Spoiler-Free Review of “Black Phone 2” in Theaters: A Chilling Sequel

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

“Where are you calling from?”

Black Phone 2 released in theaters on October 17th 2025. The supernatural horror sequel stars Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and Demián Bichir. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty-five minutes.

Set after the events of the first film, Finn and Gwen head to Alpine Lake Camp, a Christian youth group, to investigate the recurring dreams Gwen has had. When they arrive, they soon realize that a familiar dark presence is there, luring them both back into danger.

Here is the trailer:

Black Phone 2 brings a terrifying villain back to life while bringing us to a chilling new setting. Is it worth a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Changes things up…

When I first heard that they were making a sequel, I was a little confused. Things were wrapped up at the end of the first movie and the threat was eliminated.

But I went into this movie with an open mind and I did appreciate that it brought back our familiar characters to root for while throwing a new terrifying threat at them in a different setting. It still managed to connect everything to past events with seamless effort.

In a lot of ways, this film reminded me more of A Nightmare on Elm Street, which had its pros and cons. I actually really liked these aspects of the film and thought it was a bold and interesting idea to switch main character focus. I think this paid off in the end. Even though this was a sequel, everything felt fresh and new.

Ethan Hawke is as terrifying as ever!

Ethan Hawke in the Grabber mask ice skating is probably the creepiest thing I have seen in a while. I thought that he was so scary in the first film in such a real way so this was a change-up for sure, but he still managed to be just as creepy, making my skin crawl on more than one occasion.

The Cons:

Unanswered questions and some fuzzy details…

I did have a lot of questions by the time I got to the end of this movie. They overstuffed this film a little too much, but I think it still worked out in the end. Some connections felt slightly forced to me and some of the newer characters were annoying.

My biggest con with this movie was that it didn’t hold a candle to the first one. That being said, I still thought it was very entertaining. It just didn’t have that initial shock and pop factor anymore.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

Black Phone 2 leans more into the supernatural side this time around, drawing from A Nightmare on Elm Street, making this a unique and entertaining sequel overall.

I wouldn’t say that this movie came close to the original, but I still enjoyed my watch and think that Madeleine McGraw is one to watch!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Black Phone 2 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!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Leave the World Behind” on Netflix: An Unnerving Thriller that Hooked me from the Start

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

“The vacation from hell…”

Leave the World Behind released on Netflix on December 8th 2023. The apocalyptic thriller film stars Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Myha’la Herrold, and Kevin Bacon. It runs for approximately two hours and twenty minutes.

A family vacation in Long Island, New York is interrupted when two strangers show up at the house in the middle of the night claiming to be the owners. After explaining that there has been a blackout in the city, the threat begins to grow as both families must figure out how to survive.

Here is the trailer:

Leave the World Behind never allows you a moment to look away from the screen. The cast is out of this world and the feeling of dread that this film creates makes this an effective and relatable thriller. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Really draws you in!

I’m not usually a fan of apocalyptic movies, but I couldn’t stop watching this one. The cast was fantastic, which helped, but the plot was so puzzling and intriguing, which made a powerful mix. I had to know what was going on in the world and even though I was just as clueless as the characters, I somehow felt like I was a part of this, luring me in that much more.

Jaw-dropping scenes.

There will be no spoilers in this review, but so many scenes had me on the edge of my seat. They were eerie, shocking, and absolutely fantastic. This may be the best Netflix movie I have seen in a long time. It really did a great job from the music to the special effects. Everything fell into this place seamlessly, making this such a compelling watch.

Sticks the landing!

I absolutely LOVED the ending of this film. Sure, it didn’t answer most of my questions, but there was something so satisfying about it and there was an Easter egg in there that had me very excited! I think a lot of people will relate to it.

The Cons:

Unanswered questions…

This wasn’t a major con, but I had so many questions by the time I got to the end of this film. I didn’t read the book either, but from my understanding, that doesn’t fully answer everything either. I guess it makes sense with the content, but since we spent quite a bit of time on certain aspects of this film, I just wanted a touch more to truly understand what was going on.

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!!!

One of the best thrillers I have seen all year!

Tense, disturbing, and entertaining from start to finish. I never got a chance to breathe!

Even though this film was on the longer side, it never felt like it. I’d highly recommend giving this one a shot even if it doesn’t seem like your cup of tea. I loved it!

I hope you enjoyed the review and please feel free to share your thoughts on Leave the World Behind in the comments section!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

IN THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS, HER NIGHT FROM HELL HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN…

After working the night shift, Ashley becomes entangled in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a local street gang, forcing her to come up with a plan to survive the night by turning the tables on them.

