Spoiler-Free Review of “Peacemaker” on HBO Max: Foul-Mouthed Superhero Fun

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

“You’re kind of bulky to be a superhero…”

Peacemaker premiered on HBO Max on January 13th 2022 with the first three episodes available to stream now. The superhero series will air its remaining five episodes weekly. Each episode runs for approximately 40-45 minutes. The show stars John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Robert Patrick and Freddie Stroma.

The series takes place after the events of The Suicide Squad (2021), as Peacemaker is recruited on a mission as a contract killer.

Here is the trailer:

Peacemaker doesn’t hold anything back as it delivers with raunchy humor and plenty of action to make this a fun ride for the most part. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Silly fun.

There is a lot of crude and uncensored humor in this series. It takes the character from the film and really lets loose with its HBO audience. This is one of those shows where you don’t really need to think too much. You can just enjoy it and have fun. The show is not taking itself too seriously and as long as you don’t either, you’ll probably enjoy it more.

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Danielle Brooks is a scene-stealer!

John Cena is a blast to watch and lives up to his character, but Danielle Brooks is even more entertaining to watch. I loved her on Orange Is the New Black and she is already showing off her talent just from the first three episodes. I think her character is actually elevating the show that much more because it could become really repetitive without her.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

A plot I’ve seen before…

The plot leaves a lot to be desired and it’s a concept I’ve seen before, but I’m remaining positive about it because there are enough entertaining factors to keep this show from becoming stale and so far I am enjoying the ride. I hope that we can expand past the obvious and explore something new to keep things fresh.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in!

Outrageous and over-the-top fun that just works!

My recommendation is to not overthink things too much. Just go into this show and enjoy the ride and you’ll be thoroughly entertained.

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

Spoiler-Free Review of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” in Theaters: All Around Fun

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

“Who you gonna call?”

Ghostbusters: Afterlife released in theaters on November 19th 2021. The film stars McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Logan Kim, Celeste O’Connor, Carrie Coon and Paul Rudd. It runs for just over two hours.

After getting evicted from their home, a mom and her two kids move into their grandfather’s old farm house, as they soon unlock some secrets and connections to the original Ghostbusters.

Here is the trailer:

Ghostbusters: Afterlife attempts to continue the Ghostbusters story with some new characters while still sprinkling in some nostalgia for fans of the original film. Does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures

The new characters do a great job.

I was slightly worried about this, but I really loved all of the new characters. Phoebe was my favorite and really stole the show. The kids had a Scooby gang charm and Paul Rudd brought some humor into the mix as well.

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures

Good balance of nostalgia and something new.

I thought this worked for the most part. Fans got plenty to be excited about and we also got a lot of entertaining and new elements added in. I didn’t think the cameos or the nods at the original were too forced. Everything just worked naturally and it was a lot of fun!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures

The middle dragged…

I thought the film started off strong and the ending really brought it home, but I started to lose interest in the middle of the film. The pacing needed some work and I think that the film was slightly too long. I didn’t need something major happening at all times, but I think this could have been tightened up a little bit to make the film more seamless overall.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures

I’m in!

Overall, this was an entertaining watch. I loved all of the cameos and I think that the film did enough to keep fans happy. I think the pacing could have been a lot better and the plot didn’t do anything that extraordinary, but this was honestly a blast to watch and I had a lot of fun!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Ghostbusters: Afterlife 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 “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!

**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 “Escape Room: Tournament of Champions” in Theaters: Welcome Back to the Game

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

“Whatever you do, don’t let them win…”

Escape Room: Tournament of Champions is the sequel to 2019’s Escape Room. The film premiered in theaters on July 16th 2021. It stars Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Holland Roden, and Indya Moore, and runs for approximately an hour and thirty minutes.

After winning and surviving the escape room the first time around, Zoey and Ben are determined to take down the mastermind behind the game, bringing them to a set of coordinates in New York City. However, they quickly discover that they are back in the dangerous game along with a previous group of winners.

Here is the trailer:

Escape Room: Tournament of Champions is filled with new games and challenges to keep us on our toes, but does the second film have enough of an edge to measure up to the original film? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures

Exciting new setting.

Getting around New York City is basically like one big puzzle so I thought it was brilliant to have it as the new setting for the Escape Room sequel. I thought the games were really intense and I loved that we just jumped right into things. We got a little bit of set-up and some flashbacks to remind us about where we left off at the end of the first film, but once the games started back up again, it was a fast-paced roller-coaster ride of adrenaline.

