters: Jason Statham’s Still Got It!

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

“Nobody’s untouchable…”

The Beekeeper released in theaters on January 12th 2024. The action film stars Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Josh Hutcherson, and Jeremy Irons. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.

A former operative for a classified organization goes on a quest for vengeance to protect “the hive” and serve justice to all responsible for repeated horrible crimes against the innocent.

Here is the trailer:

The Beekeeper is filled with non-stop action and plenty of bad-ass and brutal moments from start to finish. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Satisfying fight scenes!

If you are watching this film to witness Jason Statham kick some ass, you’re in for a real treat. This film absolutely delivered in that department. The fight scenes were bad-ass, bloody, and absolutely outstanding! Jason Statham hasn’t aged a day! Seriously, I loved every second of them. More please!

Images courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Doesn’t try to do too much.

If you enjoy action films like The Equalizer and Nobody, this is right up your alley. The pacing was on point and I didn’t look at the time even once. We got enough backstory in a short amount of time to understand Statham’s motives and cheer him on, but the plot wasn’t weighed down by unnecessary side-plots and deep character reveals.

Rather, it just kept things moving and presented us with a worthy action film that measured up in all categories. This is my kind of movie and I’ll definitely be re-watching this one over and over again!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

I want more!

I really don’t have any cons. Some of the catchphrases were a little cheesy, but who cares? I already want a sequel!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

I’m in 100 percent!!!

The Beekeeper is bloody fantastic!

This film did not disappoint and exceeded my expectations!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Beekeeper 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 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 “Fool Me Once” on Netflix: Harlan Coben Starts the Year Off with a Bang!

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

“Death follows you…”

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

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

Here is the trailer:

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

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

So addicting!

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

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

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

Images courtesy of Netflix

A strong female lead to root for!

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

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

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Repetitive flashbacks.

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

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

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!!!

Satisfying, addicting, and perfect for binge-watchers!

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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

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

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

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

My Top 10 Films of 2023 are:

10

Totally Killer

Image courtesy of Prime Video

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

9

The Passenger

Image courtesy of MGM+

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

8

Barbie

Image courtesy of Max

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

7

Thanksgiving

Image courtesy of TriStar Pictures

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

6

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Image courtesy of Peacock

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

5

Plane

Image courtesy of Starz

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

4

Unseen

Image courtesy of Prime Video

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

3

Scream 6

Image courtesy of Paramount+

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

2

Evil Dead Rise

Image courtesy of Max

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

Honorable Mentions:

Leave the World Behind

Missing

No One Will Save You

Sick

The Blackening

Drum roll please…

1

Bottoms

Image courtesy of MGM+

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

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

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

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

Spoiler-Free Review of “Bottoms” in Theaters: Raunchy and Delightful!

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

“Welcome to our f*cking fight club!”

Bottoms released in theaters on September 1st 2023. The dark teen comedy stars Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Havana Rose Liu, Ruby Cruz, Kaia Gerber, and Marshawn Lynch. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

Unpopular best friends, PJ and Josie decide to start up a self defense club for women to impress their two crushes.

Here is the trailer:

Bottoms manages to find the perfect balance of unrestrained humor and utter charm, setting the new standard for teen comedies. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of MGM

Outrageously funny!

I’ve been waiting for a movie like this for a long time. I’m a huge fan of 90’s and 00’s teen comedies and many of the entries for the new generation have paled in comparison. Well, I can’t say that anymore. This movie was laugh-out-loud funny and so much fun! I loved every second of it and thought these characters dominated the screen.

I can’t wait to go back and see this again. It was such a blast!

Images courtesy of MGM

Every single character was a stand-out!

Usually there are a few scene-stealers in films like this, but I am happy to report that every single character was bloody fantastic! I almost wish this movie was longer because they all deserved so much screen time. Our two leads were great. Rachel Sennott is dominating the industry right now and she did not disappoint. I’m so impressed that she also co-wrote this film.