Ashley must fight for her life and take them out one by one if she wants to make it to morning…

My young adult revenge thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Make it Through the Night is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Black Phone” in Theaters: A Horror Movie Worth Your Time

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

“You don’t have to be scared…”

The Black Phone released in theaters on June 24th 2022. The horror film stars Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, and James Ransone. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-two minutes.

Set in the late 1970’s, a young boy is abducted by the neighborhood “grabber” and held in a soundproof basement when he begins to receive calls from the killer’s past victims on a disconnected phone.

Here is the trailer:

The Black Phone features a villain who is beyond terrifying, along with exceptional characters to root for against all odds. Is it worth a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Blumhouse Productions

Terrifying in a very real way…

I don’t know about you, but this is the type of film that scares me the most. Sure, there are supernatural/paranormal elements in this one, but this isn’t your typical gore fest or jump scare horror film. There is this unsettling and creepy vibe present throughout the film. It crawls under your skin, festering into something beyond scary. There are so many real and cruel moments in this film that make this way more than your average horror film.

Ethan Hawke truly immersed himself into this role with sadistic perfection and I think I’ll be having nightmares about his character for quite a long time…

Characters to root for.

Finney and Gwen were fantastic characters. Gwen was my favorite and I think that Madeleine McGraw was truly wonderful. I was very invested in what happened to them, which made this movie even more absorbing. I think they nailed the brother-sister relationship and really helped the audience connect with them on a deeper level.

Even though this is a horror movie, it was also a movie about self-discovery and growing up as well.

The Cons:

Unanswered questions and some fuzzy details…

By the time I got to the end of the film, I was satisfied, but I also had a lot of unanswered questions. There were details that didn’t add up from some of the flashbacks, which had me scratching my head. Since this was such an engaging watch, I wanted to know more and perhaps I will invest my time in reading the short story by Joe Hill to fill in some of the blanks.

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!!!!!

A terrifying and captivating watch from start to finish!

This movie was so well done and I was so impressed with the performances all around, making this a must see watch for horror fans!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Moon Knight” on Disney+: Bonkers but Intriguing!

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

“There’s chaos in you…”

Moon Knight is a new mystery-action series inspired by the Marvel character. The series premiered on March 30th 2022 on Disney+ with the first episode available to stream now. There will be six episodes in total that will air weekly. Moon Knight stars Oscar Isaac, Ethan Hawke, May Calamawy, Loic Mabanza and Gaspard Ulliel. Each episode runs for approximately 45-49 minutes.

Gift-shop employee, Steven Grant begins blacking out and learns that he is sharing bodies with a mercenary named Marc Spector, as they begin to investigate the mysteries behind the Egyptian gods.

Here is the trailer:

Moon Knight is completely crazy, but it works somehow, leaving the audience wanting more as we follow along on this new adventure. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Oscar Isaac is a lot of fun to watch!

I already liked him as an actor but I think he is adapting seamlessly into this new role and there was even a lot of quirky humor that I appreciated. It’s important to like the unlikely hero of the story and so far I think we have a winner here.

Super interesting premise.

I don’t know about you, but I have always been fascinated by the stories of the Egyptian gods and this particular Marvel character is allowing us a chance to explore some of these mysteries even more. The opening of the first episode gave me some National Treasure and Night at the Museum vibes, which is a good thing. I think as long as it balances out the historical angle with some action, we should have a lot of entertaining content to enjoy. Fingers crossed!

The Cons:

Not revealing too much…

I understand that maybe that’s the point, but with only six episodes, I wanted to know a lot more from the opening episode and we didn’t get too many answers. I’m willing to stick around to find out more, but I hope the series starts to reveal things soon.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

I may not really know what’s going on yet, but so far I am having a lot of fun watching this series and I can’t wait to find out more. I think we have lots of potential here!

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

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 “The Guilty” on Netflix: “The Call” with a Male Dispatcher

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

“What is the address of your emergency?”

The Guilty released on September 24th 2021. The crime thriller film is currently available to watch on Netflix. It is a remake of the 2018 Danish film, Den Skyldige. The Guilty stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Riley Keough, Ethan Hawke and Adrian Martinez. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

A demoted police officer works at a 911 call dispatch desk when he gets an emergency phone call from an abducted woman who needs his help.

Here is the trailer:

The Guilty is extremely intense and effective with its simple formula, but does it do enough to separate itself from The Call? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Edge-of-your-seat intensity.

This movie had me completely invested in it from start to finish. We were given bits and pieces of the puzzle and a few twists that I was not expecting as well. If you enjoy crime thrillers, you will feel right at home with this one. The vibe instantly reminded me of The Call in a good way. Even though there were a lot of similarities, I thought that the film was able to branch away from the premise and present us with something new and really thought-provoking as well.

A worthy performance by Jake Gyllenhaal.

