Spoiler-Free Review of “Natty Knocks” on Demand: Horror Legends Star in this Campy Halloween-themed Flick

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

“I’ll come for every one of you…”

Natty Knocks is a horror film that released on July 21st 2023 on demand. It stars Danielle Harris, Bill Moseley, and Robert Englund. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

A babysitter and a group of kids cross paths with a dangerous serial killer connected to an urban legend in their town on Halloween eve.

Here is the trailer:

Natty Knocks gets us into the spirit of Halloween with a cast made up of horror legends, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Vertical

Horror dream team!

The cast was out of this world in this one! It was so much fun seeing Danielle Harris, Robert Englund, and Bill Moseley on screen. They each played their character really well and gave the audience something to cheer about.

Images courtesy of Vertical

Killer fun!

As long as you manage your expectations, you’ll have a lot of fun with this B horror movie. I love finding new gems that can fit right into my Halloween lineup and the mashup of supernatural and slasher elements were really entertaining.

The kids did a great job in this one too and that ending was a blast!

This film successfully channeled some campy fun in an effective way. I loved the premise and the second half of the film was thoroughly enjoyable to watch.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Vertical

Takes a while to get going…

The film started off really strong, but then things died down a little bit while we waited for the kids to stumble upon everything. At times, it felt a little filler, but we eventually got back on track and I thought that the film finished strong so this wasn’t a major con.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Vertical

I’m in!

If you’re looking for some Halloween fun starring some horror legends, then you are in for a real treat with this one. 

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

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 “Christmas Bloody Christmas” on Shudder: Campy Fun

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

“A killer Santa Claus…”

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

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

Here is the trailer:

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

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Shudder

Lots of fun.

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

Images courtesy of Shudder

Riley Dandy is one to root for!

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

That ending image was perfection!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Shudder

Takes a while to get going…

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

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

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Shudder

I’m in!

Campy goodness filled with gory Christmas cheer!

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

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

Spoiler-Free Review of “Slumber Party Massacre” (2021) on Syfy: Slasher Comedy Gold!

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

“This is my kind of party…”

Slumber Party Massacre (2021) released on the Syfy channel on October 16th 2021. The re-imagining of the 1982 slasher film stars Hannah Gonera, Alex McGregor, Jane De Wet, Frances Sholto-Douglas and Rob van Vuuren. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

A deranged killer with a power drill crashes a slumber party, hoping to turn it into a bloodbath.

Here is the trailer:

Slumber Party Massacre (2021) delivers plenty of gory fun, but does it do enough to be relevant with today’s audience? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Slumber Party Massacre Spoiler Free 1

Images courtesy of Syfy

A fun take on things.

There will be no spoilers here, but there is a twist thrown our way during the movie. It’s a lot of fun and it really allows the ladies above a chance to truly shine. I absolutely loved the use of horror comedy in this film. If you don’t take it seriously, you will find yourself laughing constantly because it really takes a lot of common horror tropes and has some much needed fun with them.

That pillow fight scene though…

More please!

Gory kills!

The power drill proves to be a formidable weapon and we get plenty of over-the-top kills to satisfy slasher fans. Plus our villain is just the right amount of crazy which made this a blast to watch. 

The Cons:

Slumber Party Massacre Spoiler Free 2

Images courtesy of Syfy

On the short side.

The movie is pretty short and I was disappointed because I wanted just a little bit more. We could have had a few more interactions between the characters early on or maybe some extra chase scenes thrown in, but I thought that the movie wrapped up pretty quickly just when I was starting to really enjoy it.

So am I in or out?

Slumber party massacre spoiler free 3

Images courtesy of Syfy

I’m in!

This movie accomplished what Black Christmas (2019) failed to execute. It gave us a gory campy re-imagining of the original movie with female characters to root for. It’s one of those movies where you can turn off your mind for a little while and just sit back and laugh your head off. I thoroughly enjoyed my watch!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Slumber Party Massacre (2021) in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

HAVE A KILLER HALLOWEEN…

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 new 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 “Jakob’s Wife” on Shudder: Barbara Crampton is Bloody Fantastic

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

“He who loves his wife, loves himself…”

Jakob’s Wife originally premiered in April 2021, but it released on Shudder on August 19th 2021. The film stars Barbara Crampton, Larry Fessenden, Sarah Lind, and DeVon Johnson. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

A pastor’s wife starts to change her behavior dramatically after an encounter with a dark presence in her small town, leading to a thirst for blood among other things.

