Tag: Elizabeth Banks

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Better Sister” on Prime Video: An Engrossing Mystery from Start to Finish

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

“My husband’s covered in blood…”

The Better Sister premiered on Prime Video on May 29th 2025 with all eight episodes available to stream now. The mystery drama series (based on the novel of the same name) stars Jessica Biel, Elizabeth Banks, Kim Dickens, Corey Stoll, Maxwell Acee Donovan, and Gloria Reuben. Each episode is approximately 53-58 minutes.

After Chloe’s husband is murdered, she is reunited with her estranged sister while trying to piece together what really happened to him.

Here is the trailer:

The Better Sister hooks the audience from the opening scene with a solid mystery and an interesting dynamic between characters, but does it do enough to be worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Jessica Biel’s wardrobe is to die for!

I loved every one of her ensembles. They were so chic and that closet…wow! Everything was very pleasing to the eye in this one. There were a lot of beachy and serene colors used in the houses. I love when series give us so many gorgeous views while something dark and twisted is going on at the core.

I thought that Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks were very believable as sisters. Both of them gave us great performances and it was fun seeing Kim Dickens in this one too. There were plenty of recognizable faces here.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

A mystery that reels you in.

I love when a series can hook me right from the first episode and this show managed to do that and keep the momentum going right up until the reveals at the end. I was trying to work a number of theories and this show did a great job of leading the audience in several different directions, which was refreshing.

I never felt bored watching this one.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

The time jumps were a bit chaotic.

I eventually got used to them, but they were distracting at times and a bit messy, dragging things out more than they needed to be. I preferred the current timeline so whenever we jumped to the past, I would have to switch gears a little bit, but I think the transitions improved with the later episodes.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in!!!

The Better Sister is your next binge-watch featuring a layered mystery and two worthy performances by Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks.

Once I started this one, I could not stop watching!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Better Sister 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 “Skincare” on Demand: Elizabeth Banks Dazzles

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

“Reputation is everything in this business…”

Skincare premiered in limited theaters on August 16th 2024 and is now available to stream on demand as of September 3rd 2024. The crime drama-thriller stars Elizabeth Banks, Lewis Pullman, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Nathan Fillion. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

Inspired by true events, Hope Goldman tries to take her skin care line to the next level, but when a rival moves in to the same shopping plaza, she suspects that someone is secretly trying to sabotage her career and life.

Here is the trailer:

Skincare is an intriguing story elevated by a captivating performance by Elizabeth Banks. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of IFC Films

Elizabeth Banks is fantastic!

She is the best part of the film and I think that she really elevated it in a lot of ways. I’ve always been a fan of hers, but she really held my attention and gave this role her all. The rest of the cast featured some familiar faces as well, but Banks outshined them all with her energetic and convincing performance.

Images courtesy of IFC Films

Interesting premise.

Mixing skin care, glamor, and Lifetime thrills is my kind of movie. The plot hooked me from the start and even though there was some uneven pacing to sit through, the last thirty minutes was really well done and worth the wait.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of IFC Films

Takes a while to get going…

Don’t get me wrong…things were interesting, but since this was billed as a thriller, I was waiting around for a while for the actual thrills to take place. We eventually got there and they were satisfying enough, but I guess I was looking for more of an unhinged edge to really sell me on this. I still enjoyed my watch, but we could have benefited from some outrageous moments to really make this one pop.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of IFC Films

I’m in!!!

Skincare is a Lifetime-esque thriller with style, featuring an electric performance by Elizabeth Banks.

I’d recommend managing your expectations on the actual thrills here, but I enjoyed my watch overall.

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

**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 “Cocaine Bear” in Theaters: An Absolute Blast!

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

“This is your brain on drugs…”

Cocaine Bear released in theaters on February 24th 2023. The thriller-horror-action film (directed by Elizabeth Banks) stars Keri Russell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Ray Liotta, and Margo Martindale. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

After a bear consumes a large amount of cocaine, it goes on a killing spree in a Georgia forest.

Here is the trailer:

Cocaine Bear is a bloody delight with plenty of insane violence and humor that actually lands. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

The perfect balance of gore galore and laugh out loud moments.

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE when a movie can accomplish this without skipping a beat. This movie was so much fun to watch from start to finish. It didn’t hold back in the violence department, but it also knew not to take itself too seriously at all, making this such an effortless watch.

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

The best ensemble I’ve seen in a while!

It didn’t matter how small their part was…EVERY single character was a lot of fun. The actors did a great job with the content. Usually in films like this, I’m not really rooting for anyone, but I actually cared about quite a few characters, which had me more invested.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Don’t expect an amazing plot…

There were quite a few people in my theater who did not seem too thrilled with this film and I even saw a couple actually leave. I don’t know what they expected with this movie, but you won’t get a well-layered plot.

As long as you go into this understanding that this film is meant to be silly and outrageous, you’ll have a good time though.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

I’m in!!!

Bloody, bonkers, and an absolute blast!

I couldn’t ask for anything more with a film like this.

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