Impressive twists and reveals.

I am a big fan of the first film even though I thought it went a little bit off course with the ending. However, it did set things up for a second film so I guess there’s that. I was a little bit worried that the second film would feel slightly routine since we already knew what was going on, but we were thrown several curve balls along the way and there was one major reveal that had me almost screaming in my seat.

Well played!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures

Annoying use of flashbacks.

I understood the point of the recap/flashback in the beginning of the film. It reminded us about what happened and it also helped fill in the blanks for a new audience. However, the film continued to use the flashbacks later on to remind us how certain characters felt about one another. I thought this was slightly insulting to the audience (we can figure this out on our own) and unnecessary, but it didn’t take up too much time so I’m over it.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures

I’m in!

This film was intense from start to finish. It was really entertaining and a lot of fun. I thought it was just as strong as the first film and I think fans will be happy with it. I still can’t get over that major reveal!!!!!!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Escape Room: Tournament of Champions 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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Sailor Moon Eternal” on Netflix: In the Name of the Moon…

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

“Moon Cosmic Power, Make Up!”

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal: The Movie premiered in early 2021, but it is now officially available to stream on Netflix as of June 3rd 2021. The film/series is broken up into two parts. Each part runs for approximately an hour and twenty minutes. 

Following the Dream arc of the manga series, Sailor Moon Eternal introduces us to the Dead Moon Circus after an eclipse emerges. The circus is filled with potential villains and dangers, as each of our favorite guardians go through a personal dream/nightmare that could have deadly consequences.

Can the guardians defeat the evil and their nightmares to save the world?

Here is the trailer:

Sailor Moon Eternal feels more like a new season rather than a film, but it manages to capture the 90’s nostalgia from the cartoon series that holds a very special place in my heart. Is the new film worthy of a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Captures the essence of the original series.

While there were mixed reactions about the Sailor Moon Crystal series that came out in 2014, the 90’s cartoon is one of the best things I have ever watched and when I look back on it, I realize it also probably created my love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

There is a chosen one who must keep her identity a secret, a mysterious love interest, and a great balance of action, comedy, and drama sealed with a message of love and friendship.

The show is iconic and it’s difficult to get back to that level, but I thought that Sailor Moon Eternal felt very much like the original and I absolutely loved that.

Intriguing plot.

Also like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, we channel some “Nightmares” and “Restless” vibes, as Sailor Moon and her friends each have to deal with a personal nightmare that comes to life. I thought that this helped me connect with each of the characters that much more and I was hooked by the familiar plot, which is usually pretty entertaining.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A lot to remember…

It’s been some time since I have watched Sailor Moon so there was a lot to remember. I started to piece things together, but you have to go into this movie knowing something about Sailor Moon or you will feel completely lost.

I’m not sure if this film will connect with a new audience, but I think that fans of the original will feel right at home.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

This movie brought me right back to the original series and I loved every minute of it. If you are a fan of Sailor Moon, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how well the new movie channels the nostalgia of the original series while still bringing in some new welcomed additions and elements.

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

Spoiler-Free Review of “Army of the Dead” on Netflix: Ocean’s Eleven meets World War Z

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

“This should be a simple in and out…”

Army of the Dead is a horror action film that released on May 21st 2021 on Netflix. The film stars Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Tig Notaro, Omari Hardwick, and Garret Dillahunt. It runs for approximately two and a half hours.

The film takes place after a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas as a group of mercenaries go through zombie territory in order to pull off a heist with a lot of cash.

Here is the trailer:

Army of the Dead looks like it could be filled with a lot of gory zombie fun, but does its dragged out set-up get in the way of pure greatness? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Army of the Dead Spoiler Free Review Cast

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fun dynamic between characters.

This movie had an Ocean’s Eleven vibe going on and I actually thought this worked in the movie’s favor because you cared more about what happened to the characters. Dave Bautista played the exact role I needed him to play and we also had some other stand-out performances as well. 

It was honestly really funny to see good guy Garret Dillahunt from Fear the Walking Dead play a complete jerk and I think that the comedy sprinkled throughout the film actually really helped. The film didn’t take itself too seriously and that was important because all I wanted was an action filled zombie flick and I think it delivered on that.

Lots of action.

If you came for lots of violence and action, you will not be disappointed. Once the film gets going, you will have plenty of that to go around. The Vegas setting worked in the film’s favor and the zombies were actually pretty formidable too, which prevented this film from feeling overdone and stale.

