Spoiler-Free Review of “Sirens” on Netflix: A Guilty Pleasure Beach Thriller

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

“It REALLY seems like a cult…”

Sirens premiered on Netflix on May 22nd 2025 with all five episodes available to stream now. The limited dark comedy thriller series stars Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, Kevin Bacon, Glenn Howerton, and Felix Solis. Each episode is approximately 55-58 minutes.

Devon is concerned about her sister’s odd relationship with her boss, tracking her down at a lavish mansion on an island to get some answers.

Here is the trailer:

Sirens is a soapy and odd thriller with nods at Desperate Housewives, Revenge, and Big Little Lies, but does it do enough to be worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Meghann Fahy is one to watch!

I have been becoming a big fan of her lately. I’ve seen her pop up on a few shows before and I recently just watched her in DROP, which I absolutely loved.

This was an all-star cast and Meghann Fahy really stole the show with her convincing performance. Her character was fantastic and I loved her dry, dark humor. It really helped elevate this show for me in a lot of ways.

Julianne Moore was terrific as well.

Gorgeous setting.

If you’re looking for a soapy show with beach vibes for the summer, you’re in luck. This one definitely checked off all of those boxes for me. The mansion was beautiful. I loved the use of color and light here. Everything was just breathtakingly beautiful, offsetting some disturbing things going on within the property.

I love soapy guilty pleasure thrillers and this one reminded me of a few other shows that I have really enjoyed with some unexpected twists along the way.

I also loved that this was only five episodes. It made it a breeze to binge-watch over the weekend.

The Cons:

Weird and bonkers plot…

Don’t get me wrong…I was hooked all the same, but this show went off into several different directions. It was really strange at times, but somehow I was still there for it. Everything just felt very jam-packed and chaotic during certain key moments.

The ending threw me for a loop. It was certainly unexpected, but it also left me with some mixed feelings at the end.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

SIRENS is an addicting and unique watch. There were some strange things going on here, but I was here for it!

If you’re looking for a quick, guilty pleasure watch, I’d recommend adding this one to your list.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on SIRENS 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 “Another Simple Favor” on Prime Video: A Gorgeous, but Unnecessary Sequel

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

“Let me fill you in on how we got here…”

Another Simple Favor released on Prime Video on May 1st 2025. A sequel to the 2018 film, the dark comedy thriller stars Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Michele Morrone, and Allison Janney. It runs for approximately two hours.

Stephanie reluctantly agrees to be Emily’s maid of honor, traveling to Capri for an elaborate wedding, but she finds herself caught up in a dangerous scheme for revenge.

Here is the trailer:

Another Simple Favor tries to channel the quirky dark charm of the first movie with a layered mystery, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Incredible fashion to compliment a beautiful scenery!

I loved Blake Lively’s wardrobe in the first movie and of course I had high expectations for the sequel. The film did not disappoint in the fashion department. All of Blake Lively’s outfits were to die for! They took my breath away. Wow!

I also loved the setting. This movie was definitely aesthetically pleasing.

Fun seeing Anna and Blake on screen together again!

While the banter wasn’t quite the same this time around, I still enjoyed seeing these two back together on screen. There were some fun moments sprinkled in and I think they both did the best they could with what they were given.

The Cons:

Over-complicated things…

Where do I start? Well, this movie felt very forced to me. The humor didn’t land the way it did with the first movie. It just felt like they were trying too hard to capture the essence of the original film, but it didn’t feel very genuine.

The mystery didn’t hook me either, which was disappointing, and the reveals were beyond silly and all over the place.

So am I in or out?

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Another Simple Favor felt like a scrapped season of The White Lotus, but there were some guilty pleasure elements and noteworthy fashion to indulge in.

Overall, this film seemed very messy and unsure of its direction and I don’t think it was needed.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

CHECKING OUT WAS NEVER AN OPTION…

A weekend getaway goes horribly wrong when Charlotte suspects that a guest at her bed-and-breakfast has gone missing. A heart-pounding thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. We Hope You Enjoy Your Stay is available below! I hope you enjoy!

