**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**
“I chose to lose control…”
Fatal Attraction is a new erotic thriller series based on the iconic film of the same name. It released on April 30th 2023 with the first three episodes available to stream now. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. The series stars Joshua Jackson, Lizzy Caplan, Amanda Peet, and Alyssa Jirrels. Each episode runs for approximately 53-59 minutes.
A toxic affair damages the family and reputation of Dan Gallagher in this re-imagining of the 1987 film.
Here is the trailer:
Fatal Attraction attempts to provide some layers and background for these familiar characters, but does it translate well on the small screen? Let’s find out…
The Pros:
Images courtesy of Paramount+
Solid cast.
Joshua Jackson is no stranger to steamy love affairs and played one of my favorite characters on Showtime’s The Affair and Lizzy Caplan starred in Masters of Sex…so these two seem perfect to get this erotic thriller off and running. I like both of them as actors individually and they were the main reason why I tuned in. I’m a fan of the original film and I don’t think that anyone can come close to those performances, but it certainly helped having some familiar faces on the screen.
The Cons:
Images courtesy of Paramount+
Slow, dull, and NO chemistry!
Where do I start? The episodes were on the long side already and I felt like it took three hours just to get through one. The pilot was excruciatingly slow and boring. We randomly skip back and forth between timelines and I was so confused at times.
While I like both Joshua Jackson and Lizzy Caplan, I just didn’t feel the chemistry between them. It felt so formulaic and forced. There was no charge between them. It just felt like two actors going through the motions.
I’m sure the series will pick up, but I’m already so bored out of my mind and I feel like I honestly wasted my time with this one.
This film should have been left alone and I don’t think that the series is doing anything that new or unique even though it promises to.
So am I in or out?
Images courtesy of Paramount+
Unfortunately I’m out on this one…
Not everything needs a re-imagining or remake and this is the perfect example. I’d recommend re-watching the film instead.
I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Fatal Attraction 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.
*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*
“Do you know I love you?”
Deep Water premiered on March 18th 2022 on Hulu. Based on the novel of the same name, the erotic thriller stars Ben Affleck, Ana de Armas, Finn Wittrock and Lil Rel Howery. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty-five minutes.
A husband allows his wife to have affairs, but winds up being the prime suspect when her lovers suddenly go missing…
Here is the trailer:
Deep Water is brought to us from the same director of Fatal Attraction and Unfaithful, attempting to find another Gone Girl gem, but does this film do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…
The Pros:
Images courtesy of Hulu
Ana de Armas and Ben Affleck are magnetic on screen.
I really like Ana de Armas as an actress and she can play crazy really well. I thought both actors did a good job with their portrayals. Both characters were far from normal and yet they still had a lot of chemistry between them, which made the film more entertaining.
Picks up steam as things progress.
The movie was a little on the long side for me. Normally I expect these soapy erotic thrillers to run around 90 minutes, but once the plot started to advance, things got really intense and the scenes leading up to the ending had me on the edge of my seat.
The Cons:
Images courtesy of Hulu
Tries too hard to be the next Gone Girl…
Even though Ben Affleck did a good job in this, I couldn’t get this comparison out of my head and even though the films are very different, it felt like it was trying to live up to this hype. I also was looking for a crazy twist or reveal to really make my head spin and things played out in a predictable way for the most part.
So am I in or out?
Images courtesy of Hulu
I’m in about 75 percent…
If you like soapy-Lifetime-esque thrillers, you’ll enjoy this one on a rainy Saturday evening. There are some intense moments embedded into this film that were actually done really well, but I wanted a little bit more overall. Either way, it was an enjoyable watch for the most part.
I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Deep Waterin 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!
**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**
Light as a feather, stiff as a board.
Light as a feather, stiff as a board.
She’s dying.
She’s dying.
She’s dead.
She’s dead…
Your favorite deadly slumber party game is back! After airing the first 8 episodes of season 2 back in July 2019, Hulu has released part 2 of the season as of October 4th 2019. Episodes 9-16 are all currently available to stream.
The show stars Liana Liberato, Haley Ramm, Brianne Tju, and Jordan Rodrigues and follows a group of friends who play a deadly game of Light as a Feather, which predicts exactly how they will die, targeting them one by one. After a slightly disappointing start to season 2, I was worried about the second half of the season. Did it live up to the bone-chilling moments in season 1 or did it fizzle out for good? Let’s find out!
The Pros:
Images courtesy of Hulu
The performances of Haley Ramm (Violet), Liana Liberato (McKenna), and Brianne Tju (Alex).
Again, I have to give it up to this trio. Some of the characters on this show seem filler, but these three ladies held my attention the entire time. I love that they all didn’t start out as friends and their bond becomes stronger when they are all linked together by this curse, but the dynamic between them is fantastic and they really elevate the show.