Here is the trailer:

Jakob’s Wife has a horror legend and queen as its lead, telling a campy vampire story that has a message about female empowerment embedded in it. Does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Shudder

Barbara Crampton shines on screen.

I am already a huge fan of the iconic and legendary Barbara Crampton, but wow did she flourish in this role. It’s hard not to root for her during the film. She gives us plenty of humor and charm while embracing the darkness that is controlling her in such a convincing way to make this an entertaining watch.

Images courtesy of Shudder

A story about female empowerment.

I’ve seen so many vampire films over the years and I thought that this particular one did a good job of presenting us with something original and unique. Even though we know we are going to be witnessing plenty of blood and gore along the way, there is a bigger message here.

Jakob’s wife, Anne, has lost her voice and identity in her marriage. People interrupt her when she talks and she barely recognizes the woman she used to be when she looks in the mirror. When she starts to transform into a vampire, she speaks up when she wants to and does things for herself. I really liked this angle and I thought it helped make the film stand out.

It still has a campy horror feel without ever becoming too heavy, but the message is there and it’s an important one.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Shudder

The supporting characters lacked a little bit of magic…

I’m fine with just focusing on the wonderful Barbara Crampton, but I wanted a little bit more from our supporting characters. They were all just mostly filler for me and I didn’t invest any real time in them so it didn’t matter if any of them died throughout the film.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Shudder

I’m in!

The film is really campy and slightly outrageous at times, but it is an entertaining watch from start to finish and Barbara Crampton is absolutely wonderful in it. Seriously, she doesn’t age! As long as you don’t take the film too seriously, you will enjoy your watch and I think it has an important message at its core worth paying attention to.

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

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 “American Horror Stories” Rubber Wo(man) on FX on Hulu: Home, Sadistic Home

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

“Ghosts aren’t real and curses aren’t real…”

American Horror Stories premiered on FX on Hulu on July 15th 2021 with the first two episodes: “Rubber Wo(m)an” parts 1 and 2. The remaining five episodes will air weekly, leading up to the premiere of American Horror Story: Double Feature (season 10). Each episode of the spin-off anthology series runs for approximately 45-48 minutes. The first two episodes star Matt Bomer, Sierra McCormick, Gavin Creel, Paris Jackson and Kaia Gerber.

The series will present us with different stories each week connecting to the original AHS universe. The first two episodes bring us back to the beginning. A new family moves into Murder House so they can flip the house and learn that they may be in over their heads.

Here is the trailer:

American Horror Stories has the opportunity to bring us back to welcomed settings with familiar faces, but is the anthology spin-off worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

Back to the beginning…

I am a big fan of American Horror Story and I love that we encounter a new setting, story, and group of characters (with familiar faces) in each season. However, some seasons are much stronger than others and often I used to wonder about what would happen next at these infamous places of horror.

Well, American Horror Stories has managed to cure my curiosity by bringing us right back to the beginning with Murder House. American Horror Story: Apocalypse managed to sprinkle in a lot from the other seasons and this is basically a snapshot version of that, as we branch off into a new story with a new set of characters in a very familiar setting.

The “Amityville Horror on Crystal Meth” is back and so is the infamous rubber suit. Scarlett moves into the house with her two dads, who are determined to fix up the house and flip it.

I absolutely loved this return to the beginning. We get to see Murder House through a new set of eyes with a new darkness emerging through its walls.

Familiar faces.

Many AHS alum have signed on for the anthology series and I was excited to see Matt Bomer star in this one. I think this helps us remember that even though this is a spin-off, it’s still a part of the AHS universe ultimately and that wouldn’t feel the same if we didn’t see some familiar cast members along the way for our journey.

I’m excited to see who else is coming back! *No spoilers here.*

A plot that draws you in.

I actually really adored the plot right from the beginning. Even though there were familiar concepts, it felt new and fresh. Scarlett was great and I loved the love story emerging in the walls, giving me some Violet and Tate nostalgia.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

Goes off the deep end a little…

In true AHS fashion, the plot does go a little bit bonkers when we get into the second episode. I thought that the first episode was stronger than the second, but things did get a little bit silly toward the end. That being said, that’s part of AHS’s campy horror charm and as a fan of the series, I have come to expect that.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

I’m in!