In The Call, Halle Berry’s character eventually moved away from the call dispatch setting, but Jake Gyllenhaal’s character Joe does not do this. Rather, we see everything through his perspective. The phone calls we witness allow us to work everything through very much like Gyllenhaal’s character.

The entire movie basically revolves around him and I never minded this because I thought that he played the role to perfection. He held my attention the entire time and I thought the emotional investment of the character was truly moving.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Not your average crime thriller…

This is not really a con and I think that the film did a good job of embracing its simple approach, but if you are looking for a crime thriller to lead you all over the map, you won’t get there the traditional way. I still think that you should give this film a try even if you are looking for something with a bit more action because it manages to capture your attention (just in a different way).

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

This movie really captured my full attention with its simple and honest approach. There was so much unsettling intensity and I was so impressed with the layered performance I witnessed. I highly recommend this movie!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Guilty 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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Ranking “The Purge” movies from Best to Worst

“Commencing at the siren, any and all crime, including murder, will be legal for 12 continuous hours…”

Since The Forever Purge is premiering this weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time to go back and binge-watch all of The Purge films. I’m a huge fan of the franchise and I also absolutely loved the television series. I’m still disappointed that it was canceled, but I’m looking forward to seeing The Forever Purge.

There’s just something about these films. They are highly entertaining and addicting! The masks are creepy, the death scenes are cringe-worthy, and the characters truly make you want to root for them. Each film reveals another aspect of Purge Night, which prevents these movies from feeling repetitive while still keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Please note some spoilers are ahead.

Without any further delay, let’s find out exactly how I ranked The Purge films and why.

1

The Purge: Anarchy

The sequel is rarely better than the original movie, but I absolutely adore the second film in the franchise and it is my absolute favorite one. Released in 2014, The Purge: Anarchy stars Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Kiele Sanchez, and Zoë Soul.

While the first movie focused on a home invasion, the second film gives us a chance to see Purge Night on the streets. We follow Frank Grillo’s character, Leo, who is the ultimate bad-ass of this franchise. Leo is looking to Purge after losing his son, but he runs into a group of strangers and decides to intervene to help save them.

Standout Purger:

Who can forget the Purger in the creepy God mask? The wave really seals the deal and makes you want to run for your life. I absolutely love that the mask later appeared in The Purge series (season 2), giving us a fun Easter Egg and a bit of an origin story.

2

The Purge

The original Purge film really came out of nowhere. It was a lower budget film and it ended up being very successful. Released in 2013, The Purge stars Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Edwin Hodge, and Adelaide Kane.

Hawke’s character, James, designed the security system for their home, as he stays in with his family on Purge Night, confident that they will be safe. However, things take a drastic turn when his son lets a bloody stranger into their home to save him, which angers some local Purgers.

The original film has a completely different feel from the other films. We focus on one individual family and their fight for survival. The film is chilling and extremely entertaining and we really connect with this family.

Standout Purger:

The Purge 1 2 — Images courtesy of Blumhouse

The leader of this group of twisted Purgers is quite sinister. He even takes off his mask and tries to reason with James and his family. However, once he doesn’t get what he wants, he proves to be quite ruthless and a worthy opponent.

3

The Purge: Election Year

The Purge 3 — Images courtesy of Blumhouse

In the third film, we finally take some time to look into the mysterious NFFA and their ties with the government. Released in 2016, The Purge: Election Year stars Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson, and Betty Gabriel.

Once again, the amazing Leo is back and better than ever. He has somehow landed a job as the head of security for Senator Charlie Roan, giving us even more bad-ass fight scenes. Seriously, he’s unstoppable. Senator Charlie Roan is running for presidency and wants to put an end to Purge Night, but the loyal followers of the NFFA refuse to give up without a fight.

After an assassination attempt is made on Charlie’s life, she and Leo end up on the streets and run into some characters who try to help protect her, recognizing what is at stake. The third film has quite a lot of action, but there is a lot going on and it gets carried away at some points.

Standout Purger:

The Purge 3 1 — Images courtesy of Blumhouse

Who could forget the candy girls? I mean, it seems like a stretch for someone to Purge over a candy bar, but these girls are ready to seek out revenge on Joe’s deli and they show up dressed to the nines in a car covered in twinkling lights. Talk about making an entrance…

Fun fact: Elizabeth Mitchell starred in my favorite show, Lost, and the infamous Apollo Bar is the candy bar in question. Gotta love a great Easter Egg!

4

The First Purge

The annual Purge had to start somewhere, right? The First Purge is a prequel to the franchise, allowing us to witness the first actual Purge that took place. Released in 2018, the film stars Y’lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, and Marisa Tomei.