The Cons:

Army of the Dead Spoiler Free Review 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Way too long and issues with pacing.

My biggest con about this film is the length of it. I don’t want to watch a zombie action film for two and a half hours. I don’t really want to watch any film for that long, but I make exceptions here and there.

This movie should have been an hour and forty minutes and I think the dragged out length really hurt this film. We don’t even get any real gritty action until over an hour into the movie and that’s when the film takes off, but this film could easily lose an audience within the first hour.

While I loved the introduction to the gang of characters, we could have fast forwarded through a lot of the unnecessary fluff. The heart-to-heart talks and slow moving flashbacks were a little too much as well.

I think that if this film had broken away from that and just embraced its real identity, it would have been much better in my opinion.

So am I in or out?

Army of the Dead Spoiler Free Review 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

While I was on the fence about this movie during the first hour, things picked up once we got to the meaty part of the plot and the action, gore, and comedy really delivered for me. I thought this movie was a lot of fun. It wasn’t anything truly epic or outstanding, but it was thoroughly entertaining.

The movie was way too long, but luckily it made up for that in the second half. If you are looking for some zombie fun with a lot of action, you’re in the right place.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

Scream Hunt Coming Soon

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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Stranger” on Netflix: A Complex Thriller Worthy of your next Binge-Watch

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

“A secret revealed is a secret destroyed.”

The Stranger premiered on Netflix on January 31st 2020 with 8 episodes (40-45 minutes in length).  It stars Richard Armitage, Siobhan Finneran, Anthony Head, Dervla Kirwan, and Hannah John-Kamen.

The show is based on the book of the same name by Harlan Coben.  It is a mystery thriller that follows the lives of several families, as secrets are exposed by a stranger, creating a vortex of lies, murder, and a quest to uncover the truth.

This is not the first crime thriller that Netflix has released, but it’s difficult to deliver some worthy twists without over-complicating things.

If you enjoy movies like The Call, The Girl on the Train, and Gone Girl, this new show will make you feel right at home, but does it do enough to stand out as a worthy thrill ride?  Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Stranger Netflix 4
Images courtesy of Netflix

The mystery will keep you invested and guessing the entire time.

Adam Price basically has his entire life turned upside down when a stranger approaches him with a shattering secret about his wife.  As we begin to uncover the truth with Adam, you will find yourself on the edge of your seat, which makes the watch entertaining and fast-paced.  Unnecessary set-up does not get in the way, as we dive right into the mystery from the opening minutes of the series.

An amazing cast.

Richard Armitage does a fantastic job with his role, but I was also really impressed by Siobhan Finneran’s portrayal of Johanna Griffin.  Let’s not forget that we also have Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum, Anthony Head playing a supporting role to perfection.  The list goes on and on and every single performance was spot on.

The Cons:

The Stranger Netflix Show 1
Images courtesy of Netflix

Way too many sub-plots.

Yes, this is one of those shows where everything connects.  However, we certainly get a lot thrown our way and some of it seems beyond outrageous.  If you pay attention, a lot of the connections and reveals make sense later on, but some of them are actually never explained, so I’m wondering why we didn’t just focus on the main mystery, which was compelling enough.

It’s easy to get lost in this show and perhaps it is too complex for its own good, but there are enough reasons why you should still watch the show in its entirety anyway.

So am I in or out?

The Stranger Netflix Show 2
Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!  While the show may be unnecessarily complex at times, it is the epitome of the perfect weekend binge-watch.  You can watch all eight episodes in one sitting and you will probably want to because each episode leaves you wanting more, as you try to figure out the mystery going on.

I tend to thoroughly enjoy mystery thrillers with a touch of Lifetime drama thrown in and this show exceeded my expectations.  While this isn’t the best show or thriller I have ever seen, it delivers as a quick and entertaining show you can watch while throwing in some unexpected twists and moments that will keep you guessing.

Keep these coming, Netflix!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’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!

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!

Love time travel?  Me too!  Check out my blog on The Octoberpod Guide to Time Travel and stay tuned for an all new episode of Octoberpod!  Fun and spooky stuff for retro horror fans!  Subscribe at Octoberpod Home Video

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 “Black Summer” on Netflix: More than a Prequel to “Z Nation”

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

“You can’t be immortal if you ain’t alive.”  A valid point for sure, but how is one actually defined as a member of the undead these days?  While we are all used to the slow moving walkers in The Walking Dead universe, the infected we see in Black Summer sort of have a 28 Days Later vibe, as they move much quicker, which may have you contemplating your own cardio workout to stay prepared.