We Hope You Enjoy Your Stay is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Irish Wish” on Netflix: Lindsay Lohan’s Rom-Com Goes Through the Motions…

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

“It all happened so fast…”

Irish Wish premiered on March 15th 2024 on Netflix. The rom-com film stars Lindsay Lohan, Ed Speleers, Alexander Vlahos, Elizabeth Tan, and Jane Seymour. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-three minutes.

When her dream man gets engaged to her best friend, Maddie makes a wish in Ireland for true love and ends up switching places with her friend as the new bride-to-be. But things get complicated when she begins connecting with someone else, leading her to question what she really wants after all.

Here is the trailer:

Irish Wish attempts to follow in the footsteps of Lindsay Lohan’s other recent Netflix rom-com, Falling for Christmas, but does it have the same magic and charm? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Gorgeous setting.

I loved that this film took place in Ireland and I thought that the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Lindsay Lohan’s wardrobe was really cute as well and I liked the use of bright colors. Everything popped well on screen, which made this aesthetically pleasing at least…

Some cute moments sprinkled in.

I just wish there were more of them! I’ve seen my fair share of rom-coms and while there was a lot missing from this one, I did feel some chemistry between our two main leads and I liked when the focus was on them. Lindsay Lohan gave it her all here, but unfortunately she wasn’t able to completely save this movie…

The Cons:

Lacking genuine charm and humor.

I REALLY wanted to like this movie, but so much felt forced here. I’m always looking for charm and some humor in films like this and a lot of that did not translate well. This film was predictable, but that would have been fine if it had brought us some real moments to get excited about. There were a few glimmers of potential, but they were quickly stifled.

It just felt like everyone was simply playing a part and reading through a script rather than embracing something I could connect to. Normally I cry at least once during films like this and that didn’t happen because a lot felt like they were just phoning it in. I expected more here…

So am I in or out?

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Look, of course I’m always going to continue to watch Lindsay Lohan films, but she deserved a MUCH better movie.

There were some sweet moments in this one, but it was lacking in genuine emotion and charm. I’d recommend re-watching Falling for Christmas instead…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Falling for Christmas 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 “A Haunting in Venice” in Theaters: A Solid Halloween-themed Murder Mystery

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

“Time to put some life back into your life…”

A Haunting in Venice released in theaters on September 15th 2023. The murder mystery film stars Kenneth Branagh, Tina Fey, Kelly Reilly, Kyle Allen, Jamie Dornan, and Michelle Yeoh It runs for approximately an hour and forty-three minutes.

Belgian detective, Poirot, is back in this adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel, Hallowe’en Party, as he takes a break from retirement to solve a murder involving some deadly spirits.

Here is the trailer:

A Haunting in Venice gives fans of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile a chance to experience a new mystery with eerie potential involving Poirot, but does this film measure up? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A breathtaking setting.

I always find these films to be aesthetically pleasing, but this setting of Venice in the 1940’s was absolutely divine and so lovely to witness on the large screen. This film was beautifully shot and even the chilling and unsettling moments complimented the backdrop well, immersing the audience into a gorgeous world worth noting.

A compelling murder mystery with a satisfying reveal.

This film followed a similar pattern to other films based on Agatha Christie novels, but this one might have been my favorite. I may be partial because I absolutely adore Halloween and anything related to it, but I really loved the balance between logic and the supernatural in this one.

It really kept me on the edge of my seat and I thought the reveal was very well done.

The Cons:

Slow moving at times.

I come to expect this with these types of films, but the middle dragged a little bit for me. I appreciated that this film was shorter than Death on the Nile, however. This wasn’t a major con and I think that the film did enough in the beginning and end of the film to capture the audience’s full attention, but I’d recommend watching this one when you’re fully awake…

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

An eerie and unsettling murder mystery with a fun cast and gorgeous setting!