The skin crawling moments are back!
Season 1 gave me some nightmares for sure, as some moments were genuinely shocking and hard to watch. These moments really gave a show that is mostly dipped in bubble gum pop horror a chance to be a little bit darker and I was disappointed when this fizzled out in the first half of season 2. However, the second half of the season delivered with this, giving us several moments that will really make you cringe and then some!
Satisfying twists.
We all know the game and I knew it would be hard to keep the show fresh and interesting, but I thought the second half of season 2 did a good job of keeping us on our toes. The twists worked for the most part and they kept me guessing up until the end.
The Cons:
Images courtesy of Hulu
Channeling too much Lifetime…
So, this show has had a lot of teenage drama since the start and that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you are used to shows like Pretty Little Liars and Riverdale. I didn’t even really mind the will-they-won’t-they love triangle and I appreciated the LGBTQ relationship, but there were some moments that just felt like a failed attempt to throw in some fatal attraction psycho components, which weren’t really needed in my opinion.
Some really obvious moments.
I don’t know what it was, but there were just some moments that had that hit you over the head feel that undermined the show slightly. For example, (hey, here’s a bottle of pills…he must have taken these). I don’t expect everything to be a major twist, but I do want it to be believable as well. This didn’t happen all the time, but I did notice it more than I did in the first season.
So am I in or out?
Images courtesy of Hulu
I’m back in! Even though I had some issues with the season overall, I still enjoyed the watch. The short episodes really helped move the binge-watching along and it’s just one of those shows that you can really enjoy especially around Halloween, so I have to give it up to Hulu for perfect timing.
Overall, I think this series is a lot of fun and it really gives you a lot of nostalgia for 90’s movies like The Craft and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Sure, there is a lot of teenage drama mixed in, but the skin crawling moments really helped push this one over to the darker side for me. There is no word yet on a season 3, but I’m not sure that we necessarily need one, although there is always something left open at the end…
Enjoy the watch and perhaps you may want to re-consider any slumber party games in the future…
I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Light as a Feather in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!
Best,
Amy Koto, 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 enjoydark 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!
**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!
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!
Happy Wednesday TV Fans! For today, I have returned to one of my old favorites, Dexter, as I recently finished up my complete re-watch of the series. Even though Dexter Morgan is a serial killer, he is an anti-hero that you root for, but I have to admit it was difficult thinking about who is actually considered a villain or a big bad on the show, as it pretty much comes down to whether or not they are actually Dexter’s nemesis.
While some of these villains are brutal and vicious, others are meticulous and calculating, but they each test Dexter in different ways, bringing out emotions within him that he thought perhaps never existed. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the series yet. My top 5 villains from Dexterare:
5
Miguel Prado
Miguel Prado first appears in season 3 of Dexter and witnesses Dexter killing someone. Dexter tries to stick by his code, but this becomes more and more difficult when Miguel takes an interest in what Dexter is doing, as he also feels that so many criminals escape the law and deserve to be punished. Initially, there is a real friendship and bond between Dexter and Miguel, but this becomes more complicated when Miguel decides to deviate from the code, taking justice into his own hands. As a result, Miguel becomes a major nemesis for Dexter and he is forced to end their friendship…for good.
4
James Doakes
So, this one was tricky for me because I don’t really consider James Doakes to be a villain. He just always sensed that something was “off” about Dexter and it turns out…he was right. In season 1, Doakes seems to be getting close to discovering Dexter’s secret, but he actually finds out what Dexter has been truly hiding in season 2. Dexter holds Doakes captive for a while, desperately trying to figure out what to do with him, recognizing that he is essentially innocent. There are actually some real bonding moments between these two, but it comes down to survival here. Of course, someone else ends up taking Doakes out for good, but Doakes is a noteworthy nemesis for Dexter and he absolutely deserves a spot on the list.
3
Lila
Lila is absolutely crazy, but that’s why she is just so brilliant as a villain for me. Appearing in season 2, Lila actually becomes a love interest for Dexter…or maybe more of a lust interest. However, Dexter starts to realize that Lila is actually very dangerous and tries to cut all ties with her. Lila is furious to see that Dexter is rejecting her and doesn’t take no for an answer. She channels some Fatal Attraction for sure, essentially stalking Dexter and targeting his friends. It is also important to note that Lila is the first one who brings up the “Dark Passenger” that exists within Dexter, which I think is part of what drew him to her. However, everyone’s passenger is different and Lila has a lot of screws loose throughout season 2, proving to be a dangerous and unstable villain.