Marshawn Lynch stole the film for me though. He was AMAZING and I loved his interaction with the girls.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of MGM

I don’t have any…

Honestly my only con is that this film didn’t release in my local theater until the second week. Let’s work on that…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of MGM

I’m in 100 percent!!!

Bottoms packs a punch with unforgettable characters, bloody violence, and over-the-top humor, making this an absolute dream come true for the teen comedy genre.

My favorite film of the year so far!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Bottoms 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 “Old People” on Netflix: Creepy and Disturbing in the best way possible!

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

“What’s wrong with the old people?”

Old People released on Netflix on October 7th 2022. The German horror film stars Melika Foroutan, Maxine Kazis, Daniela Galbo, and Stephan Luca. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

A woman attends a wedding with her family, but ends up trying to defend them all when a group of old people at a retirement home go on a violent killing spree.

Here is the trailer:

Old People is completely bonkers, but so violent and terrifying, making your skin crawl. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Super creepy!!!!

This movie was so terrifying and disturbing. It does not hold back with the gore and violence and even the calm moments are creepy. This film nails the vibe it was going for and then some. If you’re looking for a mashup of X and The Visit, you’ll find a bloodbath of horror goodness with this one.

Characters to root for.

There were some characters that were really annoying and infuriating, but there were a few that were absolutely fantastic! I was really rooting for them and they elevated this film so much. Films like these are always much better when you actually care about what happens to the characters and I thought the film did a good job of presenting us with a flawed, but relatable family.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Takes a while to get going…

The beginning was a little slow for me. I was anxiously waiting for something to happen and we did get there, but not until the 45 minute mark. If you’re thinking of tuning out, at least get to that point and sit back and enjoy some bloody crazy violence.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending either, but the middle of the film was so good that I’m not too bothered by it.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

Bloody, creepy, and so entertaining!

Don’t expect any thorough explanations, but the meat of this film is definitely worth a watch and then some!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Old People 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 “Hocus Pocus 2” on Disney+: The Witches are Back!

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

Beware the black flame candle….

Hocus Pocus 2 released exclusively on Disney+ on September 30th 2022. The sequel to the cult Halloween classic stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Doug Jones, Sam Richardson, and Tony Hale. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.

When Becca and Izzy accidentally light the black flame candle, they re-summon the Sanderson sisters back to the town of Salem.

Here is the trailer:

Hocus Pocus 2 brings plenty of nostalgia for fans of the original film with a few new tricks up its sleeve. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Disney+

They still got it!

The original film premiered in 1993 so it’s been quite a while since we last saw the Sanderson sisters. I’m happy to report that these three still have it and then some! They were so much fun to watch on screen with delightful chemistry. It’s like they never left! There are plenty of new obstacles to get in their way and distract them, but whenever these three step on screen, they’ll put a spell on you for sure!

The new characters had their charms as well. I particular liked Tony Hale as the mayor, who added some quirky fun and Doug Jones continued to be a scene stealer in this film!

Images courtesy of Disney+

Lots of Easter eggs and nostalgia for fans of the original.

I personally really enjoyed the Easter eggs in the sequel. It channeled the vibe of the original film but it also found a new voice and story of its own. I was worried that things would feel redundant, but the new spin kept things fresh enough to keep me entertained until the end.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Disney+

Doesn’t hold a candle to the original…

Let’s be honest, it never was going to live up to the original film. I think it put forth a valiant effort with the nostalgia, but since it leaned on that quite a bit, I would have enjoyed seeing a few other familiar characters pop up in town.

Even though I enjoyed the new characters, they didn’t get the chance to truly shine or reach their full potential.

The musical numbers were fun, but they didn’t have the same punch this time around either.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Disney+

I’m in!!!

A fun sequel with plenty of bewitching moments featuring our beloved Sanderson sisters.

The original film is one of my favorite movies, but I think that the sequel did a decent enough job after all this time.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Hocus Pocus 2 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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