Spoiler-Free Review of “The Midnight Club” on Netflix: Mature version of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” has Heart

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

“The next chapter…like it’s already been written…”

The Midnight Club released on Netflix on October 7th 2022 featuring ten episodes available to stream now. Created by Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass), the horror mystery-thriller series stars Iman Benson, Annarah Cymone, Igby Rigney, Heather Langenkamp, Zach Gilford, and Samantha Sloyan. Each episode runs for approximately 53-56 minutes.

A group of terminally ill teens meet each night at midnight to share scary stories with one another at Brightcliffe Hospice, which may have its own supernatural mystery embedded in its walls.

Here is the trailer:

The Midnight Club follows a younger generation of characters, as they deal with unspeakable grief and horrors, unleashing a captivating mystery along the way. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Seamlessly transitions between the main plot and the vignettes. 

I was worried that I would feel disconnected between the main plot and the stories each character told, but there was a really nice balance here. While I enjoyed some stories better than others, I liked that they connected to each of the characters, revealing more layers in an effective way.

This was a different approach for Flanagan, but I think the style paid off. The audience became more invested in each character because of the stories, rather than just focusing on past flashbacks or key moments.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Characters to care about.

I thought the younger cast did a really phenomenal job with what they were tasked with. There was a lot of heavy and emotional content and yet they still managed to bring so much heart and soul to their characters, taking us on a roller-coaster ride of feelings.

There were also plenty of familiar faces from Flanagan’s other series to be excited about and I thought that A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Heather Langenkamp was absolutely wonderful in this!

Twist ending!

I did not see that one coming and although I have more questions now, I really liked the way this series ended. More please!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Difficult to binge-watch…

The mystery was addicting enough, but I couldn’t get through this series that quickly. The episodes were on the long side and there was just a lot of heavy and emotional content. I thoroughly enjoyed my watch, but I had to take a break at times because this series really tugged at my heart and then some.

I’m always impressed by how well Flanagan is able to bring out so many emotions while sprinkling in horror elements. This series was no exception, but I think you should pace yourself to get the most out of your watch. The scares weren’t as horrifying this time around either, but I think that’s OK since this had more of a YA feel.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

Meaningful, emotional, and an intriguing watch filled with extraordinary characters and a solid mystery to lure you in with each episode.

While not my favorite Mike Flanagan series, this show still has a lot of things going for it and is well worth a watch!

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

Spoiler-Free Review of “Alba” on Netflix: An Emotional, but Important Watch

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

“You can’t truly live if you’re afraid…”

Alba released on Netflix on July 14th 2022. All thirteen episodes are available to stream now. The Spanish crime drama series (based on the Turkish series Fatmagül) stars Elena Rivera, Eric Masip, Pol Hermoso, Caterina Mengs, and Adriana Ozores. Each episode runs for approximately 52-60 minutes.

A young woman wakes up with no memory of the night before, only to discover that she has been raped. She later discovers that the men responsible are her boyfriend’s best friends.

Here is the trailer:

Alba tells a compelling and heartbreaking story of a woman’s search for the brutal truth as she deals with setbacks and betrayals along the way. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A powerful story…

This series was difficult to watch because of the content, but it was also so gripping and important. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of Unbelievable and Lies and Deceit. I think it was a brilliant decision to have the show focus on Alba’s journey after the horrific event.

She had to constantly tell her story over and over again to people who doubted her, trying to prove herself in a world that was so against her at times. It made her story that much more compelling. You wanted to see her get justice for everything, but you also knew that she would never really be free from all of this, which was incredibly heartbreaking.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Elena Rivera gave an incredible performance.

She was so moving and incredible to watch on screen. My heart went out to her and every single time she reacted to something, it just felt so real. I didn’t feel like I was watching someone act in a show. It was more organic and genuine, which was important because this series focused on the aftermath of a crime that affects so many on a daily basis. 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A lot to take in…

There was a lot of emotional and sensitive content so viewers should be aware of that. I couldn’t easily binge-watch this one because it was so heavy and draining at times. I had to watch just a few episodes a day. I personally felt like the episodes were way too long and weighed down by some of the soapy fluff that was unneeded. These moments took away from the real story which was gripping enough on its own. It didn’t need all of this extra stuff and I think it severely impacted the pacing.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent…

Alba told an important and relevant story. The ending was satisfying and the performances were outstanding, but it definitely had some pacing issues.

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