As a fan of the series, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this spin-off. I didn’t really know what to expect at first, but I absolutely loved it. It was really fun seeing the Easter eggs and nostalgia weaved into the plot while still managing to do something unique and different with the new story.

AHS always brings us a great balance of twisted horror and humor. It somehow just works even though it may seem slightly ridiculous at times. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my watch of the first two episodes and I’m really excited to see the stories continue!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on American Horror Stories 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 new young adult horror thriller comes out October 7th 2021! 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!

Ranking the top 5 moments from “American Horror Story: 1984” season 9 episode 4: “It Feels So Good”

Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the FX network’s American Horror Story:  1984 season 9 episode 4 last night, I realized that “we’ve always got a say in what happens next,” but what if you really can’t explain what is going on?  What if there really is no rational explanation for it?  Are we still in control or are we helpless?  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “True Killers,” we learn more about Montana’s connected past with the Night Stalker, along with their shared appreciation for Billy Idol.  Meanwhile, the two killers on the loose finally cross paths, but who will end up victorious?  My top 5 moments from the American Horror Story:  1984 season 9 episode 4 are:

5

“This is aerobics.  It’s serious!”

This show is really making me laugh out loud and I love it!  In the beginning of the episode, we get an important glimpse into Montana’s past and discover that she first met the Night Stalker when he stumbled into her aerobics class.

The Night Stalker seems to hit it off with Montana right away, but reacts when one of her students decides to go off on her for her music selection.  After the Night Stalker presents Montana with a bloody surprise, she seems more turned on than scared, revealing that perhaps she has had a darkness within her all along.

4

“Promise me she’ll suffer.”

We don’t have to wait too long to understand Montana’s motive for wanting Brooke dead, as we learn that her brother was the best man at Brooke’s wedding.  Montana blames Brooke for what happened and is looking for revenge, but she clearly wants to make Brooke’s pain last.  The Night Stalker seems to be on board with killing for his girl, but does he have an agenda of his own as well?

3

“You always hated the crust.”

While Mr. Jingles is off on his killing spree, Xavier attempts to get Birdy to safety, but when Mr. Jingles shows up, it appears they used to be friends and he remembers her from the camp prior to the massacre.  We learn that Mr. Jingles enjoys a PB&J sandwich, but once he spots Xavier, it’s clear that he also has a hunger for something else.

Poor Xavier almost gets cooked alive, but Birdy is able to save him in time.  Birdy asks Xavier to put her out of her misery and he reluctantly agrees, but once he sees the burns on his face, he realizes that his dream of being on the cover of TV Guide may be over…

2

“You shouldn’t have crashed this party.”

Brooke manages to escape, but ends up caught in a net, as Rita reveals her plan to her.  Brooke says, “F*ck your research,” but she really is in quite the jam now.  Montana finds her and realizes that she can finally have the Night Stalker kill her once and for all, but of course Mr. Jingles shows up with perfect timing and we get an impressive showdown between both killers, which ends with the Night Stalker getting a tree branch stabbed through his throat.

Brooke and Montana are able to get away and this certainly ruins Montana’s plan, but Rita witnesses something horrifying when she sees the Night Stalker’s body levitating in mid-air.  His eyes turn black and he is brought back to life, reminding us of the supernatural presence still lurking at Camp Redwood.

It’s one thing to have a harmless camp counselor marching around dead, but it’s quite another to have an undead serial killer on the grounds.  We’ll have to see how this plays out, but it is keeping things interesting for sure.

1

“You never had a chance…”

We certainly get a lot of plot twists thrown our way in episode 4, as we also finally learn what’s up with Margaret.  I suspected something was off with her from the start and so did many of you, but she finally steps into the light to face Mr. Jingles.  We get to see another flashback for Margaret and discover that Mr. Jingles had somewhat of a crush on her and wanted to protect her.

Margaret used this to her advantage and manipulated him, taking her own revenge out on her bullies at camp while framing her poor “Benji Bear.”  After being locked away in the asylum, Mr. Jingles started to truly believe that he was the killer, but Margaret reminds him now that she set the whole thing up.  She even cut off her own ear to sell it, but it looks like Margaret is ready to embrace her true self again.

After shooting Mr. Jingles and eliminating Trevor, Mr. Jingles manages to get away, but the real killer has now emerged.  We know that the campers will be arriving shortly, so what is Margaret’s end game here?  Is she looking to re-create another massacre?  How will the supernatural elements come into play?  Stay tuned!