2
The Ice Truck Killer
Who could forget the Ice Truck Killer from season 1, aka Dexter’s brother, Brian Moser? I still think twice whenever I see someone with different colors painted on each nail and that’s because the Ice Truck Killer was a sick and twisted villain. Even though the Ice Truck Killer is very creative with each kill, he also takes the time to leave little clues behind for Dexter, which sparks his interest. This game of cat and mouse continues and when it is finally revealed that he is actually Dexter’s biological brother, I was completely shocked. Brian never had someone like Harry to teach him how to channel his own rage, but he still tries to force some kind of connection with Dexter. However, when it comes down to Brian or Deb, Dexter chooses his sister, holding on to the values he learned so many years ago.
Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one pick are:
Hannah McKay (although I don’t personally classify her as a villain, but she is a fantastic femme fatale)
Jordan Chase
Ray Speltzer (bull-head guy still gives me nightmares)
Travis Marshall
Maria LaGuerta (I don’t classify her as a villain either, but she almost took down Dexter so this is to be noted)
Christine Hill
The Skinner
The Brain Surgeon
1
Trinity
Season 4 is such an amazing season and part of that is because the villain, Trinity, aka Arthur Mitchell, is incredible. He is definitely Dexter’s greatest foe for me and he is responsible for the death of Rita, which still breaks my heart. Dexter continues to chase after Trinity, intrigued by his own kill cycle, but he gets too close to him, posing as Kyle Butler. Trinity’s kills are bone-chilling and creepy, giving me my own set of nightmares, but he also tries to play the family man, surprising even Dexter. However, we quickly discover that he is essentially a monster to his own family as well, causing Dexter to practically throw caution out the window while trying to find a way to stop Trinity. Dexter even has several opportunities to kill Trinity, but he doesn’t initially take them.
Later on, Trinity actually walks right into the police station and says, “Hello, Dexter Morgan,” now threatening to make things truly personal. Even though Dexter is able to stop Trinity once and for all after he discovers his identity, there is a huge consequence, as he loses Rita in the process. Dexter blames himself for her death and begins to question everything about himself and the code as a result, making Trinity’s actions that much more destructive in the end. He is played brilliantly by John Lithgow and will always be one of the greatest villains on any television series for me!
I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to share some of your own thoughts and comments on your favorite villains from Dexter.Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!
Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?Do you enjoydark 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!
**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!
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!
Happy Monday TV fans! In the spirit of Valentine’s Day this week, I am going to be recapping and ranking the top 5 moments featuring my absolute favorite couple from Shameless season 8, Carl and Kassidi. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the full season yet.
Kassidi and Carl first meet when he is running his junky detox program for money and Kassidi suggests they try shooting a ransom video for extra cash. Although extreme and slightly psychotic, Carl’s girlfriend, Kassidi, played by the brilliant Sammi Hanratty, falls head over heels in love with him. Kassidi is wild and passionate, thinking with her heart above her head in most scenarios, which borders on a fatal attraction in some instances.
Carl is not completely scared off by this, however; as he points out to the rest of the Gallagher family that they all suck at relationships and he is going to give it a try. This leads to a roller coaster type relationship, as Kassidi becomes crazier with each new episode, her love for Carl never fading.
Things get complicated, however; when a promise ring is misinterpreted as a proposal and when Kassidi wants Carl to give up military school for her. My top 5 moments featuring Kassidi and Carl from Shameless season 8 are:
5
Carl records a ransom video.(Moment from Season 8, episode 7)
Carl is on his way to securing all of the tuition he needs for military school, but is short by $3527. One of his junky rehab customers tempts him with a new proposition, which is hard for him to ignore. The girl, Kassidi, suggests that he shoot a harmless ransom video and that her dad will put up the cash without a problem. As soon as Carl hits play, it’s clear that Kassidi is no amateur. She begins screaming with a hood over her head to Carl’s surprise.
When he goes to retrieve the money, Kassidi’s dad approaches Carl and requests that she just come home and go to Tiffany’s party. When Carl relays the message, Kassidi explains that she has no interest in going back and reveals her romantic interest in Carl. While it seems like Kassidi is calling the shots, Carl did get the money he needed without dealing with the stress of being an uber driver or a detox specialist. And so their love story begins…
4
“All Carl’s.” (Moment from Season 8, episode 8)
In episode 7, we were introduced to Carl’s new love interest, Kassidi who proved that she was not afraid to record a ransom video to black-mail her parents. Seems like this could be an indicator of her emotional well-being, right? Unfortunately, Carl is distracted by her other “charms” and is very welcoming to her as his new girl-friend. The family seems to approve as well, when she orders KFC after Deb’s failed attempt to get dinner.