So are they actually zombies or are they something else?  Either way, if you are craving some zombie apocalypse fun, you’re in the right place.  Black Summer has been advertised as a prequel to Z Nation, but the show actually can stand on its own and that’s how I plan on reviewing it.

The show currently features 8 episodes, all streaming on Netflix as of April 11th 2019.  It stars Jaime King, Justin Chu Cary, Christine Lee, Sal Velez Jr. and Kelsey Flower.  We follow these survivors and witness what occurs after the zombie apocalypse first takes place, as they all desperately try to make it to the stadium to find missing loved ones and some kind of sanctuary.

However, the threats keep coming, as our characters are tested again and again while the undead continues to threaten their survival.  But we also find that these characters have to watch out for each other as well, as it’s difficult to earn one’s trust during the zombie apocalypse.

The Pros:

Black Summer Sun
Image courtesy of Netflix

The episodes are the perfect length. 

The beginning episodes start out at about 40-45 minutes and as we move through the show, they actually shorten to 30 minutes and even 20 minutes, which makes binge-watching this show very feasible.  I watched the first episode on Thursday night and I finished up the show the following night with very little effort.

The transitions between characters are clever and well done.

Another viewer mentioned to me that these transitions sort of reminded them of Pulp Fiction and I tend to agree.  Credit on that goes to @NerdswithFriend on Twitter.  We have seen so many shows and movies that feature a zombie apocalypse and it’s difficult to stand out and truly make a story unique.  However, the clever fade-ins and transitions allow us to easily see things from different perspectives and it also helps quicken the pace of the show.

Some of the characters are absolutely fantastic.

While I was annoyed by some characters on the show, there are some standout performances.  Christine Lee as Sun is truly amazing and you will root for her even more than the main billed cast.  You may find yourself trying to determine who is going to make it and who will bite the dust, so to speak, but I will say that I was pleasantly surprised that so many of the characters did not just mold themselves into the stereotypical roles we sometimes see. 

Some characters that you assume will make it, don’t, and others that seem so incompetent actually manage to scrape by, but I think that makes the show that much more entertaining.

Bone-chilling and terrifying moments.

There are some genuinely scary moments on this show and I found myself on the edge of my seat, not knowing what to expect.  Sometimes the moments come out of nowhere, but I think that makes them even more brilliant.  Maybe you will see some of the moments coming, but I think that they deliver and I still have been replaying some of them in my mind, as I have just created a whole new set of nightmares for myself.

The Cons:

Black Summer
Image courtesy of Netflix

The moments following the zombies around.

So I appreciate that the show is doing something different with these zombies, as they sprint after you as soon as they are turned, grunting and moaning.  However, the noises are kind of jarring and distracting, as I found myself actually laughing several times when we followed around a zombie who was looking for their kill.

The show is meant to be serious so I know that this was not intended, but I just couldn’t take some of these zombies seriously.  I don’t know if it was the acting or if was the amount of time we spent actually following them, which made me focus on this so much more, but it was slightly underwhelming and it took away from some of the initial scares.

The fluff in between the terrifying moments.

I’m all for character development and I’m not saying that the show needs to be jam-packed with zombies attacking, but I often found myself bored in between these moments.  Some episodes are much better than others, but I think that the lack of background music during these moments really made this worse.

Don’t get me wrong, I thought that the lack of background music was brilliant during the moments where the characters were under attack, but how long do we need to follow someone walking in silence?

There are major plot holes.

I know that this a prequel, but I found several plot holes throughout the show and I was hoping to get some answers, but I realized that this was not going to happen once I got to episode 6, which was slightly disappointing.

So am I in or out? 

Black summer 6
Image courtesy of Netflix

I was initially very excited to watch this show because I absolutely love anything with zombies.  However, after watching the first episode, I was slightly disappointed.  Fear not, as I give all shows three episodes to start making a real assessment and the show did get better with each episode.  However, I think that the show had a lot of potential to be absolutely brilliant, but it decided to settle comfortably as a standard zombie apocalypse show instead. 

I’m not really sure if this show truly separated itself or provided us with anything new about the apocalypse, but it definitely had some terrifying and compelling moments. 

If you love shows about zombies, I definitely recommend it and even if you don’t, you may find yourself intrigued for a quick binge-watch.  However, I wouldn’t say that you need to move it to the top of your watch list, but the show had a lot of redeeming qualities and captured enough of my attention to make it an entertaining watch for sure.

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