American Horror Story:  1984 episode 4 Music Soundtrack Highlight:

Billy Idol – Rebel Yell (Official Music Video)

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on American Horror Story:  1984 below in the comments section.  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!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Final Chapter Blog

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice 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!

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! 

Ranking the top 5 moments from “American Horror Story: 1984” season 9 episode 3: “Happy Jingles Day!”

Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the FX network’s American Horror Story:  1984 season 9 episode 3, I started to wonder if there truly is method behind madness or if some people are just evil?  Well, it looks like we are about to test this theory out and then some.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.  

In last night’s episode, “Slashdance,” we get a glimpse into Rita and Ray’s past, discovering that everyone has something to hide at Camp Redwood.  Meanwhile, there are still two killers on the loose while impostors run around dressed up as Mr. Jingles to celebrate the anniversary of the massacre.  My top 5 moments from the American Horror Story:  1984 season 9 episode 3 are:

5

“You totally missed it!”

Everyone gets quite a scare when multiple Jingles start appearing, as we quickly learn that it is Jingles Day.  Several kids decide to prank people to celebrate the day of the massacre because apparently it’s tradition, but they are in for a big surprise when the real Mr. Jingles shows up to break up the party.

I guess he isn’t too impressed by the day in his honor, as he proceeds to brutally kill these impostors, but he hesitates when he comes across one with an inhaler, which suggests that perhaps Mr. Jingles doesn’t want to kill everyone…

4

“Oh honey, I wish you could see your face right now…”

Brooke and Rita make it to the car, but Brooke starts to panic when her friends take too long to catch up.  She thinks that she should go for help, but Rita has other plans when she injects Brooke with a tranquilizer, providing us with an interesting twist for sure, as we learn that Rita has been less than honest with the rest of the group.

But why does everyone seem to be so focused on Brooke?  We already got a glimpse into her past and I’m sure some of Joey’s family members might want to seek out revenge, but is there something else from her past that has not surfaced yet?

3

“Maybe it isn’t all my fault.”

So, we learn that Rita is not Rita at all and her real name is Donna Chambers.  She is a psychologist who studies serial killers and she paid Mr. Jingles a visit in the asylum a week before he escaped.  Donna gets Mr. Jingles to open up and chat, as she explains that she thinks that something in his life caused him to be this way.

Donna certainly seems to blame pornography and the military quite a bit, but she wants to see Mr. Jingles in his natural habitat, as we discover that she was the one to help plan his escape.  Donna talks about redemption, but I’m not sure if Mr. Jingles is really making that much progress during his killing spree…although I guess sparing one life is something?

Donna is also far from innocent, as she meets the real Nurse Rita on the way to Camp Redwood and decides to take on her identity.  While it initially seemed like Donna killed poor Rita, Rita wakes up later on when Xavier and Montana are hiding from Mr. Jingles and begins screaming even after they tell her to be quiet.  Rita’s day doesn’t get any easier, as Mr. Jingles decides to shut her up permanently…by shoving an oar in her mouth.

2

“What the hell are you doing down there?”

“I’m dying!”  The campy horror humor continues in this episode and several moments made me laugh out loud.  Ray doesn’t learn from his past mistakes, as he repeatedly leaves his friends to die to save himself…but what goes around comes around.  Ray yells out, “See ya,” when riding off on the motorcycle…right before Mr. Jingles decides to decapitate him.  So long, Ray!

1

“Why the hell haven’t you killed her yet?”

Fake Rita was not the only twist during the episode, as Montana comes face-to-face with the Night Stalker at the end of the episode.  While it initially seemed like Montana was in some real trouble here, the two proceed to make out and Montana asks him why he hasn’t killed her yet.

So now of course, I am extremely interested in Montana’s past and motive and it looks like we will get to see a glimpse of it in next week’s episode.  The twists and turns keep coming our way and I have to say that I am absolutely loving the new season!

American Horror Story:  1984 episode 3 Music Soundtrack Highlights:

Chicago – If You Leave Me Now “HQ/HD”

Daryl Hall & John Oates – Maneater

Kajagoogoo – Too Shy

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on American Horror Story:  1984 below in the comments section.  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!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Blog

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice 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!

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! 