The prequel focuses on an experiment in Staten Island. Residents are offered $5000 to stay home on Purge Night and others are given incentive to actually participate. After the dismal results, The NFFA decides to send in some guns for hire to make it appear that Purge Night is more successful than it actually is, as a group of characters fight for survival throuhgout the night.

The film has a lot of set-up, which gives it a much slower feel. However, the main action sequence toward the end of the movie featuring a raid on the apartment is extremely well done and may be my favorite scene of the entire franchise.

Standout Purger:

They really nailed the creepy vibe and then some with Skeletor. He is the first official Purger in history and let’s just say that he is having the time of his life…

So, what’s next for The Purge? Well, the television series has been canceled, but I highly recommend that you watch it. It was a lot of fun! The Forever Purge is supposed to take place after Election Year, so hopefully it will bring something new to the table. I’ve heard rumors that this may not be the last Purge film after all and I’m hopefully that a certain vigilante named Leo Barnes returns!

Stay tuned for my review of The Forever Purge! (in theaters July 2nd 2021)

Where to watch The Purge films: As of July 2021, films 1-2 can be streamed on Peacock. Films 3-4 can be watched on FXM or on Hulu with live TV. The Purge television series can be watched on Peacock and Hulu.

Which films did YOU enjoy most?

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Purge” season 2 episode 9: “It’s Time to Celebrate”

Happy Wednesday TV fans! After watching USA network’s The Purge season 2 episode 9, Ms. Lorelai’s Corner for kids taught us that “The Purge gives your mommies and daddies the freedom to accomplish things they never thought possible.” You know, like murder…

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “Hail Mary,” Purge Night is officially here, as our main characters are all tested. Meanwhile, Ben gets a wake-up call, Marcus tries to fight fire with peace, and Esme winds up in a dangerous situation.

My top 5 moments from The Purge season 2 episode 9 are:

“He won’t stop until you’re dead.”

Clint and the neighborhood watch are out for revenge, surrounding Marcus’s house. Their plan is to smoke Marcus out, but he refuses to fight fire with fire, recognizing that he would become just like them. Marcus explains that there has to be another way, but can one really reason with someone on Purge Night?

“I’m trying to give you a gift.”

We learn that Ben has had the urge to Purge since he was little, enjoying Ms. Lorelai’s Corner a little too much, while taking his anger out on his action figures. Glad to see that the NFFA is shaping the youth of America so well.

Ben tells Turner that he wants to give him a gift and says that he has to Purge Scotty or he will kill him. Turner has been a coward throughout the entire season and he doesn’t stand up to Ben here either, finally giving in to the pressure to survive.

After going out to enjoy the festivities of Purge Night, Ben finally gets a reality check when he is surrounded by a group of Purgers wearing God masks. Ben tries to tell them that he’s on their team, but they are out for blood and he better start running…

“I need to turn you into a ghost.”

Esme continues her plan to shut down the NFFA headquarters, working with the resistance member she met with before. Esme needs to be turned into a ghost so that the NFFA cannot hunt her down, but things go horribly wrong when the van crashes, leaving Esme right in the middle of the city on Purge Night.

The bounty is quite the incentive, as Purgers start to recognize Esme, so she better make a run for it. Let’s hope she can make it out of this alive, but it will not be easy.

You can do this, girl!

“Let’s go be thieves.”

Ryan and his group continue with their plan to break Tommy out, as Tommy and several other inmates are volunteered as tribute for an annual Purge Hunt for rich people. Ryan pays his way in, but things get tricky when they find out that they will all be using weapons that their ancestors used.

Oh and don’t forget, there will be trophies this year!

Ryan is able to save Tommy and the others, but he ends up in a dangerous situation of his own. Luckily, the group is able to find him and save him before he is buried alive, but will they be able to pull off the rest of their heist now that Tommy is back in action?

I can’t wait to find out!

“You want to Purge me…Purge me!”

You tell them, Marcus! Marcus’s strategy seems to be working at first, as Sam suddenly realizes that he doesn’t have the stomach for the Purge after all. Marcus and Michelle save him and trade him for Clint, but Marcus tells Clint that he just wants to talk things out.

At first, Clint seems to be willing to compromise, understanding that the Purge will not bring his wife back, but he decides to stab poor Michelle in the neck anyway, trying to take her away from Marcus to even the score.

The rest of the group let Marcus go; now realizing that perhaps this wasn’t the best idea, but Michelle’s life is in immediate danger.

Marcus is trying to get Michelle to the Triage since the hospitals are closed, but of course things get more than interesting when they pick up Ben after almost running him down.

As we approach the season finale, there are a lot of players in place, but we’ll have to see how this all ends.

I am super excited for the cameo from Ethan Hawke in next week’s episode as well, bringing us right back to the original movie that started it all!

The Purge USA Network — Images courtesy of USA Network

Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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**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!

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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!