Tag: chilling mystery

Spoiler-Free Review of “Believer” (2024) on Demand: A Twisted Cult Mystery

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

“Open your eyes and you will see…”

Believer (2024) premiered on Demand on September 13th 2024. The cult horror thriller film stars Ella Ballentine, Lauren Lee Smith, Ilan O’Driscoll, Peter Mooney, and Martin Roach. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-eight minutes.

While working on a book about a cult leader convicted of mind control and mass murder, a writer is targeted and attacked by him while he is on trial. Soon after, she forgets what happened and begins to hallucinate while staying with her sister’s family.

Here is the trailer:

Believer is eerie and disturbing with an intriguing mystery at its core. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Brainstorm Media

A terrifying mystery.

Cult mysteries always haunt me in a different way. It’s scary to think about how someone can be manipulated or controlled by what others believe. There was this lingering feeling of uneasiness throughout the film. In a lot of ways, it channeled the same vibe as Longlegs. The muted lighting worked to the film’s advantage and I thought the mystery was a solid one.

The opening really hooked me (similar to Longlegs). It was unnerving and it managed to capture my full attention. I had a lot of working theories around this particular mystery. It did a great job of keeping me guessing, unraveling into a layered story worth exploring.

Images courtesy of Brainstorm Media

Starts and ends strong!

I was worried that the film wouldn’t be able to hold the momentum from the opening. There were some pacing issues, but I thought the film finished strong and delivered (especially the last thirty minutes). It shattered any theory I had and branched off into something even more brutal and shocking. I’m still not sure how I felt about it, but at least it tried something different.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Brainstorm Media

Be prepared for a slow burn.

This wasn’t a major con, but things definitely slowed down A LOT after that killer opening. I kind of expected this, but we could have sped things up a little bit more. Don’t get me wrong, it still held my attention and it did jolt me with some scares and creepy moments, but I think this could have been tweaked a little bit more to make this more of a seamless watch.

There was also one particular scene I could have done without…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Brainstorm Media

I’m in about 75 percent…

Believer features a dark and chilling mystery, but it takes a while to get there.

If you enjoy cult thrillers, this is one to add to your watchlist.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Believer (2024) 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…

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

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Blackwater Lane” on Demand: Minka Kelly Doesn’t Know Who to Trust…

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

“The only constant is change…”

Blackwater Lane released in limited theaters and on Demand on June 21st 2024. The horror suspense film stars Minka Kelly, Maggie Grace, and Dermot Mulroney. It runs for an hour and forty-eight minutes.

After witnessing a crime while driving during a storm, Cass begins to question her sanity as she starts to wonder if the crime is connected to her in some way.

Here is the trailer:

Blackwater Lane has a solid cast and a chilling mystery built into its plot, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

Great cast!

A horror movie starring Minka Kelly AND Maggie Grace?! Sign me up please! I was so excited when I saw that both of these talented ladies were in this one and Dermot Mulroney is no stranger to this genre after recently starring in Scream VI.

I think that everyone did a good enjoy with their roles, but I guess I was hoping for a different kind of movie here. That being said, I enjoyed seeing them together on screen and I hope to see Maggie and Minka in more horror movies in the future.

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

An eerie mystery that captured my attention.

This film didn’t waste too much time in the opening. We got right to the mystery at hand and I have to say that I was drawn in for the most part. I wanted to know what was happening and how it was connected to Minka Kelly’s character.

The setting was aesthetically pleasing and there were some genuinely spooky moments…although I wouldn’t say that anything was that scary. This really felt like more of a psychological thriller than a horror suspense flick.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

Way too long.

I felt like I was watching this film for an exceptionally long time. While the opening got right to the mystery, things started to spiral off and really drag after this. There was A LOT of unnecessary fluff to sift through. The musical score put me to sleep and I thought that the end reveal was kind of predictable. It wasn’t horrible, but I guess I wanted more of a twist here.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Blackwater Lane starts off with mysterious potential, but it settles for a safe reveal.

I really wanted to like this movie with that cast, but it needed a serious boost and a better twist to really sell me on it.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Blackwater Lane 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 “Nanny” on Prime Video: Chilling Performance

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

“Jobs like this, they don’t fall from the sky…”

Nanny premiered on Prime Video on December 16th 2022. The psychological horror-thriller film stars Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Sinqua Walls, and Morgan Spector. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

Aisha takes a job as a nanny, hoping to earn enough money to bring her son to the United States, but a dark presence begins to slither into her dreams, threatening to shatter her sanity.

Here is the trailer:

Nanny weaves together a foreboding mystery that hooks you until the very end. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

A layered mystery.

Aisha had to deal with quite a lot while being a nanny for a wealthy, but clearly troubled couple. The dynamic between her and the parents was interesting enough on its own, but there were also these dark dreams and hallucinations sprinkled into the mix, along with Aisha’s own struggle to reunite with her son. While this film could have easily felt overstuffed and unfocused, it did a good job of balancing out all of the elements, refusing to let its audience off the hook.

I loved the imagery and connections to folklore. They really gave this film such a unique feel. The ending was also unexpected, but really well done.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Strong female lead.

Anna Diop was beyond fantastic in this. She really put forth so much effort into the portrayal of her character and truly made this film into something unique and intriguing just by her mere presence. She nailed every single scene and gave her character so much strength during pivotal moments. 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Needed more of an edge at times…

Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the dark imagery and vivid dreams, but I also wanted them to embrace some horror elements a little bit more. There were several moments that could have been truly terrifying if they had gone a little bit farther with them. I didn’t need anything really grotesque or extreme, but submerging a little bit more into the horror side of things would have worked really nicely with the overall tone of this film.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in!

A consuming mystery enhanced by a stunning performance that honestly left me with chills.

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