If you enjoy Agatha Christie murder mysteries, you’ll find enough in this one to enjoy with some spooky surprises along the way.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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 “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” on Showtime: Evil Looks Good on Natalie Dormer

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

“Until not a soul is left…are you ready?”

The sequel spin-off of Penny Dreadful may not be connected to the original show, but it does present us with a different kind of evil in a brand new time and setting with Natalie Dormer’s Magda at the very center of it.

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels premiered on Showtime on April 26th 2020. It will feature weekly episodes (55 minutes in length). It stars Natalie Dormer, Daniel Zovatto, Nathan Lane, and Lorenza Izzo.

While the show has been long awaited by fans of the beloved Gothic horror series, Penny Dreadful, there will be no crossovers or Easter Eggs to the original series, even though it seems like this could have been done.

The show takes place in Los Angeles, 1938 and follows several groups of characters as the demon, Magda and Santa Muerte clash on their involvement in mortal affairs.

The show certainly has a lot of possibility, but can it live up to its predecessor? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Penny Dreadful COA Showtime 1 — Images courtesy of Showtime

Natalie Dormer ignites the screen.

I am already a fan of the Game of Thrones alum, but I have to say that Natalie Dormer was born for a role like this. While it will certainly not be easy to live up to the breathtakingly magnetic, Eva Green in the original series, Dormer is taking on a new character and is embracing her dark side with style.

The opening scene leaves you wanting so much more and reveals just how manipulative and powerful Dormer’s character can be.

Penny Dreadful COA Showtime 2 — Images courtesy of Showtime

Exceptional cast and gorgeous setting.

The sequel is set in pre World War II L.A. The setting is absolutely gorgeous and I appreciated some of these smaller moments where we got to witness dancing in the street, beautiful outfits, and serene backdrops of the bluffs, transporting us back to a different time and place seamlessly.

The rest of the cast is talented as well, which should work in their favor, as they have the potential to really light up the screen with character dynamics and relationships.

The Cons:

Penny Dreadful COA Showtime 5 — Images courtesy of Showtime

A storyboard of ideas can get confusing…

After watching the premiere episode, there are already so many characters and sub-plots, which makes it difficult to keep up. I’m all for a slow burn type of reveal, but I think that some of these plots are going to get lost in the void. The premiere episode acted like a storyboard of ideas rather than a full developed plot, which could be problematic.

Penny Dreaful COA Showtime 4 — Images courtesy of Showtime

Don’t bench your best player…

Natalie Dormer is the best part of this series right now and yet she is taking a back seat in the premiere episode. While I understand that the show is focusing more on her whispering in the ears of men to convince them to do evil, she honestly deserves more than this.

I love seeing her take on different characters as she hides her true identity as the demon, Magda, but it seems like we are stifling a major asset on this series and I just honestly want to see more of her. Let her shine!

Not enough supernatural elements.

The original series did a fantastic job of transporting us into a world of Gothic horror as we met familiar characters from literature with a unique and dark spin. While I understand that the show is going in a new direction, I don’t want it to lose that supernatural spark. There are a lot of elements in history to explore during this time, but let’s tell a new story filled with legend and magical possibility.

So am I in or out?

Penny Dreadful COA Showtime 3 — Images courtesy of Showtime

Right now, I’m honestly about 50/50. The show has the potential to be something extraordinary. We get this interesting clash between the demon, Magda and the legend, Santa Muerte, which could really help the show find its own entertaining path, but I have a feeling that a lot of things will get lost in the midst of an over-complicated plot.

I’m going to give the show a few more episodes because Natalie Dormer honestly deserves it, but I really hope that this slow burn mystery can just start lighting things on fire already.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Penny Dreadful: City of Angels 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 comes out April 28th!

Dash and Seek is available here!

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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!