Ranking the top 5 moments from “American Horror Story: 1984” season 9 episode 2: “A Fantasy of Revenge”

Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the FX network’s American Horror Story:  1984 season 9 episode 2, we learned that you can “refuse to let fear dictate your life” and “if you imagine the worst, that’s all you see.”  But what if everyone really is out to get you?  Do you let the fear in or do you use everything in your power to fight it?  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.  

In last night’s episode, “Mr. Jingles,” more secrets are unlocked, as we get a glimpse into Brooke’s past, while Xavier gets a disturbing visit in the present.  Meanwhile, Margaret continues to do “God’s work,” as she meets the Night Stalker, but it seems like there are some supernatural forces present at Camp Redwood.  My top 5 moments from the American Horror Story:  1984 season 9 episode 2 are:

5

“Mr. Jingles will not survive me.”

After receiving a warning about Mr. Jingles escaping the mental institution, Margaret does not seem to be fazed at all.  In fact, she almost treats it like a challenge, explaining that she will not live her life in fear.  While this seems commendable in some ways, you have to wonder why Margaret is willing to put the lives of others in danger by keeping Camp Redwood open?

I had a feeling that something was off with Margaret from last week’s episode, but it looks like we still have a lot left to discover about her.  I guess the jingling will continue as scheduled.

4

“I just wanted everything to be perfect.”

We don’t have to wait too long to get a glimpse into Brooke’s past, as we learn that she was supposed to get married last summer, which isn’t much of a shock since we did see her looking at the engagement ring in her jewelry box in last week’s episode.  However, Brooke’s fiance, Joey allowed his jealousy to rule his actions, as he decided to begin shooting people at the wedding, including himself.

It’s understandable why Brooke is beyond traumatized, but is there more to the story here?  Brooke opens up to Montana during this revelation and Montana proceeds to kiss her, but Brooke breaks it up before anything can go too far.  Fingers crossed that we get to see more of this!

3

“Gay for pay, baby.”

Xavier also seems to be hiding something and during this episode, he gets a visit from his pimp?  I guess that’s what he is, as someone named Blake (but call him Daddy) shows up to blackmail Xavier.  He claims that he found Xavier as a junky and cleaned him up to make him a star in gay porn, but Xavier has real dreams about being an actor.  Xavier claims that he can find someone even better for his movies and poor Blake certainly gets an eyeful when he spies on the guys in the shower…oh and he gets stabbed in the eye too. 

Xavier’s character comes into question here; however, as he seems more than willing to turn someone else in to get away.  Will he do the same thing when he is faced with the killer?  We’ll have to wait and see.

2

“How are you alive?”

After Brooke is on the run from the Night Stalker, he runs into a camp counselor, Jonas, and proceeds to kill him…more than once.  The Night Stalker is beyond confused by this and so am I.  The Night Stalker then has a really weird conversation with Margaret, who seems to be quite taken with him.  We see a glimpse into the Night Stalker’s past and learn how he became a killer, but it looks like Brooke may be off the hook now, as the Night Stalker feels that Margaret truly sees him. 

Margaret seems to be extremely sympathetic and understanding with the Night Stalker, which makes me question her motives even more.  She comes face-to-face with Jonas, who died on the night Mr. Jingles killed everyone, but his spirit seems to be trapped in Camp Redwood somehow?

We’ll have to see how this plays out and while I’m thankful for some plot advancement, I’m not sure if it really fits in too well, but AHS has a way of seamlessly connecting all the dots for us, even if we don’t see it initially.

1

“He’s dead dead.”

So I actually really enjoyed the humor in this episode, as our group of characters all now realize that there is an actual killer on the loose after they stumble upon Blake’s corpse.  Xavier hilariously screams out that they have to help him, but is told that he is “dead dead,” which had me laughing out loud.

I love that the show is truly paying homage to the 80’s slasher films we all know so well, while keeping things light with some campy horror fun.  Now that the characters know that Mr. Jingles is there, what will they do next?  I can’t wait to find out and it looks like we will be exploring Mr. Jingles’s past more next week.  Stay tuned!

**Fun fact:  Brooke sits on the dock and sees someone in the water underneath it, which is a fun throwback to Friday the 13th:  Part III.  Oddly enough, the character from the movie, Vera, is later shot through the eye by Jason and a one-eyed corpse is seen in Friday the 13th:  The Final Chapter.  Is this foreshadowing for what’s to come with Blake?  Perhaps, but it was a fun throwback nonetheless.