She even sports off some new panties with…you guessed it, “All Carl’s” written across the front. Perhaps she is just really enthusiastic about her new-found love for Carl. Everything seems to be going well until Kassidi gets in the way of Carl’s Uber or “Ubber” business, however. After Kassidi tells of a customer, Carl begins to have second thoughts about how fast their relationship is moving, but continues on with it for now, desperately trying to avoid another melodramatic melt-down.
3
Carl proposes by accident…(Moment from Season 8, episode 9)
Carl’s girlfriend, Kassidi, starts out the episode making a video scrapbook for her beloved, not wanting him to abandon her and ship off to military school. Seems like a sweet idea, until she begins adding in some tasteless photos of her and some interesting recordings. Carl seeks out some advice from Kev and the guys on what to do, realizing that he needs to prove his commitment to Kassidi.
Unlike most girls, Kassidi has an interesting perspective on love. She thinks of their “boning” as “uniting our souls” and tells Carl that he is “mutilating her effin heart” when she is convinced there will be tons of girls at military school, even though he repeatedly explains there are literally no women at the school.
Carl takes the plunge and purchases a promise ring, staging a romantic re-creation of the day they first met…handcuffs and all. The sentiment is actually quite sweet, until Kassidi mistakes it for a marriage proposal and eagerly shrieks “yes!” Looks like these two are in it for the long haul after all.
2
Kassidi and Carl get married.(Moment from Season 8, episode 10)
After Carl’s promise ring was misinterpreted as an engagement ring, his girlfriend, Kassidi, enthusiastically accepts. She provides the Gallagher family with engagement presents and explains that she will be “the best effin wife,” cooking Carl dinner every night with an interesting dessert menu.
While it seems harmless at first, Kassidi then shows off her present for Carl, which is a vile of her own blood for him to carry around. Channeling her inner Angelina Jolie, Kassidi insists that they carry each other’s blood around to be closer to one another.
When their wedding is delayed by a day, Carl begins to have second thoughts and his family members warn him that Kassidi is kind of “psycho.” He reveals his doubts to her, hoping that their love can be enough for now. However, Kassidi takes this to the extreme, refusing to not get what she wants. Carl walks in to his love, Kassidi, hanging on a noose and rushes to her side. While she explains it was more of a test for Carl, she reveals that all she wants is to get married. Carl agrees and the two tie a very different kind of knot…fake ids and all.
1
Kassidi goes on a trip down memory lane with Carl.(Moment from Season 8, episode 11)
After Carl’s rash decision to get married to his crazy girlfriend, Kassidi; she insists on knowing everything about him which includes visiting some dangerous places around the city. When they come across a dead body, Kassidi explains that “she needs to see the face of death” so she can “story the shit out of it” on Snapchat.
She takes some interesting selfies in front of the dead body, including one of Kassidi comically pretending to choke herself out in front of death to give her followers the real experience. After visiting the former corner that Carl sold crack at, they get shot at to the excitement of Kassidi. Even though they seem to be connecting, Kassidi is still fearful of Carl going back to military school.
In the season finale, Carl manages to escape and successfully gets on the bus to military school to the dismay of Kassidi. While Carl does love Kassidi, he is not about to completely dismiss his other love for military school and he has the chance to really become someone to be proud of.
Will their marriage survive this? Will Kassidi track Carl down at school? Something tells me that the love between these two crazy kids is not over yet. After all, giving someone a vile of your own blood proves total love and commitment. Perhaps we can all be inspired by Kassidi and Carl this Valentine’s day…or may we should just stick to some jewelry and a box of chocolates instead as a token of our affections.
I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on Shameless below. Thanks for reading and happy viewing!
**I would love it if you would take a moment to check out my Whizbuzz Book page via the link below for everything you need to know about my new book, The Search for Alice, including my author bio page and links to my website and social media sites! Thank you!
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I am so excited to announce that my book,The Search for Alice, is now available! If you enjoy 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!
When Kallie Bennett, a jaded teenage girl plagued by her alcoholic mother and her peers molded out of sheer bubble gum perfection, chases after Alice in Wonderland herself, she ends up lost in her own version of Wonderland, which forces her to face her utmost fears and introduces her to familiar characters with a dark twist. Among these characters is Ches, a gorgeous vampire with a conflicted conscience, who becomes Kallie’s guide and blossoming love interest. She also crosses paths with Queen Hartley, a manipulative witch who has the power to strip away one’s memories and imagination, which brings a bone chilling new meaning to “off with their heads.” In The Search for Alice, Kallie starts to realize that her Wonderland is just as frightening as her own reality and that she cannot always run away from her problems. She must figure out a way to defeat Queen Hartley and return home before it is too late, but she soon learns that escaping Wonderland means leaving Ches behind forever.
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