Tag: Courtney B. Vance

Spoiler-Free Review of “Grotesquerie” on FX on Hulu: Off to a Chilling Start!

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

“Something about it seems so familiar to me…”

Grotesquerie premiered with its first two episodes on September 25th 2024 on FX (episodes air next day on Hulu). There will be ten episodes in total that will air weekly. The horror crime drama series (written and created by Ryan Murphy) stars Niecy Nash-Betts, Micaela Diamond, Courtney B. Vance, Raven Goodwin, Travis Kelce, and Nicholas Chavez. Each episode runs for approximately 42-50 minutes.

A detective investigates a series of violent crimes in a small town and is certain that they are connected to her in some way. With few leads to follow, she teams up with a nun to put the pieces together.

Here is the trailer:

Grotesquerie hooks its audience from the start, luring us into a twisted and disturbing investigation. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

The unlikely partnership works!

OK, I didn’t know how I originally felt about this particular team-up, but it is working really well and is the best part of the show. Niecy Nash-Betts is fantastic in this series. I’m used to seeing her in more of a comedic role (shout-out to Denise Hemphill from Scream Queens), but she has some serious range and is putting forth a believable and layered portrayal of her character.

I love Sister Megan and can’t wait to find out more about her character. She’s quirky and offbeat, which is needed when dealing with some dark and disturbing content. There are some other interesting characters as well and it looks like we haven’t met a few key people so I’m intrigued to discover more.

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

A twisted mystery worth exploring.

These crimes were extremely violent and disturbing, but I’m very intrigued to put the puzzle together along with our main characters. There is enough of a captivating mystery here to keep me coming back for more. This series isn’t holding anything back and I think it’s doing a solid job so far of giving us enough of a hook to fully grab our attention. The religious theme may be overdone, but it’s still interesting.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

Dark and heavy content.

There is a lot to deal with in this series. The crimes are beyond awful and then Lois’s own personal demons don’t leave us too much room to breathe. This isn’t a major con, but I think I need to be in the right mindset each week to watch this one.

The pacing moved a little sluggish at times, but I think it did enough each episode to bounce back. I’m hoping this will smooth itself out as the episodes continue and I’m confident we’ll get there.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

I’m in!!!

Grotesquerie draws us in to an intriguing and disturbing mystery worth unfolding, featuring a stand-out performance by Niecy Nash-Betts.

I didn’t know I needed this series, but it was a fantastic surprise and I’ll be tuning in for the rest of the episodes!

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

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Lovecraft Country” on HBO: Jaw-Dropping Terror

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

“Stories are like people…you just try and cherish them and overlook their flaws but their flaws are still there…”

Lovecraft Country is a new series from executive producers Misha Green, Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams. The show premiered on August 16th 2020. It will feature 10 episodes, airing weekly (approximately 55-60 minutes in length). The show stars Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett, and Courtney B. Vance.

Based on the novel by Matt Ruff, Lovecraft Country introduces us to Atticus Freeman, a former African-American soldier who is on a quest to find his missing father during the 1950’s. His uncle and former childhood friend agree to help him, as they encounter threats involving racism and the supernatural along the way.

Here is the trailer:

Lovecraft Country starts off with an out of this world opening that will immediately have you questioning reality. While the show brings us some frightening horror that will leave goosebumps on your flesh, the real terror is embedded within the racism and white supremacists, reminding us that monsters and evil can come in many forms.

But, has Lovecraft Country done enough to continue capturing our attention week after week? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Lovecraft Country HBO 1
Images courtesy of HBO

A talented cast with lots of potential.

The characters are intriguing, but we have a lot to learn about them. However, I can say that the performances are already beyond brilliant. I just hope that we get the character development we need because these three actors are so incredible and I want to continue watching them shine across the screen.

Lovecraft Country HBO 2
Images courtesy of HBO

The last thirty minutes of the pilot episode are beyond terrifying.

My attention may have been wavering throughout the setup of the episode. The pilot is actually quite long, but when I got to the last thirty minutes, it was like time stood still. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and there were some moments that actually truly frightened me. I definitely felt the J.J. Abrams vibe here, but it worked. More please! Although…I might have to watch with the lights on.

Lovecraft Country HBO 3
Images courtesy of HBO

Visually breathtaking.

The lighting and the colors used were just stunning. I also thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack. It really helped transport me somewhere else without overdoing it.

The Cons:

Lovecraft Country HBO 4
Images courtesy of HBO

Slow moving at times.

It felt like there was a lot of setup throughout the episode, but almost for the wrong things. I wanted to know more about our main characters, but my attention began to trail off several times and this was a long episode.

I’m not really sure what this show wants to be.

While I knew that there would be several genres blending together in this show, I was a little lost at the end. There are elements of sci-fi, horror, and drama, but I’m not sure if the show has necessarily claimed its true identity just yet. However, I’m still invested enough and I would like to find out more.

So am I in or out?

Lovecraft Country HBO 5
Images courtesy of HBO

I’m in about 75 percent! The last thirty minutes changed my tune quite a bit. The show reveals a lot and really exposes the horror of Sundown towns and extreme racism. There is enough going on to give this show the potential to become something truly magnificent. However, I’m hoping that its wavering identity doesn’t get in the way because this talented cast deserves an entertaining story. Either way, I’m planning on watching the remaining episodes and I have high hopes.

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