American Horror Story:  1984 episode 2 Music Soundtrack Highlights:

Billy Idol – White Wedding

Greg Kihn Band – Jeopardy

The Pointer Sisters – Jump (For My Love)

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on American Horror Story:  1984 below in the comments section.  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!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Blog

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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! 

Spoiler-Free Review of “What We Do In The Shadows” FX Series Premiere: Fangtastically Funny

Happy Friday TV Fans!  The wait is over and What We Do In The Shadows is finally here!  The show is based on the film of the same name from 2014 and it is brought to us by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement.  If you are not familiar with the movie, it is a mockumentary following a group of vampires living together in New Zealand.  FX was awesome enough to actually play the movie the day before the series premiered, which gave me time to re-watch it and enjoy the campy horror fun.  I mean, seriously there were so many bloody dishes to clean…

If you are a fan of the film, you will absolutely fall in love with the series as well, which now takes place in Staten Island, New York.  Love that!  Even if you have never seen the film before, you will enjoy the series, which is kind of like The Office if it followed vampires.  In the series, we follow a different group of vampires, but it is set in the same universe as the movie, which means a crossover is not out of the question.  Fingers crossed!  The series introduces us to Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja, and their human familiar, Guillermo.  However, my personal favorite was an energy sucking vampire named Colin, who can bore everyone to death with dull conversation starters, which is probably the funniest part of the show so far.

Overall, I thought that the series premiere had a lot of potential and provided us with some really funny moments, especially the grocery store scene, which was laugh out loud hilarious.  Not all of the jokes landed for me, but I had the same issue with the film, so I think it comes down to comedy preference, which is not necessarily a bad thing.  However, there is a void right now in horror comedies, as shows like Ash vs Evil Dead, Stan Against Evil, and Scream Queens have all been canceled.  I still don’t get why, but that means that there is definitely room for What We Do In The Shadows to provide us with some much needed horror comedy.  We will get 10 episodes of the first season and I’m looking forward to some bloody brilliant comedy for sure!

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

**I am so excited to announce that my book, The Search for Alice, is now available!  If you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery, then this might be the book for you or someone you know!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I hope you enjoy!

The Search for Alice is available here!

The Search for Alice Feb 2019

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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**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!

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! 

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 14 episode 4: “Time To Slice and Dice!”

Happy Friday TV fans!  Everyone enjoys a good horror movie marathon.  Well maybe some people more than others, but what happens when the horror comes to life?  Is it your dream come true or your worst nightmare?  After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 14 episode 4, Dean pretty much indicated that this is the coolest thing ever and I agree, as this has been my favorite episode so far this season.  Supernatural did what it does best, providing us with some laugh out loud funny moments with some campy horror mixed in.  More of this please!  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “Mint Condition,” Sam tries to get Dean out of his funk by telling him about a case that involves toys coming to life, which immediately grabs his brother’s attention.  As Sam and Dean try to figure out exactly what they are dealing with, they both bond with a different comic book store owner and Sam finally reveals why he hates Halloween.  My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 14 episode 4 are:

5

“Our life is a scary movie.”

In the beginning of the episode, Dean is enjoying some pizza and watching a horror movie marathon, which includes one starring “Hatchet Man” with the catch phrase, “Time to Slice and Dice!”  I have to admit that Dean was absolutely adorable in this scene, but Sam is not too impressed with Dean’s decision to stay in his room all the time.  While Dean listens to Sam, he takes this time to comment on the fact that Sam has shaved his beard.  Sam tries to get Dean to stay on track and reminds him that “our life is a scary movie.”

4

“She’s like your wonder twin.”

After Sam tells Dean about an action figure supposedly coming to life and attacking someone, Dean is in and ready for a case.  He enthusiastically says, “Thundercats…seriously!”  Sam and Dean head off to the comic book store to check things out and Dean thinks the girl owner is Sam’s wonder twin right down to her delicate features and luxurious hair.  Sam takes this time to point out the other owner in the horror section with a lollipop, suggesting that he is Dean’s double.  This joke proceeds to go even further, as both Winchester brothers spend some quality time with their “twins” and realize that they actually do have quite a bit in common.

3

“Why do you know what that means?”

Sam and Dean track down the comic book store employee who was attacked named Stuart.  Stuart is beyond hilarious, as he insists on voicing his opinions loudly to his opponent in a video game.  After trying to figure out who might have a motive to hurt Stuart, he talks about his ex-girlfriend who was into “wicca.”  When he talks about “mirl,” Dean is beyond confused and Sam explains that this means “meeting in real life.”  I laughed so hard when Dean asked Sam how he knew what that meant, keeping this episode super fun and light.  Dean suspects that a witch might be involved, but they soon find out that they are dealing with the ghost of the former owner of the comic book store who is not the biggest fan of Stuart.

2

“Unless it’s Godzilla…it’s real!”

After Dean is almost taken out by a flying chainsaw, Stuart ends up in the hospital and they decide to keep an eye on him, as the ghost is clearly targeting him.  Stuart’s best friend hangs around too and Dean starts to realize that actually do have a lot in common and are both huge fans of the “Hatchet Man” movies.  Dean explains, “I like to watch movies where I know the bad guy is going to lose,” actually shedding some light on another reason why he has been locked up in his room for so long, not ready to truly cope with what happened with Michael.  The ghost decides to possess a “Hatchet Man” animatronic and heads to the hospital, which is a thrill for Dean and his new pal.  Meanwhile, Sam bonds with the girl owner and they try and figure out how to stop the ghost once and for all and realize that they pretty much think the same way.  When “Hatchet Man” arrives, Dean grabs an ax and is ready to face his favorite horror movie villain.  Dean vs. Hatchet Man…place your bets!  This fight is absolutely hilarious, as “Hatchet Man” proceeds to press the button on his chest so that his famous catch phrases are said, which makes the battle that much more epic for Dean.  After the key-chain is destroyed, the ghost is eliminated and the threat is over, but Dean reminds us that this was absolutely awesome and I agree!

1

“Why do you hate Halloween?”

The moment we have all been waiting for is here, as Sam finally tells Dean why he hates Halloween so much.  After Sam gives Dean a pep talk on the ride back, Dean agrees to come out of his room more even though he will not be able to just erase what happened with Michael.  Now that this is resolved, Dean takes this opportunity to find out exactly why Sam hates Halloween.  After initially saying, “You don’t want to know,” Sam finally opens up and talks about a girl named Andrea he used to like and how she invited him over for a Halloween party.  Sam had been super nervous and when he had to bob for apples, he ended up puking everywhere…even on Andrea.  Sam spent the rest of the night hiding out in the woods traumatized while he waited for Dean.  Poor Sam!  Dean decides that it’s time for him to get over this and that they can dress up as a “dynamic duo” next year like Batman and Robin or perhaps Thelma and Louise, which is beyond hilarious.  Overall, this episode was extremely entertaining and I have a feeling I will continue to watch it every Halloween.  Let’s keep these episodes coming!  Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Supernatural in the comments section below.  Happy viewing!

**I would love it if you would take a moment to check out my Whizbuzz Book page via the link below for everything you need to know about my new book, The Search for Alice, including my author bio page and links to my website and social media sites!  Thank you!

My Whizbuzz Book Page

Stay up to date on upcoming premieres of horror TV series @ 12nightsofhorror.com/horror-series-coming-soon

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

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!

I am so excited to announce that my book, The Search for Alice, is now available!  If you enjoy fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery, then this might be the book for you or someone you know!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I hope you enjoy!

When Kallie Bennett, a jaded teenage girl plagued by her alcoholic mother and her peers molded out of sheer bubble gum perfection, chases after Alice in Wonderland herself, she ends up lost in her own version of Wonderland, which forces her to face her utmost fears and introduces her to familiar characters with a dark twist. Among these characters is Ches, a gorgeous vampire with a conflicted conscience, who becomes Kallie’s guide and blossoming love interest. She also crosses paths with Queen Hartley, a manipulative witch who has the power to strip away one’s memories and imagination, which brings a bone chilling new meaning to “off with their heads.” In The Search for Alice, Kallie starts to realize that her Wonderland is just as frightening as her own reality and that she cannot always run away from her problems. She must figure out a way to defeat Queen Hartley and return home before it is too late, but she soon learns that escaping Wonderland means leaving Ches behind forever.

Want to read more?  You can click the link directly below for a free preview.  Thanks for your support!

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

The Search for Alice is available here!

The Search for Alice Cover